Voice Guidance Method

Abstract

To give an audio guide at a time of alighting.SOLUTION: An audio guide method includes a determination step of determining whether a visually handicapped person is included in passengers of a vehicle (30) serving as a public transportation, and a guide step of, when it is determined that the visually handicapped person is included in the passengers, giving an audio guide of informing the visually handicapped person of a situation of the vicinity of the vehicle when the visually handicapped person alights from the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of a voice guidance method for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] As one example of this type of method, a method has been proposed for a vehicle dispatch service in which, when a user is visually impaired, voice guidance is used to guide the user to a dispatched self-driving vehicle (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-078692 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Audio guidance is an important source of information to support the visually impaired when they go out. For this reason, it is desirable to provide audio guidance to the visually impaired in various situations. For example, when getting off a train, the visually impaired often have little time to understand their surroundings.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a voice guidance method for providing voice guidance when getting off a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A voice guidance method according to one aspect of the present invention is a voice guidance method performed by a voice guidance system, and includes a determination step in which the voice guidance system determines whether or not a visually impaired person is among the passengers of a vehicle serving as public transportation, and a guidance step in which, when it is determined that a visually impaired person is among the passengers, the voice guidance system provides voice guidance to inform the visually impaired person of a situation around the vehicle when the visually impaired person gets off the vehicle, wherein the situation around the vehicle includes at least one of a degree of congestion on a sidewalk, information related to a moving object approaching the vehicle, and weather information. If it is determined that the passengers do not include visually impaired persons, the situation around the vehicle is not notified. That is it. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a voice guidance system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a bus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a bus stop according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the voice guidance system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment of the voice guidance method will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5. In the embodiment described below, a route bus is taken as an example of public transportation. The voice guidance method is not limited to route buses, and can also be applied to, for example, trains, taxis, etc.

[0009] In Fig. 1, the voice guidance system 1 includes a server 10, a terminal device 20 carried by a user, a bus 30, and a bus stop 40. The server 10, the terminal device 20, the bus 30, and the bus stop 40 can communicate with each other via a wide area network such as the Internet. "User" refers to a user of a route bus. Users include able-bodied people and people with disabilities. It is assumed that an application for using the voice guidance system 1 is installed in the terminal device 20.

[0010] The server 10 stores a reservation information database 110 (hereinafter referred to as “reservation information DB 110”), a management information database 120 (hereinafter referred to as “management information DB 120”), and weather information 130.

[0011] The reservation information DB 110 includes reservation information input by a user via the terminal device 20. The reservation information includes, for example, vehicle information (e.g., service name) for identifying the bus the user will board, a boarding location (e.g., bus stop name) and scheduled boarding time where the user will board the bus, and a disembarking location (e.g., bus stop name) and scheduled disembarking time where the user will disembark from the bus. The reservation information is linked to user information for identifying the user. The user information may include, for example, name, contact information (telephone number, email address, address, etc.), gender, age, information indicating a payment method, etc. In particular, in this embodiment, the user information includes information indicating whether the user is visually impaired.

[0012] An identification number may be assigned to the user information. The user information may be stored, for example, in a user information database (not shown) together with the assigned identification number. In this case, the reservation information may be linked to the identification number assigned to the user information instead of the user information.

[0013] The management information DB 120 includes information for operating a bus. The information for operating a bus may include, for example, bus identification information, bus stop identification information, route information, operation plans, timetables for each bus stop, etc. The weather information 130 may include future weather information (i.e., weather forecast information) in addition to current weather information. The server 10 may obtain the weather information 130 from, for example, a weather information provider.

[0014] An overview of the operation of the voice guidance system 1 will be described. The server 10 judges whether or not the user is visually impaired based on user information linked to reservation information included in the reservation information DB 110 (i.e., reservation information input by the user via the terminal device 20). If it is judged that the user is visually impaired, the server 10 identifies the bus the user boards and the bus stop the user gets off at based on the reservation information related to the user and the management information DB 120. Here, it is assumed that the bus the user boards is bus 30, and the bus stop the user gets off at is bus stop 40.

[0015] The server 10 transmits to the bus 30 information indicating that, for example, a visually impaired user will board the bus and information indicating the bus stop 40 at which the user will get off. The server 10 also transmits to the bus stop 40 information indicating that, for example, a visually impaired user will get off at the bus stop 40 and information indicating at least one of the planned alighting time included in the reservation information related to the user and the arrival time of the bus 30 at the bus stop 40 based on the management information DB 120. If the bus stop 40 is configured to be able to recognize the approach of the bus 30 to the bus stop 40, the server 10 may transmit to the bus stop 40 information for identifying the bus 30 instead of or in addition to the information indicating at least one of the times.

[0016] Based on the weather information 130, the server 10 transmits area-specific weather information (so-called mesh weather information) indicating the weather in an area including the bus stop 40 to at least one of the bus 30 and the bus stop 40. The area-specific weather information may be information observed in real time or information predicted in advance (i.e., a forecast).

[0017] When the bus 30 arrives at the bus stop 40, the bus stop 40 detects obstacles around the bus 30 and the bus stop 40. When the bus 30 arrives at the bus stop 40, the bus stop 40 detects obstacles around the bus 30 and the bus stop 40. The concept of "obstacle" is not limited to objects, but includes people such as pedestrians. The bus 30 and the bus stop 40 extract moving objects that are moving obstacles from the detected obstacles. The bus 30 and the bus stop 40 particularly extract moving objects approaching the bus 30 (i.e., moving objects that may come into contact with or collide with a visually impaired user getting off the bus 30). The bus stop 40 also estimates the degree of congestion on the sidewalk from the number of people present on the sidewalk in the vicinity.

[0018] The obstacle detection method may be an existing method using a sensor such as a camera or a radar. The moving object detection method may be an existing method such as detecting a moving object based on a time change in the position of a detected obstacle. The degree of congestion on the sidewalk may be estimated, for example, as follows. That is, it is assumed that the bus stop 40 is capable of communication using a predetermined communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The bus stop 40 detects the number of terminal devices (e.g., smartphones) compatible with the predetermined communication standard that are carried by people in the vicinity of the bus stop 40. The bus stop 40 may estimate the degree of congestion on the sidewalk from the detected number of terminal devices.

[0019] At least one of the bus 30 and the bus stop 40 notifies the user of information indicating the extracted moving object and information indicating the estimated degree of congestion on the sidewalk when the bus 30 arrives at the bus stop 40. At least one of the bus 30 and the bus stop 40 further notifies the user of area-specific weather information transmitted from the server 10.

[0020] The server 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the server 10 includes a processing unit 11, a storage device 12, and a communication unit 13. The processing unit 11, the storage device 12, and the communication unit 13 are connected via a bus 14. A reservation information DB 110, a management information DB 120, and a weather information DB 130 may be constructed in the storage device 12.

[0021] The processing unit 11 determines whether or not the user is visually impaired based on the user information linked to the reservation information included in the reservation information DB 110. If it is determined that the user is visually impaired, the processing unit 11 performs the following operation.

[0022] That is, the processing unit 11 identifies the bus 30 that the user boards and the bus stop 40 that the user gets off at, based on the reservation information related to the user and the management information DB 120. The processing unit 11 transmits, to the bus 30 via the communication unit 13, information indicating that the visually impaired user boards the bus and information indicating the bus stop 40 at which the user gets off. The processing unit 11 transmits, to the bus stop 40 via the communication unit 13, information indicating that the visually impaired user gets off at the bus stop 40 and information indicating at least one of the scheduled alighting time included in the reservation information related to the user and the arrival time of the bus 30 at the bus stop 40 based on the management information DB 120. The processing unit 11 transmits area-specific weather information for the area including the bus stop 40 to at least one of the bus 30 and the bus stop 40.

[0023] The bus 30 will be further described with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the bus 30 includes a processing unit 31, a detection unit 32, a communication unit 33, and an alarm unit 34. The detection unit 32 detects obstacles around the bus 30 based on the output of a sensor such as a camera or radar. When the bus 30 is in system operation, the detection unit 32 may constantly detect obstacles around the bus 30. The alarm unit 34 outputs sound to the inside and outside of the bus 30 via a speaker (not shown) mounted on the bus 30.

[0024] When the processing unit 31 receives information from the server 10 via the communication unit 33 indicating that a visually impaired user is boarding the bus, the processing unit 31 acquires the detection result of an obstacle by the detection unit 32 when the bus 30 arrives near the bus stop 40 where the user is to get off. The processing unit 31 extracts information indicating a moving object approaching the bus 30 from the acquired detection result. The processing unit 31 generates a warning sound to call attention to the moving object indicated by the extracted information. Note that, when information indicating a plurality of moving objects is extracted from the obstacle detection result, the processing unit 31 may generate a warning sound to call attention only to the moving object approaching the exit of the bus 30. When information indicating a moving object approaching the bus 30 is not extracted from the obstacle detection result, the processing unit 31 does not need to generate the warning sound.

[0025] The processing unit 31 controls the notification unit 34 to output the warning sound. On the condition that the processing unit 31 receives the area-specific weather information from the server 10 via the communication unit 33, the processing unit 31 controls the notification unit 34 to output a sound corresponding to the area-specific weather information. The processing unit 31 may control the notification unit 34 to output a sound for calling attention to a step inside the bus 30, for example. The processing unit 31 may also control the notification unit 34 to output a sound for guiding a facility for assisting the walking of visually impaired persons, such as a handrail provided inside the bus 30, for example.

[0026] The bus stop 40 will be further described with reference to Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the bus stop 40 includes a processing unit 41, a detection unit 42, a communication unit 43, and an alarm unit 44. The detection unit 42 detects obstacles around the bus stop 40 based on the output of a sensor such as a camera or radar. The alarm unit 44 outputs sound through a speaker (not shown) provided at the bus stop 40. The sensor and speaker may be disposed on, for example, a guide board or a roof (i.e., a roof structure) of the bus stop 40.

[0027] When the processing unit 41 receives information from the server 10 via the communication unit 43 indicating that a visually impaired user will get off at the bus stop 40, the processing unit 41 estimates the degree of congestion on the sidewalk around the bus stop 40 a predetermined time before at least one of the user's planned get-off time and the arrival time of the bus 30 at the bus stop 40. The processing unit 41 controls the notification unit 44 to output a sound corresponding to the information indicating the estimated degree of congestion on the sidewalk based on at least one of the above-mentioned times (i.e., when the bus 30 arrives at the bus stop 40). Note that, when the processing unit 41 can identify the bus 30, the processing unit 41 may transmit the information indicating the estimated degree of congestion on the sidewalk to the bus 30 directly or via the server 10. In this case, the processing unit 31 of the bus 30 may control the notification unit 34 to output a sound corresponding to the information indicating the degree of congestion on the sidewalk when the bus 30 arrives at the bus stop 40.

[0028] When the processing unit 41 receives information from the server 10 via the communication unit 43 indicating that a visually impaired user will get off at the bus stop 40, the processing unit 41 acquires the obstacle detection result by the detection unit 42 at at least one of the above-mentioned times. The processing unit 41 extracts information indicating a moving object approaching the bus 30 from the acquired detection result. The processing unit 41 generates a warning sound to call attention to the moving object indicated by the extracted information. Note that, when information indicating multiple moving objects is extracted from the obstacle detection result, the processing unit 41 may generate a warning sound to call attention only to the moving object approaching the exit of the bus 30.

[0029] The processing unit 41 controls the notification unit 44 to output the warning sound. On the condition that the processing unit 41 receives the area-specific weather information from the server 10 via the communication unit 43, the processing unit 41 controls the notification unit 44 to output a sound corresponding to the area-specific weather information.

[0030] Next, the operation of the voice guidance system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, the processing unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not the user is visually impaired based on the user information linked to the reservation information included in the reservation information DB 110 (step S101).

[0031] In the process of step S101, if it is determined that the user is not visually impaired (step S101: No), the operation shown in Fig. 5 is terminated. After that, the process of step S101 is performed for another user. In other words, the above-mentioned voice guidance is not performed on buses that do not have visually impaired people on board.

[0032] In the process of step S101, if it is determined that the user is visually impaired (step S101: Yes), the processing unit 11 identifies the bus 30 that the visually impaired user boards and the stop 40 at which the visually impaired user gets off. After that, the processing unit 31 of the bus 30 determines whether the next stop at which the bus 30 stops is the stop 40 at which the visually impaired user gets off (step S102).

[0033] In the process of step S102, if it is determined that the next stop at which the bus 30 will stop is not the bus stop 40 (step S102: No), the process of step S102 is performed again. At this time, the processing unit 31 may control the notification unit 34 to output a voice for informing the visually impaired user of the running position of the bus 30.

[0034] In the process of step S102, if it is determined that the next stop at which the bus 30 will stop is the bus stop 40 (step S102: Yes), the processing unit 31 performs the following process of step S104 and subsequent steps. At this time, the processing unit 41 of the bus stop 40 performs the following process of step S103 and subsequent steps based on at least one of the scheduled disembarking time of the visually impaired user and the arrival time of the bus 30 at the bus stop 40.

[0035] In the process of step S103, the processing unit 41 of the bus stop 40 estimates the degree of congestion on the sidewalk around the bus stop 40. In the process of step S104, the processing unit 31 of the bus 30 extracts information indicating a moving object approaching the bus 30 from the result of the obstacle detection by the detection unit 32. In the process of step S104, the processing unit 41 of the bus stop 40 extracts information indicating a moving object approaching the bus 30 from the result of the obstacle detection by the detection unit 42. In the process of step S105, at least one of the processing unit 31 of the bus 30 and the processing unit 41 of the bus stop 40 acquires area-specific weather information for the area including the bus stop 41 from the server 10.

[0036] In the process of step S106, the processing unit 31 of the bus 30 controls the notification unit 34 to output a warning sound based on the result of the process of step S104. When the processing unit 31 acquires area-specific weather information in the process of step S105, the processing unit 31 controls the notification unit 34 to output a sound corresponding to the area-specific weather information. In the process of step S106, the processing unit 41 of the bus stop 40 controls the notification unit 44 to output a sound corresponding to the information indicating the degree of congestion on the sidewalk estimated in the process of step S103. In addition, the processing unit 41 controls the notification unit 44 to output a warning sound based on the result of the process of step S104. When the processing unit 41 acquires area-specific weather information in the process of step S105, the processing unit 41 controls the notification unit 44 to output a sound corresponding to the area-specific weather information. As a result, audio guidance is provided to the visually impaired user.

[0037] In addition, in the process of step S106, the terminal device 20 carried by the visually impaired user may perform the above-mentioned voice guidance. In this case, information indicating the results of the processes of steps S103 and S104 may be transmitted to the terminal device 20 via the server 10. In addition, the server 10 may transmit area-specific weather information to the terminal device 20.

[0038] (Technical effect) According to the voice guidance system 1, when a visually impaired user gets off the bus 30, voice guidance can be provided regarding the surrounding environment of the bus stop 40 (for example, moving objects approaching the bus 30, the degree of congestion on the sidewalk, weather information by area, etc.). Therefore, it is expected that the visually impaired user will be able to understand the surrounding environment of the bus 30 and the bus stop 40 before getting off the bus 30. The voice guidance system 1 provides voice guidance not only for the bus 30 but also for the bus stop 40. Therefore, it is expected that the visually impaired user will be able to relatively easily hear the voice related to the voice guidance even after getting off the bus 30. As a result, the visually impaired user can use route buses with peace of mind, and it is expected that the use of route buses by the visually impaired user will be promoted.

[0039] On the other hand, according to the voice guidance system 1, the above-mentioned voice guidance is not provided when there is no visually impaired person on board the bus 30. This is because the information provided by the above-mentioned voice guidance is not very important to able-bodied persons who can grasp the surrounding environment of the bus 30 and the bus stop 40 from visual information, etc. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the able-bodied person from feeling annoyed by the voice guidance, compared to a case where the above-mentioned voice guidance is provided every time the bus 30 stops at a bus stop, for example.

[0040] Incidentally, even if there is no visually impaired person on board the bus 30, for example, when the bus 30 stops at a bus stop, information indicating the presence of a moving object approaching the bus 30 may be announced. In other words, audio guidance regarding the surrounding environment of the bus stop may be provided, with the content of the guidance changed depending on whether or not there is a visually impaired person on board the bus 30.

[0041] Aspects of the invention derived from the above-described embodiment will be described below.

[0042] A voice guidance method according to one aspect of the invention includes a determination step of determining whether or not a visually impaired person is among the passengers of a vehicle serving as public transportation, and a guidance step of providing voice guidance to inform the visually impaired person of the situation around the vehicle when the visually impaired person gets off the vehicle if the visually impaired person is among the passengers. In the above embodiment, the "bus 30" corresponds to an example of the "vehicle serving as public transportation."

[0043] In the voice guidance method, the conditions around the vehicle may include at least one of the degree of congestion on the sidewalk, information related to a moving object approaching the vehicle, and weather information.

[0044] In this voice guidance method, if it is determined that the passengers do not include visually impaired persons, the situation around the vehicle does not need to be notified.

[0045] 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 voice guidance methods involving such modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1... voice guidance system, 10... server, 11, 31, 41... processing unit, 12... storage device, 13, 33, 43... communication unit, 20... terminal device, 30... bus, 32, 42... detection unit, 34, 44... notification unit, 40... bus stop

Claims

[Claim 1] A voice guidance method performed by a voice guidance system, comprising: a determining step in which the voice guidance system determines whether or not a visually impaired person is among the passengers of the vehicle serving as public transportation; a guidance step of, when it is determined that the passengers include a visually impaired person, when the visually impaired person gets off the vehicle, providing voice guidance by the voice guidance system to inform the visually impaired person of a situation around the vehicle; Including, The situation around the vehicle includes at least one of a degree of congestion on a sidewalk, information related to a moving object approaching the vehicle, and weather information; If it is determined that the passengers do not include visually impaired persons, the situation around the vehicle is not notified. A voice guidance method comprising:

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