Route guidance method

Abstract

To notify a visually handicapped person as a user of a difficulty in utilization of a studded paving block.SOLUTION: A route guiding method for guiding a walking route to a user includes a determination process of determining whether a user is a visually handicapped person, a first acquisition process of acquiring first position information for showing a position of a block for guiding a visually handicapped person existing on a walking route from map information including information regarding the block for guiding a visually handicapped person when a user is determined to be a visually handicapped person, a second acquisition process of acquiring second position information for showing a position having a difficulty in utilization of a block for a visually handicapped person, and a notification process of notifying a user of a difficulty in utilization of a block for a visually handicapped person when at least partial positions of positions shown in the first position information are included in positions shown by the second position information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of a route guidance method for guiding, for example, a walking route. [Background technology]

[0002] As one such method, a method has been proposed in which a walking route is identified based on a request from a user and map information, and the identified walking route is guided via a terminal device carried by the user (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-165710 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, if the user is visually impaired, a walking route is calculated based on sidewalk information and facility information included in map information such that the more the installation rate of blocks for guiding visually impaired people (hereinafter referred to as "braille blocks") and traffic lights with sound devices, the higher the appropriateness. However, the braille blocks may be temporarily unavailable due to the presence of obstacles such as abandoned bicycles on the braille blocks or due to construction work being carried out on the sidewalk. Information about such obstacles and construction work is not reflected in the map information. This point is not taken into consideration in the technology described in Patent Document 1, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, for example, and has an object to provide a route guidance method capable of notifying a visually impaired person that there is an obstacle to using the Braille blocks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A route guidance method according to one aspect of the present invention provides a walking route guidance to a user. Route guidance system performs A route guidance method, comprising: The route guidance system comprises: A determination step of determining whether the user is visually impaired, and if the user is determined to be visually impaired, The route guidance system comprises: a first acquisition step of acquiring first position information indicating the positions of the blocks for guiding the visually impaired that are present on the walking route from map information including information on the blocks for guiding the visually impaired; The route guidance system comprises: A second acquisition step of acquiring second position information indicating a position where the visually impaired person guiding block is difficult to use, and when the position indicated by the second position information includes at least a part of the position indicated by the first position information, The route guidance system comprises: A notification step of notifying the user that there is an obstacle to the use of the visually impaired guiding block. The location where the visually impaired person's guiding block is difficult to use is a location where an obstacle exists on the visually impaired person's guiding block. That is it. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a route guidance system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the route guidance system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment of a route guidance method will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In Fig. 1, a route guidance system 1 includes a server 10 and a terminal device 20 carried by a user. The server 10 and the terminal device 20 are capable of communicating with each other via a wide area network such as the Internet.

[0009] An application for using the route guidance system 1 is installed in the terminal device 20. In other words, the terminal device 20 is configured to be able to execute the application for using the route guidance system 1. The terminal device 20 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook personal computer, or the like.

[0010] The server 10 includes a calculation device 11, a communication device 12, a user database 13 (hereinafter referred to as “user DB 13”), a map database 14 (hereinafter referred to as “map DB 14”), and a fault database 15 (hereinafter referred to as “fault DB 15”). The calculation device 11, the communication device 12, the user DB 13, the map DB 14, and the fault DB 15 are connected via a bus 16.

[0011] The user DB 13 includes information related to users of the route guidance system 1. The information related to users may include, for example, name, contact information (telephone number, email address, address, etc.), gender, age, etc. In particular, in this embodiment, the information related to users includes information indicating whether the user is visually impaired.

[0012] The map DB 14 includes a relatively high-resolution map. The relatively high-resolution map includes braille block information related to braille blocks. The braille block information includes information indicating the positions where the braille blocks are installed, information indicating the type of braille block (guidance, warning, etc.), and the like. The obstacle DB 15 includes obstacle information indicating obstacles related to the braille blocks. The obstacle information may include the type of obstacle, the position, the date and time, and the like.

[0013] Types of obstacles include, for example, abnormality, construction, and obstacles. An "abnormality" means that there is some problem with the braille block itself, such as damage or peeling of the braille block. An "obstacle" means that an object, such as an abandoned bicycle, is present on the braille block. Obstacle information may be obtained based on information published by government agencies or private organizations (such as information on planned construction work), or by analyzing so-called big data, such as information collected from so-called connected cars and information collected from social networking services (SNS).

[0014] When a user uses the route guidance system 1, the user inputs, via the terminal device 20, starting point information indicating the starting point of the route for which guidance is desired, and ending point information indicating the ending point of the route. The user expresses his / her intention by, for example, pressing a predetermined button such as "route search" or "route guidance" displayed on the screen of the terminal device 20 (i.e., requesting route guidance from the route guidance system 1). When the user expresses his / her intention, the starting point information and ending point information may be transmitted to the server 10. The "end point of the route" may be referred to as the "destination."

[0015] When the arithmetic device 11 of the server 10 receives a request for route guidance from a user, it designs a route based on the start point information and end point information. The arithmetic device 11 transmits route information indicating the designed walking route to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. The terminal device 20 then provides route guidance based on the route information. In order to design a walking route, the arithmetic device 11 has a request receiving unit 111 and a route designing unit 112 as a processing block logically realized therein or as a processing circuit physically realized therein.

[0016] The request receiving unit 111 receives a request for route guidance from a user. At this time, the request receiving unit 111 acquires start point information and end point information from the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. The start point information and end point information may be information indicating coordinates on a map. In this case, the user may specify the start point and end point on a map displayed on the screen of the terminal device 20, for example. The user does not need to input the start point information. In this case, the request receiving unit 111 may consider the user's current location as the start point. The user's current location may be acquired, for example, from location information indicating the location of the terminal device 20.

[0017] When the route guidance system 1 is linked to other systems, such as a vehicle dispatch system or a bus or train reservation system, the request receiving unit 111 may, for example, consider the location where the vehicle is dispatched (i.e., the user's boarding location) as the end point based on the vehicle dispatch reservation information linked to the user who requested the route guidance. In this case, the user does not need to input the end point information. Also, for example, when a route guidance request is received while the user is boarding a vehicle, the request receiving unit 111 may, for example, consider the location where the user gets off the vehicle as the start point based on the vehicle dispatch reservation information linked to the user. In this case, the user does not need to input the start point information.

[0018] The route design unit 112 designs a walking route from the start point indicated by the start point information to the end point indicated by the end point information, based on the start point information and end point information acquired by the request receiving unit 111 and the map included in the map DB 14. At this time, the route design unit 112 refers to the user DB 13 to determine whether the user who has requested route guidance is visually impaired. If it is determined that the user is visually impaired, the route design unit 112 extracts information related to the braille blocks on the designed walking route, based on the braille block information included in the map DB 14.

[0019] The route design unit 112 further determines whether or not there is an obstacle to using the braille blocks on the designed walking route, based on the designed walking route, the extracted information related to the braille blocks, and the obstacle DB 15. The route design unit 112 acquires the position of an obstacle indicated by the obstacle information included in the obstacle DB 15. If the acquired position of the obstacle includes at least a part of the position of the braille block indicated by the extracted information related to the braille blocks, the route design unit 112 determines that there is an obstacle to using the braille blocks.

[0020] If it is determined that there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks, the route design unit 112 transmits route information indicating the designed walking route and information indicating the location where there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. In this case, the terminal device 20 notifies the user that there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks. The location where there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks may be identified based on the Braille block information and the obstacle information.

[0021] In this case, the route design unit 112 designs a new walking route (i.e., a detour) that goes around the position where the use of the braille blocks is hindered. The route design unit 112 transmits route information indicating the designed new walking route to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. In other words, the route design unit 112 proposes the new walking route to the user.

[0022] The operation of the route guidance system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the request receiving unit 111 of the calculation device 11 acquires start point information and end point information (step S101). The route design unit 112 of the calculation device 11 designs a walking route from the start point indicated by the start point information to the end point (i.e., the destination) indicated by the end point information, based on the start point information and end point information acquired in the processing of step S101 and the map DB 14 (step S102).

[0023] Next, the route design unit 112 refers to the user DB 13 and determines whether the user is visually impaired (step S103). If it is determined in the process of step S103 that the user is not visually impaired (step S103: No), the route design unit 112 transmits route information indicating the walking route designed in the process of step S102 to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. The terminal device 20 provides route guidance to the user based on the received route information (step S110).

[0024] If it is determined in the process of step S103 that the user is visually impaired (step S103: Yes), the route design unit 112 extracts information related to the braille blocks on the walking route designed in the process of step S102, based on the braille block information included in the map DB 14. Then, the route design unit 112 identifies (obtains) the positions of the braille blocks on the walking route, based on the extracted information (step S104).

[0025] The route planning unit 112 further acquires the position of the obstacle indicated by the obstacle information included in the obstacle DB 15 (step S105). The route planning unit 112 determines whether or not there is an obstacle to using the braille block based on the position of the braille block identified in the process of step S104 and the position of the obstacle acquired in the process of step S105 (step S106).

[0026] If it is determined in the process of step S106 that there is no problem in using the braille blocks (step S106: No), the route design unit 112 includes information indicating the positions of the braille blocks identified in the process of step S104 in the route information indicating the walking route designed in the process of step S102. The route design unit 112 transmits the route information to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. The terminal device 20 provides route guidance to the user based on the received route information (step S110). At this time, the terminal device 20 may notify the user of, for example, the presence or absence of braille blocks and their positions.

[0027] In the process of step S106, if it is determined that there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks (step S106: Yes), the route design unit 112 transmits route information indicating the walking route designed in the process of step S102 and information indicating the position where there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. The terminal device 20 notifies the user that there is an impediment to using the Braille blocks (step S107).

[0028] The route design unit 112 designs a new walking route (i.e., a detour) that goes around the location where the use of the braille blocks is hindered (step S108). The route design unit 112 transmits route information indicating the new walking route designed in the processing of step S108 to the terminal device 20 via the communication device 12. The terminal device 20 proposes the new walking route indicated by the route information to the user (step S109). Note that the route information indicating the new walking route includes information indicating the positions of the braille blocks on the new walking route.

[0029] If the user accepts the new walking route proposed in the process of step S109, the terminal device 20 provides route guidance to the user based on route information indicating the new walking route (step S110). If the user does not accept the new walking route proposed in the process of step S109, the route design unit 112 may design the walking route again, or route guidance may be provided based on route information indicating the walking route designed in the process of step S102 (i.e., the use of braille blocks is hindered).

[0030] (Technical effect) As described above, the route guidance system 1 can notify a visually impaired user that there is an obstacle to using the braille blocks.

[0031] Various inventions derived from the above-described embodiment will be described below.

[0032] A route guidance method according to one embodiment of the invention is a route guidance method for guiding a user along a walking route, and includes a determination step of determining whether the user is visually impaired or not; if the user is determined to be visually impaired, a first acquisition step of acquiring first position information indicating the positions of blocks for guiding visually impaired persons that are located on the walking route from map information including information about blocks for guiding visually impaired persons; a second acquisition step of acquiring second position information indicating a position where there is an obstacle to using the blocks for guiding visually impaired persons; and, if the position indicated by the second position information includes at least a part of the position indicated by the first position information, an notification step of notifying the user that there is an obstacle to using the blocks for guiding visually impaired persons.

[0033] In the above-described embodiment, for example, "information indicating the position of the Braille block identified in the processing of step S104" corresponds to an example of "first position information," and "the position of the obstacle obtained in the processing of step S105" corresponds to an example of "second position information."

[0034] The route guidance method may include a suggestion step of proposing a new walking route that bypasses at least a portion of the location indicated by the first location information when the location indicated by the second location information includes at least a portion of the location indicated by the first location information.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the gist or concept of the invention as can be read from the entire specification, and route guidance methods involving such modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] Reference Signs List 1: route guidance system, 10: server, 11: computing device, 12: communication device, 13: user DB, 14: map DB, 15: fault DB, 20: terminal device, 111: request receiving unit, 112: route design unit

Claims

1. A route guidance method performed by a route guidance system that guides a user along a walking route, comprising: a determining step in which the route guidance system determines whether the user is visually impaired; a first acquisition step in which, when the user is determined to be a visually impaired person, the route guidance system acquires first location information indicating the location of a guiding block for visually impaired persons that exists on the walking route from map information including information on the guiding block for visually impaired persons; A second acquisition step in which the route guidance system acquires second location information indicating a location where there is an obstacle to using the guiding block for visually impaired persons; a notification step of notifying the user that there is an obstacle to using the visually impaired guiding block when the position indicated by the second position information includes at least a part of the position indicated by the first position information, by the route guidance system; Including, The location where the visually impaired person's guiding block is difficult to use is a location where an obstacle exists on the visually impaired person's guiding block. A route guidance method comprising:

2. 2. The route guidance method according to claim 1, further comprising a suggestion step of, when the location indicated by the second location information includes at least a portion of the location indicated by the first location information, the route guidance system proposes a new walking route that bypasses the at least a portion of the location indicated by the first location information.

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