Information provision device, information provision method, and information provision program

Abstract

To provide an information provision device and others, which enable provision of necessary guidance in an intuitively recognizable manner even when it is mainly voice or sound guidance.SOLUTION: When a route destination is being searched, a voice guidance with information showing a distance to the destination is provided when the distance to the destination is equal to or less than a given distance, and a voice guidance with address information showing an address of the destination is provided when the destination is further away than the given distance (step S28, S30, S17).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 This application belongs to the technical field of information providing devices, information providing methods, and information providing programs. More specifically, it belongs to the technical field of information providing devices and information providing methods for providing information related to the movement of moving objects such as vehicles, and programs for such information providing devices. 【Background Art】 【0002】 As a navigation device for providing information related to the movement of the above-mentioned moving object, a vehicle-mounted navigation device has been widely generalized conventionally. As a document disclosing the prior art related to such a conventional navigation device, for example, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited. In the prior art disclosed in this Patent Document 1, it is configured to display an outline of a route for each destination and facilitate the selection of the user's destination. 【0003】 On the other hand, in recent years, in addition to the above-mentioned vehicle-mounted navigation device, research and development on navigation systems that utilize portable terminal devices such as smartphones have been active. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0004】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-64672 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0005】 When using the above-mentioned portable terminal device, due to limitations in the size of its display, etc., voice guidance becomes important. In this regard, for example, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays both the distance to the destination and the destination's address information using a map, allowing the user to confirm the destination. However, when considering guidance primarily using sound (in other words, guidance that does not use the display of images including maps), it is necessary to provide necessary information, such as whether the destination is the destination desired by the person receiving the guidance, in a manner that is easier to intuitively recognize. 【0006】 Therefore, this application was made in view of the above requirements, and one example of the problem it addresses is to provide an information providing device and method, as well as a program for said information providing device, that can provide necessary guidance information in a manner that is easily recognizable intuitively, even if the guidance is primarily by voice or sound. [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes: a means for acquiring guidance location information that indicates a guidance location to be provided; and a means for providing guidance information to a recipient by sound, which, when the location of the guidance location indicated by the acquired guidance location information is within a predetermined distance from the location of the recipient of the guidance location information, includes distance information indicating the distance between the recipient's location and the location of the guidance location; and provides guidance information to the recipient by sound, which includes address information indicating the address of the guidance location, when the location of the guidance location is farther than the predetermined distance. 【0008】 To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 6 is an information provision method performed in an information provision device comprising an acquisition means and a provision means, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a guide location information indicating a guide location to which guidance information should be provided using the acquisition means; and a provision step of providing the guide information to the recipient by sound using the provision means, when the location of the guide location indicated by the acquired guide location information is within a predetermined distance from the location of the recipient who will receive the guide location information, the guide information including distance information indicating the distance between the location of the recipient and the location of the guide location, and when the location of the guide location is farther than the predetermined distance, the guide information including address information indicating the address of the guide location, is provided to the recipient by sound using the provision means. 【0009】 To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 7 makes the computer function as an acquisition means for acquiring guidance location information indicating a guidance location to which guidance information should be provided, and a provision means for providing guidance information to the recipient by sound, which includes distance information indicating the distance between the recipient's location and the guidance location when the location of the guidance location indicated by the acquired guidance location information is within a predetermined distance from the recipient's location, and provides guidance information to the recipient by sound, which includes address information indicating the address of the guidance location when the location of the guidance location is farther away than the predetermined distance. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0010】 [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the outline configuration of the information providing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating the overview configuration of the navigation system in the example. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the terminal device, etc. of the embodiment, where (a) is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the terminal device, and (b) is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the server of the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the overall navigation process in the example. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart detailing the navigation process in the example. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0011】 Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the information providing device of the embodiment. 【0012】 As shown in Figure 1, the information providing device S according to this embodiment is configured to include an acquisition means 1 and a providing means 2. 【0013】 In this configuration, acquisition means 1 acquires destination information indicating a destination where guidance information should be provided. 【0014】 Furthermore, when the location of the guided location indicated by the guided location information acquired by the acquisition means 1 is within a predetermined distance from the location of the recipient of the guided location information, the providing means 2 provides the recipient with guidance information by sound that includes distance information indicating the distance between the recipient's location and the location of the guided location. When the location of the guided location is farther than the predetermined distance, the providing means 2 provides the recipient with guidance information by sound that includes address information indicating the address of the guided location. 【0015】 As described above, according to the operation of the information providing device S of this embodiment, when the destination is within a predetermined distance from the user's location, guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the user's location and the destination is provided by sound. When the destination is farther from that distance, guidance information including address information indicating the address of the destination is provided by sound. Therefore, even when providing guidance information by sound, the necessary guidance information can be provided in a manner that is easy to intuitively recognize. In this embodiment, "guidance" does not include, for example, the guidance itself along the route (the provision of information such as "turn left" or "turn right" during guidance), but includes providing information about points or facilities that may be the destination or waypoints of the guidance. [Examples] 【0016】 Next, specific embodiments corresponding to the above-described embodiments will be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 5. The embodiments described below are examples in which the present invention is applied to route guidance using sound (voice) in a navigation system consisting of terminal devices and a server connected to each other via a network such as the Internet, enabling mutual exchange of data. 【0017】 Furthermore, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the navigation system of the embodiment, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the terminal device etc. of the embodiment, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the overall navigation process of the embodiment, and Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the said navigation process. In Figure 3, the component members of the embodiment corresponding to each component member of the information providing device S according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 are given the same component numbers as those of each component member of the information providing device S. 【0018】 As shown in Figure 2, the navigation system SS of the embodiment consists of one or more terminal devices T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn (n is a natural number) used within the vehicle by the vehicle's occupants (more specifically, the driver or passengers of the vehicle), a server SV, and a network NW such as the Internet that connects the terminal devices T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn, and the server SV to enable data exchange. In the following description, when describing configurations common to terminal devices T1 to Tn, they will be collectively referred to as "terminal device T". In this case, terminal device T is specifically implemented as, for example, a so-called smartphone or a tablet-type terminal device. Furthermore, in the following description, the embodiment will be described in the case where the occupant using terminal device T is riding in a vehicle as an example of a mobile body. 【0019】 In this configuration, each terminal device T separately exchanges various data with the server SV via the network NW and provides guidance on information related to the movement of the passengers using each terminal device T. At this time, the data exchanged includes search data for searching for the route along which the vehicle should move, route data indicating the searched route, and guidance data for providing guidance after starting to move along the route. 【0020】 Here, due to limitations in the size of the display provided in the terminal device T, processing load limitations, or to avoid screen gazing, etc., the search for the above route and the guidance on information related to the movement of the passengers in the navigation system SS are mainly carried out using voice or sound. For this reason, the above search data exchanged between each terminal device T and the server SV includes search request voice data and destination voice data of the example transmitted from each terminal device T to the server SV, and answer voice data and destination confirmation voice data of the example transmitted from the server SV to each terminal device T. At this time, the search request voice data of the example is voice data corresponding to a search request voice requesting a search for a candidate location for the destination or the like. Also, the destination voice data of the example is voice data corresponding to a destination voice indicating the location finally used as the destination of the above movement, uttered by the passenger using the terminal device T. On the other hand, the answer voice data of the example is voice data corresponding to an answer voice for answering the passenger using the terminal device T that transmitted the above search request voice data with a search result including the destination or the like searched in the server SV in response to the search request by the above search request voice data. Furthermore, the destination confirmation voice data of the example is voice data for confirming the location finally used as the destination of the above route or the like. 【0021】 On the other hand, since voice or sound is mainly used for the guidance on information related to the above movement, the above guidance data transmitted from the server SV to each terminal device T includes voice data for guidance by the above voice or sound. In the following description, the voice data for guidance is simply referred to as "guidance voice data". 【0022】 Next, the configurations and operations of each terminal device T and the server SV will be described with reference to FIG. 3. First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), each of the terminal devices T in the embodiment includes an interface 5, a processing unit 6 composed of a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., a memory 7 including a volatile area and a non-volatile area, an operation unit 8 composed of a touch panel and operation buttons, etc., a speaker 9, a sensor unit 10 composed of a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor and / or an autonomous sensor, etc., a display 11 composed of a liquid crystal or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc., and a microphone 12. Further, the processing unit 6 is configured to include a route search unit 6a and a guidance voice output control unit 6b. At this time, the route setting unit 6a and the guidance voice output control unit 6b may each be realized by a hardware logic circuit including the above CPU, etc. that constitutes the processing unit 6, or may be realized software-wise by the CPU, etc. reading out and executing a program corresponding to a flowchart showing the processing as the terminal device T among the navigation processes of the embodiment described later. 【0023】 With the above configuration, the interface 5 controls the exchange of data with the server SV via the network NW under the control of the processing unit 6. On the other hand, the sensor unit 10 uses the above GPS sensor and / or autonomous sensor, etc. to generate sensor data indicating the current position, moving speed, moving direction, etc. of the terminal device T (in other words, the current position, moving speed, moving direction, etc. of the passenger using the terminal device T or the vehicle in which the passenger is riding), and outputs it to the processing unit 6. The microphone 12 collects the voice of the passenger using the terminal device T and the sound inside the vehicle in which the terminal device T is being used, and outputs the collection result to the processing unit 6. The voice of the passenger collected at this time includes the above search request voice and the above destination voice. 【0024】 On the other hand, the route search unit 6a, under the control of the processing unit 6, transmits the search request voice data (i.e., search request voice data requesting a search for candidate locations, etc., that the vehicle carrying the passenger using the terminal device T should reach), the destination voice data (i.e., destination voice data indicating the location, etc., that will ultimately be used as the destination), and the sensor data to the server SV via the interface 5 and the network NW as search data. Alternatively, destination data indicating the final destination may be input from the operation unit 8 and transmitted to the server SV together with the sensor data. Subsequently, the route search unit 6a obtains route data from the server SV via the network NW and interface 5, indicating the search result of a route from the current location indicated by the sensor data to the destination indicated by the destination voice data or the destination data. 【0025】 Subsequently, the processing unit 6 uses the acquired route data to exchange guidance data (including the sensor data and guidance voice data at that time) with the server SV, and provides guidance information regarding the movement of the vehicle along the searched route. At this time, the guidance voice output control unit 6b outputs (breathes out) guidance voice corresponding to the guidance voice data acquired from the server SV via the network NW and interface 5 to the passenger via speaker 9. 【0026】 In parallel with these operations, when an input operation for data necessary for vehicle guidance, in addition to the destination data, is performed on the operation unit 8, the operation unit 8 generates an operation signal corresponding to the input operation and transmits it to the processing unit 6. Based on these operations, the processing unit 6 controls the route setting unit 6a and the guidance voice output control unit 6b, and executes the processing as a terminal device T in the navigation processing of the embodiment. At this time, the processing unit 6 executes the processing while temporarily or non-volatilely storing the data necessary for the processing in the memory 7. The guidance image and the like as a result of the execution of the processing are displayed on the display 11. 【0027】 On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3(b), the server SV of the embodiment is composed of an interface 20, a processing unit 21 including a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and a recording unit 22 consisting of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive). The processing unit 21 is also composed of a route setting unit 1 and a guidance voice generation unit 2. In this case, the route setting unit 1 and the guidance voice generation unit 2 may be implemented by hardware logic circuits including the CPU etc. that constitute the processing unit 21, or they may be implemented in software by the CPU etc. reading and executing a program corresponding to the flowchart showing the processing as a server SV in the navigation processing of the embodiment. The route search unit 1 corresponds to an example of acquisition means 1 of the embodiment, and the guidance voice generation unit 2 corresponds to an example of provision means 2 of the embodiment. Also, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3(b), the route search unit 1 and the guidance voice generation unit 2 constitute an example of information providing device S of the embodiment. 【0028】 In the above configuration, the recording unit 22 non-volatilely records map data 23 necessary for providing information about the movement of each vehicle in which a passenger using each terminal device T connected to the server SV via the network NW is riding. At this time, the map data 23 includes road data, facility data and other point data used for route search and route guidance, respectively, as well as intersection data, etc. 【0029】 Meanwhile, under the control of the processing unit 21, the interface 20 controls the exchange of data between the interface and each terminal device T via the network NW. The route setting unit 1, under the control of the processing unit 21, uses the map data 23 to search for candidate locations for the destination indicated by the search request voice data, and also searches for the route to the destination indicated by the destination voice data, based on the search request voice data, destination voice data, and sensor data acquired from any of the terminal devices T. The route setting unit 1 then sends the route data showing the search results to the terminal device T that sent the search request voice data, destination voice data, and sensor data. As a result, the terminal device T provides route guidance based on the route data. 【0030】 During the guidance process, the guidance voice generation unit 2 generates the guidance voice data in accordance with the guidance timing along the route and transmits it via the interface 20 and the network NW to the terminal device T used by the passenger of the vehicle being guided. As a result, the guidance voice corresponding to the guidance voice data is output (broadcast) to the passenger via the speaker 9 of the terminal device T. 【0031】 Next, the navigation processing of the embodiment, which is performed in the navigation system of the embodiment having the above-described configuration and functions, will be specifically explained with reference to Figures 3 to 5. 【0032】 The navigation process in this embodiment begins, for example, when a passenger in a vehicle that is the subject of information provision regarding movement (hereinafter simply referred to as the "target vehicle") executes a guidance instruction operation on the operation unit 8 of the terminal device T of this embodiment, which is used by a passenger in the vehicle, to provide guidance on movement along the route of the target vehicle (i.e., route guidance). In the following description, the terminal device T will be appropriately referred to as the "target terminal device T". As shown in Figure 4 for the entire corresponding flowchart, when the guidance instruction operation is performed on the operation unit 8 of the target terminal device T, the route search unit 6a of the processing unit 6 of the terminal device T exchanges the above-mentioned search data and route data, including the search request voice data, the above-mentioned response voice data, the above-mentioned destination voice data, the above-mentioned destination confirmation voice data, and the above-mentioned sensor data, with the route search unit 1 of the server SV, and searches for the route that the target vehicle should take (step S1). At this time, the route search unit 1 of the server SV is always waiting for the above-mentioned search data to be transmitted from any of the terminal devices T connected to the server SV via the network NW at that time. When the route search unit 1 receives the search data from the target terminal device T, it performs a route search based on the search request voice data and destination voice data contained in the search data, and transmits the route data and destination confirmation voice data as the search result to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S10). The route search in this embodiment, including steps S1 and S10, will be explained in detail later with reference to Figure 5. 【0033】 Subsequently, when the operation unit 8 of the target terminal device T initiates, for example, an operation to start moving, and guidance for movement along the route is initiated, the processing unit 6 of the target terminal device T and the processing unit 21 of the server SV begin guiding along the route discovered in steps S1 and S10, while exchanging the guidance data, including the sensor data at that time, via the network NW (steps S2 and S11). 【0034】 On the other hand, while the route guidance initiated in step S11 is in progress (i.e., while the vehicle carrying the passenger using the target terminal device T is moving), the server SV's guidance voice generation unit 2 monitors whether there are guidance points (e.g., intersections where the passenger should turn) along the set route (step S12). If the monitoring in step S12 indicates that there are no guidance points (step S12: NO), the processing unit 21 proceeds to step S14, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the monitoring in step S12 indicates that there are guidance points (step S12: YES), the guidance voice generation unit 2 then generates guidance voice data containing the content to be announced for that guidance point (e.g., "Turn left at the next intersection, XX.") at the appropriate time to announce the guidance point, and transmits the generated guidance voice data to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S13). 【0035】 Subsequently, the processing unit 21 determines whether to terminate the route guidance as a navigation process in this embodiment, for reasons such as the target vehicle reaching its destination (step S14). If the determination in step S14 is not to terminate the route guidance (step S14: NO), the processing unit 21 returns to step S12 and continues to provide route guidance. On the other hand, if the determination in step S14 is to terminate the route guidance (step S14: YES), the processing unit 21 terminates the route guidance. 【0036】 On the other hand, after the guidance is started in step 2, the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T waits for the guidance voice data to be transmitted from the server SV (step S3). If the guidance voice data is not transmitted during the waiting period in step S3 (step S3: NO), the processing unit 6 of the target terminal device T proceeds to step S5, which will be described later. 【0037】 On the other hand, if the guidance voice data is received from the server SV during the waiting period in step S3 (step S3: YES), the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T outputs (breathes out) the guidance voice corresponding to the received guidance voice data via the speaker 9 (step S4). Subsequently, the processing unit 6 of the target terminal device T determines whether or not to terminate the route guidance as a navigation process of the embodiment for the same reasons as in step S14 above (step S5). If the determination in step S5 is not to terminate the route guidance (step S5: NO), the processing unit 6 returns to step S3 and continues to provide route guidance. On the other hand, if the determination in step S5 is to terminate the route guidance (step S5: NO), the processing unit 6 terminates the route guidance. 【0038】 Next, the pathfinding process of the embodiment (see steps S1 and S10 in Figure 4), which is performed by the target terminal device T and server SV, will be explained in more detail using Figure 5. 【0039】 As shown in the corresponding flowchart in Figure 5, in the route search of the embodiment, when a passenger speaks a search request voice to the target terminal device T indicating that a route search should be performed and requesting a search for candidate locations for the destination, the microphone 12 detects the search request voice, and the route search unit 6a of the target terminal device T generates search request voice data corresponding to the search request voice. Subsequently, the generated search request voice data is transmitted to the server SV via the network NW along with the sensor data corresponding to that time (step S15). Here, examples of the search request voice include voice that includes a specific name of the destination, such as "○○ Stadium," and voice that indicates the name of a location, such as "nearby ×× convenience store," which includes a term related to distance (in this example, "nearby" is the appropriate term). Also, in Figure 5, the search request voice data and the sensor data are collectively shown as "search request voice data, etc." 【0040】 Meanwhile, as part of the route search in step S10 of Figure 4, the server SV waits for the target terminal device T to transmit the above-mentioned search request voice data, etc. (step S25, step S25: NO). If the above-mentioned search request voice data, etc. is transmitted from the target terminal device T during the waiting period in step S25 (step S25: YES), the route search unit 1 of the server SV refers to the map data 23 and searches for candidate destination locations, etc., indicated by the received search request voice data (step S26). Next, the route search unit 1 determines whether or not the search request voice corresponding to the above-mentioned search request voice data contains terms related to distance (step S27). In the determination in step S27, if the search request voice contains terms related to distance (step S27: YES), the route search unit 1 refers to the sensor data received in step S25 and generates response voice data corresponding to the response voice indicating the location, etc., including the distance from the current location of the target terminal device T to the searched location, etc., and transmits it to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S30). The server SV then proceeds to step S31, which will be described later. 【0041】 Here, the response voice corresponding to the response voice data generated and transmitted in step S30 would be, for example, if the search request voice was "nearby XX convenience store," the voice would be "There is a XX convenience store △△ meters from your current location." In this case, the distance included in the response voice may be the straight-line distance from the current location of the target terminal device T to the location searched in step S26, or it may be the distance along the shortest route. 【0042】 On the other hand, in the determination in step S27, if the search request voice does not contain any terms related to the above distance, but specifically contains, for example, a detailed name of the destination (step S27: NO), the route search unit 1 refers to the sensor data received in step S25 and determines whether the distance from the current location of the target terminal device T to the searched point is less than or equal to a preset threshold distance (step S28). Here, the threshold distance is a distance that can be recognized as a short distance when traveling by vehicle, such as 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers. In the case of the navigation processing in the embodiment, when providing information on movement when the target terminal device T is used by a person traveling on foot or by bicycle, the threshold distance is set to, for example, several hundred meters or about 1 kilometer. In this case, it is preferable to configure the system to determine whether the movement is on foot or by bicycle by having the server SV receive the voice spoken by the person using the target terminal device T along with the search request voice data, and then switch the threshold distance accordingly. Furthermore, the distance subject to determination in step S28 (including the threshold distance mentioned above) may be the straight-line distance from the current location of the target terminal device T to the point searched in step S26, or it may be the distance along the shortest route. In addition, the means of transportation (for example, walking or cycling) may be selected by the user, or it may be automatically determined from past (for example, within a few hours) travel distance and speed. 【0043】 In the determination in step S28, if the distance from the current location of the target terminal device T to the location searched in step S26 is less than or equal to the threshold distance (step S28: YES), the route search unit 1 proceeds to step S30 and generates and transmits response voice data corresponding to a response voice that includes the distance from the current location of the target terminal device T. In addition, even if the search request voice contains a term related to the distance in the determination in step S27 (see step S27: YES), if the location searched in step S26 is not within the threshold distance (see step S28), the system may be configured to generate and transmit response voice data corresponding to a voice such as, "There are no XX convenience stores nearby; the nearest XX convenience store is XX kilometers away." 【0044】 On the other hand, in the determination in step S28, if the location searched in step S26 is farther from the current location of the target terminal device T than the threshold distance (step S28: NO), the route search unit 1 generates response voice data corresponding to a response voice indicating the location, including the address of the searched location, and transmits it to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S29). Here, the response voice including the address is, for example, a voice saying, "There is a park called XX in XX town, □□ city." In this case, the address may include more detailed address information. 【0045】 On the other hand, after transmitting the search request voice data etc. in step S15, the route search unit 6a of the target terminal device T monitors whether or not the above response voice data has been transmitted from the server SV (step S16, step S16: NO). If, in the monitoring in step S16, the above response voice data has been transmitted (step S16: YES), the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T outputs (broadcasts) a response voice corresponding to the response voice data via the speaker 9 (step S17). Then, when the passenger speaks the name of the destination etc. as a destination voice in response to the response voice, the destination voice is detected by the microphone 12, and further, destination voice data corresponding to the destination voice is generated by the route search unit 6a (step S18). The destination voice detected at this time includes a more detailed (or more specific) name of the destination etc. as a response to the above response voice. Subsequently, the route search unit 6a transmits the destination voice data to the server SV via the network NW (step S18). 【0046】 On the other hand, after generating and transmitting the response voice data in step S29 or step S30, the route search unit 1 of the server SV monitors for the reception of the destination voice data from the target terminal device T (step S31. Step S31: NO). If the destination voice data is received during the monitoring in step S31 (step S31: YES), the route search unit 1 refers to the map data 23 and the sensor data received in step S25 and searches for a route from the current location of the target terminal device T to the destination indicated by the destination voice data, for example, using the same method as in the conventional method (step S32). The route search unit 1 then generates route data indicating the searched route and destination confirmation voice data confirming the point currently used as the destination of the route, and transmits them to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S33). After that, the server SV proceeds to step S11 shown in Figure 4. 【0047】 Meanwhile, the route search unit 6a of the target terminal device T that transmitted the destination voice data in step S18 monitors whether the route data and destination confirmation voice data have been transmitted from the server SV in accordance with the destination voice data (step S19; step S19: NO). If, in the monitoring in step S19, the route data and destination confirmation voice data have been transmitted (step S19: YES), the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T outputs (broadcasts) destination confirmation voice corresponding to the received destination confirmation voice data to the passenger via the speaker 9 (step S20). In this case, the destination confirmation voice will be, for example, "We are heading to the nearby XX convenience store" or "We are heading to XX Park in XX town, □□ city." After that, the target terminal device T proceeds to step S2 shown in Figure 4. 【0048】 As described above, according to the navigation processing of the embodiment, when a candidate destination is within a predetermined threshold distance from the location of the target terminal device T, a response voice containing information indicating the distance between the location of the target terminal device T and the location of the candidate is output (sound emitted) (see steps S30 and S17 in Figure 5). When the location of the candidate is farther than the threshold distance, a response voice containing information indicating the address of the candidate is output (sound emitted) (see steps S29 and S17 in Figure 5). Therefore, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding guidance can be provided to the passenger in a manner that is easy to intuitively recognize. 【0049】 In this case, if the distance between the location of the target terminal device T and the candidate location, and the threshold distance, are the straight-line distance from the location of the target terminal device T, then even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding the guidance can be provided in a manner that is easier to intuitively recognize. 【0050】 On the other hand, if the distance between the location of the target terminal device T and the candidate location, and the threshold distance, are the distances along the travel route (road) from the location of the target terminal device T, then even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding the guidance can be provided in a manner that is easy to recognize using the actual travel distance. 【0051】 Furthermore, if the search request voice contains distance-related terms such as "nearby" (see Figure 5, step S27: YES), regardless of the relationship with the threshold distance, the system outputs (speaks) a response voice that includes information indicating the distance between the location of the candidate destination and the location of the target terminal device T (see Figure 5, steps S30 and S17). If the voice contains terms other than those related to distance, the system outputs (speaks) a response voice that includes information indicating the address of the candidate destination (see Figure 5, steps S29 and S17). Thus, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding guidance can be provided to passengers in a manner that is easy to intuitively recognize. 【0052】 Furthermore, the response voice (see step S30 in Figure 5), which includes the distance from the current location of the target terminal device T, may also be configured to output the direction of candidate destinations from the current location. In this case, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding guidance can be provided in a manner that is even easier to intuitively recognize. 【0053】 Furthermore, in the navigation processing of the above-described embodiment, the search for destination candidates (see step S26 in Figure 5) and the generation of response voice data (see step S29 or step S30 in Figure 5) are performed in the processing unit 21 of the server SV. However, alternatively, the search for destination candidates and the generation of response voice data may be performed in the terminal device T. In this case, the processing from route search based on the destination voice data onward should be executed in the server SV. Also, the search for destination candidates, generation of response voice data, route search, and generation of guidance voice data may be performed in the terminal device without using a server, or some of the processing may be performed in a distributed manner using the server. 【0054】 Furthermore, regarding location-based guidance, as mentioned above, route guidance itself is not mandatory; it may simply be used to inform passengers of the relative position between their current location and the search point. 【0055】 Furthermore, while displaying locations on a map is not excluded, it is not mandatory, so the embodiment can also be applied to smart speakers and other devices that do not have a display unit. 【0056】 Furthermore, programs corresponding to each flowchart shown in Figures 4 and 5 can be recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disc or hard disk, or obtained via a network such as the Internet, and then read and executed on a general-purpose microcomputer, thereby allowing the microcomputer to function as the processing unit 6 or processing unit 21 according to the embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0057】 1. Acquisition means (route search unit) 2. Means of providing information (Voice generation unit) 6, 21 Processing Unit 6a Route search unit 6b Guidance voice output control unit 9 speakers 23 Map data S Information provision device T, T1, T2, T3, Tn terminal devices SV Server SS Navigation System

Claims

[Claim 1] A means for obtaining information about a destination that indicates a destination where information should be provided, A providing means that, when the location of the guided location indicated by the acquired guided location information is within a predetermined distance from the location of the recipient of the guided location information, provides the recipient with the guided location information by sound, which includes distance information indicating the distance between the recipient's location and the location of the guided location; and when the location of the guided location is farther than the predetermined distance, provides the recipient with the guided location information by sound, which includes address information indicating the address of the guided location. An information providing device characterized by being equipped with the following features. [Claim 2] In the information providing device described in claim 1, An information providing device characterized in that each of the aforementioned distances is a straight-line distance from the position of the recipient. [Claim 3] In the information providing device described in claim 1, An information providing device characterized in that each of the aforementioned distances is the distance along the travel path from the location of the recipient. [Claim 4] In the information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An information providing device characterized in that, when the location of the guided location is within the predetermined distance from the location of the recipient, the providing means provides the recipient with guidance information by sound, which includes the distance information and direction information indicating the direction of the location of the guided location as seen from the location of the recipient. [Claim 5] In the information providing device described in claim 1, The system further includes voice acquisition means for acquiring the voice of the provider indicating the location for which the provision of the aforementioned guidance information is requested, The means for acquiring the information of the guided location acquires the information of the guided location based on the acquired audio, The information providing means is characterized in that, when a term related to distance is included in the acquired audio, the guidance information including the distance information is provided to the recipient by sound. [Claim 6] An information provision method performed in an information provision device comprising acquisition means and provision means, An acquisition step of acquiring information about a location where information should be provided, using the acquisition means, A provision step in which, when the location of the guided location indicated by the acquired guided location information is within a predetermined distance from the location of the recipient of the guided location information, the provision means provides the recipient with the guided location information, which includes distance information indicating the distance between the recipient's location and the location of the guided location, by sound, and when the location of the guided location is farther than the predetermined distance, the provision means provides the recipient with the guided location information, which includes address information indicating the address of the guided location, by sound, A method of providing information characterized by including the following. [Claim 7] Computers, A means for obtaining information about a location where information should be provided, and When the location of the guided location indicated by the acquired guided location information is within a predetermined distance from the location of the recipient of the guided location information, the means of providing the recipient with the guided location information by sound, which includes distance information indicating the distance between the recipient's location and the location of the guided location; when the location of the guided location is farther than the predetermined distance, the means of providing the recipient with the guided location information by sound, which includes address information indicating the address of the guided location. An information provision program characterized by its function as such.

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