WO2024037888A1

WO2024037888A1 - Passenger shelter comprising an interactive voice terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2024037888A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/071617
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Ebersold; Frédéric CHANSON; Patrice Bernard; Claire MARTINEZ
Original assignee: Jcdecaux Se
Priority date: 2022-08-18
Filing date: 2023-08-03
Publication date: 2024-02-22
Also published as: FR3138924A1

Abstract

Shelter (1) for passengers, comprising a structure (3) exhibiting two vertical walls (6, 7) diverging from a corner to make an angle of between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, the shelter further comprising an interactive voice terminal (9) installed in the corner formed between the two vertical walls, the interactive voice terminal comprising a front part (9a), on the opposite face from the corner, which has a microphone (11) designed to pick up voice signals emitted by a user present in the shelter, the interactive voice terminal further comprising a central electronic unit designed to: - receive the voice signals picked up by the microphone, - cause a loudspeaker (12) to emit, to the user, a vocal response which is determined after the picked-up voice signals have been interpreted.

Description

Title: SHELTER FOR TRAVELERS INCLUDING AN INTERACTIVE VOICE TERMINAL.

Technical area

[0001] The present description relates to shelters for travelers comprising interactive voice terminals.

Prior art

[0002] We know of shelters for travelers comprising information screens, possibly interactive.

Summary

[0003] The present description aims in particular to provide a shelter for travelers facilitating travelers' access to information.

[0004] For this purpose, the present description proposes a shelter for travelers comprising a structure carrying a roof and at least two vertical walls which diverge from a corner making between them an angle of between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, shelter further comprising an interactive voice terminal installed under the roof in the corner between the two vertical walls, said interactive voice terminal comprising a front part opposite the corner, which has at least one microphone adapted to pick up voice signals emitted by a user present in the shelter, the interactive voice terminal further comprising an electronic central unit adapted for:

- receive the voice signals picked up by the microphone,

- interpret said captured voice signals,

- cause a loudspeaker to emit a response in vocal form to the user, determined after interpretation of said vocal signals.

[0005] Thanks to these provisions, the arrangement of the interactive voice terminal in relation to the vertical walls improves the confidentiality of voice exchanges between the user and the interactive terminal, while improving the quality of acoustic capture and emission and protecting the interactive voice terminal.

[0006] In various embodiments of the shelter for travelers, it is possible to also use one and/or the other of the following provisions (alone or in all their mutual combinations):

[0007] - said structure comprises at least one vertical post arranged at said corner and said interactive voice terminal is fixed to the post by at least one fixing device adapted to the post;

[0008] - said fixing device includes a collar which encloses said post;

[0009] - said speaker is either included in the front part of the interactive voice terminal, or carried by the structure of the shelter

[0010] - the interactive voice terminal is adapted to capture ambient noise and the central unit is adapted to adjust the loudspeaker emission volume as a function of the ambient noise level;

[0011] -!' central unit is adapted to cause a vocal waiting message to be emitted by the loudspeaker and to defer the transmission of the vocal response to the user, as long as the ambient noise level is greater than a threshold predetermined;

[0012] - the interactive voice terminal is adapted to capture ambient noise and to remove ambient noise from the voice signals captured;

[0013] - the interactive voice terminal comprises several microphones located at different heights and at least one presence sensor adapted to determine the height of the user, the central unit of the interactive terminal communicating with said at least presence sensor and being adapted to activate the microphone whose height best matches the height of the user;

[0014] - the interactive voice terminal comprises at least one presence sensor adapted to determine a distance between the interactive voice terminal and the user, the central unit of the interactive terminal communicating with said at least presence sensor and being adapted to play a voice message from the loudspeaker speaker to ask the user to move, if said distance is not within a predetermined range;

[0015] - the loudspeaker has a main direction of emission and either the loudspeaker is at a height between 1 m and 2m and said main direction of emission is substantially horizontal, or the loudspeaker is at a height greater than 2m and said main direction of emission is oriented downwards (at an angle or substantially vertically);

[0016] - the front part of the interactive voice terminal includes a screen controlled by the central unit;

[0017] - the central unit is adapted to display a message on the screen and defer the transmission of the vocal response to the user, as long as the ambient noise level is greater than a predetermined threshold;

[0018] - the central unit is adapted to display a message on the screen to ask the user to move, if said distance is not within a predetermined range;

[0019] - the central unit is adapted to transform the captured voice signals into text and interpret the user's intention, and said central unit communicates with a remote server which is adapted to determine the response to be given to the user and transmit this response to the central unit, the central unit being adapted to transform this response into voice and broadcast it in vocal form through the loudspeaker.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the shelter for travelers will appear during the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0021] In the drawings:

Fig. 1

[0022] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a shelter for travelers according to the present description, Fig. 2

[0023] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a detail of the passenger shelter of Figure 1,

Fig. 3

[0024] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view showing the interactive voice terminal of the passenger shelter, three-quarter front view,

Fig. 4

[0025] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a rear three-quarter perspective view of the interactive voice terminal of Figure 3,

Fig. 5

[0026] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a view of the front face of the interactive voice terminal, according to a first variant,

Fig. 6

[0027] [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a block diagram of the interactive voice terminal,

Fig. 7

[0028] [Fig. 7] Figure 7 is a schematic view of the interactive voice terminal used by a user whose head is located at a low height,

Fig. 8

[0029] [Fig. 8] Figure 8 is a schematic view of the interactive voice terminal used by a user whose head is located at a greater height,

Fig. 9

[0030] [Fig. 9] Figure 9 is a schematic view of the interactive voice terminal equipped with a loudspeaker having a main direction of emission oriented diagonally downwards, and,

Fig. 10 [0031] [Fig. 10] Figure 10 is a schematic view of the interactive voice terminal communicating with a loudspeaker having a main direction of emission oriented vertically downwards.

More detailed description

[0032] In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0033] Figure 1 represents a shelter 1 for travelers, in particular for public transport travelers.

The shelter 1 comprises a structure 3 fixed to the ground 2. The structure 3 notably comprises one or more vertical posts 4.

The structure 3 carries for example a roof 5 and vertical side walls 6-8 which protect travelers from bad weather. In the example shown, these vertical side walls include in particular a rear wall 6 and a side wall 7 which diverge from a corner (corresponding to the location of the post 4) making between them an angle of between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, for example of the order of 90 degrees.

[0036] The shelter 1 for travelers further comprises an interactive voice terminal 9 installed in the corner between the two vertical walls 6, 7 (Figures 1 and 2), which is adapted so that a user can ask it orally questions, and to answer them. The interactive voice terminal 9 is thus arranged in the angular space formed between the walls 6, 7.

The interactive voice terminal 9 comprises a front part 9a (for example a front face) opposite the corner formed by the walls 6, 7. In other words, the front part 9a is arranged at an angle relative to the walls 6 , 7, so that the normal to this front part 9a is oriented opposite the corner formed by the walls 6, 7. This front part 9a can include a call button 10 which allows a user to activate the interactive voice terminal (as a variant or in addition to button 10, the interactive voice terminal can be activated if necessary by a predetermined voice message from the user, for example “OK Decaux”). The front part 9a further comprises at least one microphone 11 adapted to pick up voice signals emitted by a user speaking to the interactive voice interface 9. Said front part 9a may comprise several microphones 11, for example two microphones 11. In the example shown, the microphones 11 are juxtaposed horizontally, but they can be superimposed vertically as will be explained below.

[0039] In the example shown, the front part 9 may also include a loudspeaker 12, where appropriate several loudspeakers 12, and a screen 13.

[0040] The arrangement of the interactive voice terminal 9 in relation to the vertical walls 6, 7 improves the confidentiality of voice exchanges between the user and the interactive terminal, while improving the quality of capture and acoustic emission. This provision also protects the interactive voice terminal 9, in particular against bad weather.

The interactive voice terminal 9 can be fixed on the post 4 by at least one fixing device adapted to the post, for example at least one collar 15 which encloses the post 4, as clearly visible in Figures 3 and 4.

[0042] For example, the interactive voice terminal 9 may include a rear face 9b forming a vertical gutter 14 adapted to engage on the post 4, and provided with two collars 15 each adapted to enclose the post 4.

[0043] This fixing device allows easy and standardized fixing in several types of passenger shelters 1, possibly comprising posts 4 of different geometries.

The interactive voice terminal 9 may also include two sides 9c, forming between them an angle of for example 90 degrees, adapted to come into lateral support respectively against the walls 6, 7 of the passenger shelter 1.

As shown in Figure 5, the front part 9a of the interactive voice terminal 9 can include two microphones 11 superimposed, for example one above the screen 13 and one below. The lower microphone 11 can for example be at a height above the ground 2 of between 90 cm and 130 cm, to be at the height of a person with reduced mobility sitting on an armchair rolling. The upper microphone 11 can for example be at a height of between 150 cm and 180 cm above the ground.

The front part 9 may also include two presence sensors 16, for example sensors measuring time of flight such as Lidars or ultrasonic sensors. The presence sensors 16 can be arranged at heights close respectively to those of the microphones 11.

[0047] The interactive voice terminal 9 may also include an ambient microphone 17 adapted to capture ambient noise. The ambient microphone 17 can for example be located on the side, below or on top of the interactive voice terminal 9.

[0048] As shown in Figure 6, the interactive voice terminal 9 may comprise an electronic central unit 18 such as a microprocessor or a set of microprocessors, which communicates with the button 10, the microphones 11, the speaker 12, the screen 13, the presence sensors 16 (TOF), the ambient microphone 17 and a communication interface 19 (COM) adapted to communicate via a wide area network (WAN) with at least one remote server 20 (S).

[0049] The central electronic unit 18 is suitable for:

- receive the voice signals picked up by the microphones 11,

- transform the captured voice signals into text,

- automatically interpret the vocal signals captured and transformed into text, to determine the user's intention (for example using a neural network trained for this purpose),

- communicate with the server 20, which is adapted to determine the response to be given to the user and transmit this response to the central unit 18,

- transform the response received from server 20 into voice and broadcast it in voice form by speaker 12,

- in the case where the interactive voice terminal 9 integrates a screen 13, display the response on the screen 13. The server 20 may have in memory the data necessary for the responses to be given to users, or have access to external data for this purpose. The data in question may include in particular the topology of the public transport network, the passage times of public transport vehicles, the services offered (disabled access for example).

[0051] The interactive voice terminal 9 can thus inform a user, for example, about:

- the departure or arrival time of a given vehicle (for example the next vehicle, or the first of the day, or the last of the day) at a given station,

- the route to follow to reach a certain arrival point and the duration of the journey,

- services available in vehicles (e.g. disabled access), etc.

[0052] When the interactive voice terminal 9 is adapted to capture ambient noise (for example by the ambient microphone 17), the central unit 18 can be adapted to adjust the emission volume of the speaker 12 accordingly. ambient noise level.

[0053] The central unit 18 can also be adapted for:

- cause the loudspeaker 12 to emit a voice message on hold and delay the transmission of the voice response to the user, as long as the ambient noise level is greater than a predetermined threshold,

- and/or cause the screen 13 to display a waiting message and delay the transmission of the voice response to the user, as long as the ambient noise level is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0054] The central unit 18 can also be adapted to remove ambient noise from the vocal signals picked up by the microphones 11, for example by subtracting the ambient noise signal picked up by the ambient microphone 17 from the vocal signals picked up by the microphones. 11.

[0055] When the interactive voice terminal 9 comprises several microphones 11 located at different heights and at least one presence sensor 16 adapted to determine the height of the user, the central unit 18 can be adapted to activate the microphone 11 whose height best corresponds to the height of the user.

[0056] For example, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the central unit 18 can be adapted to detect using the presence sensors 16 if the face of the user U is at a low height (Figure 7 - detection of presence by the lower presence sensor 16 only) or at a greater height (figure 8 - detection of presence by the two presence sensors 16), and consequently activates the lower microphone 11 (figure 7) or the upper microphone (figure 8 ).

[0057] Furthermore, when the presence sensor 16 is adapted to determine a distance between the interactive voice terminal 9 and the user U, the central unit 18 can be adapted to:

- cause the loudspeaker 12 to emit a voice message to ask the user U to move, if said distance is not within a predetermined range (for example 0 - 60 cm),

- and/or display a message on the screen 13 to ask the user U to move, if said distance is not within a predetermined range (for example 0 - 60 cm).

[0058] In the examples described above, the loudspeaker 12 has a substantially horizontal main direction of emission and it is at a height of between 1 m and 2 m above the ground.

[0059] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the main direction of emission of the loudspeaker 12 (schematized by the emission cone 12a) can be oriented downwards, or at an angle (Figure 9). , or vertically (figure 10), which makes it possible to improve confidentiality compared to other users present in shelter 1. In this case, the loudspeaker can advantageously be at a height greater than 2 m. The speaker can then be placed either in a raised front part of the interactive voice terminal 9, or in a part 4a of the structure of the shelter, this part 4a being able for example to be fixed to the post 4.

Claims

[Claim 1] Shelter (1) for travelers comprising a structure (3) carrying a roof (5) and at least two vertical walls (6, 7) which diverge from a corner making between them an angle of between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, the shelter further comprising a voice interactive terminal (9) installed under the roof (5), in the angle between the two vertical walls (6, 7), said voice interactive terminal (9) comprising a front part (9a) opposite the corner, which has at least one microphone (11) adapted to pick up voice signals emitted by a user (U) present in the shelter, the interactive voice terminal (9) further comprising an electronic central unit (18) adapted for:

- receive the voice signals picked up by the microphone (11),

- interpret said captured voice signals,

- cause a loudspeaker (12) to emit a response in vocal form to the user, determined after interpretation of said captured voice signals.

[Claim 2] Shelter (1) for travelers according to claim 1, in which said structure (3) comprises at least one vertical post (4) disposed at said corner and said interactive voice terminal (9) is fixed on the post by at least one fixing device (14, 15) adapted to the post (4).

[Claim 3] Shelter (1) for travelers according to claim 2, wherein said fixing device (14, 15) includes a collar (15) which encloses said post (4).

[Claim 4] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said speaker (12) is either included in the front part (9a) of the interactive voice terminal, or carried by the structure ( 3) shelter.

[Claim 5] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the interactive voice terminal (9) is adapted to capture ambient noise and the central unit (18) is adapted to adjust the volume of emission from the loudspeaker (12) depending on the ambient noise level.

[Claim 6] Shelter (1) for travelers according to claim 5, in which the central unit (18) is adapted to cause a voice waiting message to be transmitted by the loudspeaker (18) and delay the transmission of the voice response to the user, as long as the ambient noise level is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[Claim 7] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the interactive voice terminal (9) is adapted to capture ambient noise and to remove ambient noise from the voice signals captured.

[Claim 8] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the interactive voice terminal (9) comprises several microphones (11) located at different heights and at least one presence sensor (16) adapted to determine the height of the user (U), the central unit (18) of the interactive terminal communicating with said at least presence sensor (16) and being adapted to activate the microphone (11) whose height best corresponds at the height of the user (U).

[Claim 9] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the voice interactive terminal (9) comprises at least one presence sensor (16) adapted to determine a distance between the voice interactive terminal (9). ) and the user (U), the central unit (18) of the interactive terminal communicating with said at least presence sensor (16) and being adapted to cause a voice message to be emitted by the speaker (12) to request the user (U) to move, if said distance is not within a predetermined range.

[Claim 10] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the loudspeaker (12) has a main direction of emission and either the loudspeaker (12) is at a height between 1 m and 2m and said main direction of emission is horizontal, or the loudspeaker (12) is at a height greater than 2m and said main direction of emission is oriented downwards.

[Claim 11] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the front part (9a) of the interactive voice terminal comprises a screen (13) controlled by the central unit (18).

[Claim 12] Shelter (1) for travelers according to claim 11 in combination with one of claims 5 and 6, in which the central unit (18) is adapted to display a message by the screen (13) and delay the transmission of the vocal response to the user, as long as the ambient noise level is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[Claim 13] Shelter (1) for travelers according to claim 11 in combination with claim 9, in which the central unit (18) is adapted to display a message on the screen (13) to ask the user (U) to move, if said distance is not within a predetermined range. [Claim 14] Shelter (1) for travelers according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the central unit (18) is adapted to transform the captured voice signals into text and interpret the user's intention, and said central unit (18) communicates with a remote server (18) which is adapted to determine the response to be given to the user (U) and transmit this response to the central unit (18), the central unit (18) being adapted to transform this response into a voice and broadcast it in vocal form by the loudspeaker (12).