WO2007043436A1

WO2007043436A1 - Route guidance device, route guidance method, route guidance program, and computer-readable recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2007043436A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/319972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Munetaka Kojima; Osamu Ueno; Tetsuya Natori
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2005-10-14
Filing date: 2006-10-05
Publication date: 2007-04-19

Abstract

A user information reception section (103) receives, from a mobile body, user information including a language used by the user of the mobile body, and a mobile body-information reception section (101) receives mobile body information including at least a current position and a destination waypoint of the mobile body. Then, a guidance information creation section (102) creates guidance information on guidance of a route to the destination waypoint received by the mobile body-information reception section (101), and a guidance information conversion section (104) converts, based on the user information received by the user information reception section (103), the guidance information created by the guidance information creation section (102) to the language suitable for the user. Further, a transmission section (105) transmits the guidance information converted by guidance information conversion section (104) to the mobile body.

Description

Specification

Route guidance device, route guidance method, route guidance program, and computer-readable recording medium

Technical field

The present invention relates to a route guidance device, a route guidance method, a route guidance program, and a computer-readable recording medium that guide a route to a destination point in a moving body. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described route guidance device, route guidance method, route guidance program, and computer-readable recording medium.

Background art

Conventionally, in a communication type navigation system, an information center receives vehicle position information and destination point information transmitted from a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and the route of the information center. Search the guidance route to the destination with the search device. Then, the information center transmits information on the guidance route searched by the route search device to the vehicle navigation device, and the vehicle navigation device provides vehicle route guidance based on the received information on the guidance route. Do it.

[0003] In addition, when the navigation device power of the vehicle is connected to the information center, the facility as the destination point is specified, and the search request is transmitted by specifying the genre, and the information center searches for the facility according to the search request. In addition, a communication type navigation system that obtains search results in the order of the most frequently used facilities has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-50135

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] However, according to the above prior art, the language used by the vehicle user is not taken into account, and the information center is particularly used in regions where ethnic groups with different languages such as Europe and America frequently move. Route guidance based on the guidance route information transmitted to the vehicle navigation device

An example of the problem is that it is not the language used by the user. Also, since it is not a guide in the user's language, the user must be careful and time sufficient to understand route guidance. One example is the problem that it takes a long time and is preferable for safe driving. Means for solving the problem

[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the route guidance device according to the invention of claim 1 uses a mobile physical strength to receive user information including a language used by a user of the mobile body. User information receiving means, mobile body information receiving means for receiving mobile body information including at least a current position and a destination point of the mobile body, and the destination point received by the mobile body information receiving means. Based on the user information received by the user information receiving means and the guide information generating means for generating guide information related to route guidance, the guide information generated by the guide information generating means is sent to the user. It is characterized by comprising conversion means for converting to a suitable language and transmission means for transmitting the guide information converted by the conversion means to the mobile body.

[0007] Further, the route guidance method according to the invention of claim 8 includes a user information receiving step of receiving user information including a language used by a user of the mobile body from the mobile body, A mobile body information receiving step for receiving mobile body information including at least the current position and the destination point, and a guide information generating step for generating guide information related to the route guidance to the destination point received by the mobile body information receiving step. And converting the guide information generated by the guide information generating step into a language suitable for the user based on the user information received by the user information receiving step; A transmission step of transmitting the guide information converted by the conversion step to the mobile body.

[0008] A route guidance program according to the invention of claim 9 causes a computer to execute the route guidance method according to claim 8.

[0009] A computer-readable recording medium according to the invention of claim 10 records the route guidance program according to claim 9.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a route guidance apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing of the route guidance apparatus that is effective in the present embodiment. It is

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of the server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of the vehicle navigation device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conversion table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the process contents of the server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the contents of the server processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the contents of the server process according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

[0011] 100 route guidance device

101 Mobile information receiver

102 Guide information generator

103 User information receiver

104 Guide information converter

105 Transmitter

106 Road Customs Information Acquisition Department

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a route guidance device, a route guidance method, a route guidance program, and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] (Embodiment)

(Functional configuration of route guidance device)

With reference to FIG. 1, the functional configuration of the route guidance apparatus that works on the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the route guidance device that works on the present embodiment. FIG.

In FIG. 1, a route guidance apparatus 100 includes a moving body information reception unit 101, a guidance information generation unit 102, a user information reception unit 103, a guidance information conversion unit 104, a transmission unit 105, a road custom, And an information acquisition unit 106.

Mobile object information receiving section 101 receives mobile object information from a mobile object. The moving body information is information including the current position of the moving body and the destination point, for example. In addition, the guide information generation unit 102 generates guide information related to route guidance from the current position of the mobile object to the destination point. The guide information is generated based on, for example, the moving body information received by the moving body information receiving unit 101 and the map information recorded on a recording medium (not shown). In addition, the guidance information is information that provides guidance on a route to a destination point, and may be information on a guidance route or a guidance point that calls attention. In addition, it is information that performs voice output or character display using information including road custom information acquired by the road custom information acquisition unit 106 described later.

[0016] User information receiving section 103 receives user information of a user of the moving object from the moving object. User information is information including the language used by the user, for example. The language used by the user may be, for example, the user's native language or a language that the user can easily understand.

[0017] Based on the user information received by the user information receiving unit 103, the guide information converting unit 104 converts the guide information generated by the guide information generating unit 102 into the language used by the user. The conversion to the language used may be, for example, a configuration in which guidance information corresponding to the user's language is selected from guidance information corresponding to a plurality of languages registered in advance.

[0018] The transmission unit 105 transmits the in-house information converted into the language used by the user by the guide information conversion unit 104 to the mobile unit. In addition, the transmission unit 105 sets the destination facility based on the user information received by the user information reception unit 103 and the mobile body information received by the mobile body information reception unit 101. , Send user information that the user will reach. The user information including the arrival of the user may be transmitted according to the needs of the user. For example, emergency destinations such as hospitals and police stations In such a case, the user information may be transmitted to the emergency organization.

The road custom information acquisition unit 106 acquires road custom information in an area including the current position of the mobile body based on the mobile body information received by the mobile body information reception unit 101. The road custom information may be, for example, information on the right / left turn procedures of intersections and traffic signal operations, which may be based on rules specific to each region.

[0020] (Contents of processing of route guidance device)

Next, the contents of the process of the route guidance apparatus 100 that is useful for the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing of the route guidance apparatus that is useful in the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the route guidance apparatus 100 first determines whether or not the moving body information receiving unit 101 has received the moving body information (step S 201). The moving body information is information including the current position and the destination point of the moving body, for example.

[0021] In step S201, the mobile information is awaited and received (step S201: Yes). Subsequently, in step S201, the user information receiving unit 103 moves the mobile information. The user information of the user of the mobile unit that has received is received (step S202). User information is information including the language used by the user, for example. The language used by the user may be, for example, the user's native language or a language that the user can easily understand.

Next, the guide information generating unit 102 generates guide information related to route guidance from the current position of the mobile body to the destination point based on the mobile body information received in step S201 (step S203). The guide information is generated based on, for example, the moving body information received in step S201 and map information recorded on a recording medium (not shown). The guidance information may be information on guidance on a route to a destination point, for example, information on a guidance route or a guidance point for calling attention. Further, it is information that performs voice output or character display using information including road custom information acquired by the road custom information acquisition unit 106.

[0023] Next, the guidance information conversion unit 104 converts the guidance information generated in step S203 based on the user information received in step S202 into the language used by the user. (Step S204). The conversion to the language used may be, for example, a configuration in which the guide information corresponding to the user's language is selected from the guide information corresponding to a plurality of languages registered in advance.

[0024] Then, the transmission unit 105 transmits the guide information converted into the user's language used in step S204 to the moving body (step S205), and the series of processing ends. The transmission unit 105 includes information indicating that the user reaches the destination facility based on the user information received in step S202 and the mobile object information received in step S201. Send user information. The user information including the fact that the user arrives may be sent according to the user's needs. For example, when an emergency organization such as a hospital or police station is the destination, the emergency information is sent to the emergency organization. In contrast, the user information may be transmitted.

[0025] As described above, according to the present embodiment, route guidance information is converted into the user's language based on the user information of the user and transmitted to the mobile unit. Therefore, the user can use the guidance information based on his / her language that is not used by an unfamiliar language, and thus can drive safely.

Example 1

Hereinafter, Example 1 of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, an example in which the route guidance apparatus of the present invention is implemented by a server in a center that communicates with a mobile body such as a vehicle (including a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle) will be described.

[0027] (Hardware configuration of server)

With reference to FIG. 3, the hardware configuration of the server according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of the hardware configuration of the server according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 3, a server 300 is installed in a center that communicates with a vehicle or the like, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303. Non-volatile RAM 304, FDD (flexible disk drive) 305, FD (flexible disk) 306, HDD (hard disk drive) 307, HD (node disk) 308, display 309, communication I / F (Inter Face) 310 and operation IZF311 and force S bus 320 are connected and configured.

The CPU 301 controls the entire apparatus. The ROM 302 stores a basic input / output program. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301. Non-volatile RAM3

04 can retain data even when the power is turned off.

[0030] The FDD 305 controls the data read Z write to the FD 306 according to the control of the CPU 301. The FD 306 is detachable and stores the data written under the control of the FDD 305.

[0031] The HDD 307 reads data from the HD 308 according to the control of the CPU 301.

Control the Z light. HD308 stores the written data according to the control of HDD307.

The data recorded in the FD 306 or HD 308 is, for example, map information, guidance information, a conversion table that associates various languages with guidance information, which will be described later with reference to FIG. The map information may include, for example, road custom information corresponding to vehicle position information. Further, in this figure, the force DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or CD (Compact Disk) described using the FD306 and HD308 as the recording medium may be used. In the first embodiment, map information and the like are recorded on a recording medium such as the FD 306 and the HD 308. However, a configuration in which the map information is acquired from outside the server 300 may be used. In that case, the server 300 acquires map information via the network through, for example, communication IZF310 described later. The acquired map information is recorded in the RAM 303 or the like.

[0033] The display 309 displays a cursor, a menu, a window, or various data such as characters and images.

[0034] Communication IZF 310 communicates with other communication devices via FM (Frequency Modulation) multiplex tuners, wireless communication devices, and other communication devices. Further, it may be configured to communicate with a network such as the Internet or an external PC (personal computer) via a communication cable (not shown). More specifically, it is configured to send and receive various types of information with the vehicle and to acquire various types of information such as an external PC. The various types of information received from the vehicle include, for example, a route guidance service request, vehicle location information, user language information, and destination point setting information. Also on the vehicle The various information to be transmitted is, for example, route guidance information or road custom information. Various information such as external PCs that can be acquired includes road traffic information such as traffic jams and traffic regulations.

Operation IZF 311 accepts input of various information and various operations via a keyboard and mouse (not shown).

[0036] It should be noted that the mobile body information reception unit 101, the user information reception unit 103, and the transmission unit 105, which are functional configurations of the route guidance apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, are communicated by the communication IZF 310 to the in-house information generation unit 102. The guide information conversion unit 104 realizes its functions by the CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, and non-volatile RAM 304, and the road custom information acquisition unit 106 by the FDD 305, HDD 307, and communication IZF 310.

Next, a hardware configuration of the navigation device in the vehicle according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of the vehicle navigation device according to the first embodiment. Note that the navigation device according to the first embodiment can be realized by a hardware configuration substantially similar to that shown in FIG.

[0038] In FIG. 4, the navigation device 400 is a GSM (Global System for Mobile

Communication) compatible mobile phone 401, GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 402, and in-vehicle device 403. The in-vehicle device 403 includes a display unit 404 and an audio output unit 405.

[0039] GSM compatible mobile phone 401 is detachable from navigation device 400, and inputs / outputs various information to / from GP S unit 402 and in-vehicle device 403. Input / output of various types of information is performed by wired or wireless communication. For example, the GPS unit 402 receives input of position information including the current position of the vehicle acquired by the GPS unit 402. Further, the GSM compatible mobile phone 401 accepts requests for force route guidance services such as an operation unit and a voice input unit (not shown), and input of a user's language and destination point setting information.

[0040] In addition, the GSM compatible mobile phone 401 transmits / receives various information to / from the server 300 via the communication I / F 310. For transmission / reception of various types of information, for example, guidance information is received from the server 300 and output to the in-vehicle device 403. GPS Position information including the current position of the vehicle input from part 402, force input such as ヽ operation part and voice input part not shown, request of route guidance service input, user's language used and setting information of destination point, etc. To server 300.

[0041] The GPS unit 402 receives the radio wave from the GPS satellite, and calculates the position information of the vehicle by obtaining the geometric position with the GPS satellite. The GPS unit 402 can be configured by, for example, an antenna for receiving radio waves from GPS satellites, a tuner that demodulates the received radio waves, and an arithmetic circuit that calculates the current position based on the demodulated information.

The in-vehicle device 403 outputs various information input from the GSM compatible mobile phone 401.

The in-vehicle device 403 outputs guidance information by the display unit 404 or the voice output unit 405, which is a B1 uetooth (registered trademark) compatible device that communicates with the GSM compatible mobile phone 401 by wireless communication, for example.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, a conversion table in which various languages recorded on a recording medium such as the FD 306 or HD 308 are associated with guidance information will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conversion table according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 5, the conversion table 500 is configured by associating guide information 501 with a language 502. Here, the guidance information 501 is information for guiding a route based on vehicle position information and destination point setting information, and may be information regarding a guidance route or a guidance point for calling attention. In addition, it is information that performs voice output and text display using information including road custom information. More specifically, information that prompts you to make a right turn at the next intersection, information that prompts attention at a nearby level crossing, information that informs you that you have reached the destination, etc.

A plurality of languages such as Japanese and English are set as the language 502, and the guide information 501 is associated with each language 502. More specifically, in the conversion table 500 in the first embodiment, for the information that prompts a right turn at the next intersection, the guidance information 50 1 associated in Japanese is “the next turn right at the next intersection”. For information that prompts a right turn at the next intersection, the guide information 501 associated with English is “Turn right at next crossing”. In addition, information that calls attention at nearby railroad crossings was related in Japanese Guidance information 501 is “There is this first level crossing”, while guidance information 501 associated with English for information that calls attention at a nearby level crossing is “Next railroad crossing”. Similarly, with regard to information for notifying that the destination point has been reached, the guidance information 501 associated with the Japanese language is “around the destination point”, whereas it indicates that the destination point has been reached. For information, the guide information 501 associated in English is “We will soon arrive at DestinationJ.

[0046] (Processing contents of the server)

Next, the contents of processing of the server 300 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the process contents of the server according to the first embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, the server 300 determines whether or not it has received a request for a route guidance service via the communication I / F 310 (step S601). The route guidance service request may be requested when, for example, the user requests the route guidance service in consideration of the user's language, even if the user requests it using the GSM mobile phone 401. You may do. The route guidance service is a service in which, for example, when route guidance to a destination point is required, a user requests route guidance from the server 300 and receives guidance information generated by the server 300. In addition, the user who receives the route guidance service may be configured to register with the server 300 or sign a service provision contract.

[0047] In step S601, the server 300 waits for a request for a route guidance service, and if accepted (step S601: Yes), then the server 300 acquires the language used by the user ( Step S602). The language used by the user may be, for example, the user's native language or a language that the user can easily understand. The language used by the user may be acquired, for example, by requesting transmission from the user via the communication IZF310. In addition, the user's language and the user's language are registered in the recording medium in advance, the route guidance service request is accepted and the user is verified, and the user's language is determined based on the result of the verification. As a configuration to get.

[0048] Next, server 300 receives vehicle position information from navigation device 400 via communication IZF310 (step S603) and also sets vehicle destination point setting information. Is received (step S604). In the first embodiment, the language used by the user is acquired in step S602, vehicle position information is received in step S603, and destination point setting information is received in step S604. The above is not restrictive. Further, the information to be acquired or received may be received by making a transmission request from the server 300 to the user. More specifically, when the server 300 receives a route guidance service request in step S601 (step S601: Yes), the server 300 requests transmission of the user's language, vehicle location information, and destination point setting information. Is transmitted to the navigation device 400. Then, from the navigation device 400, the language used by the user corresponding to the transmission request, vehicle position information, and destination point setting information may be received.

Next, the server 300 generates route guidance information to the destination based on the vehicle position information received in step S603 and the destination location setting information received in step S604 ( Step S605). The route guidance information is, for example, information that provides guidance on a route to a destination point, and may be information on a guidance route or a guidance point that calls attention.

[0050] Server 300 converts the route guidance information generated in step S605 into the user's language based on the user's language acquired in step S602 (step S606). The route guidance information is converted, for example, by converting the guide information 501 necessary to the destination point that can be used using the conversion table 500 described above into a language 502 suitable for the language used by the user.

[0051] Server 300 then transmits the route guidance information converted into the language used by the user in step S606 via communication IZF 310 (step S607), and the series of processing ends. In the description of this figure, the route guidance information on the route to the destination point is generated. However, the route guidance information may be generated when the destination point is not set. Route guidance information when there is no destination point, for example, may be configured to provide guidance for points that should be alerted around the vehicle based on the current position and direction of travel of the vehicle and the language used by the user. Good. More specifically, information about the level crossing around the vehicle and information that passes through this level crossing and traffic regulation information are generated as guidance information. You can do it.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the route guidance information to the destination point is generated using the language used by the user and transmitted to the user's vehicle. In the vehicle, the received route guidance information is output by the display unit or voice output unit to provide route guidance. Therefore, the user can drive safely without paying much attention to guidance in an unfamiliar language. This comes out.

[0053] Also, according to the first embodiment, when route guidance information by voice output is transmitted to the navigation device of the vehicle to perform route guidance, the user displays the map information and the map information. Even if it does not have the function, it can reach the destination according to the route guidance. In addition, even if there is no setting of the destination point, the user should be careful about driving in his / her language by providing guidance on the points around the vehicle that should be alerted based on the user's language. Can drive safe driving.

Example 2

[0054] Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the server 300 described in the first embodiment transmits to the destination point set by the user that the user has reached the destination point. The hardware configuration of the server 300 according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. The hardware configuration of the vehicle navigation device according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. Further, the conversion table according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that in FIG.

[0055] (Contents of server processing)

The contents of processing of the server 300 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process contents of the server according to the second embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the server 300 determines whether or not the request for the route guidance service has been received via the communication I / F 310 (step S701). The route guidance service request may be, for example, a configuration in which the user makes a request using the GSM-compatible mobile phone 401. The user may provide a route guidance service in consideration of the user's language. Requests may be made if desired. The route guidance service is a service in which, for example, when route guidance to a destination point is required, a user requests route guidance from the server 300 and receives guidance information generated by the server 300. In addition, the user who receives the route guidance service may register in advance in the server 300 or sign a service provision contract.

[0056] In step S701, the server 300 waits for a request for a route guidance service, and if accepted (step S701: Yes), then the server 300 acquires the language used by the user ( Step S702). The language used by the user may be, for example, the user's native language or a language that the user can easily understand. The language used by the user may be acquired, for example, by requesting transmission from the user via the communication IZF310. In addition, the user's language and the user's language are registered in the recording medium in advance, the route guidance service request is accepted and the user is verified, and the user's language is determined based on the result of the verification. As a configuration to get.

Next, server 300 receives vehicle position information from navigation device 400 via communication IZF 310 (step S 703) and also receives vehicle destination point setting information (step S 704). In the second embodiment, the language used by the user is acquired in step S702, the vehicle position information is received in step S703, and the destination point setting information is received in step S704. The above is not restrictive. Further, the information to be acquired or received may be received by making a transmission request from the server 300 to the user. More specifically, when the server 300 receives a request for a route guidance service in step S701 (step S701: Yes), the server 300 requests transmission of the user's language, vehicle location information, and destination point setting information. Is transmitted to the navigation device 400. Then, from the navigation device 400, the language used by the user corresponding to the transmission request, vehicle position information, and destination point setting information may be received.

Here, server 300 determines whether or not it is necessary to contact the destination based on the setting information of the destination received in step S704 (step S705). For example, when the destination is an emergency organization such as a hospital or police station, This is contact information such as the user's heading, the user's language, and the user's situation (the reason why the emergency organization was the destination). The determination as to whether contact is necessary or not may be made, for example, by comparing with a list of destination points recorded in advance that are determined to require contact. Further, it may be configured to receive information on necessity / unnecessity of user power communication together with the setting information of the destination point in step S704 without collating with a list determined to be necessary.

[0059] Then, in step S705, if it is necessary to contact the destination (step S 705: Yes), the server 300 includes that the user goes to the destination via the communication IZF310. The server 300 communicates the contact information to the destination point (step S707), and the server 300 determines the destination point based on the vehicle position information received in step S703 and the destination point setting information received in step S704. Route guidance information is generated (step S706). The contact information is, for example, a request for transmission from the server 300 that can be received from the navigation device 400 together with the request for the route guidance service in step S701 and the setting information of the destination point in step S704. Receive it.

[0060] If it is not necessary to contact the destination in step S705! (Step S705: No), the server 300 receives the vehicle position information received in step S703. Based on the destination point setting information received in step S704, route guidance information to the destination point is generated (step S706). The route guidance information is, for example, information that provides guidance on a route to a destination point, and may be information on a guidance route or a guidance point that calls attention.

[0061] Server 300 converts the route guidance information generated in step S706 into the user's language based on the user's language acquired in step S702 (step S708). The route guidance information can be converted, for example, by converting the guide information 501 required up to the destination point to the language 502 suitable for the user's language, which may be performed using the conversion table 500 described above.

[0062] Server 300 then transmits the route guidance information converted into the language used by the user in step S708 via communication IZF310 (step S709), and the series of processes is terminated. End.

[0063] As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the facility set by the user as the destination point is an emergency organization such as a hospital or a police station, the emergency organization is used as necessary. The contact information is sent to the vehicle and route guidance information is sent to the vehicle to guide the user to the destination. Therefore, the emergency organization can get a preparation period for handling the language before the user arrives, and when the user arrives at the destination point, the user can receive prompt treatment.

Example 3

[0064] Next, Example 3 of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, an example will be described in which the server 300 described in the first embodiment transmits road custom information in a region including the current position of the vehicle to the vehicle based on the position information of the vehicle. Note that the hardware configuration of the server 300 according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. The hardware configuration of the vehicle navigation device according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. The conversion table according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that in FIG.

[0065] (Contents of server processing)

The contents of processing of the server 300 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the process contents of the server according to the third embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, first, the server 300 determines whether or not the request for the route guidance service has been received via the communication I / F 310 (step S801). The route guidance service request may be, for example, a configuration in which the user makes a request using the GSM-compatible mobile phone 401, and the user desires to provide a route guidance service in consideration of the user's language. A request may be made in some cases. The route guidance service is a service in which, for example, when route guidance to a destination point is required, a user requests route guidance from the server 300 and receives guidance information generated by the server 300. In addition, the user who receives the route guidance service may register in advance in the server 300 or sign a service provision contract.

[0066] In step S801, server 300 receives a request for a route guidance service. If the server 300 receives the request (step S801: Yes), the server 300 subsequently acquires the language used by the user (step S802). The language used by the user may be, for example, the user's native language or a language that the user can easily understand. The language used by the user may be acquired, for example, by requesting transmission from the user via the communication IZF310. In addition, the user's language and the user's language are registered in the recording medium in advance, the route guidance service request is accepted and the user is verified, and the user's language is determined based on the result of the verification. As a configuration to get.

Next, server 300 receives vehicle position information from navigation device 400 via communication IZF 310 (step S803). In the third embodiment, the language used by the user is acquired in step S802 and the vehicle position information is received in step S803. However, the order is not limited to this. Further, the information to be acquired or received may be received by making a transmission request from the server 300 to the user. More specifically, when the server 300 receives a request for a route guidance service in step S801 (step S801: Yes), the server 300 sends a request for transmitting the user's language and vehicle location information to the navigation device 400. Send to. Then, the user's language and vehicle position information corresponding to the transmission request may be received from the navigation device 400.

Then, server 300 acquires road custom information in an area including the current position of the vehicle based on the vehicle position information received in step S803 (step S804). The road custom information may be, for example, information on the procedure of turning left and right at an intersection or traffic signal operation, which may be based on rules specific to each region. For example, road custom information corresponding to vehicle position information is recorded as map information. For example, road custom information may be included in the map information recorded in FD306 or HD308. RU

[0069] Next, the server 300 converts the road custom information acquired in step S804 into the user language based on the user language used in step S802 (step S804). S805). For example, the road custom information may be converted using the same table as the conversion table 500 described above into the language 502 suitable for the language used by the user. [0070] Subsequently, the server 300 transmits the road custom information converted into the user's language in step S805 via the communication IZF 310 (step S806). Then, the server 300 determines whether or not the vehicle has reached the destination point (step S807), and if the vehicle has reached the destination point (step S807: Yes), the series of processing ends. On the other hand, when the destination point has not been reached in step S807 (step S807: No), the process returns to step S803 and the process is repeated. In the third embodiment, the destination point setting information may be received together with the route guidance service request. In addition, even if there is no destination point setting information, it is possible to transmit local road custom information including the current position of the vehicle.

[0071] As described above, according to the third embodiment, based on the position information of the vehicle, the road custom information of the area including the current position of the vehicle is converted into the language used by the user, and the vehicle is used. Can be sent. Therefore, even if the user is traveling on an unfamiliar land, the user can understand road customs in his language, and thus can drive safely.

[0072] As described above, according to the present invention, the route guidance information is converted into the language used by the user based on the user information of the user and transmitted to the mobile unit. Therefore, the user can use the guidance information based on the language used by the user rather than an unfamiliar language, and thus can drive safely.

[0073] Further, as described above, according to the present invention, the route guidance information to the destination is generated using the language used by the user and transmitted to the user's vehicle. Since the vehicle provides route guidance by outputting the received route guidance information on the display unit or voice output unit, the user can aim for safe driving without paying much attention to guidance in an unfamiliar language. Can. In addition, if route guidance information is output by voice output to the navigation device of the vehicle and route guidance is performed, the user can obtain route guidance even if the navigation device does not have map information or a function to display it. To reach the destination. In addition, even if there is no destination point setting, by providing guidance on points that should be alerted around the vehicle based on the user's language, the user can use his / her own language for driving attention. Therefore, safe driving can be promoted. [0074] If the facility set as the destination point by the user is an emergency organization such as a hospital or police station, contact information is transmitted to the emergency organization and route guidance information is sent to the vehicle as necessary. Send to guide the user to the destination. Therefore, the emergency organization can obtain a preparation period for handling the language and the like before the user arrives, and the user can receive prompt treatment when reaching the destination point.

[0075] Further, the present invention only needs to have a configuration having at least one function according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment. For example, if the functions of Example 1 and Example 3 are provided, route guidance to the destination point can be provided in the user's language, and the local road customs including the current position of the vehicle can be given to the user. I can tell you.

[0076] Further, the present invention transmits the language used for each user to the server and converts the guide information, so that the vehicle user is not limited to a specific language user. be able to. Further, the present invention accepts and provides a service request for a route guidance service. However, the present invention obtains a use start time and an end time based on the guidance start time or the destination arrival time. The user may be charged for the usage time.

Further, although the present invention has been described for route guidance of a moving body such as a vehicle, the present invention is not limited to a vehicle. If it is used for route guidance using a mobile phone, etc., it can be used with high versatility.

Note that the route guidance method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by reading the recording medium force by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed through a network such as the Internet.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] User information receiving means for receiving user information including a language used by a user of the mobile object from the mobile object;

Mobile body information receiving means for receiving mobile body information including at least a current position and a destination point of the mobile body;

Guidance information generating means for generating guidance information relating to the route guidance to the destination received by the mobile body information receiving means;

Conversion means for converting the guide information generated by the guide information generation means into a language suitable for the user based on the user information received by the user information reception means;

Transmitting means for transmitting the guide information converted by the converting means to the mobile body, A route guide device comprising:

[2] The conversion unit may include the guide corresponding to the language used by the user from the guide information corresponding to a plurality of languages based on the user information received by the user information receiving unit. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein information is selected.

3. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information generation means generates the guidance information for performing voice output.

4. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information generating means generates the guidance information for displaying characters.

[5] road custom information acquisition means for acquiring road custom information in an area including the current position of the mobile based on the mobile information received by the mobile information reception means;

2. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information generation unit generates guidance information including road custom information acquired by the road custom information acquisition unit.

[6] The transmission means is based on the user information received by the user information receiving means and the mobile body information received by the mobile body information receiving means. 6. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the user information including that the user arrives is transmitted to a facility that is a point.

[7] The transmission means transmits the user information including that the user reaches the emergency organization including the hospital and the police station as the destination point. The route guidance device according to any one of? 5.

[8] A user information receiving process for receiving user information including a language used by a user of the mobile body from the mobile body;

A mobile body information receiving step for receiving mobile body information including at least a current position and a destination point of the mobile body;

A guide information generating step for generating guide information related to a route guidance to the destination point received by the mobile body information receiving step;

A conversion step of converting the guidance information generated by the guidance information generation step into a language used for the user based on the user information received by the user information reception step;

A route guidance method comprising: a transmission step of transmitting the guidance information converted by the conversion step to the mobile body.

[9] A route guidance program causing a computer to execute the route guidance method according to claim 8.

[10] A computer-readable recording medium in which the route guidance program according to claim 9 is recorded.