Information processing apparatus

Abstract

To safely guide a vehicle along a prescribed route.SOLUTION: Information related to a travel route of a first vehicle is acquired, and when the first vehicle approaches one or more junctions on the travel route within a predetermined distance, a first graphic object for guiding a traveling direction at the junction is superimposed on a scene in front of the first vehicle and output, and when a lane change for traveling in a direction related to the guidance is predicted, a second graphic object for prompting the lane change is superimposed on the scene and output.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle technology. [Background technology]

[0002] There are technologies for providing information to reduce the burden on drivers who drive automobiles. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle system that projects a virtual guiding line onto the windshield. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-071024 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to safely guide a vehicle along a predetermined route. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is An information processing device having a control unit that performs the following operations: acquires information regarding a driving route of a first vehicle; when the first vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance one or more branching points on the driving route, outputs a first graphic object that guides the vehicle in the direction of travel at the branching point, superimposed on the scenery ahead of the first vehicle; and when a lane change is predicted to proceed in the direction related to the guidance, outputs a second graphic object that prompts the vehicle to change lanes, superimposed on the scenery.

[0006] Other aspects include an information processing method executed by the above-mentioned device, a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method, or a computer-readable storage medium that non-temporarily stores the program. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a vehicle can be safely guided along a predetermined route. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a problem in the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an in-vehicle device 10. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating lane data stored in the vehicle-mounted device 10. FIG. [Figure 4] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating graphics output by the in-vehicle device 10. [Figure 5] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating graphics output by the in-vehicle device 10. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart of a process executed by the in-vehicle device 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, systems have been developed that provide information to vehicle drivers using head-up displays and the like.

[0010] In such a system, for example, an in-vehicle device projects a graphic to indicate the direction of travel onto a head-up display or windshield. This allows the driver to intuitively know the direction in which the vehicle should travel at a fork in the road, reducing the burden on the driver. It is possible.

[0011] However, there are cases where simply indicating the direction in which the vehicle should travel can compromise the vehicle's driving safety. For example, suppose that on a highway with multiple lanes, there are only a limited number of lanes in which the vehicle can travel in a specific direction. Also, suppose that the vehicle is traveling in a lane that does not allow the vehicle to travel in the direction of the destination. In this case, if the driver does not realize that they are not traveling in the correct lane, outputting guidance may result in inappropriate driving operations, such as sudden braking or abrupt steering. To solve this problem, it is necessary not only to provide guidance on the direction of travel at a fork in the road, but also to predict whether a lane change is necessary to travel in the direction of the guidance, and to provide appropriate guidance based on the results of this prediction.

[0012] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has a control unit that performs the following operations: acquires information regarding a driving route of a first vehicle; when the first vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance one or more branching points on the driving route, outputs a first graphic object that guides the vehicle in the direction of travel at the branching point, superimposed on the scenery ahead of the first vehicle; and when a lane change is predicted to proceed in the direction related to the guidance, outputs a second graphic object that prompts the vehicle to change lanes, superimposed on the scenery.

[0013] The first graphic object is a graphic for guiding the direction of travel at a junction. The graphic is output superimposed on the scenery ahead. For example, the graphic can be output to a head-up display to superimpose the graphic on the scenery ahead. Furthermore, when a general display device (such as a liquid crystal display) is used, the graphic may be superimposed on an image of the scenery ahead of the vehicle captured by an on-board camera.

[0014] Furthermore, when a lane change is predicted to proceed in the direction of the guidance, the control unit outputs a second graphic object urging the driver to change lanes, superimposed on the scenery ahead, in the same manner as the first graphic object. A case where a lane change is predicted typically occurs when the lane in which the vehicle can proceed in the direction indicated by the first graphic object is different from the lane the first vehicle is traveling in. However, this is not limited to this. For example, after the first graphic object is output, if a sign of a lane change is detected, the second graphic object may be output. With this configuration, when a lane change is required to pass through a branch point, the driver can be notified of this in advance.

[0015] When the lane change is predicted, the control unit may transmit advance notice data informing a second vehicle traveling around the first vehicle of the lane change.

[0016] Unlike normal lane changes, lane changes to pass through a junction often occur within a specific range (for example, an area of ​​several hundred meters before the junction). In this area, lane changes with the purpose of "going to the junction" occur frequently, so accidents are more likely to occur in this area than in other areas. Therefore, when a lane change to head towards a branch point is predicted, data informing the other vehicles in the vicinity of the first vehicle of the lane change may be transmitted.

[0017] The control unit may also determine the timing when the lane change is possible based on data acquired by a sensor possessed by the first vehicle, and notify the timing using the second graphic object.

[0018] The second graphic object may not only prompt the driver to change lanes but also guide the driver as to whether the lane change is possible safely. For example, the control unit may sense the direction in which the driver intends to change lanes (diagonally rearward) and notify the driver by the second graphic object of the timing when the lane change can be made safely.

[0019] In addition, when the control unit receives the advance notice data from a third vehicle, it may output a third graphic object superimposed on the scenery, notifying the user that the third vehicle is planning to change lanes toward the junction. Conversely, when advance notice data is received from another vehicle, a third graphic object may be output to notify the driver that the nearby vehicle is planning to change lanes. The third graphic object may include, for example, a planned trajectory of the other vehicle.

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments.

[0021] (First embodiment) An overview of a vehicle system according to the first embodiment will be described below. The vehicle system according to this embodiment includes a vehicle 1 and an in-vehicle device 10 mounted on the vehicle 1.

[0022] The problem to be solved by the system will be described with reference to FIG. The in-vehicle device 10 installed in the vehicle 1 has a function of providing route guidance to the driver of the vehicle to a destination based on the position information of the vehicle and pre-set route information.

[0023] The in-vehicle device 10 can instruct the driver of the direction in which the vehicle should travel via a display device such as a liquid crystal display, a head-up display, etc. For example, the in-vehicle device 10 can intuitively guide the driver by graphically displaying the direction in which the vehicle should travel at a fork in the road.

[0024] However, if guidance is simply given only on the direction of travel at a branch point, there may be cases where the vehicle's driving stability is impaired. 1 is a plan view showing a vehicle 1 traveling on an expressway. Here, it is assumed that the vehicle traveling on the main lane is guided in a direction to exit at an exit interchange. Vehicles can move from the driving lane to the deceleration lane to head towards the exit. However, if vehicle 1 is traveling in the passing lane, it will have to change lanes across two lanes, and depending on the timing at which the driver sees the guidance, it may end up making an abrupt lane change.

[0025] To solve this problem, it is preferable that the in-vehicle device 10 not only provides guidance on the direction of travel at a branching point, but also predicts whether a lane change will be required to travel in a specified direction at the branching point, and notifies the driver in advance whether a lane change is necessary.

[0026] Therefore, the in-vehicle device 10 according to this embodiment provides graphical guidance on the direction of travel at a branching point, and also outputs a graphic urging the driver to change lanes in advance if a lane change is predicted to be required to travel in the direction of the guidance. For example, when it is predicted that the vehicle 1 will need to move from the right lane to the left lane in order to proceed along the route, the in-vehicle device 10 outputs a graphic to prompt the vehicle 1 to move to the left lane in advance, thereby improving the driving stability of the vehicle 1.

[0027] [Device configuration] Next, the configuration of each device that constitutes the system will be described. First, a description will be given of the components of the vehicle 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 includes an in-vehicle device 10, a sensor group 11, and a head-up display (HUD) 12.

[0028] The in-vehicle device 10 can be configured as a computer having a processor (CPU, GPU, etc.), a main memory device (RAM, ROM, etc.), and an auxiliary memory device (EPROM, hard disk drive, removable media, etc.). The auxiliary memory device stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and by executing the programs stored therein, various functions (software modules) that meet predetermined purposes, as described below, can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized as hardware modules using hardware circuits such as ASICs and FPGAs.

[0029] The in-vehicle device 10 includes a control unit 101, a storage unit 102, a communication unit 103, a location information acquisition unit 104, an input / output unit 105, and a wireless communication unit 106.

[0030] The control unit 101 is a computing unit that executes predetermined programs to realize various functions of the in-vehicle device 10. The control unit 101 can be realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU. The control unit 101 may also be configured to include a RAM, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a cache memory, and the like.

[0031] In this embodiment, the control unit 101 of the in-vehicle device 10 is configured to have three software modules: a first guidance unit 111, a second guidance unit 112, and a notification unit 113. Each software module may be realized by the control unit 101 (CPU, etc.) executing a program stored in the storage unit 102, which will be described later. The information processing executed by the software modules is synonymous with the information processing executed by the control unit 101 (CPU, etc.).

[0032] The first guidance unit 111 provides route guidance to the driver of the vehicle 1. Specifically, based on data (route data) relating to the route obtained by a search in advance and the position information of the vehicle itself acquired by a position information acquisition unit 104 described later, the first guidance unit 111 provides graphical and audio guidance via an input / output unit 105 described later on as to locations where right / left turns or branching off occur, and the direction of travel at those locations.

[0033] Furthermore, when the first guidance unit 111 approaches within a predetermined distance a point where a right or left turn or a fork occurs, it outputs a graphic object informing the driver of this via the head-up display 12, which will be described later.

[0034] The second guidance unit 112 plays a role in complementing the guidance output by the first guidance unit 111. Specifically, the second guidance unit 112 predicts whether a lane change will occur as the vehicle travels according to the guidance output by the first guidance unit 111, and if a lane change is predicted, outputs guidance information to support the lane change.

[0035] The notification unit 113 broadcasts data notifying an occurrence of a lane change (hereinafter, "notification data") using vehicle-to-vehicle communication at the timing when the second notification unit 112 is outputting guidance information. Furthermore, when the notification unit 113 receives the notification data from another vehicle, the notification unit 113 outputs a guidance that the other vehicle may change lanes via the head-up display 12.

[0036] The storage unit 102 is a means for storing information, and is configured with storage media such as RAM, a magnetic disk, a flash memory, etc. The storage unit 102 stores programs executed by the control unit 101, data used by the programs, etc.

[0037] The storage unit 102 also stores road map data, route data, and lane data. The road map data is data that defines the connection relationships of roads (road edges) that the vehicle can travel on. The route data is data related to the route to the destination, and can be, for example, a collection of identifiers of road edges along which the vehicle is scheduled to travel. By referring to the route data, the first guidance unit 111 can identify points where turns or branchings occur and use the identified points for guidance.

[0038] The lane data defines the possible travel directions for each lane at a branch point on a route. Figure 3 shows a plan view of an example of an intersection and an example of lane data corresponding to the intersection. In this example, it is assumed that three directions can branch off from a road edge with an identifier E001. For example, if the vehicle takes a route from E001 to E002, it can enter from lane 1. Similarly, if the vehicle takes a route from E001 to E003, it can enter from lanes 1 and 2. If the vehicle takes a route from E001 to E004, it can enter from lane 3. In this way, by referring to the lane data, it is possible to determine the lane that should be traveled in order to enter the road edge at the branching destination. The lane data is used when the second guidance unit 112 generates guidance information to support lane changes.

[0039] The communication unit 103 is a communication interface for connecting the in-vehicle device 10 to a vehicle network. The communication unit 103 is, for example, a network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network). The communication system is configured to be capable of communicating with on-board components of the vehicle 1 via the network.

[0040] The position information acquisition unit 104 acquires the position information of the vehicle 1. The position information acquisition unit 104 includes a GPS antenna and a positioning module for determining the position information. The GPS antenna is an antenna that receives positioning signals transmitted from positioning satellites (also referred to as GNSS satellites). The positioning module is a module that calculates the position information based on the signals received by the GPS antenna. The position information acquisition unit 104 may determine the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 based on the transition of the position information.

[0041] The input / output unit 105 is a unit that receives input from vehicle occupants and presents information to them. Specifically, the input / output unit 105 is composed of a touch panel and its control means, and a liquid crystal display and its control means. In this embodiment, the touch panel and the liquid crystal display are combined into one touch panel display.

[0042] The wireless communication unit 106 is a wireless communication unit for performing inter-vehicle communication, and is capable of exchanging data with other vehicles by unicast or broadcast communication.

[0043] The sensor group 11 is a collection of multiple sensors included in the vehicle 1. The multiple sensors include, for example, image sensors or distance sensors for sensing obstacles and other vehicles located around the vehicle. Furthermore, the sensor group 11 may include a sensor for acquiring the operating state of a turn signal, a sensor for detecting the direction of the driver's line of sight, etc. These sensors are used to detect signs of a lane change.

[0044] The head-up display (HUD) 12 is a device for providing information to the driver of the vehicle 1. The HUD 12 is, for example, a transparent display, or a device that provides information by projecting information onto the windshield of the vehicle 1. By projecting information onto the windshield or the like, it is possible to display any graphic superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle.

[0045] The specific configuration of the in-vehicle device 10 may include omissions, substitutions, and additions of components as appropriate depending on the embodiment. For example, the control unit 101 may include multiple hardware processors. The hardware processor may be configured with a microprocessor, FPGA, GPU, etc. Furthermore, input / output devices other than those illustrated (for example, an optical drive, etc.) may be added. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 10 may be configured with multiple computers. In this case, the hardware configurations of the computers may or may not be the same.

[0046] [Route guidance method] Next, the guidance method performed by first guidance unit 111 will be described. Like a normal navigation device, the first guidance unit 111 recognizes the vehicle's current position based on GPS information, etc., and provides route guidance based on stored road map data. The route guidance is output via the input / output unit 105 (such as a liquid crystal display), for example.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, the first guidance unit 111 outputs a graphic indicating the direction of travel via the head-up display 12 when approaching a branch point on the route.

[0048] 4A shows an example of a graphic (first graphic object) that provides guidance on the direction of travel at a junction. The graphic object provides guidance on the direction of travel at a junction using a shape (e.g., an arrow) or text, and is output superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle. The first guidance unit 111 starts providing guidance when the vehicle approaches the junction within a predetermined distance (for example, 100 meters).

[0049] The steering angle at a branching point may vary depending on the location, such as "turn right or left at a right angle" or "proceed diagonally left (right)." Therefore, in order to provide appropriate guidance, the first guidance unit 111 may determine which graphic object to output from a plurality of pre-stored graphic objects according to the expected steering angle. For example, if a 90-degree turn to the left is expected, a graphic object representing a right-angle left turn may be selected. The steering angle at a branching point can be estimated based on road map data.

[0050] When there are two or more possible directions to travel, the first guidance unit 111 may output an auxiliary graphic to help the user recognize the direction to travel in. For example, the first guidance unit 111 may simultaneously output a graphic indicating a direction in which the user should not travel, in addition to a graphic indicating a direction in which the user should travel.

[0051] Next, a method of supporting a lane change performed by the second guidance unit 112 will be described. The second guidance unit 112 predicts "whether a lane change will occur to proceed in the direction related to the guidance (or the direction to be guided)" at the timing when the first guidance unit 111 is outputting guidance regarding a branch or at a timing before that timing. Furthermore, when a lane change is predicted, it outputs information to support the lane change.

[0052] The second guidance unit 112 predicts that a lane change will occur in the following cases, for example: (1) When it is not possible to proceed in the direction of the guidance from the current driving lane. For example, the second guidance unit 112 determines the lane in which the vehicle is traveling based on GPS information and images acquired by an onboard camera, and determines, based on the stored lane data, whether the vehicle can proceed in the direction being guided or planned to be guided by the first guidance unit 111 without changing lanes. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the host vehicle is traveling on road edge "E001." Also, it is assumed that the host vehicle plans to proceed to road edge "E002" at an intersection. In this case, the host vehicle cannot proceed to road edge "E002" from any lane other than the first lane. Therefore, when the host vehicle is traveling on the second or third lane, the second guidance unit 112 predicts that a lane change will occur.

[0053] (2) When a sign of a lane change is detected For example, the second guidance unit 112 determines whether there is a sign of a lane change based on various data output by sensors included in the vehicle 1. For example, if the turn signal of the vehicle is on or if the driver's line of sight is directed toward either the left or right side mirror, it can determine that there is a sign of a lane change.

[0054] The above-mentioned prediction is performed at a timing before the start of guidance by the first guidance unit 111. This timing can be determined based on, for example, the distance required to change lanes. When a lane change is predicted, the second guidance unit 112 outputs information (a second graphic object) for supporting the lane change via the head-up display 12. For example, the second guidance unit 112 may output information indicating that the vehicle should move to a predetermined lane. FIG. 4(B) is an example of the second graphic object.

[0055] Furthermore, the second guidance unit 112 may sense the surroundings of the host vehicle and determine whether or not it is safe to change lanes. If it is safe to change lanes, information to that effect may be added to the second graphic object. For example, the second guidance unit 112 may use an on-board camera or distance sensor to sense whether or not other vehicles are traveling in adjacent lanes, and may determine that it is safe to change lanes if there are no other vehicles within a predetermined range centered on the host vehicle.

[0056] Next, the guidance provided by the notification unit 113 will be described. As described above, while the second guidance unit 112 is outputting guidance, the notification unit 113 broadcasts data (notification data) notifying the driver of a lane change using vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The notification data includes the vehicle's position information, speed, lane change direction (target lane, etc.), data indicating the vehicle's planned trajectory, etc. If the vehicle 1 is an autonomous vehicle or a semi-autonomous vehicle, the notification unit 113 may obtain data regarding the planned trajectory from an ECU that controls autonomous driving, etc. Other vehicles traveling around vehicle 1 that have received the advance notice data can recognize that vehicle 1 may be changing lanes toward the branch point.

[0057] Furthermore, when the notification unit 113 receives advance notice data from another vehicle, it outputs a graphic to alert the driver that the other vehicle may be changing lanes. FIG. 5 shows an example of a graphic (third graphic object) output by the notification unit 113. The third graphic object may indicate the planned path of the other vehicle when changing lanes. The graphic can be generated based on information included in the received advance notice data. Receiving advance notice data means that the other vehicle is providing lane change guidance using the second graphic object. The second graphic object Since the object is intended to guide vehicles toward a junction, the third graphic object can notify the driver of the vehicle that "there is another vehicle proceeding toward the junction."

[0058] In this embodiment, the driver is notified of the possibility that another vehicle will change lanes by the third graphic object, but the notification does not necessarily have to be made by a graphic object. For example, the notification can be made via a voice interface or the like.

[0059] [Processing flow] Next, the flow of processing executed by the in-vehicle device 10 will be described. 6 is a flowchart of a process executed by the in-vehicle device 10 while the vehicle 1 is traveling. The process shown in the figure is started when the in-vehicle device 10 (first guidance unit 111) starts route guidance.

[0060] First, in step S11, the first guiding unit 111 acquires the current position of the vehicle. The current position of the vehicle can be acquired from the position information acquiring unit 104.

[0061] Next, in step S12, the first guidance unit 111 determines whether the vehicle is approaching a predetermined distance from a junction that is the target of guidance. The junction that is the target of guidance may be all points (road nodes) on the route where road edges diverge, but since frequent output of guidance may be disruptive to driving, only road nodes that should not be followed (for which it is preferable to output guidance) may be included. The predetermined distance may be determined appropriately based on the type of junction and the speed of the vehicle. For example, the predetermined distance may be a distance that allows ample time for lane changes. If the determination in step S12 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0062] In step S13, the second guidance unit 112 predicts "whether or not a lane change will occur if the vehicle travels according to the guidance that the first guidance unit 111 is scheduled to output." The second guidance unit 112 determines, for example, based on the position information, route data, and lane data of the vehicle, as described above, whether the vehicle can proceed in the direction that the first guidance unit 111 plans to guide without changing lanes. Furthermore, the second guidance unit 112 may detect a sign of an upcoming lane change based on sensor data acquired from the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is planning to proceed left (right) at a fork in the road and the driver's eyes are directed toward the left (right) side mirror, it can be said that there is a sign of moving to the left (right) lane. The second guidance unit 112 may also predict whether or not a lane change will occur based on data other than the above.

[0063] If the determination in step S13 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S14, where the second guidance unit 112 outputs guidance regarding a lane change. If the determination in step S13 is negative, that is, if it is predicted that a lane change will not occur, the process proceeds to step S18.

[0064] In step S14, the second guidance unit 112 outputs a graphic showing guidance regarding a lane change via the head-up display 12. The graphic includes information indicating that a lane change is necessary to proceed along the route at the branch point, and information on the lane to move into (for example, "first lane"). The graphic is output superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle 1.

[0065] Next, in step S15, the notification unit 113 notifies the driver of the lane change by sending data (notification data) is broadcast via the wireless communication unit 106. The advance notice data is data that can be received by a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device (which may be the in-vehicle device 10) mounted on another vehicle. The advance notice data may include data indicating the position information, speed, and direction of lane change (target lane, etc.) of the vehicle itself, or a planned trajectory of the vehicle itself. The process performed when the in-vehicle device 10 receives advance notice data from another vehicle will be described later.

[0066] Next, in step S16, the second guidance unit 112 determines whether or not it is safe to change lanes. In this step, the second guidance unit 112 acquires data from an on-board sensor (for example, an on-board camera or a distance sensor) included in the sensor group 11, and may determine that it is safe to change lanes if it is determined based on this that there are no other vehicles within a predetermined range centered on the vehicle. If the determination in this step is positive, the process proceeds to step S17. If the determination in this step is negative, the process waits until it is safe to change lanes.

[0067] In step S17, the second guidance unit 112 notifies the driver of the timing at which it is safe to change lanes via the head-up display 12. The guidance regarding the timing of changing lanes may be provided in addition to the guidance output in step S14. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S18, where the first guidance unit 111 outputs a graphic guiding the driver on the direction to travel at the branch point via the head-up display 12. The graphic is output while being superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle 1.

[0068] If the determination in step S12 is negative, that is, if the vehicle is not approaching the branch point for which guidance is to be provided, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the notification unit 113 determines whether or not it has received notice data from another vehicle. If the notice data has been broadcast by the in-vehicle device 10 installed in the other vehicle, the determination in this step is affirmative. If it has not received notice data, the process returns to step S11.

[0069] If the determination in step S21 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S22, where the notification unit 113 outputs a graphic (third graphic object) that calls attention to the fact that the other vehicle is about to change lanes, via the head-up display 12. For example, the third graphic object outputs a planned trajectory of the other vehicle superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle 1.

[0070] As described above, the in-vehicle device 10 according to the first embodiment outputs a graphic guiding the vehicle in the direction of travel at a junction, superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle, and also outputs a graphic urging the vehicle to change lanes when a lane change is predicted to occur in order to proceed in the guidance direction. Furthermore, when the graphic urging the vehicle to change lanes is being output, advance notice data is transmitted to other vehicles to alert them. This configuration allows the target vehicle to be guided more safely through the junction.

[0071] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, the in-vehicle device 10 provides information to the driver via the head-up display 12. On the other hand, the guidance graphic does not necessarily have to be output via a transparent display such as a head-up display, as long as it can be superimposed on the scenery ahead of the vehicle.

[0072] For example, the head-up display 12 in the first embodiment may be replaced with a normal display device such as a liquid crystal display (for example, the input / output unit 105). In this case, an in-vehicle camera is required to capture the scenery ahead of the vehicle. The control unit 101 may perform control to superimpose the image captured by the in-vehicle camera and the graphic object of the first embodiment onto the display device, and output the superimposed image to the display device. By visually checking the image output to the display device, the driver can recognize the direction of travel at the intersection and the need to change lanes.

[0073] (Variation) The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure can be implemented by appropriately modifying it within the scope that does not deviate from the gist thereof. For example, the processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0074] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Alternatively, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

[0075] The present disclosure can also be realized by providing a computer program implementing the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer via a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the computer's system bus or via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include, for example, any type of disk, such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, a Blu-ray disk), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, or any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1. Vehicle 10...In-vehicle equipment 101 Control unit 102...Storage section 103 Communications Department 104...Location information acquisition unit 105...Input / output section 106 Wireless Communication Unit

Claims

1. Obtaining information regarding a travel route of a first vehicle; When the first vehicle approaches one or more branch points on the travel route within a predetermined distance, outputting a first graphic object that provides guidance on the traveling direction at the branch point, superimposed on a view ahead of the first vehicle; outputting a second graphic object superimposed on the scenery, the second graphic object prompting the driver to change lanes when a lane change is predicted in order to proceed in the direction related to the guidance; An information processing device having a control unit that executes the above.

2. When the lane change is predicted, the control unit transmits advance notice data informing a second vehicle traveling around the first vehicle of the lane change. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the control unit determines a timing when the lane change is possible based on data acquired by a sensor included in the first vehicle, and notifies the timing by using the second graphic object. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. When the control unit receives the advance notice data from a third vehicle, the control unit outputs a third graphic object notifying the user that the third vehicle will change lanes toward the branch point, the third graphic object being superimposed on the scenery. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

5. the third graphical object includes a planned trajectory of the third vehicle; The information processing device according to claim 4 .

Images