Information processing device

Abstract

To start reproduction output of content information in a vehicle at an appropriate timing so that the reproduction output of the content information ends at a predetermined location.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating a geographical position or a geographical range at which reproduction output of content information should be ended; and a determination unit that determines an output start timing at which reproduction output of the content information is to be started in a vehicle during traveling on the basis of a reproduction time of the content information and the area information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is known a technique for outputting information such as warning information, route guidance information, road traffic information, tourist information, and advertisement information as audio information to a driver while the vehicle is traveling.

[0003] However, if the playback and output timing of these pieces of audio information overlaps, it may be difficult to hear or may interfere with driving. Therefore, a system has been proposed that schedules the playback and output timing of these pieces of audio information so that they do not interfere with each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-221837 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, one example of the problem with the above-mentioned conventional technology is that it may not be possible to start the playback output of content information in a vehicle at the appropriate timing so that the playback output of content information ends at a predetermined point.

[0006] For example, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, when there is a risk of interference between the playback of multiple pieces of audio information, the degree of loss due to non-playback and delayed playback is calculated for each combination of the playback orders of these pieces of audio information based on meta information, and the playback order for the combination with the smallest degree of loss is selected.

[0007] As described above, in the conventional technology described above, the point at which the playback output of content information should end is not determined, and therefore there is no concept of determining the timing at which the playback output of content information should start so that the playback output ends successfully at that point.

[0008] Therefore, with the above-described conventional technology, it is not always possible to start the reproduction output of the content information in the vehicle at an appropriate timing so that the reproduction output of the content information ends at a predetermined point.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an information processing device that can start playback output of content information in a vehicle at an appropriate timing so that playback output of content information ends at a predetermined point. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The information processing device of claim 1 is characterized by having an acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating a geographical position or geographical range where playback output of content information should be terminated, and a determination unit that determines an output start timing for starting playback output of the content information in a moving vehicle based on the playback time of the content information and the area information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information matching process. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content database according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a travel information database according to the embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a determination process when overlapping is detected between areas corresponding to candidates for output start timing. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information processing procedure according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the information processing device 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below. Furthermore, in the description of the drawings, the same parts are given the same reference numerals.

[0013] In the following embodiments, a vehicle can be read as a moving body, a driving situation as a moving situation, and a driving speed as a moving speed. The expression "playback output in a vehicle" includes the meaning of "playback output to a terminal device moving with the vehicle." The expression "output control so that a vehicle plays back and outputs content information" includes the meaning of output control to a terminal device and provision (output) of content information to a user of the vehicle.

[0014] 1. Introduction Examples of terminal devices that travel with a vehicle include terminal devices installed in the vehicle (e.g., in-vehicle devices) and terminal devices such as smartphones owned by users (e.g., vehicle passengers, including the driver), and applications that provide various types of content to such terminal devices are known.

[0015] For example, there are applications that assist users in driving by providing content information that is tailored to the vehicle's driving status or the situation of the user driving the vehicle, or content information that provides route guidance according to various inputs (e.g., text input or voice input). There are also applications that assist users in driving more comfortably by providing various content information such as tourist guides, store guides, advertising information, and other useful information in accordance with the vehicle's driving.

[0016] Here, applications may be classified into specific types depending on the categories of content information they can provide. For example, an application related to ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) provides content information categorized as "warnings" or "cautions," and is therefore classified into a type such as "ADAS" or "safety support." On the other hand, an application related to various types of guidance (e.g., route guidance, tourist information, etc.) provides content information categorized as "guidance," and is therefore classified into a type such as "guidance support." Furthermore, an application related to store information (e.g., store advertisements) provides content information categorized as "advertisement," and is therefore classified into a type such as "advertising provision."

[0017] The application also passes content information it wishes to provide to the user to an information matching engine (more specifically, a computer equipped with the information matching engine), which will be described later, and plays back and outputs the content information via the information matching engine. At this time, the application assigns meta information to the content information, including range information indicating the range to be played back and output, category information indicating the category of the content information, and the length (playback time) of the content information.

[0018] The range information indicating the range in which the content information should be played back corresponds to condition information that specifies the geographical range in which the content information should be played back, the time range, the vehicle travel distance range, the vehicle passing area range, the vehicle speed range, etc., and conditions the content information to be played back so long as it is within that range. In the following embodiment, the description focuses on area information (an example of range information) indicating the geographical range in which the content information should be played back, but the information processing according to the embodiment can also be applied to ranges other than the geographical range, i.e., the time range, the vehicle travel distance range, the vehicle passing area range, and the vehicle speed range.

[0019] Furthermore, when each application sets a geographical range in this manner, some or all of the geographical ranges may overlap between the applications. This can result in a problem of interference between playback and output of content information corresponding to the overlapping geographical ranges. Furthermore, since the content information is configured as a voice message, taking into consideration that the intended user is a vehicle passenger, interference in playback and output may hinder driving. For this reason, a computer equipped with an information matching engine determines an appropriate output order and appropriate output timing under the control of the information matching engine. Furthermore, the computer predicts the driving conditions of a vehicle, which change from time to time, and prioritizes the content information to be played and output in order to optimize the content information to be played and output.

[0020] Furthermore, depending on the determined priority and output order, some content information may be discarded without being played back. For this reason, applications may attempt to dynamically control (output setting) the range in which their own content information is played back as efficiently as possible, but a computer equipped with an information matching engine can also support the application in setting the output by providing feedback to the application according to performance information regarding the playback output.

[0021] [2. About the system] Next, a system including the above-described application and a computer equipped with an information matching engine will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 shows an information processing system Sy as an example of a system according to an embodiment. Information processing according to an embodiment, which will be described later, is realized by the information processing system Sy.

[0022] (Regarding terminal device 10) The terminal device 10 (edge ​​terminal) is an information processing terminal used by a user (a passenger in a vehicle). The terminal device 10 may be, for example, a stationary in-vehicle device installed in a vehicle, or a portable terminal device (for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, a PDA, etc.) owned by a user. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 is assumed to be an in-vehicle device.

[0023] In the example of FIG. 1, the terminal device 10 is provided in a vehicle VE1 driven by a user U1, and reproduces and outputs content information in accordance with output control by a computer equipped with an information matching engine. For example, the terminal device 10 has a notification unit (output unit) and causes the content information to be output from the notification unit. For example, the notification unit may be a speaker or a display screen, and the terminal device 10 reproduces and outputs content information in the form of a voice message (audio content) via the speaker. Furthermore, the notification unit may be a display screen, and the terminal device 10 can display information supporting the details of the audio content on the display screen.

[0024] In addition, various applications such as an ADAS application, a navigation application, a music application, a delivery application, an insurance application, etc. may be installed in the terminal device 10 at the user's discretion, and such applications can transmit user information including, for example, account information and setting information set by the user to the cloud computer CCP2 described below.

[0025] The application introduced into the terminal device 10 may be an application for an edge terminal corresponding to an application that provides content information in the form of a voice message along with range information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "application relating to the embodiment"), or it may be any application different from the application relating to the embodiment.

[0026] (About the ECP1 edge computer) The edge computer ECP1 is a computer that performs data processing (edge ​​processing) near the terminal device 10, and includes a situation assessment engine E30-1 and an information matching engine E100-1. According to the example of Fig. 1, the edge computer ECP1 is provided with an application AP1x (e.g., an application AP11, an application AP12, an application AP13, etc.) as an application according to the embodiment.

[0027] 1, the application AP1x is provided inside the edge computer ECP1, but the application AP1x may be independent from the edge computer ECP1. In such a case, for example, the information processing system Sy may further include a server device (application server) corresponding to the application AP1x, while the edge computer ECP1 may not have the application AP1x inside.

[0028] Furthermore, since the application AP1x is an application that provides content information of which output to the user is of a high urgency, it is incorporated into the edge computer ECP1 located near the terminal device 10. As a result, the content information provided by the application AP1x can be reproduced and output with a shorter time lag in accordance with the driving conditions of the vehicle VE1. For this reason, the application AP1x may be, for example, an application related to ADAS, and provides content information categorized as "warning" or "caution."

[0029] Furthermore, the edge computer ECP1 may further include a general-purpose proxy application as shown in FIG.

[0030] (About Cloud Computer CCP2) The cloud computer CCP2 is a computer that exists on the cloud side and provides various types of information, for example, in a push format, and has a situation assessment engine E30-2 and an information matching engine E100-2 built in. Also, according to the example of Fig. 1, the cloud computer CCP2 is provided with an application AP2x (for example, an application AP21, an application AP22, an application AP23, etc.) as an application according to the embodiment.

[0031] 1, the application AP2x is provided inside the cloud computer CCP2, but the application AP2x may be independent of the cloud computer CCP2. In such a case, for example, the information processing system Sy may further include a server device (application server) corresponding to the application AP2x, while the cloud computer CCP2 may not have the application AP2x inside.

[0032] The application AP2x may be an application that provides content information that does not require immediate output to the user. For this reason, the application AP2x is installed in a cloud computer CCP2 on the cloud side, which is separate from the terminal device 10. For this reason, the application AP2x may be an application related to guidance support or advertisement provision, for example, and provides content information categorized as "guidance" or "advertisement."

[0033] (Specific examples of information processing) Next, specific examples of processes performed by the application, the situation understanding engine, and the information matching engine according to the embodiment will be described. In the following, the content information will be described as audio content. The content information is not limited to audio content, but may also be, for example, video content.

[0034] First, a specific example of processing by an application according to the embodiment will be described. Since the processing content is the same for both applications AP1x and AP2x, the application AP1x will be used as an example for the description.

[0035] The application AP1x personalizes the voice content provided to each user based on the user's usage history. The application AP1x also determines the content of the voice message to respond to based on the content of the voice input by the user, so that the application AP1x can communicate with the user. The application AP1x can also determine the voice content to be provided to the user and the content of the voice message to respond to the user based on the user's situation.

[0036] The application AP1x also performs a generation process to generate audio content. For example, the application AP1x determines the category of audio content to be played back based on data received from the situation recognition engine E30-1 (or the situation recognition engine E30-2 in the case of the application AP2x), and generates audio content of the determined category.

[0037] For example, the application AP1x generates audio content according to the vehicle's traveling situation grasped by the situation grasp engine E30-1. Note that the audio content generated by the generation process may be, for example, text data that will be the basis for a voice message that will ultimately be notified to the user, and may define the content of the voice message that will be obtained by later converting it into voice data. In other words, the application AP1x is not limited to generating voice data as audio content, and may generate data in other formats that will be the basis for a voice message as audio content.

[0038] The application AP1x can also specify the timing for playing back and outputting the audio content. For example, the application AP1x can generate range information indicating the range within which the audio content is permitted to be played back and output, using a geographical range, a time range, a vehicle travel distance range, a vehicle passing area range, a vehicle speed range, or the like within which the audio content is to be played back and output. In this case, the application AP1x transmits the audio content to which meta information including the range information is attached to the information matching engine E100-1 (or the information matching engine E100-2 in the case of the application AP2x), thereby requesting (reserving) the terminal device 10 to play back and output the audio content under the conditions indicated by the range information.

[0039] Next, a specific example of processing by the situation recognition engine will be described. Since the processing content is the same for both the situation recognition engine E30-1 and E30-2, the situation recognition engine E30-1 will be used as an example.

[0040] The situation assessment engine E30-1 performs a situation assessment process, which is an analysis process for assessing the vehicle's driving situation. For example, the situation assessment engine E30-1 senses the vehicle's driving situation based on sensor information obtained from various sensors. Note that the sensors referred to here may be, for example, sensors provided in the vehicle or sensors included in the terminal device 10, such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a magnetic sensor, a GPS, a camera, a microphone, etc.

[0041] For example, the situation awareness engine E30-1 can perform the following series of analysis processes. For example, the situation awareness engine E30-1 performs sensing based on sensor information acquired from the above sensors and performs base analysis by using the sensing results as core elements. In the base analysis, the situation awareness engine E30-1 extracts necessary data using the core elements as information sources and converts and processes the extracted data. Next, the situation awareness engine E30-1 performs high-level analysis using the converted and processed data. In the high-level analysis, the situation awareness engine E30-1 analyzes specific driving situations based on the converted and processed data. For example, the situation awareness engine E30-1 analyzes the driving situation of the vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is traveling on a straight road or a curve, the driving speed, the direction of travel, and the traffic congestion situation.

[0042] According to the example of FIG. 1, the situation recognition engine E30-2 may use statistical information obtained by statistical processing of logs relating to the driving situation and user operations in the situation recognition processing.

[0043] Next, a specific example of processing by the information matching engine will be described. Since the processing content is the same for both information matching engines E100-1 and E100-2, the information matching engine E100-1 will be used as an example. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the information matching engine E100-1 has a request manager function and a response manager function.

[0044] The request manager function accepts requests from application AP1x (application AP2x in the case of information matching engine E100-2) and performs queuing according to the accepted request. Note that the request here may be an output request requesting that the generated audio content be played back and output, and is transmitted, for example, including the audio content. The request manager function also queues the accepted audio content in the content buffer.

[0045] The response manager function performs output determination processing in accordance with rules. For example, the response manager function performs output determination processing according to an output determination algorithm. More specifically, the response manager function determines the priority and output order of audio content that has been reserved for output, based on driving information indicating the driving situation grasped by the situation grasp engine E30-1 (or the situation grasp engine E30-2 in the case of the information matching engine E100-2) and range information included in the request. The response manager function then controls the terminal device 10 to play and output the audio content in the output order according to the determined priority.

[0046] [3. Information processing flow] Next, the flow of information processing (information processing according to the embodiment) realized by the information processing system Sy will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Here, a situation is assumed in which audio content is reproduced and output to a user U1 driving a vehicle VE1 via a terminal device 10 corresponding to an in-vehicle device of the vehicle VE1. In this situation, the terminal device 10 transmits sensor information detected by a sensor possessed by the terminal device 10 to the edge computer ECP1 as needed.

[0047] In this state, the flow of information originating from the edge computer ECP1 is shown first. When the situation assessment engine E30-1 of the edge computer ECP1 acquires sensor information transmitted from the terminal device 10, it performs a situation assessment process to assess the traveling state of the vehicle VE1. For example, the situation assessment engine E30-1 performs a series of analysis processes, such as sensing using the sensor information, base analysis using the sensing results as core elements, and higher-level analysis using data obtained as a result of the base analysis, to perform a detailed situation assessment process.

[0048] Then, the situation awareness engine E30-1 transmits driving information indicating the driving situation grasped by the situation awareness processing to a user that uses the driving information. For example, the situation awareness engine E30-1 transmits the driving information to the information matching engine E100-1, the application AP1x, and the situation awareness engine E30-2. Note that the driving situation here may be, for example, the position, driving speed, and traveling direction of the vehicle VE1.

[0049] When the application AP1x acquires driving information from the situation assessment engine E30-1, it performs a generation process to generate audio content based on the acquired driving information. For example, the application AP1x generates audio content according to the driving situation of the vehicle VE1 based on the driving information acquired from the situation assessment engine E30-1. The application AP1x also generates range information indicating the range within which the audio content is permitted to be played back, using the geographical range, time range, driving distance range of the vehicle VE1, passing area range of the vehicle VE1, or vehicle speed range within which the audio content should be played back, and assigns meta information including the generated range information to the audio content. The application AP1x then inputs the audio content with the assigned meta information to the information matching engine E100-1.

[0050] When the situation awareness engine E30-2 acquires the driving information from the situation awareness engine E30-1, the situation awareness engine E30-2 performs a situation awareness process for understanding the driving state of the vehicle VE1 based on the acquired driving information. For example, the driving information acquired from the situation awareness engine E30-1 is accumulated in a predetermined database of the cloud computer CCP2. The database may also accumulate logs related to user operations, and the situation awareness engine E30-2 performs statistical processing on the accumulated driving information and operation logs, thereby performing the situation awareness process for understanding the driving state of the vehicle VE1 using statistical information indicating the results of the statistical processing and external data acquired from outside.

[0051] The external data referred to here is data that can be acquired because it exists in the cloud and is useful for understanding the driving situation. For example, the external data may include weather information indicating the weather conditions, traffic information indicating the traffic conditions, and road information indicating the road conditions. Of course, the external data is not limited to these examples.

[0052] Then, the situation recognition engine E30-2 transmits driving information indicating the driving situation recognized by the situation recognition process to a user that uses the driving information. For example, the situation recognition engine E30-2 transmits the driving information to the information matching engine E100-2 and the application AP2x. Note that the driving situation referred to here may be, for example, the position, driving speed, and traveling direction of the vehicle VE1.

[0053] Furthermore, in response to the situation assessment process being performed between the situation assessment engines E30-1 and E30-2 and the generation process being performed between the applications AP1x and AP2x, the information matching engines E100-2 to E100-1 perform information matching process. For example, the information matching engines E100-2 to E100-1 perform information matching process to match the optimal combination of audio content among the output candidate audio content generated by the generation process so that the audio content is output in the optimal order.

[0054] For example, area information (an example of range information) indicating the geographical range in which the audio content should be played back is associated as meta-information with each audio content generated by the generation process. Therefore, in the information consistency process, a playback output priority is calculated for each of the audio content items based on the driving information indicating the driving situation grasped by the situation grasping process. Furthermore, in the information consistency process, an output order for a combination of audio content items according to priority is determined based on the playback time, area information, and driving information of each of the audio content items. Then, output control is performed so that the audio content items included in this combination are played back in the determined output order so as not to interfere with each other.

[0055] In addition, area information indicating a geographical location or a geographical range where the playback output should be terminated may be associated with the audio content as meta information. In such a case, the information matching process may determine the output start timing for starting the playback output based on the playback time of each of the multiple audio contents and the area information.

[0056] An example of the information matching process and the output control process according to the result of the information matching process will be described below using the example of FIG.

[0057] First, the information matching engine E100-2 performs output determination processing in accordance with area information (rules) that correspond to each audio content input from the application AP2x and indicate the geographical range in which the audio content should be played back. For example, the response manager function of the information matching engine E100-2 performs output determination processing in accordance with an output determination algorithm.

[0058] More specifically, the response manager function determines the priority and output order of the audio contents to be output, taking into consideration the driving information indicating the driving situation grasped by the situation grasp engine E30-2 and the playback time of each audio content. For example, the response manager function determines the output order of a combination of audio contents according to the priority. Note that the response manager function may perform the output determination process by further using user information transmitted from an application inserted in the terminal device 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0059] Then, the information matching engine E100-2 outputs the information determined by the response manager function as information according to the output determination result to the edge computer ECP1. The information output to the edge computer ECP1 is input to the information matching engine E100-1 via the general-purpose proxy application of the edge computer ECP1.

[0060] The information matching engine E100-2 performs output determination processing in accordance with area information (rules) corresponding to the audio content input from the application AP1x and the audio content indicated by the combination input from the information matching engine E100-2 as the output determination result. For example, the response manager function of the information matching engine E100-1 performs output determination processing in accordance with an output determination algorithm.

[0061] More specifically, the response manager function determines the final priority and output order of the audio contents that have been scheduled for output, taking into consideration the driving information indicating the driving situation grasped by the situation grasping engine E30-1, the playback time of each audio content, and the information (priority, output order) determined by the information matching engine E100-2. For example, the response manager function determines the output order of a combination of audio contents according to priority.

[0062] Then, the information matching engine E100-2 performs output control on the terminal device 10 so that the audio contents are reproduced and output in the output order according to the determined priority. In accordance with the output control, the terminal device 10 reproduces and outputs the audio contents included in the combination according to the priority in order so as not to interfere with each other.

[0063] 1, the information matching engine E100-2 can also perform LED control on the terminal device 10 to cause the LED to emit light according to a category so that the user can recognize, for example, to which category the audio content currently being played and output belongs. Also, according to the example of Fig. 1, the information matching engine E100-2 can also perform display control on the terminal device 10 to display information supporting the details of the audio content on the display screen.

[0064] [4. Specific examples of information consistency processing] Next, the information matching process performed by the information matching engine will be described in more detail using a specific example. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the information matching process. Figure 2 shows a scene in which the information matching process is performed by the information matching engine E100-1.

[0065] Figure 2 shows an example in which application AP11, an ADAS-related application residing on edge computer ECP1, generates audio content C111 (safety support information C111) with the message content "Watch out for vehicles jumping out into the road," and reserves (requests) playback output by sending an output request to information matching engine E100-1 requesting playback output of the generated audio content C111.

[0066] Figure 2 also shows an example in which application AP21, a guidance support-related application residing on cloud computer CCP2, generates audio content C211 (tourist information C211) with the message content "Turn right ahead," and reserves (requests) playback output by sending an output request to information matching engine E100-1 requesting playback output of the generated audio content C211.

[0067] Figure 2 also shows an example in which application AP22, an advertising provision-related application residing on cloud computer CCP2, generates audio content C221 (store advertisement C221) with the message content "Up ahead, there is a three-star restaurant..." and reserves (requests) playback output by sending an output request to information matching engine E100-1 requesting playback output of the generated audio content C221.

[0068] 2, the request manager function of the information matching engine E100-1 performs queuing in response to output requests received from the applications AP11, AP21, and AP22. For example, the request manager function queues, in the content buffer, audio contents C111, C211, and C221 received together with the output requests.

[0069] Furthermore, the response manager function of the information matching engine E100-1 performs output determination processing in accordance with rules. For example, the response manager function performs output determination processing according to an output determination algorithm. More specifically, the response manager function determines the priority and output order of each audio content to be output and in what order based on the driving information indicating the driving situation grasped by the situation recognition engine E30-1, the area information included in the output request, and the playback time of each audio content scheduled for output. The response manager function then determines the output order for the combination of audio content according to the determined priority. The response manager function also controls the terminal device 10 to play and output the audio content corresponding to the combination in the determined output order.

[0070] 5. Information Processing Device According to the Embodiment 1 shows an example in which information processing according to the embodiment is performed between an edge computer ECP1 and a cloud computer CCP2. Hereinafter, a computer having an information matching engine E100-1 or an information matching engine E100-2 will be described as an information processing device 100 according to the embodiment.

[0071] The information processing device 100 may be a server device corresponding to the edge computer ECP1 or a server device corresponding to the cloud computer CCP2. Furthermore, the information processing device 100 may be a single server device configured by integrating the functions of the edge computer ECP1 and the functions of the cloud computer CCP2.

[0072] For example, the information processing device 100 acquires area information indicating the geographical location or geographical range where the playback output of the content information should be terminated, and determines the output start timing for starting the playback output of the content information in a moving vehicle based on the playback time of the content information and the area information.

[0073] The information processing device 100 may also provide feedback to the application based on performance information regarding the reproduction and output of content information.

[0074] 6. Configuration of Information Processing Device First, the information processing device 100 will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the information processing device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, an application APx, and a control unit 130.

[0075] (Regarding the communication unit 110) The communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, a NIC etc. The communication unit 110 is connected to a network by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information to and from the terminal device 10, for example.

[0076] (Regarding the storage unit 120) The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. The storage unit 120 has a content database 121 (content buffer) and a driving information database 122.

[0077] (About Content Database 121) The content database 121 stores various types of information related to content information. An example of the content database 121 according to the embodiment is shown in Fig. 4. In the example of Fig. 4, the content database 121 has items such as "application ID," "content ID," "content data," "category," "meta information," and "range information."

[0078] "Application ID" indicates identification information for identifying an application (application capable of providing content information) according to an embodiment. "Content ID" indicates identification information for identifying content information (audio content) generated by the application indicated by the "Application ID."

[0079] "Content data" is content information generated by the application indicated by the "app ID." "Category" indicates the category to which the content information generated by the application indicated by the "app ID" belongs. "Categories" include warnings, cautions, guidance, advertisements, entertainment, etc.

[0080] The "meta information" is attached to the content information and includes area information indicating the geographical location or geographical range where the playback output of the content information should be terminated, category information indicating the category of the content information, the length of the content information (playback time), etc.

[0081] The "range information" corresponds to condition information that conditions the geographical location or geographical range where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated. Specifically, the geographical location where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated corresponds to condition information that conditions the location on the road where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated. The geographical range where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated corresponds to condition information that conditions the range on the road where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated. Note that the geographical location and the geographical range may be set by the application according to the embodiment.

[0082] That is, the example in Figure 4 shows an example in which an application (application AP11) identified by the application ID "AP11" has generated content information (content information C111) identified by the content ID "C111" and consisting of data #111.

[0083] In addition, the example of FIG. 4 shows an example in which content information C111 is classified into the category "warning" based on the content indicated by data #111.

[0084] In addition, in the example of Figure 4, content information C111 is assigned meta information #111, and this meta information #111 includes area information indicating the geographical location or geographical range where playback output of content information C111 should be terminated.

[0085] In the example of FIG. 4, conceptual symbols such as "#111" are used for ease of explanation, but in reality, valid information corresponding to each item is entered.

[0086] (About the driving information database 122) The travel information database 122 stores travel information related to the travel status of the vehicle. An example of the travel information database 122 according to the embodiment is shown in Fig. 5. In the example of Fig. 5, the travel information database 122 has items such as "vehicle ID," "number of passengers," "terminal ID," "time," and "travel information."

[0087] "Vehicle ID" indicates identification information for identifying a vehicle. "Number of passengers" indicates the number of passengers riding in the vehicle identified by the "Vehicle ID."

[0088] "Terminal ID" indicates identification information for identifying the terminal device 10 (on-vehicle device) installed in the vehicle identified by the "vehicle ID".

[0089] "Time" indicates the date and time when the "driving information" was acquired. "Driving information" indicates the driving status of the vehicle identified by the "vehicle ID" at the date and time indicated by "Time." Furthermore, the driving status indicates, for example, whether the vehicle is driving on a straight road or not, whether the vehicle is turning, the driving speed, the driving position, the direction of travel, and the traffic congestion status.

[0090] (About the application APx) Returning to FIG. 3, the application APx corresponds to the application AP1x or AP2x according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

[0091] (Regarding the control unit 130) The control unit 130 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like executing various programs (for example, the information processing program according to the embodiment) stored in a storage device inside the information processing device 100 using RAM as a work area. The control unit 130 is also realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0092] As shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 130 is equipped with an information matching engine E100. The information matching engine E100 corresponds to the information matching engine E100-1 or E100-2 described in Fig. 1. The information matching engine E100 includes a request manager function E101 and a response manager function E102.

[0093] The request manager function E101 may include a request receiving unit and a queuing unit, which are not shown in Fig. 3. The response manager function E102 includes a first acquisition unit 131, a second acquisition unit 132, an identification unit 133, a determination unit 134, and an output control unit 135, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0094] (Regarding the first acquisition unit 131) The first acquisition unit 131 acquires driving information relating to the driving situation of the vehicle. For example, the first acquisition unit 131 acquires driving information indicating the driving situation of the vehicle grasped by the situation grasping process by the situation grasping engine E30-1 (E30-2).

[0095] (Regarding the second acquisition unit 132) The second acquisition unit 132 acquires area information indicating a geographical position or a geographical range where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated. For example, the second acquisition unit 132 acquires area information that conditions, as the geographical position, a predetermined point before a destination point according to the content information, or as the geographical range, a predetermined distance range before a destination point according to the content information. For example, the area information is included in meta information and transmitted by the application APx together with the content information. Therefore, the second acquisition unit 132 can also acquire the area information by acquiring the content information input by the application APx.

[0096] (Regarding the identification unit 133) The identification unit 133 identifies a destination vehicle to which the content information is to be distributed, based on driving information related to the vehicle's driving status. The destination vehicle to which the content information is to be distributed refers to the destination terminal device 10 to which the content information is to be distributed. The driving information here may be driving information acquired by the first acquisition unit 131.

[0097] In addition, the identification unit 133 may identify a destination vehicle from among the vehicles traveling on the road to be processed based on the driving information of each vehicle traveling on the road to be processed, or may identify a destination vehicle based on statistical information (statistical driving conditions) obtained from the driving information corresponding to each vehicle that has traveled on the road to be processed in the past.

[0098] For example, the identification unit 133 extracts a vehicle traveling toward a destination point according to the content information (for example, a facility that is the target of advertising according to the content information) based on the travel information, and identifies the extracted vehicle as a delivery destination vehicle. In this regard, for example, the identification unit 133 can identify a vehicle that is predicted to reach a geographical position that is a position indicated by the area information or a geographical range that is indicated by the area information based on the travel information, and extract the identified vehicle as a vehicle traveling toward the destination point.

[0099] Furthermore, for example, the identification unit 133 may extract vehicles traveling in the lane on the side where the target point corresponding to the content information is located, based on the traveling information, and identify the extracted vehicles as vehicles to which the content information is to be distributed.

[0100] (Regarding the decision unit 134) The determination unit 134 determines the output start timing for starting the reproduction output of the content information in a moving vehicle based on the reproduction time of the content information and the area information. For example, the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing for starting the reproduction output of the content information in the vehicle of the distribution destination based on the reproduction time of the content information, the area information, and the speed of the vehicle of the distribution destination.

[0101] For example, the determination unit 134 may estimate the amount of time required for the destination vehicle to pass through the position indicated by the area information based on predetermined information about the destination vehicle, and may further use the estimated amount of time to determine the output start timing. For example, the determination unit 134 may estimate the amount of time required for the destination vehicle to pass through the position indicated by the area information based on congestion information at the position indicated by the area information. Furthermore, for example, the determination unit 134 may estimate a statistical value of the amount of time required to pass through the position indicated by the area information as the amount of time required for the destination vehicle to pass through the position indicated by the area information. Then, the determination unit 134 may estimate the speed of the destination vehicle at the position indicated by the area information based on this amount of time and the area information, and may determine the output start timing using the estimated speed.

[0102] (Regarding output control unit 135) The output control unit 135 controls the terminal device 10 to play back and output the content information. For example, the output control unit 135 distributes the content information to the vehicle so that the content information is played back and output at the output start timing determined by the determination unit 134.

[0103] 7. Specific Examples of Information Processing According to Embodiments A specific example of information processing (decision processing) according to the embodiment will now be shown with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information processing according to the embodiment.

[0104] FIG. 6 also shows a determination process for determining the output start timing for starting the reproduction output of the content information C111 and C211 in a vehicle VE1 (from the MAP in FIG. 6) traveling on a road RD1 toward a destination point G1.

[0105] 6, vehicle VE1 is traveling on road RD1 at a speed of 60 km / h, and geographical ranges corresponding to two pieces of content information are set on road RD1. Specifically, in the example of Fig. 6, information processing device 100 acquires content information C111 to which area information #111 indicating geographical range #111 on road RD1 is attached as meta information from application AP11. According to the example of Fig. 6, area information #111 corresponds to condition information that sets a condition so that playback output of content information C111 is terminated in geographical range #111, which is a range from "2 km" to "500 m" before target point G1.

[0106] 6, the information processing device 100 acquires content information C211 to which area information #211 indicating a geographical range #211 on road RD1 is attached as meta information from the application AP21. According to the example of Fig. 6, the area information #211 corresponds to condition information that conditions the end of playback output of the content information C211 in the geographical range #211, which is the range from "1.8 km" to "500 m" before the target point G1.

[0107] 6(a), the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing for starting the playback output of the content information C111 in the vehicle VE1 based on the playback time of the content information C111, the area information #111, and the traveling speed of the destination vehicle VE1. In the example of FIG. 6(a), the playback time of the content information C111 is "15 seconds," so the distance traveled by the vehicle VE1 traveling at "60 km / h" during this time is "250 m."

[0108] In this case, the determination unit 134 can determine the output start timing using a geographical range #111 ranging from 2 km to 500 m before the target point G1 and the travel distance of 250 m. For example, if playback output of the content information C111 is started when the vehicle VE1 is located 2.25 km before the target point G1, the playback output will end when the vehicle VE1 is located 2 km before the target point G1. Also, for example, if playback output of the content information C111 is started when the vehicle VE1 is located 750 m before the target point G1, the playback output will end when the vehicle VE1 is located 500 m before the target point G1.

[0109] Therefore, in the example of Figure 6(a), the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing to be the time when the vehicle VE1 is located within the area AR111 connecting the above two boundary points defined using the travel distance of "250 m", i.e., the area from "2.25 km" to "750 m" before the target point G1.

[0110] 6(b), the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing for starting the playback output of the content information C211 in the vehicle VE1 based on the playback time of the content information C211, the area information #211, and the traveling speed of the destination vehicle VE1. In the example of FIG. 6(b), the playback time of the content information C211 is "30 seconds," so the distance traveled by the vehicle VE1 traveling at "60 km / h" during this time is "500 m."

[0111] In this case, the determination unit 134 can determine the output start timing using a geographical range #211 ranging from 1.8 km to 500 m before the target point G1 and the travel distance of 500 m. For example, if playback output of the content information C211 is started when the vehicle VE1 is located 2.3 km before the target point G1, the playback output will end when the vehicle VE1 is located 1.8 km before the target point G1. Also, for example, if playback output of the content information C111 is started when the vehicle VE1 is located 1.0 km before the target point G1, the playback output will end when the vehicle VE1 is located 500 m before the target point G1.

[0112] Therefore, in the example of Figure 6(b), the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing to be the time when the vehicle VE1 is located within the area AR211 connecting the above two boundary points defined using the travel distance of "500m", i.e., the area from "2.3 km" to "1.0 km" before the target point G1.

[0113] Here, the determination unit 134 can also determine an output start timing that is in accordance with the priority of playback output and that allows content information to be played back and output in order without interfering with each other. This point will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the determination process when overlapping is detected between areas corresponding to candidate output start timings.

[0114] According to the example of FIG. 7, the determining unit 134 compares the area AR111 with the area AR211, and thereby detects an overlap of the areas between the area AR and the area AR211 as indicated by the dotted line.

[0115] In this state, the determination unit 134 determines, in accordance with the traveling conditions of the vehicle VE1, an output start timing at which the content information C111 can be reproduced and output in order without interfering with each other, on the premise that the content information C211 can be reproduced and output when the vehicle VE1 is located in area 111 and when the vehicle VE1 is located in area 211. For example, the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing based on the traveling distance traveled by the vehicle VE1 according to the reproduction time of each piece of content information and the relationship between overlapping areas. In addition, at this time, the determination unit 134 can determine the output order taking into consideration meta information assigned to each piece of content information and a priority calculated from the traveling conditions of the vehicle VE1.

[0116] 7, the determination unit 134 calculates a higher priority for content information C111 than for content information C211. In this case, the determination unit 134 sets range positions #11-1 corresponding to a distance of "250 m" traveled by a vehicle VE1 traveling at "60 km / h" during a playback time of "15 seconds" and range position #21-1 corresponding to a distance of "500 m" traveled by a vehicle VE1 traveling at "60 km / h" during a playback time of "30 seconds" so that these range positions do not overlap with each other and in accordance with the priorities, in a positional relationship as shown in FIG.

[0117] Then, the determination unit 134 determines the timing when the vehicle VE1 is located at the left end position P111 of the range position #11-1 as the output start timing for starting playback output of the content information C111. Also, the determination unit 134 determines the timing when the vehicle VE1 is located at the left end position P211 of the range position #21-1 as the output start timing for starting playback output of the content information C211.

[0118] [8. Processing Procedure] Next, the procedure of information processing according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of information processing according to the embodiment.

[0119] First, the second acquisition unit 132 determines whether or not content information to be processed, for which the output start timing should be determined, has been input (step S101). If content information to be processed has not been input (step S101; No), the second acquisition unit 132 waits until content information to be processed is input by the application APx.

[0120] On the other hand, when it is determined that the content information to be processed has been input (step S101; Yes), the second acquisition unit 132 acquires the content information to be processed (step S102). For example, the second acquisition unit 132 may acquire the content information to be processed from the content database 121. Also, using the example of Fig. 6, it is assumed here that the second acquisition unit 132 has acquired the content information C111 and C211 as the content information to be processed.

[0121] Then, the second acquisition unit 132 acquires area information corresponding to each of the content information C111 and C211, which indicates a geographical position or geographical range where the playback output should be ended (step S103). According to the example of Fig. 6, the second acquisition unit 132 acquires area information #111 as the area information corresponding to the content information C111. Furthermore, the second acquisition unit 132 acquires area information #211 as the area information corresponding to the content information C211.

[0122] Next, the first acquisition unit 131 acquires travel information relating to the travel situation of the vehicle corresponding to the position indicated by the area information acquired in step S103 (step S104). For example, the first acquisition unit 131 acquires travel information indicating the recognized travel situation in response to the travel situation being recognized at any time by the situation recognition engine E30-1 (E30-2).

[0123] 6, the first acquisition unit 131 may acquire driving information indicating the driving conditions of a vehicle traveling on a road RD1 including the geographical range #111 indicated by the area information #111, or a vehicle traveling near the road RD1, or a vehicle predicted to enter the road RD1 in the future. Similarly, the first acquisition unit 131 may acquire driving information indicating the driving conditions of a vehicle traveling on a road RD1 including the geographical range #211 indicated by the area information #211, or a vehicle traveling near the road RD1, or a vehicle predicted to enter the road RD1 in the future.

[0124] Next, the identification unit 133 identifies a destination vehicle to which the content information is to be distributed, based on the travel information acquired in step S104 (step S105). For example, the identification unit 133 can extract vehicles traveling in the lane on the side where the destination point corresponding to each of the content information C111 and C211 is located, based on the travel information, and identify the extracted vehicles as destination vehicles. Furthermore, the identification unit 133 can extract vehicles traveling in the lane on the side where the destination point corresponding to each of the content information C111 and C211 is located, based on the travel information, and identify the extracted vehicles as destination vehicles. In the example of FIG. 6, the identification unit 133 identifies the vehicle VE1 as the destination vehicle in accordance with the destination point G1. Of course, the identification unit 133 may identify multiple destination vehicles, but for simplicity of explanation, it is assumed here that the identification unit 133 identifies one vehicle VE1.

[0125] Next, the determination unit 134 calculates the travel distance of the vehicle VE1 according to the playback time based on the playback time of the content information to be processed and the speed of the vehicle of the distribution destination (step S106). According to the example of Fig. 6, the determination unit 134 calculates the travel distance of the vehicle VE1 according to each playback time based on the playback time of each of the content information C111 and C211 and the speed of the vehicle VE1.

[0126] Next, the determination unit 134 determines candidates for the output start timing for starting the reproduction output of the content information to be processed in the delivery destination vehicle, based on the travel distance and the position indicated by the area information (step S107).

[0127] 6, the determination unit 134 can determine candidates for the output start timing using a geographical range #111 that ranges from 2 km to 500 m before the target point G1 and a travel distance of 250 m. For example, the determination unit 134 can determine, as the output start timing, the timing when the vehicle VE1 is located somewhere within an area AR111 that ranges from 2.25 km to 750 m before the target point G1.

[0128] Furthermore, the determination unit 134 can determine candidates for the output start timing using a geographical range #211 ranging from 1.8 km to 500 m before the target point G1 and the travel distance of 500 m. For example, the determination unit 134 determines, as the output start timing, the timing when the vehicle VE1 is located somewhere within an area AR211 ranging from 2.3 km to 1 km before the target point G1.

[0129] Here, if there is an overlap between areas AR111 and AR211, depending on the output start timing, the content information C111 and C211 may be reproduced and output in such a way that they interfere with each other, which may hinder the user U1 from driving the vehicle VE1. Therefore, the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing according to the priority of the reproduction and output, and which allows the content information to be reproduced and output in order so as not to interfere with each other.

[0130] As such a process, the determining unit 134 first compares the area AR111 with the area AR211 to detect whether or not there is an overlap between the areas AR and AR211 (step S108).

[0131] From here, the flow of processing when overlapping of areas is detected (step S108; Yes) will be described.

[0132] The determination unit 134 calculates a priority of playback output for each piece of content information based on meta information assigned to each piece of content information or the driving status of the vehicle to which the content information is delivered (step S109). For example, the determination unit 134 may calculate a higher priority for content information, among the content information C111 and C211, that advertises a facility (e.g., a store) in a direction closer to the traveling direction of the vehicle VE1. For example, the determination unit 134 may calculate a higher priority for content information, among the content information C111 and C211, that advertises a facility located on the driving lane side of the vehicle VE1. For example, the determination unit 134 may calculate a higher priority for content information, among the content information C111 and C211, that advertises a facility closer to the location of the vehicle VE1. For example, the determination unit 134 may calculate a higher priority for content information, among the content information C111 and C211, that advertises a facility closer to the location of the vehicle VE1. For example, the determination unit 134 may calculate a higher priority for content information, among the content information C111 and C211, that has content that needs to be output to the user more urgently.

[0133] Next, the determination unit 134 determines the output start timing according to the priority calculated in step S109, which allows the content information to be played back and output in order without interfering with each other, based on the travel distance traveled by the vehicle of the distribution destination according to the playback time of each content information and the relationship between the overlapping areas (step S110).

[0134] 7, the determination unit 134 sets range position #11-1 corresponding to a distance of 250 m traveled during a playback time of 15 seconds by a vehicle VE1 traveling at a speed of 60 km / h, and range position #21-1 corresponding to a distance of 500 m traveled during a playback time of 30 seconds, so that these range positions do not overlap with each other and in accordance with priority. Specifically, the determination unit 134 sets range position #11-1 on area AR111, and sets range position #21-1 on area AR211.

[0135] Then, the determination unit 134 determines the timing when the vehicle VE1 is located at the left end position P111 of the range position #11-1 as the output start timing for starting playback output of the content information C111. Also, the determination unit 134 determines the timing when the vehicle VE1 is located at the left end position P211 of the range position #21-1 as the output start timing for starting playback output of the content information C211.

[0136] Finally, the output control unit 135 controls the output of the content information to the delivery destination vehicle so that the content information is reproduced and output (step S111). For example, the output control unit 135 delivers the content information C111 to the terminal device 10 of the vehicle VE1 so that the content information C111 is reproduced and output at the output start timing determined by the determination unit 134. Furthermore, the output control unit 135 delivers the content information C211 to the terminal device 10 of the vehicle VE1 so that the content information C211 is reproduced and output at the output start timing determined by the determination unit 134.

[0137] Next, the flow of processing when no overlapping of areas is detected (step S108; No) will be described.

[0138] In this case, the determination unit 134 officially determines the candidate output start timing determined in step S107 as the output start timing (step S113). For example, the determination unit 134 may determine, as the output start timing, the timing at which the vehicle VE1 is located at any point among points included in an area AR111 from 2.25 km to 750 m before the target point G1. Alternatively, the determination unit 134 may determine, as the output start timing, the timing at which the vehicle VE1 is located at any point among points included in an area AR211 from 2.3 km to 1 km before the target point G1.

[0139] [9. Summary] The information processing device 100 according to the embodiment acquires area information indicating a geographical position or a geographical range where the reproduction output of the content information should be terminated, and determines an output start timing for starting the reproduction output of the content information in a moving vehicle based on the reproduction time of the content information and the area information. According to the information processing device 100, the reproduction output of the content information in the vehicle can be started at an appropriate timing so that the reproduction output of the content information ends at a predetermined point.

[0140] [10. Hardware Configuration] The information processing device 100 according to the embodiment described above is realized, for example, by a computer 1000 configured as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the information processing device 100. The computer 1000 has a CPU 1100, a RAM 1200, a ROM 1300, an HDD 1400, a communication interface (I / F) 1500, an input / output interface (I / F) 1600, and a media interface (I / F) 1700.

[0141] The CPU 1100 operates and controls each unit based on programs stored in the ROM 1300 or the HDD 1400. The ROM 1300 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1100 when the computer 1000 starts up, programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like.

[0142] The HDD 1400 stores programs executed by the CPU 1100, data used by such programs, etc. The communication interface 1500 receives data from other devices via a predetermined communication network and sends it to the CPU 1100, and transmits data generated by the CPU 1100 to other devices via the predetermined communication network.

[0143] The CPU 1100 controls output devices such as a display and a printer, and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 acquires data from the input devices via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 also outputs generated data to the output devices via the input / output interface 1600.

[0144] Media interface 1700 reads a program or data stored in recording medium 1800 and provides it to CPU 1100 via RAM 1200. CPU 1100 loads the program or data from recording medium 1800 onto RAM 1200 via media interface 1700 and executes the loaded program. Recording medium 1800 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a PD (Phase Change Rewritable Disc), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[0145] For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the information processing device 100 according to the embodiment, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 executes programs loaded onto the RAM 1200 to realize the functions of the control unit 130. The CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 reads and executes these programs from the recording medium 1800, but as another example, the CPU 1100 may obtain these programs from another device via a predetermined communication network.

[0146] [11. Other] Furthermore, among the processes described in each of the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically using known methods. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, specific names, various data, and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed as desired unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the information shown in the drawings.

[0147] Furthermore, the components of each device shown in the figure are conceptual functional components and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

[0148] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined as appropriate within the scope of not causing any contradiction in the processing content.

[0149] Although some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be implemented in other forms that include the embodiments described in the Disclosure of the Invention section and that have undergone various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0150] Furthermore, the above-mentioned "section, module, unit" can be read as "means" or "circuit," etc. For example, a decision unit can be read as a decision means or a decision circuit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0151] Sy Information Processing System 100 Information processing device 120 Storage section 121 Content Database 122 Driving Information Database 130 Control Unit 131 First acquisition part 132 Second acquisition part 133 Specific part 134 Decision Section 135 Output control section

Claims

[Claim 1] an acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating a geographical position or a geographical range where reproduction output of content information should be terminated; a determination unit that determines an output start timing for starting playback output of the content information in a traveling vehicle based on a playback time of the content information and the area information; An information processing device comprising:

Images