Information Display System

Abstract

To provide an information display system with which it is possible to realize hitherto nonexistent and effective call attention, presentation of advertisements and the like.SOLUTION: In a state where a vehicle V approaches an intersection IS from the front of the intersection IS, an information acquisition unit 21 acquires the vehicle V's shape information, vehicle speed information, vehicle control information and the like. An information identification unit 22 generates information to request an image that corresponds to these pieces of information, and the request information is transmitted from a communication unit 23 to a cloud server 3. The cloud server 3 extracts the image that corresponds to the request from databases 41, 42, and the image information is transmitted from a projection control unit 24 to a projection device 25. A projector 25b for mobile body projection of the projection device 25 projects, upon receiving a control signal from the projection control unit 24, an image for call attention, presentation of an advertisement and the like, following the movement of the vehicle V. Thus, it is possible to realize effective call attention, presentation of advertisements and the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information display system, and in particular to an improvement in the display form of an image (e.g., an image for the purpose of calling attention or presenting an advertisement) specified based on acquired information when projecting and displaying the image. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, there is known an information display system that projects and displays images based on acquired information for the purpose of alerting people in the vicinity (e.g., vehicle drivers, pedestrians, etc.).

[0003] This patent document 1 discloses that a drone equipped with an imaging device, a projector, etc. is used to project (project and display) an image onto the road surface from the projector for the purpose of calling attention, etc. Specifically, while the drone is flying, the imaging device photographs the ground below, such as an intersection or road, and an image (an image for calling attention, etc.) specified based on the photographed information is projected and displayed on the road surface, which is the lower area, from the projector. This patent document 1 also discloses projecting and displaying an image of a pedestrian crossing or an image of a stop sign for temporarily stopping a vehicle onto the road surface of an expressway, and projecting and displaying an image informing the presence of a fallen object, an image informing the intrusion of an animal, or an image informing the occurrence of a traffic jam onto the road surface of a highway. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-84955 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors of the present invention have considered displaying images on areas other than the road surface as a display format for images in this type of information display system.The inventors of the present invention have come to the new knowledge that, as a method for effectively calling attention or presenting advertisements, projecting images onto a moving object rather than onto a fixed object such as the road surface, can realize unprecedentedly effective attention calling or advertisement presentation (presentation of advertisements with high appeal).

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information display system that can realize unprecedented and effective attention-calling and advertisement presentation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The solution of the present invention for achieving the above object is directed to an information display system including an information acquisition unit that acquires information of a predetermined area including a moving object, a display information specification unit that specifies information to be displayed based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and a projection unit that projects an image of the information specified by the display information specification unit onto the predetermined area, and further includes a projection control unit that causes the projection unit to project the image onto the moving object in accordance with the movement of the moving object. The image projected from the projection means toward the moving body is for presenting an advertisement, and the moving bodies are targeted at vehicles waiting at an intersection with traffic lights and vehicles passing through the intersection, and the image projected onto the vehicle waiting for the traffic lights to turn and the image projected onto the vehicle passing through the intersection are related to each other, and the image projected onto the vehicle waiting for the traffic lights to turn is an image of a product that is the subject of advertising, while the image projected onto the vehicle passing through the intersection is an image intended to improve the image of the product. It is characterized by:

[0008] With this specification, the projection of the image from the projection means onto the moving object is performed by following the movement of the moving object under the control of the projection control unit. In other words, the image projected from the projection means also moves along with the movement of the moving object. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology in which an image was projected onto a fixed object such as the road surface, it is possible to realize more effective attention-raising and advertisement presentation. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In the present invention, when the specified information is displayed in a predetermined area by projecting an image from a projection means, the image is projected toward the moving body in accordance with the movement of the moving body. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology in which an image is projected toward a fixed object such as a road surface, it is possible to effectively call attention or present advertisements, and it is possible to provide an information display system that has never been seen before. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information display system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an information display operation in the information display system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a logic circuit for determining whether projection is possible. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a situation in which an advertisement is presented by the information display system, in the vicinity of an intersection; [Diagram 5] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a situation in which an information display system is used to alert a vehicle driver to an intersection and its surroundings; [Figure 6] 13 is a diagram of the vicinity of an intersection showing an example of a situation in which the information display system is alerting pedestrians in a modified example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied as an information display system for calling attention to people (drivers of vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) around a road intersection and presenting advertisements will be described. In addition, in this embodiment, a case where the information display system not only has a function of projecting (projecting and displaying) an image toward a moving body (a vehicle in this embodiment), but also has a function of projecting an image onto a road surface will be described as an example.

[0012] -Outline of the information display system- Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information display system 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a state in which a vehicle V, which is a moving body, approaches the intersection IS from just before the intersection IS, and the vehicle V approaches the intersection IS in the order of a solid line, a dashed line, and a double-dashed line in the figure.

[0013] 1, the information display system 1 includes a system unit 2 installed at an intersection IS, a cloud server (system management server) 3, and databases 41 and 42. Each of these will be described below.

[0014] The system unit 2 is installed in a traffic light, electric pole, street light, footbridge, building near an intersection, etc. (not shown). As will be described later, the system unit 2 projects an image from a projection device (projection means) 25 onto the road surface in the intersection IS or toward a vehicle V near the intersection IS, so it is preferably installed at a relatively high position near the intersection IS. In this embodiment, a case where the system unit 2 is installed in a traffic light will be described as an example (see FIG. 4).

[0015] 1, the system unit 2 includes an information acquisition section 21, an information identification section (functional section constituting a display information identification section in the present invention) 22, a communication section 23, a projection control section 24, and a projection device 25, which are connected by signal lines to enable mutual transmission and reception of information. In addition, these may be configured to enable mutual transmission and reception of information via wireless communication using a well-known communication means such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0016] The information acquisition unit 21 includes a camera that captures images of a vehicle V approaching the intersection IS and the surroundings of the intersection IS (such as the road surface conditions and pedestrians around the intersection IS) to generate image data, and a Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) that measures the distance to the vehicle V by scanning with a laser to obtain a three-dimensional distance image. As the camera, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera, an infrared camera, or the like can be used.

[0017] The information acquisition unit 21 also includes an ITS (Intelligent Transport System) device as a wireless communication device, and when a vehicle V equipped with an ITS connect unit (not shown) capable of communicating with the ITS device approaches an intersection IS, communication with the ITS connect unit is possible. This communication is, for example, V2I (Vehicle-to-Roadside-Infrastructure) communication, and short-range wireless communication using a dedicated frequency can be applied.

[0018] Information that can be obtained by cameras, Lidar, and ITS devices includes information on the shape (vehicle type) of the vehicle V, vehicle speed information, vehicle control information, image projection permission information, and information about the area around the intersection IS.

[0019] The shape of the vehicle V (for example, the surface shapes of the engine hood, side doors, back door, etc.) can be recognized from images captured by a camera or Lidar. Also, the shape of the vehicle V may be recognized by identifying the vehicle type through communication with the ITS Connect unit (obtaining vehicle type information through communication). That is, a database that associates the vehicle type with the shape of the vehicle V may be provided in advance, and the shape of the vehicle V may be recognized by identifying the vehicle type through communication. Also, the vehicle speed can be calculated by recognizing the movement amount of the vehicle V per unit time from an image captured by a camera or Lidar. Also, vehicle speed information (information of the vehicle speed detected by an on-board vehicle speed sensor) may be obtained from the vehicle V through communication with the ITS Connect unit. Examples of vehicle control information include information on the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal or brake pedal by the driver (information detected by an on-board accelerator opening sensor or brake pedal switch), and this information can also be obtained from the vehicle V through communication with the ITS Connect unit. Furthermore, although the information display system 1 according to the present embodiment projects images onto the outer surfaces (engine hood, side doors, back doors, etc.) of the vehicle V, some drivers may not want images to be projected onto their own vehicle V. For this reason, an image projection refusal switch is provided inside the vehicle V equipped with an ITS connect unit, and image projection can be refused by turning this switch ON (or by tapping an image projection refusal button that can be displayed on a mode switching screen on an in-vehicle monitor). Information on whether or not the image projection refusal switch or the like is turned ON (the image projection refusal mode is set) (the image projection permission information) can also be acquired by communication with the ITS connect unit. Examples of information on the periphery of the intersection IS include the condition of the road surface around the intersection IS based on image data acquired by a camera or Lidar, and information on the position, speed, and traveling direction of pedestrians. The acquired information is transmitted from the information acquisition unit 21 to the information identification unit 22.

[0020] The information identification unit 22 receives various information from the information acquisition unit 21 (information on the shape of the vehicle V, information on vehicle speed, vehicle control information, image projection permission information, information on the surroundings of the intersection IS, etc.), and from this information, identifies the road conditions around the intersection IS (traffic volume, weather, whether or not an accident has occurred, etc.), the conditions of the vehicle V approaching the intersection IS (shape, position, speed, direction of travel, etc. of the vehicle V), the condition of the road surface, etc. Note that weather information as the road conditions around the intersection IS may be acquired by the information acquisition unit 21 as described above, or may be acquired as weather information by the cloud server 3 described later.

[0021] Furthermore, information identification unit 22 has a function of transmitting this information (identification information) to communication unit 23, a function of receiving information extracted by cloud server 3 described later via communication unit 23, and a function of identifying an image to be projected by projection device 25 from the received information and transmitting the information to projection control unit 24. The identification information transmitted from information identification unit 22 to communication unit 23 will be transmitted to cloud server 3 by communication unit 23, and the information transmitted to cloud server 3 also includes information requesting an image corresponding to the information acquired by information acquisition unit 21.

[0022] Communication unit 23 is configured to be capable of wirelessly communicating with cloud server 3 via a network, and wirelessly transmits various information received from information identification unit 22 (information on the shape of vehicle V, information on vehicle speed, vehicle control information, image projection permission information, information on the periphery of intersection IS, and information requesting an image) to cloud server 3. In addition, communication unit 23 receives information extracted by cloud server 3 from databases 41, 42 (information on the image in response to the request) from cloud server 3, and transmits the information to information identification unit 22.

[0023] Based on information (including information requesting an image) received from information identification unit 22 via communication unit 23, cloud server 3 extracts images (images for calling attention or images for presenting advertisements) suitable for the request as images to be projected onto the road surface in intersection IS or vehicle V from databases 41, 42. For example, images suitable for projection onto the road surface in intersection IS or vehicle V at the current time are extracted from databases 41, 42 according to the status of traffic lights at intersection IS (such as which traffic light is red), the speed of vehicle V traveling toward intersection IS, the number of pedestrians around intersection IS, etc. Then, cloud server 3 transmits the extracted images to information identification unit 22 via communication unit 23.

[0024] The databases 41, 42 include a first database 41 that stores vehicle information and road surface information, and a second database 42 that stores image information (information on images for calling attention and information on images for presenting advertisements). In response to the request for an image, the cloud server 3 refers to the data stored in each of the databases 41, 42, extracts a specific image, and transmits the image information to the information identification unit 22 via the communication unit 23.

[0025] The projection control unit 24 receives the information received from the information identification unit 22 (the information extracted by the cloud server 3 and transmitted to the information identification unit 22), and controls the projection device 25 based on this information.

[0026] The projection device 25 includes projectors 25a and 25b. The one shown in FIG. 1 includes a road surface projector 25a and a moving body projector 25b. The road surface projector 25a is for projecting an image onto the road surface, and is configured to project an image toward, for example, the center of an intersection IS according to image information received from the projection control unit 24. The moving body projector 25b is for projecting an image onto a moving body. In this embodiment, the projector projects an image onto a vehicle V as a moving body, and is configured to project an image onto, for example, an engine hood, a side door, a back door, or the like, which is an outer surface of the vehicle V, according to image information received from the projection control unit 24.

[0027] In particular, projection mapping is used as a method for projecting an image from the moving body projector 25b onto the vehicle V. This projection mapping is a known technique for outputting CG (Computer Graphics) created by a computer from a projector and mapping an image onto a real three-dimensional object. In this embodiment, information on the shape of the vehicle V is acquired by the information acquisition unit 21, and the image information received from the information identification unit 22 is processed according to the shape of the vehicle V (the surface shape of the specific area of ​​the vehicle V onto which the image is to be projected), so that the image is projected onto a specific area of ​​the vehicle V. In addition, the projection range of the image by this projection mapping is within a predetermined range within the intersection IS.

[0028] In addition, the system unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a projection device 25 equipped with a projector 25a for road surface projection and a projector 25b for moving body projection. However, if multiple system units 2 are installed at an intersection IS, some system units 2 may have only one of the projector 25a for road surface projection and the projector 25b for moving body projection.

[0029] As a feature of this embodiment, the projection control unit 24 is configured to project an image from the moving body projector 25b of the projection device 25 toward the vehicle V in accordance with the movement of the vehicle V. Specifically, the moving body projector 25b is provided with a mechanism (not shown) that can change the projection direction of the image. As an example of the configuration of this mechanism, the optical axis of the projection lens of the moving body projector 25b is made variable by a motor or the like, and the projection direction of the image is made variable by the operation of this motor. Also, a configuration may be adopted in which the projection direction of the image is made changeable by using a plurality of rotatable mirrors.

[0030] The projection control unit 24 receives information on the position of the vehicle V recognized by the information acquisition unit 21 through the information identification unit 22, and outputs an operation command signal to the motor so that the projection direction of the image is changed toward the position of the vehicle V. As a result, the image projection from the moving body projector 25b is performed following the movement of the vehicle V, and the image projected from the moving body projector 25b also moves with the movement of the vehicle V. For example, when projecting an image on a side door of the vehicle V, the image projected from the moving body projector 25b is moved so that the projection of the image on the side door continues even if the vehicle V moves. Also, FIG. 1 shows a case where an image is projected on the engine hood of the vehicle V, and as the vehicle V moves in the order of the solid line, the dashed line, and the dashed two-dot line in the figure, the projection direction of the image from the moving body projector 25b is also changed in the order of the solid line, the dashed line, and the dashed two-dot line in the figure.

[0031] -Information display operation- Next, an information display operation by the information display system 1 configured as described above will be described. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of this information display operation. This flowchart is executed when a vehicle V approaching an intersection IS is recognized.

[0032] First, in step ST1, the information acquisition unit 21 acquires various information (information on the shape of the vehicle V, information on vehicle speed, vehicle control information, information permitting image projection, information on the periphery of the intersection IS, etc.) using a camera, Lidar, or ITS device.

[0033] In step ST2, the information identification unit 22 receives various information from the information acquisition unit 21, thereby identifying the road conditions around the intersection IS (traffic volume, weather, whether or not an accident has occurred, etc.), the conditions of the vehicle V approaching the intersection IS (shape, position, speed, traveling direction, etc. of the vehicle V), and the condition of the road surface. This results in the generation of information requesting an image according to the identification result.

[0034] In step ST3, the communication unit 23 transmits to the cloud server 3 the request information generated in the information identification unit 22 (information requesting an image according to the identification result).

[0035] In step ST4, the cloud server 3 extracts an image in response to the request from the databases 41, 42 as an image to be projected onto the road surface of the intersection IS or onto the vehicle V, based on the information received from the information identification unit 22 (including information requesting an image).

[0036] In step ST5, the projection control unit 24 receives information about the image extracted by the cloud server 3 via the information acquisition unit 21 and the information identification unit 22, and determines whether or not this image can be projected onto the road surface of the intersection IS and onto the vehicle V. A method for determining whether or not this image can be projected (determining whether or not the image can be projected) will be specifically described below.

[0037] (Determining whether or not to project an image) FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a logic circuit for determining whether or not an image can be projected.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, the decision as to whether or not an image can be projected is made based on the road condition, vehicle condition, and road surface condition. That is, the road condition is that there is no problem with image projection (hereinafter, road condition is said to be satisfied), the vehicle condition is that the vehicle can be a target for image projection (hereinafter, vehicle condition is said to be satisfied), and the road surface condition is that the road surface state can be a target for image projection (hereinafter, road surface condition is said to be satisfied), and only when at least one of the vehicle condition and the road surface condition is satisfied (see the OR circuit in Fig. 3) and the road condition is satisfied (see the AND circuit in Fig. 3), it is considered possible to project an image onto the road surface of the intersection IS and the vehicle V.

[0039] Specifically, the road conditions include traffic volume conditions, weather conditions, and accident conditions. The traffic volume conditions are not satisfied when the traffic volume is extremely low or when continuous image projection due to congestion or the like may cause traffic obstruction, and are satisfied otherwise (when the traffic volume is relatively high and projection of an image does not cause traffic obstruction). The weather conditions are not satisfied when the driver may be dazzled when an image is projected due to the influence of rain, fog, snow, etc., and are satisfied otherwise. The accident conditions are not satisfied when an accident has occurred or the image may cause an obstruction to accident processing, and are satisfied otherwise. If the traffic volume conditions, weather conditions, and accident conditions are all satisfied and it is determined that there is no problem with the projection of the image, "1" is output to the AND circuit, and if at least one of these conditions is not satisfied and it is determined that there is a problem with the projection of the image, "0" is output to the AND circuit.

[0040] In addition, as vehicle conditions, if the vehicle V is not an emergency vehicle, is not a vehicle displaying other advertisements (such as a so-called signage-equipped vehicle), is not a vehicle that may interfere with operation if an image is projected onto it (such as a nursing vehicle), and the image projection refusal switch has not been turned ON (is not in a mode to refuse image projection), then it is determined that the vehicle can be a target for image projection, and a "1" is output to the OR circuit; if at least one of these conditions is not met (for example, if the vehicle V is an emergency vehicle), then it is determined that the vehicle cannot be a target for image projection (is not a target), and a "0" is output to the OR circuit.

[0041] In addition, as for road surface conditions, if the road is not under construction, there are no puddles, the road is not flooded, there is no snow, and there is no unusual road surface drawing (for example, graffiti), it is determined that the road surface can be used for image projection, and a "1" is output to the OR circuit, but if at least one of these conditions is not met (for example, if there are puddles), it is determined that the road surface cannot be used for image projection, and a "0" is output to the OR circuit.

[0042] If at least one of the vehicle condition and road surface condition outputs is "1," the OR circuit outputs "1" to the AND circuit. On the other hand, if both the vehicle condition and road surface condition outputs are "0," it is determined that image projection is not possible.

[0043] Even if the OR circuit outputs "1" to the AND circuit, if the road condition output is "0," it is determined that image projection is not possible. If the OR circuit outputs "1" to the AND circuit and the road condition output is "1," it is determined that image projection onto the road surface of the intersection IS and onto the vehicle V is possible.

[0044] In this manner, the decision as to whether or not the image can be projected is made, and if the image cannot be projected and the decision is NO in step ST5, the process proceeds to step ST6, where the image projection is interrupted, and the process proceeds to step ST12.

[0045] On the other hand, if image projection is possible and the result of the determination in step ST5 is YES, the process proceeds to step ST7, where the content of the image information extracted by the cloud server 3 (projection content) is determined. Specifically, the process determines whether the content of the image information corresponds to an advertisement or a warning. This determination is made by reading the information included in the image information extracted by the cloud server 3, which indicates whether the image corresponds to an advertisement or a warning.

[0046] If the content of the image information corresponds to an advertisement, the process proceeds to step ST8, where it is determined whether or not the traffic lights for automobiles at the intersection IS are red. More specifically, if the intersection IS is a scramble intersection, it is determined whether or not all the traffic lights for automobiles are red and the traffic lights for pedestrians are green. This step is for projecting an image presenting an advertisement in a situation where the vehicle V is not entering the intersection IS.

[0047] If this determination is NO, the process returns to step ST7, whereas if this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step ST9, where an image presenting the advertisement (advertising image) is projected onto the road surface of the intersection IS and the vehicle V. That is, an image is projected from the road surface projector 25a onto the road surface of the intersection IS, and an image is projected from the moving body projector 25b onto the vehicle V.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an intersection IS and its surroundings showing an example of a situation in which an advertisement is presented by the information display system 1. FIG. 4 shows a state in which an advertisement image of food (more specifically, pizza) is projected and displayed on the road surface and on the vehicle V. More specifically, the advertisement image of the food is projected from the system unit 2A attached to the traffic light TL1 (from the road surface projection projector of the projection device in the system unit 2A) toward the center of the intersection IS. Also, from the system unit 2B attached to the traffic light TL2 (from the moving body projection projector of the projection device in the system unit 2B), the advertisement image of the food is projected toward the side of the vehicle V1 waiting for the light to turn before the intersection IS, and an image of a smiling face (an advertisement image that improves the image of the food) is projected toward the side of the vehicle V2 that has passed the intersection IS. Furthermore, from the system unit 2C attached to the traffic light TL3 (from the moving object projection projector of the projection device in the system unit 2C), a smiling image (advertising image that improves the image of food) is projected toward the front of the vehicle V3 waiting for the traffic light in front of the intersection IS and toward the back of the vehicle V4 that has passed the intersection IS. In this case, the food image projected at the center of the intersection IS may be moved toward the smiling image to create an image of the smiling image eating the food (connecting multiple images). As described above, the projection of the image from the moving object projection projector 25b of the projection device 25 toward the vehicles V2 and V4 is performed by following the movement of the vehicles V2 and V4. Specifically, for the vehicles V2 and V4 traveling while passing the intersection IS, the moving object projection projector 25b projects an image toward the vehicles V2 and V4 so as to follow the movement of the vehicles V2 and V4.

[0049] By projecting such advertising images, it is possible to effectively present advertisements (presentation of advertisements with high appeal) to the occupants of vehicles V1 and V3 waiting for the traffic light in front of the intersection IS, and to pedestrians H walking near the intersection IS.

[0050] If it is determined in step ST7 that the content of the image information corresponds to a warning, the process proceeds to step ST10, where it is determined whether the traffic light for automobiles at the intersection IS is other than red. This step is for projecting an image to warn the driver when the vehicle V enters the intersection IS.

[0051] If the determination is NO, the process returns to step ST7, whereas if the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step ST11, where the attention-calling image is projected onto the road surface of the intersection IS.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an intersection IS and its surroundings showing an example of a situation where the driver of the vehicle V is being alerted by the information display system 1. In FIG. 5, in a situation where the right-turn arrow of the traffic light TL is on at the intersection IS having a right-turn exclusive lane RL, the driver of the vehicle V traveling on the right-turn exclusive lane RL is informed of the position of the vehicle at the timing when the right-turn arrow goes off. Specifically, the route on which the vehicle V is traveling with the right-turn arrow turned off when the vehicle V enters the intersection IS is displayed by image projection on the road surface using the time from the current time until the timing when the right-turn arrow goes off, the current vehicle speed of the vehicle V, and vehicle control information (information on the vehicle speed acquired by the information acquisition unit 21 and the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle V based on the vehicle control information). In FIG. 5, the area with dashed diagonal lines is the area of ​​the route on which the vehicle V is traveling with the right-turn arrow turned off. In other words, the driver is instructed that if the vehicle enters the intersection IS in the current driving state, the right turn arrow will be turned off when the vehicle reaches position A in the intersection. More specifically, an image is displayed in which the area with the dashed diagonal lines is filled with red or yellow. The driver can determine whether or not to enter the intersection IS by looking at this projected image. Projecting such an image for attention calling can effectively call the attention of the driver of the vehicle V.

[0053] 5, an image for calling the attention of the driver of the vehicle V is projected onto the road surface of the intersection IS, but an image for calling attention may be projected onto the back (back door, etc.) of the preceding vehicle V. For example, an image showing the time until the traffic light changes from green to yellow (the elapsed time from the current time) may be projected (an image of numbers) onto the back of the preceding vehicle V.

[0054] After projecting an image presenting an advertisement in step ST9 or an image for calling attention in step ST11, the process proceeds to step ST12, where it is determined whether or not a situation change has occurred, such as a traffic light switching. If no situation change has occurred, a NO determination is made in step ST12, and the current image projection state is maintained. On the other hand, if a situation change has occurred and a YES determination is made in step ST12, the process proceeds to step ST13, where it is determined whether or not the current time period is late at night. This is a step for determining that the time period is one in which pedestrians may not be present, and therefore there is little need to present an advertisement or call attention.

[0055] If the current time period is late at night and the determination in step ST13 is YES, this operation (information display operation) is terminated. On the other hand, if the current time period is not late at night and the determination in step ST13 is NO, the process returns and the operations from step ST1 are repeated. In other words, as a new vehicle V approaching the intersection IS is recognized, the processing operations from step ST1 described above are executed.

[0056] The above operations are repeated.

[0057] -Effects of the embodiment- As described above, in this embodiment, when an image is projected onto the vehicle V by the projection device 25 (more specifically, the moving body projector 25b), the image is projected onto the vehicle V by following the movement of the vehicle V. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology in which images are projected only onto fixed objects such as the road surface, it is possible to effectively call attention or present advertisements, and it is possible to provide an information display system that has never been seen before.

[0058] -Variations- Next, a modified example will be described in which an image is projected onto the road surface from the road surface projector 25a of the projection device 25 in the information display system 1. This modified example is projection of an image to alert pedestrians.

[0059] Fig. 6 is a diagram of an intersection and its surroundings showing an example of a situation in which the information display system is alerting a pedestrian H. In this modification, the system unit 2 is installed at a pedestrian traffic light TL, and an image is projected onto the crosswalk CW from a road surface projector 25a of a projection device 25 provided in the system unit 2. Here, an example will be described in which a pedestrian H crosses from the back side to the front side in Fig. 6.

[0060] Specifically, when the pedestrian traffic light TL is green, the white line WL, which changes color by projection, is switched depending on the time from the current time until the pedestrian traffic light TL changes to red. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the area with dashed diagonal lines indicates the white line WL whose color has changed by projection. For example, an image is displayed in which the area with dashed diagonal lines is filled with red or yellow. In other words, when the pedestrian H is currently crossing the white line WL whose color has changed by projection (the side where the pedestrian has completed crossing), the pedestrian H is informed that he or she can complete crossing before the pedestrian traffic light TL changes to red, and when the pedestrian H is currently crossing the white line WL whose color has changed by projection, the pedestrian H is informed that he or she cannot complete crossing before the pedestrian traffic light TL changes to red in the current walking state (if the pedestrian continues walking at the current walking speed). The walking speed in this case may be acquired by the information acquisition unit 21, or may be preset as the walking speed of an ordinary person. The area where the color changes due to this projection (the area on the white line WL) will expand (towards the end of the crossing) over time (as the time until the light turns red becomes shorter).

[0061] This makes it possible to alert pedestrians H who are crossing the crosswalk CW and pedestrians H who are about to cross the crosswalk CW. For example, pedestrians H crossing the crosswalk CW can recognize that if they are crossing beyond the white line WL whose color is changing due to the projection (the side where they will have crossed completely), they can walk at the same walking speed, and if they are crossing over the white line WL whose color is changing due to the projection, they can recognize that they need to choose between increasing their walking speed and crossing the crosswalk CW completely or making a U-turn and returning to the sidewalk.

[0062] -Other embodiments- The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and all modifications and applications within the scope of the claims and equivalents thereto are possible.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the case where food (specifically, pizza) is presented as an advertisement has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and advertisements for other products may be presented.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the projection device 25 projects an image onto both the road surface and the vehicle V. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the projection device 25 may project an image onto only the vehicle V.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the function of the display information specification section according to the present invention is provided in the information identification section 22, but this function may be provided in the projection control section 24.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the moving body projector 25b projects an image toward the vehicle V in response to a control signal from the projection control unit 24 connected to the projection device 25, following the movement of the vehicle V. The present invention is not limited to this, and a projection control unit (not shown) may be built into the projection device 25, and the moving body projector 25b may project an image toward the vehicle V in response to a control signal from the projection control unit, following the movement of the vehicle V. [Industrial Applicability]

[0068] The present invention is applicable to an information display system that projects and displays an image based on acquired information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Information display system 21 Information Acquisition Department 22 Information identification section (display information identification section) 24 Projection control unit 25 Projection device V Vehicle (moving object)

Claims

[Claim 1] An information display system including an information acquisition unit that acquires information of a predetermined area including a moving object, a display information specification unit that specifies information to be displayed based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and a projection unit that projects an image of the information specified by the display information specification unit onto the predetermined area, a projection control unit that causes the projection means to project the image onto the moving body in accordance with the movement of the moving body, the image projected from the projection means toward the moving object is for presenting an advertisement, The mobile object is a vehicle waiting at a traffic light at an intersection and a vehicle passing through the intersection. An information display system characterized in that the image presenting an advertisement projected onto the vehicle waiting at a traffic light and the image presenting an advertisement projected onto the vehicle passing through the intersection are mutually related images, and the image projected onto the vehicle waiting at a traffic light is an image of a product that is the subject of advertising, while the image projected onto the vehicle passing through the intersection is an image intended to improve the image of the product.

Images