JP2007156562A - Virtual travel experience system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a virtual travel experience system capable of providing a more realistic virtual travel experience. <P>SOLUTION: Information about a site on a network, content on a content server 60, and live images from a live camera 40 are output from a server device 30 to a user terminal device 10 in the same way that travel proceeds. This enables the user to have a virtual travel experience at home, etc., as if traveling actually, while browsing content such as images displayed in a display part 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a simulated travel experience system that can experience a simulated trip based on content data transmitted via a communication network such as the Internet, and in particular, to realize a more realistic simulated travel experience. It relates to a simulated travel experience system.

  In recent years, communication services using the Internet have been diversified, and by connecting personal computers, mobile phones, and recently digital TVs to the Internet, you can browse Web information and photo contents sent from all over the world, It has become possible to view video content. In recent years, high-definition and high-motion real-time video can be viewed with the spread of optical fiber lines and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) lines. In order to view these contents, there is generally a system in which a keyword is entered from a search site and a search is executed, and the contents are accessed based on URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information displayed as a list.

  Based on such convenience of the Internet, a service for collecting and displaying necessary information on a network has been proposed, and one of them is information on guidance. For example, there is a guidance information presentation device that displays a road guide to a destination on a display such as a personal computer (PC) (for example, see Patent Document 1).

The guidance information presentation device described in Patent Document 1 displays a guidance for a destination on a display unit of a PC by executing a guidance script including text information and image data on the PC. In addition, the current location is moved and displayed on the route as it moves.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-215211

  However, according to the invention described in Patent Document 1, since the route guidance mainly provides meaningful information in accordance with the user's request, the user goes on a trip in a situation where the destination is determined only vaguely. Difficult to arouse mood. In addition, if you actually want to feel like traveling without going on a trip, or if you want to organize and assemble information at the stage of planning a trip, a practical simulated travel experience may be useful.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a simulated travel experience system capable of realizing a more realistic simulated travel experience.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a terminal device having an input unit for inputting a departure point and a destination, and a route between the departure point and the destination input by the terminal device. What is claimed is: 1. A simulated travel experience system comprising: a server device that provides content to be processed in an order according to a simulated movement from the departure location to the destination; and a network that connects the terminal device and the server device. provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a terminal device including an input unit for inputting a departure point and a destination, and a route between the departure point and the destination input by the terminal device. A server device for providing content in which the content is arranged in chronological order according to a pseudo movement from the departure location to the destination in advance, and a network connecting the terminal device and the server device A pseudo travel experience system characterized by comprising:

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first terminal device comprising an input unit for inputting a departure point and a destination, and a communication unit for realizing bidirectional communication at the destination; A server device that provides content related to a route between the departure point and the destination input by the first terminal device in an order according to a pseudo movement from the departure point to the destination; A second terminal device including a communication unit that performs two-way communication with the first terminal device according to content reproduction, and a network that connects the first and second terminal devices and the server device The pseudo travel experience system characterized by having the above.

  According to the present invention, a more realistic simulated travel experience can be realized.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a simulated travel experience system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(Content transfer system configuration)
The simulated travel experience system 1 includes a user terminal device 10, a network 20, a server device 30, a live camera 40, a live camera database 50, and a content server 60.

  The user terminal device 10 is, for example, a terminal device that can be connected to a network, such as a PC or a portable information terminal. A voice input / output unit 12 such as a microphone and a speaker for voice output; a camera unit 13 for photographing a user; a schedule setting unit 14 for setting a schedule set for performing a simulated trip; Necessary for operating the route search unit 15 for searching for information related to route search and proper use of transportation means based on the input information, the communication unit 16 as a communication interface for communicating with the outside, and the user terminal device 10. A storage unit 1 for storing various data such as programs, schedule data, and travel data for a simulated trip When, a display unit 18 for displaying an image according to the terms of the input information and content.

(Configuration of each part)
As the network 20, the Internet is selected from the types of terminals that can be connected, the number of terminals, the amount of information, and versatility.

  The schedule setting unit 14 determines the route, required time, number of days, etc. that can be implemented from the departure point to the destination based on the data about the departure point input from the input unit 11 by the user and the data about the destination (destination). Set the schedule.

  The process search unit 15 searches for information such as a transit point, the type of transportation means, and the proper use of transportation means existing between the departure point and the destination input by the user, and outputs them to the schedule setting unit 14.

  The communication unit 16 performs data communication with an external device based on a communication protocol used on the Internet.

  The display unit 18 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel that displays a user operation screen such as a destination and a destination, and an image such as a landscape in a simulated travel process.

  The server device 30 has a program for providing a simulated trip to the user, and when there is a connection request by inputting a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) from the user terminal device 10, the user is based on the stored program. To provide a fake trip. Further, the server device 30 controls access to the live camera database 50 and the content server 60 described later based on information input from the user terminal device 10. Management of the server device 30 is performed by an administrator who provides a pseudo travel service.

  An appropriate live camera 40 is selected from those installed at many locations around the world based on an operation signal input from the server device 30.

  The live camera database 50 keeps track of the location and operating status of a large number of live cameras 40 (when services are being provided or stopped). Information is output to the server device 30.

  The content server 60 holds content composed of information such as images, sounds, photos, and moving images, and the content is classified and stored. The classification includes items such as accommodation, sightseeing spots, eating and drinking, and transportation. The contents are maintained and managed by the administrator of the server device 30. The content server 60 receives a content transfer request from the server device 30 based on information input from the user terminal device 10, and transfers the content to the server device 30 when there is a condition that satisfies the condition.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a starting point and a destination input screen for a simulated trip according to the first embodiment of the present invention. By operating the user terminal device 10 to connect to the server device 30 and executing the simulated travel program, a display screen 18A for inputting the departure place and the destination of the simulated travel is displayed. Here, a part of the world map is displayed as the map image 182, but the display area of the map can be arbitrarily designated by the operation on the user side. On the display screen 18A, a departure place display 180, a destination display 181 and a departure place mark 180A and a destination mark 181A displayed on the map image 182 are displayed. Here, “Tokyo” is input as the departure point, and “Cairo” is input as the destination.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the pseudo travel operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, a case where a PC is used as the user terminal device 10 will be described. First, the user operates the user terminal device 10 to connect to the server device 30, and inputs connection information such as a user name and a password on the user input screen to perform authentication processing. If the authentication is successful, the user can log in to the pseudo travel service (S1).

  Next, the user operates the input unit 11 of the user terminal device 10 on the display screen 18A displayed on the display unit 18 based on the start of the pseudo travel service, specifies the area of the departure place display 180, and the departure place name Is input (S2). Based on this operation, the departure place mark 180A and the destination mark 181A are displayed on the map image 182.

  The server device 30 searches for a country name or a region name between them based on the input starting point and destination information (S3). Next, a content or live video site related to the country name or region name is searched against the live camera database 50 or the content server 60, and a list is displayed (S4). And according to selection operation from a user, it connects to the content site near a departure place (Tokyo), and transmits a content to the user terminal device 10. Instead of executing the search by the server device 30, the process search unit 15 of the user terminal device 10 sets the search conditions for the content and the live video, and transmits them to the server device 30 via the network 20. Also good.

  Next, in accordance with the operation from the user, the server device 30 sequentially switches the content site from the content site that provides the content on the departure side, and finally transmits the content of the destination content site to the user (S5). ).

  In the pseudo travel service described above, in addition to the information on the departure place and the destination, an intermediate place (a place where the user virtually stops) can be input. In this case, the intermediate display appears on the screen by pressing a predetermined function key (for example, F12) provided on the keyboard while the display screen 18A shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. By inputting the intermediate location in this state, the country name and region name from the departure location to the intermediate location are searched, and the related site is searched to provide the content site. Further, similar processing is performed between the intermediate point and the destination point. Here, the number of intermediate locations is not limited to one, and a plurality of intermediate locations can be input.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen of the pseudo travel service when a plurality of transportation facilities according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be selected. In this case, after the user inputs the departure point information and the destination information, if a plurality of transportation modes can be selected, the display screen 18A shown in the figure is displayed. Here, as route for the departure place “Tokyo” and the destination “Fukuoka Prefecture”, an airplane route mark 183A indicating an airplane, a Shinkansen route mark 183B indicating a Shinkansen, and an automobile route mark 183C indicating an automobile are displayed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart about the operation of the pseudo travel service when a plurality of transportation facilities according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be selected. Here, since the login operation (S10) to the server device 30 and the input of the departure place and the destination (S2) are the same as those described with reference to FIG. If it is determined from the input information of the departure place and the destination that there are a plurality of available transportation facilities, the server device 30 displays the display screen shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 18 of the user terminal device 10. The user selects a corresponding mark from a plurality of transportation facilities displayed on the display screen 18A (S12).

  The server device 30 searches the live camera database 50 and the content server 60 for content and live video sites related to the region names between them based on the input information of the departure place and destination and the transportation system. Then, a list is displayed (S13). And according to selection operation from a user, it connects to the content site near a departure place (Tokyo), and transmits a content to the user terminal device 10. Then, in accordance with the operation from the user, the content site is sequentially switched from the content site that provides the content on the departure side, and finally the content on the destination content site is transmitted to the user (S14).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of the pseudo travel service when setting a schedule according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The user of the pseudo travel service can register the schedule after inputting the information of the departure place and the information of the destination. When a predetermined function key (for example, F11) provided on the keyboard is pressed while the display screen 18A shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, a calendar display 184 appears on the screen. Here, as a schedule setting, for example, if the departure place is Tokyo and the destination is Cairo, and the day to go on a trip is registered as August 7, the departure date memo 185 is stored on the August 7 portion. “Travel to Cairo” is displayed. The display content of the departure date memo 185 can be arbitrarily changed. The server device 30 searches for a region name between the departure place and the destination, and further searches for a time-specific content site related to the registration date. And according to the operation from the user, the content site from the content site close to the departure place to the destination is provided in sequence. This “time-specific content site” indicates, for example, the content of photos and videos of the summer festival when there is a summer festival in August in that region.

(Other contents supplied via the server device 30)
The above description is a case where the user personally performs a pseudo-travel, but for example, a travel company or the like can provide a pseudo-trip service for an event or demonstration to a specific user.

  In this case, since it is complicated to display various contents from the departure point to the destination in the above procedure, a plurality of contents are arranged in time series in advance by a content provider such as a travel agency that provides a pseudo travel service. The demo content with narration added is stored in the content server 60, and the demo content corresponding to the departure place and destination designated at the event venue is called and displayed, so that the event participants can be simulated travel Service can be provided.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment described above, the travel of the information on the site on the network, the content of the content server 60, and the live video of the live camera 40 based on the input of the departure point and the destination pass. Similarly, by outputting from the server device 30 to the user terminal device 10, the user browses the content such as an image displayed on the display unit 18, and makes a pseudo trip as if he / she went on a trip while staying at home or the like Can experience.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a simulated travel experience system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

(Content transfer system configuration)
The simulated travel experience system 2 is basically the same as the simulated travel experience system 1 described in the first embodiment, but can perform two-way communication in real time with the user terminal device 70 connected to the network 20. The configuration is different from that of the first embodiment. Note that the user terminal device 70 is formed in the same manner as the user terminal device 10, and is used for capturing a user's voice and a voice input / output unit such as a voice input speaker and a user's voice. The camera unit has a configuration (not shown).

  In the simulated travel service having such a bidirectional communication function, it is possible to synchronize the actual experience with the simulated travel experience described in the first embodiment. The following is a description of a service in which a grandchild travels to a grandfather who is away from the place of residence.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing settings for establishing a bidirectional communication function in the second embodiment. Here, since the form of the simulated trip is a visit to the grandfather's house, the grandchild side is the visitor side and the grandfather side is the visit destination side. First, on the visitor side, the user terminal device 10 is operated to connect to the server device 30 and a pseudo travel service having a bidirectional communication function is selected. When the pseudo travel service having the bidirectional communication function is selected, the server device 30 displays an input screen for the visited user on the display unit 18 of the user terminal device 10. The user on the visitor side inputs items such as the URL of the visited site, the date of visit, and the time displayed on the input screen (S20).

  When the input is completed, the input item is transmitted and stored in the server device 30, and a request from the visitor is transmitted to the visited user terminal device 70 by e-mail (S21). Note that the notification to the visited place can be performed by a method other than e-mail.

(Start of pseudo travel service)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the process of the pseudo travel service having a bidirectional communication function according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, the visitor side operates the user terminal device 10 at the start time of the pseudo travel service and performs a departure operation of the pseudo travel service (S30). When this departure operation is executed, a notice of departure is transmitted from the user terminal device 10 to the user terminal device 70 by e-mail (S31). At the visited place, a departure notice by e-mail transmitted from the user terminal device 10 is received via the server device 30 (S32).

  Next, on the visitor side, when the transportation system to the visited site has a plurality of options, the travel method is selected (S33). As described with reference to FIG. 5, this operation can be selected from a plurality of transportation facilities displayed on the display screen 18 </ b> A of the display unit 18.

  When the transportation facility is selected by the visitor, the server device 30 inputs content related to the route from the departure place to the destination by the transportation facility from the content server 60 or the live camera 40, and displays on the user terminal device 10. A list is displayed on the unit 18 (S34). The visitor selects the content from the list, so that the selected content is sequentially displayed from the departure place to the destination (S35).

  While transmitting the content to the user terminal device 10, the server device 30 reports the visitor's position as an intermediate position to the visited user terminal device 70 regarding the progress (S36).

  Next, when the visitor arrives at the visited place (S37), an arrival notice is transmitted to the user terminal device 70 (S38). Here, it is assumed that the grandchild is at the nearest station in the town where the grandfather lives. When the grandfather accepts the arrival notification from the visitor at the user terminal device 70 (S39), two-way communication by the videophone service is started between the grandchild on the user terminal device 10 side and the grandfather on the user terminal device 70 side. .

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment described above, by adding a bidirectional communication function to the simulated travel service described in the first embodiment, in addition to the preferable effects of the first embodiment, more practical. A pseudo travel service can be provided. In addition, since it is possible to provide a simulated experience service even if the travel is difficult to realize in terms of safety and cost, the travel plan is not limited to the communication method described in the second embodiment. This can be used as a simulation tool.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various combinations and modifications can be made without departing from or changing the technical idea of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a simulated travel experience system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the departure place and destination input screen of the pseudo | simulation trip which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart about operation | movement of the pseudo | simulation trip which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the pseudo | simulation travel service in the case where the some transportation based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is selectable. It is a flowchart about operation | movement of the pseudo | simulation travel service in the case where the some transport system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is selectable. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the pseudo | simulation travel service in the case of setting the schedule which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the pseudo | simulation travel experience system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting for establishing a bidirectional | two-way communication function in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the pseudo | simulation travel service which has a bidirectional | two-way communication function based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Simulated travel experience system, 2 ... Simulated travel experience system, 10 ... User terminal device, 11 ... Input part, 12 ... Voice input / output part, 13 ... Camera part, 14 ... Schedule setting part, 15 ... Process search part, 16 ... Communication unit, 17 ... Storage unit, 18 ... Display unit, 18A ... Display screen, 20 ... Network, 30 ... Server device, 40 ... Live camera, 50 ... Live camera database, 60 ... Content server, 70 ... User terminal device, 180 ... Departure point display, 180A ... Departure point mark, 181 ... Destination point display, 181A ... Destination mark, 182 ... Map image, 183A ... Plane route mark, 183B ... Shinkansen route mark, 183C ... Car route mark, 184 ... Calendar Display, 185 ... Departure date memo

Claims (3)

A terminal device having an input unit for inputting a starting point and a destination,
A server device that provides content related to a route between the departure place and the destination input by the terminal device in an order according to a pseudo movement from the departure place to the destination;
A simulated travel experience system comprising a network connecting the terminal device and the server device. A terminal device having an input unit for inputting a starting point and a destination,
Content related to a route between the departure point and the destination input by the terminal device, the content being arranged in time series in advance according to a pseudo movement from the departure point to the destination A server device to be provided;
A simulated travel experience system comprising a network connecting the terminal device and the server device. A first terminal device comprising an input unit for inputting a starting point and a destination, and a communication unit for realizing bidirectional communication at the destination;
A server device that provides content related to a route between the departure point and the destination input by the first terminal device in an order according to a pseudo movement from the departure point to the destination;
A second terminal device comprising a communication unit that performs bidirectional communication with the first terminal device in accordance with the reproduction of the content;
A simulated travel experience system comprising a network connecting the first and second terminal devices and the server device.

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