Dialogue System

• US 20080105482A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Enomoto, Takaaki, Nakane, Yoshihide, Sekiyama, Hiroaki, Yamaguchi, Takayuki, Kaneko, Junya, Onogi, Shigeo
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A dialogue system that provides a driver with driving advice includes driving performance evaluation means for evaluating a driving performance of the driver estimated based on driving performance information using a normative driving performance as a reference; response evaluation means for evaluating a driver'"'"'s response to the provided driving advice based on a change in the driving performance of the driver after provision of the driving advice; and output control means for adjusting contents of the driving advice provided to the driver based on the result of evaluation of the driving performance of the driver and setting a mode of expressing the driving advice based on the result of evaluation of the driver'"'"'s response to the provided driving advice.

Claims

1. A dialogue system for a vehicle that provides a driver with driving advice, wherein

driving characteristics of the driver are estimated, and a result of estimation is reflected on a manner in which the driving advice is provided to the driver.

2. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein

the driving characteristics of the driver are estimated based on a condition of the driver.

3. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein

the driving characteristics of the driver are estimated based on a driving normative model corresponding to an environment around a vehicle and driving performance history.

4. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein

a change in the driving characteristics of the driver is learned using an amount of time that is required for the driver to respond to the provided driving advice, and a result of learning is reflected on the manner in which the driving advice is provided to the driver.

5. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein

contents of the driving advice, which advises the driver of the driving performance that conforms to a driving norm, are set based on driving performance history.

6. A dialogue system for a vehicle that provides a driver with driving advice, comprising:

driving performance evaluation means for evaluating a driving performance of the driver estimated based on driving performance information using a normative driving performance as a reference;

response evaluation means for evaluating a driver'"'"'s response to the provided driving advice based on a change in the driving performance of the driver after provision of the driving advice; and

output control means for adjusting contents of the driving advice provided to the driver based on a result of evaluation of the driving performance of the driver and setting a mode of expressing the driving advice based on the result of evaluation of the driver'"'"'s response to the provided driving advice.

7. The dialogue system according to claim 6, further comprising:

advice providing means for providing the driver with the driving advice based on the result of evaluation of the driving performance of the driver.

8. A method for providing a driver with driving advice, comprising:

estimating driving characteristics of the driver; and

reflecting a result of estimation on a manner in which the driving advice is provided to the driver.

9. The method for providing a driver with driving advice according to claim 8, wherein

the driving characteristics of the driver are estimated based on a condition of the driver.

10. The method for providing a driver with driving advice according to claim 8, wherein

the driving characteristics of the driver are estimated based on a driving normative model suitable for an environment around a vehicle and driving performance history of the driver

11. The method for providing a driver with driving advice according to claim 8, wherein

a change in the driving characteristics of the driver is learned using an amount of time that is required for the driver to respond to the provided driving advice, and a result of learning is reflected on the manner in which the driving advice is provided to the driver.

12. A dialogue system for a vehicle, comprising:

a driving characteristic determining portion that determines driving characteristics of the driver; and

an output setting portion that provides the driving advice to the drive in a manner determined in accordance with the driving characteristics of the driver.

13. The dialogue system according to claim 12, wherein the driving characteristic determining portion is a driver'"'"'s condition recognition portion that determines driving characteristics of the driver based on a condition of the driver.

14. The dialogue system according to claim 12, wherein the driving characteristic determining portion is a difference calculation portion that compares a driving performance of the driver with a driving normative model suitable for an environment around a vehicle and driving performance history of the driver to determine driving characteristics of the driver.

15. The dialogue system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a response evaluation portion that monitors an amount of time that is required for the driver to modify a driving performance based on the driving advice provided, wherein

the amount of time that is required for the drive to modify the driving performance is also used to determine the driving characteristics of the driver, and the manner in which the driving advice is provided is further determined based on the amount of time.

16. The dialogue system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a driving advice preparation portion that sets contents of the driving advice, which advises the drive of the driving performance that conforms to a driving norm, based on driving performance history.

17. The dialogue system according to claim 16, further comprising:

an expression mode setting portion that sets the contents of the driving advice and a mode of expressing the driving advice based on the contents of the driving advice, a condition of the driver, and a result of evaluation of the driver'"'"'s response to the driving advice,

a driving load estimation portion that estimates a load placed on ther driver based on the condition of the driver, and that sets a time at which the driving advice is provided,

wherein the output setting portion provides the driving advice based on the contents of the driving advice and the mode of expressing the driving advice, which are set by the expression mode setting portion, and the time at which the driving advice is provided, which is estimated by the driving load estimation portion.