JP7539731B2 - System and Program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system and program that controls audio output.

Conventionally, there is known a warning device that issues a proximity warning when a pre-stored position of a warning target and a current position are in a predetermined proximity state (for example, Patent Document 1). For example, when the distance between the position of the warning target and the current position becomes 500 m, the device starts to output a voice phrase such as "500 m ahead, there is a crackdown area" and displays characters or icons such as "Watch your speed, 500 m ahead, there is a crackdown area" on the screen while the voice is being output.
There is known a system that outputs a phrase corresponding to an event by voice when the event occurs.

JP 2013-195105 A

However, there is usually only one phrase associated with a certain event. Therefore, there is a problem that it is annoying to repeatedly output the same voice content. In addition, if a user listens to the same phrase over and over again, the user will become accustomed to it, and may miss the voice output, making it difficult to accurately convey the occurrence of an event to the user. In addition, the content of the phrase is usually dry and dull, indicating the content of the event, and there is a problem that the content of the voice output becomes less interesting as the period of use increases.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system etc. that can more easily attract attention to the occurrence of an event by using sound than in the past.

(1) A system that controls audio output to a vehicle driver when a specified event occurs, and controls the audio output to be a phrase (called a non-event content phrase) that is not a phrase indicating the content of the event (called an event content phrase) when the specified event occurs.

In this way, when an event occurs, a phrase that does not indicate the content of the event is output as sound. This makes it difficult to understand what event has occurred, or if the event occurs at the user's command or the user is able to understand the content of the event, the non-event content phrase may be amusing or make the user want to comment, for example. By outputting a phrase that does not indicate the content of the event as sound, it can actually attract interest in the event.

As a configuration for outputting a phrase as sound, for example, sound data of the phrase may be stored in a storage means and the sound may be output by playing back the sound data, or the phrase may be stored as a character string in a storage means and a sound corresponding to the character string may be generated by voice synthesis and output as the sound.

This system may be particularly configured as an electronic device that can be attached to a car or installed in a vehicle, but at least some of the control may be performed by a server, for example, and the electronic device in the vehicle may be controlled to output audio based on information obtained by communication from the server.
(2) It is preferable to provide a phrase for each type of event, select one phrase from among a plurality of phrases provided for each event, and control the selection so that the phrase is output as sound when the specified event occurs, and provide a configuration in which at least one of the plurality of phrases includes the non-event content phrase.

In this way, phrases including non-event content phrases are output as audio when the event occurs. Therefore, by outputting phrases that do not indicate the content of the event as audio, it is more likely to draw attention to the event.

In particular, (3) a phrase may be provided for each type of event, one phrase may be selected from among a plurality of phrases provided for one event, and control may be performed to output the selected phrase as sound when the specified event occurs, and the event content phrase may be provided as at least one of the plurality of phrases provided for the one event, and the non-event content phrase may be provided as at least one of the plurality of phrases provided for the one event.

In this way, for one event, the audio of a non-event content phrase can be output at one time to attract interest, while the audio of an event content phrase can be output at another time to allow the content of the event to be confirmed, resulting in a remarkable effect. For example, it is possible to prevent monotony while also being able to confirm the content of the event.

Note that an event having a phrase that includes a non-event content phrase may be one type of event, but may also be multiple types of events, and more particularly may be all types of events.

(4) It is preferable to have a configuration that controls the continuous output of audio based on the event content phrase and the non-event content phrase when a specified event occurs.

In this way, you can learn about the content of the event by listening to the audio of the event content phrases, and you can maintain your interest by listening to the audio of the non-event content phrases.

(5) It is preferable that the device has a voice recognition function, a function started by voice recognition, and a function for starting the function started by voice recognition by a method other than voice recognition (referred to as an alternative start function), and has as the non-event content phrase a phrase indicating a method for starting the function by the alternative start function when the voice recognition is not possible, has as the specified event an event for starting voice recognition, and is configured to control the output of voice based on the phrase indicating a method for starting the function by the alternative start function when the event for starting voice recognition occurs.

In this way, when voice recognition has failed or is likely to fail, it is easy to adopt a start method using the alternative start function. There is a problem that voice recognition may fail, and inputting instructions using voice recognition is less reliable than other instruction input methods. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a function (called an alternative start function) that starts the function started by the voice recognition in a manner other than voice recognition, but there is a problem that this alternative start function requires the user to understand the start method in advance, for example by referring to an instruction manual. According to the present invention, when voice recognition starts, a voice based on a phrase indicating the start method of the function using the alternative start function is output, so that the user can understand the method at the start of voice recognition without having to understand the method in advance. Also, since the method can be understood at the start of voice recognition, the function started by voice recognition can be started smoothly, easily, and more reliably by the alternative start function in the event of a failure in voice recognition.

For example, a means for giving instructions similar to those given by voice recognition may be provided separately from voice recognition, and if voice recognition is not possible, a voice may be output indicating how to give instructions by a method other than voice recognition as a phrase to indicate the start of voice recognition.

For example, in a configuration having a function for starting a function started by voice recognition when a button provided in the system is pressed or touched as a separate start function, phrases indicating how to start the function using the separate start function could be provided such as "Got it. I'll start recognition now. If I can't recognize you, press the button" or "If there's a lot of noise, I might not be able to recognize you. In that case, use the button."

(6) The device may be configured to have a voice recognition function, include a phrase indicating the possibility of voice recognition failure as the non-event content phrase, include an event of starting voice recognition as the specified event, and perform control to output voice based on the phrase indicating the possibility of voice recognition failure when the event of starting voice recognition occurs.

In this way, the user can be informed in advance that the voice recognition is not reliable. For example, phrases such as "I heard voice recognition is quite difficult. Recognition may fail" or "I can only recognize a few words. Sorry" can be used to indicate the possibility of voice recognition failure. It is especially good to have an additional apology phrase, as in this example.

(7) The device may be configured to have a voice recognition function, include a phrase indicating a possible failure in voice recognition as the non-event content phrase, include an event indicating the end of voice recognition as the specified event, and, when the event indicating the end of voice recognition occurs, control output of a voice based on the phrase indicating a possible failure in voice recognition.

This helps to reduce the user's frustration when speech recognition fails. For example, a phrase such as "I'm sorry I couldn't hear you 100%. Speech recognition is surprisingly difficult. What an excuse." can be provided to indicate that speech recognition may have failed. It is especially good to provide an additional apology phrase, as in this example.

(8) It is preferable that the device has a voice recognition function, the non-event content phrase has a phrase related to limitations of voice recognition, the predetermined event has an event of starting voice recognition, and when the event of starting voice recognition occurs, the device is configured to control the output of voice based on the phrase related to limitations of voice recognition.

In this way, the user can be encouraged to speak in accordance with the limitations of the voice recognition. As a result, the reliability of the voice recognition can be improved. For example, if a limitation of the voice recognition is that the user must speak the next recognized word within 30 seconds after the completion of voice recognition of a recognized word, it is advisable to provide a phrase related to the limitation of the voice recognition such as "I recognized it. There's a 30-second time limit."

(9) It is preferable to provide a means for enabling the system to be taken outside the vehicle, and provide a phrase indicating that the system can be taken outside the vehicle as the non-event content phrase, and to perform control to output a voice based on the phrase indicating that the system can be taken outside the vehicle when a guide instruction to a location outside the vehicle where the system can be taken is given as the specified event.

In this way, when a guidance instruction is given to a place outside the vehicle where the system can be brought in, the user can be made aware that the system can be taken outside the vehicle. For example, the user can be made aware that the system can be brought into the place. Even if an instruction manual or the like describes that the system can be used outside the vehicle, many users do not know that the system can be used outside the vehicle because they do not read the instruction manual in the first place. Even if users know this, being informed of this fact again during the guidance instruction can make them want to take the system outside the vehicle and try using it at the indicated place or the like.
A means for enabling the system to be taken outside the vehicle may be, for example, a means for releasing the fixation between a power supply means such as a battery and the vehicle.

For example, when there is a guide instruction regarding a facility where the device equipped with the battery and the system can be brought in, it is appropriate to output a voice indicating that the device can be battery-powered. For example, a phrase such as "I'll come to a family restaurant with you. It can run on batteries" may be provided as a phrase indicating that the system can be taken outside the vehicle, and when "family restaurant" is input as a destination or a search for nearby facilities as a guide instruction to a place outside the vehicle where the system can be brought in, control may be performed to output this phrase as a voice.

(10) It is preferable that the system is provided with a voice recognition function, a function for changing a setting value related to system notifications through voice recognition, a relative change recognition word for relatively changing the setting value, and an absolute change recognition word for changing the setting value to an absolute value, and that the system is configured to control the output of the event content phrase or the non-event content phrase by voice after the setting value is changed.
In this way, the set value can be changed relatively by voice recognition, and the value can also be changed directly to an absolute value.

(11) The device may be configured to include a function for changing the scale of a map by voice recognition, a relative change recognition word for relatively changing the value of the map scale, and an absolute change recognition word for changing the map scale to an absolute value, and to control the output of the event content phrase or the non-event content phrase by voice after changing the map scale.

In this way, you can change the map scale relative to the current scale, and also directly change the scale to an absolute value. For example, you can directly change the scale to an absolute value with a single word.

For example, a map is displayed on the display means, and the scale of the map to be displayed can be 10m (meters), 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 500m, 1km, 2.5km, 5km, and 10km. For example, "detailed" and "wide area" are provided as relative change recognition words, and "10m", "25m", "50m", "100m", "200m", "500m", "1km", "2.5km", "5km", and "10km" are provided as absolute change recognition words. When "detailed" is recognized, the map scale is changed to a map scale one step more detailed than the current scale, and when "wide area" is recognized, the map scale is changed to a map scale one step wider than the current scale and displayed. When any of the absolute change recognition words is recognized, the map scale is changed to the map scale of the recognized word and displayed.

(12) The predetermined event may include an event indicating approach to a target, the event may include an event in which the approach state is relatively distant, and the event may include an event in which the approach state is relatively close, and the phrase for the event in which the approach state is relatively distant may include a phrase including the non-event content phrase, and the phrase for the event in which the approach state is relatively close may include a phrase not including the non-event content phrase.

In this way, when the approaching state is relatively close, an event indicating approach can occur, and when the approaching state is relatively far, interest in the event indicating approach can be attracted. In addition, for example, when the approaching state is relatively closest, the problem of being distracted by a non-event content phrase and, for example, passing the target can be reduced.

For example, an event with a relatively distant approach state may be an event that occurs 1 km before the intersection where a right turn is to be made, and the phrase for this event may include a phrase that includes a non-event content phrase, such as "There is a right turn 1 km ahead, so if there are many lanes, move to the right now." On the other hand, an event with a relatively close approach state may be an event that occurs 300 m before the intersection where a right turn is to be made, and the phrase for this event may include a phrase that does not include a non-event content phrase, such as "There will be a right turn in 300 meters ahead."

(13) The predetermined event may include an event indicating approach to a target, the event may include an event in which the approach state is relatively distant, and the event may include an event in which the approach state is relatively close, and the voice output time of a phrase for an event in which the approach state is relatively distant may be longer than the voice output time for an event in which the approach state is relatively close.

This solves the problem of passing the target while audio is being output for an event that is relatively close, and also attracts the user's interest for events that are relatively far away.

For example, 1 km before the event, a 7-second phrase is outputted, "There is a right turn 1 km ahead, so if there are many lanes, move to the right now," while 700 m before the event, a 5-second phrase is outputted, "There is a right turn 700 meters ahead, will you do as I say?" while 300 m before the event, a 3-second phrase is outputted, "We will turn right in 300 meters," and just before the event (for example, 50 m ahead), a 2-second phrase is outputted, "We will be turning right soon." This can prevent the event from passing by the right turn point, and can attract more interest than the conventional event content phrases that are outputted 1 km before the event.
For example, the longer the distance to the target, the longer the speech time of the phrase informing the distance may be.

(14) The predetermined event may include an event indicating approach to a target, and the event content phrase may include a phrase indicating a type of target. The system may be configured to output a voice of a phrase including the type of target, followed by a voice including a word or phrase about a more specific type of the type.

In this way, users who do not have knowledge of the specific type can easily get an overview of what the goal is. They can also get an overview of the goal more quickly than users who do have knowledge of the specific type.

For example, if you are 2 km away from a radar-type speed camera, you can have the phrase "A speed camera has been spotted within a 2 km radius. It is radar type." output by voice. In this way, even a user who has no knowledge of the specific type of speed camera, such as "radar type," can easily understand that the target is an "speed camera." In addition, they can recognize the presence of the target "speed camera" sooner than a user who has knowledge of the specific type.

For example, it would be good to have a function that outputs the distance to a target followed by the type of target at that position, and then output a phrase containing the type of target, and then output a voice containing a phrase about a more specific type within that type.

(15) The event content phrase may include a phrase that includes an abbreviation, and the event content phrase may be controlled to output a phrase that explains the meaning of the abbreviation after the phrase that includes the abbreviation is output.

In this way, the content of the abbreviation can be conveyed more quickly to users who are familiar with the abbreviation, and users who are familiar with the abbreviation can easily understand what the abbreviation represents.

For example, when you are 2 km away from an LH system speed camera, you can control the device to output the following phrase by voice: "2 km ahead, LH system. Here's some fun fact about speed cameras. LH stands for loop coil H system."

(16) The specified event may include an event indicating approaching a target, and the event content phrase may include a phrase indicating a type of target. The configuration may include outputting a voice of a phrase including the type of target, followed by outputting a voice including a phrase indicating that the type of target is different from the target that may be confused with the type of target.
This makes it possible to prevent misidentification and confusion of target types.

For example, you could have a phrase indicating the type of target as "It's an N system," and a phrase indicating that it is a different type of target that may be confused with that type as "It's not an speed camera," and then output these consecutively as "It's an N system. It's not an speed camera."

As a configuration for outputting them consecutively, a phrase indicating the type of target and a phrase indicating that the target is a different type that may be confused with the first type may be stored separately, and the two may be output together, or a phrase consisting of a phrase indicating the type of target and a phrase indicating that the target is a different type that may be confused with the first type may be stored in advance, and this phrase may be played back.

(17) The specified event may include an event of changing a setting value based on an instruction input from a user, and the non-event content phrase may include a phrase indicating that the state of the setting value may have been poor before an instruction to change the setting value was input.
This can reduce user frustration caused by inappropriate settings.

For example, if there is an input instruction to turn down the volume, it would be good to have the phrase "Was it a bit loud?" as a phrase indicating that the state of the setting value before the instruction to change the setting value was possibly not good. Also, for example, if there is an input instruction to turn down the brightness, it would be good to have the phrase "Hmm, maybe it was too bright" as a phrase indicating that the state of the setting value before the instruction to change the setting value was possibly not good.

(18) It is preferable that the device has a phrase for each type of event, a housing, and the housing has an operation input unit for switching between sets of phrases for each type of event all at once.

(19) The device may include a display screen, a means for detecting a touch on the display screen, and a navigation function, and may have a function for allowing a user to select whether to display an image of a character speaking the phrase or an enlarged view using the navigation function. When the selection results in a state in which the image of the character is displayed, if a touch on the image of the character is detected, the device may have a function for displaying an enlarged view using the navigation function instead of the image of the character.

This allows the user to experience the feeling of having the character speak, and allows an enlarged view to be easily displayed when necessary. This is particularly effective for systems with relatively small screens.
(20) The functions of the system described in any one of (1) to (19) may be realized by a program for causing a computer to execute the functions.

It is possible to provide a system that uses audio to more easily draw attention to the occurrence of an event than was previously possible.

1 is an overall perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the device main body. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how a microphone is attached. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a list of spoken phrases.

Figure 1 shows an external view of a preferred embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows its functional block diagram, Figure 3 shows the microphone installation state, and Figure 4 and subsequent figures show the operation. As shown in Figure 1, the navigation device comprises a portable device body 2 that can be carried around, and a cradle 3 that is an attachment member for holding it. By mounting the device body 2 on the cradle 3, it functions as a navigation device for use in a vehicle, and by removing it from the cradle 3, it functions as a portable navigation device (PND). In this embodiment, the device body 2 is detachable from the cradle 3, and can be installed together with the cradle 3 on the dashboard of a vehicle and used, or the device body 2 can be removed from the cradle 3 and used as a portable type (PND). The device body 2 is attached detachably to the cradle 3.

The device body 2 includes a flat rectangular case body 4. A display unit 5 is disposed on the front of the case body 4, and a touch panel 8 is provided on the display unit 5 to detect which part of the display unit 5 has been touched, and warning lamps 9 are provided on both sides of the front. The cradle 3 includes a cradle body 6 that holds the device body 2, and a base 7 that supports the cradle body 6 in any position at a predetermined position (dashboard, etc.) in the vehicle cabin. The base 7 is fixed to the dashboard or the like by a suction cup provided on the bottom surface. The base 7 and the cradle body 6 are connected to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range via a connecting mechanism such as a ball joint. Because of the ball joint, the base 7 and the cradle body 6 can rotate within any angle range in three dimensions relative to each other, and the frictional resistance at the joint portion keeps the position at any angle position. Therefore, the device body 2 attached to the cradle body 6 can also be placed in any position on the dashboard.

Furthermore, one side of the case body 4 is provided with a slot 21 for an SD memory card, into which an SD memory card 22 containing map data and the like is inserted.

Furthermore, the side surface of the case body 4 on which the SD memory card slot 21 is provided is provided with an external microphone connection terminal 10, to which a cord from a microphone 25 shown in Fig. 3 is connected. The control unit 18 has a voice recognition function that recognizes voice signals from the microphone 25 and realizes various functions.
In order to perform good voice recognition, the microphone 25 is attached to a column cover or the like, and is not attached too far away from the driver. The microphone 25 is attached in a position that does not obstruct the view of the meter and does not interfere with driving operations. If the microphone 25 is attached near the vehicle speaker or in a position where noise, wind noise, etc. are generated, it becomes difficult to pick up voices, so the microphone 25 is attached in a position that is not near the vehicle speaker or in a position where noise, wind noise, etc. are generated. After thoroughly wiping off dirt, oil, moisture, etc. from the attachment surface, the bottom of the microphone 25 is attached and fixed with double-sided tape. The cord from the microphone 25 is fixed with a cord clip or the like, so that it is attached so as not to interfere with driving operations.

A DC jack is provided on the back (not shown). The DC jack is for connecting a cigarette plug cord (not shown) to the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket so that the device can receive power. A battery (not shown) is provided inside the case body 4, and the battery is charged with power supplied from the DC jack. If power is no longer supplied from the DC jack, the device can operate using the power charged in the battery.

A USB terminal 23 is provided on the side opposite the SD memory card slot 21. This USB terminal 23 can be used to connect to a PC and perform software application updates, etc.

The top surface of the case body 4 is provided with a switch 24. The switch 24 comprises three buttons, 24a, 24b, and 24c from the left. Button 24a is a MODE button, button 24b is a Lei button, and button 24c is a power switch. The functions of the MODE button and Lei button will be explained in detail later.

The following devices and components are arranged inside the case body 4. That is, a microwave receiver 11 is arranged inside the rear side of the case body 4. The microwave receiver 11 receives microwaves of a specific frequency band, and when microwaves of the set frequency band are received, it detects the signal level of the received microwaves. Specifically, it uses the RSSI voltage, which is the signal level and corresponds to the electric field strength. The above-mentioned specific frequency band is, for example, a frequency band that includes the frequency of microwaves emitted from a vehicle speed measurement device.

A GPS receiver 12 that receives GPS signals and determines the current location is located inside the top side of the case body 4. An infrared communication device 14 is located inside the front side of the case body 4. The infrared communication device 14 transmits and receives data to and from a communication device that has a built-in infrared communication device, such as a mobile phone 15. A speaker 20 is also built into the case body 4.

The device of this embodiment further includes a wireless receiver 13 and a remote control receiver 16. The wireless receiver 13 receives incoming wireless signals of a specific frequency. The remote control receiver 16 communicates data with a remote control (portable device: child device) 17 and performs various settings for the device. The wireless receiver 13 receives incoming wireless signals of a specific frequency band. This specific frequency can be, for example, the wireless frequency band used by an emergency vehicle when notifying a base station of its own position.

The navigation device of this embodiment has a navigation function, as well as a target notification function as a target notification device that notifies the driver of targets such as vehicle speed measuring devices and other traffic monitoring points that exist in the vicinity. These navigation and target notification functions are stored in the EEPROM of control unit 18 as programs executed by the computer in control unit 18, and are realized by the computer in control unit 18 executing these programs. Unless otherwise specified below, the processes described are performed by executing the programs executed by the computer in control unit 18.

That is, the control unit 18 executes a predetermined process based on information input from the various input devices (GPS receiver 12, microwave receiver 11, wireless receiver 13, touch panel 8, switch 24, microphone 25, infrared communication device 14, remote control receiver 16, SD memory card slot 21, USB terminal 23, etc.) and outputs predetermined information, warnings, and messages using output devices (display unit 5, warning lamp 9, speaker 20, infrared communication device 14, SD memory card slot 21, USB terminal 23, etc.). This predetermined process is for executing each of the above functions, and accesses the database 19 and SD memory card 22 as necessary.

Here, the database 19 is a non-volatile memory (for example, an EEPROM) externally attached to the microcomputer of the control unit 18. At the time of shipment, certain landmarks, maps, and other information required to execute each function are registered in the database 19, and data on landmarks added later can be updated through a specified process. This updating process can be performed, for example, by inserting an SD memory card storing the additional data into the SD memory card slot unit 21 and transferring the data from the SD memory card to the database 19. This data updating can also be performed using the infrared communication device 7, or a personal computer or other external device connected via the USB terminal 23.

The control unit 18 for implementing the target notification function operates as follows. That is, when the microwave receiver 11 receives the desired microwaves, the control unit 18 outputs a predetermined alarm. This alarm can be a buzzer using the speaker 20, a voice output to notify the reception of microwaves (detection by a vehicle speed measuring device, etc.), or a message output in the form of text or an image using the display unit 5.

The control unit 18 also outputs a predetermined alarm when the wireless receiver 13 receives a desired radio signal. This alarm can be a buzzer using the speaker 20, a voice output to notify the reception of microwave signals (such as the approach of an emergency vehicle), or a message output in the form of text or an image using the display unit 5. It is preferable that the alarm associated with this radio signal reception and the alarm associated with the microwave signal reception be in different forms.

The control unit 18 also has a GPS alarm function that outputs a predetermined alarm when the current position detected by the GPS receiver 12 and the position of a target such as a traffic monitoring point stored in the database 19 are in a predetermined positional relationship. Therefore, the database 19 contains information about the target to be detected (target position information including longitude and latitude, target type information, etc.), traffic safety information such as accident-prone areas and traffic crackdown information to drive more carefully and safely, and landmarks and various information useful for driving. Each piece of information is registered in association with the specific type of information (type of target, type of traffic crackdown, accident-prone areas, landmark name, etc.) and the position information.

The distance to the target when issuing an alarm is stored for each type of target, and the alarm is issued based on the stored distance. As for the mode of the alarm, there are alarms by voice using the speaker 20 and alarms using the display unit 5, as described above. FIG. 3 shows an example of an alarm by the display unit 5. In this embodiment, since the device is a navigation device and has map data as described later, the control unit 18 has a function of reading road network information around the current position and displaying a map around the current position on the display unit 5 as a basic screen. Then, on the display unit 5, a warning screen is displayed superimposed on the currently displayed screen (here, the map around the current position). For example, when the map is displayed, if the distance between the current position and the LH system, which is a type of speed measuring device that is one of the traffic monitoring points, becomes 500 m, a warning screen indicating this is displayed, and audio data stored in the database 19 is reproduced to output from the speaker 20 an alarm voice indicating the type of alarm and the distance, such as "LH system 500 m ahead."

On the other hand, the control unit 18 for implementing the navigation function operates as follows. First, the database 19 stores road network information for navigation. The information for navigation stored in this database 19 may store all information for the entire country at the time of shipment, or map data etc. may be provided for each region stored on the SD memory card 22, and the user may prepare an SD memory card storing the necessary map data etc. and insert it into the SD memory card slot unit 21 for use. The map data etc. stored in the SD memory card 22 may be transferred to and stored in the database 19, or the control unit 18 may access the SD memory card 22 and read it from there for use.

The control unit 18 has the function of reading road network information around the current location from the database 19, and displaying a map of the area around the current location on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 can use this road network information to search for a route from one location to another. The database 19 also includes a telephone number database that stores telephone numbers in association with the location information and names of homes, businesses, facilities, etc. that correspond to those telephone numbers, and an address database that stores addresses in association with the location information of those addresses. The database 19 also stores the location information of traffic monitoring points such as speed measuring devices along with their types.

The control unit 18 also has a function of performing general navigation device processing. That is, the control unit 18 displays a map of the area around the current position on the display unit 5 at all times and displays a destination setting button. When the control unit 18 detects a press on a position corresponding to the display position of the destination setting button by the touch panel 8, the control unit 18 performs a destination setting process. In the destination setting process, a destination setting menu is displayed on the display unit 5, and the user is prompted to select a destination setting method. The destination setting menu has a phone number search button and an address search button that prompt the user to select a destination setting method. When the control unit 18 detects that the phone number search button has been pressed, the control unit 18 displays a phone number input screen, and acquires location information corresponding to the input phone number from the database 19. When the control unit 18 detects that the address search button has been pressed, the control unit 18 displays an address selection input screen, and acquires location information corresponding to the input address from the database 19. The control unit 18 then sets the acquired location information as the location information of the destination, and calculates a recommended route from the current position to the destination based on the road network information stored in the database 19. A known method such as the Dijkstra algorithm can be used to calculate this recommended route.

The control unit 18 then displays the calculated recommended route together with a map of the surrounding area. For example, the route from the current position to the destination is displayed as the recommended route in a predetermined color (e.g., red). This is similar to a typical navigation system. In this embodiment, the control unit 18 compares the position information on the route 53 with the position information of landmarks such as traffic monitoring points stored in the database 19, and displays the positions of the traffic monitoring points and the like located on the route 53.

This navigation device has a Lei mode and a YERA mode as shown in FIG. 4. The YERA mode is a mode in which guidance and other notifications are given in the same way as in a normal navigation device. On the other hand, the Lei mode is a mode in which guidance and other notifications are given using character animation and the character's voice. The girl character displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 4 will hereinafter be referred to as Lei. Each time the control unit 18 detects a press of the MODE button, it displays the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4, and if OK is touched, it switches between the YERA mode and the Lei mode as shown in FIG. 4. If CANCEL is touched, the current mode is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this navigation device, when the control unit 18 detects that the Lei button is pressed, it displays the Lei Menu. The Lei Menu is a screen on which various settings in the Lei mode are made by detecting touches to buttons displayed on the screen.

Lei Menu is a screen for setting the settings items shown in circles 1 to 8 in Figure 5. The current settings are highlighted (shown in gray in the figure).

The part indicated by circle 1 in Figure 5 is the part where the user can select and set whether or not to display auxiliary illustrations during route guidance, as shown in Figure 6. If set to "Display with priority," auxiliary illustrations such as enlarged intersection views will be displayed during route guidance. If set to "Do not display with priority," Lei will remain displayed even during route guidance. If a touch on Lei is detected during guidance, the auxiliary illustrations will be displayed, and if a touch on the screen switch is detected, the screen will switch.

In this way, the device is equipped with a display unit 5, a touch panel 8, and a navigation function, and has a function for allowing the user to select whether to display an image of a character speaking, or to display auxiliary illustrations such as enlarged views provided by the navigation function. As a result of this selection, when the setting is set to "no priority display" and the character image is set to be displayed, and a touch is detected on the character image, the device has a function for displaying auxiliary illustrations such as enlarged views provided by the navigation function instead of the character image. In this way, the user can experience the atmosphere of having a character speak, and an enlarged view can be easily displayed when necessary. This is particularly effective for systems with relatively small screens, such as this navigation device.

The area indicated by circle 2 in Figure 5 is where you can select and set the method for starting voice recognition, as shown in Figure 6. When set to "Button," voice recognition starts when a touch on the "Voice Recognition" button on the navigation screen (for example, on the map screen) is detected. When set to "Button Voice," voice recognition starts when the "Voice Recognition" button is touched or the activation phrase is voice recognized.

The part indicated by circle 3 in Figure 5 is the part for setting the level of voice recognition judgment, as shown in Figure 7. "Loose" is a setting suitable for quiet places, and voice recognition is performed from a lower voice level than "Normal". "Normal" is the standard setting, and voice recognition is performed from a standard voice level. "Strict" is a setting suitable for noisy places, and voice recognition is performed from a higher voice level than "Normal".

The part indicated by circle 4 in Figure 5 is the part for setting Lei's costume as shown in Figure 7, and the part indicated by circle 5 in Figure 5 performs processing for playing recorded (stored) voice of Lei when a touch on a button is detected as shown in Figure 7. A flag is set and stored for the voice spoken by Lei for each costume as a guidance voice, etc., and only the voices for which the flag is set are played back. Therefore, each time a new voice is spoken, the number of voices played back increases.

The part indicated by circle 6 in Fig. 5, as shown in Fig. 7, ends the Lei Menu and returns to the navigation screen as shown in the upper part of Fig. 5. Similarly, when the Lei button on the top of the device is pressed, the screen returns to the navigation screen.
The portions indicated by circles 7 and 8 in FIG. 5 are buttons for playing movies stored in the database 19, as shown in FIG.
Next, the voice recognition function of the navigation device will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the voice recognition start condition is set to "button voice" in Lei Menu, voice recognition starts when a voice is spoken into the microphone or when the "voice recognition" button is touched. When it is set to "voice recognition start condition button", voice recognition starts when the "voice recognition" button on the screen is touched. Voice recognition is automatically turned off after a certain period of time has passed, and normal navigation operation is restored. If a touch on the voice cancel button is detected, voice recognition is canceled. When voice is being output (hereinafter also referred to as when Lei is speaking), no operation is accepted. It waits until the speaker finishes speaking before detecting an operation.
The voice recognition start phrase is "Re-tan, voice system start."

A part of the list of vocal phrases is shown in Figure 9. From the left, the table in Figure 9 shows a column of vocal conditions, which are events, followed by the phrase number (NO (number)), and the content of the phrase. Such a table is stored in database 19. Multiple phrases are stored for one vocal condition, and one phrase is selected at random from among the multiple phrases. MP3 format audio data is stored in a file with the file name given as the character string written in the phrase content column, and the file with that file name is selected, decoded and played, and output as sound from speaker 20.

When the voice recognition start phrase (re-tan, voice system operation) is recognized, it is determined that a voice recognition start event has occurred, and one phrase is randomly selected from the multiple phrases in the row of the speech condition "Speech recognition start" in the table of Figure 9, and is output as voice. It then waits for 30 seconds for the next voice instruction, and if the next voice recognition is not performed during these 30 seconds, it is determined that a post-sound recognition release event has occurred, and one phrase is randomly selected from the multiple phrases in the row of the speech condition "After sound recognition release" in the table of Figure 9, and is output as voice.

On the other hand, if the next voice recognition is performed during these 30 seconds, it is determined that an event corresponding to the contents of the voice recognition has occurred, and processing corresponding to that event is performed. The voice conditions below the voice condition "Home Appliances" in FIG. 9 indicate the voice conditions recognized during these 30 seconds. For example, if the voice of "Family Restaurant" which is the voice condition in FIG. 9 is recognized during these 30 seconds, one phrase is randomly selected from the multiple phrases in the "Family Restaurant" row, voice output is performed, and nearby "Family Restaurant" is searched for and displayed on the map. If the voice of "Convenience Store" or "Gas Station" is recognized, the same processing as for "Family Restaurant" is performed. Also, for example, if the voice of "Volume Down" which is the voice condition in FIG. 9 is recognized during the aforementioned 30 seconds, one phrase is randomly selected from the multiple phrases in the "Volume Down" row, voice output is performed, and the reference volume which is the system setting value is lowered. When the voice commands "Show detailed map," "Show wide area map," "Volume up," "Brightness up," or "Brightness down" are recognized, just like "Volume down," one phrase will be randomly selected from the multiple phrases on the corresponding line, output as voice, and change the system setting.

As shown in FIG. 9, when a certain event, which is a vocalization condition, is satisfied, a phrase indicating the content of the event (event content phrase) and a phrase not indicating the content of the event (non-event content phrase) are provided.

For example, the non-event content phrase includes a phrase indicating a method of starting a function using a different start function when speech recognition is not possible. As a different start function, a "Speech Recognition" button is provided on the navigation function screens in the lower part of Figure 4, Figure 5, and the lower part of Figure 6, and the next speech recognition is started when a touch on this button is detected. As a phrase indicating a method of starting a function using this different start function, as shown in No. A2 of Figure 9, a phrase indicating that speech recognition can be started by pressing a button saying "Got it. I'll start recognition. If I can't recognize it, press the button." is provided. Also, as shown in No. A5 of Figure 9, a phrase indicating that speech recognition can be started by pressing a button saying "If there is a lot of noise, I may not be able to recognize it. In that case, use the button." is provided.

By doing this, if voice recognition has failed or is about to fail, it becomes easy to start by touching the "voice recognition" button on the navigation function screen. Voice recognition can fail, and there are problems with using voice recognition to input instructions, as it is less reliable than other methods of inputting instructions.

Therefore, when the voice recognition start phrase (Re-tan, Voice System Kidou) is successfully recognized, a phrase indicating that it can also be started by touching the "Voice Recognition" button is output aloud, so this method can be understood at the start of voice recognition without having to read and understand the instruction manual beforehand. Also, because this method can be understood at the start of voice recognition, if the next voice recognition fails or if recognition is not successful within the aforementioned 30 seconds, voice recognition can be started smoothly, easily, and more reliably by touching the "Voice Recognition" button.

In addition, as non-event content phrases, phrases indicating the possibility of speech recognition failure are provided. For example, as shown in No. A3 of FIG. 9, a phrase such as "I heard that speech recognition is quite difficult. Recognition may fail," and as shown in No. A4 of FIG. 9, a phrase such as "I can only recognize a few words. Sorry." are provided. In particular, as in this example, an apology phrase is also provided. In this way, it is possible to inform the user in advance that speech recognition is not reliable.

Furthermore, as non-event content phrases, phrases related to limitations of voice recognition are provided. For example, as shown in No. A6 of FIG. 9, the phrase "Recognized. The time limit is 30 seconds." is provided. This makes it possible to encourage the user to speak in accordance with the limitations of voice recognition. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of voice recognition.

Next, the phrases for the utterance condition "After speech recognition is cancelled" in FIG. 9 will be explained. As a non-event content phrase for the utterance condition "After speech recognition is cancelled", a phrase indicating the possibility of speech recognition failure is provided. For example, as shown in No. B3 in FIG. 9, the phrase "Sorry I couldn't hear you 100%. Speech recognition is surprisingly difficult. What an excuse." is provided. It is particularly good to make this a phrase of further apology, as in this example. This contributes to reducing the user's irritation when speech recognition fails.

Next, the phrases output when speech phrases for searching for nearby facilities such as "convenience store," "gas station," and "family restaurant" in FIG. 9 are recognized will be described. For example, as a phrase for the speech condition "family restaurant," a phrase such as "I'll go to the family restaurant with you. It can run on batteries." is provided. This navigation device can be removed from the cradle 3 and taken outside the vehicle and run on batteries, and as a non-event content phrase, this phrase has the phrase "It can run on batteries," which indicates that the system can be taken outside the vehicle. In this way, when there is a voice instruction to a family restaurant, which is a place outside the vehicle where the navigation device can be taken, the user can be made aware that the navigation device can be taken outside the vehicle. For example, it is possible to make the user aware that the navigation device can be taken to a family restaurant. Even if the instruction manual or the like states that the navigation device can be used outside the vehicle, many users do not read the instruction manual in the first place and do not know that the navigation device can be used outside the vehicle. Even if they know this, they can be made aware of this fact again when the navigation device is given, which makes them want to take the navigation device outside the vehicle and try using it at the place instructed to take it.

Next, we will explain the phrases that are output when speech recognition is used to recognize spoken phrases that change system settings, such as "map detail display," "map wide area display," "volume up," "volume down," "brightness up," and "brightness down" in Figure 9.

For example, the phrase for the vocalization condition "Turn down the volume" is provided with a phrase indicating that the state of the setting value before the command to change the setting value was possibly not good. For example, as shown in No. L1 of FIG. 9, the phrase "Was it a bit too loud?" is provided. Also, for example, the phrase for the vocalization condition "Turn down the brightness" is provided with a phrase indicating that the state of the setting value before the command to change the setting value was possibly not good. For example, as shown in No. N3 of FIG. 9, the phrase "Hmm, maybe it was too bright." is provided. This makes it possible to suppress the user's irritation caused by the setting value being inappropriate.

It is also preferable to have the following functions: The scale of the map displayed on the display unit 5 can be 10m (meters), 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 500m, 1km, 2.5km, 5km, and 10km. As described above, the relative change recognition words include "map detail display" and "map wide area display", and the absolute change recognition words include "10m", "25m", "50m", "100m", "200m", "500m", "1km", "2.5km", "5km", and "10km". When "map detail display" is recognized by voice, the map scale is changed to a map scale one step more detailed than the current scale, and when "map wide area display" is recognized by voice, the map scale is changed to a map scale one step wider than the current scale and displayed. When any of the absolute change recognition words is recognized, the map scale is changed to the map scale of the recognized word and displayed. For example, if the scale of the currently displayed map is "1 km" and "map detail display" is recognized, the scale will be changed to "500 m", if "map wide area display" is recognized, the scale will be changed to "2.5 km", and if "25 meters" is recognized, the scale will be changed to "25 meters". In this way, the setting value can be changed relatively by voice recognition, and the value can be changed directly to an absolute value. Similarly, it is a good idea to set a generated phrase that changes the volume and brightness to an absolute value, and when that generated phrase is recognized, the setting will be changed to that absolute value.

Furthermore, for the voice output of route guidance, the navigation device includes an event that occurs when the current position is 1 km away from the intersection where the route turns right as an event with a relatively distant approach state, and a phrase for this event that includes a non-event content phrase such as "There is a right turn in 1 km, so if there are many lanes, move to the right now." On the other hand, an event that occurs when the current position is 300 m away from the intersection where the route turns right as an event with a relatively close approach state, and a phrase for this event that does not include the non-event content phrase such as "There is a right turn in 300 meters." In this way, it is clear that an event indicating the approach to the intersection where the route turns right has occurred 300 m before the right turn point where the approach state is relatively close, and it is possible to attract interest in the event indicating the approach to the intersection where the route turns right 1 km before the right turn point where the approach state is relatively distant. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the problem of, for example, passing the target due to being distracted by the non-event content phrase when the approach state is relatively close at 300 m.

In addition, when the current position is 1 km away from an intersection where a right turn occurs on the route, the previously mentioned 7-second phrase "There is a right turn in 1 km, so if there are many lanes, move to the right now" is output as voice, and when 700 m away, the previously mentioned 5-second phrase "There is a right turn in 700 meters, will you do as I say?" is output as voice, and when 300 m away, the previously mentioned 3-second phrase "It will turn right in 300 meters" is output, and just before (for example, 50 m away), the 2-second phrase "It will be a right turn soon" is output. In this way, for example, the problem of passing the target while the voice is being output at a point just before an event where the approach is relatively close can be solved, and when the event is 1 km away and the approach is relatively far, the longer phrase can be used to attract the user's interest.

In this way, it is possible to prevent passing by this right turn point, and it is more interesting than conventional voice output of event content phrases.

Furthermore, this navigation device has been designed with special attention to the phrases that are output by voice in the GPS warning function mentioned above. When 2 km before a radar-type speed camera, the phrase "A speed camera has been spotted within a 2 km radius. It is radar type" is output by voice. In this way, it is equipped with phrases that indicate the type of target, and after outputting a voice of a phrase containing the type of target, it continues by outputting a voice containing a word or phrase about a more specific type within that type. In this way, even a user who has no knowledge of the specific type "radar type" can easily understand that the target is an "speed camera." Also, it can recognize the presence of the target "speed camera" sooner than a user who has knowledge of the specific type.

For example, when 2 km ahead of an LH system speed camera, the system is controlled to output the following phrase in audio: "2 km ahead, LH system. Here's some fun fact about speed cameras. LH stands for loop coil H system." In this way, the system is equipped with a phrase that includes an abbreviation, and is controlled to output a voice of the phrase that includes the abbreviation, followed by a phrase explaining the meaning of the abbreviation. In this way, the content of the abbreviation can be conveyed more quickly to users who are knowledgeable about the abbreviation, and users who are knowledgeable about the abbreviation can easily understand what the content indicated by the abbreviation is.

For example, a phrase indicating the type of target may be "It's an N system," and a phrase indicating that the target is a different type that may be confused with the target may be "It's not an ORBIS," and when the N system is 500m away, these are output as "It's an N system. It's not an ORBIS." In this way, the system is configured to have a phrase indicating the type of target, output audio of a phrase including the target type, and then output audio including a phrase indicating that the target is a different type that may be confused with the target. This can prevent misidentification and confusion of target types.

As described above, this navigation device is a system that controls audio output to the vehicle driver when a certain event occurs. When a specific event occurs, the system controls audio output to output a phrase (called a non-event content phrase) that is not a phrase indicating the content of the event (called an event content phrase).

In this way, when an event occurs, a phrase that does not indicate the content of the event is output as sound. This makes it difficult to understand what event has occurred, or if the event occurs at the user's command or the user is able to understand the content of the event, the non-event content phrase may be amusing or make the user want to comment, for example. By outputting a phrase that does not indicate the content of the event as sound, it can actually attract interest in the event.

In this embodiment, the configuration for outputting a phrase as voice is such that audio data of the phrase is stored in a storage unit such as database 19 and the voice data is played back to output the voice, but for example, the phrase may be stored as a character string in a storage unit such as database 19, and the control unit 18 may synthesize a voice corresponding to the character string to output the voice.

In addition, at least a portion of the functions realized by the control unit 18 may be performed by, for example, a server, and the control unit 18 in the vehicle may control the output of voice based on information obtained from the server via communication.
In this embodiment, a phrase is provided for each type of event, one phrase is selected from a plurality of phrases provided for one event, and control is performed to output the selected phrase as a voice when the specified event occurs, and at least one of the plurality of phrases includes the non-event content phrase.

In this way, phrases including non-event content phrases are output as audio when the event occurs. Therefore, by outputting phrases that do not indicate the content of the event, it is more likely to draw attention to the event.

In particular, a phrase is provided for each type of event, one phrase is selected from among a plurality of phrases provided for one event, and control is performed to output the selected phrase as sound when the specified event occurs, the event content phrase is provided as at least one of the plurality of phrases provided for the one event, and a non-event content phrase is provided as at least one of the plurality of phrases provided for the one event.

Therefore, for one event, the audio of a non-event content phrase is sometimes output to attract interest, and at other times the audio of the event content phrase is output to allow the content of the event to be confirmed, which is a remarkable effect. For example, the content of the event can be confirmed while preventing monotony. Note that an event having a phrase including a non-event content phrase may be one type of event, but may be multiple types of events as in this embodiment, and more preferably, may be all types of events.

The phrases in this embodiment include a configuration that controls the continuous output of audio based on the event content phrase and the non-event content phrase when a specific event occurs, such as "I recognized you. The time limit is 30 seconds." Therefore, by listening to the audio of the event content phrase, the content of the event can be learned, and by listening to the audio of the non-event content phrase, interest can be maintained.

Furthermore, the phrases in FIG. 9 are used only for notifications in the Lei mode, and in the YERA mode, phrases used in general navigation devices that are different from the phrases in FIG. 9 stored in the database 19 are used. And, by switching between the YERA mode and the Lei mode by detecting a switch operation or the like as described above, the set of phrases for each type of event is switched all at once.

2 Device body 3 Cradle 4 Case body 5 Display unit 6 Cradle body 7 Base unit 8 Touch panel 9 Alarm lamp 11 Microwave receiver 12 GPS receiver 13 Wireless receiver 18 Control unit 19 Database 20 Speaker 21 Slot unit for SD memory card 22 SD memory card

Claims (4)

The device has a voice recognition function, a function started by the voice recognition, and a function for starting the function started by the voice recognition by a method other than the voice recognition (referred to as another start function),
A system characterized in that, when an event to start the voice recognition occurs, a voice based on a phrase indicating how to start a function using the separate start function is output together with a phrase indicating that the voice recognition is to be started. The device has a voice recognition function, a function started by the voice recognition, and a function for starting the function started by the voice recognition by a method other than the voice recognition (referred to as another start function),
The system is characterized in that, when an event to start the voice recognition occurs, a voice based on a phrase indicating how to start a function using the separate start function is output , along with a phrase indicating that recognition may not be possible if the noise is large. The device has a voice recognition function, a function started by the voice recognition, and a function for starting the function started by the voice recognition by a method other than the voice recognition (referred to as another start function),
The system is characterized in that, when an event for starting the speech recognition occurs, a speech based on a phrase indicating a method for starting a function using the separate start function is output together with a phrase indicating understanding . A program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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