Speech interaction apparatus and speech interaction method

• US 20060106615A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Akahori, Ichiro, Morishita, Toshiyuki, Asami, Katsushi, Tateishi, Masahiko
• Application Number:
  US11/257,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases

Abstract

A speech interaction apparatus starts pushing information to a user and executes a speech interaction about the information in a case where (i) an interaction starting condition for starting pushing the information is set and (ii) the interaction starting condition is satisfied. The speech interaction apparatus includes an interaction policy setting unit and a speech interaction unit. The interaction policy setting unit sets, in consideration of a drive route intended by the user, an interaction policy of certain information which satisfies an interaction starting condition. The speech interaction unit pushes the certain information and executes a speech interaction about the certain information in accordance with the interaction policy set by the interaction policy setting unit. This enables execution of a user-friendly speech interaction while maintaining safety during a drive.

Claims

1. A speech interaction apparatus that starts pushing information to a user and executes a speech interaction about the information in a case where (i) an interaction starting condition for starting pushing the information is set and (ii) the interaction starting condition is satisfied,

the speech interaction apparatus comprising:

an interaction policy setting unit for setting, in consideration of a drive route intended by the user, an interaction policy of certain information which satisfies an interaction starting condition; and

a speech interaction unit for pushing the certain information and for executing a speech interaction about the certain information in accordance with the interaction policy set by the interaction policy setting unit.

2. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the interaction starting condition relates to, with respect to information, at least one of a point range, a time range, a usage history, and a priority.

3. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a usage history managing unit for managing a usage history with respect to information based on an execution of a speech interaction about the information by the speech interaction unit,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that information having no usage history is pushed.

4. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a user specifying unit for specifying a user,

wherein the usage history managing unit manages a usage history with respect to each user specified by the user identifying unit.

5. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the user specifying unit executes a user specifying process using at least one of a face image, living body information, speech information, and a password.

6. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the usage history managing unit does not manage a usage history corresponding to time varying information which varies in a time basis.

7. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein, when an outward route of the drive route includes an expressway and when there is information which satisfies the interaction starting condition both on a section of the expressway and on a section of the drive route after passing through the expressway, the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that the information is pushed on the section of the expressway.

8. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a road section specifying unit for specifying a road section on which a workload of a user is high,

wherein, when the drive route includes the road section, the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that only information whose priority is equal to or over a predetermined value is pushed on the road section.

9. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a road traffic information acquiring unit for acquiring road traffic information,

wherein the road section specifying unit specifies a high traffic road section indicated by the road traffic information as the road section on which a workload of a user is high.

10. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein a range of a point in which at least one object of a sign, a board, and a building is visible is set as the interaction starting condition of the point range, and

wherein, when there is information which satisfies the interaction starting condition of the point range on the drive route, the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that information about the at least one object is pushed in the range of the point in which the at least one object is visible.

11. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the building includes an incomplete building.

12. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein an interaction starting condition relating to an expiration date of the incomplete building is set, and the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that information whose expiration date has expired is not pushed.

13. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that related information is pushed with respect to, of information having the usage history, only information about the incomplete building having an interaction starting condition of an expiration date.

14. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that, on a return route of the drive route, only information that has no usage history and indicates the priority of equal to or over a predetermined value is pushed.

15. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that, in a case where a plurality of pieces of information exist which satisfy an interaction starting condition of a same point range on the drive route, when more than a predetermine time passes after a speech interaction of one piece of information is completed, another piece of the information is pushed, as long as an interaction starting condition of each piece of information is satisfied.

16. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dynamic information acquiring unit for acquiring dynamic information on the drive route,

wherein, when the dynamic information acquiring unit acquires dynamic information, the interaction policy setting unit resets an interaction policy of information including the dynamic information.

17. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that, when a speech for suspending a speech interaction under execution by the speech interaction unit is made, the speech interaction under execution is suspended.

18. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that, when the speech for suspending the speech interaction under execution and a speech for specifying a timing for restarting the speech interaction are made, the suspended speech interaction is restarted at the specified timing.

19. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that, in a case where information to be pushed has a plurality of items or sentences, when a predetermined time passes after an item or sentence is pushed, an item or sentence following the pushed item or sentence is pushed.

20. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit includes a time changing unit for changing the predetermined time in accordance with a workload of a user.

21. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that information for introducing a speech interaction function is pushed at a preset timing.

22. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit sets an interaction policy that, when there is no speech of response to suggestion information pushed from the speech interaction unit to a user even after a response waiting time passes, a speech interaction of an additional explanation of the suggestion information or a speech interaction of different suggestion information from the suggestion information is executed.

23. A speech interaction apparatus that starts pushing information to a user and executes a speech interaction about the information,

the speech interaction apparatus comprising:

an object information detecting unit for detecting object information about at least one object of a sign, a board, and a building; and

a speech interaction unit for pushing certain information about the detected at least one object and for executing a speech interaction about the certain information when the object information detecting unit detects the object information.

24. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein the object information detecting unit detects a position of the at least one object and information about a speech interaction of the at least one object as the object information.

25. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein the object information detecting unit detects object information about the at least one object by use of at least one of (i) an image processing device for detecting an object by means of an image recognition process and (ii) a radio device for receiving information about an object from an outside.

26. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein the building includes an incomplete building.

27. A speech interaction apparatus comprising:

a speech interaction unit for pushing information to a user and for executing a speech interaction about the information; and

an interaction policy setting unit for setting an interaction policy that, when a speech for suspending a speech interaction under execution by the speech interaction unit and a speech for specifying a timing for restarting the speech interaction are made by a user, the speech interaction under execution is suspended, and the suspended speech interaction is restarted at the specified timing,

wherein the speech interaction unit executes a speech interaction in accordance with an interaction policy set by the interaction policy setting unit.

28. A speech interaction apparatus comprising:

a speech interaction unit for pushing information to a user and for executing a speech interaction about the information; and

an interaction policy setting unit for setting an interaction policy that, in a case where information to be pushed includes a plurality of items or sentences, when a predetermined time passes after one item or sentence is pushed, an item or sentence following the pushed item or sentence is pushed,

wherein the speech interaction unit executes a speech interaction in accordance with an interaction policy set by the interaction policy setting unit.

29. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein the interaction policy setting unit includes a time changing unit for changing the predetermined time in accordance with a workload of a user.

30. A speech interaction apparatus comprising:

a speech interaction unit for pushing information to a user and for executing a speech interaction about the information; and

an interaction policy setting unit for setting an interaction policy that a speech interaction of information which introduces a speech interaction function is executed at a preset timing,

wherein the speech interaction unit executes a speech interaction in accordance with an interaction policy set by the interaction policy setting unit.

31. A speech interaction apparatus that starts pushing information to a user and executes a speech interaction about the information in a case where (i) an interaction starting condition for starting pushing the information is set and (ii) the interaction starting condition is satisfied,

the speech interaction apparatus comprising:

a usage history managing unit for setting an interaction starting condition relating to a usage history with respect to information, and for managing the usage history of the information based on an execution of a speech interaction about the information; and

a speech interaction unit for pushing certain information having no usage history, and executing a speech interaction about the certain information.

32. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:

a user specifying unit for specifying a user, wherein the usage history managing unit manages a usage history with respect to each user specified by the user specifying unit.

33. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 32,

wherein the user specifying unit specifies a user by executing a user specification process using at least one of a face image, living body information, speech information, and a password.

34. A speech interaction apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the usage history managing unit does not manage a usage history corresponding to time varying information which varies in a time basis.

35. A speech interaction apparatus comprising:

a speech interaction unit for pushing information to a user, and for executing a speech interaction about the information; and

an interaction policy setting unit for, in a case where there is no speech of response to suggestion information even when a response waiting time passes after the speech interaction unit pushes the suggestion information to a user, setting an interaction policy that a speech interaction of an additional explanation for the suggestion information or a speech interaction of different suggestion information from the suggestion information is executed,

wherein the speech interaction unit executes a speech interaction in accordance with an interaction policy set by the interaction policy setting unit.

36. A speech interaction method for starting pushing information to a user and executing a speech interaction about the information in a case where (i) an interaction starting condition for starting pushing the information is set and (ii) the interaction starting condition is satisfied,

the speech interaction method comprising:

setting an interaction policy of certain information which satisfies an interaction starting condition, in consideration of a drive route intended by a user; and

pushing the certain information and executing a speech interaction about the certain information, in accordance with the set interaction policy.

37. A speech interaction method according to claim 36,

wherein the interaction starting conditions relates to, with respect to information, at least one of a point range, a time range, a usage history, and a priority.

38. A speech interaction method according to claim 37,

wherein a usage history is managed with respect to information based on an execution of a speech interaction about the information, and

wherein an interaction policy is set so that information having no usage history is pushed.

39. A speech interaction method according to claim 38,

wherein a user is specified, and a usage history is managed with respect to each specified user.

40. A speech interaction method according to claim 39,

wherein a user specifying process to specify a user is executed using at least one of a face image, living body information, speech information, and a password.

41. A speech interaction method according to claim 38,

wherein a usage history corresponding to time varying information which varies in a time basis is not managed.

42. A speech interaction method according to claim 37,

wherein, an interaction policy is set so that, when an expressway is contained in an outward route of the drive route, and when information exists which satisfies the interaction starting condition both on a section of the expressway and on a section of the drive route after passing through the expressway, the information is pushed on the section of the expressway.

43. A speech interaction method according to claim 37,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, when a road section where a workload of a user is high is specified, and when the specified road section is contained in the drive route, only information whose priority of equal to or over a predetermined value is pushed on the road section.

44. A speech interaction method according to claim 43,

wherein road traffic information is acquired, and a high traffic road section indicated by the acquired road traffic information is specified as the road section where a workload of a user is high.

45. A speech interaction method according to claim 37,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, when a range of a point where at least one object of a sign, a board, and a building is visible is set as the interaction starting condition of the point range, and when information exists which satisfies the interaction starting condition of the point range on the drive route, information about the at least one object is pushed in the range of the point where the at least one object is visible.

46. A speech interaction method according to claim 45,

wherein the building includes an incomplete building.

47. A speech interaction method according to claim 46,

wherein an interaction starting condition relating to an expiration date of the incomplete building is set, and

wherein an interaction policy is set so that information whose expiration date has expired is not pushed.

48. A speech interaction method according to claim 47,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, of information having the usage history, only information about the incomplete building having an interaction starting condition of an expiration date is pushed.

49. A speech interaction method according to claim 37,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that only information having no usage history and the priority of equal to or over a predetermined value is pushed on a return route of the drive route.

50. A speech interaction method according to claim 37,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, in a case where a plurality of pieces of information exists which satisfy an interaction starting condition of a same point range on the drive route, when more than a predetermined time passes after a speech interaction about one piece of information is completed, another piece of the information is pushed as long as an interaction starting condition of each pieces of the information is satisfied.

51. A speech interaction method according to claim 36,

wherein dynamic information on the drive route is acquired, and an interaction policy of information including the acquired dynamic information is reset.

52. A speech interaction method according to claim 36,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, when a speech for suspending a speech interaction under execution is made, the speech interaction under execution is suspended.

53. A speech interaction method according to claim 52,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, when a speech for suspending the speech interaction and a speech for specifying a timing for restarting the speech interaction are made, the suspended speech interaction is restarted at the specified timing.

54. A speech interaction method according to claim 36,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, in a case where information to be pushed includes a plurality of items or sentences, when a predetermined time passes after one item or sentence is pushed, an item or sentence following the pushed item or sentence is pushed.

55. A speech interaction method according to claim 54,

wherein the predetermined time is changed in accordance with a workload of a user.

56. A speech interaction method according to claim 36,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that information which introduces a speech interaction function at a preset timing is pushed.

57. A speech interaction method according to claim 36,

wherein an interaction policy is set so that, in a case where there is no speech of response to suggestion information even when a response waiting time passes after the suggestion information is pushed to a user, a speech interaction of an additional explanation of the suggestion information or a speech interaction of different suggestion information from the suggestion information is executed.

58. A speech interaction method for starting pushing information to a user and executing a speech interaction about the information,

the speech interaction method comprising:

detecting object information about at least one object of a sign, a board, and a building; and

pushing certain information about the at least one object and executing a speech interaction about the certain information, when the object information is detected.

59. A speech interaction method according to claim 58,

wherein a position of the at least one object and information about a speech interaction of the at least one object are detected as the object information.

60. A speech interaction method according to claim 58,

wherein information about object information is detected by use of at least one of (i) an image processing device for detecting an object by means of an image recognition process and (ii) a radio device for receiving information about an object from an outside.

61. A speech interaction method according to claim 58,

wherein the building includes an incomplete building.

62. A speech interaction method in which information is pushed to a user, and a speech interaction about the information is executed,

the speech interaction method comprising:

setting an interaction policy that, when a speech for suspending a speech interaction under execution and a speech for specifying a timing for restarting the speech interaction are made by a user, the speech interaction under execution is suspended, and the suspended speech interaction is restarted at the specified timing; and

executing a speech interaction in accordance with the interaction policy.

63. A speech interaction method in which information is pushed to a user, and a speech interaction about the information is executed,

the speech interaction method comprising:

setting an interaction policy that, in a case where information to be pushed includes a plurality of items or sentences, when a predetermined time passes after one item or sentence is pushed, an item or sentence following the pushed item or sentence is pushed; and

executing a speech interaction in accordance with the interaction policy.

64. A speech interaction method according to 63,

wherein the predetermined time is changed in accordance with a workload of a user.

65. A speech interaction method in which information is pushed to a user, and a speech interaction about the information is executed,

the speech interaction method comprising:

setting an interaction policy that information which introduces a speech interaction function at a preset timing is pushed; and

executing a speech interaction in accordance with the interaction policy.

66. A speech interaction method for starting pushing information to a user and executing a speech interaction about the information in a case where (i) an interaction starting condition for starting pushing the information is set and (ii) the interaction starting condition is satisfied,

the speech interaction method comprising:

setting an interaction starting condition relating to a usage history with respect to information;

managing the usage history corresponding to the information based on an execution of a speech interaction about the information; and

pushing certain information having no usage history and executing a speech interaction about the certain information.

67. A speech interaction method according to claim 66,

wherein a user is specified, and a usage history is managed with respect to each user.

68. A speech interaction method according to claim 67,

wherein a user specifying process to specify a user is executed using at least one of a face image, living body information, speech information, and a password.

69. A speech interaction method according to claim 66,

wherein a usage history corresponding to time varying information which varies in a time basis is not managed.

70. A speech interaction method in which information is pushed to a user, and a speech interaction about the information is executed,

the speech interaction method comprising:

setting an interaction policy that, in a case where there is no speech of response to suggestion information even when a response waiting time passes after the suggestion information is pushed to a user, a speech interaction of an additional explanation of the suggestion information or a speech interaction of different suggestion information from the suggestion information is executed; and

executing a speech interaction in accordance with the set interaction policy.