Vehicle Passenger Identification via Audio Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers of vehicles, particularly in ridesharing scenarios, face difficulties in identifying passengers among multiple individuals at a meeting point without diverting their attention from the road, as existing navigation systems require visual attention to display passenger information.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that acquires image information of the passenger and converts it into audio or text-based secondary information representing characteristic aspects of their appearance, allowing the driver to be notified without needing to look away from the road, using a server apparatus, passenger terminal, and vehicle-mounted device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the driver visually checks the navigation screen to identify the passenger, then the passenger identification accuracy is improved, but the driving safety deteriorates due to distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger identification accuracyVSAvoiddriving safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical visual checking system with an audio-based notification system. The notification device outputs passenger information (such as name, reservation number, or other identifying details) through audio signals, allowing the driver to identify passengers without visual distraction from the navigation screen, thus resolving the contradiction between identification accuracy and driving safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The notification device acts as an intermediary between the navigation system and the driver. Instead of the driver directly viewing the screen, the notification device mediates by converting visual passenger information into audio signals that can be perceived while maintaining visual attention on the road

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the navigation system displays detailed passenger information on screen, then the information completeness is improved, but the driver's attention requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddriver attention requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system substitutes visual information display with audio information output. The notification device converts comprehensive passenger information (names, reservation details, vehicle identification) into spoken notifications, maintaining information completeness while eliminating the need for the driver to divert visual attention to the screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11758375B2Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and non-transitory storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The present disclosure has an object to provide an information processing apparatus that can easily grasp a passenger during a driver's driving. A controller included in an information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure executes: acquiring first information that is information related to an appearance of a passenger having requested a ride in a vehicle being driven by a driver and is image information taken; and generating information related to the passenger by converting the first information into second information representing a predetermined characteristic part of the appearance of the passenger.