JP2016102666A - Guidance system and guidance method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a guidance system in which a light-weight cane is interlocked with a portable terminal.SOLUTION: In a guidance system constituted of a cane 11 that a user holds while walking and a portable terminal 12 for processing information acquired by the cane, the cane 11 includes: information acquisition means for acquiring various information for specifying position information by a sensor installed in the cane; and transmission means for transmitting the various information for specifying the acquired position information to the portable terminal. The portable terminal 12 includes: reception means for receiving various information for specifying the position information transmitted from the cane; specification means for specifying the position information of the user from the received information; collation means for collating the specified position information with a walking route on a map application set in the portable terminal; and guidance means for guiding the user to a destination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a guidance system and a guidance method, and more particularly, to a guidance system using a cane and a portable terminal, a guidance method, a guidance information acquisition / transmission system, and a guidance information acquisition / transmission method.

In recent years, a white cane for visually handicapped persons has been equipped with sensors and information communication functions, and a guidance system using an electronic white cane has been developed to guide visually impaired persons to the destination and to convey the user's current location information. Has been. As a guidance system using an electronic white cane, there are the following.

  The guidance system disclosed in Patent Document 1 relates to an ITS pedestrian support system, and as shown in FIG. 10, transmits pedestrian-side transmitter / receiver 19 held by a visually handicapped person and area information from information terminal 7. It is characterized by comprising an optical fiber cable 4 for information transmission and an information transmission mark 17 connected to the optical fiber cable at regular intervals. Thereby, in response to an inquiry signal issued from the pedestrian-side transmitter / receiver 19 possessed by the visually impaired person, the information transmission sign 17 transmits the regional information recorded from the information terminal 7 and can recognize audible sounds and visible images. It can be converted into various forms and communicated to visually impaired people. With the configuration and operation described above, the guidance system of Patent Document 1 can guide and guide a visually impaired person to a destination.

  The guidance system disclosed in Patent Document 2 relates to a visually handicapped person guidance system using an IC tag. As shown in FIG. 11, a white cane 30 held by a visually handicapped person, a passage, etc. It is characterized by comprising an IC tag 20 embedded in the visually impaired person guidance block 10 and a portable terminal 40 possessed by the visually impaired person. A reader is provided near the tip of the white cane 30 so that position information data transmitted from the IC tag 20 in the guide block 10 can be read. The position information data obtained in this way is transmitted to the portable terminal, and the portable terminal 40 can inform the direction to travel and the distance to the destination based on the position information data. With the above-described configuration and operation, the guidance system of Patent Literature 2 can guide and guide a visually handicapped person to a destination.

  The guidance system disclosed in Patent Document 3 relates to a voice guidance device using infrared signals, and includes an infrared signal light receiving unit 39 and a speaker 47 that outputs voice guidance information, as shown in FIG. It is characterized by comprising a voice guidance device 9 and a portable device 11 provided in a white cane 5 possessed by a visually impaired person. The infrared signal receiver 39 provided in the voice guidance device 9 receives the infrared rays transmitted from the portable device 11 and outputs the stored voice information, so that the visually impaired can obtain information on the direction and direction. . With the configuration and operation described above, the guidance system of Patent Document 3 can guide and guide a visually impaired person to a destination.

JP 2002-157678 A JP 2009-222388 A JP-A-9-97002

  However, in the guidance system described above, it is necessary to provide large-scale equipment such as an information terminal for communicating with the electronic white cane, a braille block in which an IC tag is embedded, and a voice guidance device with an infrared light receiving unit. In addition, there is a problem that information for guiding to the destination can be acquired only in the vicinity of the facility.

Furthermore, since communication equipment and information processing devices are mounted on the electronic white cane, the weight of the electronic white cane increases and the hand becomes tired. It was.

  An object of this invention is to provide the guidance system which linked the lightweight cane and portable terminal which solve said subject.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first invention of the present invention is a guidance system comprising a cane that a user holds in walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the cane, wherein the cane Is an information acquisition means for acquiring various information for specifying position information with a sensor installed on the cane, and a transmission means for transmitting various information for specifying the acquired position information to the portable terminal; The portable terminal includes: receiving means for receiving various information for specifying position information transmitted from the cane; specifying means for specifying user position information from the received information; and specifying position information Is a guidance system comprising collation means for collating a walking route on a map application set in a mobile terminal and guidance means for guiding a user to a destination.

  With the guidance system of the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to guide the user to the destination using a lightweight cane and a portable terminal equipped with only a sensor and a communication device.

A second invention of the present invention is a guidance method comprising a walking stick held by a user during walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the walking stick, the walking stick being a sensor installed on the walking stick. Then, various information for specifying the position information is acquired, various information for specifying the acquired position information is transmitted to the portable terminal, and the portable terminal specifies the position information transmitted from the cane. Various kinds of information to be received, the user's location information is identified from the received information, the identified location information is collated with the walking route on the map application set in the mobile terminal, and the user is guided to the destination It is the guidance method characterized by this.

  According to the guidance method of the second invention, it is possible to guide the user to the destination using a lightweight cane and a portable terminal equipped with only a sensor and a communication device.

  A third invention of the present invention is a guidance system comprising a cane that a user holds in walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the cane, the cane being a sensor installed on the cane The information acquisition means for acquiring various information for specifying the position information, and the transmission means for transmitting the various information for specifying the acquired position information to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal, Receiving means for receiving various information for specifying position information transmitted from a cane, specifying means for specifying user position information from the received information, and a map application in which the specified position information is set in a portable terminal A collating means for collating with the above walking route; and a guiding means for guiding the user to the destination, and the cane receives guidance on the distance to the destination at any point. If desired, the information processing device includes an information request signal input means for inputting an information request signal and an information request signal transmission means for transmitting the input information request signal to the portable terminal. An information request signal receiving means for receiving an information request signal is provided, and the guidance system is characterized in that the user can know the distance from the point where the information request signal is input to the destination.

  The guidance system of the third invention provides the user with information on the distance from any point where the user needs guidance information to the destination using a lightweight cane and portable terminal equipped with only a sensor and a communication device. It is possible to improve user convenience.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guidance system comprising a walking stick held by a user during walking and a portable terminal for processing information acquired by the walking stick, wherein the walking stick is a sensor installed on the walking stick. Then, various information for specifying the position information is acquired, various information for specifying the acquired position information is transmitted to the portable terminal, and the portable terminal specifies the position information transmitted from the cane. Various types of information are received, the user's location information is identified from the received information, the identified location information is compared with the walking route on the map application set in the mobile terminal, and the user is guided to the destination And, when the user wants to receive guidance about the distance to the destination at an arbitrary point, the cane inputs an information request signal, and transmits the input information request signal to the mobile terminal. Band terminal receives an information request signal transmitted from the wand, a guidance method for a user, characterized in that it possible to know the distance to the destination from a point entering the information request signal.

  The guide method of the fourth invention provides the user with information on the distance from any point where the user needs guide information to the destination using a lightweight cane and mobile terminal equipped with only a sensor and a communication device. It is possible to improve user convenience.

  According to the present invention, by using the communication function, arithmetic processing function, map function, GPS (Global Positioning System) function, voice input function, and voice output function of a small portable terminal such as a smartphone, the cane body Since it only has a sensor and a communication device, it can be made lighter than a conventional electronic white cane. In addition, by operating a switch mounted on the user's cane, it is possible to provide the user with information on the distance from any point where the user needs guidance information to the destination. Will improve.

1 is a schematic configuration of a guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2-1 is a schematic structure of the cane used for the guidance system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 2-2 is a schematic configuration showing a mounting method of an acceleration sensor and an electronic compass mounted on a cane used in the guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic structure of the portable terminal used for the guidance system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the guidance system of 1st Embodiment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view showing the route to the destination and the traveling direction of the user according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the guidance system of 1st Embodiment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the determination method of the shift | offset | difference of a user's advancing direction of 1st Embodiment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the guidance system of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the guidance system of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the conventional guidance system using an optical fiber cable. It is the schematic of the conventional guidance system using an IC tag. It is the schematic of the conventional guidance system using infrared communication.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a guidance system according to the present invention. This guidance system includes a cane 11 held by a user and a portable terminal 12 carried by the user.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the cane 11 is equipped with a sensor 22 that acquires various types of information for specifying user position information inside the handle portion 21. Here, the various information for specifying the position information is physical numerical information such as acceleration and geomagnetism. The cane 11 includes a communication device 23 for communicating with the mobile terminal 12 in the handle portion 21, and transmits various types of information for specifying the position information acquired by the sensor 22 to the mobile terminal 12.

(Sensor 22)
As the sensor 22 used in the present invention, an acceleration sensor 221 and an electronic compass 222 are used. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the acceleration sensor 221 is installed so that the X-axis direction of the acceleration sensor 221 and the direction of the projection-shaped switch 24 provided on the handle portion 21 of the cane 11 coincide. The user can keep the axis of the acceleration sensor 221 always constant by holding the cane 11 so that the projection-shaped switch 24 provided on the cane 11 is directed forward in the traveling direction. Accurate information acquisition is possible. The axis of the acceleration sensor 221 that matches the direction of the projection-shaped switch 24 provided on the handle portion 21 of the cane 11 may be the Y axis.

(Communication device 23)
As the communication device 23 used in the present invention, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication device can be used. The Bluetooth communication device can be realized using an electronic circuit.

(Protrusion-shaped switch 24)
The handle portion 21 of the cane 11 is provided with a protrusion-shaped switch 24. By making the shape of the switch into a protruding shape, the position of the switch can be easily confirmed even if the user is visually impaired. When the user operates the protrusion-shaped switch 24 at an arbitrary point, the communication device 23 communicates with the mobile terminal 12, and the mobile terminal 12 provides guidance information to the user.

(Shaft 25, tip 26)
The shaft 25 of the cane 11 is made of a material having rigidity that can support a person. As the shaft 25, for example, a commercially available cane or a shaft part of a white cane for a blind person can be used. As a material for such a shaft 25, light metal such as wood, aluminum alloy and titanium, and fiber reinforced plastic such as glass fiber and carbon fiber can be used. Further, the tip portion 26 of the shaft 25 may be provided with a rubber anti-slip or a stone bump made of metal or hard plastic.

(Mobile terminal 12)
As shown in FIG. 3, the portable terminal 12 used in the present invention includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a map information unit 33, and voice transmission for communicating with the communication device 23 mounted on the cane 11. Unit 34, voice receiving unit 35, and GPS 36. As such a portable terminal, for example, a smartphone can be used.

(Communication unit 31)
The communication unit 31 receives various types of information for specifying the position information transmitted from the communication device 23 of the cane 11 through a reception operation compliant with the Bluetooth communication standard, and outputs the signal to the control unit 32.

(Control unit 32)
The control unit 32 specifies the position information of the user based on various information for specifying the position information input from the communication unit 31. Next, in order for the user to reach the destination by collating the specified position information with the coordinates of the destination (described in the function description of the voice receiving unit 35) and map information (described in the function description of the map information unit 33). Next, the route to be moved is determined. A method of determining the direction to move next will be described in the operation procedure of the first embodiment. The control unit 32 outputs guidance information based on the determined direction to move next to the voice transmission unit 34. The control unit 32 has a general route search function. The general route search function may be a route search function used in a car navigation system.

(Map information part 33)
The map information unit 33 stores general map information, and can be realized by using a map application that can be used on a mobile terminal.

(Voice transmitter 34)
When the guidance information output from the control unit 32 is input, the voice transmission unit 34 outputs a voice signal corresponding to the guidance information. The audio signal is converted into audio by the earphone connected to the audio transmission unit 34, and the direction in which the user should move is transmitted to the user.

(Voice receiver 35)
The voice receiver 35 has a general voice recognition function. When the user speaks the destination through the microphone connected to the voice receiving unit 35, the voice receiving unit 35 recognizes the destination by a general voice recognition function from the voice signal input from the microphone. The destination information is output to the control unit 32, and the control unit 32 uses the map information unit 33 to determine the coordinates of the destination, that is, the latitude and longitude of the destination.

(GPS36)
The GPS 36 can be realized by using a GPS function mounted on a general mobile terminal.

  The communication unit 31, the control unit 32, the voice transmission unit 34, and the voice communication unit 35 described above can be realized using an electronic circuit.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the guidance system 40 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the guidance system 40 includes various information acquisition means 41 for specifying position information mounted on the wand 11, various information transmission means 42 for specifying position information, Various information receiving means 43 for specifying position information mounted on the terminal 12, position information specifying means 44, position information collating means 45, and guide information transmitting means 46 are provided.

(Various information acquisition means 41 for specifying position information)
As the various information acquisition means 41 for specifying the position information, the sensor 22 mounted on the cane 11 is used to acquire various information for specifying the user's position information.

(Various information transmitting means 42 for specifying position information, and various information receiving means 43 for specifying position information)
The communication device 23 mounted on the cane 11 is used as various information transmitting means 42 for specifying the position information. Various information receiving means 43 for specifying the position information is performed by the communication unit 31 mounted on the portable terminal 12.

(Position information specifying means 44)
The mobile terminal 12 specifies the position information of the user using various information for specifying the received position information and the GPS 36 mounted on the mobile terminal 12. Here, the position information represents the current location and traveling direction of the user by latitude, longitude, and direction. The current location of the user is specified by the GPS 36 mounted on the mobile terminal 12. The traveling direction of the user is determined from the relative acceleration with respect to the axial direction of the acceleration sensor 221 included in various pieces of information for specifying the received position information and the measurement of the azimuth by geomagnetism. When determining the traveling direction of the user, the user can always keep the axis of the acceleration sensor 221 constant by holding the cane 11 so that the projection-shaped switch 24 provided on the cane 11 faces forward in the traveling direction. .

(Position information matching means 45)
As shown in FIG. 5, the position information collating unit 45 uses the user's traveling direction 52 specified by the position information specifying unit 44 as a reference, and the azimuth is θ = 0 to 30 °, more preferably θ = 0 to left and right respectively. Set the range to be 20 °. When the direction of the route 51 to the destination set by the input from the voice receiving unit 35 is included in a range where the azimuth angle is θ = 20 ° with respect to the user's traveling direction 52, guidance information is not necessary. to decide. When the route 51 to the destination is different from the traveling direction 52 of the user, guidance information for allowing the user to return to the route to the destination is determined.
By setting the range where θ = 0 to 30 °, even if the visually handicapped person uses the cane 11 while swinging left and right, the direction of the route 51 to the destination is included in the set range. As described above, the user can be guided to the destination without determining that the route 51 to the destination and the traveling direction 52 of the user are deviated. Moreover, by setting θ = 0 to 20 °, it becomes possible to provide more accurate guidance, and the possibility that a visually impaired person is lost in the direction to proceed is extremely reduced.

(Guidance information transmission means 46)
The guidance information transmission unit 46 uses the voice transmission unit 34 to transmit guidance information for enabling the user to return to the route to the destination determined by the location information matching unit 45 from the portable terminal 12. Provide as audio.

(Operation procedure)
The guidance system 40 of this embodiment operates according to the following procedure according to the operation flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step S1)
When the user receives guidance to the destination, first, the destination is set by the voice receiving unit 35. The destination is set by inputting the destination name by voice. Or you may perform by the manual input by the character input pad normally mounted in the portable terminal, or touch panel operation.

(Step S2)
When the destination is set, the mobile terminal 12 sets a route to the destination by the control unit 32, the map information unit 33, and the GPS 36.

(Step S3)
When the guidance to the destination by the portable terminal 12 is started, the voice transmitter 34 guides the distance to the destination and the direction to travel based on the route to the destination set in step S2. The direction to be guided here is a direction along the route to the destination, and is expressed by a direction based on the user's traveling direction 52 such as the front / rear / left / right direction. When a user reaches a point that requires a direction change such as an intersection (hereinafter referred to as a direction change point), the direction from the voice transmission unit 34, the distance to the next direction change point, and the distance to the destination are voiced. Be guided by.

(Step S4)
While using the guidance system 40, the position information specifying means 44 and the position information collating means 45 continue to determine whether or not there is a deviation between the route 51 to the destination and the user's traveling direction 52.

(Step S5)
If it is determined in step S4 that there is no deviation between the route 51 to the destination and the user's traveling direction 52, normal guidance is continued until the destination is reached, and finally the arrival at the destination is guided to the user. And the guidance system 40 is complete | finished.

(Step S6)
If it is determined in step S4 that there is a deviation between the route 51 to the destination and the traveling direction 52 of the user, the mobile terminal 12 returns the user to the set route 51 by the position information matching unit 45. Search for guidance directions and distances to enable.

(Step S7)
According to the search result, the guidance information transmission means 46 guides the user so that the user can return to the route 51 to the destination. For example, if it is determined that the route 51 to the destination indicates north and the user's direction of travel 52 is west when the user is on the route 51 to the destination, “turn 90 ° to the right "The guidance flows. After the user operates according to the guidance, the position information collating means 45 collates that there is no deviation between the route 51 to the destination and the traveling direction 52 of the user, and continues normal guidance.

  Steps S4, S6, and S7 are repeated until the user can arrive at the destination.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
Thus, the road guidance system 40 according to the present embodiment can guide the user to the destination by using the lightweight cane 11 and the portable terminal 12.

<Second Embodiment>
In FIG. 8, the block block diagram of the guidance system 80 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is shown.

  As shown in the block configuration diagram of FIG. 8, the guidance system 80 incorporates the guidance system 40 described in the first embodiment, and in addition to this, the information request signal input means 81 provided in the cane 11, and information The request signal transmitting means 82 and the information request signal receiving means 83 provided in the portable terminal 12 are configured.

  The guidance system 80 includes the guidance system 40 similar to that of the first embodiment, and in addition, includes the following means.

(Information request signal input means 81)
As shown in FIG. 2A, a protrusion-shaped switch 24 is provided on the handle portion 21 of the cane 11. When the user operates the protrusion-shaped switch 24 at an arbitrary point, an information request signal for the user to acquire the distance information to the destination and the direction change point by the guidance system 80 is an information request signal transmission means. 82.

(Information request signal transmitting means 82, information request signal receiving means 83)
The information request signal transmitting means 82 uses the communication device 23 mounted on the cane 11 as with the various information transmitting means 42 for specifying the position information. Further, the information request signal receiving unit 83 is performed by the communication unit 31 mounted on the portable terminal 12 in the same manner as the various information receiving units 43 for specifying the position information.

(Operation procedure)
The guidance system 80 of the present embodiment operates according to the following procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1)
When the user needs the distance information from the current point to the destination or the distance change point after starting the guidance by the guidance system 40 described in the first embodiment, the staff operating means 81, the information request signal An information request signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal 12 by the transmission means 82.

(Step S2)
The mobile terminal 12 uses the position information specifying means 44 and the position information collating means 45 based on various information for specifying the position information at the time when the information request signal is received by the information request signal receiving means 83. Search the distance information from the user's current location to the destination and the direction change point.

(Step S3)
According to the search result, the portable terminal 12 provides the distance information from the user's current location to the destination and the direction change point as voice guidance by the guidance information transmission means 46.

(Effect of 2nd Embodiment)
Thus, the guidance system 80 according to the present embodiment can guide the user to the destination by using the lightweight cane 11 and the portable terminal 12. In addition, by operating the switch on the user's cane, it is possible to provide the user with information about the distance from any point where the user needs guidance information to the destination. Will improve.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Cane 12 ... Portable terminal 21 ... Handle part 22 ... Sensor 221 ... Acceleration sensor 222 ... Electronic compass 23 ... Communication apparatus 24 ... Projection-shaped switch 25 ... Shaft 26 ... Tip 31 ... Communication part 32 ... Control part 33 ... Map information part 34 ... Voice transmitter 35 ... Voice receiver 36 ... GPS
40 ... Guiding system 41 ... Various information acquisition means 42 for specifying position information 42 ... Various information transmitting means 43 for specifying position information 43 ... Reception of various information for specifying position information Means 44 ... Position information specifying means 45 ... Position information collating means 46 ... Guidance information transmission means 50 ... Road 51 ... Route 52 to the destination ... Direction of travel of the user 80 ... Guide system 81: Information request signal input means 82: Information request signal transmission means 83: Information request signal reception means

Claims (4)

A guidance system comprising a cane held by a user during walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the cane, wherein the cane is a sensor installed on the cane for specifying position information An information acquisition unit for acquiring various types of information; and a transmission unit for transmitting various types of information for specifying the acquired position information to the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal specifies the location information transmitted from the cane Receiving means for receiving various types of information, specifying means for specifying user position information from the received information, and checking means for checking the specified position information with a walking route on a map application set in a mobile terminal And a guide means for guiding the user to the destination. A guide method comprising a cane held by a user during walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the cane, wherein the cane is a sensor installed on the cane for specifying position information Acquire various information, transmit the various information for specifying the acquired position information to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal receives the various information for specifying the position information transmitted from the cane, A guidance method characterized by identifying position information of a user from the received information, collating the identified position information with a walking route on a map application set in a mobile terminal, and guiding the user to a destination.   A guidance system comprising a cane held by a user during walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the cane, wherein the cane is a sensor installed on the cane for specifying position information An information acquisition unit for acquiring various types of information; and a transmission unit for transmitting various types of information for specifying the acquired position information to the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal specifies the location information transmitted from the cane Receiving means for receiving various types of information, specifying means for specifying user position information from the received information, and checking means for checking the specified position information with a walking route on a map application set in a mobile terminal And guide means for guiding the user to the destination, and the cane is an information request message when the user wants to receive guidance on the distance to the destination at an arbitrary point. Information request signal input means for inputting the information request signal, and information request signal transmission means for transmitting the input information request signal to the portable terminal. The portable terminal in the previous period receives the information request signal transmitted from the wand. A guidance system comprising an information request signal receiving means and capable of knowing a distance from a point where a user inputs an information request signal to a destination. A guidance system comprising a cane held by a user during walking and a portable terminal that processes information acquired by the cane, wherein the cane is a sensor installed on the cane for specifying position information Acquire various information, transmit the various information for specifying the acquired position information to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal receives the various information for specifying the position information transmitted from the cane, The user's position information is identified from the received information, the identified position information is collated with a walking route on a map application set in the mobile terminal, the user is guided to a destination, and the cane is When it is desired to receive guidance on the distance to the destination at an arbitrary point, an information request signal is input, and the input information request signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal. Receiving the signal information request signal, guidance how users, wherein to be able to know the distance to the destination from a point entering the information request signal.

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