Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IN-VEHICLE DEVICE AND ROUTE INFORMATION PRESENTATION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The
present invention relates to a technical field of an in-vehicle device
and a route information presentation system that accumulate information
relating to a user
of a vehicle and present a traveling route based on the accumulated
information.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] As
this kind of device, for example, a device that extracts a preference
corresponding to a current traveling purpose of a driver, detects a feature of
each of a
plurality of traveling routes from a current location to a destination, and
selects a traveling
route having a feature conforming to the extracted preference has been
suggested (see
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-227785 (JP 2015-
227785
A)). Alternatively, a device that searches for a traveling route from a
current location to a
destination using a Dijkstra's algorithm and sets a calculation reference of a
cost value such
that a traveling route according to a preference of a user is searched has
been suggested
(see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-180600 (JP
2016-180600 A)). Alternatively, a device that acquires a preferential road
according to a
preference of a user based on a traveling history, determines a priority of a
facility searched
by designation of the user based on the preferential road, and guides the
searched facility
according to the determined priority has been suggested (see Japanese
Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2016-186461 (JP 2016-186461 A)).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003]
According to the above-described related art, a preference of a user is
estimated from a feature (for example, a traveling time, the presence or
absence of use of a
toll road, the number of lanes, the number of traffic signals, or the like) of
a traveling route
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included in a traveling history. However, for example, even a road that has
road
classification or a structure, such as the number of lanes, similar to a road
(that is, a road
likely to be estimated that the user prefers) with a comparatively high
traveling frequency
does not always conform to the preference of the user according to a
surrounding
environment, such as the number of parked vehicles or pedestrians or
circumstances of
buildings or roadside trees around a road. That is, there is room for
improvement in the
above-described related art in which a preference of a user is estimated from
a feature of a
road and a traveling route is suggested based on the estimated preference.
[0004] The
invention provides an in-vehicle device and a route information
presentation system capable of presenting an appropriate traveling route to a
user.
[0005] A
first aspect of the invention relates to an in-vehicle device including a
recognition unit, an acquisition unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit,
and a
presentation unit. The recognition unit is configured to recognize a user on a
host vehicle
as a host vehicle user. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a
current location and
a destination of the host vehicle. The transmission unit is configured to
transmit a first
signal indicating the host vehicle user, the current location, and the
destination to an
external device outside the host vehicle. The reception unit is configured to
receive a
second signal indicating a traveling route from the current location to the
destination from
the external device. The traveling route is searched using i) a first feeling
map and ii) a
second feeling map in the external device. The first feeling map is
information generated
based on feeling information corresponding to the host vehicle user among a
plurality of
kinds of feeling information corresponding to a plurality of users and
indicating a feeling
state at each of a plurality of points on a road and map information, and is
information with
a feeling state of the host vehicle user at each of the points on the road
indicated by the
feeling information corresponding to the host vehicle user associated with the
map
information. The second feeling map is information generated based on at least
a part of
the feeling information and the map information, and is information with a
feeling state of
each of the users at each of the points on the road indicated by at least a
part of the feeling
information associated with the map information. The presentation unit is
configured to
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present the traveling route indicated by the second signal.
[0006] The
"first feeling map" is information with a feeling (for example, joy,
anger, grief, or pleasure) of the host vehicle user at each of the points on
the road
associated with the map information, and as a concept, for example,
information indicating
a distribution of feelings of the host vehicle user on a map. Similarly, the
"second feeling
map" is information with a feeling of each of the users at each of the points
on the road
associated with the map information, and as a concept, for example,
information indicating
a distribution of feelings of the users on a map. The second feeling map may
be
information with a feeling of each user extracted according to arbitrary
conditions of, for
example, a time zone, a day of the week, a season, user age, and sex
associated with the
map information.
[0007] It is
possible to estimate a road that the host vehicle user will prefer and a
road that the host vehicle user should avoid from a distribution of positive
feelings (for
example, "joy", "pleasure") indicated by the first feeling map and a
distribution of negative
feelings (for example, "anger", "grief') indicated by the first feeling map.
Furthermore, it
is possible to estimate a road that the host vehicle user will generally
prefer and a road that
the host vehicle user should avoid from a distribution of positive feelings
indicated by the
second feeling map and a distribution of negative feelings indicated by the
second feeling
map. For this reason, the traveling route from the current location to the
destination
searched using the first feeling map and the second feeling map is expected to
be a
traveling route preferable to the host vehicle user. Accordingly, with the in-
vehicle
device, it is possible to present an appropriate traveling route to the host
vehicle user.
[0008] The in-
vehicle device according to the first aspect of the invention may
further include a feeling state estimation unit configured to detect a
biological information
of the host vehicle user and estimate a feeling state of the host vehicle user
based on the
detected biological information. The transmission unit may be configured to
further
transmit a third signal indicating the estimated feeling state and information
with a position
of the host vehicle and the host vehicle user associated with each other to
the external
device. According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to
collect the feeling
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states of the host vehicle user at each point when the host vehicle travels,
and to
accumulate information indicating the feeling of the host vehicle user in the
external
device. The feeling state is estimated based on, for example, expression,
motion, or
speech, as the biological information.
[0009] The in-vehicle
device according to the first aspect of the invention may
further include an in-vehicle camera configured to image the inside of a
vehicle cabin of
the host vehicle. The feeling state estimation unit may be configured to
detect a user
from an image captured by the in-vehicle camera.
[0010] In the
in-vehicle device according to the first aspect of the invention, the
biological information may include face information of the user. The feeling
state
estimation unit may be configured to recognize a facial expression of the
detected user and
estimate a feeling state of the host vehicle user based on a feature of the
recognized facial
expression.
[0011] In the
in-vehicle device according to the first aspect of the invention, the
biological information may include a gesture of the user. The feeling state
estimation unit
may be configured to recognize a gesture of the detected user and estimate a
feeling state
of the host vehicle user based on a feature of the recognized gesture.
[0012] The in-
vehicle device according to the first aspect of the invention may
further include a microphone configured to detect sound inside a vehicle cabin
of the host
vehicle. The biological information may include speech of the user. The
feeling state
estimation unit may be configured to recognize speech from sound inside the
vehicle cabin
detected by the microphone and estimate a feeling state of the host vehicle
user based on a
feature of the recognized speech.
[0013] In the
in-vehicle device according to the first aspect of the invention, the
second feeling map may be information with a feeling of each of the users
extracted
according to arbitrary conditions of a time zone, a day of the week, a season,
user age, and
sex associated with the map information.
[0014] A
second aspect of the invention relates to a route information
presentation system including an in-vehicle device, and an external device
provided
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outside a vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted. The in-vehicle
device is
configured to recognize a user in the vehicle as a host vehicle user, acquire
a current
location and a destination of the vehicle, and transmit a first signal
indicating the host
vehicle user, the current location, and the destination to the external
device. The external
5 device
includes a feeling database configured to store a plurality of kinds of
feeling
information corresponding to a plurality of users and indicating a feeling
state at each of a
plurality of points on a road, and a map database configured to store map
information.
The external device is configured to generate a first feeling map based on
feeling
information corresponding to the host vehicle user indicated by the first
signal among the
stored feeling information and the stored map information, the first feeling
map being
information with a feeling state of the host vehicle user at each of the
points on the road
indicated by the feeling information corresponding to the host vehicle user
associated with
the stored map information, generate a second feeling map based on at least a
part of the
stored feeling information and the stored map information, the second feeling
map being
information with a feeling state of each of the users at each of the points on
the road
indicated by at least a part of the stored feeling information associated with
the stored map
information, search for a traveling route from the current location indicated
by the first
signal to the destination indicated by the first signal using the first
feeling map and the
second feeling map, and transmit a second signal indicated by the searched
traveling route
to the vehicle. The in-vehicle device is further configured to present the
traveling route
indicated by received second signal.
[0015] With
the route information presentation system according to the second
aspect of the invention, similarly to the in-vehicle device according to the
first aspect of the
invention, it is possible to present an appropriate traveling route to the
host vehicle user.
In particular, the second feeling map may be generated based on feeling
information (that
is, a part of the feeling information) extracted according to arbitrary
conditions of, for
example, a time zone, a day of the week, a season, user age, and sex among the
feeling
information.
[0016] In the
route information presentation system according to the second
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aspect of the invention, the in-vehicle device may be configured to detect
biological
information of the host vehicle user and estimate feeling state of the host
vehicle user
based on the detected biological information and transmit a third signal
indicating
information with the estimated feeling state associated with a position of the
host vehicle
and the host vehicle user to the external device. The feeling database may be
constructed
or updated by information indicated by the third signal. According to the
second aspect
of the invention, it is possible to comparatively easily collect the feeling
states of the host
vehicle user at each point when the vehicle travels, and to construct or
update the feeling
database with the collected feeling states.
[0017] The route
information presentation system according to the second aspect
of the invention may further include an in-vehicle camera configured to image
the inside of
a vehicle cabin of the host vehicle. The in-vehicle device may be configured
to detect a
user from an image captured by the in-vehicle camera.
[0018] In the
route information presentation system according to the second
aspect of the invention, the biological information may be face information of
the user.
The in-vehicle device may be configured to recognize a facial expression of
the detected
user and estimate a feeling state of the host vehicle user based on a feature
of the
recognized facial expression.
[0019] In the
route information presentation system according to the second
aspect of the invention, the biological information may be a gesture of the
user. The
in-vehicle device may be configured to recognize a gesture of the detected
user and
estimate a feeling state of the host vehicle user based on a feature of the
recognized
gesture.
[0020] The
route information presentation system according to the second aspect
of the invention may further include a microphone configured to detect sound
inside a
vehicle cabin of the host vehicle. The biological information may be speech of
the user.
The in-vehicle device may be configured to recognize speech from sound inside
the
vehicle cabin detected by the microphone and estimate a feeling state of the
host vehicle
user based on a feature of the recognized speech.
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[0021] In the
route information presentation system according to the second
aspect of the invention, the second feeling map may be information with a
feeling of each
of the users extracted according to arbitrary conditions of a time zone, a day
of the week, a
season, user age, and sex associated with the map information.
[0022] The operation
and other advantages of the invention will become apparent
from an embodiment described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023]
Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of
exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference
to the
accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a route information
presentation system according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing a feeling estimation operation according to the
embodiment;
FIG. 2B is a flowchart showing a construction operation of a general feeling
database
according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a profiling method of a user
according
to the embodiment;
FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the profiling method of the user
according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a general feeling map according to
the
embodiment;
FIG 5A is a diagram showing an example of a calculation method of a traveling
route
according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of the calculation method of the
traveling
route according to the embodiment;
FIG 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a traveling route
according to the embodiment;
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FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing a traveling route search and presentation
operation
according to the embodiment; and
FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing the traveling route search and presentation
operation
according to the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0024] A route information presentation system according to an
embodiment will
be described referring to FIGS. 1 to 7B.
System Configuration
[0025] The configuration of the route information presentation system
according
to the embodiment will be described referring to FIG 1. FIG 1 is a block
diagram
showing the configuration of the route information presentation system
according to the
embodiment.
[0026] In FIG 1, the route information presentation system 1 includes
a
navigation device 100 mounted in a vehicle 10, and a center 20 provided
outside the
vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes, in addition to the navigation device 100,
a
microphone 11 that detects sound inside a vehicle cabin, and an in-vehicle
camera 12 that
images the inside of the vehicle cabin. The "navigation device 100" and the
"center 20"
according to the embodiment are examples of an "in-vehicle device" and an
"external
device", respectively.
[0027] The navigation device 100 includes a controller 101, a
communication
unit 102, a timepiece 103, a display unit 104, a speech output unit 105, an
operating unit
106, a global positioning system (GPS) reception unit 107, a feeling
estimation unit 108, a
personal identification unit 109, and a personal ID database 110.
[0028] The center 20 includes a controller 21, a communication unit 22, a
timepiece 23, a map database 24, a general feeling database 25, a personal
information
database 26, a general feeling map database 27, and a personal feeling map
analysis unit
28.
Feeling Data Accumulation
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[0029] Next,
an estimation method of a feeling of a user of the vehicle 10 that is
performed on the vehicle 10 side and a construction method of the general
feeling database
25 that is performed on the center 20 side will be described referring to
flowcharts of FIGS.
2A and 2B, in addition to the FIG. 1.
1. Feeling Estimation
[0030] The
feeling estimation unit 108 of the navigation device 100 estimates a
feeling of the user based on a facial expression, a gesture, and a tone of the
user who is on
the vehicle 10.
[0031]
Specifically, the feeling estimation unit 108 detects a user (detects at least
a face area of the user) from an image captured by the in-vehicle camera 12
and recognizes
a facial expression of the detected user. The feeling estimation unit 108
calculates the
degree of each of a plurality of feelings (for example, "neutral", "happy",
"anger", "fear",
"fatigue", and the like) based on a feature (for example, a feature of a shape
of each of both
eyes, an eyebrow, and a mouth) of the recognized facial expression. The
feeling
estimation unit 108 detects a user from an image captured by the in-vehicle
camera 12 and
recognizes a gesture (that is, motion) of the detected user. The feeling
estimation unit 108
calculates the degree of each of the feelings based on a feature (for example,
a facial
expression, a positional relationship between a face and a hand, a line of
sight or a face
direction, or the like) of the recognized gesture.
[0032] The feeling
estimation unit 108 recognizes speech from sound inside the
vehicle cabin detected by the microphone 11 and calculates the degree of each
of the
feelings based on a feature (for example, a frequency distribution or the
like) of the
recognized speech (that is, a tone). It is desirable that the microphone 11 is
a directional
microphone. Then, it is desirable that a plurality of microphones 11 are
provided in the
vehicle 10. With such a configuration, since it is possible to specify a
generation source
(that is, a sound source) of speech from the directivity of the microphones,
even in a case
where a plurality of people is on the vehicle 10 or a case where a car audio
is operated, it is
possible to recognize the speech of the user.
[0033] The
reason that the feeling estimation unit 108 is configured to calculate
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the degree of each of the feelings is because, in a case where a feeling is
actually evoked, a
single feeling rarely appears and a mixed feeling in which several basic
feelings are mixed
often appears.
[0034] The
feeling estimation unit 108 obtains the overall degree of each of the
5 feelings
by taking, for example, a simple average of (i) the degree of each of the
feelings
based on the facial expression, (ii) the degree of each of the feelings based
on the gesture,
and (iii) the degree of each of the feelings based on the tone or taking a
weighted average
using weights learned in advance.
[0035] The
feeling estimation unit 108 obtains (i) the overall degree of each of
10 the
feelings in a comparatively short first period (for example, one second or the
like) and
(ii) the overall degree of each of the feelings in a second period (for
example, 30 seconds
or the like) longer than the first period in order to focus on temporal change
in feeling.
[0036] When a
person undergoes change in feeling (mental state), the person
often shows change in feeling (mental state) with a facial expression, a
gesture, or a tone
consciously or unconsciously. For this reason, the overall degree of each of
the feelings
in the comparatively short first period is obtained, whereby a complicated
feeling or a true
feeling of the user is expected to be estimated. On the other hand, the
overall degree of
each of the feelings in the comparatively long second period is obtained,
whereby noise is
reduced and reliability of estimation by the feeling estimation unit 108 can
be further
improved.
[0037] The
feeling estimation unit 108 finally estimates the feeling of the user
based on the degree of each of the feelings in the first period and the degree
of each of the
feelings in the second period. At this time, the feeling estimation unit 108
digitalizes the
feeling of the user based on the degree of each of the feelings as well as
feeling
classification (for example, in a case where digitalization is made in a range
of 0 to 100,
"joy 50" or the like).
[0038] The
feeling estimation unit 108 estimates the feeling classification as
follows. That is, for example, in a case where the degree of "fear" is the
highest in the
first period and the degree of "happy" is the highest in the second period,
the feeling
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estimation unit 108 estimates the feeling of the user as "fear" (i) under a
condition that the
degree of "fear" in the first period is greater than a predetermined threshold
and estimates
the feeling of the user as "happy" (ii) under a condition that the degree of
"fear" in the first
period is equal or less than the predetermined threshold. The reason is
because, in a case
where the degree of "feat in the first period is greater than the
predetermined threshold,
there is a high possibility that "fear" is a true feeling of the user that
appears for an instant,
and in a case where the degree of "fear" in the first period is equal to or
less than the
predetermined threshold, there is a high possibility that "fear" is noise.
[0039] Now,
in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2A, the controller 101 of the
navigation device 100 acquires the feeling of the user estimated by the
feeling estimation
unit 108 and an ID of the user specified by the personal identification unit
109. The
personal identification unit 109 identifies the user on the vehicle 10 based
on the image
captured by the in-vehicle camera 12 and specifies the ID of the identified
user with
reference to the personal ID database.
[0040] In addition, the
controller 101 acquires a position of the vehicle 10 based
on a GPS signal received by the GPS reception unit 107 and acquires a time
from the
timepiece 103. Subsequently, the controller 101 associates the feeling of the
user, the ID
of the user, the position, and the time with one another (Step S111). The
position of the
vehicle 10 and the time may be corrected in consideration of a time of
estimation in the
feeling estimation unit 108.
[0041] The
controller 101 transmits a signal indicating the feeling of the user, the
ID of the user, the position, and the time associated with one another to the
center 20
through the communication unit 102 (Step S112). Thereafter, the controller 101
performs
the processing of Step S111 again after a first predetermined time elapses.
[0042] The feeling
estimation unit 108 may perform feeling estimation for all
occupants of the vehicle 10, or may perform feeling estimation for a driver
among the
occupants of the vehicle 10. The feeling estimation unit 108 may estimate the
feeling of
the user from, for example, a blood pressure or a pulse, in addition to the
facial expression,
the gesture, and the tone. The "facial expression", the "gesture", and the
"tone (speech)"
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according to the embodiment are an example of "biological information".
2. General Feeling Database Construction
[0043] The
controller 21 of the center 20 sequentially acquires the feeling of the
user, the ID of the user, the position, and the time associated with one
another from each of
a plurality of vehicles including the vehicle 10. The controller 21
accumulates the feeling
of the user, the ID of the user, the position, and the time associated with
one another for
each ID of the user, thereby constructing the general feeling database 25.
That is, it can
be said that the general feeling database 25 is a collection of the feeling
databases for the
users.
[0044] In a case where
a feeling of a certain user at a certain point is estimated
multiple times, the controller 21 may classify the feelings by time (or time
zone) and may
accumulate the feeling of the user, or may obtain (i) a simplified value, (ii)
a sum of
products, (iii) an average, or (iv) a normalized value of the digitalized
feelings and may
accumulate the obtained value as the feeling of the user.
[0045] Now, in the
flowchart shown in FIG. 28, the controller 21 determines
whether or not data (that is, the feeling of the user, the ID of the user, the
position, and the
time associated with one another) indicating the feeling is received from an
arbitrary
vehicle including the vehicle 10 (Step S121). In a case where the above-
described
determination is made that data indicating the feeling is not received (Step
S121: No), the
controller 21 performs the determination of Step S121 again after a second
predetermined
time elapses.
[0046] In a
case where the determination of Step S121 is made that data
indicating the feeling is received (Step S121: Yes), the controller 21
constructs or updates
the general feeling database 25 based on the received data indicating the
feeling (Step
S122).
Search and Presentation of Traveling Route
[0047] Next,
a search and presentation method of a traveling route in the route
information presentation system 1 will be described referring to FIGS. 3A to
7B, in
addition to FIG 1.
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[0048] The
map database 24 of the center 20 stores, in addition to the map
information, information of destination candidates (for example, stations,
hospitals, hotels,
resorts, shops, offices, and the like) and feature information (for example,
seaside, good
scenery, a small gradient, school zones, and the like) of roads. The personal
information
database 26 stores the ID of the user in association with a profile (for
example, age, sex, or
the like) of the user.
[0049] The
personal feeling map analysis unit 28 generates a personal feeling
map from a feeling database related to an arbitrary user (for example, a user
indicated by
the controller 21) accumulated in the general feeling database 25 and the map
information
stored in the map database 24. The personal feeling map is information with
the feeling
of the user at each of a plurality of points on a road associated with the map
information.
[0050] The
personal feeling map analysis unit 28 performs profiling of the user
corresponding to the personal feeling map based on the generated personal
feeling map.
As a result of the profiling, comparatively frequent feelings, preferences,
desirable
destination candidates, and the like of the user are specified or estimated.
For example, in
a case where the feeling "happy" is associated with a mountain road in a night
time zone,
"a preference for a mountain road at night" is estimated as a preference.
Alternatively, in
a case where the intensity of the feeling "happy" is comparatively large
around a baseball
park, the "baseball park is estimated as a desirable destination candidate.
[0051] The profiling by
the personal feeling map analysis unit 28 will be further
described referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B. In FIG. 3A, a solid line indicates a
traveling
route along which the vehicle 10 travels in a period of 19:00 to 21:00. A
symbol "x" of
FIG. 3A indicates a point (that is, a position associated with a feeling)
where the feeling of
the user of the vehicle 10 is estimated. It can be said that FIG. 3A is an
example of a
personal feeling map with a traveling route (that is, a map) associated with
feeling data of
the user of the vehicle 10. FIG. 3B shows change in the degree of feeling (in
this case,
"happy") of the user when the vehicle 10 travels along the traveling route
shown in FIG
3A.
[0052] The
personal feeling map analysis unit 28 extracts feeling data related to
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the user of the vehicle 10 in a certain time zone (in FIGS. 3A and 3B, 19:00
to 21:00) from
the general feeling database 25 and generates the personal feeling map shown
in FIG. 3A
from the map information stored in the map database 24.
[0053] Next,
the personal feeling map analysis unit 28 calculates, for example, an
average value of the feeling of the user of the vehicle 10 for each feature of
a road based
on the feature information (in FIGS. 3A and 3B, "seaside", "mountain road",
"urban area)
of the roads included in the map information. In the example shown in FIG. 3B,
it is
assumed that an average value of "feeling" on the "seaside" is 30, an average
value of
"happy" on the "mountain road is 80, and an average value of "happy" in the
"urban area
is 10.
[0054] Next,
the personal feeling map analysis unit 28 performs profiling of the
user of the vehicle 10 with reference to, for example, the average value of
the feeling for
each feature of the road. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, since the
average
value of "happy" on the "mountain road" projects from and are greater than
other average
values, the personal feeling map analysis unit 28 estimates, for example, "a
preference for
a mountain road at night" as a preference for the user of the vehicle 10.
[0055] The
personal feeling map analysis unit 28 transmits the result of the
profiling to the controller 21 in association with the ID of the user who is
subjected to the
profiling. The controller 21 updates the profile stored in the personal
information
database 26 and associated with the ID of the user based on the ID of the user
and the
result of the profiling.
[0056] The
personal feeling map analysis unit 28 may generate the personal
feeling map of the user again regularly or irregularly in consideration of an
update
frequency or the like of the feeling database (as a part of the general
feeling database 25)
related to a certain user and may perform profiling.
[0057] In a
case where the signal indicating the ID of the user and the current
location and the destination of the vehicle 10 is received from the vehicle
10, the controller
21 of the center 20 acquires the profile of the user from the personal
information database
26 based on the ID of the user indicated by the received signal. In a case
where the
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analysis (that is, the profiling of the user) of the personal feeling map is
already performed
by the personal feeling map analysis unit 28, in addition to age or sex, for
example, a
preference, a desirable destination candidate, and the like are included in
the profile
acquired from the personal information database 26.
5 [0058] The
controller 21 generates one or a plurality of general feeling maps from
the general feeling database 25 and the map information stored in the map
database 24
based on the profile acquired from the personal information database 26 and a
current time
acquired from the timepiece 23. Similarly to the above-described personal
feeling map,
the general feeling map is information with the feeling of each of a plurality
of users at
10 each of
the points on the road associated with the map information (see FIG. 4). In
FIG 4,
a dark halftone circle and a light halftone circle represent different
feelings from each other.
The size of a halftone circle represents the intensity (degree) of the
feeling.
[0059] The
controller 21 can generate a general feeling map under arbitrary
conditions. In a case where the profile acquired from the personal information
database
15 26 is, for
example, "twenties, man", and the current time is "19:20, the controller 21
extracts, for example, a feeling of a man in his twenties at 19:00 to 20:00
from the general
feeling database 25 and a position associated with the feeling, and generates
a general
feeling map from the extracted feeling and position and the map information.
In a case
where the profile acquired from the personal information database 26 is, for
example, "a
preference for traveling on a mountain road, woman", and the current time is
"9:50, the
controller 21 extracts, for example, a feeling of a woman at 9:00 to 10:00 and
a position
associated with the feeling from the general feeling database 25, and
generates a general
feeling map from the extracted feeling and position and the map information.
[0060] The
controller 21 calculates a traveling route from a current location of the
vehicle 10 to a destination based on the acquired profile and the generated
one or a
plurality of general feeling maps. At this time, the controller 21 may
calculate one
traveling route or may calculate a plurality of traveling routes from one
general feeling
map. Alternatively, the controller 21 may calculate one traveling route from a
plurality of
general feeling maps.
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[0061]
Specifically, the controller 21 calculates a traveling route from a current
location of the vehicle 10 to a destination such that a comparatively large
number of points
associated with, for example, a positive feeling, such as "happy", indicated
by the general
feeling map generated under the above-described conditions of "twenties, man"
and
"19:20" are included, or no or not many points associated with, for example, a
negative
feeling, such as "anger", are included. In this case, since there is no
condition (that is, a
profile) other than "twenties, man", in calculating the traveling route, a
feeling is primarily
considered.
[0062]
Alternatively, the controller 21 calculates a traveling route from a current
location of the vehicle 10 to a destination such that a comparatively large
number of points
corresponding to a mountain road among points associated with, for example, a
positive
feeling indicated by the general feeling map generated under the above-
described
conditions of "a preference for traveling on a mountain road" and "9:50" are
included. In
this case, since there is the condition of "a preference for traveling on a
mountain road,
woman", in calculating the traveling route, in addition to a feeling,
topography is
considered.
[0063] The
calculation of the traveling route by the controller 21 will be further
described referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B. In FIG 5A, it is assumed that a black
circle
indicates the current location of the vehicle 10, and a black triangle
indicates the
destination of the vehicle 10. An "A route" and a "B route" are candidates of
a traveling
route from the current location of the vehicle 10 to the destination. FIG 5B
shows (i)
change in the degree of feeling (in this case, "happy") in a case of traveling
along the A
route (upper side) and (ii) change in the degree of feeling in a case of
traveling along the B
route (lower side) extracted from the general feeling map.
[0064] The controller
21 generates a general feeling map from the general feeling
database 25 and the map information based on the profile related to the user
of the vehicle
10 and the current time acquired from the timepiece 23. The controller 21
calculates
traveling route candidates from the current location of the vehicle 10 to the
destination
based on the map information in parallel with the generation of the general
feeling map.
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[0065] Next,
the controller 21 obtains feeling features related to the traveling
route candidates. In the example shown in FIG 5B, in regard to the A route, it
is assumed
that an average value of "happy" is 45, a maximum value of "happy" is 60, and
the number
of points where the degree of "happy" is equal to or greater than, for
example, 70 is zero.
In regard to the B route, it is assumed that an average value of "happy" is
70, a maximum
value of "happy" is 90, and the number of points where the degree of "happy"
is equal to or
greater than, for example, 70 is six.
[0066] Next,
the controller 21 sets a traveling route candidate suitable for the user
of the vehicle 10 as a traveling route based on the feeling feature related to
the traveling
route candidates. In the examples shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, since the B route
is
superior to the A route in "happy", the controller 21 sets the B route as the
traveling route.
It should be noted that superiority is determined in the average value, the
maximum value,
and the number of points. Instead of or in addition to the average value, the
maximum
value, and the number of points, other indexes may be used in determining a
traveling
route.
[0067] The
controller 21 transmits a signal indicating route information including
the calculated traveling route to the vehicle 10 through the communication
unit 22. In a
case where the signal indicating the route information is received from the
center 20, the
controller 101 of the navigation device 100 of the vehicle 10 displays
information related
to the traveling route indicated by the received signal on the display unit
104. Here,
"information related to the traveling route" is not limited to the traveling
route itself, and
may be a document or the like (see FIG 6) indicating the feature of the
traveling route (or a
reference used in calculating the traveling route).
[0068] The
controller 21 may generate, for example, a general feeling map with
comparatively high versatility, such as a general feeling map by age, in
advance, and may
store the general feeling map in the general feeling map database 27. In
addition, the
controller 21 may update the general feeling map stored in the general feeling
map
database 27 regularly or irregularly.
[0069] The
"general feeling database 25, the "personal feeling map", and the
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"general feeling map" according to the embodiment are examples, of a "feeling
database",
a "first feeling map", and a "second feeling map", respectively.
[0070] Now,
in FIG 7A, the controller 101 of the navigation device 100
determines whether or not there is a destination setting (Step S211). In a
case where a
destination is set through the operating unit 106 as a user interface, the
controller 101
determines that there is a destination setting.
[0071] In a
case where the determination of Step S211 is made that there is the
destination setting (Step S211: Yes), the controller 101 transmits a signal
indicating the ID
of the user specified by the personal identification unit 109, the position of
the vehicle 10
specified based on the GPS signal received by the GPS reception unit 107, and
the
destination to the center 20 through the communication unit 102 (Step S212).
100721 Next,
the controller 101 determines whether or not the signal indicating
the route information is received from the center 20 (Step S213). In a case
where the
above-described determination is made that the signal indicating the route
information is
not received (Step S213: No), the controller 101 performs the determination of
Step S213
again (that is, the controller 101 is in a standby state until the signal
indicating the route
information is received). Even when a third predetermined time has elapsed
after the
signal indicating the ID of the user and the like is transmitted in the
processing of Step
S212, in a case where the signal indicating the route information is not
received, the
controller 101 may temporarily end the processing shown in FIG. 7A.
[0073] In a
case where the determination of Step S213 is made that the signal
indicating the route information is received (Step S213: Yes), the controller
101 displays
information related to the traveling route indicated by the received signal on
the display
unit 104 (for example, see "1. [feeling] from your preference", "2. [feeling]
from person
like you, "3. [feeling] present recommendation" of FIG. 6) (Step S214).
[00741 A
traveling route of "1. [feeling] from your preference" of FIG. 6 is a
traveling route calculated from a general feeling map in consideration of, for
example, "a
preference for traveling on a mountain road" or a preference for traveling on
a seaside
road" included in a profile, such as "a preference for traveling on a mountain
road, woman"
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or "a preference for traveling on a seaside road, man". A traveling route of
"2. [feeling]
from person like you of FIG. 6 is a traveling route calculated from, for
example, a general
feeling map by age or a general feeling map generated when a feeling of a user
having the
same preference, such as "a preference for traveling on a seaside road" is
extracted from
the general feeling database 25. A
traveling route of "3. [feeling] present
recommendation" of FIG. 6 is a traveling route calculated from, for example, a
general
feeling map by time zone or a general feeling map generated when a feeling for
the last 30
minutes is extracted from the general feeling database 25.
[0075] The
controller 101 may calculate the traveling route from the current
location of the vehicle 10 to the destination based on map information (not
shown) in the
navigation device 100 in parallel with the processing shown in FIG 7A. Then,
in the
processing of Step S214, the controller 101 may display information related to
the
calculated traveling route on the display unit 104 (for example, see "4.
shortest", "5.
priority to open road" of FIG. 6), in addition to information related to the
traveling route
indicated by the received signal.
[0076] For
example, when information of the traveling route shown in FIG. 6 is
displayed on the display unit 104, in a case where one traveling route is
selected by the
user of the vehicle 10 through the operating unit 106, the controller 101
performs
appropriate control such that the display unit 104 and the speech output unit
105 guide the
vehicle 10 to the selected traveling route.
[0077] In a
case where the determination of Step S211 is made that a destination
is not set (Step S211: No), the controller 101 transmits the signal indicating
the ID of the
user specified by the personal identification unit 109 and the position of the
vehicle 10
specified based on the GPS signal received by the GPS reception unit 107 to
the center 20
through the communication unit 102 (Step S215).
[0078] Next,
the controller 101 determines whether or not a signal indicating
destination information is received from the center 20 (Step S216). The
"destination
information" is information indicating a point (so-called dropping
destination) by which
the vehicle is recommended to pass and/or a route (so-called dropping route)
along which
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the vehicle is recommended to travel.
[0079] In a
case where the determination of Step S216 is made that the signal
indicating the destination information is not received (Step S216: No), the
controller 101
performs the determination of Step S216 again (that is, the controller 101 is
in a standby
5 state
until the signal indicating the destination information is received). Even
when a
fourth predetermined time has been elapsed after the signal indicating the ID
of the user
and the like is transmitted in the processing of Step S215, in a case where
the signal
indicating the destination information is not received, the controller 101 may
temporarily
end the processing shown in FIG 7A.
10 [0080] In a case
where the determination of Step S216 is made that the signal
indicating the destination information is received (Step S216: Yes), the
controller 101
displays information related to the destination indicated by the received
signal on the
display unit 104, thereby suggesting the destination (Step S217).
[0081] In FIG
7B, the controller 21 of the center 20 determines whether or not a
15 vehicle
signal including at least an ID of a user and a position of a vehicle is
received from
an arbitrary vehicle including the vehicle 10 (Step S221). In a case where the
above-described determination is made that the vehicle signal is not received
(Step S211:
No), the controller 21 performs the determination of Step S221 again after a
fifth
predetermined time elapses.
20 [0082] In a case
where the determination of Step S221 is made that the vehicle
signal is received (Step S221: Yes), the controller 21 determines whether or
not a personal
feeling map corresponding to the ID of the user included in the vehicle signal
is analyzed
(Step S222).
[0083] In a
case where the determination of Step S222 is made that the personal
feeling map is analyzed (Step S222: Yes), the controller 21 performs
processing of Step
S224 described below. In a case where the determination of Step S222 is made
that the
personal feeling map is not analyzed yet (Step S222: No), the controller 21
generates a
personal feeling map corresponding to the ID of the user included in the
vehicle signal and
performs control such that the personal feeling map analysis unit 28 analyzes
the generated
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personal feeling map (Step S223).
[0084] Next,
the controller 21 determines whether or not a destination is included
in the vehicle signal (Step S224). In a case where the above-described
determination is
made that a destination is included (Step S224: Yes), the controller 21
acquires a profile
corresponding to the ID of the user included in the vehicle signal from the
personal
information database 26, and acquires the current time from the timepiece 23.
The
controller 21 generates one or a plurality of general feeling maps from the
general feeling
database 25 and the map information stored in the map database 24 based on the
acquired
profile and current time (Step S225).
[0085] Next, the
controller 21 calculates a traveling route from the current
location of the vehicle 10 to the destination based on the acquired profile
and the generated
general feeling map (Step S226). Next, the controller 21 a signal indicating
the route
information including the calculated traveling route to the vehicle 10 through
the
communication unit 22 (Step S227).
[0086] In a case where
the determination of Step S224 is made that a destination
is not included (Step S224: No), the controller 21 extracts a feeling for the
last 30 minutes
and a position associated with the feeling from the general feeling database
25, and
generates a general feeling map from the extracted feeling and position and
the map
information stored in the map database 24. Alternatively, the controller 21
may extract,
for example, a feeling of a user having the same preference as the preference
included in
the acquired profile and a position associated with the feeling from the
general feeling
database 25, and generates a general feeling map from the extracted feeling
and position
and the map information (Step S228). Next, the controller 21 searches for a
point
associated with a specific feeling (for example, a positive feeling, such as
"happy", or a
negative feeling, such as "anger") or a point where the intensity of the
specific feeling is
comparatively large from the generated general feeling map while referring to
the acquired
profile, and determines a point by which the vehicle is recommended to pass
and/or a route
along which the vehicle is recommended to travel (Step S229).
[0087] Next,
the controller 21 transmits a signal indicating the destination
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information including the point, by which the vehicle is recommended to pass,
and/or the
route, along which the vehicle is recommended to travel, to the vehicle 10
through the
communication unit 22 (Step S230).
[0088] The
"controller 101", the "display unit 104, the "personal identification
unit 109, and the "personal feeling map analysis unit 28" according to the
embodiment are
examples of an "acquisition unit", a "presentation unit", a "recognition
unit", and a "first
generation unit, respectively. The
"communication unit 102" according to the
embodiment is an example of a "transmission unit" and a "reception unit". The
"controller 21" according to the embodiment is an example of a "second
generation unit"
and a "search unit".
Technical Effects
[0089] In the
route information presentation system 1, the preference of the user
or the like is estimated from the personal feeling map related to the user of
the vehicle 10,
and the traveling route according to the profile of the user is searched from
the general
feeling map generated based on the profile or the like including the estimated
preference or
the like. That is, in the route information presentation system 1, the
traveling route from
the current location of the vehicle 10 to the destination is searched using
the personal
feeling map and the general feeling map.
[0090] A
feeling of an occupant on a vehicle is provoked according to the quality
of scenery or traffic circumstances of a road on which the vehicle travels or
in a case where
the vehicle travels near a place of memories or with a special feeling. That
is, it can be
said that there is a causal relationship between the feeling of the occupant
on the vehicle
and the road (or the traveling route). For this reason, the traveling route
from the current
location of the vehicle 10 to the destination searched as described above is
expected to be a
preferred traveling route for the user of the vehicle 10. Accordingly, with
the route
information presentation system 1, it is possible to present an appropriate
traveling route to
the user of the vehicle 10.
Modification Examples
[0091] In a
case where a so-called dropping destination or dropping route is
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suggested because the user does not set a destination (see Steps S215 to S217
and S228 to
S230), for example, the controller 21 of the center 20 may transmit, to the
vehicle 10, a
signal indicating the general feeling map generated from the feeling for the
last 30 minutes,
the position associated with the feeling, and the map information, instead of
or in addition
to the destination information. In this case, the controller 101 of the
navigation device
100 of the vehicle 10 may display the general feeling map on the display unit
104, instead
of or in addition to suggesting the destination.
[0092] With such a configuration, the user (driver) himself or
herself of the
vehicle 10 can drive the vehicle 10 while selecting a point associated with a
specific
feeling (for example, a positive feeling).
[0093] The invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment, and can
be changed, if desired, without departing from the essence of the invention
that can be read
from the claims and the entire specification. An in-vehicle device and a route
information
presentation system including such changes are also intended to be within the
technical
115 scope of the invention.
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