JP2002374217A - Guide system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a guide system, by which users can quickly obtain desired guide information when desiring it and a visually or audibly disabled elderly person or a physically disabled person can readily obtain accurate guide information, even when they use the system. SOLUTION: A guide information transmitter 10a always transmits traveler guide information associated with railways in a way of a specified low-power radio wave to an area A, in which the guide information transmitter 10a is installed. A guide device 14 receives radio waves from the guide information transmitter 10a and displays an image on its display section, so as to enable the person above to quickly obtain desired guide information. In the case that the transmitter 10a transmits a plurality of guide information items using different frequencies f1, f2 at the same time in parallel, the people above change the reception frequency of the guide device 14, to selectively obtain desired guide information in the same area. Since the guide device 14 is provided with both an image guide function and a voice guide function, visually or audibly disabled elderly people or physically handicapped people can readily obtain accurate guide information, even when they use the system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a guidance system, and more particularly, to a guidance system in which effective guidance information in a predetermined area is wirelessly transmitted to the area and received by a guidance apparatus. Information system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, at exhibition halls, etc., the contents of the exhibition are guided to visitors, and for users of transportation such as railways and aircraft, the boarding (boarding) time and train name (flight name) are used. Or transfer information. The provision of such guidance information has been performed only in a fixed place where many users can see and hear. In the example of the exhibition hall described above, guidance boards are provided near each exhibit, and explanations and guidance information on the exhibit are written on each board, and audio guidance is provided by speakers etc. I was
In addition, in the above-mentioned example of transportation, bulletin boards displaying timetables, transfer information, etc. are provided in various places in the station yard and airport lobby, and especially when time is approaching, important information Voice guidance was given by announcements on the premises.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional guide system, since the guide information is displayed in characters on a bulletin board, the user who wants to know the desired guide information can read the corresponding guide information. There was a problem that he had to go to the bulletin board where the information was written.
In particular, if you do not know on which bulletin board the desired guidance information is written, or if you do not know the location of the bulletin board itself, you must start by searching for the bulletin board, and obtain the desired guidance information easily and quickly. Was difficult. Also,
In the case of voice guidance, if many pieces of information are sent simultaneously and in parallel, all of them will not be heard, so it is necessary to carefully select the information content and provide guidance one by one, without waiting for the desired information to flow However, there is a problem that desired guidance information is not always obtained even when waiting. Furthermore, since some of the users include the elderly and the disabled who are blind or deaf, such users may only use one of the bulletin boards and voice guidance, If the position or the volume of the voice guidance is not appropriate, there is a problem that the information is not accurately transmitted even when the guidance is performed. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can be quickly obtained when desired guide information is obtained. Even when used by elderly or disabled people who are blind or deaf, accurate guide information can be obtained. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a guidance system that can be easily obtained.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a guide system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a guide information transmitting apparatus for wirelessly transmitting guide information effective in a predetermined area into the area. A portable guidance device that receives guidance information wirelessly transmitted from the guidance information transmission device and provides guidance, and a person carrying the guidance device is provided in a predetermined area where the guidance information transmission device is installed. By entering necessary information in the area. According to this, the guide information transmitting device wirelessly transmits effective guide information in a predetermined area to the area, and the guide device receives the guide information wirelessly transmitted from the guide information transmitting device to perform guidance, The required guide information can be easily obtained simply by the person carrying the guide device entering the predetermined area where the guide information transmitting device is installed. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the guidance system according to the first aspect, the guide information transmitting device and the guide device exchange guide information using a specific low-power radio wave. And According to this, since the guide information transmitting device and the guide device exchange the guide information using the specific low-power radio wave, there is no need to obtain a license for use, and the guide information receiving range is fixed. Since it is limited to the area, it is possible to flow different guidance information for each place.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the guidance system according to the first or second aspect, the guidance device is capable of performing image guidance of the guidance information using characters, symbols, graphics, or the like. Unit, an utterance unit capable of providing audio guidance of the guidance information from a speaker, an earphone, or the like, and providing guidance using one or both of the display unit and the utterance unit can be preset. And a simple guide means setting unit. According to this, the guidance device includes a display unit that displays guidance information in an image using characters, symbols, graphics, or the like, and an utterance unit that provides guidance of the guidance information by voice. Since the guidance can be set in advance by using the utterance part or both, even for the elderly and the disabled who are blind or deaf, it is possible to freely select the means of transmitting the guidance information according to the user. Can be used. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the guide system according to any one of the first to third aspects, a plurality of types of guide information are transmitted using different frequency bands in an area where the guide information transmitting device is installed. If you are transmitting wirelessly in parallel,
The guide device includes a frequency switching unit that can selectively receive desired information by switching a reception frequency, and a reception frequency setting unit that can preset a reception frequency by the frequency switching unit. It is further characterized by being provided. According to this, when the guide information transmitting apparatus is transmitting a plurality of types of guide information wirelessly in parallel using different frequency bands, the frequency switching unit of the guide apparatus switches the reception frequency to obtain the desired information. Can be selectively received, and the reception frequency is set in advance by the reception frequency setting unit by the reception frequency setting unit, so that a plurality of pieces of guidance information can be simultaneously transmitted in parallel even in the area where the guidance information transmission device is installed. It is possible for the user to select desired information for this, and to use the common frequency band when transmitting the related guide information in the guide information transmitting device of each area. Then, by simply setting the frequency of the required guidance information in the reception frequency setting unit of the guidance device, the required guidance information is always obtained even if the user moves to another area. Door can be. For example, when a person who uses the down line of the railway moves on a train, if the frequency band for performing the down line train guidance is set in advance, the guidance information transmitting device installed in each train or each station can transmit the information. It is always possible to receive only the train information on the down line. The invention described in claim 5 is the third invention.
In the guidance system described in Item 4, the display unit of the guidance device can display a plurality of pieces of guidance information by dividing a display area into a plurality of areas or periodically switching display contents. And According to this,
Whether the display area of the display unit of the guidance device is divided into multiple display areas,
Since a plurality of pieces of guidance information can be displayed by periodically switching display contents, different information can be displayed separately or a large amount of information can be displayed on the display unit.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of an example of a guidance system that provides passengers with respect to a train user about train departure / arrival times and transfers. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a guidance system according to the present embodiment. The guide system shown in FIG. 1 is provided with guide information transmitting devices 10a and 10b for wirelessly transmitting guide information, and here performs wireless transmission using specific low-power radio waves from the antennas 12a and 12b. For this reason, the reachable distance of the radio wave is short, and the receivable range is limited to a certain area (such as the area A and the area B shown by the broken line). Therefore, as shown in FIG. If the guide information transmitting devices 10a and 10b are installed apart from each other so as not to overlap, different guide information can be provided without interference even if the frequencies are the same. A guidance device 1 that receives guidance information transmitted by a guidance information transmitting device and provides guidance.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a portable terminal having a communication unit capable of receiving a specific low-power radio wave. The user carries the guide device 14 and is in a place where the guide information is required (for example, at a platform of a station or at a ticket gate at a station where a transfer is made) and enters the area A of the guide information transmitting device 10a. Thus, effective guidance information can be obtained in the area A (see FIG. 1). In addition, the user holds the guide device 14 and
When the user moves in the direction and enters the area B of the guide information transmitting apparatus 10b, effective guide information can be obtained in the area B. FIG. 2 is an external view of the guide device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide device 14 includes a display unit 20 of a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays the received guide information in characters, symbols, graphics, or the like, and an utterance unit that guides the received guide information by voice. The voice guidance setting button 24 and the image guidance setting button 26 as guidance means setting units for selecting between the image guidance by the display unit 20 and the voice guidance by the utterance unit are displayed on the display unit 20. A cursor key 28 for selecting a menu screen or the like. Also,
When a plurality of pieces of guidance information are wirelessly transmitted from the guidance information transmitting apparatus 10a of FIG. 1 at different frequencies (f1, f2), the guidance apparatus 14 can set a reception frequency in advance on the guidance apparatus side. It has frequency setting buttons 30 to 36 as a frequency setting unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the guide device of FIG. As shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a communication unit 40 capable of performing transmission / reception processing of guidance information by a specific low-power radio wave via the antenna 16 and capable of switching a reception frequency;
4, an input operation unit 42 including an image guidance setting button 26, a cursor key 28, or a frequency setting button 30 to 36, a ROM (read only memory) 44 storing a basic program of the guidance device 14, etc. RAM for temporarily storing parameters, setting data, etc.
(Random access memory) 46, the above-described utterance unit 22 and display unit 20, and a CPU 48 for controlling the operation of the guide device 14. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display on the display unit of the guidance device. Here, the display unit is divided into two parts, upper and lower parts, and the upper part is used as a train guidance display and the lower part is used as a commercial display. Has been done. The character data for the lower commercial display can be displayed using the data sent together with the train information from the nearest guide information transmitting device 10a.
Of course, the data may be transmitted not from the guidance information transmitting device 10a but from a transmitting device installed exclusively for commercial display.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that a user (not shown) carries the guide device 14 and gets on a train, and changes trains at a station on the way. First, a fixed area around the guide information transmitting apparatus 10a is area A. If this area is assumed to be the platform of the station A, the guide information transmitting apparatus 10a always outputs passenger guide information on the railway by a specific low-power radio wave. Has been sent. When the guide device 14 receives the radio wave from the guide information transmitting device 10a and displays the image, an passenger guide menu is displayed on the display unit 20, as shown in FIG. Here, when the user selects the menu screen using the cursor keys 28 and presses the execution button at the center, the CP shown in FIG.
U48 is controlled to change the receiving frequency so that U48 receives the guide information of the selected menu.

In the example of FIG. 2, after selecting the "JR" menu, several menu screens are selected to display a train timetable at a predetermined JR station as shown in FIG.
0 can be displayed in the upper row. By viewing the train guidance display displayed on the display unit 20, the user can accurately know the time of the train to be boarded and the boarding platform. In addition, even when the train schedule is disturbed due to weather, an accident, or the like, the latest train operation status can be confirmed on the display unit 20. In addition, since the lower part of the display unit 20 can perform the commercial display as shown in FIG. 4, when the commercial-displayed product is located in a nearby vending machine, the advertisement / advertising effect is large. Thus, if the commercial display can be performed in parallel with the guidance information, the advertisement system can be used to spread the guidance system, and the business can be developed in cooperation with a company. This lower part is not limited to the commercial display, and can be used as a display space for other guidance information. further,
If the user operates the guidance device 14 at the platform of the station A and selects a frequency different from the above, various guidance information can be extracted. For example, it is possible to freely browse not only the timetable for the downbound route but also the data such as the timetable for the upbound route and transfer guidance. Next, assuming that the user gets on the train and gets off at the platform of Station B, which is a certain area around the location where the guide information transmitting device 10b is installed, the user is transmitted from the guide information transmitting device 10b. From the passenger guidance information, a menu relating to the transfer guidance is selected, and the guidance information relating thereto is received and displayed on the display unit 20. The user can change trains accurately based on this transfer guidance information.

Of course, the above-described guide information is not only displayed on the display unit 20, but also provided by the speaker 22a and the earphone 22b.
For example, it is also possible to perform voice guidance by outputting voice to the user. Whether voice guidance, image guidance, or both guidances are desired can be freely selected by pressing the voice guidance setting button 24 or the image guidance setting button 26 (see FIG. 2) of the guidance device 14. Such selection of the guide means is convenient because the means for transmitting necessary guide information can be limited when used by the elderly or the handicapped who are blind or deaf. In addition, even if the guidance information provided at each station is different, related information such as upbound and downbound directions can be sent from the guidance information transmission device using the same frequency, so that you can get on the downbound train The user can set the reception frequency in advance by using the frequency setting buttons 30 to 36 so that only the specific frequency is received at the boarding station, so that the user can always select the desired guidance without having to select each one on the menu screen. Information can be continuously received.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, each time the user carrying the guide device 14 enters the area where the guide information transmitting device 10 is installed, the user can select a menu, Since the guide information of the frequency set in advance is selected and the data is taken in, the guide information related to each area can be easily and quickly obtained at each destination. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the guidance information is displayed on the display unit 20 of the guidance device 14 is described as an example in which the screen is divided into a plurality of screens (here, two screens are divided vertically). , A plurality of pieces of guidance information may be displayed by periodically switching the display screen. When the screen is switched manually at this time, the cursor may be switched arbitrarily by using the cursor key 28 or the switching of the screen may be stopped by pressing the central execution button. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which specific low-power radio waves are used when wirelessly transmitting guidance information in a certain area. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Can be used.
For example, it is of course possible to use a specification related to short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth.

[0012]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the guide information transmitting apparatus wirelessly transmits effective guide information in a predetermined area to the area, and the guide apparatus transmits the guide information to the guide information transmitting apparatus. Since the guide information is transmitted wirelessly from the user and guidance is provided, a person carrying the guide device can easily obtain necessary guide information only by entering a predetermined area where the guide information transmitting device is installed. . According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the guide information transmitting device and the guide device exchange the guide information using the specific low-power radio wave, there is no need to obtain a license for using the guide information transmitting device and the guide device. Since the information receiving range is limited to a certain area, it is possible to flow different guidance information for each location. According to the invention described in claim 3, the guide device includes a display unit that displays the guide information as an image using characters, symbols, or graphics, and a voice unit that guides the guide information by voice,
Furthermore, since the guidance means setting unit can be set in advance to provide guidance using the display unit, the utterance unit, or both,
Even an elderly person or a handicapped person who is blind or deaf can freely select and use a guide information transmitting means according to the user.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the guide information transmitting apparatus transmits a plurality of types of guide information wirelessly in parallel using different frequency bands, the information is received by the frequency switching unit of the guide apparatus. The frequency is switched so that desired information can be selectively received, and the reception frequency set by the reception frequency setting unit is set in advance by the reception frequency setting unit. It is also possible to simultaneously transmit a plurality of pieces of guidance information, and the user can select desired information in response to the guidance information. However, if a common frequency band is used, it is assumed that the user moves to another area simply by setting the frequency of the required guidance information in the reception frequency setting unit of the guidance device. It can be obtained at all times guide the necessary information. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the display area of the display unit of the guidance device is divided into a plurality of display areas, or the display content is switched periodically so that a plurality of pieces of guidance information can be displayed. Information can be displayed separately, or a lot of information can be displayed on the display unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a guidance system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a guide device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the guide device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example on a display unit of the guidance device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a, 10b guidance information transmission device, 12a, 12b antenna, 14 guidance device, 20 display unit, 22a speaker, 22b earphone, 24 voice guidance setting button, 26 image guidance setting button, 28 cursor keys, 30, 32, 34, 36 Frequency setting button, 40 communication unit, 42 input operation unit, 44 ROM, 46 RAM, 48 CPU.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A guide information transmitting apparatus for wirelessly transmitting effective guide information in a predetermined area to a relevant area, and a portable guide for receiving guide information wirelessly transmitted from the guide information transmitting apparatus and providing guidance. A guidance system, comprising: a person who carries the guidance device enters a predetermined region where the guidance information transmission device is installed, thereby obtaining necessary guidance information in the region. 2. The guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information transmitting device and the guidance device exchange guidance information using a specific low-power radio wave. 3. A display unit capable of providing image guidance of the guidance information using characters, symbols or graphics, and a voice guidance of the guidance information from a speaker, an earphone, or the like. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an utterance unit; and a guidance unit setting unit configured to set in advance guidance using one or both of the display unit and the utterance unit. Or the guidance system according to 2. 4. When a plurality of types of guidance information are wirelessly transmitted in parallel using different frequency bands in an area where the guidance information transmission device is installed, the guidance device switches a reception frequency. And a frequency switching unit capable of selectively receiving desired information in the above, and a reception frequency setting unit capable of presetting a reception frequency by the frequency switching unit. The guidance system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. A display unit of the guidance device, wherein a plurality of pieces of guidance information can be displayed by dividing a display area into a plurality of display areas or periodically switching display contents. The guidance system according to 3 or 4.