TWI404916B - Methods of creating and playing customizable audio alerts and related devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of creating and playing customizable audio alerts includes adding a user-customizable text message to a message field of a point of interest (POI) data structure for a POI to create an updated POI data structure, storing the updated POI data structure in a memory of a personal navigation device, receiving current position information of the personal navigation device, comparing the current position information of the personal navigation device with position coordinates associated with the updated POI data structure, and converting the text message of the updated POI data structure to speech and playing the speech through a speaker of the personal navigation device when the position comparison indicates that the personal navigation device is within a predetermined radius of the POI.

Description

Method and device for establishing and playing customized voice alert message

The present invention relates to a method and related apparatus for establishing and playing a voice alert message, and more particularly to a method for establishing and playing a customized voice alert message in a person navigation device and related personal navigation device.

Navigation devices using the Global Positioning System (GPS) are often used in in-vehicle navigation systems. The function of the navigation device includes providing a map database to generate and display navigation instructions, and generally uses a suction cup or other means to set the in-vehicle navigation device on the inboard dashboard.

A personal navigation device generally refers to a device that can guide a user to a predetermined destination. Such devices typically have a built-in system that can receive positioning data, such as a global positioning system receiver, or may only be in communication with a receiver that has the capability to receive positioning data. There are several methods for analyzing data in such devices. One is a data that can be self-operated, and the other is a remote server that can be connected to a path data computing function. The server calculates and provides navigation data. Or the device not only has its own computing function, but also can be connected to the remote server to receive the computing data of the server. The handheld global positioning system personal navigation device does not need to be completely fixed in the transportation vehicle, but can be easily installed or disassembled by the user. Such personal navigation devices usually (but not necessarily) have built-in GPS antennas, navigation software and maps, and can draw and display maps themselves, which can be a completely independent device.

The personal navigation device can issue a voice alert message or display a text alert message on the display screen. These warning messages can include sentences such as "turn 100 meters to the left". However, prior art personal navigation devices are unable to provide a customizable audio alert based on the location of their memory memory.

New Zealand has developed an in-vehicle system called KRUSE. When the vehicle approaches a certain sightseeing spot or important landmark, the KRUSE system can broadcast voice messages related to attractions or landmarks through pre-recorded voice messages and GPS technology, so that the driver can Get information about this place. However, the KRUSE system does not provide users with customized warning sounds related to attractions, nor can it change existing voice warning messages for different users' needs.

The invention provides a method for establishing and playing a customized voice alert message in a person navigation device, which comprises adding a customized text message to a data field in a POI data structure of an attraction, and establishing an update POI accordingly. a data structure; storing the updated POI data structure in a memory of the personal navigation device; receiving a current location of the personal navigation device; comparing a current location of the personal navigation device with a location coordinate associated with the updated POI data structure And converting the text message of the updated POI data structure into a voice message, and when the location comparison determines that the personal navigation device is within a predetermined radius of the vicinity of the attraction, through one of the personal navigation devices Play the voice message.

The present invention further provides a personal navigation device for establishing and playing a customized voice alert message for an attraction, comprising a memory for storing at least one POI data structure, wherein a data field of the POI data structure includes a guest Forming a text message; a GPS receiver for receiving the current location of the personal navigation device; a broadcaster for playing the voice message; and a speech synthesis circuit for storing the data field of the POI data structure Converting the text message into a voice message; and a processor for controlling the personal navigation device, comparing a current location of the personal navigation device and a location coordinate associated with the POI data structure, and detecting when the personal navigation device is located at the attraction Within a range of a predetermined radius around, and when the personal navigation device is within the predetermined radius, the speech synthesis circuit is controlled to play the speech message through the player.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a person navigation device 10 of the present invention. The personal navigation device 10 includes a screen 12, a memory 14, a GPS receiver 16, a processor 18, a text-to-speech (TTS) circuit 20, a user interface 22, and a whole packet radio. A General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) modem 24, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 26, a MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3) decoder 28, and a broadcaster 30. The operation of the personal navigation device 10 will be described in detail later.

The memory 14 is used to store information about maps and points of interest (POI). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each attraction is stored in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) data format, although other data formats may be used in the present invention to store attractions. Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a block diagram of a POI data structure 100 in the present invention. The POI data structure 100 includes a plurality of fields: the field 102 represents the name of the POI; the field 104 represents the latitude of the POI; the field 106 represents the longitude of the POI; the field 108 provides a description of the relevant POI; the field 110 provides the address of the POI; and the field 112 provides the POI Telephone; a field containing one or more customized text messages 114A-114N associated with the POI; and another field containing text message categories 116A-116N associated with the text messages 114A-114N. The field of the POI data structure 100 in Fig. 2 is only an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention may use certain fields in the aforementioned fields or use other fields.

If only one text message 114A is used, the field containing the text message categories 116A-116N is not necessary. However, through the multiple text messages 114A-114N and the corresponding text message categories 116A-116N, the user can create text messages that are only used for certain occasions. For example, if the text message category 116A represents a "commercial" category, the text message 114A can provide information about the user's business contacts, such as the name or address of a business contact near the attraction, as shown by the POI data structure 100. The present invention can also store text messages for other categories, such as for the "entertainment" category or the "tourism" category.

Through the field of text messages 114A-114N in the POI data structure 100, the present invention allows the user to create customized alert messages. The user can add the content of one or more text messages 114A-114N or edit an existing text message corresponding to an attraction. In the case where the text message categories 116A-116N are not specified and only the single text message 114A is present, the text message 114A will be read as soon as the personal navigation device 10 enters a predetermined radius around the attraction. At this time, the speech synthesis circuit 20 converts the text content included in the text message 114A into speech content, and outputs the speech message through the broadcaster 30. In this way, the user can receive a customized voice alert message when approaching the attraction. Where one or more text message categories 116A-116N have been designated, the personal navigation device 10 must first determine the category of the user's route of travel, such as for entertainment or travel purposes. The travel route category may be specified directly by the user, or the personal navigation device 10 may infer the travel route category based on the start, end or waypoints of the travel route. Once the category of the user's current travel route is established, the speech synthesis circuit 20 reads the text messages 114A-114N associated with the text message categories 116A-116N and outputs them as voice messages via the announcer 30. In other words, the personal navigation device 10 outputs text messages belonging to different text message categories 116A-116N depending on the type of travel route of the user.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart of FIG. 3 illustrates a method of establishing and playing a customized voice alert message in the personal navigation device 10 of the present invention. Next, the steps of the flowchart of Fig. 3 will be explained.

The method of the present invention begins in step 200. In step 202, the user adds one or more text messages 114A-114N to the POI data structure 100, or edits an existing text message 114A-114N in the POI data structure 100. Text message categories 116A-116N can also be added at the same time. The user of personal navigation device 10 can add or edit text messages 114A-114N in a number of ways. For example, the user can directly add or edit the text messages 114A-114N through the user interface 22 of the personal navigation device 10. When the number of text messages is small, the user interface 22 is the most suitable method.

A faster way to add text messages 114A-114N to POI data structure 100 includes downloading an online library of POI data structures 100 from a manufacturer's website, a travel information website, or other source. By downloading the POI data structure 100 containing the text messages 114A-114N, the user can save a lot of time and access more information. Since the POI data structure 100 that can be downloaded may be numerous, the user may choose to download all or part of the data. For example, the user may choose to download a POI data structure 100 within a particular geographic area, or a POI data structure 100 associated with a particular attraction, such as a restaurant. The size of the memory 14 of the personal navigation device 10 determines the number of POI data structures 100 that can be downloaded. The text messages 114A-114N and the text message categories 116A-116N are processed by the speech synthesis circuit 20. The present invention can store each POI data structure 100 in a text format instead of a voice file occupying a large amount of data space.

The user can also add text messages 114A-114N to the POI data structure 100 via a computer. The user can enter the information into the text messages 114A-114N or download the relevant information from the Internet, for example, by the Wikipedia website. The personal navigation device 10 can be connected to the computer via the USB port 26 and store the POI data structure 100 in the memory 14. Alternatively, the user can directly connect to the Internet via the GPRS modem 24 of the personal navigation device 10 and copy the data from the Internet to the text messages 114A-114N.

Referring again to FIG. 3, after the text messages 114A-114N and the text message categories 116A-116N are added to the POI data structure 100, the present invention stores the POI data structure 100 in the memory 14 of the personal navigation device 10 in step 204. . In the general case, the POI data structure 100 will only be used when the personal navigation device 10 enters a predetermined radius around a particular attraction.

In step 206, the GPS receiver 16 receives the current location of the personal navigation device 10, and the processor 18 compares the current location of the personal navigation device 10 with the landmark coordinates stored in the memory 14. In step 208, the processor 18 determines if there are any attractions within a predetermined radius around the personal navigation device 10: if there are no attractions within the range, the personal navigation device 10 performs step 206 again to continue comparing the location information; The attraction appears within a predetermined radius around the personal navigation device 10, and the present invention performs steps 209 through 214. In step 209, the user's current travel destination or the type of travel route is first determined, and the current travel route category and text message categories 116A-116N are compared to select the correct text messages 114A-114N. In step 210, the speech synthesis circuit 20 converts the selected text messages 114A-114N into speech messages, and then plays the speech messages through the player 30 in step 212. Finally, the method of the present invention is terminated by step 214.

The POI data structure 100 can be selectively coupled to one or more voice files stored in the memory 14. These voice files can be MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3) voice files or compressed voice files in other formats, thus saving memory 14 space. When approaching an attraction, the present invention can play a voice message or a voice file corresponding to the text messages 114A-114N, or both. For example, the present invention can simultaneously play a voice message corresponding to the text messages 114A-114N while playing background music corresponding to a particular attraction.

In addition to providing entertainment materials such as historical landmarks or sightseeing locations, the present invention can also provide other occasions for use. The text messages 114A-114N can also be used to store the personal information of a business contact or customer working in a commercial building, such as a name or address, or even the personality, habits, preferences, etc. of the contact or customer, if the route of travel When the category is for business purposes, and the user of the personal navigation device 10 approaches the commercial building, the personal navigation device 10 will issue a voice alert message according to a specific text message category, such as a business class, corresponding text message. user.

The text content stored in the text messages 114A-114N of the POI data structure 100 has a variety of applications. By converting the text messages 114A-114N into voice messages, the user of the personal navigation device 10 can concentrate on driving without distractingly watching the individual. The screen 12 of the navigation device 10.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

10‧‧‧Personal navigation device

12‧‧‧ screen

14‧‧‧ memory

16‧‧‧GPS Receiver

18‧‧‧ processor

20‧‧‧Speech synthesis circuit

22‧‧‧User interface

24‧‧‧GPRS data machine

26‧‧‧USB埠

28‧‧‧MP3 decoder

30‧‧‧Audio

100‧‧‧POI data structure

202~214‧‧‧Steps

102~112‧‧‧Field

114A~114N‧‧‧ text message

116A~116N‧‧‧Text message category

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a person navigation device in the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a POI data structure in the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for establishing and playing a customized voice alert message in the present invention.

202～214. . . step

Claims (19)

A method for establishing and playing a customized audio alert message in a personal navigation device includes: providing a POI data structure of a Point of Interest (POI), the method comprising: a plurality of text messages a message field; and a text field including a plurality of text message categories, wherein each of the plurality of text messages includes a corresponding text message category to represent a content type of the text message; Adding a customized text message to the data field, and establishing an updated POI data structure; storing the updated POI data structure in a memory of the personal navigation device; receiving the current location of the personal navigation device; a route category of one of the personal navigation devices currently traveling; selecting a text message from the plurality of text messages, the selected text message including a text message category corresponding to the route category of the current travel route; the personal navigation device The current location is compared with the location coordinates associated with the updated POI data structure; The updated data structures text messages into voice messages POI, and When the location comparison determines that the personal navigation device is within a predetermined radius of the surrounding area, the voice message is played by the one of the personal navigation devices. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading an online library (online library) related to the updated POI data structure containing the text message to the personal navigation device. The method of claim 2, wherein downloading the online library comprises downloading a complete online library of related updated POI data structures. The method of claim 2, wherein downloading the online library comprises downloading an updated POI data structure associated with a particular geographic location. The method of claim 1, further comprising directly editing the text message through the personal navigation device. The method of claim 1, further comprising: combining a voice file with the updated POI data structure; and playing when the location comparison determines that the personal navigation device is within the predetermined radius around the attraction The voice file and the voice message associated with the text message. The method of claim 6, wherein the voice file system comprises an MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3) voice file. The method of claim 1, wherein the POI data structure and the updated POI data structure comprise an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format. The method of claim 1, wherein the attraction is a building. The method of claim 9, wherein the broadcaster plays the text message including the address of the building when the personal navigation device enters the predetermined radius of the building. The method of claim 9, wherein when the personal navigation device enters the predetermined radius of the building, the player plays the text message including the name or contact number of the building user. A personal navigation device for creating and playing a customized voice alert message for an attraction includes: a memory for storing at least one POI data structure, the POI data structure comprising: a data column including a plurality of text messages a message field, the plurality of text messages including a custom a text message; and a text field containing a plurality of text message categories, wherein each of the plurality of text messages includes a corresponding text message category to represent a content type of the text message; a global positioning system ( a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving the current position of the personal navigation device; a broadcaster for playing a voice message; and a Text-to-Speech (TTS) circuit for the POI data The customized text message stored in the data field of the structure is converted into a voice message; and a processor for controlling the personal navigation device, comparing the current location of the personal navigation device and the location associated with the POI data structure a coordinate, a route category for determining a current travel route of the personal navigation device, a text message selected from the plurality of text messages according to the route category of the current travel route, and detecting when the personal navigation device is located around the scenic spot Within the radius, and when the personal navigation device is within the predetermined radius The speech synthesis circuit is configured to play the voice message through the broadcaster. The personal navigation device of claim 12, further comprising a network connection device for connecting to the network to download an online library to the personal navigation device, wherein the online library is related to the text message. POI data structure. The personal navigation device of claim 13, wherein downloading the online library comprises downloading a complete online library of related POI data structures. The personal navigation device of claim 13, wherein downloading the online library comprises downloading an updated POI data structure associated with a particular geographic location. The personal navigation device of claim 12, further comprising a user interface, wherein the personal navigation device can directly edit the text message through the user interface. The personal navigation device of claim 12, further comprising a voice decoder for playing back the POI data when the personal navigation device is determined to be within the predetermined radius around the attraction in the location comparison A voice file of the structure, and playing the voice message related to the text message. The personal navigation device of claim 17, wherein the speech decoder comprises an MP3 speech decoder, and the speech file system comprises an MP3 file. The personal navigation device of claim 12, wherein the POI data knot The architecture contains an XML format.