Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To easily change via-points in an information processing system for searching for a guide route passing through a plurality of points in a predetermined order.SOLUTION: An information processing system divides a guide route into a plurality of sections on the basis of a plurality of points to be managed, displays display elements showing numeric values according to a predetermined order, for selecting one of the plurality of sections, on the guide route, accepts designation of one section between one display element and the next display element according to selection of the one display element by a user with respect to the display elements displayed on the guide route when via-points are added to the guide route, accepts addition of via-points from the user to the one section, re-searches for a guide route passing through the added via-points in the one section, displays a new guide route including the re-searched guide route, and updates the numerical values of the added via-points and display elements after the added via-points.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] An information processing system that guides a driver of a vehicle such as an automobile or an information terminal used by a pedestrian or the like to a route to a destination based on electronic map data has become widespread. In addition, techniques for receiving designations of points and sections on the route to the destination from a user, and techniques for re-searching a route to the destination including a route changed by the user are known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional system, it has been required to search for an optimal route to a destination (for example, the shortest route, the fastest route, etc.) based on information such as a departure point, a transit point, and a destination.

[0005] On the other hand, for example, in a delivery service for delivering goods or a garbage collection service for collecting garbage, etc., not only an optimal route to the destination but also, for example, searching for a route that passes through a plurality of points in a predetermined order is required. In such a case, in the conventional technology, when the transit point is changed, the route in another section is also changed, so there is a problem that it is difficult to change the transit point as intended by the user.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an information processing system for searching for a guidance route that passes through multiple points in a predetermined order, which allows for easy modification of the points of passage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the information processing system according to this embodiment is an information processing system that provides route guidance for a business route that visits multiple locations in a predetermined order, comprising: a route management unit that divides and manages the guidance route into multiple sections based on multiple locations; a display control unit that displays display elements indicating numbers according to a predetermined order, for selecting one of the multiple sections, on the guidance route; and when adding a waypoint to the guidance route, in response to the user's selection of one of the display elements displayed on the guidance route, the system selects one of the multiple sections. The display control unit includes a reception unit that accepts the designation of a section between the first display element and the next display element corresponding to the order immediately following the first display element, and accepts the addition of waypoints from the user to the first section, and a route search unit that re-searches for a guidance route that passes through the added waypoints within the first section, and the display control unit displays a new guidance route including the guidance route re-searched within the first section, displays a display element for the added waypoints that shows a number obtained by adding 1 to the number of the first display element, and updates and displays the numbers of the display elements after the added waypoints with values ​​obtained by adding 1 to each. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in an information processing system that searches for a guidance route that passes through multiple points in a predetermined order, the points along the way can be easily changed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the system configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]This figure shows an example of a guidance route according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a change in the guidance route according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of changing the guidance route using conventional technology. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the results of changing the guidance route using conventional technology. [Figure 6] This diagram shows an example of a computer hardware configuration. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the information processing system according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure (1) shows an example of the display screen according to this embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure (2) shows an example of the display screen according to this embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure (3) shows an example of the display screen according to this embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure (4) shows an example of the display screen according to this embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure (5) shows an example of the display screen according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are examples, and the embodiments to which the present invention applies are not limited to those described below.

[0011] <System Configuration> Figure 1 shows an example of the system configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes, for example, a client device 10 and a server device 20 that are connected to each other via a communication network 2.

[0012] The client device 10 is an information terminal used by a user, such as a car navigation device, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, or a PC (Personal Computer). The user can operate the client device 10 to set a departure point, one or more intermediate points, and a destination point, etc., so that in the server device 20, a route (hereinafter referred to as a guidance route) from the departure point, passing through one or more intermediate points, to the destination point can be searched. Also, the client device 10 performs route guidance by displaying, for example, a display screen that displays the searched guidance route on a map. Thereby, the user can easily head from the departure place to the destination according to the guidance route on the map.

[0013] The server device 20 is, for example, an information processing device having a computer configuration, or a system including a plurality of information processing devices. The server device 20 searches for a guidance route, for example, in response to a search request for a guidance route from the client device 10, including information such as a departure point, one or more intermediate points, and a destination point.

[0014] Note that the configuration of the above information processing system 1 is an example, and the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment can have various system configurations. For example, the function of searching for a guidance route may be possessed by the client device 10 instead of the server device 20. Also, the display screen for displaying the guidance route may be created by the client device 10 or may be created by the server device 20.

[0015] (Example of a guidance route) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance route according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 2, on the display screen 200, a guidance route 206 is displayed that reaches the destination point 205 indicated by the display element "5" via three intermediate points 202, 203, and 204 indicated by the display elements "2", "3", and "4" in sequence from the starting point 201 indicated by the display element "1". Examples of usage scenarios for such a guidance route 206 include, for example, route guidance in a garbage collection vehicle that travels around garbage collection locations in a predetermined order, or route guidance in a delivery vehicle that travels around delivery destinations of packages in a predetermined order. However, it is not limited to this.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modified example of the guidance route according to the present embodiment. For example, in the guidance route 206 as shown in FIG. 2, there may be a case where, as shown in FIG. 3, a guidance route 302 is created by adding an intermediate point 301 indicated by the display element "A" between the starting point 201 and the first intermediate point 202. For example, in a delivery vehicle, this may occur when a package to be delivered to the intermediate point 301 is added after creating the guidance route 206 as shown in FIG. 2. However, in the conventional technology, for example, it was difficult to change the guidance route 206 as shown in FIG. 2 to the guidance route 302 as shown in FIG. 3 by performing a change operation on the guidance route 206.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a change operation of a guidance route according to the conventional technology. In a conventional route guidance system, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, by selecting a point 401 on the guidance route 206 and performing a drag operation to an intermediate point 402 to be added, there is a system that can search for a guidance route including the new intermediate point 402 in the guidance route 206. However, in this method, the entire guidance route 501 is re-searched, and there may be a case where, as shown in FIG. 5, a guidance route 501 different from the user's intention is displayed.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a change result of a guidance route according to the conventional technology. In the example of FIG. 5, after the intermediate point 204 indicated by the display element "4", an intermediate point 301 indicated by the display element "A" is added, and a guidance route 501 different from the guidance route 302 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display screen 200.

[0019] Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, an information processing system 1 is provided that can create a guidance route 302 that matches the user's intentions by adding a waypoint 301 as shown in Figure 3 to a guidance route 206 that passes through multiple points in a predetermined order, as shown in Figure 2.

[0020] <Hardware Configuration> The client device 10 and the server device 20 have, for example, the hardware configuration of a computer 600 as shown in Figure 6. The server device 20 may be implemented by multiple computers 60, or by virtual machines on the cloud, etc.

[0021] Figure 6 shows an example of a computer hardware configuration. Computer 600 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 601, memory 602, storage device 603, communication device 604, output device 605, input device 606, and a bus. Computer 600 may also further include a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 608, etc.

[0022] The CPU 601 is a processor that realizes various functions of, for example, the client device 10 or the server device 20 by executing a predetermined program stored on a recording medium such as the storage device 603. The memory 602 includes, for example, volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) used as the work area of ​​the CPU 601, and non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the program for starting the CPU 601. The storage device 603 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0023] The communication device 604 is an interface for connecting the computer 600 to a network. For example, if the computer 600 is a server device 20, the communication device 604 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card) for connecting the server device 20 to the communication network 2. Also, if the computer 600 is a general-purpose information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet (an example of a client device 10), the communication device 604 includes a wireless communication device for connecting the information terminal to the communication network 2 wirelessly. Furthermore, if the computer 600 is an in-vehicle device such as a car navigation system (another example of a client device 10), the communication device 604 includes a communication interface for connecting the in-vehicle device to an in-vehicle network.

[0024] Output device 605 is an output device that outputs to the outside, such as a display device or speaker. Input device 606 is an input device that accepts input from the outside, such as a keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, or sensor. Output device 605 and input device 606 may also be input / output devices such as a touch panel display. GPS receiver 608 is a positioning device that receives positioning signals transmitted by GPS satellites and outputs position information. The bus is connected in common to all of the above components and transmits, for example, address signals, data signals, and various control signals.

[0025] <Functional Configuration> Figure 7 shows an example of the functional configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system 1 implements, for example, a communication unit 701, a route management unit 702, a reception unit 703, a route search unit 704, a display control unit 705, and a storage unit 706, etc., by executing a predetermined program on one or more computers 600 provided in the information processing system 1. At least a part of each of the above functional configurations may be implemented by hardware.

[0026] Furthermore, each of the above functional configurations may be present in, for example, the server device 20 in Figure 1, or in the client device 10. In addition, each of the above functional configurations may be distributed between the server device 20 and the client device 10.

[0027] The communication unit 701, for example, uses the communication device 604 shown in Figure 6 to connect the information processing system 1 to the communication network 2 and performs communication processing to communicate with other devices or systems.

[0028] The route management unit 702 performs route management processing to divide a guided route 206, which passes through multiple points in a predetermined order, as shown in Figure 2, into multiple sections based on the multiple points. For example, the guided route 206 shown in Figure 2 is a guided route that passes through multiple waypoints 202, 203, and 204 in the order of waypoint 202, waypoint 203, and waypoint 204. In this case, the route management unit 702 divides the guided route 206 into a first section from the starting point 201 to waypoint 202, a second section from waypoint 202 to waypoint 203, a third section from waypoint 203 to waypoint 204, and a fourth section from waypoint 204 to destination point 205. Furthermore, the route management unit 702 searches for the route from the start point to the end point of each divided section using the route search unit 704, which will be described later, and stores and manages the information of the guided route 206, including the route from the start point to the end point of each searched section, in the guided route information 712 of the storage unit 706.

[0029] The reception unit 703 performs reception processing to receive changes to the guidance route for one of the multiple sections divided by the route management unit 702. For example, the reception unit 703 receives the change operation for one section selected by the user on the display screen displayed by the display control unit 705, which will be described later. Alternatively, if the server device 20 has a reception unit 703, the reception unit 703 receives a change request from the client device 10 requesting a change to the guidance route for one section selected by the user.

[0030] The route search unit 704 performs a route search process to re-search for a guidance route within the scope of a given section, in accordance with the changes to that section received by the reception unit 703. Furthermore, the route search unit 704 searches for routes from the start point to the end point of each section it has divided, for example, in response to a request from the route management unit 702. The method by which the route search unit 704 searches for routes from the start point to the end point of each section can be based on search algorithms commonly used in car navigation systems.

[0031] The display control unit 705 executes display control processing to display a display screen showing the guidance route on, for example, the client device 10. At this time, the display control unit 705 displays multiple sections divided by the route management unit 702 on the display screen showing the guidance route, making them selectable. The display control unit 705 also highlights one section selected by the user from among the displayed multiple sections. The reception unit 703 accepts the user's modification operation or the content of the modification regarding the selected section.

[0032] The memory unit 706 is implemented, for example, by a program executed by the computer 600 and a storage device 603, etc. The memory unit 706 stores various information or data, for example, the guidance route information 712 managed by the route management unit 702 and the road map DB (Database) 711 used by the route search unit 704 for route searching.

[0033] <Processing flow> Next, the processing flow of the information processing method according to this embodiment will be described.

[0034] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of the information processing system according to this embodiment. This process shows an example of the processing when the information processing system 1 displays a display screen showing the guided route on the client device 10 and re-searches for the guided route in response to a user operation to change the guided route. At the start of the processing shown in Figure 8, the route management unit 702 is assumed to have divided the guided route 206, which sequentially passes through the three waypoints 202, 203, and 204 as shown in Figure 2, into the four sections (first section to fourth section) mentioned above and is managing them accordingly.

[0035] In step S801, the display control unit 705 displays multiple sections divided by the route management unit 702 on the display screen that shows the guided route 206, making them selectable. For example, the display control unit 705 displays a display screen 900 as shown in Figure 9 on the client device 10.

[0036] The display screen 900 shows the guidance route 206, which includes the first section from the starting point 201 to the waypoint 202, the second section from the waypoint 202 to the waypoint 203, the third section from the waypoint 203 to the waypoint 204, and the fourth section from the waypoint 204 to the destination 205.

[0037] On this display screen 900, the user can select the first section from the starting point 201 to the waypoint 202 by, for example, selecting the display element "1" 901. Alternatively, the user may select the first section by selecting a position 911 within the first section that does not overlap with any other section.

[0038] Similarly, on the display screen 900, the user can select the fourth section from waypoint 204 to destination point 205 by selecting display element "4" 902. Alternatively, the user may select the fourth section by selecting a position 912 within the fourth section that does not overlap with any other section. In the same manner, the user can select a second or third section on the display screen 900.

[0039] In step S802, the display control unit 802 determines whether or not it has received a selection operation to select one of the first to fourth sections on the display screen 900. If no selection operation has been received, the display control unit 802 proceeds to step S803. On the other hand, if a selection operation has been received, the display control unit 802 proceeds to step S804.

[0040] When the process moves to step S803, the display control unit 802 determines whether or not it has received a termination command from the user. If it has received a termination command, it terminates the process shown in Figure 8. On the other hand, if it has not received a termination command, the display control unit 802 returns the process to step S802.

[0041] When the system moves from step S802 to step 804, the display control unit 802 highlights the selected section. For example, if the user selects display element "1" 901 in the display screen 900 shown in Figure 9, the display control unit 802 displays the display screen 1000 shown in Figure 10 on the client device 10.

[0042] As shown in Figure 10, the first section 1001, from the starting point 201 to the waypoint 202, selected by the user, is highlighted on the display screen 1000. Here, highlighting the first section means displaying it in a way that distinguishes it from the other sections (second to fourth sections), for example, by changing its color, shape, attributes, etc. In the example in Figure 10, the first section 1001 is displayed in a different color from the other sections.

[0043] In step S805, the reception unit 703 determines on the display screen 1000 whether or not it has received a change operation for the selected section (for example, the first section 1001). For example, the user may change the first section 1001 of the guided route 206, as shown in Figure 10, to a route that passes through waypoint 301, as shown in Figure 3. In this case, the user may select any point 1101 on the highlighted first section 1001, as shown in Figure 11, and drag it to waypoint 301.

[0044] If no change operation is accepted, the reception unit 703 moves the process to step S806. On the other hand, if a change operation is accepted, the reception unit 703 moves the process to step S807.

[0045] When the process moves to step S806, the reception unit 703 determines whether or not it has received a termination operation from the user. If it has received a termination operation, it terminates the process shown in Figure 8. On the other hand, if it has not received a termination operation, the reception unit 703 returns the process to step S805.

[0046] When the process moves from step S805 to S807, the route search unit 704 re-searches for the modified guidance route within the range of the selected section. For example, as shown in Figure 12, the route search unit 704 modifies only the selected first section 1001 to create a guidance route 1201 that passes through the waypoint 301.

[0047] In step S808, the display control unit 705 displays a display screen 1300 on the client device 10, for example, as shown in Figure 13, which displays the guidance route 1201 recalculated by the route search unit 704 on the map 210.

[0048] Through the above process, the user can, for example, create a guided route 1201 that passes through waypoint 301 between the starting point 201 and waypoint 202, as intended, as explained in Figure 3.

[0049] For example, if a user wants to create a guided route 501 as shown in Figure 5 on a display screen 900 as shown in Figure 9, they can select display element "4" 902 and drag the highlighted point on the fourth section to the waypoint 301.

[0050] <Summary> As described above, the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment divides a guided route 206 that passes through multiple points in a predetermined order into multiple sections based on the multiple points and manages them accordingly. The information processing system 1 also receives changes to the guided route 206 for one of the divided sections and re-searches the guided route 206 within the scope of that section according to the received changes. As a result, according to this embodiment, the information processing system 1 that searches for a guided route that passes through multiple points in a predetermined order can easily change the points along the way.

[0051] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically disclosed above, and various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Information Processing System 10 Client devices 20 Server Devices Directions for routes 206, 302, 501, and 1201 702 Route Management Department Room 703 Reception 704 Route Search Unit 705 Display Control Unit

Claims

1. An information processing system that provides route guidance for a work route that visits multiple locations in a predetermined order, A route management unit that divides the guidance route into multiple sections based on multiple points and manages them accordingly, A display control unit that displays display elements for selecting one of the multiple sections, each displaying a number in a predetermined order on the guidance path, When adding a waypoint to the guided route, a receiving unit accepts the selection of a display element by the user from among the display elements displayed on the guided route, and accepts the designation of a section from among the multiple sections between the one display element and the next display element corresponding to the order immediately following the one display element, and accepts the addition of a waypoint from the user to the section. A route search unit that re-searches for a guided route that passes through the aforementioned added waypoints within the aforementioned section, It has, The display control unit, Display a new guidance route that includes the guidance route re-searched within the aforementioned section. For the added waypoint, the display element showing a number obtained by adding 1 to the number of the first display element is displayed, and the numbers of the display elements after the added waypoint are updated and displayed with values ​​obtained by adding 1 to each of them. Information processing system.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit highlights the designated section.

3. One or more computers in an information processing system that provides route guidance for a work route that visits multiple locations in a predetermined order, Route management processing that divides the guidance route into multiple sections based on multiple points and manages them accordingly, A display control process that displays a display element that shows numbers in a predetermined order, and which is used to select one of the multiple sections, on the guidance path, When adding a waypoint to the guided route, the system accepts the user's selection of one of the display elements displayed on the guided route, specifying a section between the one display element and the next display element corresponding to the sequence immediately following the one display element, and accepts the user's request to add a waypoint to that section. A route search processing unit that re-searches for a guided route that passes through the aforementioned added waypoints within the aforementioned section, Execute, The aforementioned display control process is: Display a new guidance route that includes the guidance route re-searched within the aforementioned section. For the added waypoint, the display element showing a number obtained by adding 1 to the number of the first display element is displayed, and the numbers of the display elements after the added waypoint are updated and displayed with values ​​obtained by adding 1 to each of them. Information processing methods.

4. One or more computers in an information processing system that provides route guidance for a work route that visits multiple locations in a predetermined order, Route management processing that divides the guidance route into multiple sections based on multiple points and manages them accordingly, A display control process that displays a display element that shows numbers in a predetermined order, and which is used to select one of the multiple sections, on the guidance path, When adding a waypoint to the guided route, the system accepts the user's selection of one of the display elements displayed on the guided route, specifying a section between the one display element and the next display element corresponding to the sequence immediately following the one display element, and accepts the user's request to add a waypoint to that section. A route search processing unit that re-searches for a guided route that passes through the aforementioned added waypoints within the aforementioned section, Make it run, The aforementioned display control process is: Display a new guidance route that includes the guidance route re-searched within the aforementioned section. For the added waypoint, the display element showing a number obtained by adding 1 to the number of the first display element is displayed, and the numbers of the display elements after the added waypoint are updated and displayed with values ​​obtained by adding 1 to each of them. program.

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