Apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program

Abstract

The present invention provides a mobile device that enables strict control over the movement of vehicles under its management using predetermined designated routes. [Solution] In a navigation device NV that guides the movement of a vehicle under the management of an administrator, at least one of either location information indicating the point to which the vehicle should move, or route information indicating a route that includes the point to which the vehicle should move, is acquired, and during guidance of the vehicle's movement along the route using the acquired route information, the device does not present any other routes that the vehicle should take that are not the route corresponding to the route information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of devices, information processing methods, and information processing programs. More specifically, it belongs to the technical field of mobile devices that guide the movement of mobile objects under the management of an administrator, information processing methods executed in the mobile devices, and programs for the information processing.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a navigation device that searches for a route to a destination to be moved and provides guidance along the searched route has been widely known. As a prior art document showing an example of such a navigation device, for example, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited.

[0003] In the technology described in this Patent Document 1, when the moving speed of a vehicle is equal to or higher than a reference speed, re-searching of the route is prohibited.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the prior art including the technology described in the above Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to managing the vehicle to move only on a preset designated route. Therefore, in this case, there is a problem that the movement of the vehicle under management cannot be strictly managed according to a predetermined designated route. [[ID=四十]]

[0006] Therefore, this application was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and one example of the problems addressed is to provide a device that can strictly control the movement of vehicles under management using a predetermined designated route, an information processing method executed in said device, and a program for said information processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a device for guiding the movement of a mobile object under the management of an administrator, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first route information indicating a first route including points to which the mobile object should move; and detection means for detecting the current position of the mobile object, wherein during guidance of the movement of the mobile object using the acquired first route information, even if the detected current position deviates from the first route, the device is configured not to provide voice guidance for a movement path other than the first route that the mobile object should take.

[0008] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 9 is an information processing method performed in a device for guiding the movement of a mobile body under the management of an administrator, the device comprising an acquisition means and a detection means, the method comprising an acquisition step of acquiring first route information indicating a first route including points to which the mobile body should move using the acquisition means, and a detection step of detecting the current position of the mobile body using the detection means, wherein during guidance of the movement of the mobile body using the acquired first route information, even if the detected current position deviates from the first route, the device is configured not to provide voice guidance for a movement path other than the first route to which the mobile body should move.

[0009] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 11 causes a computer to execute the information processing method described in claim 9. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a mobile device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]This is a block diagram showing the outline configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the general configuration of a processing server, etc., according to the embodiment. (a) is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the processing server, and (b) is a block diagram showing the general configuration of a navigation device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the information processing related to the example. [Figure 5] The figures show examples of screens displayed on a navigation device in the information processing according to the embodiment, where (a) is a figure showing example screen (I), (b) is a figure showing example screen (II), and (c) is a figure illustrating the content of an email according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a mobile device according to the embodiment.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the mobile device S according to this embodiment is a mobile device S that guides the movement of a mobile object under the management of an administrator, and includes an acquisition means 1.

[0013] In this configuration, acquisition means 1 acquires at least one of either location information indicating the point to which the moving object should move, or first route information indicating a first route that includes the point to which the moving object should move.

[0014] Furthermore, while guiding the movement of the mobile object using the acquired first route information, the mobile object device S does not present any other routes that the mobile object should take besides the first route.

[0015] As described above, according to the operation of the mobile device S according to the embodiment, during guidance of movement using the acquired first route information, no other movement path that the mobile device should take is presented, so that the movement of the mobile device can be strictly controlled using the first route information. [Examples]

[0016] Next, specific embodiments corresponding to the above-described embodiments will be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 5. The embodiments described below are examples in which the present invention is applied to an information processing system in which navigation devices mounted on multiple vehicles, an administrator device for managing the movement of the multiple vehicles, and a processing server according to the embodiment are connected via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the above-described vehicles correspond to an example of a mobile body according to the embodiment.

[0017] Furthermore, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the processing server, etc., according to the embodiment, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the information processing according to the embodiment, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the navigation device in the information processing.In this case, in Figures 2 and 3, the same component number as the component in the mobile device S according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is used for each component in the embodiment that corresponds to each component in the mobile device S.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the information processing system SS according to the embodiment is configured such that an administrator device M used by an administrator to manage the movement of multiple vehicles, navigation devices NV1, NV2, ..., NVn (where n is a natural number) installed in each of the multiple vehicles, and a processing server SV are connected via the network NW to enable data exchange. In the following description, when describing common matters concerning navigation devices NV1, NV2, ..., NVn, they will be collectively referred to as "navigation device NV".

[0019] In this configuration, the administrator who uses the administrator device M is responsible for managing the movement modes of the vehicles equipped with the navigation device NV according to the embodiments. At this time, the movement mode refers to the points where each vehicle should stop and the routes to be taken when stopping at those points. And there are two modes of management by the administrator as follows.

[0020] That is, the first management mode is to send a list of location information indicating the points (in other words, the points to be passed through) where each vehicle should stop and the destination to each vehicle. In each vehicle, a route to reach the destination via each point indicated by the location information is searched, and the vehicle is moved based on the search result. In the case of this first management mode, as an administrator, only the points where each vehicle should move (i.e., the points to be passed through) are instructed, and the route itself for moving via each point depends on the search result of the navigation device NV installed in each vehicle. This first management mode is hereinafter referred to as "registered course management".

[0021] On the other hand, the second management mode is a management mode in which the administrator not only specifies the points where each vehicle should stop and the destination, but also specifies the route for moving via each of those points. At this time, the route for moving specified by the administrator for each vehicle is hereinafter referred to as the "specified route". And under the second management mode, the route is not searched independently by each navigation device NV installed in each vehicle. Also, even if a situation occurs in which the vehicle deviates from the specified route, the navigation device NV does not execute a search for a new route to return to the original specified route or a re-search for another route to the destination (so-called re-route search). This second management mode is hereinafter referred to as "specified route course management".

[0022] To perform the above management, the management device M generates either a list of location information or information indicating the designated route, and transmits these to each navigation device NV via the processing server SV. The processing server SV then functions to enable the administrator to manage the movement patterns by detecting the movement patterns of each vehicle (in other words, each navigation device NV) based on either the list of location information or the information indicating the designated route. In the following explanation, the information indicating the designated route will be referred to as "designated route information." When each navigation device NV receives either the list of location information or the information indicating the designated route, it guides the vehicle to move based on either of these, and if, for example, a deviation from the designated route occurs during designated route course management, it reports the occurrence of the deviation to the management device M via the processing server SV.

[0023] Next, the configurations of the processing server SV and each navigation device NV included in the information processing system SS according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 3.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3(a), the processing server SV according to the embodiment consists of an interface 10, a processing unit 11 consisting of a CPU, RAM (Random Access Memory), and ROM (Read Only Memory), a display 12 consisting of a liquid crystal display, an operation unit 13 consisting of a mouse and keyboard, and a recording unit 14 consisting of an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0025] In this configuration, under the control of the processing unit 11, interface 10 controls the exchange of data between each navigation device NV and the administrator device M via the network NW. Meanwhile, the operation unit 13 outputs an operation signal to the processing unit 11 corresponding to the operation performed by the user of the processing server SV. The processing unit 11 then uses the data recorded in the recording unit 14 to comprehensively control the information processing as the processing server SV according to the embodiment, based on the operation signal. At this time, the data recorded in the recording unit 14 includes, for example, a list of location information or designated route information associated with a vehicle ID (e.g., vehicle number) for identifying each vehicle from other vehicles, as well as a program for executing the information processing as the processing server SV according to the embodiment. The information necessary for the processing unit 11 to execute the information processing according to the embodiment is presented to the user via the display 12. The processing unit 11 also executes the information processing according to the embodiment as the processing server SV while exchanging necessary data with the administrator device M and each navigation device NV via interface 10.

[0026] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3(b), each navigation device NV according to the embodiment is composed of an interface 1, a processing unit 2 consisting of a CPU, RAM, and ROM, a display 3 consisting of a liquid crystal display, an operation unit 4 consisting of a remote control and operation buttons, a recording unit 5 consisting of an HDD or SSD, a sensor unit 6 consisting of, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor and a self-contained sensor or an imaging camera, and a speaker 7. In this case, the interface 1 corresponds to an example of the acquisition means 1 according to the embodiment, and the processing unit 2 corresponds to an example of the "determination means," an example of the "passenger notification means," an example of the "administrator notification means," an example of the "return determination means," an example of the "return notification means," an example of the "route generation means," and an example of the "arrival notification means" according to the present application. Furthermore, the operation unit 4 corresponds to an example of the "selection means" according to the present application.

[0027] In this configuration, interface 1 controls the exchange of data with the processing server SV via the network NW under the control of processing unit 2. Meanwhile, operation unit 4 outputs operation signals to processing unit 2 corresponding to operations performed by passengers (including the driver) of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device NV. Processing unit 2 then uses the data recorded in recording unit 5 to comprehensively control the information processing as the processing server SV according to the embodiment, based on the operation signals. At this time, the data recorded in recording unit 5 includes, for example, map data for the map displayed on display 3 when guiding the movement of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device NV, as well as a list of the above-mentioned location information or designated route information acquired via the processing server SV in association with the navigation device NV (in other words, the vehicle). Furthermore, recording unit 5 also records programs for executing the information processing as the navigation device NV according to the embodiment. The information necessary for processing unit 2 to execute the information processing according to the embodiment is presented to the passenger by display on display 3 or by sound via speaker 7. Processing unit 2 also executes the information processing according to the embodiment as the navigation device NV while exchanging necessary data with the processing server SV via interface 1.

[0028] Next, we will specifically describe, using Figures 4 and 5, the information processing according to an embodiment that is mainly performed by the processing server SV and each navigation device NV included in the information processing system SS having the above-described configuration.

[0029] As shown in the corresponding flowchart in Figure 4, the information processing related to the embodiment of the processing server SV begins, for example, when the power switch of the processing server SV is turned on. After the information processing begins, the processing unit 11 of the processing server SV first obtains a list of the above-mentioned location information and the above-mentioned designated route information to be transmitted to the vehicle whose movement is to be managed, from the administrator device M via the network NW. The processing unit 11 then generates course data related to the embodiment, including the obtained list of location information and the designated route information, and transmits it via the network NW to the navigation device NV installed in the vehicle whose movement is to be managed (step S20). The processing unit 11 then monitors the transmission of the departure point route data from the navigation device NV, which will be described later (step S21).

[0030] On the other hand, the information processing related to the embodiment of the navigation device NV is started, for example, when the power switch for the navigation device NV is turned on. After the information processing starts, the processing unit 2 of the navigation device NV monitors whether or not the course data has been transmitted from the processing server SV (step S1; see step S20 above). If the course data has not been transmitted in the monitoring in step S1 (step S1: NO), the processing unit 2 continues monitoring in step S1. On the other hand, if the course data has been transmitted in the monitoring in step S1 (step S1: YES), the processing unit 2 then monitors whether or not a selection operation has been made, for example via the operation unit 4, by a passenger in the vehicle equipped with the navigation device NV, to move the vehicle under the registered course management or under the specified route course management (step S2).

[0031] Here, as part of the selection in step S2, the passenger separately contacts, for example, the administrator using the administrator device M, to confirm whether the vehicle they are driving should be moved under registered course management or designated route course management. The passenger then makes a selection operation as step S2 based on the result of this confirmation.

[0032] If registered course management is selected during monitoring in step S2 (step S2: registered course), the processing unit 2 then independently searches for a route to reach the destination via the points indicated by the point information included in the list of point information for the registered course management (step S3), and then starts guiding the vehicle's movement using, for example, the same guidance processing method as before (step S4). After that, the processing unit 2 monitors whether or not the starting point has been passed on the route searched in step S3 (in other words, whether or not movement has started) (step S5). If the starting point has not yet been passed during monitoring in step S5 (step S5: NO), the processing unit 2 returns to step S4 and continues guidance to the starting point. On the other hand, if the starting point has been passed during monitoring in step S5 (step S5: YES), the processing unit 2 generates starting point data indicating that the starting point has been passed (in other words, that movement to each point indicated by the list of point information has started) and transmits it to the processing server SV via the network NW (step S6). This origin route data includes at least identification data for identifying a vehicle that passed through the origin, and time data indicating the time of passage. The processing unit 2 then proceeds to step S13, which will be described later.

[0033] On the other hand, if specified route course management is selected during monitoring in step S2 (step S2: specified route course), the processing unit 2 then switches the navigation device NV itself to a mode that prohibits the rerouting search (step S7). At this time, the processing unit 2 may switch to the mode that prohibits rerouting search based on the selection of specified route course management in step S2, or, if the specified route information acquired in step S1 includes a prohibition flag that prohibits rerouting search, it may switch to the mode that prohibits rerouting search based on confirmation of the prohibition flag. In the former case, the processing unit 2 will independently switch to the mode that prohibits rerouting search, while in the latter case, it will switch to the mode that prohibits rerouting search based on instructions from the processing server SV.

[0034] After switching to a mode that prohibits rerouting in step S7, the processing unit 2 then detects the current location of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device NV based on current location data from the sensor unit 6. If the detected current location differs from the starting point on the designated route, the processing unit 2 displays the starting point indicator according to the embodiment on the display 3 along with a map of the area that includes the designated route and the current location.

[0035] To illustrate the departure point indicator displayed in step S8, for example, as shown in Figure 5(a), when the map MP, which includes the current location mark PS indicating the current position and the designated route OR (shown as a thick dashed line in Figure 5(a)) including the departure point ST, is displayed on the display 3, a simple straight line departure point indicator G (shown as a dashed line in Figure 5(a)) that is unrelated to the shape of the road, etc., is displayed. This departure point indicator G is a simple indicator that shows the position of the departure point ST of the designated route OR as seen from the current position of the vehicle under designated route course management. Furthermore, it is preferable that the display color of the departure point indicator G on the display 3 be different from the display color of the designated route OR on the display 3. In addition to the straight line departure point indicator G exemplified in Figure 5(a), the departure point indicator G may also be configured to indicate the direction of the departure point ST by an arrow indicating the direction of the departure point ST as seen from the current position, or it may be configured to indicate the direction of the departure point ST by sound via the speaker 7. In this case, the processing unit 2 of the navigation device NV, which is under designated route course management, does not perform route searching from the current location to the departure point ST, nor does it provide guidance using the searched route. Therefore, the passengers of the vehicle move the vehicle to the departure point ST by referring to the map MP displayed together with the departure point indicator G, for example.

[0036] After displaying the departure point indicator G in step S8, the processing unit 2 then monitors whether the vehicle has passed the departure point ST (in other words, whether it has started moving along the designated route) (step S9). If the monitoring in step S9 indicates that the vehicle has not yet passed the departure point ST (step S9: NO), the processing unit 2 returns to step S8 and continues to display the departure point indicator G. On the other hand, if the monitoring in step S9 indicates that the vehicle has passed the departure point ST (step S9: YES), the processing unit 2 generates departure point transit data indicating that the vehicle has passed the departure point ST (in other words, that it has started moving along the designated route) and transmits it to the processing server SV via the network NW (step S10). This departure point transit data includes at least identification data to identify the vehicle that passed the departure point and time data indicating the time of transit. The processing unit 2 then starts guiding the vehicle along the designated route (step S11).

[0037] Next, the processing unit 2 monitors whether a vehicle under designated route course management has deviated from the designated route during movement along the designated route (step S12). In step S12, the processing unit 2 monitors for such deviation based on the current position data from the sensor unit 6. At this time, even if the processing unit 2 detects that the vehicle's current position is outside the designated route, it does not immediately determine that a deviation from the designated route has occurred. For example, it only determines that a deviation from the designated route has occurred when the state of the current position being outside the designated route continues for a certain period of time (e.g., 1 minute) or when it is detected that the current position is a certain distance (e.g., 200 meters) away from the designated route.

[0038] If, during monitoring in step S12, no deviation from the designated route has occurred (step S12: NO), the processing unit 2 then monitors whether the vehicle under designated route course management has arrived at a waypoint included in the designated route (step S13). If, during monitoring in step S13, the vehicle has not yet arrived at the waypoint (step S13: NO), the processing unit 2 returns to step S11 and repeats the process described above. On the other hand, if, during monitoring in step S13, the vehicle has arrived at the waypoint (step S13: YES), the processing unit 2 generates waypoint arrival data indicating that the vehicle has arrived at the waypoint and transmits it to the processing server SV via the network NW (step S14). This waypoint arrival data includes at least identification data to identify the vehicle that has arrived at the waypoint and time data indicating the time of arrival.

[0039] Next, the processing unit 2 monitors whether the vehicle under designated route course management has arrived at a destination included in the designated route (step S15). If the vehicle has not yet arrived at the destination as of the monitoring in step S15 (step S15: NO), the processing unit 2 returns to step S11 and repeats the process described above. On the other hand, if the vehicle has arrived at the destination as of the monitoring in step S15 (step S15: YES), the processing unit 2 generates destination arrival data indicating that the vehicle has arrived at the destination and sends it to the processing server SV via the network NW (step S16). This destination arrival data includes at least identification data to identify the vehicle that has arrived at the destination and time data indicating the time of arrival.

[0040] Subsequently, the processing unit 2 determines whether to terminate the information processing related to the embodiment of the navigation device NV, for example, because the power switch of the navigation device NV has been turned off (step S17). If the determination in step S17 is to continue the information processing (step S17: NO), the processing unit 2 returns to step S1 and repeats the process described above. On the other hand, if the determination in step S17 is to terminate the information processing (step S17: YES), the processing unit 2 terminates the information processing.

[0041] On the other hand, if the monitoring in step S12 determines that a deviation from the designated route has occurred (step S12: YES), the processing unit 2 then performs the processing for when the designated route has been deviated from (step S18). In step S18, the processing unit 2 performs the following (i) and (ii). (i) Message output to passengers of vehicles equipped with the NV navigation system. (ii) Transmission of off-route data to the processing server SV via the network NW, indicating that a vehicle under designated route course management has deviated from the designated route. At this time, as part of the process described in (i) above, the processing unit 2 displays a message MG, as illustrated in Figure 5(b), on the display 3 along with a current location mark PS indicating the current location of the vehicle that has deviated from the designated route. In this case, the processing unit 2 may, for example, emit a warning sound from the speaker 7 indicating that the vehicle has deviated while displaying the message MG. Furthermore, the display of the message MG is repeated at predetermined intervals (for example, every 5 minutes).

[0042] On the other hand, as part of the process described in (ii) above, the processing unit 2 transmits the data indicating the vehicle that deviated from the designated route, and the time and location of the deviation, to the processing server SV.

[0043] Then, the passengers of the vehicle who have undergone the process described in (i) above will contact, for example, the administrator using the administrator device M, separately to ask for instructions on how to return to the designated route and what other actions they should take.

[0044] Subsequently, the processing unit 2 monitors whether the vehicle has returned to the designated route, for example, based on current location data from the sensor unit 6 (step S19). If the vehicle has not returned to the designated route (step S19: NO), it returns to step S18 and continues the process described in (i) above. At this time, the processing unit 2 may send the data indicating the vehicle is outside the designated route to the processing server SV only once, or it may repeat this process two or more times. On the other hand, if the determination in step S19 indicates that the vehicle has returned to the designated route (step S19: YES), the processing unit 2 proceeds to step S13 and performs the processing from step S13 onward.

[0045] On the other hand, in the monitoring described in step S21, if the processing unit 11 of the processing server SV does not receive the departure route data (see step S6 or step S10) from the navigation device NV (step S21: NO), it continues the monitoring. On the other hand, if departure route data is received (step S21: YES), the processing unit 11 reports the departure route to the administrator device M, including at least identification data to identify the vehicle that sent the departure route data and data indicating the route time (step S22). This report is made via the network NW.

[0046] Next, the processing unit 11 monitors the transmission of the waypoint arrival data (see step S14) from the navigation device NV (step S23). If, during the monitoring in step S23, the waypoint arrival data has not been transmitted from the navigation device NV (step S23: NO), the processing unit 11 continues the monitoring. On the other hand, if the waypoint arrival data has been transmitted (step S23: YES), the processing unit 11 reports the arrival at the waypoint to the administrator device M, including at least identification data to identify the vehicle that transmitted the waypoint arrival data and data indicating the time of arrival (step S24). This report is also made via the network NW.

[0047] Meanwhile, in parallel with the monitoring in step S23, the processing unit 11 monitors for the transmission of the specified route deviation data (see step S18) from the navigation device NV (step S25). If, in the monitoring in step S25, no specified route deviation data has been transmitted from the navigation device NV (step S25: NO), the processing unit 11 continues the monitoring. If, however, specified route deviation data has been transmitted (step S25: YES), the processing unit 11 reports the deviation from the specified route to the administrator device M, including at least identification data to identify the vehicle that transmitted the specified route deviation data, and data indicating the time and location of the deviation from the specified route, respectively (step S26). This report is also made via the network NW, but only once per reception of specified route deviation data. Preferably, this report is made by sending an email ML containing the content illustrated in Figure 5(c), for example, to the administrator device M via the network NW.

[0048] Subsequently, the processing unit 11 monitors the transmission of destination arrival data (see step S16) from the navigation device NV (step S27). If, during the monitoring in step S27, destination arrival data has not been transmitted from the navigation device NV (step S27: NO), the processing unit 11 continues the monitoring. On the other hand, if destination arrival data has been transmitted (step S27: YES), the processing unit 11 reports the arrival at the destination to the administrator device M, including at least identification data to identify the vehicle that transmitted the destination arrival data and data indicating the time of arrival (step S28). This report is also made via the network NW.

[0049] Subsequently, the processing unit 11 determines whether to terminate the information processing related to the embodiment as a processing server SV, for example, because the power switch of the processing server SV has been turned off (step S29). If the determination in step S29 is to continue the information processing (step S29: NO), the processing unit 11 returns to step S20 and repeats the process described above. On the other hand, if the determination in step S29 is to terminate the information processing (step S29: YES), the processing unit 11 terminates the information processing.

[0050] As explained above, according to the operation of the information processing system SS in the embodiment, while guiding movement on a designated route OR using acquired designated route information, other roads that vehicles should travel on other than the designated route OR are not suggested (see step S7 in Figure 4), so that the movement of the vehicle can be strictly controlled using the designated route OR.

[0051] Furthermore, if it is determined that the current location of a vehicle under management is outside the designated route OR (see Figure 4, step S12: YES), the system will not suggest other roads the vehicle should travel on. This ensures that the system does not suggest other roads the vehicle should travel on when its current location is outside the designated route OR.

[0052] Furthermore, if it is detected that the vehicle's current location is outside the designated route OR for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that the current location is outside the designated route OR, thus ensuring that it is reliably determined that the vehicle is outside the designated route OR.

[0053] Furthermore, when it is determined that the current location of a vehicle under management is outside the designated route OR, the system notifies the passenger of this fact (see step S18 in Figure 4), thereby ensuring that the passenger is aware that they are outside the designated route OR.

[0054] Furthermore, by repeatedly notifying passengers at predetermined intervals that their current location is outside the designated route OR outside the designated route, it is possible to more reliably ensure that passengers are aware of this fact.

[0055] Furthermore, the system notifies (reports) the administrator that the current location is outside the designated route OR (see steps S18 and S26 in Figure 4), ensuring that the administrator is aware that the user is outside the designated route OR.

[0056] Furthermore, by sending a single notification to the administrator indicating that the current location is outside the designated route OR, it is possible to reduce the burden on administrators who manage multiple vehicles while still allowing them to be aware that the vehicle is outside the designated route OR.

[0057] Furthermore, the system notifies the administrator that the current location has reached the starting point ST of the designated route OR (see step S10 in Figure 4), ensuring that the administrator is aware of the return to the starting point ST of the designated route OR.

[0058] Furthermore, since it is possible to choose between movement via registered routes and movement via designated routes (see Figure 4, step S1), vehicle movement can be managed more flexibly.

[0059] Furthermore, under the designated route course management described in the above embodiment, the navigation device NV may be configured to search for a route from the vehicle's current position to the designated route's starting point ST, either while displaying the departure point indicator G (see Figure 4 step S8 and Figure 5(a)) or without displaying the departure point indicator G, and to guide the vehicle to the starting point ST based on the search results. In this case, since the route from the current position to the starting point ST is searched, even if the starting point ST of the designated route OR is far from the current position, the vehicle can be reliably reached. In this case, the display color of the route from the current position to the starting point ST may be set to be different from the display color of the designated route OR. In this case, it becomes easier for the vehicle's occupants to determine from which point they are entering the designated route OR.

[0060] Furthermore, under the designated route course management described in the above embodiment, if a vehicle that has deviated from the designated route returns to the original designated route (Figure 4, step S19: YES), the system may be configured to report this fact to the administrator device M via the processing server SV. In this case, the administrator can be reliably made aware of the return to the designated route OR.

[0061] Furthermore, it is also possible to record programs corresponding to the flowcharts shown in Figure 4 onto a recording medium such as an optical disc or hard disk, or to obtain them via a network such as the Internet, and then read and execute them on a general-purpose microcomputer, thereby making the microcomputer function as the processing unit 2 or processing unit 11 according to the embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1. Acquisition means (interface) 2, 11 Processing Unit NV1, NV2, NVn Navigation System SV processing server M Administrator device S Mobile device OR specified route PS Current Location Marker ML (mailing list)

Claims

1. In a device that guides the movement of a mobile object under the control of an administrator, Acquisition means for acquiring first route information indicating a first route including a point to which the moving object should move, A detection means for detecting the current position of the moving object, Equipped with, The device is characterized in that, while guiding the movement of the moving object using the acquired first route information, it does not provide voice guidance for a movement path other than the first route that the moving object should take, even if the detected current position deviates from the first route.

2. In the apparatus according to claim 1, The apparatus is further characterized by comprising a passenger notification means for notifying the passenger of the moving vehicle whose current location has deviated from the first route that the current location is outside the first route.

3. In the apparatus according to claim 2, The passenger notification means is characterized by repeatedly notifying the passenger that their current location is outside the first route at predetermined notification intervals.

4. In the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The apparatus further comprises an administrator notification means for notifying the administrator who manages the moving object whose current location has deviated from the first path, that the current location is outside the first path.

5. In the apparatus according to claim 4, The notification means for the administrator is characterized by making one notification to the administrator that the current location is outside the first route.

6. In the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A return determination means for determining whether the current position has returned to the first path, When it is determined that the current location has returned to the first path, a return notification means notifies the administrator who manages the returned mobile object of the fact that the return has occurred, An apparatus characterized by further comprising the following.

7. In the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The device further comprises arrival notification means for notifying the administrator who manages the mobile object that the current location has reached the starting point of the first route.

8. In the apparatus according to any one of claim 1, claim 2, or claim 4, The device is characterized in that the deviation occurs when the current position remains outside the first path for a predetermined period of time, or when the current position is a certain distance away from the first path.

9. An information processing method performed in a device that guides the movement of a mobile object under the control of an administrator, the device comprising an acquisition means and a detection means, An acquisition step in which the acquisition means acquires first route information indicating a first route including a point to which the moving object should move, A detection step in which the current position of the moving body is detected by the detection means, Includes, An information processing method characterized in that, while guiding the movement of the moving object using the acquired first route information, even if the detected current position deviates from the first route, the method does not provide voice guidance for a movement path other than the first route that the moving object should take.

10. In the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The device is characterized in that the first route is a designated route indicating a route specified by the administrator for the movement of the mobile body.

11. An information processing program characterized by causing a computer to execute the information processing method described in claim 9.

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