Systems and programs, etc.

Abstract

This technology provides information guidance within vehicles that is tailored to users such as foreigners. [Solution] System 10 is a system installed in a vehicle and has a function to accept a country or language setting by the user and a function to output information using the set country or language.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to systems, programs, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] In car navigation devices, improving the usability for foreigners and the like by supporting multiple languages has been conventionally proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a technique for outputting information suitable for users such as foreigners in the output of information in a vehicle.

[0005] The object of the invention of the present application is not limited to this, and the applicant also has the intention of obtaining rights by means of divisional applications, amendments, etc. for configurations that aim to obtain effects resulting from parts of the configurations disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc. For example, the problems obtained by reading the parts described as "can" in this specification as "is a problem" are disclosed in this specification. The problems are described as independent ones, and the applicant also has the intention of obtaining rights by means of divisional applications, amendments, etc. alone for the configurations for solving each problem. Even if the problems are implicitly grasped from the description of the specification, the applicant has the intention of making part of the configurations described in this specification the scope of claims by means of amendment or divisional application. Also, configurations for solving problems combining these independent problems are disclosed, and the applicant has the intention of obtaining rights.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) It would be preferable to provide a system installed in a vehicle that has a function to accept the user's setting of country or language, and a function to output information with different content depending on the set country or language. In this way, it is possible to provide technology that supports foreign users.

[0007] (2) The output function should provide guidance on the relationship between traffic signs used in the area where the system is used and traffic signs used in the specified country. This makes it easier for foreigners to understand the meaning of Japanese traffic signs.

[0008] (3) When the output function detects that the vehicle has been parked in a location where a parking meter is installed in the parking lot, it is preferable to provide instructions on how to use the parking meter. This makes it easier for foreigners and other users to understand how to use the parking meter.

[0009] (4) If the output function detects dangerous driving, it is preferable to guide the user with traffic rules appropriate to the dangerous driving. In this way, by guiding the user who has engaged in dangerous driving with traffic rules, the user can be made more aware of safe driving.

[0010] (5) The output function should provide information on driving manners for the vehicle that differ from traffic laws, using a language corresponding to the set country or language. This will allow foreigners to understand Japanese manners that differ from traffic laws.

[0011] (6) When the output function displays multiple search results, it is preferable to prioritize the display of a predetermined search result based on the multiple search results and the region in which the system is used. This makes it easier for foreigners and others to obtain information about the region in which they are used.

[0012] (7) The output function should guide users to locations within the system's service area that are relevant to the specified country. This makes it easier to guide users to places that are likely to be of interest to foreigners and others.

[0013] (8) The output function should prioritize guiding users to places that have received high ratings from other users in the specified country or language. This makes it easier to guide users to places that are likely to be of interest to foreigners and others.

[0014] (9) The output function should provide different guidance information for the search results of a location when the set country is the first country and when it is the second country. This makes it easier to guide foreigners and others to places that are likely to be of interest.

[0015] (10) The output function may output the public enforcement information in a language corresponding to the country or language set.

[0016] This allows public enforcement information to be output in a specified language, making it possible for foreigners, for example, to understand the content of that information.

[0017] (11) The output function may replace the sign display with the sign display in the specified country and display it in AR. In this way, the AR display makes it easier for foreigners and others to understand and see the sign display.

[0018] (12) The output function should recognize road markings and provide information on their meaning in a language corresponding to the set country or language. This makes it easier for foreigners and others to understand road markings.

[0019] (13) The output function should display a predetermined character when a specific country or language is set, and not display the character when another specific country or language is set, in order to provide guidance. This makes it easier for foreigners and others to take an interest in the information.

[0020] (14) The function that accepts the above settings may reset the country or language setting when the vehicle returns to the place where it was started driving. This prevents situations where the vehicle is used by unspecified users, such as when the country setting is set to another country, and the user receives instructions in a foreign language that they do not understand.

[0021] (15) When displaying search results, the output function should prioritize showing payment methods that correspond to the set country or language from among the available payment methods. In this way, the payment methods available to the user can be prioritized along with the search results.

[0022] (16) It would be preferable for the computer to be provided with a program to implement any of the above system functions. In this way, technology can be provided to support users such as foreigners.

[0023] The inventions described in (1) to (15) above can be combined in any way. For example, one could combine all or part of the configuration of the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. In particular, one could combine the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. Alternatively, one could extract any configuration from the inventions described in (1) to (15) and combine the extracted configurations. The applicant of this application intends to obtain rights to inventions that include these configurations. Furthermore, even if there are descriptions such as "in the case of..." or "when...", these are not meant to indicate that the configuration is limited to that case or time. These are merely examples of better configurations, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to configurations that do not fall under these cases or times. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, the order is not limited to that sequence. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to them as well. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, in guiding information in a vehicle, it is possible to provide a technology for outputting information suitable for users such as foreigners.

[0025] The effects of the invention of the present application are not limited to this, and the effects exerted by the components of the configuration disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc. are also disclosed, and there is also an intention to obtain rights for the configurations exerting such effects by divisional applications, corrections, etc. For example, in this specification, parts described as "can" are descriptions that explicitly show the effects exerted, and even if there is no description of "can", there are parts that show the effects. Also, even if there is no such description, there are effects grasped by the said configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display on a display unit. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are examples of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referred to in the present embodiment, the same parts or parts having the same or similar functions are given the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals (reference numerals with only A, B, etc. attached after the numbers), and the repeated description thereof may be omitted. Also, in each of the drawings referred to in the following description, in order to make each member, each region, etc. recognizable in size, the scale may be different from the actual one.

[0028] The following describes the application of the present invention to a system 10 installed in a vehicle. The system 10 displays a map within a predetermined range from the vehicle's location and provides information. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overview of the system 10. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the overview of the screen of the system 10. In this embodiment, the system 10 is described as a car navigation device, but similar functions may be realized by terminal devices such as smartphones or tablet computers. In the case of such terminal devices, it is preferable to install software (e.g., an application) having navigation functions or map display functions, so that the same functions as the system 10 can be realized by that application. The following description describes the case where the region in which the system 10 is used (usage area) is Japan, but it may be another country other than Japan.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, System 10 is a monitor-type electronic device that is roughly rectangular in shape. System 10 is placed inside the cabin of a vehicle 40. Vehicle 40 is a four-wheeled automobile or other vehicle. Vehicle 40 is, for example, a rental car or a user's private car. System 10 is fixed to the dashboard 41, for example, using double-sided tape. An opening is provided on the front of the housing of System 10. System 10 has a display unit 12 for displaying an image at the location of this opening. The housing is made of resin or other material.

[0030] System 10 broadcasts information using one of several languages. System 10 supports five languages ​​(Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese (simplified and traditional)). System 10 also supports four languages ​​(Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese) for voice output. The languages ​​supported by System 10 may be other than those listed above. System 10 broadcasts various types of information using sound and display.

[0031] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of system 10. The control unit 11 controls each part of system 10. The control unit 11 is, for example, a computer including an arithmetic processing circuit and memory. The arithmetic processing circuit includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or other arithmetic processing circuits. The memory includes, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) or other volatile memory. The arithmetic processing circuit performs various controls by temporarily reading data into memory and performing arithmetic processing.

[0032] The display unit 12 displays an image. The display unit 12 may be, for example, a 3.2-inch color TFT liquid crystal display, but it may also be an organic EL display or other type of display device. The speaker 13 outputs sound. The microwave receiver 14 includes an antenna and a receiving circuit and receives microwaves. The control unit 11 detects the presence of a speed enforcement device (e.g., a speed camera) based on microwaves of a predetermined frequency received by the microwave receiver 14. The GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 15 includes an antenna and a receiving circuit and receives signals from GPS satellites. The GPS receiver 15 processes the received signals and outputs location information. The location information indicates the current location of the system 10. The location information indicates the current location of the vehicle 40 on which the system 10 is installed. The location information may include at least latitude and longitude information, and preferably also include altitude information. The communication unit 16 communicates with an external device. The communication unit 16 performs wireless communication, for example, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, or other types of wireless communication.

[0033] The memory unit 17 stores data. For example, the memory unit 17 stores programs for the control unit 11 to perform various controls. The control unit 11 reads the programs from the memory unit 17 into memory and executes them. The memory unit 17 stores map data showing maps, data showing the types and locations of various facilities, data for notifying the presence of objects to be notified (alarmed), and data for realizing route guidance functions. The objects to be notified include locations of accidents caused by drowsy driving, speed measuring devices (radar type, loop coil type, H system, LH system, photoelectric tube type, mobile type, laser type, etc.), speed limit change points, enforcement areas, checkpoint areas, parking violation monitoring areas, N systems, traffic monitoring systems, intersection monitoring points, red light violation prevention systems, police stations, accident-prone areas, car break-in-prone areas, sharp / continuous curves (expressways), junction / merging points (expressways), ETC lane advance notice (expressways), service areas (expressways), parking areas (expressways), highway oases (expressways), smart interchanges (expressways), gas stations within PA / SA (expressways), tunnels (expressways), highway radio reception areas (expressways), prefectural border notices, roadside stations, and viewpoint parking areas, etc. The memory unit 17 stores information on the type of object to be notified, location information indicating the location where the object exists, image data (for example, a schematic diagram or photograph) to be displayed on the display unit 12, and audio data in association with each other.

[0034] The storage unit 17 may also include a storage medium for permanently storing data. The storage unit 17 may include, for example, an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor recording medium, or other recording media.

[0035] The control unit 18 receives user input. The control unit 18 includes, for example, a touch sensor, volume control buttons, and operation buttons. The touch sensor is provided on the surface of the display unit 12 and detects the position touched by the user. The volume control buttons are operated to adjust the volume of sound output from the speaker 13. The operation buttons are for performing various tasks.

[0036] The sensor unit 19 includes various sensors. For example, the sensor unit 19 includes a geomagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an illuminance sensor. The geomagnetic sensor detects the Earth's magnetic field to determine which direction north is relative to the direction of travel. The acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of the vehicle in the forward, backward, left, right, and up and down directions. The illuminance sensor detects the illuminance, which indicates the brightness inside the vehicle.

[0037] The mounting section 20 is a mounting section into which an external storage medium is mounted. The external storage medium is, for example, a memory card. In this case, the mounting section 20 is a memory card slot. The data to be stored in the storage section 17 is preferably acquired via the external storage medium. This data includes updated information on new notification targets (location information such as longitude and latitude, type information, etc.).

[0038] The power supply unit 21 supplies power from the power source to each part of the system 10. The power supply unit 21 includes, for example, a power switch and a DC jack. The DC jack is for connecting a cigarette lighter plug cord, which is connected to the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket to receive power. The power switch is a switch for turning the power of the system 10 on or off.

[0039] The light-emitting section 22 emits light in various colors. The light-emitting section 22 includes, for example, a light-emitting diode.

[0040] The cable terminal section 23 is a terminal to which an external connection cable is connected. For example, the connection cable is one that connects the system 10 to the OBD-II connector installed in the vehicle. The OBD-II connector is also called a fault diagnosis connector and is connected to the vehicle's ECU, and various vehicle information is output from it.

[0041] Figure 3 shows an example of an alarm from the display unit 12. In this embodiment, since the device is a navigation device and therefore has map data, the control unit 11 has the function of reading road network information around the current location and displaying a map of the area around the current location on the display unit 12 as the basic screen. The warning screen 70 is then displayed on the display unit 12 overlaid on the currently displayed screen (in this case, the map of the area around the current location). Figure 3 shows an example of the warning screen 70 display when the map 50 is displayed and the distance between the current location and an LH system, which is a type of speed measuring device that is one of the traffic monitoring points, becomes 500m. Furthermore, the device outputs a warning voice message from the speaker 13 indicating the type of alarm and the distance, such as "LH system 500m ahead."

[0042] System 10 has a language setting function. The language setting function is a function that accepts the setting of the language that System 10 will use to broadcast information. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the language setting function of System 10.

[0043] Next, we will explain the operation of system 10.

[0044] <1. Language setting function> In system 10, the control unit 11 displays a screen for accepting language setting input (step S101). The control unit 11 may display buttons corresponding to Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese on the display unit 12 and accept the user's operation to select one of the languages ​​using the operation unit 18. The control unit 11 sets the language selected by the user's operation of the operation unit 18 as the language to be used for information notification (step S102). The control unit 11 may store the language setting data in memory or storage unit 17. Based on this setting data, the control unit 11 provides information notification in the specified language.

[0045] In addition to or instead of language settings, the control unit 11 may have a function to accept country settings. The country may be the user's home country or current country of residence. In this case, the control unit 11 will set the language corresponding to the set country (for example, the official language of that country) as the language used for disseminating information.

[0046] <2. Information Output Function> The control unit 11 should implement a function (information output function) that outputs information with different content depending on the country or language set in the language setting function. As will be explained below for each function, the system 10 should be configured to have some or all of the following functions. In addition, when language such as text (strings) or voice is used in the output of information in the information output function, the language set in the language setting function will be used unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, in the parts described as "display," voice or other means of notifying user-recognizable information may be used as appropriate.

[0047] (2-1) Show the correspondence between traffic signs in other countries and Japanese traffic signs. Japanese road signs conform to the United Nations Road Signs standard, and are therefore basically similar to those in Europe and Asia (except for, for example, "Stop"), but they differ significantly from the US system. Therefore, the control unit 11 should be equipped with a function to search for the meaning of road signs and output the correspondence between traffic signs in other countries and Japanese traffic signs. For example, the control unit 11 can display a traffic sign from another country on the display unit 12, and when it receives a selection from the user using the operation unit 18, it will display a Japanese traffic sign with the same or similar meaning on the display unit 12.

[0048] Regarding this function, the system 10 may be configured to be able to communicate with a drive recorder or other in-vehicle camera via the communication unit 16, or to have a camera that photographs the front of the vehicle, and the control unit 11 may recognize traffic signs from the captured images and guide the user on the correspondence between those traffic signs and traffic signs in other countries. The control unit 11 may decide which country's traffic signs to display as the target of the search based on language or country settings. The control unit 11 may display the meaning of the road sign recognized from the captured image in a language that the user can understand, by means of text, audio, or other methods. The display may be done by popping up as needed. In this way, the meaning of Japanese traffic signs will be easy to understand even for foreign users.

[0049] Regarding this function, system 10 should detect wrong-way driving on a one-way street and notify the user of the information. For example, in the case of a one-way road, system 10 should accurately determine wrong-way driving if the location of the one-way road and the location of the vehicle match on the map and the direction of travel of the vehicle is facing the wrong direction, but various known determination methods can be applied. In this case, control unit 11 should convert the road sign to the sign of the user's home country according to the language or country selection and display it on display unit 12. For example, if the language is set to Chinese, control unit 11 should display a one-way sign in China on the navigation function screen instead of a Japanese one-way sign. Conventional navigation devices also display speed limit signs when on a highway, but control unit 11 should display these using the sign of the language selected country. This makes it easier for foreigners to understand the meaning of Japanese traffic signs.

[0050] (2-2) Parking Information The control unit 11, based on the signal received by the GPS receiver 15, provides instructions on how to use the parking meter when it detects that a vehicle is parked at the location where the parking meter is installed in the parking lot. For example, the control unit 11 may provide instructions on how to use the parking meter when it detects, for example, that a vehicle is present in the parking lot (more specifically, a parking lot with a parking meter) based on location information identified from the signal received by the GPS receiver 15, and that the user is attempting to park the vehicle, has backed up, or has been parked for a predetermined period of time. For example, the control unit 11 may provide instructions on how to use the parking meter, such as inserting the usage fee and attaching the resulting sticker to the windshield, or indicating the available usage time (e.g., limited to one hour). Parking meters are common in urban areas, and with international events such as the Olympics approaching, their usage rate is expected to increase. However, currently, instructions are only available in Japanese, and the usage method is unique. This approach, by adopting multiple languages, would improve convenience and prevent violations by foreign tourists.

[0051] (2-3) Driving Warnings & Guides The control unit 11 of system 10 should, if it detects dangerous driving behavior from images captured by the camera more than a set number of times, provide guidance on driving rules (what rules should be followed while driving). Dangerous driving could be, for example, distracted driving or drowsy driving. The control unit 11 should be able to communicate with a camera (not shown) that photographs the driver via a communication unit 16, and should determine whether it is dangerous driving by analyzing the images captured by this camera. Dangerous driving may also be aggressive driving if it can be determined whether it is aggressive driving by image analysis of images taken from the front of the vehicle or by other methods. The control unit 11 should change the traffic rules it provides guidance on according to the nature of the dangerous driving, and should guide the user on how to avoid dangerous driving. For example, if the control unit 11 detects distracted driving, it should warn the user not to drive while holding a smartphone, using methods such as display or voice output. In that case, the control unit 11 should also provide guidance on the differences in traffic rules between Japan and the user's home country or country of residence. Smartphones and other mobile devices are owned by people all over the world. Therefore, the control unit 11 should warn the user in a language they can understand about what kind of mobile device operation is a violation while driving. In this way, by informing users who have engaged in dangerous driving about traffic rules, it is possible to make them more aware of safe driving.

[0052] (2-4) Emergency Vehicle Approach Warning & Guide The control unit 11 should provide guidance on how to respond when it detects the approach of an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance. This is because emergency vehicles have different sirens and designs, which foreigners may not understand. When approaching an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, tourists are not allowed to obstruct its movement. Therefore, the control unit 11 should provide guidance on how to respond when vehicle 40 is in a predetermined proximity relationship with an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance. A predetermined proximity relationship with a predetermined object can be, for example, determined when the distance between the location information of the predetermined object and the location information identified based on the signal received by the GPS receiver 15 is less than or equal to a predetermined distance. In addition, the predetermined proximity relationship can be determined based on positional relationships such as the predetermined object being in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In this way, even in urgent situations, the user can understand and take appropriate action. The detection of emergency vehicles such as ambulances should be performed in the same way as well-known navigation devices and radar detectors.

[0053] (2-5) Level Crossing Guide Conventional navigation systems provide guidance when they detect that vehicle 40 is approaching a level crossing, but they don't provide information on stopping or responding when the bell starts ringing, or when there is traffic congestion on the other side of the level crossing even if the crossing is open. Therefore, the control unit 11 should, based on the location information identified from the signal received by the GPS receiver 15, provide guidance that it is a high-risk case if it determines that vehicle 40 is in a predetermined proximity to the level crossing. If the user is unaware of the need to stop, there is a risk of rear-ending a vehicle that suddenly stops in front of them, or their own vehicle getting stuck on the tracks, but serious accidents can be prevented.

[0054] (2-6) Advance notice of Metropolitan Expressway etc. In Japan, the Metropolitan Expressway has a unique design. Therefore, if the control unit 11 determines that there are areas that may confuse or be dangerous for foreign tourists, such as the absence of acceleration lanes or the presence of exits and merges on the right side where driving lanes cross, it should provide guidance on how to deal with these situations before the vehicle enters the Metropolitan Expressway. For example, if the control unit 11 determines, based on the signal received by the GPS receiver 15, that the vehicle 40 is in a predetermined proximity to the entrance of the Metropolitan Expressway, it should provide guidance on how to deal with these situations. Also, for example, if the Metropolitan Expressway is on the route in the route guidance function, the control unit 11 should notify the vehicle of the unique characteristics of the Metropolitan Expressway and allow the vehicle to choose whether or not to use it. Then, if the use of the Metropolitan Expressway is selected by the operation of the operation unit 18, the control unit 11 should guide the vehicle along a route that includes the Metropolitan Expressway; otherwise, it should guide the vehicle along a route that does not include the Metropolitan Expressway. Even for Japanese people, the Metropolitan Expressway can be difficult to drive if they are not accustomed to it, but it is expected that the usage rate by foreigners will increase with the holding of the Olympics. Furthermore, even on the Metropolitan Expressway, which has narrow roads and high average speeds, providing guidance in advance can prevent accidents. Here, we've used the Metropolitan Expressway as an example, but it would be beneficial to pre-designate and notify about complex roads like the Metropolitan Expressway. This configuration can be applied to expressways running through urban areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. It can also be applied to special routes that even Japanese people find confusing, such as tram lines and bus lanes.

[0055] (2-7) Consideration Hazard Guide In Japan, it is customary to flash hazard lights for a few seconds when someone yields to you when merging, or when there is traffic congestion ahead on a highway. Therefore, if the control unit 11 detects that a vehicle 40 is present at a designated location such as a merging point where two or more roads merge, or if it detects a designated traffic condition such as congestion, based on the signal received by the GPS receiver 15, it is advisable to provide guidance on customs that differ from traffic laws (for example, customs unique to Japan). Doing so helps to avoid traffic troubles and accidents. Although it is not illegal for users not to perform such actions, it is meant as a consideration for safer driving. In this way, foreigners and others can understand customs unique to Japan that differ from traffic laws.

[0056] (2-8) A function that prioritizes displaying results that are highly specific to "Japan" when searching. System 10 should have a function that prioritizes displaying search results that are highly specific to "Japan" when searching for facilities such as stores. The requirements of Japanese people using navigation on a daily basis are likely to differ from those of overseas travelers. Therefore, this can enhance the experience value for foreign travelers. For example, when searching for lunch, the control unit 11 will prioritize displaying dishes unique to Japan or unique Japanese street food. The degree of "Japan-specificity" can be determined, for example, by assigning parameters to the store information that becomes the search result, but other methods are also acceptable. In this way, when displaying multiple search results, System 10 should prioritize displaying predetermined search results according to the multiple search results and the region in which the system is used.

[0057] Furthermore, the control unit 11 should be able to be set to perform the above search or a normal search (i.e., a search that does not prioritize results that are highly specific to Japan). The control unit 11 displays selection items such as "traveler" and "resident" on the display unit 12 for the search settings, and accepts one of these selections through operation of the operation unit 18. Since there are foreigners who are not travelers, this can improve convenience for both such people and travelers. It would be good to provide a selection function for "prioritize major spots" and "prioritize minor spots," as well as a search function. In this way, it will be easier for foreigners and others to obtain information about the area they are using.

[0058] (2-9) Searching for locations related to Japan and your country of origin System 10 should have a function to accept the user's country settings (for example, input of the country of origin) and a function to search for places related to Japan, the region in which System 10 is used, and the set country (for example, the country of origin). The control unit 11 displays a screen on the display unit 12 for the user to select a country, for example, when the system is first started after the user rents a car. The control unit 11 displays a screen asking whether to prioritize places related to the selected country. If the setting is to prioritize places related to the selected country, the control unit 11 will request search results in order of the degree of relevance between Japan and that country, thus satisfying the desire not only to see traditional Japanese things, but also to deepen one's knowledge by learning about the connection between one's own country and Japan. For example, when an Italian searches for lunch, the control unit 11 should prioritize presenting restaurants that serve Italian and Japanese fusion cuisine, such as asking, "Do you want to eat Japanese 'pasta'?" or "Do you want to eat 'ankake spaghetti'?" The control unit 11 should further assign country-specific priorities to genres and pre-assign and record country-specific priorities to the facilities that appear in the search results. Furthermore, the control unit 11 should store a set of keywords in the facility description that indicate a high priority in that country, and display the facilities in the description that contain the most of these keywords in order of priority. Doing so makes it easier for foreigners and others to obtain information about the area in which the system 10 is used.

[0059] (2-10) A function that prioritizes displaying highly-rated locations from users of the country of origin on the internet. System 10 has a function to accept the user's country settings (e.g., input of the country of origin) and has a function to prioritize displaying places that have received high ratings (e.g., so-called "likes") from other users in that country on the internet, such as on social media. System 10 has a function to search the internet for popular spots among people in the selected country and reflects the search results in the search results. This is because what constitutes a good place in Japan is likely to differ from country to country. System 10 has a spot rating function and it would be good to collect survey results by country. The control unit 11, for example, when it detects that a spot has been visited (for example, if the ACC is turned ON at the location of the facility and the time elapsed since the last ACC OFF is longer than the time equivalent to stopping by the restroom, etc.), requests a survey. The survey could be, for example, a rating (indicator) such as the number of "★" stars. System 10 stores this information in association with the set country and facility ID, and it would be good to display it when another person visits the facility next time, or use it as information for priority display. In this way, it becomes easier to guide foreigners and others to places that are likely to be of interest.

[0060] (2-11) A function to display detailed facility information, specifically for foreigners, separately from information for Japanese people. System 10 should display information for foreigners separately from information for Japanese people as detailed information about facilities. The control unit 11 of System 10 should provide different guidance information for search results of places such as shops and tourist spots depending on whether the set country is a first country (e.g., Japan) or a second country (e.g., a foreign country other than Japan). In the latter case, for example, if a foreign country other than Japan is set, the control unit 11 should display how to worship at a shrine. This allows foreigners to learn in advance about manners and other things that are common knowledge for Japanese people but not for foreigners. In the former case, the control unit 11 should display different information instead of showing how to worship. System 10 should have a function to store and display information specific to each language, in addition to information that has simply been translated into each language. This makes it easier to guide foreigners to places that are likely to be of interest to them.

[0061] (2-12) A function to provide and display genre information for foreigners for genres (facility types, etc.) that are thought to require explanation for foreigners. System 10 has a function to provide and display genre information for foreigners regarding genres (such as types of facilities) that are likely to require explanation for foreigners. For example, if the destination is set to "○○ Shrine," the control unit 11 will display how to visit a shrine. In this way, it is possible to attract interest in things unique to Japan, learn about the culture and manners in advance, and enhance the travel experience. Furthermore, when System 10 displays a genre selection item such as "Temples and Shrines," it is good to display an [info] button alongside it, such as "temples and shrines [info]," and when this is pressed, it will display an overview of how to visit them. In this way, it is easier to guide foreigners to places that are likely to be of interest to them.

[0062] (2-13) A function to output publicly available enforcement information in a table format, translated into the language of that country. System 10 should have a function to replace publicly available enforcement information with a table in the language of that country and output it (for example, as a display or guidance). Since the format of publicly available enforcement information is fixed, the control unit 11 should process it by replacing it with a table of countries and words. This can raise awareness of safe driving. The control unit 11 should insert and display information related to driving in Japan in the selected language within the on-screen text display.

[0063] (2-14) A function that replaces the signage with the signage of the specified country and displays it in AR (Augmented Reality). System 10 should have a function to replace the road sign display with the road sign display in a set country and display it in AR. System 10 stores the identification information of Japanese road signs and images of road signs in each country in correspondence. Then, the control unit 11 controls the display (AR display) of the image of the road sign in the set country that corresponds to the ID of the road sign recognized by image recognition of the camera, adjusting the size to the position of the recognized road sign. In this way, since the road sign is displayed with the sign of one's own country when looking at the screen, learning the correspondence relationship becomes easier. System 10 should perform this processing in real time. AR display makes it easier for foreigners and others to understand and see the road signs.

[0064] (2-15) A function that recognizes road markings and communicates their meaning in a set language. System 10 should have a function to recognize road markings in front of the vehicle 40 and to inform the user of their meaning in a set language. The control unit 11 of System 10 should perform control to replace the road markings with those of the country using augmented reality (AR) or to display and inform the user of the sign of that country. For example, System 10 should store identification information of Japanese road markings in association with images of road markings or road signs corresponding to those road markings for each country, and the control unit 11 should perform control to display the image of the road marking or road sign of the set country corresponding to the ID of the road marking recognized by image recognition. System 10 should perform this process in real time. For example, when replacing with a road sign, System 10 may display it at the shoulder of the road, or it may simply display it in the center of the screen. This makes it easier for foreigners and others to understand the road markings.

[0065] (2-16) A function that displays a specific character only when the foreign language mode of the navigation system for rentals for foreigners is activated. System 10 should have a function to display a specific character (for example, the "Kirishima Rei" character provided by the applicant) when a specific country or language is set (for example, when the navigation system for foreign rentals is activated in foreign language mode). On the other hand, if another specific country or language is set (for example, when Japanese mode is set), System 10 should provide guidance without displaying the character. This is because foreigners want to experience Japanese culture when they travel in Japan. System 10 should, for example, only display the specific character when a specific country or language is set. System 10 should also display a message asking users to take a picture of the navigation screen with the character and upload it to social media. The character can be a video or a still image. Doing so will make it easier for foreigners to take an interest in System 10.

[0066] (2-17) A function to reset the country setting when you return to the place where you started driving a rental car, etc. System 10 should have a function to reset the country setting when the driver returns to the place where they started driving, such as a rental car. The control unit 11 should have a function to set the location of the rental car company (e.g., home), and when it detects that the driver has returned to that location, it should display a confirmation screen asking "Do you want to reset the settings?" and reset the country setting (e.g., back to Japanese) if "Yes" is selected. If System 10 detects that the ACC has been turned on at the rental car company's location, it should display a language setting screen or a country of origin setting screen to allow the driver to set the language. This would prevent the driver from being shown instructions in a foreign language that they would not understand, such as when the country setting is set to a foreign country. System 10 should have a function to input the length of stay and reset it after the length of stay has elapsed.

[0067] (2-18) Multilingual signage While conventional road signs are sometimes only available in Japanese and English, System 10 should display Chinese road signs on the navigation system when Chinese is selected. For example, translating "Tokyo" into Chinese would result in a different character representation, potentially making it easier for Chinese speakers to understand. System 10 should display this in the language currently selected.

[0068] (2-19) A function that outputs the payment methods available for payment at a facility when searching for a facility. In recent years, cashless payments have become mainstream overseas, and there are complaints that it is difficult to find stores in Japan that accept them. Therefore, the control unit 11 of system 10 has a function to search for stores and other facilities that accept payments by accepting input of payment methods used overseas (e.g., Alipay, WeChat Pay, Jiekou Pay, PromptPay, etc.), payment methods used in Japan (e.g., transportation IC cards, Edy, QuickPay, PayPay, LINE PAY, etc.), and various credit cards as keywords (hereinafter referred to as "payment method keywords"). The control unit 11 displays a screen that accepts input of search conditions corresponding to the payment method and other search conditions. Other search conditions include the type of facility, location, price range, etc. Based on the search conditions corresponding to the payment method and other search conditions accepted via this screen (e.g., AND conditions or OR conditions), the control unit 11 searches for facilities and displays the search results. Furthermore, the control unit 11 may associate the detailed information of the facilities included in the search results with the payment methods available at those facilities (including payment methods used overseas) and display them on the display unit 12. To realize the above functions, it is preferable that the storage unit 17 stores information on the payment methods available for each facility. In addition, the control unit 11 may display the search results using the language corresponding to the payment method used as the search condition. For example, if the search condition is a payment method used in China, the control unit 11 may display the search results in Chinese. In this way, the payment methods available to the user can be given priority along with the search results, improving user convenience.

[0069] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the appended claims, the present inventors intend to include configurations not currently specified in the claims within the scope of the claims in the future.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiments above. The components of each embodiment and modification described above can be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment and modification can be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. The present application intends to obtain rights to these as well through amendments or divisional applications. Even if there is a description such as "in the case of..." or "when...", it is not described as a configuration that is limited to that case or time. Configurations that do not fall under these cases or times are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, it is not limited to that order. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them.

[0071] Furthermore, by converting to a design registration application, we intend to acquire rights to the overall design or a partial design. If the device displays an image, we intend to acquire rights to the design including all or part of that image. The drawing depicts the entire device with solid lines, but it is a drawing that includes not only the overall design but also partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, it is a drawing that includes not only a partial design for a part of the device's components, but also a partial design for a part of the device regardless of its components. A part of the device may be a component of the device, or a part of that component. We intend to acquire rights not only to the overall design, but also to any part of the drawing that is represented by a dashed line within the solid line portion. Furthermore, all modules, components, and parts inside the device's casing that are shown in the drawing are independently tradable, and we intend to acquire rights to them by converting to a design registration application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 10: System 11: Control Unit 12: Display section 13: Speaker 14: Microwave receiver 15: GPS receiver 16: Communications Department 17: Storage section 18:Operation section 19: Sensor section 20: Mounting part 21: Power supply section 22: Light-emitting part 23: Cable terminal section 40: Vehicles 41: Dashboard 50: Map 70: Warning screen

Claims

1. A system installed in a vehicle, A feature that allows users to set their country or language, A function that outputs different information depending on the set country or language. It has, The function that accepts the aforementioned settings includes a function that resets the country or language setting when it detects that the vehicle has returned to the place where it started driving. A system characterized by the following.

2. The function that accepts the aforementioned settings includes a function to set the location of the rental car company, and a function to reset the country or language setting when it detects that the user has returned to the location of the rental car company. The system according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The function that accepts the aforementioned settings includes a feature that, when it detects that the ACC has been turned on at the rental car company's location, displays a language setting screen or a country of origin setting screen and allows the user to make the setting. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The function that accepts the aforementioned settings includes a function to input the length of stay and a function to reset the country or language setting after the length of stay has elapsed. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. The output function includes a feature that, if the Metropolitan Expressway is present on the route in the route guidance function, notifies the user of the unique characteristics of the Metropolitan Expressway and allows the user to choose whether or not to use it. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

6. The aforementioned route guidance function will guide you along a route that includes the Metropolitan Expressway if the use of the Metropolitan Expressway is selected by operation of the control panel, and guide you along a route that does not include the Metropolitan Expressway if the use of the Metropolitan Expressway is not selected. The system according to claim 5, characterized by the following:

7. The aforementioned peculiarities include at least one of the following: the absence of an acceleration lane, the presence of exits or merges on the right side where driving lines cross, and a narrow road width and high average speed. The system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by the above.

8. The output function accepts the user's country setting and includes a function to search for locations related to the system's usage area and the set country. If the setting prioritizes locations related to the selected country, the search results will be displayed in order from the locations with the highest relevance to the usage area and the set country. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

9. The output function includes a spot evaluation function, which compiles survey results by country, stores the evaluation in association with the facility ID, and displays it when another person visits the facility next time, or uses it as information for priority presentation. The system according to claim 8, characterized by the following:

10. A program for a computer to implement the functions of the system described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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