JP2024079384A - Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program, which allow for making appropriate notifications to a driver.SOLUTION: An information processing device disclosed herein comprises an estimation unit and notification unit. The estimation unit estimates an appropriate manner for a vehicle to pass through a given area on the basis of the vehicle situation in the given area. The notification unit makes a notification regarding traveling of the vehicle through the given area to the vehicle scheduled to pass through the given area on the basis of the estimated manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

Conventionally, there are technologies that provide driving assistance to vehicle drivers. For example, this type of technology detects pedestrians using images captured by a camera installed in the vehicle and notifies the driver based on the detection results (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2022-149445 A

However, existing technology leaves room for improvement in terms of providing drivers with more appropriate notifications tailored to their surroundings.

This application has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that can provide appropriate notifications to the driver.

The information processing device according to the present application includes an estimation unit and a notification unit. The estimation unit estimates an appropriate passing method for a vehicle to pass through a specified area based on the vehicle status in the specified area. The notification unit notifies a vehicle that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of the passing of the specified area based on the estimated passing method.

According to one aspect of the embodiment, it is possible to provide an appropriate notification to the driver.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a first process executed by an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a second process executed by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the region information. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a first process executed by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second process executed by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration.

Below, the information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program according to the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program according to the present application are not limited to these embodiments. In addition, the same components in the following embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

(Embodiment)
First, the process executed by the information processing device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B. Fig. 1A is a diagram showing a first process executed by the information processing device according to the embodiment. Fig. 1B is a diagram showing a second process executed by the information processing device according to the embodiment. Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B show an example of the operation of an information processing system S including the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment.

First, the first process executed by the information processing system S will be described with reference to FIG. 1A.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the information processing system S according to the embodiment includes an information processing device 1, a vehicle 50, and a user terminal 100. In the following, the vehicle 50 that is the target of notification by the information processing device 1 may be referred to as the target vehicle 50.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the information processing system S according to the embodiment estimates an appropriate speed for a vehicle 50 (target vehicle 50) to pass through a specified area based on people flow information in the specified area, and notifies the target vehicle 50 that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of its passage through the specified area based on the estimated appropriate speed.

The specified area here is an area where people and other moving objects exist, such as facilities such as parks, schools, kindergartens, daycare centers, and shopping malls. In other words, the specified area is an area where the driver needs to pay careful attention when passing through the vehicle. Note that the specified area is not limited to facilities, and may be specific locations such as crosswalks, intersections, school routes, etc.

In process 1 shown in FIG. 1A, the information processing device 1 first acquires driving information of the target vehicle 50 that is the subject of notification from the target vehicle 50 (step S1). The driving information acquired includes, for example, the current position, the current speed, the road being driven, the lane being driven, and a guide route to the destination set by the navigation device (step S1). Note that the driving information may be acquired, for example, by a navigation device or a vehicle control device mounted on the target vehicle 50, or may be acquired by a terminal device such as a smartphone carried by an occupant of the target vehicle 50.

Then, the information processing device 1 identifies a predetermined area corresponding to the position of the target vehicle 50 based on the acquired driving information of the target vehicle 50 (step S2). For example, the information processing device 1 predicts a planned driving route from the current position of the target vehicle 50, and obtains a predetermined area located on the planned driving route as a identified result. In addition, the information processing device 1 identifies a planned time when the target vehicle 50 will pass through the identified predetermined area.

Next, the information processing device 1 acquires user location information from the user via the user terminal 100 (step S3). Such users are users who are not in a vehicle (a vehicle other than the target vehicle 50) and are pedestrians, users riding bicycles, etc. In other words, such users are users who may temporarily pass by the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling.

Next, the information processing device 1 estimates people flow information in the identified specified area based on the acquired location information (step S4). People flow information is information that indicates the future flow (location changes) of users in the specified area. For example, the information processing device 1 estimates people flow information for each user at the scheduled time by predicting the changes in location information up to the scheduled time from the history of acquired location information.

Next, the information processing device 1 estimates the appropriate speed when the target vehicle 50 passes through the specified area based on the estimated pedestrian flow information (step S5). For example, the information processing device 1 estimates the appropriate speed based on feature information extracted from the pedestrian flow information, such as the number of users present in the specified area at the scheduled time, the number of users moving in the specified area, the number of users passing through the road present in the specified area, the number of users walking or riding bicycles in the specified area, and attribute information (age, etc.) of each user present in the specified area. Specifically, the information processing device 1 estimates a danger level indicating the possibility that a user will approach the target vehicle 50 when the target vehicle 50 passes through the specified area based on the feature information, and estimates the appropriate speed according to the danger level. More specifically, the information processing device 1 determines how slow the appropriate speed is relative to the legal speed in the specified area based on the danger level. That is, the higher the danger level (the higher the risk), the more the information processing device 1 estimates the appropriate speed that is greater in reduction from the legal speed. Note that the estimation of the appropriate speed (or danger level) may use a model generated by machine learning. Specifically, the information processing device 1 uses the above feature information extracted from people flow information as explanatory variables and appropriate speed (or danger level) as a target variable to learn and generate a model for use.

Next, the information processing device 1 compares the current speed of the target vehicle 50 with the estimated appropriate speed (step S6). Specifically, the information processing device 1 acquires the speed difference between the current speed and the appropriate speed as the comparison result. Alternatively, the information processing device 1 may acquire as the comparison result whether or not the current speed is higher than the appropriate speed.

Next, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to be sent to the target vehicle 50 based on the comparison result (step S7). For example, when the current speed is higher than the appropriate speed and the speed difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to instruct the target vehicle 50 to slow down to the appropriate speed. When the current speed is higher than the appropriate speed and the speed difference is less than a predetermined value, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to notify the target vehicle 50 that a user in a predetermined area is likely to approach the target vehicle 50, or to notify the location of a user who may be passing through the road based on the people flow information. In other words, when the speed difference is less than a predetermined value, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to notify information about a user in a predetermined area.

In addition, when the current speed is lower than the appropriate speed, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to inform users in a specified area that there is a high possibility that they will approach the target vehicle 50, and to inform users of the positions of users who may be passing through the road based on people flow information.

Then, the information processing device 1 notifies the target vehicle 50 that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of the notification regarding the passage of the specified area with the determined notification content (step S8). Specifically, the information processing device 1 notifies the target vehicle 50 of the notification content indicating an instruction to slow down to an appropriate speed, notifies the target vehicle 50 that a user in the specified area is likely to approach the target vehicle 50, and notifies the target vehicle 50 of the location of a user who may pass through the road based on people flow information.

In this way, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment can notify the driver based on the appropriate speed estimated based on the people flow information, allowing the driver to pass through a specified area more safely. In other words, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment can provide the driver with more appropriate notifications tailored to the surrounding situation (people flow information).

In addition to notifying the target vehicle 50, the information processing device 1 may also notify a system that distributes traffic information, such as VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System: registered trademark), of information regarding the appropriate speed. In addition, the information processing device 1 may also notify an external agency, such as the police, of information regarding the appropriate speed. Alternatively, if the target vehicle 50 is an autonomous vehicle, the information processing device 1 may remotely control the target vehicle 50 to keep it at an appropriate speed.

Next, the process 2 executed by the information processing system S will be described with reference to FIG. 1B. Note that the process 2 shown in FIG. 1B may be executed in parallel with the process 1 shown in FIG. 1A.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the information processing system S according to the embodiment includes an information processing device 1, a vehicle 50, and a user terminal 100. In the following, the vehicle 50 that is the target of notification by the information processing device 1 may be referred to as the target vehicle 50.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the information processing system S according to the embodiment estimates an appropriate passing method for the target vehicle 50 when passing through a specified area based on the vehicle conditions in the specified area, and notifies the vehicle 50 (target vehicle 50) that is scheduled to pass through the specified area about passing through the specified area based on the estimated passing method.

In process 2 shown in FIG. 1B, the information processing device 1 first acquires driving information of the target vehicle 50 from the target vehicle 50 that is the subject of notification (step S1). The driving information acquired includes, for example, the current position, the current speed, the road being driven, the lane being driven, and a guide route to the destination set by the navigation device (step S1). Note that the driving information may be acquired, for example, by a navigation device or a vehicle control device mounted on the target vehicle 50, or may be acquired by a terminal device such as a smartphone carried by an occupant of the target vehicle 50.

Then, the information processing device 1 identifies a predetermined area corresponding to the position of the target vehicle 50 based on the acquired driving information of the target vehicle 50 (step S2). For example, the information processing device 1 predicts a planned driving route from the current position of the target vehicle 50, and obtains a predetermined area located on the planned driving route as a identified result. In addition, the information processing device 1 identifies a planned time when the target vehicle 50 will pass through the identified predetermined area.

Next, the information processing device 1 acquires location information of a user (another vehicle) from a user who is an occupant of a vehicle other than the target vehicle 50 via the user terminal 100 (step S3). Note that the location information of the other vehicle does not necessarily have to be acquired from the user terminal 100, and may be acquired from a navigation device or a vehicle control device mounted on the other vehicle.

Next, the information processing device 1 estimates the vehicle status of other vehicles in the specified area based on the acquired position information of other vehicles (step S4). The vehicle status is information indicating the future flow (position change) of other vehicles in the specified area. For example, the information processing device 1 estimates the vehicle status of each other vehicle at the scheduled time by predicting the change in position information up to the scheduled time from the history of the acquired position information.

Next, the information processing device 1 estimates an appropriate passing method for the target vehicle 50 in the specified area based on the estimated vehicle status (step S5). For example, when the specified area is an intersection, the information processing device 1 estimates an appropriate passing method based on the position (lane in which the target vehicle 50 is traveling) and speed of the target vehicle 50, and the positions and speeds of other vehicles, depending on whether the intersection can be passed straight or whether the intersection can be turned right or left. Note that, when the information processing device 1 determines that the intersection is possible and that the intersection can be turned right, it estimates going straight and turning right as appropriate passing methods. In addition, when the specified area is a road with multiple lanes, the information processing device 1 determines whether lane changing to each lane is possible, and when it determines that lane changing is possible, it estimates lane changing and no lane changing as appropriate passing methods. In addition, when the specified area is an entrance/exit of a specified facility, the information processing device 1 determines whether entry into the specified facility is possible, and when it determines that entry is possible, it estimates entry into the specified facility and passing through the entrance/exit (not entering) as appropriate passing methods.

Then, the information processing device 1 compares the estimated appropriate passing method with the guidance route in the specified area set in the target vehicle 50 (step S6). Specifically, the information processing device 1 determines whether the appropriate passing method includes the guidance route in the specified area. For example, when the guidance route at the intersection is a right turn, the information processing device 1 determines whether the appropriate passing method includes a right turn.

Next, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to the target vehicle 50 based on the comparison result (step S7). For example, when the appropriate passing methods include a guided route in a predetermined area, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to notify the passing method guided in the guided route. Also, when the appropriate passing methods do not include a guided route in a predetermined area, that is, when it is not appropriate to use the passing method guided in the guided route, the information processing device 1 determines the notification content to notify that the passing method guided in the guided route should not be used. In this case, the information processing device 1 may determine the notification content to notify a passing method other than the guided route (an appropriate passing method). Note that, when there are multiple passing methods other than the guided route, the information processing device 1 may specify a driving level indicating the ease of driving for each passing method, and determine the notification content to notify the passing method with the highest driving level (highest ease). Alternatively, when there are multiple passing methods other than the guided route, the information processing device 1 may determine the notification content to notify the passing method with the shortest arrival time to the destination.

Then, the information processing device 1 notifies the target vehicle 50 scheduled to pass through the specified area of the notification regarding the passing through the specified area with the determined notification content (step S8). For example, if the notification content is to notify the passing method guided by the guided route, the information processing device 1 notifies the passing method guided by the guided route. For example, if the guided route is a right turn, the information processing device 1 notifies the route of turning right in the specified area.

In addition, in the case of notification contents notifying that the passing method guided in the guided route should not be used, the information processing device 1 notifies that the passing method guided in the guided route should not be used. For example, in the case of a guided route being a right turn, the information processing device 1 issues a notification recommending not following the guided route, such as "right turns are not recommended due to the situation of other vehicles." In addition, in the case of notification contents notifying of a passing method other than the guided route (appropriate passing method), the information processing device 1 notifies of a passing method other than the guided route (appropriate passing method). For example, in the case of an intersection where the guided route is a right turn and the appropriate passing method is going straight, the information processing device 1 issues a notification recommending that an appropriate passing method be used, such as "right turns are difficult at the upcoming intersection, so going straight is recommended." In addition, in the case of notifying of a passing method with the highest driving level from among a plurality of passing methods, the information processing device 1 issues a notification regarding the driving level, such as "right turns are difficult at the upcoming intersection, so going straight is recommended, which is easy to drive." Furthermore, when notifying the driver of the passing method with the shortest arrival time to the destination from among multiple passing methods, the information processing device 1 notifies the driver of the arrival time to the destination, such as "Because it is difficult to turn right at the upcoming intersection, we recommend that you go straight ahead, although the arrival time to the destination will be X minutes longer." Note that, when notifying the driver of a passing method other than the guided route, the information processing device 1 may search in advance for a new guided route in case of passing through using a passing method other than the guided route, and may immediately notify the driver of the new guided route when the driver passes through using a passing method other than the guided route.

In this way, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment can notify the driver of an appropriate passing method estimated based on the vehicle conditions of other vehicles, allowing the driver to pass through a specified area more safely. In other words, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment can provide the driver with more appropriate notifications tailored to the surrounding conditions (vehicle conditions).

In addition to notifying the target vehicle 50, the information processing device 1 may also notify a system that distributes traffic information, such as VICS (registered trademark), of information about an appropriate passing method. In addition, the information processing device 1 may also notify an external agency, such as the police, of information about an appropriate passing method. Alternatively, if the target vehicle 50 is an autonomous vehicle, the information processing device 1 may remotely control the target vehicle 50 to pass by using an appropriate passing method.

Next, a configuration example of an information processing system S according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system S according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, in the information processing system S according to an embodiment, an information processing device 1, a plurality of vehicles 50, and a plurality of user terminals 100 are connected to a network N by wire or wirelessly. The network N is, for example, the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or the like.

The information processing device 1 is a server device that executes the information processing method according to the embodiment.

In addition, the information processing device 1 is an information processing device that cooperates with multiple vehicles 50 and multiple user terminals 100, and provides API (Application Programming Interface) services for various applications (hereinafter, apps) and the like, as well as various data, to the multiple vehicles 50 and multiple user terminals 100, and is realized by a server device, a cloud system, etc.

The information processing device 1 may also be an information processing device that provides some kind of web service online to a plurality of vehicles 50 and a plurality of user terminals 100. For example, the information processing device 1 may provide services such as Internet connection, search services, SNS (Social Networking Service), electronic commerce (EC), electronic payment, online games, online banking, online trading, accommodation and ticket reservations, video and music distribution, news, maps, route searches, route guidance, line information, operation information, and weather forecasts as web services. In practice, the information processing device 1 may cooperate with various servers that provide the above-mentioned web services and act as an intermediary for the web services or be responsible for processing the web services.

The vehicle 50 is a vehicle traveling on a road, and is configured to be capable of two-way communication with the information processing device 1 via the network N. Note that the connection with the information processing device 1 may be an in-vehicle device provided in the vehicle 50. The in-vehicle device may be, for example, a navigation device, a vehicle control device, etc.

The user terminal 100 is a terminal device owned by a user. The user terminal 100 may be any type of terminal device, such as a smartphone, a desktop PC, a notebook PC, or a tablet PC. The user terminal 100 transmits various types of information to the information processing device 1, etc., and receives information provided by the information processing device 1, etc.

Next, an example configuration of the information processing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the information processing device 1 has a communication unit 2, a control unit 3, and a storage unit 4. The control unit 3 has an acquisition unit 31, an identification unit 32, an estimation unit 33, a comparison unit 34, a determination unit 35, and a notification unit 36. The storage unit 4 stores user information 41 and area information 42.

The communication unit 2 is realized, for example, by a network interface card (NIC). The communication unit 2 is connected to the network via a wired or wireless connection.

The control unit 3 is a controller, and is realized, for example, by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processing Unit) that executes various programs (corresponding to an example of an information processing program) stored in a storage device inside the information processing device 1 using a RAM or the like as a working area. The control unit 3 is also a controller, and may be realized, for example, by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a GPGPU (General Purpose Graphic Processing Unit).

The storage unit 4 is realized, for example, by a semiconductor memory element such as a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk.

User information 41 is information about a user. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of user information 41. As shown in Figure 4, user information 41 includes items such as "user ID," "attribute information," and "location history."

"User ID" is identification information that identifies a user. "Attribute information" is information about the attributes of a user, including, for example, psychographic attributes and demographic attributes. "Location history" is information that indicates the history of the user's location information.

Area information 42 is information about a specific area. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of area information 42. As shown in Figure 5, area information 42 includes items such as "area ID" and "facility type."

The "area ID" is identification information for identifying an area. The "area type" is information indicating the type of a specific area. The "area type" is, for example, the type of facility present in the area, such as a school, kindergarten, nursing home, hospital, etc., or the type of road present in the specific area, such as an intersection, a road with multiple lanes, etc.
The type may be the type of person who uses the facility, or the type of service provided by the facility such as a hospital or kindergarten.

Next, the functions of the control unit 3 of the information processing device 1 (acquisition unit 31, identification unit 32, estimation unit 33, comparison unit 34, determination unit 35, and notification unit 36) will be described.

The acquisition unit 31 acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 31 acquires driving information of the target vehicle 50. The acquisition unit 31 also acquires location information of users who are riding in vehicles other than the target vehicle 50, and location information of users who are not riding in the target vehicle 50 or other vehicles.

The identification unit 32 identifies a predetermined area corresponding to the position of the target vehicle 50 based on the acquired driving information of the target vehicle 50. For example, the identification unit 32 predicts a planned driving route from the current position of the target vehicle 50, and obtains a predetermined area located on the planned driving route as a identification result. In addition, the identification unit 32 identifies a planned time when the target vehicle 50 will pass through the identified predetermined area.

The estimation unit 33 estimates people flow information in the specified area based on the acquired location information. The people flow information is information indicating the future flow (location changes) of users in the specified area. For example, the estimation unit 33 estimates people flow information for each user at the scheduled time by predicting the changes in location information up to the scheduled time from the history of the acquired location information.

Next, the estimation unit 33 estimates the appropriate speed when the target vehicle 50 passes through a predetermined area based on the estimated pedestrian flow information. For example, the estimation unit 33 estimates the appropriate speed based on characteristic information extracted from the pedestrian flow information, such as the number of users present in the predetermined area at the scheduled time, the number of users moving in the predetermined area, the number of users passing through the road present in the predetermined area, the number of users walking or riding bicycles in the predetermined area, and attribute information (age, etc.) of each user present in the predetermined area. Specifically, the estimation unit 33 estimates a danger level indicating the possibility that a user will approach the target vehicle 50 when the target vehicle 50 passes through the predetermined area based on the characteristic information, and estimates the appropriate speed according to the danger level. More specifically, the estimation unit 33 determines how slow the appropriate speed is relative to the legal speed in the predetermined area based on the danger level. That is, the higher the danger level (the higher the risk), the more the estimation unit 33 estimates the appropriate speed that is reduced from the legal speed. Note that the estimation of the appropriate speed (or danger level) may use a model generated by machine learning. Specifically, the information processing device 1 uses the above feature information extracted from people flow information as explanatory variables and appropriate speed (or danger level) as a target variable to learn and generate a model for use.

The estimation unit 33 also estimates the vehicle status of other vehicles in the specified area based on the acquired position information of other vehicles. The vehicle status is information indicating the future flow (positional changes) of other vehicles in the specified area. For example, the estimation unit 33 estimates the vehicle status of each other vehicle at the scheduled time by predicting the changes in position information up to the scheduled time from the history of the acquired position information.

Next, the estimation unit 33 estimates an appropriate passing method for the target vehicle 50 in the specified area based on the estimated vehicle status. For example, when the specified area is an intersection, the estimation unit 33 estimates an appropriate passing method based on the position (lane in which the target vehicle 50 is traveling) and speed of the target vehicle 50 and the positions and speeds of other vehicles, depending on whether the intersection can be passed straight or whether the intersection can be turned right or left. If the estimation unit 33 determines that the intersection is possible and that the intersection can be turned right, it estimates going straight and turning right as appropriate passing methods. If the specified area is a road with multiple lanes, the estimation unit 33 determines whether lane changing to each lane is possible, and if it determines that lane changing is possible, it estimates lane changing and no lane changing as appropriate passing methods. If the specified area is an entrance/exit of a specified facility, the estimation unit 33 determines whether entry into the specified facility is possible, and if it determines that entry is possible, it estimates entry into the specified facility and passing through the entrance (not entering) as appropriate passing methods.

The comparison unit 34 compares the current speed of the target vehicle 50 with the estimated appropriate speed. Specifically, the comparison unit 34 acquires the speed difference between the current speed and the appropriate speed as the comparison result. Alternatively, the information processing device 1 may acquire as the comparison result whether or not the current speed is higher than the appropriate speed.

The comparison unit 34 also compares the estimated appropriate passing method with the guidance route in the specified area set in the target vehicle 50. Specifically, the comparison unit 34 determines whether the appropriate passing methods include the guidance route in the specified area. For example, when the guidance route at an intersection is a right turn, the comparison unit 34 determines whether the appropriate passing methods include a right turn.

The determination unit 35 determines the notification content to be sent to the target vehicle based on the comparison result. For example, when the current speed is higher than the appropriate speed and the speed difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the determination unit 35 determines the notification content to instruct the target vehicle to slow down to the appropriate speed. In addition, when the current speed is higher than the appropriate speed and the speed difference is less than a predetermined value, the determination unit 35 determines the notification content to notify the target vehicle 50 that a user in a specified area is likely to approach the target vehicle 50, or the notification content to notify the location of a user who may be passing through the road based on the people flow information.

In addition, when the current speed is lower than the appropriate speed, the determination unit 35 determines the notification content to notify users in a specified area that there is a high possibility that they will approach the target vehicle 50, and to notify the location of users who may be passing through the road based on people flow information.

In addition, when the appropriate passing methods include a guided route in a specified area, the determination unit 35 determines the notification content to notify the passing method guided in the guided route. In addition, when the appropriate passing methods do not include a guided route in a specified area, that is, when it is not appropriate to use the passing method guided in the guided route, the determination unit 35 determines the notification content to notify that the passing method guided in the guided route should not be used. In this case, the determination unit 35 may determine the notification content to notify a passing method other than the guided route (an appropriate passing method). In addition, when there are multiple passing methods other than the guided route, the determination unit 35 may specify a driving level indicating the ease of driving for each passing method, and determine the notification content to notify the passing method with the highest driving level (highest ease). Alternatively, when there are multiple passing methods other than the guided route, the determination unit 35 may determine the notification content to notify the passing method with the shortest arrival time to the destination.

The notification unit 36 notifies the target vehicle 50 that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of the notification regarding the passage of the specified area with the determined notification content. Specifically, the notification unit 36 notifies the target vehicle 50 of the notification content indicating an instruction to slow down to an appropriate speed, notifies the target vehicle 50 of the possibility that a user in the specified area is likely to approach the target vehicle 50, and notifies the target vehicle 50 of the location of a user who may be passing through the road based on people flow information.

In addition, when the notification content is to notify the passing method guided in the guided route, the notification unit 36 notifies the passing method guided in the guided route. For example, when the guided route is a right turn, the notification unit 36 notifies the user of a route that involves a right turn in a specified area.

In addition, in the case of notification contents notifying that the passing method guided in the guided route should not be used, the notification unit 36 notifies that the passing method guided in the guided route should not be used. For example, in the case of a guided route being a right turn, the notification unit 36 issues a notification recommending not following the guided route, such as "right turns are not recommended due to the situation of other vehicles." In addition, in the case of notification contents notifying of a passing method (appropriate passing method) other than the guided route, the notification unit 36 notifies of a passing method (appropriate passing method) other than the guided route. For example, in the case of an intersection where the guided route is a right turn and the appropriate passing method is going straight, the notification unit 36 issues a notification recommending the appropriate passing method, such as "it is difficult to turn right at the upcoming intersection, so we recommend going straight." In addition, in the case of notifying of a passing method with the highest driving level from among a plurality of passing methods, the notification unit 36 issues a notification regarding the driving level, such as "it is difficult to turn right at the upcoming intersection, so we recommend going straight, which is easy to drive." Furthermore, when notifying the driver of the passing method that has the shortest arrival time to the destination from among a plurality of passing methods, the notification unit 36 notifies the driver of the arrival time to the destination, such as "Because it is difficult to turn right at the upcoming intersection, we recommend that you go straight ahead, although the arrival time to the destination will be X minutes longer." Note that, when notifying the driver of a passing method other than the guided route, the notification unit 36 may search in advance for a new guided route in case of passing through using a passing method other than the guided route, and may immediately notify the driver of the new guided route when the driver passes through using a passing method other than the guided route.

Next, the processing procedure of the process executed by the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of process 1 executed by the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of process 2 executed by the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment.

First, the processing procedure of process 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 3 first acquires the user's location information via the user terminal 100 (step S101).

Next, the control unit 3 acquires the position and current speed of the target vehicle (step S102).

Next, the control unit 3 identifies a predetermined area that corresponds to the acquired position of the target vehicle (step S103).

Next, the control unit 3 estimates people flow information in the identified specific area (step S104).

Next, the control unit 3 estimates the appropriate speed for the target vehicle 50 based on the estimated pedestrian flow information (step S105).

Next, the control unit 3 compares the current speed of the target vehicle 50 with the estimated appropriate speed (step S106).

Next, the control unit 3 determines the notification content to be sent to the target vehicle 50 based on the comparison result (step S107).

Next, the control unit 3 notifies the target vehicle 50 of the determined notification content (step S108) and ends the process.

Next, the processing procedure of process 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 3 first acquires, via the user terminal 100, location information of users who are in surrounding vehicles around the target vehicle 50 (step S201).

Next, the control unit 3 acquires the position and current speed of the target vehicle (step S202).

Next, the control unit 3 identifies a predetermined area that corresponds to the acquired position of the target vehicle (step S203).

Next, the control unit 3 estimates the vehicle situation in the identified specific area (step S204).

Next, the control unit 3 estimates an appropriate passing method based on the estimated vehicle conditions (step S205).

Next, the control unit 3 compares the estimated passing method with the guided route (step S206).

Next, the control unit 3 determines the notification content to be sent to the target vehicle 50 based on the comparison result (step S207).

Next, the control unit 3 notifies the target vehicle 50 of the determined notification content (step S108) and ends the process.

〔others〕
In addition, among the processes described in the above embodiments, some of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually. Alternatively, all or some of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically using a known method. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, specific names, various data, and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the information shown in the drawings.

In addition, each component of each device shown in the figure is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of it can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

For example, a part or all of the memory unit 4 shown in FIG. 3 may be stored in a storage server or the like, rather than being stored in each device. In this case, each device obtains various pieces of information by accessing the storage server.

[Hardware configuration]
The information processing device 1 according to the embodiment described above is realized by a computer 1000 having a configuration as shown in Fig. 8, for example. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration. The computer 1000 is connected to an output device 1010 and an input device 1020, and has a configuration in which a calculation device 1030, a primary storage device 1040, a secondary storage device 1050, an output IF (Interface) 1060, an input IF 1070, and a network IF 1080 are connected by a bus 1090.

The arithmetic device 1030 operates based on programs stored in the primary storage device 1040 and the secondary storage device 1050, programs read from the input device 1020, and the like, and executes various processes. The primary storage device 1040 is a memory device, such as a RAM, that temporarily stores data used by the arithmetic device 1030 for various calculations. The secondary storage device 1050 is a storage device in which data used by the arithmetic device 1030 for various calculations and various databases are registered, and is realized by a ROM (Read Only Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or the like.

The output IF 1060 is an interface for transmitting information to be output to an output device 1010 that outputs various types of information, such as a monitor or printer, and is realized, for example, by a connector conforming to a standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), or HDMI (registered trademark) (High Definition Multimedia Interface). The input IF 1070 is an interface for receiving information from various input devices 1020, such as a mouse, keyboard, scanner, etc., and is realized, for example, by a USB.

The input device 1020 may be a device that reads information from, for example, an optical recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a PD (Phase change rewritable Disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. The input device 1020 may also be an external storage medium such as a USB memory.

The network IF 1080 receives data from other devices via the network N and sends it to the computing device 1030, and also transmits data generated by the computing device 1030 to other devices via the network N.

The arithmetic unit 1030 controls the output device 1010 and the input device 1020 via the output IF 1060 and the input IF 1070. For example, the arithmetic unit 1030 loads a program from the input device 1020 or the secondary storage device 1050 onto the primary storage device 1040 and executes the loaded program.

For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the information processing device 1, the arithmetic unit 1030 of the computer 1000 realizes the functions of the control unit 3 by executing a program loaded onto the primary storage device 1040.

〔effect〕
As described above, the information processing device according to the embodiment includes the estimation unit 33 and the notification unit 36. The estimation unit 33 estimates an appropriate speed for a vehicle (target vehicle 50) to pass through a predetermined area based on people flow information in the predetermined area. The notification unit 36 notifies a vehicle that is scheduled to pass through the predetermined area of the passage of the predetermined area based on the estimated appropriate speed.

The information processing device 1 according to the embodiment also includes an estimation unit 33 and a notification unit 36. The estimation unit 33 estimates an appropriate passing method for a vehicle to pass through a specified area based on the vehicle situation in the specified area. The notification unit 36 notifies a vehicle that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of the passing of the specified area based on the estimated passing method.

The information processing device 1 according to each of the above-described embodiments can provide appropriate notifications to the driver.

Although some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the forms described in the disclosure section of the invention.

〔others〕
In addition, among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically by a known method. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the illustrated information.

In addition, each component of each device shown in the figure is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

In addition, the processes described in the above embodiments can be combined as appropriate to the extent that they do not cause any contradictions in the process content.

The above-mentioned "section, module, unit" can be read as "means" or "circuit." For example, the control unit 3 can be read as control means or control circuit.

Reference Signs List 1 Information processing device 2 Communication unit 3 Control unit 4 Storage unit 31 Acquisition unit 32 Identification unit 33 Estimation unit 34 Comparison unit 35 Determination unit 36 Notification unit 41 User information 42 Area information 50 Vehicle 100 User terminal S Information processing system

Claims (12)

an estimation unit that estimates an appropriate passing method for a vehicle when passing through a predetermined area based on a vehicle situation in the predetermined area;
and a notification unit that notifies a vehicle that is scheduled to pass through the specified area about the vehicle's passage through the specified area based on the estimated passing method. An acquisition unit that acquires position information of the vehicle;
An identification unit that identifies the predetermined area corresponding to the acquired position information;
Further equipped with
The estimation unit is
The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the appropriate passing method is estimated based on the vehicle situation in the identified predetermined area. The estimation unit is
The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the appropriate passing method is estimated based on the vehicle status at a scheduled time when the vehicle is to pass through the predetermined area. The estimation unit is
The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the appropriate passing method is estimated based on speed and position information of the vehicle and speed and position information of other vehicles. a comparison unit for comparing the estimated appropriate passing method with a guide route for the vehicle;
Further equipped with
The notification unit is
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing apparatus performs notification of notification contents determined based on a comparison result of the comparison unit. The comparison unit is
determining whether the guide route is included in the appropriate passing methods;
The notification unit is
The information processing device according to claim 5 , wherein, when the guided route is included in the appropriate passing methods, the passing method guided in the guided route is notified. The comparison unit is
determining whether the guide route is included in the appropriate passing methods;
The notification unit is
The information processing device according to claim 5 , wherein, when the guide route is not included in the appropriate passing methods, a notification is given that the passing method guided in the guide route should not be used. The notification unit is
The information processing device according to claim 5 , wherein, when the guide route is not included in the appropriate passing methods, the appropriate passing method is notified. The notification unit is
The information processing device according to claim 8 , wherein, when there are a plurality of suitable passing methods, a driving level indicating an ease of driving for each passing method is specified, and the passing method with the highest driving level is notified. The notification unit is
The information processing device according to claim 8 , wherein, when there are a plurality of the appropriate passing methods, the passing method that has the shortest arrival time to the destination among the plurality of the appropriate passing methods is notified. 1. A computer-implemented information processing method, comprising:
an estimation step of estimating an appropriate passing method for a vehicle to pass through a predetermined area based on a vehicle situation in the predetermined area;
and a notification step of notifying a vehicle that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of the passage of the vehicle based on the estimated passing method. an estimation step of estimating an appropriate passing method for a vehicle to pass through a predetermined area based on a vehicle situation in the predetermined area;
and a notification procedure for notifying a vehicle that is scheduled to pass through the specified area of the passage of the vehicle based on the estimated passing method.

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