JP2002288509A - Information providing system, program and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system, a program and an information storage medium capable of providing the proper information in accordance with circumstances. SOLUTION: The information providing system is provided with a differential processing part 114 for executing the differential processing based on the imaging information from an imaging part 230 picking up an image of an audience, and the imaging data 124, a determining part 116 for determining whether specific change is generated or not based on a result of the differential processing, an information generating part 112 for generating the information for reproduction, to be reproduced by a display terminal 200 based on a result of the determination and the data for reproduction 122, and a transmitting and receiving part 190 for transmitting the information for reproduction to the display terminal 200.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information providing system, a program, and an information storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an image for explaining a product is sometimes projected and displayed at a product exhibition hall.

[0003] In such a case, the video and audio are generally fixed such that predetermined contents are automatically reproduced.

[0004] However, with fixed reproduction, the audience gets bored. In addition, if video and the like are changed by monitoring manually, it takes time and effort.

[0005] In order to solve such a problem, a method of switching the contents of video or the like at regular time intervals is considered.

However, in this method, since the reaction of the spectator is not known, the same type of information may be provided even when the response of the spectator is poor.

Further, for example, as a method of switching the images while grasping the situation, an image which is considered to have an abnormal event is automatically selected from a large number of images picked up by a camera, and the selected image is selected. Has been proposed for enlarging and displaying by using a video projector (JP-A-6-6799).

However, in such a case, the captured image is displayed as it is or only a warning image is displayed, and it cannot be said that the situation is grasped and appropriate information is provided according to the situation.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system, a program, and an information storage medium which can provide appropriate information according to a situation. .

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, an information providing system according to the present invention provides a situation grasping means for grasping a situation at the time of information provision, and a situation providing means based on situation information indicating the grasped situation. It is characterized by including a reaction grasping means for grasping a reaction to the information to be obtained, and a providing means for providing information according to the grasped reaction.

[0011] The program according to the present invention is a program usable by a computer, and includes reaction grasping means for grasping a reaction to the provided information based on situation information indicating a situation at the time of information provision. And providing means for providing information in response to the reaction.

Further, an information storage medium according to the present invention is an information storage medium usable by a computer, and includes a program for causing a computer to realize the above means.

According to the present invention, by grasping the reaction to the provided information and providing the information according to the reaction, it is possible to provide appropriate information according to the situation.

Thus, for example, it is possible to switch the video to be reproduced according to the reaction of the audience at the product exhibition hall.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the presentation effect can be further enhanced.

Further, in the information providing system, the situation grasping means includes an image taking means for taking an image of an information providing object, and the reaction grasping means grasps the reaction based on image information taken by the image taking means. May be.

[0017] In the program and the information storage medium, the reaction grasping means may be configured based on image pickup information picked up by image pickup means for picking up an information providing object.
The reaction may be grasped.

According to this, by grasping the reaction according to the imaging information, it is possible to grasp, for example, the motion of the person to whom the information is to be provided.

Further, in the information providing system, the program and the information storage medium, the reaction grasping means grasps at least one of the degree of integration and the movement of the person to whom the information is provided, and the providing means In at least one of the case where the increase or decrease of the degree of integration within a predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value and the case where the degree of movement within the predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the information to be provided is changed to information of another type. You may change and provide.

According to this, it is possible to change information to be provided when the degree of integration changes greatly or when the movement of a person is large.

For example, if the number of people increases, the information provided is attractive to the audience, and if the number of people decreases,
You can understand that the information provided is not attractive to the audience.

Thus, for example, when the number of people decreases, information of a type different from the information provided at that time is provided, or when the number of people increases too much, less attractive information is provided. By doing so, it becomes possible to adjust the number of spectators to an appropriate number.

Further, in the information providing system, the situation grasping means includes a speech inputting means for inputting a speech generated from an information providing object, and the reaction grasping means includes a speech information inputted by the speech inputting means. Based on
The reaction may be grasped.

Further, in the program and the information storage medium, the response grasping means may grasp the reaction based on voice information indicating a voice generated from an information providing object.

According to this, it is possible to grasp the reaction of the audience or the like by voice.

In the information providing system, the program, and the information storage medium, the reaction grasping means grasps the noise of the person to whom the information is to be provided, and the providing means determines the degree of the noise. When the value is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the information to be provided may be changed to another type of information and provided.

According to this, it is possible to change the information provided by grasping the noise of the audience and the like.

In the information providing system, the program, and the information storage medium, the response grasping means may be configured to determine the response based on a difference between status information at a predetermined time and status information at a time different from the time. May be grasped.

According to this, the change can be grasped by the difference.

In the information providing system, the providing means includes at least one image display device and an information distribution device that distributes image information to the image display device. The image information to be provided may be changed to another type of image information and provided in a predetermined situation based on the reaction information from the reaction grasping means.

According to this, the image displayed on the image display device can be changed according to the reaction of the audience or the like.

For example, when an image introducing a plurality of products is displayed on a plurality of image display devices, if there are too many people in front of one image display device, the display is performed on the image display device. The displayed image is displayed on another image display device, the image on the image display device is switched to another image, and the image is displayed on another image display device, so that the audience can be displayed on a plurality of image display devices. Can be dispersed.

Further, in the information providing system, the program and the information storage medium, the situation grasping means includes a means for grasping time information at the time of providing the information, and the reaction grasping means comprises: The reaction may be grasped.

According to this, for example, at what time,
By taking into account whether information is provided at time, date and time, appropriate information according to time and the like can be provided.

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to a plurality of image display devices for reproducing video and audio relating to product explanations to spectators, and information distribution for distributing information for reproducing video and the like to the image display devices. An example in which the present invention is applied to an information providing system including a device will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Explanation of the Entire System) FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a product exhibition hall according to an example of the present embodiment.

At the product exhibition hall, the audience can freely move between the four rooms of the exhibition rooms A to D via the passage.

In the exhibition rooms A to D, one display terminal 200-1 to 200-4 is set, respectively. The display terminals 200-1 to 200-4 reproduce video and audio for product description, which is a type of image display device.

The information distribution device 100 installed in the waiting room
The reproduction information for reproducing these images and the like is distributed to the display terminals 200-1 to 200-4.

In such a case, for example, the display terminal 200
Before -1, the audience gathers too much and the person in the exhibition room A cannot move, but there may be a situation where the audience is not gathered in the other exhibition room B or the like.

In such a case, information cannot be properly transmitted, and efficient presentation cannot be performed.

In this embodiment, the information distribution apparatus 1 is provided so that the information to be provided can be changed according to the situation at the time of providing the information.
00 and the display terminal 200.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a display terminal 200 according to an example of the present embodiment.

The display terminal 200 displays the image 300 using the image display unit 220, captures the audience watching the image 300 using the imaging unit 230, and outputs the voice of the audience to the voice input unit 2.
Input using the number 40.

Here, an image picked up by the image pickup section 230 will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a captured image.
FIG. 3A shows a captured image when the number of spectators is small, and FIG.
(B) is a diagram showing a captured image when there are many spectators.

When the number of spectators is small as shown in FIG.
When the spectator image area indicated by oblique lines is smaller than the background image area and there are many spectators as shown in FIG. 3B, the spectator image area indicated by oblique lines is larger than the background image area.

Therefore, the state of each exhibition room can be grasped from the captured image.

In the present embodiment, the information distribution apparatus 100 is configured to change the reproduction information distributed to the display terminal 200 as necessary based on the situation of each exhibition room.

Next, functional blocks of the display terminal 200 and the information distribution device 100 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the display terminal 200 and the information distribution device 100 according to an example of the present embodiment.

The display terminal 200 receives the imaging section 230, the audio input section 240, and the reproduction information, and transmits the status information including the imaging information from the imaging section 230 and the audio information from the audio input section 240. A transmitting / receiving unit 290;
It is configured to include a storage unit 250 that temporarily stores reproduction information, an image display unit 220 that displays an image based on the reproduction information, and an audio output unit 222 that outputs audio based on the reproduction information. .

The image pickup section 230 and the audio input section 24
0 functions as a part of the situation grasping means for grasping the situation at the time of providing information.

On the other hand, the information distribution device 100
00 and the display terminal 200
A transmission / reception unit 190 that transmits information for reproduction toward the storage unit, a storage unit 120 that stores various data, a processing unit 110 that performs a predetermined process based on the data stored in the storage unit 120, and the status information, And a timer unit 130 for transmitting the time information to the processing unit 110.

The storage unit 120 stores reproduction data 122 used for generating reproduction information, imaging data 124 used for difference processing, and whether to change information to be provided to the display terminal 200. Judgment data 126
Are stored.

The processing section 110 also controls the reproduction data 12
An information generation unit 112 that generates reproduction information based on
A difference processing unit 114 that performs a difference process based on the situation information and the imaging data 124, and a determination unit 116 that performs a determination process of a change in the reproduction information based on the result of the difference process and the determination data 126. It is configured.

Note that the timer unit 130 functions as a part of the situation grasping unit, and the difference processing unit 114 and the determination unit 11
6 functions as a part of a reaction grasping means for grasping a reaction to the provided information based on the situation information indicating the grasped situation, and includes an information generation unit 112 and a transmission / reception unit 190.
Functions as a part of a providing unit that provides information according to a grasped reaction.

The information distribution device 100 can also realize the above functions by reading a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the determination unit 116 and the like from the information storage medium 180.

As the information storage medium 180, for example, C
D-ROM, DVD-ROM, ROM, RAM, HDD
The information can be read by a contact method or a non-contact method.

Further, instead of the information storage medium 180, a program for realizing the above-described functions may be downloaded from a host device or the like via a transmission path, that is, a communication network, to realize the above-described functions. Is also possible. That is, the program for realizing each of the functions described above may be embodied in a carrier wave.

The imaging unit 230 is, for example, a CCD.
A camera is used, a microphone is used as the audio input unit 240, for example, a LAN card is used as the transmission / reception unit 290, and a rear-type liquid crystal projector is used as the image display unit 220 and the audio output unit 222.
For example, the function of the display terminal 200 can be realized by using an HDD and peripheral circuits.

The processing unit 110 is, for example, a CPU.
By using, for example, a RAM as the storage unit 120 and using, for example, a LAN card as the transmission / reception unit 190, the functions of the information distribution apparatus 100 described above can be realized.

The functions of these units may be realized by hardware using circuits or the like, or may be realized by software using programs or the like.

(Description of Processing Flow) Next, a flow of information provision using the above-described units will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of information provision according to an example of the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, a basic video having a reproduction time of about 10 minutes, a plain video having a reproduction time of about 10 minutes but more easily understood, and a simplified simplified video having a reproduction time of about 5 minutes Are stored in the storage unit 120 as a part of the reproduction data 122.

The image capturing section 230 of each display terminal 200 captures an image of the state before the audience enters, and the transmitting / receiving section 290 transmits the captured information to the information distribution apparatus 100.

The information distribution apparatus 100 stores the imaging information received by the transmission / reception unit 190 in the storage unit 120 as a reference image (part of the imaging data 124) (step S2).

Then, the description of the product actually starts.

The information distribution device 100 includes an information generation unit 112
To generate reproduction information for each display terminal 200,
The transmission / reception unit 190 transmits the reproduction information to a desired display terminal 200.

The display terminal 200 reproduces video and audio using the image display unit 220 and the audio output unit 222 based on the reproduction information, and explains a product. In the initial state, the above-described basic video is displayed (step S
4).

The image pickup section 230 performs image pickup at regular time intervals (step S6).

The transmitting / receiving unit 290 transmits the imaging information to the information distribution device 100.

The processing section 110 stores this imaging information in the storage section 120 as a part of the imaging data 124.

Then, the difference processing section 114 transmits and receives
90, a difference image between the captured image indicated by the imaging information received and the reference image is extracted (Step S).
8).

More specifically, the difference processing unit 114
A difference image between the latest image and the reference image is extracted by performing a value conversion process, a thinning process, or the like.

For example, although the background is only the initial state before the start of the explanation, the explanation is started and the audience gathers in front of the display terminal 200.
It is possible to generate a difference image in which only the shadows of (A) and FIG. 3 (B) are extracted.

As a result, it is possible to determine the degree of gathering of people (the degree of integration) from the area of the shadow.

Further, the difference processing unit 114 stores the image data 1
24, a difference image between the latest captured image and the immediately preceding captured image is extracted (step S9).

Thus, the motion of the person can be determined.

The determination unit 116 determines whether the current situation matches the predetermined change condition based on the degree of gathering of the person represented by the difference image in step S8 and the movement of the person represented by the difference image in step S9. Is determined (step S10).

For example, when many people gather and do not move for a predetermined time or more, it can be determined that a person is staying in front of the display terminal 200. Such a case hinders efficient information transmission.

In such a case, the determination unit 116 transmits control information to the information generation unit 112 so as to change from the basic video to the simplified video.

The information generating section 112 generates reproduction information based on the control information so that the simplified video is reproduced in a state where the basic video is settled. Thereby, the video reproduced on the display terminal 200 is changed to the simplified video (Step S12).

As described above, the simplified image is shorter in time than the basic image, so that the audience can be moved to another exhibition room more smoothly.

Conversely, when the number of people is small, the determination unit 116 transmits a control signal for reproducing a plain video to the information generation unit 112.

The information generating unit 112 generates reproduction information based on the control information so that the plain video is reproduced in a state where the basic video is settled. Thus, the video reproduced on the display terminal 200 is changed to an easy-to-understand plain video (step S12).

Thus, it is possible to draw the attention of the person and to gather the person in front of the display terminal 200.

Until the description of the product is completed (step S1)
4) The processing from the image display (step S4) to the image change (step S12) is repeatedly performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to switch the video to be reproduced according to the reaction of the audience at the product exhibition hall.

Further, by switching the video in accordance with the degree of gathering of the spectators or the movement of the spectators, it is possible to more efficiently and safely explain the product without the occurrence of extreme empty or concentrated spectators. Therefore, the presentation effect can be further enhanced.

Although the preferred embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described, the application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

(Modification) For example, the reproduction information may be changed based on the difference of the audio information from the audio input unit 240. This is because the audio information can be represented as a waveform or digital data, and a difference process can be performed.
For example, when the noise is large, it can be determined that the audience is not concentrated, and in this case, the image can be changed to one that is easier to understand.

Of course, the reproduction information may be changed by using both the imaging information and the audio information.

For example, in addition to switching between video and audio, the video and audio reproduced by each display terminal 200 may be interchanged.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of use in a product exhibition hall has been described. However, the present invention is also effective in, for example, hotels, schools, museums, places where advertisements are performed, and the like.

More specifically, for example, when the display terminal 200 is set in the lobby of a hotel, an environmental image is displayed when there are no nearby people, and when the number of people sitting in the lobby increases, the news is displayed. It is possible to switch to a general image such as.

Further, for example, based on the information from the timer section 130, the determination section 116 makes the time information such as time, time, time, date, etc., grasp the information provided by using the difference information and the time information together. You may decide.

Specifically, for example, when a person is stopped for a predetermined time or more in front of the display terminal 200 set in the hotel lobby, the hotel information is displayed on the display terminal 200 in the afternoon check-in period. A video may be displayed, a sightseeing spot video or a video showing the weather may be displayed in the morning check-out time zone, and a restaurant guide video may be displayed in the meal time zone.

For example, when the display terminal 200 is installed in an elevator hall of a hotel, a guide image of the hotel is normally displayed, and when a person stops in front of the display terminal 200 for a predetermined time or more, the operation of the elevator is started. The video may be switched to a video that displays the status and the waiting time.

When the display terminal 200 is used in an art museum, for example, when the staying time is less than 1 minute or more than 5 minutes, the guide image of the next exhibition hall is displayed. If the time is between 1 minute and 5 minutes, an explanation image of the work can be displayed.

As a result, an appropriate explanation according to the movement of the person can be provided.

For example, when the display terminal 200 is used for advertising in a supermarket, for example, a plurality of display terminals 2 are used.
00 in various places of the supermarket, and the imaging unit 2
At 30 an image of the special sale venue is taken. The display terminal 200 displays a guidance image of each store in the supermarket.

If the determining unit 116 determines that there are not many people based on the difference information, the information generating unit 11
In step 2, information for reproducing an image relating to a bargain item at the bargain site is generated.

As a result, the images of the bargain items are displayed on the display terminals 200 installed in various places. As a result, shoppers can be gathered at the special sale venue.

As described above, the place where the image is taken and the place where the information is provided may be different.

For example, when the display terminal 200 is used in a school, the determining unit 116 determines that the noise is large based on the difference information based on the voice information from the voice input unit 240, To make the information for reproduction easier to understand.

As a result, the student's comprehension can be improved.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a case where an image is displayed by image display means other than the above-mentioned rear type liquid crystal projector. Such display means include, for example, a liquid crystal projector and a DMD (Digital Mic).
, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube),
PDP (Plasma Display Panel)
l), FED (FieldEmission Disp)
lay), EL (Electro Luminescence)
nce), a display device such as a direct-view type liquid crystal display device or the like can be applied. DMD is a trademark of Texas Instruments of the United States. Further, the projector is not limited to a rear type (rear projection type), but may be a front type (front projection type).

Further, the functions of the processing section 110 and the storage section 120 are mounted on the display terminal 200, and the information distribution apparatus 100
The imaging unit 230, the voice input unit 240, the image display unit 220
It is also possible to realize a single information providing system by mounting the function of the audio output unit 222. In addition, the functions of the information distribution device 100 and the display terminal 200 can be realized in a distributed manner with other processing devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a product exhibition hall according to an example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a display terminal according to an example of the embodiment.

3A and 3B show an example of a captured image, FIG. 3A shows a captured image when there are few spectators, and FIG. 3B shows a captured image when there are many spectators.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a display terminal and an information distribution device according to an example of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of information provision according to an example of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 information distribution device 112 information generation unit (providing unit) 114 difference processing unit (reaction grasping unit) 116 determination unit (reaction grasping unit) 122 reproduction data 124 imaging data 126 decision data 130 timer unit (status grasping unit) 180 information Storage medium 190 Transmission / reception unit (providing unit) 200 Display terminal 220 Image display unit 222 Audio output unit 230 Imaging unit (status grasping unit) 240 Voice input unit (status grasping unit) 290 Transmission / reception unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A situation grasping means for grasping a situation at the time of providing information, a reaction grasping means for grasping a reaction to provided information based on situation information indicating the grasped situation, and a response grasping means for responding to the grasped reaction. An information providing system, comprising: providing means for providing information; 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the situation grasping means includes an image taking means for taking an image of an information providing target, and the reaction grasping means grasps the reaction based on image information taken by the image taking means. An information providing system, characterized in that: 3. The response grasping means according to claim 2, wherein the reaction grasping means grasps at least one of the accumulation degree and the movement of the person to whom the information is to be provided, and the providing means judges the accumulation degree within a predetermined time. When at least one of the case where the increase or decrease is equal to or more than a predetermined value and the degree of the movement within a predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the provided information is changed to another type of information and provided. Information providing system. 4. The state grasping means according to claim 1, wherein the situation grasping means includes a speech inputting means for inputting a speech generated from an information providing object, and the reaction grasping means is inputted by the speech inputting means. An information providing system characterized by grasping the reaction based on the obtained voice information. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the reaction grasping means grasps the noise of the person to be provided with the information, and the providing means provides the noise when the degree of the noise is equal to or more than a predetermined value. An information providing system, wherein information to be provided is changed to another type of information and provided. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response grasping means includes: status information at a predetermined time;
Based on the difference from the situation information at a different point in time,
An information providing system characterized by grasping the reaction. 7. The information distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit includes: at least one image display device; and an information distribution device that distributes image information to the image display device. An information providing system, wherein the apparatus changes the provided image information to another type of image information and provides the image information in a predetermined situation based on the reaction information from the reaction grasping means. 8. A program usable by a computer, comprising: reaction grasping means for grasping a reaction to provided information based on situation information indicating a situation at the time of providing information; and information according to the grasped reaction. A providing means for providing, and a program for realizing the following on a computer. 9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the response grasping unit grasps the reaction based on imaging information captured by an imaging unit that captures an information providing target. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the response grasping unit grasps at least one of the degree of accumulation and the movement of the person to whom the information is to be provided, and the providing unit determines the degree of accumulation within a predetermined time. When at least one of the case where the increase or decrease is equal to or more than a predetermined value and the degree of the movement within a predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the provided information is changed to another type of information and provided. Program to do. 11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the response grasping unit grasps the reaction based on voice information indicating a voice generated from an information providing target. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the response grasping means grasps the noise of the person to whom the information is to be provided, and the providing means provides when the degree of the noise is equal to or more than a predetermined value. A program which changes information to be provided to another type of information and provides the changed information. 13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the response grasping means comprises:
Based on the difference from the situation information at a different point in time,
A program characterized by grasping the reaction. 14. An information storage medium usable by a computer, the information storage medium including the program according to any one of claims 8 to 13.