JP2015125681A - Information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing device, an information providing method, an information providing program, and a storage medium for storing the information providing program for enabling a user to easily grasp information of various categories even in a situation where an operation is difficult, or viewing a screen more closely is impossible.SOLUTION: A system control part 2 allows a display part 3 to display areas A0 to A4 arranged for each category, and to display information of categories corresponding to the areas A0 to A4. The system control part 2 controls a voice output part 4 to successively read information of each category, and allows the display part 3 to enlarge and display areas A2 to A4 corresponding to the categories being read.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, an information providing program, and a recording medium storing the information providing program.

  For example, a display unit mounted on a vehicle is provided with a switching button, and by operating the switching button, display contents such as an audio screen can be switched from a navigation screen. However, since the conventional display unit described above can provide only one category of information on one screen, the user has to operate a switching button to obtain various categories of information. For this reason, it is difficult to grasp information of various categories in a situation where it is difficult to operate the switching button, such as during driving or in a hurry. In view of this, there has been proposed a method in which a screen is divided and an area related to navigation and an area related to functions other than navigation (for example, an audio function) are displayed on one screen (Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-66197 A

  However, in situations where it is difficult to see the screen, such as during driving, it is difficult to see at a glance what is displayed even if multiple areas are displayed on one screen and information is displayed in each area as described above. The problem is given as an example. In addition, the display unit described in Patent Document 1 does not have a description regarding a speech reading function, but there is a problem in that it does not know which category information is being read even if the reading is performed. As an example.

  Therefore, the present invention provides, for example, an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, an information providing program, and a storage medium storing the information providing program that can easily grasp various categories of information. Let it be an example of a problem.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a display control unit that performs control to display a region for each of a plurality of categories and information on a category corresponding to the region on the display unit. A voice control unit that controls the voice output unit to output voice information related to the category information corresponding to the area, and the display control unit causes the voice control unit to output the voice control unit. The information providing apparatus is characterized in that the area related to the audio information is displayed with emphasis over other areas.

  The invention described in claim 8 is an information providing method for providing information on a plurality of categories using a display unit and an audio output unit, and displays a plurality of regions provided for each category on the display unit, An area display step for displaying information on a category corresponding to the area; and an audio output step for controlling the audio output unit to output information on each category. In the area display step, the audio output unit The information providing method is characterized in that the area corresponding to the category output from is displayed with emphasis over other areas.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information provision apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the system control part which comprises the information provision apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image displayed on a display part at the time of reading-out shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a navigation area | region.

  Hereinafter, an information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The display control unit causes the display unit to display an area provided for each of a plurality of categories and information on a category corresponding to the area. The voice control unit performs control to cause the voice output unit to output voice information related to the category information corresponding to the region. The display control unit displays an area related to the audio information that the audio control unit outputs to the audio output unit with emphasis over other areas.

  As a result, the voice control unit causes the voice output unit to output the voice information related to the category information corresponding to the area, so that it can be grasped as the voice information even in a situation where the display unit cannot be observed. In addition, since the area related to the audio information output to the audio output unit is displayed with emphasis over other areas, it is easy to grasp which category the audio information output to the audio output unit belongs to. Become.

  Further, the display control unit may display at least one piece of information as a diagram, and the audio control unit may cause the audio output unit to output information related to the diagram. This makes it easier to grasp information.

  Further, the information displayed in the area corresponding to at least one category that is highlighted by the display control unit and the information that is output by the audio output unit may be different from each other. Good. Thereby, more information can be provided.

  Also, the information displayed in the area when the area is highlighted is different from the information displayed in the area when the area is not highlighted. May be. Thereby, more information can be provided.

  Also, one of the areas is a navigation area for displaying navigation information. In the highlighted navigation area, a mark representing traffic information is displayed on the map, and the voice control unit indicates the meaning of the mark. May be output to the audio output unit. This makes it easier to grasp information.

  Also, one of the areas is an information area for displaying news. In the highlighted information area, a headline is displayed, and the audio output unit sends the news about the displayed headline to the audio output unit. You may make it output. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp the outline and details of the news.

  In addition, when a point information acquisition unit that acquires pre-input or registered point information is displayed and the display control unit displays a plurality of news headlines in the information area, the point information acquired by the point information acquisition unit is displayed. Related news may be displayed or output as audio information with priority over other news. Accordingly, the user can know that there is news related to the point information.

  Moreover, the information provision method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention displays the several area | region provided for every category on the display part in the area | region display process, and displays the information of the category corresponding to the said area | region. In the audio output process, the audio output unit is controlled to output information of each category. In the region display step, the region corresponding to the category output from the audio output unit is displayed with emphasis over other regions.

  As a result, the voice control unit causes the voice output unit to output the voice information related to the category information corresponding to the area, so that it can be grasped as the voice information even in a situation where the display unit cannot be observed. In addition, since the area related to the audio information output to the audio output unit is displayed with emphasis over other areas, it is easy to grasp which category the audio information output to the audio output unit belongs to. Become.

  Moreover, it is good also as an information provision program which makes a computer perform the information provision method mentioned above. Since the program is executed by a computer, dedicated hardware or the like is not necessary and can be installed and functioned in a general-purpose information providing apparatus.

  The information providing program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In this way, the program can be distributed as a single unit in addition to being incorporated in the device, and version upgrades can be easily performed.

  Next, the information providing apparatus and the information providing method described above will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an information providing apparatus according to the present invention. An information providing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a display unit 3 and an audio output unit 4 and is a device that provides information on a plurality of categories. In the present embodiment, the information providing apparatus 1 will be described with respect to an example mounted on a vehicle. The categories include, for example, media information on CDs and DVDs, navigation information, information information such as news and local information, private information such as user schedules and received contents of mail, date and time such as date, weather and temperature.・ We have weather information.

  The information providing apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2 that controls the entire apparatus, a display unit 3, an audio output unit 4, a media device 5, a GPS reception unit 6, and a communication unit 8. These are connected by a bus 9. The system control unit 2 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) including a memory such as a RAM (Ramdam Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The CPU of the system control unit 2 operates according to the information providing program recorded in the ROM, and displays information on a plurality of categories obtained from the media device 5, the GPS receiving unit 6, and the communication unit 8 described later on the display unit 3 and the audio. Provided using the output unit 4.

  The display unit 3 is provided, for example, on an instrument panel of a vehicle and includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element, and the like. The display unit 3 displays information on each category in response to a request from the system control unit 2.

  The audio output unit 4 includes, for example, a DAC (digital / analog signal converter), an amplifier, a speaker, and the like. The audio data output from the system control unit 2 is D / A converted by the DAC and then amplified by the amplifier. And output as sound waves from the speaker.

  The media device 5 is composed of, for example, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a BD drive, or an HD drive, and reads out music information and video information recorded on a recording medium such as a CD, DVD, BD, or HD, and performs system control. Send to part 2. The system control unit 2 categorizes and provides information obtained from the media device 5 as media information.

  As is well known, the GPS receiving unit 6 receives radio waves emitted by a plurality of artificial satellites forming a GPS satellite group, obtains current position information of the GPS receiving unit 6, and obtains the current position information. Output to the system control unit 2. And the system control part 2 memorize | stores the input positional information in RAM etc. in time series. The position information includes various data such as longitude, latitude, and detection date / time indicating the position of the vehicle at the time point detected by the GPS receiver 6.

  For example, the communication unit 8 is connected to a network configured by the Internet, a mobile communication network, and the like by wireless communication via a base station. As a result, the system control unit 2 categorizes and provides the news obtained via the network as information information.

  The communication unit 8 is also provided with a VICS (registered trademark) receiver, which makes it possible to transmit from FM multiplex broadcasting, optical (infrared) beacons installed on the road, radio wave (quasi-microwave) beacons, and the like. The received road traffic information (for example, information on traffic information such as traffic jams, accidents, and closed roads) can be received. The system control unit 2 categorizes and provides road traffic information obtained from the VICS receiver of the communication unit 8 as navigation information.

  Furthermore, the communication part 8 is also provided with the Bluetooth module, and is connected to a smart phone or a tablet by wireless communication. The system control unit 2 acquires a personal schedule, a contact book, a mail reception history, and the like stored in a smart phone or a tablet and categorizes them into private information.

  Next, the operation of the information providing apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In response to the predetermined trigger, the system control unit 2 executes the reading process shown in FIG. As this trigger, for example, the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on, a preset time is reached, or the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on in a preset time zone. In addition, as described above, it is conceivable that not only the time and the time zone are triggered, but the place is a trigger. An example of this is starting the engine when you are at home.

  First, the system control unit 2 acquires information on each category (step S1). In this step S 1, the system control unit 2 sends the media information from the media device 5, the GPS reception unit 6, the map database 7 and the navigation information from the VICS receiver of the communication unit 8, the news and the date / time / The private information is acquired from the weather information and the Bluetooth module of the communication unit 8. Next, the system control unit 2 reads out and provides the acquired information of the plurality of categories by the voice output unit 4 (step S2).

  Details of step S2 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the system control unit 2 displays the date / time / weather area A0 at the lower end of the display unit 3, and displays the date / time / weather information in the date / weather area A0. Further, the system control unit 2 functions as a display control unit, displays a media area A1, a navigation area A2, an information area A3, and a private area A4 provided for each category, and displays a category corresponding to each of the areas A1 to A4. Display information.

  That is, media information is displayed in the media area A1, navigation information is displayed in the navigation area A2, information information is displayed in the information area A3, and private information is displayed in the private area A4. These areas A1 to A4 are provided by dividing the area on the screen excluding the date / time area A0 into four. In this embodiment, the upper left of the screen is assigned to the media area A1, the upper right is assigned to the navigation area A2, the lower left is assigned to the information area A3, and the lower right is assigned to the private area A4.

  The system control unit 2 displays a frame surrounding each of the areas A1 to A4 on the display unit 3. Further, the system control unit 2 identifies the category to which each of the areas A1 to A4 belongs by making the background colors of the areas A1 to A4 different from each other or displaying numbers, identifiers, characters, etc. in the areas A1 to A4. It is possible.

  Next, in the information providing process, the system control unit 2 functions as a display control unit and an audio control unit, and controls the audio output unit 4 to sequentially read out information of each category and correspond to the category being read out. The areas A1 to A4 to be enlarged are enlarged. The areas A1 to A4 corresponding to the category being read out by this enlargement are displayed more emphasized than the other areas A1 to A4 corresponding to the category not being read out. More specifically, the system control unit 2 reads out, for example, private information → date / time / weather information → navigation information → information information. Note that media information is not read out in this embodiment because it is updated less frequently.

  When reading the private information, the system control unit 2 displays the private area A4 in an enlarged manner as shown in FIG. 3A, and when reading the navigation information, the system control unit 2 displays the private information A4 in FIG. As shown, when the navigation area A2 is enlarged and displayed and the information information is read out, the information area A3 is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG. However, in this embodiment, the size of the date / time / weather area A0 is not changed even when the date / time / weather information is read out.

  Note that the reading of information does not simply read out the characters displayed in the areas A0, A2 to A4 by voice, but the information being read out, and the information displayed in the areas A0, A2 to A4 at that time, Is different. The different contents are not simply reading out the characters displayed in the areas A0, A2 to A4 as described above, but displaying the marks in the areas A0, A2 to A4 as will be described later, and the meaning of the marks. Or reading information different from the marks displayed in the areas A0 and A2 to A4. In addition, when characters are displayed in the areas A0 and A2 to A4, additionally reading out information other than the characters is included.

  Next, the enlargement of the areas A2 to A4 will be described in detail. The read-out areas A2 to A4 are enlarged in the vertical and horizontal directions to become large areas. The areas A1 to A4 assigned to the left and right (horizontal) of the large area are reduced in size and become small areas. In addition, the areas A1 to A4 allocated above and below (longitudinal) the large area are enlarged in the same manner as the large area, and the vertical is reduced to become a middle area. As a result, the areas A2 to A4 are switched to the large, medium, and small areas according to the switching of the category being read out. The information displayed in the large area is different from the information displayed in the middle / small area, and the amount of information corresponding to the size of the area is displayed.

  Next, specific examples of information displayed in the areas A1 to A4 and information read out by voice will be described. First, an example of private information will be described. When the private information is not read out and the private area A4 is displayed in the small / medium area, the system control unit 2 displays, for example, a mark indicating that today's schedule is entered.

  Next, the system control unit 2 reads out the private information, and when the private area is displayed in the large area, displays the details of the schedule for the day. At this time, the details of the schedule of the day are also read out from the voice output unit 4.

  Next, an example of date / time / weather information will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the system control unit 2 displays a date and time and a weather mark indicating the weather of the day in the date / time area A0. Further, the system control unit 2 reads out the meaning of the weather mark displayed in the date / time / weather area A0 such as “Today's weather is sunny”. Furthermore, if the day is Friday, the system control unit 2 reads out additional information such as “weather on weekends”.

  Next, an example of navigation information will be described with reference to FIG. When the navigation information A2 is not read out and the navigation area A2 is displayed in the small / medium area, the system control unit 2 displays the destination in the navigation area A2, as shown in FIG. "Home" representing the character and the arrival time to the destination are displayed.

  Next, the system control unit 2 reads out the navigation information, and when the navigation area A2 is displayed in the large area, the contents as shown in FIG. 4B are displayed. As shown in the figure, in the large area of the navigation area A2, a map to the destination is displayed. On the map, a current position mark M1 indicating the current position, a destination mark M2 indicating the destination, and the destination. The route R, and a mark representing traffic information such as a caution mark M3 and a traffic congestion line mark M4 are superimposed and displayed. At this time, the system reads out the meaning of the caution mark M3 such as “Nearby XX is closed.” And reads the meaning of the congestion line mark M4 such as “There is a traffic jam near the XX intersection.” The control unit 2 controls the audio output unit 4.

  Next, an example of displaying news as information information will be described. When the information area A3 is not read out and the information area A3 is displayed in the small / medium area, the system control unit 2 displays only the headline of the top news.

  Next, the system control unit 2 reads out the news, and when the information area A3 is displayed in the large area, the large area of the information area A3 includes, for example, the headline of the top news and an image related to the news, Display a summary. At this time, the audio output unit 4 reads out the detailed contents regarding the top news.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which only the top news is read out has been described, but the following example is also conceivable. First, when a plurality of news items are acquired, the system control unit 2 displays headlines of the acquired news items in a large area of the information area A3. At this time, the voice output unit 4 sequentially reads out the outline or details of a plurality of news items on which headlines are displayed. At this time, when the user performs a selection operation such as touching the display screen of the display unit 3, for example, the system control unit 2 displays a detailed content regarding the news read out when the selection operation is performed. Or a bookmark may be attached.

  In the above embodiment, a plurality of news headlines are displayed and the details of the displayed news are read out, but the following examples are also conceivable. First, when there is spot information input or registered in advance, the system control unit 2 functions as a spot information acquisition unit and acquires it. The point information is point information such as a destination input for route search or a pre-registered home. In addition, when a plurality of news headlines are displayed in the information area A3, the system control unit 2 displays news related to the acquired spot information with priority over other news or outputs it as audio information. For example, when displaying a plurality of headlines side by side in the enlarged information area A3, the headlines related to the point information are displayed at the top or bolded for emphasis. It can be displayed so that it can be distinguished from other news. Furthermore, preferentially outputting as voice information means that, for example, when only a part of the news displayed in the information area A3 is read out, the news related to the point information is always included as the read-out news. Read the news related to the location information first, read the detailed information about the news related to the location information, and read the overview of other news, etc. Can be considered. Accordingly, the user can know that there is news related to the point information.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the system control unit 2 causes the display unit 3 to display the areas A1 to A4 provided for each of the plurality of categories and the category information corresponding to the areas A1 to A4. Further, the system control unit 2 performs control for causing the audio output unit 4 to output audio information related to the category information corresponding to the areas A2 to A4, and at this time, the area related to the audio information output to the audio output unit 4 By displaying A2 to A4 with emphasis over the other areas A1 to A4, even if the display unit 3 cannot be viewed thoroughly, it can be grasped as voice information. In addition, since the areas A2 to A4 related to the audio information output to the audio output unit 4 are displayed more emphasized than the other areas A1 to A4, which audio information is output to the audio output unit 4 It becomes easy to understand whether it belongs to a category.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the system control unit 2 displays the navigation information that is at least one of the categories as a figure (the map and the marks M3 and M4 displayed on the map), and the information related to the figure is voiced. The output is output to the output unit 4. This makes it easier to grasp information.

  Moreover, according to the Example mentioned above, the information currently displayed on the expanded area | region A2-A4 and the information output by the audio | voice output part 4 are different contents. Thereby, more information can be provided.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the information displayed in the areas A2 to A4 and the areas A2 to A4, such as navigation information, information information, and private information, are enlarged. It is different from the information displayed in the areas A2 to A4 when not. Thereby, more information can be provided.

  Further, according to the embodiment described above, in the enlarged navigation area A2, the marks M3 and M4 representing traffic information that is easy to visually recognize are displayed, and the meanings of the marks M3 and M4 are read out. This makes it easier to grasp information.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, a headline is displayed in the enlarged information area A3, and news related to the displayed headline is read out. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp the outline and details of the news.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the information category is five media information, navigation information, information information, private information, and date / weather information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Other categories of information may be added.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, information on each category is read out in a predetermined order, but the present invention is not limited to this. The system control unit 2 is configured to enlarge the selected areas A1 to A4 when the user performs a selection operation on each of the areas A1 to A4. Therefore, each category information may be read out in the order corresponding to the history of the selected areas A1 to A4. Specifically, if the user frequently selects the information area A3, the information information may be read out first. If the user hardly selects the private area A4, private information may not be read out. Further, if the system control unit 2 performs a skip operation while reading out, the system control unit 2 may skip reading out the information of the category being read out at that time. In this case, it may be possible not to read out a category that has been skipped many times.

  In addition, as said selection operation and skip operation, the display part 3 is comprised with a touch panel, and the touch operation of this touch panel can be considered, for example. In addition, gesture operations and user interfaces using voice recognition are also conceivable. When speech recognition is used, skipping reading by the speech recognition command may be a skip operation. In addition, a playback request such as designating a reading area with a voice recognition command or wanting to speak the current area again may be selected.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the date / time area A0 is not enlarged when it is read out, but is not limited to this. The date / time area A0 may also be enlarged when it is being read out. In this case, it is conceivable to display not only the weather of the day but also the weather marks of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in the enlarged date / time / weather area A0.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, only four categories are read out from the five categories of date / time information, media information, navigation information, information information, and private information displayed on the display unit 3. I did not read out about media information, but it is not limited to this. For example, all categories may be read out.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the areas A2 to A4 corresponding to the category being read out are enlarged and emphasized, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the areas A2 to A4 corresponding to the category being read out may be displayed with a thicker frame, or the background color may be changed from that of the other areas A2 to A4. Alternatively, the frames of the areas A2 to A4 corresponding to the category being read out may be displayed in a more highlighted manner than the other areas A2 to A4 by blinking or displaying them.

  Further, the above-described embodiments are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Information providing device 2 System control unit (display control unit, voice control unit, point information acquisition unit)
3 Display section 4 Audio output section A1-A4 area M3 Attention mark (mark, figure)
M4 traffic congestion line mark (mark, figure)

Claims (10)

A display control unit that performs control to display an area for each of a plurality of categories and information on a category corresponding to the area on the display unit;
A voice control unit for controlling the voice output unit to output voice information related to the category information corresponding to the area;
With
The information providing apparatus, wherein the display control unit displays the area related to the audio information that the audio control unit outputs to the audio output unit with emphasis over other areas. The display control unit displays at least one information of the category as a diagram,
The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice control unit causes the voice output unit to output information relating to the drawing. The information displayed in the area corresponding to at least one category displayed in the highlighted manner by the display control unit is different from the information output by the audio output unit. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The information displayed in the area when the area is highlighted is different from the information displayed in the area when the area is not highlighted. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information providing apparatus is an information providing apparatus. One of the areas is a navigation area for displaying navigation information,
In the highlighted navigation area, a mark representing traffic information is displayed on the map,
The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the voice control unit causes the voice output unit to output the meaning of the mark. One of the areas is an information area for displaying news,
A headline is displayed in the highlighted information area,
The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice output unit causes the voice output unit to output news about the displayed headline. Provided with a point information acquisition unit for acquiring pre-input or registered point information,
When the display control unit displays a plurality of news headlines in the information area, the news related to the spot information acquired by the spot information acquisition unit is displayed with priority over other news or audio information. The information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information providing apparatus outputs the information as An information providing method for providing information on a plurality of categories using a display unit and an audio output unit,
Displaying a plurality of areas provided for each category on the display unit, an area display step for displaying information on a category corresponding to the area,
An audio output step of controlling the audio output unit and outputting information of each category,
In the region display step, the region corresponding to the category output from the audio output unit is displayed with emphasis over other regions.   An information providing program that causes a computer to execute the information providing method according to claim 8.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the information providing program according to claim 9.

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