JP2003288671A - Guide device, guide method using the device, and program and storage medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a passer, particularly, a visually handicapped person to easily obtain a voice guide necessary to ensure safety according to each point passed by. <P>SOLUTION: This device has a position measuring device for obtaining position information, a recording and regenerating device for recording the position information and a voice signal related to the position information, and regenerating the voice signal according to the obtained position information, and a voice generating device for inputting the regenerated voice signal to sound a voice by the voice signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
According to the position information of each passing point, a technique for providing guidance regarding the position by voice, in particular,
The present invention relates to a technique for more accurately assisting the visually impaired to walk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a car navigation system mounted on an automobile, a system for giving directions to passengers by voice has been used.
The sound generated by the system is generated based only on the sound signal information recorded in the recording device in advance.
Further, as a conventional outing support system for the visually impaired, there is a system described in JP-A-2002-41662. This publication includes a person who is a visually impaired person and a supporter who supports the person who is visually impaired. The location of the person who goes out is specified by a navigation system, and the location information related to the person is displayed on an image display device. And an outing support system in which a supporter uses a mobile phone to give an instruction for support to an outing person according to the displayed information.

[0003]

In a car navigation system in which a voice is generated only based on the voice signal information previously recorded in the recording device, the advancement at a predetermined position for reaching a destination is mainly performed. Information that is required to ensure the safety of pedestrians, especially those who are visually impaired while walking, such as information on the level difference between a sidewalk and a roadway at an intersection. There is no information about the presence or absence or the level of the difference. In addition, JP-A-2002-4
In the going-out support system described in Japanese Patent No. 1662, since a supporter at a base issues an instruction to a visually-impaired person who is an out-going person through a mobile phone, the visually-impaired person alone can act. It is not possible to do so, and the supporters must be on standby at all times, and the cost for that is enormous. An object of the present invention is to allow a passer-by, especially a visually impaired person, to easily obtain voice guidance necessary for ensuring safety, etc., depending on each point where the passerby passes.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention records the positioning device for obtaining position information, the position information and a voice signal related to the position information, and obtains the same. The recording / reproducing apparatus reproduces the audio signal according to the position information, and the audio generating apparatus receives the reproduced audio signal and generates the audio by the audio signal. The present invention further includes a sound collecting device for inputting a sound to obtain a sound signal, wherein the recording / reproducing device is the position information obtained from the positioning device and the sound signal related to the position information, and the obtained sound signal is obtained. The audio signal is recorded. The present invention further has an external interface device for inputting position information and an audio signal related to the position information, and the recording / reproducing device receives the position information and audio signal from the outside via the external interface device. Is recorded. The present invention also relates to a positioning device for obtaining position information, a sound collecting device for inputting voice to obtain a voice signal, recording the obtained position information, and associating the obtained voice signal with the position information. And a recording / reproducing device for recording and an external interface device for transmitting the position information and the audio signal output from the recording / reproducing device to the outside. By doing so,
Even if a visually handicapped person walks alone, when a person reaches a certain point or before, a prerecorded voice guidance is automatically played back, and the visually handicapped person is safe by listening to the guidance. You can take actions that allow you to pass to.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a portable guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 is a main body of the guide device.
Has a positioning device 2, an antenna 3, a storage / playback device 4, and an external interface device 7. A voice generating device 5 and a sound collecting device 6 are connected to the guide device main body 1, and the portable guiding device according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured by the guide device main body 1, the voice generating device 5 and the sound collecting device 6. Is configured.

Next, the operation of this portable guide device will be described. The positioning device 2 of this embodiment includes an antenna 3
The GPS signal from the GPS satellite 20 is received via the, and the position information of the reception point, for example, the longitude /
A GPS receiver that generates and outputs latitude and altitude values is used. In addition to the GPS receiver, the positioning device 2 may be a mobile wireless system using a plurality of base stations, such as a PHS system for obtaining position information.

The position information output from the positioning device 2 is input to the recording / reproducing device 4. Further, the audio signal obtained by the sound collecting device 6 is input to the recording / reproducing device 4. Note that this sound collecting device obtains a voice signal from the input voice.

Now, a "recording button", which is an operation button (not shown), is operated (for example, pushed down).
From the position information obtained from the positioning device 2 regarding the position of the portable guidance device at the time of the operation (current time), and from the sound collecting device 6 by the sound collected by the sound collecting device 6 after that time. The obtained audio signal is associated and recorded in the recording / reproducing device 4. The voice recorded when the record button is pressed may be a voice recorded by a passerby, for example, a visually impaired person who walks with his / her own voice. In that case, visually impaired people can vocalize and record the information required at each location to ensure their own safety. For example, "Attention, abandoned bicycle" and "Attention, step at intersection" Record words such as ". In addition, in order to guide the direction of travel, "turn right and turn right at the end of the bridge" and "turn right at the exit of the bridge"
You may record words such as.

Further, in the guide device body 1, the position information recorded in the recording / reproducing device 4 in association with the audio signal is compared with the position information obtained by the positioning device 2. The positioning device 2 repeatedly generates position information. In the present embodiment, for example, the position information is obtained from the positioning device 2 every second and the comparison is performed. Then, as a result of the comparison, according to the position information obtained from the positioning device 2,
The audio signal is reproduced and output from the recording / reproducing device 2, and the output audio signal is input to the audio generating device, where the audio is generated based on the audio signal. By doing so, a passerby carrying the portable guidance device, for example, a visually impaired person walking alone, according to the current location,
It is possible to provide voice guidance based on the voice signal recorded as more accurate guidance information.

As a method of comparing the position information recorded in the recording / reproducing device 4 in association with the audio signal with the position information obtained by the positioning device 2, the position indicated by the obtained position information is used. It is determined whether or not the position indicated by the recorded position information is the same, or whether or not they are close to each other. Further, it may be determined whether or not the position is within a predetermined distance from the position indicated by the recorded position information. Then, as a result of the determination, if the positions are the same, close to each other, or approached within a predetermined distance, the sound information related to the recorded position information is output from the recording / reproducing device 4.

The external interface device 7 receives the position information and the related audio signal input from the outside,
Output to the recording / reproducing device 4. The recording / reproducing device 4 records the position information and the related audio signal input from the external interface device 7. The external interface device 7 also receives the position information recorded in the recording / reproducing device 4 and the related audio signal, and outputs it to the outside.

FIG. 2 shows a system in which the portable guidance device of the present invention is connected to the Internet 30 and position information and related voice information can be transmitted and received between a plurality of portable guidance devices via the Internet 30. It is a figure. Further, a server 31 that stores position information and related voice information is connected to the Internet 30, and the position information and related voice information can be transmitted and received between the server 31 and the portable guidance device.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure of an operation of recording position information and voice information of the portable guidance device of the present invention. In this figure, in step 101, it is determined whether or not the record button has been pressed. If it is pushed down, the process proceeds to step 102. If it is not pushed down, step 101 is performed again. Step 10
In 2, the positioning device 2 obtains the current position information. At the same time, a sound signal is obtained by the sound collector 6. Next, in step 103, the obtained position information and the audio signal are associated with each other and recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus 4.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the operation of reproducing the voice of the portable guidance device of the present invention. In this figure, in step 201, the positioning device 2 obtains the current position information. Next, it is determined whether or not there is a predetermined relationship between the position indicated by the current position information obtained in step 202 and the position indicated by the position information previously recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus 4. If it is determined that there is a predetermined relationship, the process proceeds to step 203, and if it is determined to be no, the process proceeds to step 204. In step 203, the recording / reproducing apparatus 4 outputs an audio signal recorded in association with the recorded positional information determined to have a predetermined relationship, and the audio reproducing apparatus 5 having received the signal outputs the signal as a basis. Generates the selected sound. Next, in step 204, it is determined whether the passerby has arrived at the destination. This determination may detect that a passerby has operated a predetermined operation button, or may detect that the current position information is the same as the preset position information of the destination. As a result of the determination in step 204, if it is determined that the destination has not arrived yet, the process returns to step 201, and if it is determined that the destination has arrived, this procedure ends.

The above-mentioned procedure may be realized by a software program executed by a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown) built in the guide device body 1. The software program here is stored in a predetermined storage medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of position information and audio signals recorded in association with the recording / reproducing apparatus 4.

Although the guide device of the present invention described above is of a portable type, it may be a vehicle type. Also, it does not matter if there is a purpose of use other than ensuring safety.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, a pre-recorded voice is provided so that a passerby, particularly a visually impaired person, can easily guide with his / her own words when moving. Since the reproduction is performed according to the arrival position, it is possible to provide more easy and accurate guidance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a portable guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system in which the portable guidance device of the present invention is connected to the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation of recording position information and voice information of the portable guidance device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation of reproducing voice of the portable guidance device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of position information and audio signals recorded while being associated with the recording / reproducing apparatus 4.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Guide device main body, 2: Positioning device, 3: Antenna, 4:
Recording / reproducing device, 5: sound generating device, 6: sound collecting device, 7:
External interface device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) G10L 19/00 G10L 9/18 J

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A positioning device for obtaining position information, a recording / reproducing device for recording the position information and a voice signal related to the position information, and reproducing the voice signal according to the obtained position information, A voice generating device which inputs a reproduced voice signal and generates a voice according to the voice signal. 2. The guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a sound collecting device for inputting a sound to obtain a sound signal, wherein the recording / reproducing device and the position information obtained from the positioning device and the position information. And a voice signal related to, which is recorded as the obtained voice signal. 3. The guide device according to claim 1, further comprising an external interface device for inputting position information and an audio signal related to the position information, wherein the recording / reproducing device includes the external interface device. A guide device characterized by recording position information and a voice signal received from the outside via the outside. 4. A positioning device for obtaining position information, a sound collecting device for inputting a voice to obtain a voice signal, recording the obtained position information, and associating the obtained voice signal with the position information. A guide device comprising a recording / reproducing device for recording and an external interface device for transmitting the position information and the audio signal output from the recording / reproducing device to the outside. 5. In a guidance method using a guidance device, when position information is obtained and a position indicated by the obtained position information and a position indicated by the previously recorded position information have a predetermined relationship, A guidance method characterized in that a voice is generated based on a voice signal recorded in association with the previously recorded positional information and the related positional information. 6. A program of a guidance method using a guidance device, wherein a predetermined relationship is provided between a program for obtaining position information, a position indicated by the obtained position information and a position indicated by the previously recorded position information. If there is a predetermined relationship with a program that determines a certain case, a sound is generated based on the audio signal recorded in association with the pre-recorded position information and the related position information. And a program for. 7. A storage medium storing a program of a guidance method using a guidance device, a program for obtaining position information, a position indicated by the obtained position information, and a position indicated by the previously recorded position information. And a program for determining when there is a predetermined relationship with the predetermined relationship, based on the audio signal recorded in relation to the previously recorded positional information and the related positional information. A storage medium for storing a program for generating a generated sound.