JPH10160503A - Navigation apparatus by speech synthesis and navigation system by speech synthesis - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus which can perform exact navigation for a user by speech synthesis even without a display device such as a display, etc. SOLUTION: In the navigation apparatus comprising a user location detection part 101 for positioning a user's location on the earth at each time instant, a line of user's sight detecting part 102 for detecting the line of sight of a user at a detected location, a map data storage part 014 where map data for objects on the earth are stored, and a speech synthesizing part 105 for outputting voice to the outside thereof by speech synthesis, the control part 103 seeks an object locating in the direction of line of user's sight detected through referencing the map data. Then, the control part 103 controls the speech synthesizing part 105 so as to output voice notifying an attribute data of the object.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus using speech synthesis for navigating an explanation of an object present in the direction of a user's line of sight by speech, and a navigation system using speech synthesis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, navigation devices have been increasingly mounted on automobiles and the like. This type of navigation device uses a satellite to detect the user's position on the ground, and displays map information created based on the position data on a display device such as a display, thereby providing the user with the information. I was doing navigation.

[0003]

However, the conventional navigation device requires a display device such as a display to display map information, and has a problem that the configuration of the entire navigation device becomes large.

[0004] Further, for example, when a navigation device is mounted on an automobile or the like, the driver may watch the display screen of the navigation device while driving, which is extremely dangerous in operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a navigation device using voice synthesis and a navigation system using voice synthesis that can perform accurate navigation for a user without a display device such as a display. The purpose is to:

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus using speech synthesis, comprising: a user position detecting section for detecting a position of a user on the earth at each time; A user gaze direction detection unit that detects a user gaze direction at a position detected by the position detection unit, a map data storage unit that stores map data of an object on the earth, and outputs voice to the outside by voice synthesis A voice synthesizing unit, an object present in the user's line-of-sight direction detected by the user line-of-sight direction detecting unit is obtained by referring to data in the map data storage unit, and the attribute data of the object is voiced by the voice synthesizing unit. And a control unit for controlling the output.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis, in the first aspect, the map data storage section exists in a spatial region on the earth or a three-dimensional plane dividing the space. An area database in which three-dimensional position coordinates of points characterizing an object are registered, and an object identification indicating what kind of object on the earth is formed by each point characterizing the object registered in the area database. It has a coordinate database in which data is registered, and an attribute database in which the attribute data is registered corresponding to the object identification data in the coordinate database.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the second aspect, the division of the space on the earth with respect to the three-dimensional plane includes the steps of characterizing an object on the earth existing in each space area. Is performed until a certain number is less than a certain number.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the second or third aspect of the invention.
The division of the space on the earth in the three-dimensional plane is performed finely in a place where the density of objects on the earth is high, and coarsely in a place where the density is low.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation apparatus based on speech synthesis, in the first to fourth aspects, the user position detecting section detects the position of the user by referring to radio wave information from a satellite. It is what it was.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation apparatus based on speech synthesis, in the first to fourth aspects, the user position detecting section refers to radio wave information from an antenna fixed on the ground to determine a position of the user. Is detected.

In the navigation system using speech synthesis according to the seventh invention, map data storage means for storing map data of an object on the earth is prepared in advance, and the position of the user on the earth at each time is detected. Performs a user position detection process and a user gaze direction detection process for detecting a user gaze direction at a position detected by the user position detection process, and exists in a user gaze direction detected by the user gaze direction detection process. The object to be processed is obtained by referring to the data in the map data storage unit, and the attribute data of the object is output as voice by voice synthesis.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system using voice synthesis, in the seventh aspect, the map data storage means exists in the spatial area on the earth or a three-dimensional plane dividing the space. An area database in which three-dimensional position coordinates of points characterizing an object are registered, and an object identification indicating what kind of object on the earth is formed by each point characterizing the object registered in the area database. It has a coordinate database in which data is registered, and an attribute database in which the attribute data is registered corresponding to the object identification data in the coordinate database.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system using speech synthesis according to the eighth aspect, the division of the space on the earth with respect to the three-dimensional plane is characterized by the fact that an object on the earth existing in each space region is characterized. Is performed until a certain number is less than a certain number.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system based on speech synthesis according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the division of the space on the earth with respect to the three-dimensional plane is performed in a place where the density of objects on the earth is high. In a place where the density is small and the density is low, the process is performed roughly.

In a navigation system using speech synthesis according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the seventh to tenth aspects, the user position detecting process detects a user position with reference to radio wave information from a satellite. It was made.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system based on speech synthesis, in the seventh to tenth aspects, the user position detection processing is performed by referring to radio wave information from an antenna fixed on the ground. Is detected.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation apparatus using voice synthesis according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The navigation apparatus using voice synthesis includes a user position detecting unit 101 for detecting the position of the user on the earth at each time, and a user position detecting unit 10.
1, a user gaze direction detecting unit 102 for detecting a gaze direction of the user at the position detected by the control unit 1, a control unit 103 for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and a map data storage unit for storing map data of an object on the earth. The voice synthesizing unit 104 includes a voice synthesizing unit 104 and a voice synthesizing unit 105 that outputs voice to the outside by voice synthesis.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the field of view of a user wearing the navigation device of the present embodiment. In this example, as shown in FIG. Building, Building B, Building C, Building D, Building E)
Is visible.

FIG. 3 shows the position and direction of the user's line of sight as viewed from above. This figure 3
In the above, Si represents a spatial region on the earth or a three-dimensional plane Si that divides the space. A certain number of points (for example, 10
0 or more), the spatial region Si is
It is divided into 0 and a space area Si1.

The space area Si0 is an area satisfying (Vi.X-Wi≥0) in the space area Si, and the space area Si1 is (Vi.X-Wi <0) in the space area Si.
Is the region that satisfies In the division of the space, a certain number of points (for example, one
00) or less.

The space is divided finely in places where the density of objects on the earth is high, and coarsely in places where the density is low.

FIG. 4 shows an object on the earth shown in FIG.
The state registered in the area database in the map data storage unit 104 is shown.

Here, when Si is a non-terminal node,
Values (Vi, Wi) characterizing the plane (Vi.X-Wi = 0) are registered in the node Si. When Si is a terminal node, the three-dimensional position coordinates of points characterizing an object existing in the region are registered in the node Si (FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a coordinate database which indicates what kind of object on the earth each point registered in the area database of FIG. 4 is. Can be searched. The coordinate database is in the map data storage unit 104.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an attribute database in which a set of triangular patches having the shape of the outline of the object is registered for the name of the object.

The attribute database also stores descriptions of objects and the like, and exists in the map data storage unit 104.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of this embodiment. The operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing in this flowchart is performed by the control unit 103.

First, in step S701, the position of the user and the direction of the user's line of sight are determined. The user position detecting unit 101 obtains the three-dimensional position coordinates and time of the user on the earth by using information of radio waves from four artificial satellites by a known method such as GPS.

At this time, the three-dimensional position coordinate of the user on the earth at the obtained time is represented by O. Here, G
Although the user position is detected by the PS, an error of several tens of meters is present in this method. Therefore, if the user position is detected by the DGPS, the error becomes several cm or less. The position may be detected using an antenna fixed on the ground or the like. Further, other position detection methods may be used.

The user line-of-sight direction detection unit 102 obtains a unit vector n in the user line-of-sight direction. Note that the direction of the user's line of sight may be obtained by any method.

Next, in step S702, it is determined in which direction on the earth the object the user is looking at exists. Here, an object that the user is looking at exists on a half line Q that satisfies Q = O + k · nk> 0.

In the following steps, a method for extracting the attributes of the object viewed by the user will be described.

First, in step S703, a search is made in the area database to find in which area the position O of the user exists. As shown in FIG. 8, regarding the plane S, since (V.OW <0), the user exists in the S1 area. Regarding the plane S1, (V1 · OW1>
0), the user is in the S10 area. Plane S10
Since (V10 · O-W10 ≧ 0), the user exists in the S100 area.

As for the plane S100, (V100 ·
Since O-W100 ≧ 0), the user exists in the area on the S1000 side. Regarding the plane S1000, (V1000 · O-W1000
.Gtoreq.0), the user exists in the S10000 area. Since the area S10000 is the terminal node (FIG. 4), the position of the user has been determined. The area S10000 is the first search area.

Next, in step S704, it is determined whether or not an object that intersects the half line Q exists in the search area. Since there is no object that intersects the half line Q in the area S10000 (FIG. 4), the process proceeds to step S705 to find the next search area.

Since the sibling area S10001 of the area S10000 does not intersect with the half line Q, no object intersects with the half line Q in the area S1000. The sibling area S1001 of the area S1000 is
Since it does not intersect with the half line Q, no object intersects with the half line Q in the area S100.

The sibling area S101 of the area S100 has a half-line Q
Therefore, an object that intersects with the half line Q may exist in the area S101. Since the child region S1010 of the region S101 intersects with the half line Q, there may exist an object which intersects with the half line Q. However, since the child region S1011 does not intersect with the half line Q, there is no object which intersects with the half line Q.

The child areas S10100 and S10101 of the area S1010
Intersects the half line Q, but since the area S10101 is closer to the camera position O, the area S10101 is set as the next search area. Here, the area S10 is obtained from the area database (FIG. 4).
The three-dimensional coordinates of all points registered in 101 are extracted. Here, points B1, B2, B3, and B4 are extracted. The coordinate database (FIG. 5) is searched using each of these coordinates as a key, and the name of the object including these points is extracted. Here, the name “B Building” is extracted.

Next, the attribute database (FIG. 6) is searched using the name "B Building" as a key, and triangular patch data (B1, B2, B3), (B1,
B2, B4), (B1, B4, B3), (B4, B2,
B3) is taken out and it is checked whether or not these triangles intersect with the half line Q. Here, these triangles are represented by a half line Q
(FIG. 8), the process proceeds to step S705.
Find the next search area.

Since the sibling area S10100 of the area S10101 intersects the half line Q, it is set as the next search area. Here, the three-dimensional coordinates of all the points registered in the area S10100 are extracted from the area database (FIG. 4). Here, points D1, D2, and D4 are extracted. Using these coordinates as keys, a coordinate database (FIG. 5) is searched to extract the name of the object including these points. Here, the name “D building” is extracted.

Next, the attribute database (FIG. 6) is searched using the name “D building” as a key, and triangular patch data (D1, D2, D3), (D1,
D2, D4), (D1, D4, D3), (D4, D2,
D3) is taken out, and it is checked whether or not these triangles intersect with the judgment line Q. Here, the triangles (D1, D2, D
4), (D1, D3, D4) intersect with the decision line Q (FIG. 8), so that the triangle (D1, D3) closer to the camera position O
2, D4) and the half line Q, that is, k (> 0)
Find the value of

Next, the process proceeds to step S706, in which information relating to the object "D building" viewed by the user is extracted.
The voice is output by the voice synthesis unit 105 as "D building. The tallest in Japan. The height is 500 m." Here, the gaze direction of the user is an instantaneous value at each time, but an average value over a certain period of time (for example, one second) may be used. In addition, the direction of the user's line of sight is not less than a certain number of times (for example, twice) during a certain time (for example, 3 seconds),
If it intersects with the patch data of the triangle of the specific object, it may be determined that the user is looking at the object.

Further, in the above embodiment, what exactly the user is looking at is determined. However, using the approximate values of the user's position and the user's line of sight,
You may do a rough navigation like "You're going to Yokohama".

[0047]

As described above, according to the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the first aspect of the present invention, navigation is performed by voice to the user. It is possible to easily confirm information about the object that is present.

According to the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the user can accurately know information on the object he is looking at.

According to the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the user can more accurately know information about the object he is looking at.

According to the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the fourth invention, in the second or third invention, the user can obtain information on an object which the user is looking at,
You can know more accurately.

According to the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first to fourth aspects, it is possible to simply and accurately detect the position of the user. it can.

According to the navigation apparatus using speech synthesis according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first to fourth aspects, the position of the user can be easily detected.

According to the navigation system using the speech synthesis according to the seventh invention, the same effect as that of the first invention can be obtained.

According to the navigation system using the speech synthesis according to the eighth invention, the same effect as in the second invention can be obtained in the seventh invention.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the navigation system using voice synthesis has the same advantages as the third aspect of the present invention.

According to the tenth invention, which is a navigation system using voice synthesis, the eighth or ninth invention has the same effect as the fourth invention.

According to the navigation system using speech synthesis according to the eleventh aspect, the same effects as those of the fifth aspect can be obtained in the seventh to tenth aspects.

According to the twelfth invention, which is a navigation system using speech synthesis, the seventh to tenth aspects have the same effect as the sixth aspect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation device using voice synthesis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a field of view of a user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a position and a line-of-sight direction of a user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an area database.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a coordinate database.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an attribute database.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a position and a line-of-sight direction of a user.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 User position detection unit 102 User gaze direction detection unit 103 Control unit 104 Map data storage unit 105 Voice synthesis unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A user position detecting unit for detecting a position of a user on the earth at each time, a user gaze direction detecting unit for detecting a gaze direction of a user at a position detected by the user position detecting unit, A map data storage unit in which map data of the above object is stored, a voice synthesis unit that outputs voice to the outside by voice synthesis, and an object existing in the user's line of sight detected by the user's line of sight detection unit. A control unit for obtaining the attribute data of the object by referring to the data in the map data storage unit and performing control so as to output the attribute data of the object by the voice synthesis unit. 2. The map data storage unit includes: an area database in which three-dimensional position coordinates of points characterizing an object existing in the space area on a space area on the earth or a three-dimensional plane dividing the space are registered; Each point characterizing an object registered in the area database, a coordinate database in which object identification data indicating what constitutes an object on the earth is registered, and in the object identification data in the coordinate database 2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an attribute database in which the attribute data is registered correspondingly. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the division of the space on the earth with respect to the three-dimensional plane is performed until the number of points characterizing the object on the earth existing in each space region becomes equal to or less than a certain number. Navigation device using voice synthesis. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the division of the space on the earth in the three-dimensional plane is performed finely in a place where the density of objects on the earth is high and coarsely in a place where the density is low. 3. A navigation device using voice synthesis according to 3. 5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user position detecting section detects the position of the user by referring to radio wave information from a satellite. . 6. The voice according to claim 1, wherein the user position detecting section detects the position of the user by referring to radio wave information from an antenna fixed on the ground. Navigation device by synthesis. 7. A map data storage means in which map data of an object on the earth is stored in advance, a user position detecting process for detecting a position of the user on the earth at each time, and said user position detecting process. Performing a user gaze direction detection process of detecting the user's gaze direction at the position detected by the user, the object existing in the user's gaze direction detected in the user gaze direction detection process, the object in the map data storage unit A voice-synthesis navigation method characterized in that the data is obtained by referring to data, and the attribute data of the object is output as voice by voice synthesis. 8. The map data storage means includes: an area database in which three-dimensional position coordinates of points characterizing an object existing in the space area or a three-dimensional plane dividing the space on the earth are registered; Each point characterizing an object registered in the area database, a coordinate database in which object identification data indicating what constitutes an object on the earth is registered, and in the object identification data in the coordinate database 8. The navigation system according to claim 7, further comprising an attribute database in which the attribute data is registered. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the division of the space on the earth with respect to the three-dimensional plane is performed until the number of points characterizing the object on the earth existing in each space region becomes equal to or smaller than a certain number. Navigation system using speech synthesis. 10. The division of the space on the earth with respect to the three-dimensional plane is fine in places where the density of objects on the earth is high,
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step is performed roughly in a place where the density is low.
10. A navigation system using voice synthesis according to claim 9. 11. The navigation system using voice synthesis according to claim 7, wherein the user position detection process detects a user position with reference to radio wave information from a satellite. 12. The navigation by voice synthesis according to claim 7, wherein the user position detecting process detects the position of the user by referring to radio wave information from an antenna fixed on the ground. method.