Information provision system, information provision method, and information provision program

Abstract

To select sound to be reproduced on the basis of preference or behavior of a user.SOLUTION: An information providing system which provides information by means of a sound comprises: a position acquisition unit which acquires positional information indicating a user position in which a user exists; a storage unit which stores one or more pieces of sound group information, each of the one or more pieces of sound information including range information representing a predetermined range on a map and a plurality of pieces of sound information representing each sound associated with the range information; and a sound reproduction unit which reproduces sound of one or more pieces of sound information associated with the range information which represents a range including a position represented by the positional information referring to the sound group information on the basis of the positional information acquired by the position acquisition unit. The sound reproduction unit selects one or more pieces of sound information of a plurality of pieces of sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the position represented by the positional information using at least one of user's behavior and user's preference based on the positional information acquired by the position acquisition unit in the past, and reproduces the sound of the selected sound information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, and an information providing program.

Background Art

[0002] A technique for providing information by playing corresponding voices based on the position information of a user is known. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for determining whether to play corresponding voices based on the preferences and behaviors of a user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There has been a desire to change the sound to be played based on the preferences and behaviors of a user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms. (1) According to the present disclosure, an information provision system is provided that provides information by sound. This information provision system includes: a location acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the user's location; a storage unit that stores one or more sound group information, each of which includes range information representing a predetermined range on a map and a plurality of sound information associated with the range information and each representing a sound; and a sound playback unit that, based on the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more of the sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information. The sound playback unit can perform a playback process that selects one or more of the sound information associated with the plurality of sound information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit in the past and the user's preferences, and plays the sound of the selected sound information. The preference is determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated by the sound playback unit based on the modes previously played by the sound playback unit. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information, and the sound playback unit selects the detailed sound information in the playback process if the preference matches the object. (2) According to another form of the present disclosure, an information provision system is provided that provides information by sound. This information provision system includes: a location acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the user's location; a storage unit that stores one or more sound group information, each of which includes range information representing a predetermined range on a map and a plurality of sound information associated with the range information and each representing a sound; and a sound playback unit that, based on the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more of the sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information. The sound playback unit can perform a playback process that selects one or more of the sound information associated with the plurality of sound information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit in the past and the user's preferences, and plays the sound of the selected sound information. The aforementioned preference is determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated by the sound playback unit based on the manner in which the sound playback unit has previously played. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information, and in the playback process, if the user enters the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information in which the playback process was previously performed, the sound playback unit selects the simplified sound information.

[0006] (1) According to the present disclosure, an information provision system is provided that provides information by sound. This information provision system includes: a location acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the user's location; a storage unit that stores one or more sound group information, each of which includes range information representing a predetermined range on a map and a plurality of sound information associated with the range information and each representing a sound; and a sound playback unit that, based on the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more of the sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information. The sound playback unit can perform a playback process that selects one or more of the sound information associated with the plurality of sound information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit in the past and the user's preferences, and plays the sound of the selected sound information. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated by the sound playback unit based on the patterns of sound playback the unit has previously reproduced. According to this information supply system, from among multiple sound information corresponding to the user's location, the sound to be played can be selected based on the user's preferences and behavior. (2) In the information provision system of the above form, the plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound of the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information, and the sound playback unit may select the detailed sound information in the playback process if the preference and the object match. This configuration allows users to select the sounds to be played based on their preferences. (3) In the information provision system of the above form, the plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound of the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information, and the sound playback unit may, in the playback process, select the simplified sound information if the user enters again the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information in which the playback process has been performed in the past. This format can prevent the replaying of explanations that have already been played. (4) In the above-described information provision system, each sound group information is associated with a sound piece and includes classification information indicating the classification of the object represented by the sound in the sound piece, and the preference includes a preference score indicating the degree of preference for each classification, and the sound playback unit may, in the playback process, select from the plurality of sound pieces the sound piece associated with the classification information indicating the classification for which the preference score is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. This configuration allows for the playback of sounds categorized to match the user's preferences. (5) In the above-described information provision system, if the user interrupts the playback process, the sound playback unit may set the preference level of the classification indicated by the classification information associated with the sound information on which the playback process was performed to a smaller value than if the playback process were not interrupted. With this format, if a user listens to the entire audio, they can set a higher preference level than if they stopped listening midway. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the information provision system. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of information provision processing. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of sound playback processing. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of sound group information. [Figure 5] This diagram shows an example of the range represented by range information. [Figure 6] This figure shows the user's movement in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows the user's movement in the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] A. First Embodiment: Figure 1 shows the configuration of the information provision system 100 according to this embodiment. The information provision system 100 provides the user with information to guide and explain according to the user's location, via voice. In this embodiment, an example is described in which the information provision system 100 provides information about tourist spots to a user who is visiting a tourist area. The information provision system 100 includes a processing unit 110, a server 120, and an audio playback device 130.

[0009] The server 120 has a storage unit 20. The storage unit 20 stores multiple sound group information. The sound group information includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and multiple sound information items that represent sounds associated with the range information. In this embodiment, the sound group information includes classification information associated with the sound information. The classification information is information that indicates the classification of the object represented by the sound of the associated sound information. For example, if the sound information is an audio commentary about Nagoya Castle, the object represented by the sound of the sound information is "Nagoya Castle," and the classification indicated by the classification information associated with this sound information is "castle."

[0010] The audio playback device 130 is a portable device that outputs sound represented by the signal received from the processing unit 110. In this embodiment, the audio playback device 130 is a device worn on the user's head and is an earphone. The user wears the audio playback device 130 on their ears while visiting tourist attractions.

[0011] The processing unit 110 comprises a position acquisition unit 10, a sound playback unit 30, and a preference acquisition unit 40. The processing unit 110 consists of a central processing unit (CPU), a microcomputer composed of RAM and ROM, and the functions of each of these units are realized by the microcomputer executing a pre-installed program. However, some or all of the functions of each of these units may be realized by hardware circuits. In this embodiment, the processing unit 110 is a smartphone owned by the user. The processing unit 110 is assumed to have application software installed to provide the user with information about tourist destinations. The user can receive information about tourist destinations from the information provision system 100 by running the application software. The user is assumed to carry the processing unit 110 with them when visiting tourist destinations.

[0012] The position acquisition unit 10 acquires position information indicating the user's current location. The position acquisition unit 10 acquires position information detected by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as GPS (Global Positioning System). In this embodiment, the position acquisition unit 10 acquires position information from a GPS antenna (not shown) provided by the processing unit 110.

[0013] The sound playback unit 30 can perform sound playback processing, which involves playing the sound of one or more selected sound pieces from among a plurality of sound pieces associated with a single range piece of sound information that represents a range including the position represented by the position information. In sound playback processing, the sound playback unit 30 selects sound information using at least one of the user's actions and preferences. Details of the method for selecting sound information will be described later. In this embodiment, if there is one or more range pieces of sound information that represent a range including the user's position represented by the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 10, the sound playback unit 30 performs sound playback processing for any one of the range pieces of sound information.

[0014] The preference acquisition unit 40 acquires preference information indicating the preferences of the user. In the present embodiment, the preference acquisition unit 40 acquires the preference information input by the user through the input unit included in the processing device 110. Further, the preference acquisition unit 40 may acquire the preference information of the user from the server 120.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the information providing process. The information providing process is a process in which the information providing system 100 provides information to the user by sound. This process is repeatedly executed during the operation of the information providing system 100. First, the position acquisition unit 10 acquires position information in step S100. This step is also referred to as the "position acquisition step".

[0016] Subsequently, the sound playback unit 30 refers to a plurality of sound group information stored in the storage unit 20 based on the position information acquired in step S100 and plays back a sound in step S110. This step is also referred to as the "sound playback step". Note that the processing device 110 may acquire in advance from the storage unit 20 sound group information including range information representing a range including positions around the user position and store it in the storage area of the processing device 110. This step is also referred to as the "information preparation step".

[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the sound playback process. The sound playback process is a series of processes in which the sound playback unit 30 plays back a sound in step S110 shown in FIG. 2. First, in step S200, the sound playback unit 30 determines whether the user position is included in the range represented by the range information included in any of the sound group information stored in the storage unit 20. If the user position is included in any range, the sound playback unit 30 proceeds to the process of step S210. On the other hand, if the user position is not included in any range, the sound playback process ends.

[0018] In step S210, the sound playback unit 30 selects one or more sound pieces from a plurality of sound pieces associated with a single range piece of information including the user's position, using at least one of the user's behavior and preferences. In this embodiment, the sound playback unit 30 determines the user's preferences based on information input by the user. More specifically, it determines the user's preferences based on preference information acquired by the preference acquisition unit 40. In this embodiment, the preference information is information indicating the user's interests, and it indicates that the user is interested in temples. For example, if a plurality of sound pieces associated with a certain range piece of information include detailed sound information and simplified sound information that contains less information about the object represented by the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information, the sound playback unit 30 selects the detailed sound information if the preference matches the object represented by the sound information. In this embodiment, a match between preference and object means that the object of interest indicated by the preference information and the object represented by the sound information are the same.

[0019] In step S220, the sound playback unit 30 plays the sound of one or more sound information selected in step S210. If multiple sound information is selected in step S210, the sound playback unit 30 does not play each sound of the multiple sound information simultaneously, but plays each sound of the multiple sound information sequentially. The processes of steps S210 and S220 together are also called the "playback process". The sound playback unit 30 may stop playing the sound information if the user's position is no longer included in the range represented by the range information associated with the sound information that was being played.

[0020] Figure 4 shows an example of sound group information. The range information contained in the first sound group information Di1 represents range A1 and includes sound information representing sound S1 and sound information representing sound S2. Sound S1 is a detailed explanatory audio. Sound S2 is a simplified explanatory audio that contains less information about the subject that sound S2 represents than sound S1. In other words, the sound information representing sound S1 is detailed sound information, and the sound information representing sound S2 is simplified sound information. The subjects represented by sound S1 and sound S2 are both explanatory audio about the architecture and history of temples and shrines. That is, the classification information associated with the sound information representing sound S1 and the sound information representing sound S2 represents architecture and history, respectively.

[0021] The range information contained in the second sound group information Di2 represents range A2 and includes sound information representing sound S3, sound information representing sound S4, sound information representing sound S5, and sound information representing sound S6. Sound S3 is an audio commentary on architecture. Sound S4 is an audio commentary on history. Sound S5 is an audio commentary on plants. Sound S6 is an audio commentary on people. In other words, the classification information associated with the sound information representing sound S3 represents architecture, the classification information associated with the sound information representing sound S4 represents history, the classification information associated with the sound information representing sound S5 represents plants, and the classification information associated with the sound information representing sound S6 represents people.

[0022] Figure 5 shows an example of the range represented by range information. Range A1 is the range that includes range A2. Below, the information provision process will be explained using the case where the user moves along arrow D1 shown in Figure 5 as an example. The user moves from point P1 to point P2. Point P1 is a position where the user's position is not included in the range information of any of the sound group information stored in the storage unit 20. Point P2 is a position that is included in range A1.

[0023] The sound playback unit 30 plays sound S1 when the user enters range A1. Since the user does not enter range A2, the sound playback unit 30 does not perform playback processing for the second sound group information Di2.

[0024] According to the information supply system of this embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 can select a sound to be played from among multiple sound pieces of information corresponding to the user's location information, based on the user's preferences and actions.

[0025] B. Second Embodiment: The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, in the playback process, the sound playback unit 30 selects sound information using the user's actions. The configuration of the information provision system 100 in the second embodiment is the same as that of the information provision system 100 in the first embodiment, so a description of the configuration of the information provision system 100 will be omitted.

[0026] In this embodiment, the sound playback unit 30 selects sound information using the user's actions based on location information previously acquired by the location acquisition unit 10. For example, if multiple sound information associated with a certain range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information, the sound playback unit 30 selects the simplified sound information if the user re-enters the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information for which playback processing has been performed in the past. Also, the sound playback unit 30 selects the detailed sound information if the user enters the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information for which playback processing has never been performed in the past. In this embodiment, the location information previously acquired by the location acquisition unit 10 and the range information included in the sound group information for which playback processing has been performed in the past are stored in the memory area of ​​the processing unit 110.

[0027] Figure 6 shows the user's movement in the second embodiment. Below, the information provision process will be explained using the case where the user moves along arrow D2 shown in Figure 6 as an example. The user moves from point P3 to point P2. Point P3 is a position where the user's position is not included in the range information of any of the sound group information stored in the storage unit 20.

[0028] First, the sound playback unit 30 plays sound S1 when the user enters range A1. In this case, since it is the first time the user enters range A1, detailed sound information is played. Next, the sound playback unit 30 stops playing sound S1 when the user leaves range A1. Alternatively, the playback of sound S1 may have finished before the user leaves range A1. Next, the sound playback unit 30 plays sound S2 when the user enters range A1 again. In this case, since it is the second time the user has entered range A1, simplified sound information is played. Also, since the user does not enter range A2, the sound playback unit 30 does not perform playback processing for the second sound group information Di2.

[0029] According to the information supply system of the second embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 can suppress the duplication of explanations that have already been played.

[0030] C. Third Embodiment: The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, in the playback process, the sound playback unit 30 selects sound information associated with classification information indicating a classification in which the degree of preference is above a predetermined threshold. The degree of preference is a value indicating the degree to which one likes each classification. The configuration of the information provision system 100 in the third embodiment is the same as that of the information provision system 100 in the first embodiment, so the explanation of the configuration of the information provision system 100 will be omitted.

[0031] The degree of preference is information included in the preference. The higher the degree of preference, the more the user likes it. In this embodiment, the degree of preference is determined for each user by the sound playback unit 30 based on information estimated based on the patterns that the sound playback unit 30 has played in the past, and is stored in the memory area of ​​the processing unit 110. For example, the sound playback unit 30 determines the degree of preference by the following formula (1).

[0032] Pd = Σ(Cr × Pr) ... (1) Here, Pd is the degree of preference, and Cr is the proportion of the classification that determines the degree of preference for the object represented by the sound in a given sound information. Cr is, for example, included in the classification information. Pr is the degree to which the sound in a given sound information was listened to. In this embodiment, Pr is the percentage of the sound in a given sound information that was listened to, and is set to 100% if the sound of the selected sound information was played to the end during the playback process, and to 0% if it was not played at all.

[0033] By determining the degree of preference using formula (1), the sound playback unit 30 sets the degree of preference for the classification indicated by the classification information associated with the sound information during playback to a smaller value than if the user were not interrupting the playback process. In this embodiment, the degree of preference for architecture is 30%, the degree of preference for history is 40%, the degree of preference for plants is 70%, and the degree of preference for people is 50%.

[0034] In this embodiment, the sound playback unit 30 selects sound information associated with classification information indicating a preference level of 50% or higher. If the sound playback unit 30 selects multiple sound information, it plays them in order from the one with the highest preference level. Furthermore, if all of the multiple sound information associated with the range information are sound information associated with classification information indicating a preference level of less than 50%, the sound playback unit 30 selects simplified sound information.

[0035] Figure 7 shows the user's movement in the third embodiment. Below, the information provision process will be explained using the case where the user moves along arrow D3 shown in Figure 7 as an example. The user moves from point P3 to point P4. Point P4 is the location of the temple and is located within ranges A1 and A2.

[0036] First, the sound playback unit 30 plays sound S2 when the user enters range A1. Subsequently, when the user enters range A2, it stops playing sound S2 and plays sounds S5 and S6. In other words, the sound playback unit 30 stops playback processing for range information of range A1, which was entered first, and prioritizes playback processing for range information of range A2, which was entered later.

[0037] According to the information supply system of the third embodiment described above, it is possible to play sounds categorized to match the user's preferences. Furthermore, the sound playback unit 30 can set a higher preference level when the user listens to the sound to the end than when the user stops listening midway.

[0038] D. Other embodiments: (D1) In the embodiment described above, the sound group information is stored in the server 120. However, the sound group information may also be stored in the processing unit 110. That is, the processing unit 110 may include a storage unit 20.

[0039] (D2) In the above-described embodiment, the audio playback device 130 may include a sound playback unit 30. Alternatively, the audio playback device 130 may include a position acquisition unit 10.

[0040] (D3) In the embodiment described above, the range information may include information in the height direction. In this case, the position acquisition unit 10 acquires the user's position as position information, for example, from an altitude sensor.

[0041] (D4) In the above-described embodiment, the sound playback unit 30 may refrain from performing playback processing for range information if the user re-enters the range represented by the range information within a predetermined time after leaving the range represented by the range information for which playback processing is being performed. In this configuration, for example, when moving around the boundary of a certain range, it is possible to suppress the repeated playback of sound information associated with the range information representing that range.

[0042] (D5) In the above-described embodiment, the sound playback unit 30 may continue playback processing for the range information for a predetermined period of time from the moment the user leaves the range information that is being played back. In this configuration, for example, even when moving around the boundary of a certain range, the sound of the sound information associated with the range information representing that range can be heard continuously without interruption.

[0043] (D6) In the embodiments described above, a match between preferences and objects means that the objects of interest to the user indicated by the preference information are the same as the objects of sound represented by the sound information. However, a match between preferences and objects may also mean that the classification of objects of interest to the user indicated by the preference information is the same as the classification of objects of sound represented by the sound information.

[0044] (D7) In the embodiments described above, the sound playback unit 30 does not have to select any sound information and perform playback processing based on the user's behavior and preferences. For example, the sound playback unit 30 does not have to select any sound information and perform playback processing if the user enters a range represented by range information included in a group of sound information that has been played back two or more times in the past, or if all of the multiple sound information are sound information that are associated with classification information indicating a preference level below a threshold.

[0045] (D8) In the embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 may output sound to the sound playback device 130 that has undergone stereophonic processing on sound information according to the user's position and the sound source. In this case, the sound group information is associated with each sound information and includes sound source information that indicates the position of the sound source, which is the source of the sound information. The position acquisition unit 10 may also acquire face direction information that indicates the direction the user's face is facing. For example, the sound playback unit 30 calculates the azimuth angle between the user's position and the sound source, with true north being 0 degrees, and generates stereophonic sound according to the relative angle between the azimuth angle between the two points and the face direction. With this configuration, the information provision system 100 can provide information to the user while making the user feel a sense of presence.

[0046] (D9) In the second embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 stops playback processing for the range information of the range A1 that was entered earlier, and prioritizes playback processing for the range information of the range A2 that was entered later. Alternatively, the sound playback unit 30 may continue playback processing for the range information of the range A1 that was entered earlier, and may not perform playback processing for the range information of the range A2 that was entered later. That is, if the user enters a position that is included in the second range from a position that is included in the first range represented by the first range information that is not included in the second range, playback processing will not be performed for the second range information, and playback processing will continue for the first range information. With this configuration, the output of sound information corresponding to the range information of the range that was entered earlier will continue. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the playback sound from being cut off midway. Furthermore, the information provision system 100 may be configured so that the user can choose whether to prioritize playback processing of the range information of the range that was entered earlier or playback processing of the range information of the range that was entered later. For example, the processing unit 110 may be provided with a selection unit that the user can select.

[0047] (D10) In the second embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 selects simplified sound information when the user re-enters range A1 represented by range information included in sound group information for which playback processing has been performed in the past. However, the sound playback unit 30 may also select detailed sound information when the user re-enters range A1 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the user entered range A1. This period may be, for example, one day or one week, and the user may select and set the length of the period.

[0048] (D11) In the second embodiment described above, the sound group information Di1 and Di2 include classification information. However, the sound group information Di1 and Di2 do not necessarily include classification information.

[0049] (D12) In the third embodiment described above, the preference level is determined by the sound playback unit 30 based on information estimated based on the patterns that the sound playback unit 30 has played in the past. However, the preference level may be directly input by the user. In this case, the preference acquisition unit 40 acquires preference information including the preference level.

[0050] (D13) In the third embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 selects sound information associated with classification information indicating a classification in which the degree of preference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. However, the sound playback unit 30 may lower the threshold if the user's degree of preference for each of the multiple classifications associated with a single range information including the user's position is generally low. A case where the degree of preference is generally low is, for example, when the user's degree of preference for each of the multiple classifications associated with a single range information including the user's position is smaller than a predetermined value, or when the number of sound pieces of sound information among the multiple sound pieces associated with a single range information including the user's position that have a degree of preference equal to or greater than the threshold is smaller than a predetermined value. Furthermore, the sound playback unit 30 may select simplified sound information if the degree of preference is less than the threshold, and select detailed sound information if the degree of preference is equal to or greater than the threshold.

[0051] (D14) In the third embodiment described above, the sound playback unit 30 determines the degree of preference using the proportion of the sound information that the sound playback unit 30 has listened to as information estimated based on the manner in which it has played back in the past. However, the information estimated based on the manner in which the sound playback unit 30 has played back in the past may also be the time the user stayed in the range information where the playback process was performed or the user's movement speed. In this case, for example, if the user stayed for a long time, the sound playback unit 30 may set the degree of preference of the classification indicated by the classification information associated with the sound information on which the playback process was performed to a larger value than if the user stayed for a short time, and if the user's movement speed is slow, the degree of preference of the classification indicated by the classification information associated with the sound information on which the playback process was performed to a larger value than if the user's movement speed is fast. Furthermore, the information estimated based on the manner in which the sound playback unit 30 has played back in the past may also be the date and time when the playback process was performed. In this case, the sound playback unit 30 sets the preference level of the classification information associated with the sound information from which the playback process was performed to a larger value if, for example, the user performed the playback process in the near past, compared to if the user performed the playback process in the far past.

[0052] (D15) In the third embodiment described above, Pr, which indicates the degree to which a sound of a certain sound information was heard, is the proportion of the sound of a certain sound information that was heard. However, Pr may also be the proportion of the sound of a certain sound information that was heard minus a weighting variable, or it may be the proportion of the proportion of the sound of a certain sound information that was heard multiplied by a weighting variable.

[0053] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various configurations without departing from its spirit. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the summary of the invention can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 10...Position acquisition unit, 20...Storage unit, 30...Sound playback unit, 40...Preference acquisition unit, 100...Information provision system, 110...Processing device, 120...Server, 130...Sound playback device

Claims

1. An information provision system that provides information through sound, A location acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the user's current location, A storage unit for storing one or more sound group information, wherein each of the one or more sound group information includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and a plurality of sound information associated with the range information, each representing a sound, The system includes a sound playback unit that, based on the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more sound pieces associated with the range information that includes the position represented by the position information, The sound playback unit can perform a playback process that selects one or more of the sound information from among the plurality of sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information previously acquired by the location acquisition unit and the user's preferences, and plays the sound of the selected sound information. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated by the sound playback unit based on the patterns of sound playback the unit has previously reproduced. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information. The sound playback unit is an information provision system that, in the playback process, selects the detailed sound information when the preference matches the target.

2. An information provision system that provides information through sound, A location acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the user's current location, A storage unit for storing one or more sound group information, wherein each of the one or more sound group information includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and a plurality of sound information associated with the range information, each representing a sound, The system includes a sound playback unit that, based on the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more sound pieces associated with the range information that includes the position represented by the position information, The sound playback unit can perform a playback process that selects one or more of the sound information from among the plurality of sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information previously acquired by the location acquisition unit and the user's preferences, and plays the sound of the selected sound information. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated by the sound playback unit based on the patterns of sound playback the unit has previously reproduced. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information that contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information. The sound playback unit is an information provision system that, in the playback process, selects the simplified sound information if the user again enters the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information on which the playback process was previously performed.

3. The information provision system according to claim 1, Each of the sound group information is associated with the sound information and includes classification information that indicates the classification of the object represented by the sound in the sound information. The aforementioned preferences include a degree of preference indicating the degree to which each of the aforementioned classifications is liked. The sound playback unit is an information provision system that, in the playback process, selects from among the plurality of sound information sound information that is associated with the classification information indicating the classification in which the degree of preference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

4. The information provision system according to claim 3, The sound playback unit is an information provision system that, when the user interrupts the playback process, sets the preference level of the classification indicated by the classification information associated with the sound information on which the playback process was performed to a smaller value than when the playback process is not interrupted.

5. The information provision system according to claim 1, further, The device includes an audio playback device that is attached to the user's head, Each of the sound group information is associated with the sound information and includes sound source information indicating the location of the sound source that is the source of the sound in the sound information. The sound playback unit is an information provision system that, in the playback process, plays back sound on the sound playback device that has undergone stereophonic processing on the sound information according to the user's position and the sound source's position.

6. A method of providing information using sound, in which a computer carried by a user provides information, A location acquisition step to acquire location information indicating the user's location, An information preparation step for preparing sound group information, which includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and multiple sound information items associated with the range information, each representing a sound; A sound playback step includes, based on the position information acquired in the position acquisition step, referring to the sound group information, and playing the sound of one or more sound pieces associated with the range information that includes the position represented by the position information, The sound playback step is a step of performing a playback process in which, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information acquired in the previous location acquisition step and the user's preferences, one or more of the plurality of sound pieces associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information is selected, and the sound of the selected sound piece is played. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated based on the modes of sound previously played in the sound playback process. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information. The sound playback step is a step of selecting detailed sound information in the playback process when the preference and the target match, in an information provision method.

7. A method of providing information using sound, in which a computer carried by a user provides information, A location acquisition step to acquire location information indicating the user's location, An information preparation step for preparing sound group information, which includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and multiple sound information items associated with the range information, each representing a sound; A sound playback step includes, based on the position information acquired in the position acquisition step, referring to the sound group information, and playing the sound of one or more sound pieces associated with the range information that includes the position represented by the position information, The sound playback step is a step of performing a playback process in which, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information acquired in the previous location acquisition step and the user's preferences, one or more of the plurality of sound pieces associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information is selected, and the sound of the selected sound piece is played. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information input by the user and the information estimated based on the modes of sound previously played in the sound playback process. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information that contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information. The sound playback step is a step of selecting the simplified sound information if the user enters the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information on which the playback process was previously performed during the playback process.

8. An information provision program that provides information through sound, A location acquisition function that obtains location information indicating the user's current location, An information acquisition function that acquires sound group information, which includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and multiple sound information items that are associated with the range information and each represent a sound. A sound playback function is implemented in a computer that, based on the acquired position information, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more of the sound information associated with the range information that includes the position represented by the position information. The sound playback function is a function that performs a playback process, which involves selecting one or more of the sound information from among the plurality of sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information previously acquired by the location acquisition function and the user's preferences, and then playing the sound of the selected sound information. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information entered by the user and the information estimated in the playback process based on the modes previously played. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information which contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information. The sound playback function is an information provision program that, in the playback process, selects the detailed sound information when the preference and the target match.

9. An information provision program that provides information through sound, A location acquisition function that obtains location information indicating the user's current location, An information acquisition function that acquires sound group information, which includes range information representing a predetermined area on a map, and multiple sound information items that are associated with the range information and each represent a sound. A sound playback function is implemented in a computer that, based on the acquired position information, refers to the sound group information and plays the sound of one or more of the sound information associated with the range information that includes the position represented by the position information. The sound playback function is a function that performs a playback process, which involves selecting one or more of the sound information from among the plurality of sound information associated with the range information representing the range including the location represented by the location information, using at least one of the user's actions based on the location information previously acquired by the location acquisition function and the user's preferences, and then playing the sound of the selected sound information. The aforementioned preferences are determined based on at least one of the information entered by the user and the information estimated in the playback process based on the modes previously played. The plurality of sound information associated with the range information includes detailed sound information and simplified sound information that contains less information about the object represented by the sound in the detailed sound information than the detailed sound information. The sound playback function is an information provision program that, in the playback process, selects the simplified sound information if the user re-enters the range represented by the range information included in the sound group information on which the playback process was previously performed.

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