Voice guidance system

Abstract

To provide a guide sound guidance system that can safely guide a visually impaired person to a destination.SOLUTION: First, upon receiving destination information from a portable terminal 10 first, a center device 30 searches for a route R to a destination P, and extracts guiding devices 20 present on the route R. Subsequently, upon receiving arrival information indicating that a pedestrian arrives at the first guiding device 21, the center device 30 outputs travel direction information to the pedestrian's portable terminal 10, and outputs a guidance guide sound to the second guiding device 22 through a guide sound output unit 22b. The pedestrian repeats arriving at the guiding device 20 to obtain the travel direction information and traveling according to the guidance guide sound output from the next guiding device 20, and thereby can arrive at the destination P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a guidance sound guidance system that performs route guidance using a mobile terminal possessed by a visually impaired person.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal for visually impaired persons including a position information processing device that measures current position information using GPS, a voice input unit that inputs voice information, and a voice output unit that outputs guidance information as voice.

[0003] This terminal for visually impaired persons transmits positioning information and voice information to an information providing station via a wireless network, and receives guidance information that is the route to the destination from the information providing station. By outputting this guidance information as voice from the voice output unit, the visually impaired person is guided to the destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the route guidance by voice from the voice output unit of the terminal for visually impaired persons in Patent Document 1, when the guidance information is output as voice during walking, the visually impaired person may concentrate on the output voice, and the attention may be scattered to the surrounding sounds.

[0006] If there is no voice output from the terminal for visually impaired persons, the visually impaired person can notice the continuous approaching sound of a bicycle or the like and walk while paying attention. However, during the voice output of the guidance information, the visually impaired person may not notice that a bicycle or the like is approaching, which is extremely dangerous.

[0007] In addition, GPS positioning on a mobile terminal does not always accurately determine the correct position. For example, the position may be off by several tens of meters, or the current position may be measured as a road on the other side of a road. If route guidance is performed based on such incorrect current position information, the destination may not be reached, and there is even a possibility of being incorrectly guided onto, for example, an expressway for automobiles, which is even more dangerous.

[0008] Also, in a group of buildings, the GPS terminal may be unable to perform positioning. In such cases, there is also a problem that route guidance cannot be provided to visually impaired persons.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a guidance sound guidance system that solves the above problems and can safely guide visually impaired persons to a destination.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The guidance sound guidance system according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a voice input unit for inputting a destination, a voice output unit for outputting voice, and a first wireless communication unit, a mobile terminal possessed by a pedestrian, a second wireless communication unit for performing short-range communication with the first wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, a guidance sound output unit for outputting a guidance sound to the pedestrian possessing the mobile terminal, and a control unit for performing output control of the guidance sound, and includes a plurality of guidance devices respectively installed near crosswalks at each intersection, and a center device for communicating with the plurality of guidance devices via wireless or wired, and the center device extracts the guidance devices existing on the route to the destination based on the information of the destination from the received mobile terminal, and notifies the pedestrian from the voice output unit of progress direction information indicating the progress direction to the destination via the extracted guidance device, and after the notification, causes the guidance sound output unit to output a guidance sound for guiding the pedestrian to the next guidance device to be passed on the route.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the guidance sound induction system of the present invention, a pedestrian carrying a mobile terminal can obtain voice-based travel direction information only when approaching an intersection and becoming capable of short-range communication with a guidance device. Therefore, even if the pedestrian is concentrating on the voice from the mobile terminal, accidents are less likely to occur. In addition, since route guidance to the destination can be performed without using the GPS function of the mobile terminal, misguidance due to incorrect positioning of the GPS function or the like does not occur.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a guidance sound induction system. The guidance sound induction system includes a mobile terminal 10 carried by a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person, a plurality of guidance devices 20 respectively installed near the crosswalk H at each intersection C, and a center device 30 provided in a control center M or the like and communicating with each guidance device via wireless or wired.

[0014] As the mobile terminal 10, for example, a smartphone installed with a dedicated application is used. It includes a voice input unit 10a such as a microphone for inputting a destination by voice, a voice output unit 10b such as a speaker for outputting voice, and a first wireless communication unit 10c for performing short-range communication with the guidance device 20, for example, via Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0015] The guidance device 20 includes a second wireless communication unit 20a that performs short-range communication, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, with the first wireless communication unit 10c of the mobile terminal 10, a guidance sound output unit 20b that emits and outputs a guidance sound and a crossing guidance sound, which will be described later, to a pedestrian holding the mobile terminal 10 that has input a destination P, and a control unit 20c that performs output control of the guidance sound such as the guidance sound and the crossing guidance sound.

[0016] The guidance device 20 is attached, for example, to a column D where pedestrian signal devices L11 and L21, which will be described later, are installed. The second wireless communication unit 20a, the guidance sound output unit 20b, and the control unit 20c are installed inside a waterproof housing.

[0017] In addition, the guidance device 20 also has a crossing guidance sound output function that guides visually impaired persons waiting for a signal at the intersection C that the pedestrian signal devices L11 and L21 have turned blue through an input from an input device for visually impaired persons or the like from the guidance sound output unit 20b.

[0018] For the pedestrian signal device L11 on the crosswalk H1 of the main road S1, for example, a crossing guidance sound of "Kakko, Kakko" is output, and for the pedestrian signal device L21 on the crosswalk H2 of the secondary road S2 that intersects the main road S1, for example, a crossing guidance sound of "Piyo, Piyo" is output. These guidance sounds for visually impaired persons are not output unless a request for output is made from the center device 30 or from visually impaired persons at the intersection C.

[0019] When the control unit 20c of the guidance device 20 receives destination information and arrival information using short-range communication from the first wireless communication unit 10c of the mobile terminal 10 via the second wireless communication unit 20a, it transmits this destination information and arrival information to the center device 30.

[0020] When the control unit 20c receives the traveling direction information indicating the traveling direction to the destination from the center device 30, it outputs the traveling direction information to the mobile terminal 10 via the second wireless communication unit 20a. Further, when the control unit 20c receives the guidance voice output command information from the center device 30, it outputs a guidance voice from the guidance voice output unit 20b at the output timing described later.

[0021] The signal lamp device L installed at the intersection C is composed of a pedestrian signal lamp device L11 and a vehicle signal lamp device L12 installed on the main road S1, and a pedestrian signal lamp device L21 and a vehicle signal lamp device L22 installed on the secondary road S2. These signal lamp devices L are controlled to light according to the display table T by a signal controller (not shown) installed near the intersection.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an example of the display table T stored in the signal controller. In the staircase K1, for example, the pedestrian signal lamp device L11 and the vehicle signal lamp device L12 on the main road S1 are set to light blue, and the pedestrian signal lamp device L21 and the vehicle signal lamp device L22 on the secondary road S2 are set to light red.

[0023] Also, in the staircase K2, the pedestrian signal lamp device L11 is set to blink blue, the vehicle signal lamp device L12 is set to light blue, and the pedestrian signal lamp device L21 and the vehicle signal lamp device L22 are set to light red. And in the staircase K10, which is the final staircase K, all the signal lamp devices L are set to light red.

[0024] For each of the staircases K1 to K10, a holding time for maintaining each lighting state is set. The total holding time from the staircases K1 to K10 is defined as the number of seconds in one cycle, and the cycle consisting of the staircases K1 to K10 is repeated to control the lighting of each signal lamp device L.

[0025] The signal controller is also connected to the guiding device 20. The control unit 20c of the guiding device 20 can control the output timing of the guiding sound according to the step K during the lighting control of the display table T of the signal controller. These signal controller and guiding device 20 can also be installed in a housing having the same waterproof property.

[0026] The plurality of guiding devices 20 installed at each intersection C are connected to the center device 30. This center device 30 performs a route search based on the destination information transmitted from the mobile terminal 10, and outputs, as the traveling direction information, the traveling direction to the destination P corresponding to the pedestrian position via the guiding device 20 and through the voice output unit 10b to notify the pedestrian.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows, for example, the flow process of the center device 30 when a pedestrian inputs a destination P to the mobile terminal 10 via the voice input unit 10a in the vicinity of the intersection C1 in FIG. 1.

[0028] In step ST1, when the center device 30 first receives the destination information from the mobile terminal 10, it searches for the route R to the destination P and extracts the guiding devices 20 existing on the route R.

[0029] The reception of the destination information from this mobile terminal 10 may be received via the mobile phone communication network, or may be received via the second wireless communication unit 20a of the guiding device 20. Then, 1 is set for n indicating the route number via which the guiding device 20 on the route R passes.

[0030] Subsequently, in step ST2, it is determined whether the pedestrian has arrived at the first guiding device 21 on the route R. This process is determined by whether arrival information or destination information has been received via the first wireless communication unit 10c of the mobile terminal 10 and the second wireless communication unit 21a of the guiding device 21.

[0031] Note that this arrival information may be information indicating a state in which short-range communication with the mobile terminal 10 has been established. And the center device 30 does not shift to step ST3 until a pedestrian arrives at the guidance device 21.

[0032] When the center device 30 receives arrival information or the like indicating that a pedestrian has arrived at the first guidance device 21, it shifts to step ST3 and outputs travel direction information based on the searched route R to the mobile terminal 10 of the pedestrian via the second wireless communication unit 21a, the first wireless communication unit 10c, and the voice output unit 10b.

[0033] This travel direction information is, for example, output as voice from the voice output unit 10b saying "Please go straight after crossing the intersection". At the same time, the guidance device 21 outputs a crossing guidance sound of, for example, "Cuckoo, cuckoo" for the main road S1 from the guidance sound output unit 21b at the timing of the staircase K1 of the display table T shown in FIG. 2. In this way, the pedestrian crosses the crosswalk H11 by the crossing guidance sound and goes straight after crossing.

[0034] Next, in step ST4 after notifying the travel direction information to the pedestrian, after adding 1 to the route number, it shifts to step ST5, and the center device 30 outputs an output command for a guidance guidance sound for guiding via the guidance sound output unit 22b to the second guidance device 22 corresponding to route number 2. Note that when the route number reaches the number of the last guidance device (20 + n) on the route R, the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 3 is terminated.

[0035] The guidance guidance sound may be the same as the crossing guidance sound, and output sounds of "Cuckoo, cuckoo" for the main road S1 and "Piyo, piyo" for the secondary road S2 from the guidance sound output unit 22b. Also, in order for the guidance guidance sound to reach far away, the volume of the guidance guidance sound may be made larger than that of the crossing guidance sound, or the pitch of the guidance guidance sound may be made higher than that of the crossing guidance sound to provide a difference.

[0036] The output timing of the guiding sound is as shown in Output Timing Examples 1 and 2 in the lower row of the display table T in Fig. 2. After the guiding device 21 receives the guiding sound output command from the center device 30, the guiding sound is output at the output timing of the ladders K1 and K6 when the pedestrian signal lights L112 and L212 of the pedestrian signal lights L11 and L21 at the intersection C2 are lit in blue.

[0037] For example, the output of the guiding sound starting from step ST5 shown in Output Timing Example 1 in Fig. 2 continues each time the pedestrian signal lights L112 and L212 of the ladders K1 and K6 are lit in blue. Note that the periodic output timing may be only for either one of the ladders K1 and K6.

[0038] Next, by the output of the guiding sound from the guiding sound output unit 22b of the guiding device 22 that the pedestrian is scheduled to pass next, the pedestrian can grasp the general direction of the intersection C2. Then, by the output of the guiding sound at the periodic output timing of the ladders K1 and K6, the pedestrian can proceed while roughly confirming the direction and distance to the intersection C2.

[0039] Note that when the distance between the first intersection C1 where the guiding device 21 that has received arrival information etc. is installed and the intersection C2 where the guiding device 22 that the pedestrian is scheduled to pass next is installed is far, the output command process of the guiding sound in step ST5 starts after a predetermined time has elapsed. This predetermined time is set in consideration of the time to enter the range where the guiding sound of the guiding device 22 can reach, based on the distance between intersections and the average walking speed of the pedestrian.

[0040] Subsequently, it returns from step ST5 to step ST2, and the output of the guiding sound continues until the pedestrian arrives at the second guiding device 22, that is, until arrival information is received from the mobile terminal 10. When arriving at the guiding device 22 in step ST2, the output of the periodic guiding sound stops and it shifts to step ST3.

[0041] During the output of the guiding sound, if another visually impaired person crosses the crosswalks H21 and H22 at the intersection C2, it is possible to cross the crosswalks H21 and H22 by the guiding sound being output. Or, for example, when only the guiding sound for the main road S1 at the output timing of the staircase K1 is periodically being output, and there is an input from another visually impaired person to the push-button device for visually impaired persons on the secondary road S2, the crosswalk guiding sound is output at the output timing of the staircase K6 as usual.

[0042] For the pedestrian who has arrived at the intersection C2, in step ST3, the center device 30 notifies the pedestrian of the travel direction information to the destination P via the guiding device 22 and the mobile terminal 10. For example, a voice such as "Please cross the crosswalk and go left" is output from the voice output unit 10b of the mobile terminal 10.

[0043] At the same time, the guiding device 22 performs control to output "kokko, kokko" of the crosswalk guiding sound to the guiding sound output unit 22b at the timing of the staircase K1 when the pedestrian signal lamp L112 on the main road S1 side turns blue.

[0044] The pedestrian crosses the crosswalk H21, and further, the guiding device 22 performs control to output "piyopiyo" of the crosswalk guiding sound when the pedestrian signal lamp L212 on the secondary road S2 side turns blue at the staircase K6. The pedestrian then continues to cross the crosswalk H22 and heads towards the next intersection C3.

[0045] In step ST4, 1 is added to the route number n and the process proceeds to step ST5. The center device 30 outputs a guiding sound output command to the third guiding device 23 via the guiding sound output unit 23b in the same manner as described above. Then, the guiding device 23 outputs the guiding sound every time the pedestrian signal lamps L113 and L213 of the staircases K1 and K6 turn blue.

[0046] The pedestrian who has arrived at the intersection C3 is notified of the travel direction information "Please cross the crosswalk and go straight. You will arrive at the destination in another 100m" transmitted from the center device 30 via the guiding device 23 and the mobile terminal 10.

[0047] Then, the guiding device 23 causes the guiding sound output unit 23b to output "Piyo piyo, piyo piyo" of the crossing guiding sound at the timing of the staircase K6 when the pedestrian signal device L213 on the side of the secondary road S2 turns blue.

[0048] The pedestrian can cross the crosswalk H31 and reach the destination P by going straight for about 100 m. In this way, the pedestrian arrives at the guiding device 20, obtains the traveling direction information, and repeats the process of approaching the guiding sound output from the next guiding device 20, thereby making it possible to reach the destination P.

[0049] According to the guiding sound induction system according to the present invention, a pedestrian carrying the mobile terminal 10 can obtain voice-based traveling direction information only when approaching the intersection C and becoming capable of short-range communication with the guiding device 20.

[0050] Even if the pedestrian is concentrating on the voice of the traveling direction information from the mobile terminal 10, in the vicinity of the intersection C, the pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile all slow down or pass with caution, so accidents are less likely to occur. Also, at the intersection C, since the pedestrian stops while waiting for the signal, etc., there is no need to open the traveling direction information while walking.

[0051] Furthermore, since the route guidance to the destination P can be performed without using the GPS function of the mobile terminal 10, there is no misguidance due to mispositioning of the GPS function or the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 10 Mobile terminal 10a Voice input unit 10b Voice output unit 10c First wireless communication unit 20 Guiding device 20a Second wireless communication unit 20b Guiding sound output unit 20c Control unit 30 Center device C Intersection H Crosswalk L11, L21 Pedestrian signal lights L12, L22 Automobile signal lights

Claims

1. A voice input unit for inputting a destination, a voice output unit for outputting voice, and a first wireless communication unit, a mobile terminal held by a pedestrian, a second wireless communication unit that performs short-range communication with the first wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, a guidance voice output unit that outputs a guidance voice to the pedestrian holding the mobile terminal, and a control unit that controls the output of the guidance voice, a plurality of guidance devices respectively installed near crosswalks at each intersection, a guidance voice guidance system comprising a center device that communicates with the plurality of guidance devices via wireless or wired, The center device extracts the guidance devices existing on the route to the destination based on the information of the destination from the received mobile terminal, and notifies the pedestrian from the voice output unit of the travel direction information indicating the travel direction to the destination via the extracted guidance devices, After the notification, the guidance voice guidance system is characterized in that a guidance voice for guiding the pedestrian is output from the guidance voice output unit to the guidance device scheduled to be passed next on the route.

2. When the guidance device receives arrival information from the mobile terminal via the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit, the guidance device transmits the arrival information to the center device, The guidance voice guidance system according to claim 1, wherein when the center device receives the arrival information, the center device notifies the pedestrian from the voice output unit of the travel direction information via the guidance device that has transmitted the arrival information.

3. The guidance voice guidance system according to claim 2, wherein the guidance device scheduled to be passed next continues to output the guidance voice periodically until it receives the arrival information from the mobile terminal.

4. When the distance between the first intersection where the guidance device that has received the arrival information is installed and the intersection where the guidance device scheduled to be passed next is installed is far, the center device starts the output of the guidance voice from the guidance voice output unit after a predetermined time has elapsed. The guidance voice guidance system according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The guidance voice guidance system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined time is set in consideration of the time when the volume of the guidance voice of the guidance device scheduled to be passed next enters the reachable range based on the distance between intersections and the average walking speed of the pedestrian.

6. The guiding device scheduled to pass next outputs the guiding sound from the guiding sound output unit when the pedestrian signal light at the installed intersection turns blue, according to any one of claims 1 to 5 of the guiding sound guiding system.

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