JP2003022278A - Information exchanging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information exchanging system through agents for allowing an agent mounted on electronic equipment to automatically exchange information with an agent mounted on the other electronic equipment in order to assist (support) the action of a user. SOLUTION: An agent A mounted on a navigation device 11 acquires the schedule data of a user through an agent B of a portable telephone 12. Then, when the name of a person is described in the schedule, the agent A acquires profile data through the agent C of the portable telephone 13 used by the person, and carries out an event (the reproduction of BGM and the retrieval of a restaurant or the like) according to a preliminarily set processing procedure based on the data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information exchange system using an intelligent agent installed in an electronic device and playing a secretary role of a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, when going to a drive with an acquaintance, it is necessary to set a resting place and a eating place by oneself. DVD (Digital Ve
rsatile Disk) -Some can use town information stored in an internal storage device such as ROM or town information provided via the Internet. If you use this type of town information, you can search for the location of the desired restaurant. Or you can know the phone number. However, in this case as well, it is necessary to search for a restaurant that suits the passenger's taste or to make a reservation call by himself.

[0003]

In recent years, higher functionality of electronic equipment has been promoted. In particular, a mobile phone has functions such as browsing web pages, sending and receiving e-mails, managing schedules, managing personal information, and a telephone directory, in addition to the function of simply making a call.
istant) can also be used as.

There are also navigation devices mounted on vehicles that can be connected to external information equipment via a communication line to transmit and receive various data. These electronic devices have come to exchange information with each other via a communication line, and are required to perform more sophisticated processing. From the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an agent that automatically exchanges information with an agent installed in another electronic device using an agent installed in an electronic device and assists the user's actions. It is to provide an information exchange system via the.

[0005]

An information exchange system according to the present invention includes a first agent installed in a first electronic device, a second agent installed in a second electronic device, and a communication line. When the user name of the second electronic device is described in the schedule of the user of the first electronic device, the first agent is configured to be transmitted from the second agent via the communication line. The profile data of the user of the second electronic device is acquired.

According to the present invention, the first agent installed in the first electronic device refers to the schedule of the user of the first electronic device, and when the person's name is described in the schedule, The profile of a person is acquired from the second electronic device used by the person (hereinafter referred to as a companion). At this time, the second electronic device determines whether or not to permit the reference to the profile by using the authentication code, for example.

[0007] The agent of the first electronic device, depending on the schedule of the user of the first electronic device and the profile of the companion obtained from the second electronic device, various events (for example, restaurant search and BGM). Playback etc.) is executed. As described above, in the present invention, information is automatically exchanged by the agent mounted on the electronic device and the event is executed in accordance with the hobbies and tastes of the user and the accompanying person, so that it is necessary for the human to perform a complicated operation. Absent.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment,
It is an example in which the present invention is applied to information exchange between a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and an information device outside the vehicle. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an information exchange system by an agent according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation device 11 has a database storage unit 21, an operation unit 22, a vehicle position detection unit 23, a display unit 24, and a guide route storage unit 25.
A personal information storage unit 26, a control unit 27, and a microphone 28.
And a speaker 29. The database storage unit 21 is a DVD-ROM or HDD (Hard D
isk Drive) and stores a map database and town information. The operation unit 22 is provided with various operation keys and the like for operating the navigation device 11. Further, the control unit 27 is provided with a voice recognition function, and it is also possible to operate a part of the functions of the navigation device 11 by the voice input from the microphone 28.

The vehicle position detecting section 23 uses a GPS (Global P
ositioning System) A GPS receiver for receiving position data sent from a satellite, a sensor for detecting a traveling distance of a vehicle (a traveling distance sensor), a sensor for detecting a rotation angle of a vehicle (a gyro), and the like. Display unit 2
Reference numeral 4 is composed of a liquid crystal panel or the like capable of displaying characters and figures, and a map image and various drive guide information are displayed on the display unit 24 by the control unit 27. Some of the drive guidance information is output as voice from the speaker 29.
The guide route storage unit 25 stores the guide route (recommended route) to the destination searched by the control unit 27.

The control unit 27 controls the database storage unit 21 based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit 23.
The vehicle guides the vehicle by reading the map data around the current position of the vehicle and displaying the map image on the display unit 24, or when the destination is set, searching for the guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination. Various processes are executed, such as providing guidance information as appropriate so that the vehicle travels along a route. Further, the control unit 27 is provided with an agent function realized by software. Personal information storage unit 26
Stores data used by the agent. The agent will be described later.

Further, the navigation device 11 has a configuration shown in FIG.
As shown in, the audio device 14 is connected, and the audio device 14 can be controlled from the navigation device 11. In this example, the audio device 1
It is assumed that a large number of music pieces compressed by an audio compression method such as MP3 (MPEG1 AudioLaye3) are recorded in No. 4, and data such as a genre, an artist and a music title is added to each music piece as additional information.

Further, the navigation device 11 is connected to the mobile phone 12 in a wired or wireless manner, and can be connected to the Internet 15 or another mobile phone 13 via the mobile phone 12. The mobile phones 12 and 13 also have an agent function realized by software.
Here, for convenience, the user (owner) of the navigation device 11 and the mobile phone 12 is Mr. AAA and the mobile phone 13
The user (owner) of is CCC. Further, in the present embodiment, the agent function provided in the navigation device 11 is the agent A, the agent function provided in the mobile phone 12 is the agent B, and the agent function provided in the mobile phone 13 is the agent C.
Say.

Agent A of the navigation device 11
Acts as a user interface,
As shown in FIG. 3, the authentication code, event, personal information and time are managed. In the present embodiment, as the event, for example, meal, rest, going out / traveling, shopping and BG.
M (background music) etc. are set. As will be described later, the agent A refers to the user's schedule, and executes these events according to a preset processing procedure as needed.

The agent B of the mobile phone 12 functions as a user interface and, as shown in FIG. 4, stores an authentication code, a user profile registered in the mobile phone 12, a user's schedule, a telephone directory (address book), and the like. to manage. It is assumed that the date of birth, favorite food, favorite music, recent favorites, anniversaries, etc. are recorded in the user profile.

The agent C of the mobile phone 13 also functions as a user interface, and as shown in FIG. 5, includes an authentication code, a user profile registered in the mobile phone 13, a user's schedule, a telephone directory (address book), and the like. to manage. It is assumed that the date of birth, favorite food, favorite music, recent favorites, anniversaries, etc. are recorded in the user profile.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the agent when electronic devices are connected to each other. For example, when the navigation device 11 and the mobile phone 12 are connected to each other by wire or wirelessly, the agent A of the navigation device 11 and the agent B of the mobile phone 12 communicate with each other to acquire mutual authentication codes. The authentication code is an identification code assigned to each device or individual, such as a telephone number or an IP address (Internet Protocol).
l Address) can be used.

When the authentication code of the mobile phone 12 is registered in the navigation device 11, the agent A of the navigation device 11 is the agent B of the mobile phone 12.
Allow information exchange with. Navigation device 1
When the authentication code of the mobile phone 12 is not registered in 1, the agent A can use only the telephone function of the mobile phone 12, and does not request the user profile or the schedule recorded in the mobile phone 12.

On the other hand, when the authentication code of the navigation device 11 is registered in the mobile phone 12, the mobile phone 12
Agent B permits the information exchange with the agent A of the navigation device 11. Then, the agent B transmits the data of the user profile and the schedule to the agent A in response to the request from the agent A. Navigation device 11 on mobile phone 12
If the authentication code of is not registered, the transmission of these data is prohibited and only the use of the function to connect to other phones is permitted.

Here, the authentication code of the mobile phone 12 is registered in the navigation device 11, and the mobile phone 1
It is assumed that the authentication code of the navigation device 11 is registered in 2. When the confirmation of the authentication code is completed, the agent A of the navigation device 11 determines that the mobile phone 1
Request agent profile data and schedule data from Agent B of No.2. In response to this, the agent B of the mobile phone 12 transmits the user profile data and the schedule data to the navigation device 11. The agent A stores the user profile data and schedule data sent from the mobile phone 12 in the personal information storage unit 26.

Next, the agent A displays the schedule of Mr. AAA on the display unit 24 based on the schedule data acquired from the mobile phone 12 as shown in 7A of FIG. Check if there is an item. Here, it is assumed that “Meet with Mr. CCC at ΔΔ station at 10 o'clock and drive to xx coast” is scheduled.

According to this schedule, Agent A recognizes that the user (Mr. AAA) will meet Mr. CCC. Then, Agent A sends CCC to mobile phone 12.
Inquire whether or not the telephone number of his mobile phone 13 is registered. The agent B of the mobile phone 12 checks the phone book in response to the request from the navigation device 11,
Data indicating whether or not Mr. CCC's telephone number is registered in the telephone directory is transmitted to the navigation device 11. Here, it is assumed that CCC's mobile phone number is registered in the mobile phone 12.

Agent A of the navigation device 11
When receiving the data indicating that the phone number of Mr. CCC is registered from the mobile phone 12, the agent requests the agent B of the mobile phone 12 to acquire the profile of Mr. CCC. In response to this, the agent B of the mobile phone 12 automatically calls the mobile phone 13 of Mr. CCC. When the telephone line is connected, the agent B of the mobile phone 12
And the agent C of the mobile phone 13 communicate with each other to obtain mutual authentication codes. When the authentication code of the mobile phone 12 is not registered in the mobile phone 13, the agent C of the mobile phone 13 rejects the request for the profile data from the mobile phone 12 (see FIG. 6). Here, it is assumed that the authentication code of the mobile phone 12 is registered in the mobile phone 13.

In this case, the agent C of the mobile phone 13
Sends the profile data of Mr. CCC to the mobile phone 12 in response to the request from the mobile phone 12. Agent B of mobile phone 12 sends CC sent from mobile phone 13
The profile data of Mr. C is transmitted to the navigation device 11. Agent A of navigation device 11
When the profile data of Mr. CCC is sent from the mobile phone 12, is stored in the personal information storage unit 26.

After acquiring the profile data of Mr. CCC in this way, the agent A displays the profile of Mr. CCC on the display unit 24, as shown in 7B of FIG. 7, for example. If the profile of Mr. CCC could not be acquired, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 24. Also, the agent A of the navigation device 12
Instructs the control unit 27 to search for a guide route to the XX coast via the ΔΔ station based on Mr. AAA's schedule. As a result, the control unit 27 searches for a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the xx coast via the ΔΔ station. The searched guide route is stored in the guide route storage unit 25. Further, the control unit 27 displays the guide route in a color different from that of other roads on the map image displayed on the display unit 24.

After that, when the vehicle starts traveling along the guidance route, the control unit 27 displays voice guidance or an arrow indicating the route on the display screen so that the vehicle travels along the guidance route. Depending on the method, the guide information is provided to the user as appropriate. Further, the agent A executes a preset event as the vehicle moves. For example, when the audio device 14 is not operated by the user,
As shown in FIG. 8, the user is offered to provide BGM.
At this point, the user, for example, "OK" into the microphone 28.
Then, the agent A controls the audio device 14 to reproduce the BGM.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of BGM reproduction by the agent A. First, referring to the profile data of Mr. AAA and Mr. CCC stored in the personal information storage unit 26, the genre of favorite music of Mr. AAA as a user and Mr. CCC as a passenger is checked. Then, the music of the user's favorite genre and the music of the passenger's favorite genre are reproduced at a predetermined ratio. For example, initially, the reproduction ratio of the music of the passenger's favorite genre is increased, and the reproduction ratio of the music of the user's favorite genre is gradually increased so that the music of the user's favorite genre and the passenger's favorite genre are increased. The reproduction ratio with the music of is finally 1: 1
To be. Further, when the skip key (“next song” key) is pressed during playback, the playback ratio of the genre of the song may be reduced.

The agent A also calculates the expected arrival time at the destination when the vehicle travels along the guide route. If the arrival time at the destination exceeds the meal time (lunch or dinner time), suggest a meal on the way. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the agent A proposes a meal. First, the agent A determines whether or not the vehicle will arrive at the destination before meal time. If the destination cannot be reached before the meal time, the guide route stored in the guide route storage unit 25 is referred to check which side the vehicle is at the meal time. For example, as shown in FIG. , "The vehicle is near XX around 12:00. Do you want to check the restaurant near XX?" Is displayed on the display unit 24.

In response to this, when the user replies "OK" to the microphone 28, the agent A receives the town information stored in the database storage unit 21,
Or use the Internet search service etc.
Explore nearby restaurants. At this time, the agent A searches the restaurant by referring to the personal information of the user and the fellow passenger (for example, "favorite food" and "recent favorite") stored in the personal information storage unit 26. Then, one or a plurality of restaurants that suit the passenger's preference and one or a plurality of restaurants that suit the user's preference are searched for, and information on these restaurants (recommended restaurants) is displayed on the display unit 24. When the user designates one restaurant from the restaurants displayed on the display unit 24, the agent A sets the designated restaurant as the waypoint, re-searches the guide route, and guides the vehicle to the restaurant.

If the agent A can make a reservation at the designated restaurant, the agent A confirms with the user whether or not the reservation is necessary. When the user instructs a reservation, Agent A connects to the server of the restaurant via the Internet 15 and automatically makes the reservation. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, a message is displayed on the display unit 24. In addition, Agent A, when traveling continuously for a long time,
A facility along the guide route that can be rested (a service area on a highway, a drive-in on a general road, a family restaurant, etc.) is searched, and a rest is proposed to the user. Then, the vehicle is guided to the parking lot of the facility designated by the user.

According to the present embodiment, the agents mounted on the electronic devices exchange information with each other to automatically obtain information such as the passenger's hobbies and tastes, and further, the user's schedule and the passenger's hobbies and tastes. Execute various events according to. In addition, the agent automatically executes reservations for restaurants as necessary. In this way, the user has an extremely excellent secretary, and the complicated processing can be entrusted to the agent installed in the electronic device.

In the above embodiment, the agent A of the navigation device 11 acquires the user's schedule via the agent B of the mobile phone 12, and the agent (Mr. CCC) to contact via the agent B of the mobile phone 12 further. , But the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the agent B of the mobile phone 12 automatically connects to the mobile phone 13 according to the user's schedule, acquires the profile of the user of the mobile phone 13, and then the navigation device 11 and the mobile phone 12 are connected. Alternatively, the profile and schedule of the user of the mobile phone 12 and the profile of the user of the mobile phone 13 may be sent to the agent A of the navigation device 11.
The present invention can also be applied to a case where the navigation device 11 itself has a communication function, a schedule management function, and a telephone directory function, and the navigation device 11 and the mobile phone 13 directly exchange information.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the number of passengers is two has been described, but even when the number of passengers is three or more, the profile of the fellow passenger is set to the electronic device as in the above-described embodiment. Agents installed on the computer automatically acquire each other and execute an event that suits the taste of each person. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the profile data of Mr. CCC is acquired from the mobile phone 13, but the profile of Mr. CCC is obtained from another electronic device used by Mr. CCC (for example, PDA, personal computer or server). Data may be acquired.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The first agent installed in the first electronic device is the first
The electronic device user's schedule is referred to, and when the person's name is described in the schedule, the profile of the person is automatically acquired from the agent of the second electronic device used by the person. Then, the first agent executes the event according to the schedule of the user of the first electronic device and the profile of the user of the second electronic device. This eliminates the need for humans to perform complicated operations such as collecting information and making contact.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an agent information exchange system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing data managed by an agent of a navigation device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing data managed by an agent of a mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing data managed by an agent of another mobile phone.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of an agent when electronic devices are connected to each other.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of Mr. AAA's schedule and Mr. CCC's profile displayed on the display unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit by an agent when BGM reproduction is proposed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of BGM reproduction by an agent.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a meal is proposed by an agent.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on a display unit displayed by an agent when a meal is proposed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on a display unit displayed by an agent when making a restaurant reservation.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Navigation device, 12, 13 ... Mobile phone, 14 ... Audio device, 15 ... Internet, 21 ... Database storage unit, 22 ... operation part, 23 ... Vehicle position detector, 24 ... Display, 25 ... Guidance route storage unit, 26 ... Personal information storage unit, 27 ... Control part.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takayuki Ogino             1-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             Within Lupine Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuji Suko             1-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             Within Lupine Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazutoshi Komine             1-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             Within Lupine Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B075 KK07 PR08 UU08                 5B085 AE02 AE23 BE07 BG06 CA04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first agent installed in a first electronic device, a second agent installed in a second electronic device, and a communication line, wherein the first agent is the first agent. When the user name of the second electronic device is described in the schedule of the user of the first electronic device, the profile data of the user of the second electronic device is sent from the second agent via the communication line. Information exchange system characterized by acquiring. 2. The second agent acquires an authentication code of a profile data requesting party, and determines whether to permit or disallow transmission of the profile data according to whether or not the acquired authentication code is registered. The information exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The first agent generates an event according to a preset processing procedure according to the schedule of the user of the first electronic device and the profile data of the user of the second electronic device. The information exchange system according to claim 2, which is executed. 4. The navigation device mounted on a vehicle, wherein the first electronic device is a navigation device.
Information exchange system described in. 5. The first agent controls an audio device on the basis of the profile data of the user of the second electronic device to reproduce a music favorite by the user of the second electronic device. The information exchange system according to claim 4, wherein