Information processing device

Abstract

To efficiently collect useful information. [Solution] The system acquires schedule information including information about the mobile body's schedule, acquires mobile body position information including information about the mobile body's position, outputs a question based on the mobile body's unscheduled action when the mobile body performs an action different from its schedule, acquires answer information including information about the answer to the outputted question, and stores action position information including information about the location where the unscheduled action occurred, associated with the answer information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles with a high vehicle height such as trucks and a large vehicle width may not be able to drive on roads with height restrictions or narrow road widths. Therefore, there is a technology for route search considering the vehicle width and vehicle height of the vehicle (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] However, there are also roads for which information such as height restrictions and road widths cannot be obtained. Therefore, if there is a road for which such information is not obtained in the searched route, depending on the vehicle, a road that cannot be driven may be included in the searched route.

[0005] There are roads that cannot be driven, such as roads under construction and roads within a school zone. There are also roads for which it is better to avoid driving, such as roads where traffic jams are likely to occur and roads that lead to claims from neighbors. Information about such roads that cannot be driven and roads for which it is better to avoid driving is available to drivers who have driven on those roads, but currently, the information possessed by such drivers is not efficiently collected.

[0006] As an example of the problems to be solved by the present invention, efficiently collecting useful information can be cited.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes: a schedule information acquisition processing unit that acquires schedule information including information about the schedule of a moving body; a moving body position information acquisition processing unit that acquires a moving body position information including information about the position of the moving body; a question output processing unit that outputs a question based on the movement of the moving body that is different from the schedule of the moving body when the moving body performs an action different from the schedule of the moving body; a response information acquisition processing unit that acquires response information including information about the answer to the outputted question; and a storage processing unit that stores action position information including information about the location where the movement different from the schedule of the moving body occurred, in association with the response information.

[0008] The invention described in claim 10 is an information processing method performed by a computer, comprising: a schedule information acquisition processing step for acquiring schedule information including information about the schedule of a moving body; a moving body position information acquisition processing step for acquiring a moving body position information including information about the position of the moving body; a question output processing step for outputting a question based on the movement of the moving body that is different from the scheduled movement of the moving body when the moving body is different from the scheduled movement of the moving body; a response information acquisition processing unit for acquiring response information including information about the answer to the outputted question; and a storage processing step for storing operation position information including information about the location where the movement different from the scheduled movement of the moving body occurred, in association with the response information.

[0009] The invention described in claim 11 is an information processing program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method described in claim 10.

[0010] The invention described in claim 12 stores the information processing program described in claim 11. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is an information processing device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the relationship between the information processing device 100 and the mobile device M. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the control unit 110. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the processing operations performed by the control unit 110 when the moving object moves in a manner different from what was planned. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a schedule information acquisition processing unit that acquires schedule information including information about the schedule of a moving object; a moving object location information acquisition processing unit that acquires a moving object location information including information about the location of the moving object; a question output processing unit that outputs a question based on the movement of the moving object that is different from the schedule of the moving object when the moving object performs an action different from the schedule of the moving object; a response information acquisition processing unit that acquires response information including information about the answer to the outputted question; and a storage processing unit that stores action location information including information about the location where the movement different from the schedule of the moving object occurred, in association with the response information. For example, in this embodiment, it is possible to collect the location where the moving object performed an action different from the schedule of the moving object and the reason for it, and it is possible to efficiently collect useful information. As a result, it becomes possible to search for routes using the collected useful information and to share the collected useful information among drivers.

[0013] The aforementioned planned information includes the planned route on which the mobile body is scheduled to travel, and any action of the mobile body that deviates from the planned route is an action in which the mobile body deviates from the planned route. The action position information may also include the position of the mobile body after it has deviated from the planned route. The action position information may also include the route taken by the mobile body after it has deviated from the planned route. By doing so, it becomes possible to collect useful information that was not considered when the planned route was generated.

[0014] The aforementioned scheduled information includes the scheduled parking area where the mobile vehicle is scheduled to park or stop, and any action by the mobile vehicle that differs from the scheduled action is an action in which the mobile vehicle stops at a location other than the scheduled parking area, and the action location information may include the location where the mobile vehicle stopped. In this way, it becomes possible to collect useful information such as parking at the destination.

[0015] The aforementioned scheduled information includes information about one or more destinations that the mobile vehicle will visit, and the storage processing unit may store the operation location information in association with the response information and at least one of the one or more destinations. At least one of the one or more destinations may include the destination to which the mobile vehicle was heading when it performed an action different from its schedule. In this way, for example, if the reason obtained as response information that the mobile vehicle deviated from its scheduled route is "to head towards the loading dock," it becomes possible to collect information about the route to the loading dock of each destination. Also, for example, if the reason obtained as response information that the mobile vehicle stopped is "at the loading area," it becomes possible to collect information about the loading area of ​​each destination.

[0016] The system further includes an image data acquisition processing unit that acquires image data around the moving object, and the operation position information may include image data taken near the location where the moving object performed an action different from its planned action. In this way, it becomes possible to collect not only the location where the moving object performed an action different from its planned action and the reason for it, but also an image of that location, making it possible to collect useful information more efficiently.

[0017] The system further includes a driver attribute acquisition unit that acquires the attributes of the driver of the mobile body, and the storage processing unit may store the operation location information in association with the response information and the driver attributes. In this way, it is possible to collect information not only about the location and reason why the mobile body performed an action different from the mobile body's planned action, but also about what kind of driver performed such an action, making it possible to collect useful information more efficiently.

[0018] The system further includes a driver attribute acquisition processing unit that acquires the attributes of the driver of the mobile object, and the storage processing unit may store the operation position information in association with the response information only when the attributes of the driver of the mobile object satisfy predetermined conditions. In this way, it becomes possible to collect only information on drivers with predetermined attributes. In particular, for example, by setting the predetermined condition to "the attributes of the driver of the mobile object are those of a skilled driver," it becomes possible to collect only information on actions performed by a skilled driver.

[0019] Furthermore, an information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information processing method performed by a computer, comprising: a schedule information acquisition processing step for acquiring schedule information including information about the schedule of a moving object; a moving object location information acquisition processing step for acquiring a moving object location information including information about the location of the moving object; a question output processing step for outputting a question based on the movement of the moving object that is different from the schedule of the moving object when the moving object performs an action different from the schedule of the moving object; a response information acquisition processing unit for acquiring response information including information about the answer to the outputted question; and a storage processing step for storing action location information including information about the location where the movement different from the schedule of the moving object occurred, in association with the response information. For example, in this embodiment, it is possible to collect the location where the moving object performed an action different from the schedule of the moving object and the reason for it, and it is possible to efficiently collect useful information. As a result, it becomes possible to search for routes using the collected useful information and to share the collected useful information among drivers.

[0020] Also, an information processing program according to an embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to execute the above information processing method. By doing so, it is possible to efficiently collect useful information using a computer.

[0021] Also, a computer-readable storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention stores the above information processing program. By doing so, the above information processing program can be distributed independently in addition to being incorporated into a device, and it becomes possible to easily perform version updates and the like.

Example

[0022] <Information Processing Apparatus 100> FIG. 1 shows an information processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, an input unit 130, a position information acquisition unit 140, an output unit 150, and a storage unit 160.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2(A), the information processing apparatus 100 may be a device that moves together with a moving body M such as a vehicle (for example, an in-vehicle device such as a drive recorder or a navigation system installed in the moving body M, or a smartphone in the moving body M), or as shown in FIG. 2(B), it may be a device (for example, a server) installed outside the moving body M that communicates with a device O (for example, an in-vehicle device installed in the moving body M or a smartphone in the moving body M) that moves together with the moving body M.

[0024] The control unit 110 is configured, for example, by a computer. The communication unit 120 is a communication device for sending and receiving information with other devices. The input unit 130 is an input device for receiving information from switches, keyboards, touch panels, microphones, cameras, etc. The location information acquisition unit 140 is a device for acquiring location information, such as an antenna that receives signals transmitted from satellites that constitute a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), including GPS (Global Positioning System). The output unit 150 is an output device that outputs information to displays, speakers, etc. The storage unit 160 is a storage device for storing information, such as a hard disk or memory.

[0025] Figure 3 shows the control unit 110. The control unit 110 includes a schedule information acquisition processing unit 111, a mobile object position information acquisition processing unit 112, a question output processing unit 113, an answer information acquisition processing unit 114, and a storage processing unit 115.

[0026] The schedule information acquisition processing unit 111 acquires schedule information, including information about the schedule of a mobile object. For example, the schedule information acquisition unit 111 acquires schedule information from other devices such as a navigation system or a server device by communicating using the communication unit 120. Alternatively, the schedule information acquisition processing unit 111 may acquire schedule information by receiving input from the input unit 130, or it may acquire schedule information by generating it from the information received from the input unit 130.

[0027] Information regarding the vehicle's schedule includes, for example, the planned route the vehicle will travel. This planned route might be, for example, a route the vehicle will take to visit one or more destinations.

[0028] Furthermore, information regarding the vehicle's schedule includes, for example, the planned parking areas where the vehicle is scheduled to stop. The planned parking areas are, for example, the areas where the vehicle is scheduled to stop when visiting one or more destinations. For example, if the destinations are the origin or destination of a delivery, the vehicle will stop at loading areas, waiting areas, and unloading areas. Therefore, the planned parking areas include, for example, loading areas, waiting areas, and unloading areas. Also, if the destinations are sales locations, the vehicle will stop in the parking lot of the destination or in a parking lot near the destination. Therefore, the planned parking areas include, for example, the parking lot of the destination or in a parking lot near the destination. In addition, the vehicle will stop during breaks. Therefore, the planned parking areas also include, for example, rest areas.

[0029] The mobile object location information acquisition processing unit 112 acquires mobile object location information, which includes information about the location of the mobile object. For example, the mobile object location information acquisition unit 112 acquires mobile object location information using the mobile object location information acquisition unit 140. Alternatively, the mobile object location information acquisition processing unit 112 may also acquire mobile object location information from other devices that move with the mobile object (for example, in-vehicle devices such as navigation systems installed on the mobile object, or smartphones located inside the mobile object) by communicating using the communication unit 120.

[0030] The question output processing unit 113 outputs a question based on the mobile object's unexpected behavior when the mobile object performs an action different from what was planned. For example, the question output processing unit 113 outputs a question using the output unit 150. Alternatively, the question output processing unit 113 may also output questions from other devices that move with the mobile object (for example, output devices such as displays or speakers installed on the mobile object, or a smartphone inside the mobile object) by communicating using the communication unit 120.

[0031] For example, the question output processing unit 113 outputs a question that asks for the reason why the mobile object performed an action different from its planned action, based on the mobile object's actions that differed from its planned actions.

[0032] The response information acquisition processing unit 114 acquires response information, which includes information about the answer to the question output by the question output processing unit 113. For example, the response information acquisition processing unit 114 acquires response information by receiving input from the input unit 130. Alternatively, the response information acquisition processing unit 114 may acquire response information from other devices that move with the mobile device (for example, switches installed on the mobile device, input devices such as keyboards, touch panels, microphones, and cameras, or smartphones located inside the mobile device) by communicating using the communication unit 120.

[0033] For example, the response information acquisition processing unit 114 acquires the reason why the mobile object performed an action different from what was planned, as response information.

[0034] The memory processing unit 115 stores operation location information, which includes information about the location where an action different from the planned action of the moving object occurred, in association with the answer information. For example, the memory processing unit 115 stores the operation location information in association with the answer information in the memory unit 160. Alternatively, the memory processing unit 115 may store the operation location information in association with the answer information in a storage device installed outside the moving object.

[0035] For example, the memory processing unit 115 stores the location where the moving object performed an action different from its planned action, associating it with the reason why the moving object performed the action different from its planned action.

[0036] Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to collect information on the locations where a moving object performed actions different from its planned movements and the reasons for those actions, thereby enabling the efficient collection of useful information. As a result, it becomes possible to use the collected useful information to search for routes and to share the collected useful information among drivers.

[0037] Figure 4 shows an example of the processing operations performed by the control unit 110 when a moving object performs an action different from its planned operation. The question output processing unit 113 outputs a question based on the moving object's action different from its planned operation (step S401). The answer information acquisition processing unit 114 acquires answer information, which includes information about the answer to the question (step S402). The storage processing unit 115 stores operation position information, which includes information about the location where the moving object performed an action different from its planned operation, in association with the answer information (step S403).

[0038] <Driving off the planned route> The planned route may include roads that are impassable (for example, roads under construction, roads within school zones, narrow roads, or roads with height restrictions). In such cases, the vehicle may deviate from the planned route. Also, depending on the destination, there may be an entrance for service vehicles (for example, a loading dock) at the back of the premises in addition to the main entrance, but information about such entrances may not be available, and the route to the service vehicle entrance may not be included in the planned route. In such cases, the vehicle may also deviate from the planned route. Furthermore, if the planned route includes roads prone to congestion, the vehicle may deviate from the planned route.

[0039] Therefore, if the information regarding the mobile object's planned route includes the route the mobile object is scheduled to travel, the question output processing unit 113 will output a question (for example, "Why did you deviate from the planned route?" or "Why did you turn left just now?") when the mobile object deviates from the planned route. The answer information acquisition processing unit 114 will then acquire the reason why the mobile object deviated from the planned route as answer information, and the memory processing unit 115 will store the location where the mobile object deviated from the planned route, associating it with the reason why the mobile object deviated from the planned route. The memory processing unit 115 will also store the route the mobile object traveled after deviating from the planned route, associating it with the reason why the mobile object deviated from the planned route.

[0040] This method makes it possible to collect useful information that was not considered when the planned route was generated. As a result, it becomes possible to use the collected useful information to search for routes and to share the collected useful information among drivers.

[0041] For example, if the reason obtained as response information that a moving object deviated from its planned route is "because of construction," the memory processing unit 115 should store the location where the moving object deviated from the planned route in association with the reason "because of construction." In this way, it becomes possible to collect information about the location of roads under construction.

[0042] For example, if the reason obtained as response information that a moving object deviated from its planned route is "because it is in a school zone," the memory processing unit 115 should store the location where the object deviated from the planned route, associating it with the reason "it is in a school zone" and the time when the object deviated from the planned route. In this way, it becomes possible to collect information about the location of the school zone and the time when it is in a school zone.

[0043] For example, if the reason obtained as response information that the moving vehicle deviated from its planned route is "due to height restrictions," the memory processing unit 115 should further obtain the vehicle height of the moving vehicle, and the memory processing unit 115 should store the location where the moving vehicle deviated from its planned route, associating it with the reason "due to height restrictions" and the vehicle height of the moving vehicle. In this way, it becomes possible to collect information on the location of roads with height restrictions and the height of vehicles that cannot travel on those roads.

[0044] For example, if the reason obtained as response information that the vehicle deviated from its planned route is "because the road is narrow," the memory processing unit 115 should further obtain the vehicle width of the vehicle, and the memory processing unit 115 should store the location where the vehicle deviated from its planned route, associating it with the reason "because the road is narrow" and the vehicle width of the vehicle. In this way, it becomes possible to collect information on the location of roads with narrow roads and what vehicle width is insufficient to travel on those roads.

[0045] For example, if the reason obtained as response information is that the moving object deviated from its planned route is "to head towards the loading dock," the memory processing unit 115 should store the route the object took after deviating from the planned route, associating it with the reason that "it was a route leading to the loading dock." In this way, it becomes possible to collect information about the route leading to the loading dock.

[0046] If the planned route is a route that visits one or more destinations, the memory processing unit 115 should store the operation location information in association with the response information and at least one of the destinations. In this case, the memory processing unit 115 should store the operation location information in association with the response information and the destination the mobile body was heading towards when it performed an action different from the plan.

[0047] For example, if the reason obtained as response information is that the moving object deviated from its planned route is "to head towards the loading dock," the memory processing unit 115 should store the route the object took after deviating from the planned route, associating it with the reason "it was a route to the loading dock" and the destination the object was heading towards when it performed an action different from its original plan. In this way, it becomes possible to collect information about the route to the loading dock of each destination.

[0048] Here, the question output processing unit 113 detects, for example, that the moving object has deviated from its planned route, based on the moving object position information acquired by the moving object position information acquisition processing unit 112.

[0049] <Parking outside of designated parking areas> As mentioned above, the planned parking area includes parking spaces at the destination (loading area, waiting area, unloading area, and the destination's parking lot). However, in the case of a destination visited for the first time, information regarding such parking spaces may not be available, and therefore the planned parking area may not include the parking spaces at the destination being visited for the first time.

[0050] Therefore, if the information regarding the mobile vehicle's planned parking area includes information about the area where the mobile vehicle is scheduled to park, the question output processing unit 113 will output a question (for example, "Why is the mobile vehicle parked here?") asking for the reason why the mobile vehicle parked outside the planned parking area when the mobile vehicle parked outside the planned parking area. The answer information acquisition processing unit 114 will then acquire the reason why the mobile vehicle parked outside the parking area as answer information, and the storage processing unit 115 will store the location where the mobile vehicle parked, associating it with the reason why the mobile vehicle parked there.

[0051] This method makes it possible to collect useful information, such as parking and stopping information, at destinations. As a result, the collected useful information can be shared among drivers.

[0052] For example, if the reason the vehicle stopped is "it's a loading area" or some other location, as obtained as response information, the memory processing unit 115 should store the location where the vehicle stopped in association with the reason ("it's a loading area" or other location) and the destination the vehicle was heading towards when it performed an action different from its planned one. In this way, it becomes possible to collect information about the parking area of ​​each destination, such as "it's a loading area."

[0053] For example, if the reason for the vehicle's parking is "it is a rest area," the memory processing unit 115 should store the location where the vehicle parked in association with the reason "it is a rest area." This makes it possible to collect information about rest areas.

[0054] Here, the question output processing unit 113 determines, for example, that a moving object is parked or stopped when it has not moved for a predetermined period of time. The question output processing unit 113 also detects that the moving object has not moved for a predetermined period of time based on, for example, the moving object position information acquired by the moving object position information acquisition processing unit 112. Alternatively, the question output processing unit 113 may also detect that the moving object has not moved for a predetermined period of time based on the acceleration of the moving object. In this case, the information processing device 100 may further include an acceleration acquisition unit 170 for acquiring the acceleration of the moving object, such as an acceleration sensor. Alternatively, the question output processing unit 113 may also detect that the moving object has not moved for a predetermined period of time based on the velocity of the moving object.

[0055] <Storage of image data> The control unit 110 may further include an image data acquisition processing unit 116 that acquires image data (still images or videos) around the moving object. The operation position information associated with the response information may also include image data captured near the location where the moving object performed an action different from the planned action.

[0056] By doing so, it becomes possible to collect not only the location where the moving object deviated from its planned movements and the reason why, but also images of that location, allowing for more efficient collection of useful information.

[0057] For example, if the reason a moving object deviated from its planned route, as obtained as part of the response information, is "due to a height restriction," then it is possible to obtain image data of the area around the road with the height restriction. If the obtained image data includes signs indicating the height restriction, it becomes possible to analyze the image and obtain information regarding the numerical value of the height restriction.

[0058] For example, if the reason given for a vehicle deviating from its planned route is "because the road was too narrow," it becomes possible to acquire image data of the area around the narrow road. By analyzing the acquired images, it becomes possible to obtain information regarding the road's width.

[0059] For example, if the reason obtained as response information is that the moving object deviated from its planned route was "to head towards the loading dock," it becomes possible to obtain still images or videos of the route to the loading dock.

[0060] For example, if the reason for the vehicle's parking is "a loading area" or some other location at the destination, it becomes possible to obtain still images or videos of the vehicle's route and parking location within the destination's premises.

[0061] In this case, it is preferable that the information processing device 100 further includes an image data acquisition unit 180 such as a camera, and that the image data acquisition processing unit 116 acquires image data using the image data acquisition unit 180. Alternatively, the image data acquisition processing unit 116 may acquire image data from a device that moves with the mobile object (for example, an image data acquisition device such as a drive recorder camera installed on the mobile object, or a smartphone located inside the mobile object) by performing communication using the communication unit 120.

[0062] <Driver Attributes> The control unit 110 may further include a driver attribute acquisition processing unit 117 that acquires the attributes of the driver of the moving object. The storage processing unit 115 may store the operating position information in association with the response information and the driver attributes.

[0063] By doing so, it becomes possible to collect information not only about the location and reason why a moving object deviates from its planned behavior, but also about what kind of driver causes such behavior, thus enabling the more efficient collection of useful information.

[0064] Furthermore, the memory processing unit 115 may store the operating position information in association with the response information only when the attributes of the driver of the moving object meet predetermined conditions.

[0065] In this way, it becomes possible to collect information only from drivers with specific attributes. In particular, by setting a specific condition to "the driver of the mobile vehicle is a skilled driver," it becomes possible to collect information only from actions performed by skilled drivers.

[0066] The driver attribute acquisition processing unit 117 acquires the driver attributes of the mobile object by receiving input from the input unit 130. Alternatively, the driver attribute acquisition processing unit 117 may acquire the driver attributes of the mobile object from a device that moves with the mobile object (for example, a switch installed on the mobile object, an input device such as a keyboard, touch panel, microphone, or camera, or a smartphone located inside the mobile object) by communicating using the communication unit 120.

[0067] The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. While the present invention has been described with specific examples, various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 100 Information Processing Devices 110 Control Unit 111 Schedule Information Acquisition Processing Unit 112 Mobile object position information acquisition processing unit 113 Question Output Processing Unit 114 Response Information Acquisition Processing Unit 115 Memory Processing Unit 116 Image Data Acquisition Processing Unit 117 Driver attribute acquisition processing unit 120 Communications Department 130 Input section 140 Location information acquisition unit 150 Output section 160 Storage section 170 Acceleration acquisition section 180 Image Data Acquisition Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] A schedule information acquisition processing unit that acquires schedule information including information about the schedule of a mobile object, A mobile body position information acquisition processing unit that acquires mobile body position information including information about the position of the mobile body, When the mobile object performs an action different from the intended action, a question output processing unit outputs a question, An information processing apparatus having an answer information acquisition processing unit that acquires answer information including information relating to the answer to the output question.

Images