JP2007249680A - Information provision device, information provision system and information provision method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide desired information to a user even when the information desired by the user is absent in an information center. <P>SOLUTION: A processor 11 of the information center 10 retrieves the information required by the user from information stored in an information database 13, and sends an information retrieval request to an information terminal 20 requiring the information when the information required by the user is absent as a result of the information retrieval. A processor 21 of the information terminal 20 receives the information on the basis of the information retrieval request, and transmits the retrieved information to the information center 10. The information center 10 transmits the information to the information terminal 20 on the basis of the information acquired from the information terminal 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, an information providing system, and an information providing method for providing information to an information terminal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system is known in which a user requests an information center operator to set a destination, and the destination data searched in the information center is transmitted to an in-vehicle device (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-3-291522

  However, in the conventional system, since the information on the destination that the user wants to set is not registered in the information center database, there is a problem that the information cannot be provided to the user because the information does not exist. there were.

(1) An information providing apparatus, an information providing method, and an information providing system according to the present invention search for information based on a request from a user, and when information requested by the user does not exist as a result of the information search. An information search request is sent to the information terminal that has requested information, information retrieved by the information terminal is received based on the information search request, and information is transmitted to the information terminal that has requested information based on the received information. It is characterized by doing.
(2) The information providing system according to the present invention recognizes the voice uttered by the user at the information terminal, searches for information requested by the user based on the voice recognition result, and transmits the searched information to the information center. The information center receives information retrieved by the information terminal, and transmits the information to the information terminal that has requested the information based on the received information.
(3) The information providing system according to the present invention searches for information based on a request from a user in an information center, and requests information when the information requested by the user does not exist as a result of the information search. An information search request is issued to the information terminal. The information terminal is searched by the information terminal based on the information search request, and the searched information is displayed.

  According to the information providing apparatus, the information providing method, and the information providing system according to the present invention, even if the information desired by the user is not registered in the information center database, the information desired by the user is provided to the user. can do.

-First embodiment-
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information providing system according to the first embodiment. In the information providing system in the first embodiment, the user calls the operator of the information center 10 to convey the desired information, and the information retrieved on the information center 10 side is transmitted via the wireless communication to the in-vehicle device 20. Sent to. The information desired by the user is, for example, destination data for setting in the in-vehicle device 20 having a function as a car navigation device. Although only one in-vehicle device 20 is shown in FIG. 1, the information center 10 can communicate with a plurality of in-vehicle devices 20.

  The information center 10 includes a processing device 11, an input device 12, an information database 13, a voice communication device 14, and a data communication device 15. The input device 12 is, for example, a keyboard, and an operator waiting in the information center 10 inputs a keyword or the like for searching for information. The information database 13 stores various information to be transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 such as information on a facility for setting the in-vehicle device 20 as a destination.

  The processing device 11 searches the information desired by the user from the information stored in the information database 13 based on the keyword input to the input device 12. If information corresponding to the keyword input to the input device 12 does not exist in the information database 13, the information search is requested to the in-vehicle device 20 that has requested the information.

  The voice communication device 14 is a telephone, for example, and is used when an operator has a conversation with a user. The data communication device 15 performs data communication with the in-vehicle device 20. For example, information (data) retrieved by the processing device 11 is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20. In addition, when information corresponding to the keyword input to the input device 12 does not exist in the information database 13, data for searching for information on the in-vehicle device 20 side is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20, and the in-vehicle device 20 side Receive information retrieved by.

  The in-vehicle device 20 that also functions as a car navigation device includes a processing device 21, an input device 22, a display 23, an information database 24, a voice communication device 25, and a data communication device 26. The input device 22 is various operation members for the user to input various instructions to the in-vehicle device 20. The display 23 displays a recommended route to the destination, a map around the vehicle, information transmitted from the information center 10, and the like.

  The information database 24 includes registered locations and destinations set by the user in the car navigation device, routes registered in the past by the user, routes that have passed in the past, frequently used routes, frequently used interchanges (ICs), service areas Information such as past registration history information, past travel history information, and the like such as (SA) and parking area (PA) is stored.

  The processing device 21 performs general processing as a car navigation device, such as calculation of a recommended route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination. In addition, when data for information retrieval is transmitted from the information center 10, information is retrieved from information stored in the information database 24.

  The voice communication device 25 is, for example, a telephone, and is used when a user has a conversation with an operator waiting in the information center 10. The data communication device 15 performs data communication with the information center 10 and exchanges data (information).

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing performed in the information providing system in the first embodiment. The processing from step 10 to step S60 is processing performed by the processing device 21 of the in-vehicle device 20, and the processing from step S100 to step S160 is processing performed by the processing device 11 of the information center 10. Here, the flow of processing when the user requests the information center 10 to set the destination on the vehicle-mounted device 20 will be described. The user uses the voice communication device 25 to make a call to the information center 10 and request an operator waiting in the information center 10 to set a desired destination. When the user requests the operator to set a destination, the operator uses the input device 12 to input a keyword for destination setting and searches for the destination.

  In step S100, the processing device 11 of the information center 10 determines whether or not a destination search instruction has been input. If the operator determines that a keyword for destination search has been input using the input device 12, the process proceeds to step S110. If the operator determines that the keyword has not yet been input, the process stands by in step S100.

  In step S110, the information database 13 is searched for a destination according to the input keyword. In step S120 following step S110, it is determined whether or not a destination corresponding to the keyword exists in the information database 13. If it is determined that the destination corresponding to the keyword exists in the information database 13, the process proceeds to step S150. If it is determined that the destination corresponding to the keyword does not exist in the information database 13, the process proceeds to step S130. .

  In step S <b> 130, the in-vehicle device 20 automatically creates data for searching for a destination, and transmits the created data to the in-vehicle device 20 via the data communication device 15. This data includes at least a keyword for destination search input by the operator using the input device 12 in step S100.

  In step S <b> 10, the processing device 21 of the in-vehicle device 20 determines whether or not data for searching for a destination has been received from the information center 10. If it is determined that the data for searching the destination is received via the data communication device 26, the process proceeds to step S20. If it is determined that the data is not received, the process waits in step S10 until the data is received.

  In step S20, based on the data received from the information center 10, a process for searching for a destination corresponding to the keyword from the information database 24 is performed. This process is automatically started by receiving data from the information center 10 without requiring an instruction from the user. When the destination is searched, the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, the searched destination data is transmitted to the information center 10 via the data communication device 26, and the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40, the search result, that is, the information of the searched destination is displayed on the display 23.

  In step 140, the processing device 11 of the information center 10 determines whether or not the destination data retrieved on the in-vehicle device 20 side has been received. If it is determined that the destination data as a search result has been received via the data communication device 15, the process proceeds to step S150. If it is determined that the destination data has not been received, the process waits in step S140.

  When the destination data as the search result is received from the in-vehicle device 20, the operator of the information center 10 determines the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 by conversation with the user. For example, if there is only one search result, it is confirmed whether or not it is correct at the searched destination. If there are a plurality of search results, an appropriate one of the plurality of search results can be selected by conversation with the user. The right destination. The user can talk with the operator while confirming the search result displayed on the display 23. When the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 is determined, the operator uses the input device 12 to input an instruction indicating that the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined. In step S150, based on the input to the input device 12, it is determined whether or not a destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined, that is, whether or not information (data) to be transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined. . If it determines with the data transmitted to the vehicle equipment 20 not having been determined, it will wait in step S150, and if it determines with having determined, it will progress to step S160. In step S <b> 160, the determined destination data is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 via the data communication device 15.

  In step S <b> 50, the processing device 21 of the in-vehicle device 20 determines whether or not destination data has been received from the information center 10 via the data communication device 26. If it is determined that the destination data has not been received, the process waits in step S50. If it is determined that the destination data has been received, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, the received destination data is set in the in-vehicle device 20 functioning as a car navigation device.

  According to the information providing system in the first embodiment, when the information requested by the user is not stored in the information database 13 of the information center 10, the in-vehicle device 20 that has requested the information is requested to retrieve the information. The information retrieved by the in-vehicle device 20 is acquired and transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20. Thereby, even when the information which a user requests | requires does not exist in the information center 10 side, the information which a user requests | requires can be transmitted to the vehicle equipment 20 based on the information which exists in the vehicle equipment 20 side. At this time, since the user only requests information from the operator as usual, it is not necessary to perform an operation for searching for information on the in-vehicle device 20 side, so the burden on the user does not change.

  As described above, according to the information providing system in the first embodiment, the information center 10 can acquire the information stored in the information database 24 of the in-vehicle device 20 and transmit it to the in-vehicle device 20. it can. Thereby, the information center 10 can acquire the facility and place registered in the vehicle-mounted device 20 by the user in the past and the data of the destination registered in the past from the vehicle-mounted device 20 and set the data in the vehicle-mounted device 20. . Similarly, a waypoint set in the past by the user or a route point on the route traveled in the past can be set in the in-vehicle device 20. Thereby, even a user who is not good at setting destinations and waypoints to the car navigation device can request destinations and waypoints only by requesting setting of the destinations and waypoints through a conversation with the operator of the information center 10. Can be set.

-Second Embodiment-
In the information providing system according to the first embodiment, when the information desired by the user is not stored in the information database 13 of the information center 10, the information search based on the keyword is requested to the in-vehicle device 20 side. In the information providing system in the second embodiment, the in-vehicle device 20 recognizes the voice when the user is having a conversation with the operator, detects a keyword for information search, and based on the detected keyword. Search information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information providing system according to the second embodiment. The in-vehicle device 20 in the second embodiment includes a voice recognition device 30 in addition to the configuration of the in-vehicle device in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The voice recognition device 30 performs voice recognition processing on the voice uttered by the user.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing contents performed in the information providing system according to the second embodiment. The processing from step 1 to step S60 is processing performed by the processing device 21 of the in-vehicle device 20, and the processing from step S100 to step S160 is processing performed by the processing device 11 of the information center 10. Here, the flow of processing when the user requests the information center 10 to set the destination on the in-vehicle device 20 will be described. The user uses the voice communication device 25 to make a call to the information center 10 and request an operator waiting in the information center 10 to set a desired destination. When the user makes a destination setting request, the process of step S1 is started. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are given to the steps that perform the same processes as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1, the voice recognition device 30 performs a process of recognizing the voice of the user during a conversation with the operator, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, a keyword for searching for a destination is detected based on the voice recognition result performed in step S1, and the destination desired by the user is searched from the information database 24 based on the detected keyword. . The keyword for searching for a destination is, for example, a place name or a facility name.

  In step S3 following step S2, it is determined whether or not destination information based on the detected keyword exists in the information database 24. If it is determined that the destination information exists in the information database 24, the process proceeds to step S4. If it is determined that the destination information does not exist, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S <b> 4, the searched destination information is transmitted to the information center 10 via the data communication device 26. When the information of the searched destination is transmitted to the information center 10, the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40, the search result, that is, the information of the searched destination is displayed on the display 23, and the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S100, the processing device 11 of the information center 10 determines whether or not a destination search instruction has been input. If the operator determines that the destination keyword requested by the user has been input using the input device 12, the process proceeds to step S110A. If the operator determines that the keyword has not yet been input, the process stands by in step S100.

  In step S110A, a destination corresponding to the input keyword is searched. At this time, if information on the destination is transmitted from the in-vehicle device 20 to the information center 10 in step S4, the information on the transmitted destination is stored in the information database 13. Search destinations according to keywords from information. When the destination corresponding to the keyword is searched, the process proceeds to step S150.

  The operator of the information center 10 determines a destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 through conversation with the user. The user can talk with the operator while confirming the search result displayed on the display 23. When the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 is determined, the operator uses the input device 12 to input an instruction indicating that the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined. In step S150, based on the input to the input device 12, it is determined whether the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined, that is, whether the information (data) to be transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined. . If it determines with the information transmitted to the vehicle equipment 20 not being determined, it will wait in step S150, and if it determines with having determined, it will progress to step S160. In step S <b> 160, the determined destination data is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 via the data communication device 15.

  In step S <b> 50, the processing device 21 of the in-vehicle device 20 determines whether or not destination data has been received from the information center 10 via the data communication device 26. If it is determined that the destination data has not been received, the process waits in step S50. If it is determined that the destination data has been received, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, the received destination data is set in the in-vehicle device 20 functioning as a car navigation device.

  According to the information providing system in the second embodiment, the in-vehicle device 20 performs a process of recognizing the user's voice when talking with the operator of the information center 10, and based on the voice recognition result, A search is performed and the searched information is transmitted to the information center 10. The information center 10 searches the information desired by the user from the information received from the in-vehicle device 20 and the information stored in the information database 13 and transmits the information to the in-vehicle device 1. Thereby, even when the information which a user requests | requires does not exist in the information center 10 side, the information which a user requests | requires can be transmitted to the vehicle equipment 20 based on the information which exists in the vehicle equipment 20 side. Since the in-vehicle device 20 recognizes the voice uttered by the user and performs a process of searching for information, there is no need for the user to perform an operation for searching for information on the in-vehicle device 20 side.

-Third embodiment-
In the information providing system in the first embodiment, when the information desired by the user does not exist in the information database 13 of the information center 10, the in-vehicle device 20 is requested to search for information, and the in-vehicle device 20 searches for the information. Information is transmitted to the information center 10. In the information providing system according to the third embodiment, when the information desired by the user does not exist in the information database 13 of the information center 10, the in-vehicle device 20 is requested to search for information, and the in-vehicle device 20 performs the search. Without transmitting information to the information center 10, a process of narrowing down necessary information on the in-vehicle device 20 side is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing contents performed in the information providing system according to the third embodiment. The processing from step 10 to step S60 is processing performed by the processing device 21 of the in-vehicle device 20, and the processing from step S100 to step S160A is processing performed by the processing device 11 of the information center 10. Here, the flow of processing when the user requests the information center 10 to set the destination on the in-vehicle device 20 will be described. The user uses the voice communication device 25 to make a call to the information center 10 and request an operator waiting in the information center 10 to set a desired destination. When the user makes a destination setting request, the process of step S100 is started. Note that steps that perform the same processes as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The processing from step S100 to step S130 performed on the information center 10 side is the same as the processing from step S100 to step S130 in the flowchart shown in FIG. If it is determined in step S120 that the destination corresponding to the keyword exists in the information database 13, the process proceeds to step S150A. In step S150A, based on the input to the input device 12, it is determined whether the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined, that is, whether information (data) to be transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined. . When the operator of the information center 10 determines a destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 through conversation with the user, and inputs an instruction indicating that the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 is input using the input device 12, the step Proceed to S160A. In step S <b> 160 </ b> A, the determined destination data is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 20 via the data communication device 15.

  The process of step S10 and step S20 performed on the vehicle equipment 20 side is the same as the process of step S10 and step S20 of the flowchart shown in FIG. If the destination corresponding to the keyword is searched from the information database 24 based on the data received from the information center 10 in step S20, the process proceeds to step S40A.

  In step S40A, the search result is displayed on the display 23. At this time, when the information on the destination as a search result is transmitted from the information center 10 to the vehicle-mounted device in step S160A, the information on the destination transmitted from the information center 10 is also displayed. To do. In addition, a display prompting the user to determine the destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 is also performed. The user issues a destination determination instruction using the input device 22 based on the destination information displayed on the display 23. For example, when a plurality of destinations as search results are displayed, an instruction to select a desired destination is issued.

  In step S45 following step S40A, it is determined whether or not a destination to be set in the in-vehicle device 20 has been determined. When the destination determination instruction is input from the input device 22, the process proceeds to step S60, and when it is determined that the determination instruction is not issued, the process waits at step S45. In step S60, the destination data determined on the in-vehicle device 20 side is set in the in-vehicle device 20 functioning as a car navigation device.

  According to the information providing system in the third embodiment, when the information requested by the user is not stored in the information database 13 of the information center 10, the information requesting system is requested to retrieve the information from the in-vehicle device 20 that has requested the information. The information retrieved on the in-vehicle device 20 side is provided to the user without being transmitted to the information center 10. Thereby, even when the information requested by the user does not exist on the information center 10 side, the information present on the in-vehicle device 20 side can be provided to the user. Also in this case, since the user only requests information from the operator as usual, it is not necessary to perform an operation for searching for information on the in-vehicle device 20 side, so the burden on the user does not change. Moreover, since the information searched by the vehicle equipment 20 side is not transmitted to the information center 10, a communication cost can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, although the in-vehicle device 20 has been described as including two communication devices, the voice communication device 25 and the data communication device 26, the vehicle-mounted device 20 may include only one communication device that can simultaneously perform voice communication and data communication. Similarly, the information center 10 can also include only one communication device that can simultaneously perform voice communication and data communication.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example has been described in which the user requests the information center 10 to set a destination to the in-vehicle device 20 that functions as a car navigation device. However, the information center 10 transmits to the in-vehicle device 20. The information to be performed is not limited to the destination information to be set in the in-vehicle device 20, and various information can be transmitted based on a request from the user.

  In the information providing system according to the third embodiment, when there is an information search request from the information center 10, the information is searched on the in-vehicle device 20 side, and the information search result is not transmitted to the information center 10, and is sent to the user. Provided. However, as in the information providing system in the second embodiment, the in-vehicle device 20 performs processing for recognizing the user's voice when talking with the operator of the information center 10, and based on the voice recognition result. Information can be searched and the information search result can be provided to the user without being sent to the information center 10.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the information center 10 is described as transmitting information from the information center 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 20, but the information transmission destination is not limited to the information terminal mounted on the vehicle, and other information It may be a terminal.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of claims 1 to 5 of the claims and the constituent elements of each embodiment is as follows. That is, the information database 13 is an information storage means, the processing device 11 is an information search means and an information search request means, the data communication device 15 is an information reception means and an information transmission means, the information center 10 is an information providing device, and an in-vehicle device. 20 each constitutes an information terminal. The correspondence between the constituent elements of claim 6 and the constituent elements of each embodiment is as follows. That is, the information database 24 is information storage means, the speech recognition device 30 is speech recognition means, the processing device 21 is information retrieval means, the data communication device 26 is first information transmission means and first information reception means, The data communication device 15 constitutes a second information transmitting unit and a second information receiving unit, respectively. The correspondence between the constituent elements of claim 7 and the constituent elements of each embodiment is as follows. That is, the information database 13 is the first information storage means, the processing device 11 is the first information search means and the information search request means, the information database 24 is the second information storage means, and the processing device 11 is the second information storage means. The information search means and the display 23 constitute display means. In addition, the above description is an example to the last, and when interpreting invention, it is not limited to the correspondence of the component of said embodiment and the component of this invention at all.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the information provision system in 1st Embodiment The flowchart which shows the processing content performed in the information provision system in 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the whole structure of the information provision system in 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the processing content performed in the information provision system in 2nd Embodiment The flowchart which shows the processing content performed in the information provision system in 3rd Embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information center, 11 ... Processing device, 12 ... Input device, 13 ... Information database, 14 ... Voice communication device, 15 ... Data communication device, 20 ... Car equipment, 21 ... Processing device, 22 ... Input device, 23 ... Display 24 ... Information database, 25 ... Voice communication device, 26 ... Data communication device, 30 ... Voice recognition device

Claims (8)

In an information providing apparatus that searches for information based on a request from a user and transmits the searched information to an information terminal.
Information storage means for storing information;
Information retrieval means for retrieving information requested by the user from information stored in the information storage means;
As a result of the information search by the information search means, if the information requested by the user is not stored in the information storage means, an information search request means for issuing an information search request to the information terminal that has requested information;
Information receiving means for receiving information searched by an information terminal based on an information search request by the information search requesting means;
An information providing apparatus comprising: an information transmitting unit configured to transmit information to an information terminal that has requested information based on information received by the information receiving unit. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information search request means creates data for the information terminal to search for information, and transmits the created data to the information terminal. In the information provision apparatus of Claim 2,
The data for performing the information search is data for performing the same keyword search as the keyword search performed by the information search means. In the information provision apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The information providing apparatus characterized in that the information retrieved by the information terminal and received by the information receiving means includes history information registered in the information terminal in the past. The information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An information providing system comprising: an information terminal including display means for displaying information transmitted from the information providing apparatus. In an information providing system in which a user requests information from an operator of an information center and transmits information searched in the information center to an information terminal,
Information terminal
Information storage means for storing information;
A voice recognition means for recognizing a voice emitted by a user;
Information search means for searching for information requested by the user from information stored in the information storage means based on a voice recognition result by the voice recognition means;
First information transmitting means for transmitting information searched by the information searching means to an information center;
First information receiving means for receiving information transmitted from the information center,
Information center
Second information receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the first information transmitting means;
An information providing system comprising: a second information transmitting unit configured to transmit information to an information terminal that has requested information based on the information received by the second information receiving unit. In an information providing system in which a user requests information from an operator of an information center and transmits information searched in the information center to an information terminal,
Information center
First information storage means for storing information;
First information search means for searching for information requested by a user from information stored in the first information storage means;
An information search request for issuing an information search request to an information terminal that has requested information when the information requested by the user is not stored in the first information storage means as a result of the information search by the first information search means. Means and
Information terminal
A second information storage means for storing information;
A second information search means for searching for information requested by a user from information stored in the second information storage means based on an information search request from the information search request means of an information center;
An information providing system comprising: display means for displaying information retrieved by the second information retrieval means. In an information providing method of searching for information based on a request from a user and transmitting the searched information to an information terminal,
Search for information based on user requests,
If the information requested by the user does not exist as a result of the information search, an information search request is sent to the information terminal that requested the information,
Receive information searched by the information terminal based on the information search request,
An information providing method, comprising: transmitting information to an information terminal that has requested information based on the received information.

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