Sony Patent | Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, And Information Processing System
Patent: Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, And Information Processing System
Publication Number: 20200116513
Publication Date: 20200416
Applicants: Sony
Abstract
[Object] To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system that make it possible to implement navigation that is safe and less affected by an ambient environment. [Solving Means] The information processing apparatus includes a controller that specifies a second user who travels to a destination that is the same as a destination of a first user, and causes output of identification information for identifying the second user who has been specified.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As terminals that make it possible to acquire location information have been spread, navigation systems have been widely used. The navigation systems implement navigation (guiding) to a destination set by a user who uses a terminal, on the basis of the location information. In a case of using such a navigation system, it is necessary to watch a screen of the terminal to check a route to the destination, for example. This may result in distraction of attention from traffic or an obstacle.
[0003] Therefore, PTL 1 listed below discloses a mobile terminal that decides a direction of travel on the basis of a route from a current location to a destination and projects the direction onto a projection target such as, for example, ground by using a projector. The technology described in PTL 1 makes it possible to arrive at the destination by following the direction projected on the projection target. This makes it possible to implement safer navigation.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0004] PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-93358
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, the above-described technology using a projector is easily affected by an ambient environment. For example, in a case where there is no appropriate projection target around, or in a case where an ambient environment is too bright, there is a possibility that visibility reduces and it becomes difficult to follow the projected direction.
[0006] Therefore, according to the present disclosure, there is proposed an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system that make it possible to implement navigation that is safe and less affected by an ambient environment.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0007] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a controller that specifies a second user who travels to a destination that is same as a destination of a first user, and causes output of identification information for identifying the second user who has been specified.
[0008] In addition, according the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method including: specifying, by a processor, a second user who travels to a destination that is same as a destination of a first user; and causing output of identification information for identifying the second user who has been specified.
[0009] In addition, according the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing system including: an information processing apparatus including a controller that specifies a second user who travels to a destination that is same as a destination of a first user, and causes output of identification information for identifying the second user who has been specified; and a terminal that displays the identification information.
Advantageous Effect of the Invention
[0010] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to implement navigation that is safe and less affected by an ambient environment.
[0011] Note that the effects described above are not necessarily limited, and along with or instead of the effects, any effect that is desired to be introduced in the present specification or other effects that can be expected from the present specification may be exhibited.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system 1 according to the embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server 10 according to the embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal 20 according to the embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of operation related to a follower according to the embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of identification information on a user terminal 20A, which is an HMD worn by a user.
[0018] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of identification information on the user terminal 20A, which is the HMD worn by the user.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of identification information on the user terminal 20A, which is the HMD worn by the user.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of identification information on a user terminal 20B, which is a smartphone.
[0021] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of identification information on the user terminal 20C, which is an on-board apparatus.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of operation related to a leader according to the embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of operation related to a digital signage apparatus 30 according to the embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of identification information on the digital signage apparatus 30.
[0025] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in this specification and the drawings, structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure are denoted with the same reference signs, and repeated explanation is omitted.
[0027] In addition, in this specification and the drawings, sometimes a plurality of structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure may be denoted by the same reference sign followed by different alphabets for distinction purposes. However, in a case where there is no need to particularly distinguish between the plurality of structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure, only the same reference sign is assigned.
[0028] Note that, the description will be given in the following order.
<<1. Overview>>
<<2. Configuration>>
<2-1. Configuration of Information Processing System>
<2-2. Configuration of Server>
<2-3. Configuration of User Terminal>
<<3. Operation>>
[0029] <3-1. Operation related to Follower> <3-2. Operation related to Leader> <3-3. Operation related to Digital signage Apparatus 30>
<<4. Hardware Configuration Example>>
<<5. Conclusion>>
1.* Overview*
[0030] First, with reference to FIG. 1, an overview of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. An information processing system according to this embodiment is a system that guides (implements navigation of) a user (first user), who wants to be guided to a destination, to the destination by providing identification information of another user (second user) who travels to the same destination as the first user.
[0031] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The information processing system according to this embodiment makes it possible for follower users FU1 to FU8 (first users) to arrive at a destination by causing the follower users FU1 to FU8 (first users) to follow a leader user LU1 (second user) who travels to the destination. The leader user LU1 is a user who travels to the destination. For example, the leader user LU1 is desirably a user who has visited the destination a predetermined number of times or more, and who knows a route to the destination.
[0032] The information processing system according to this embodiment provides identification information for identifying the leader user LU1 to, for example, the follower users FU1 to FU8. This makes it possible to assist the follower users FU1 to FU8 in finding the leader user LU1 to follow, and implement navigation as described above.
[0033] The information processing system according to this embodiment makes it possible for the follower users FU1 to FU8 who have found the leader user LU1 to follow, to safely arrive at a destination simply by following the leader user LU1, without watching screens of mobile terminals or the like. In addition, the information processing system according to this embodiment makes it possible to guide the follower users FU1 to FU8 to the destination without being affected by an ambient environment.
[0034] This embodiment is particularly effective in a case where many users travel to the same destination. Examples of the many users include users traveling to a gate (destination) in an airport, users traveling from a station to an event venue (destination) where the users have never visited, users traveling to a destination that is a real-life location of a production or a destination related to a game using location information, and the like.
[0035] Note that, FIG. 1 illustrates a case where there is only one leader user. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, there may be a plurality of leader users traveling to the same destination at the same time. In addition, hereinafter, sometimes users related to the information processing system according to this embodiment including the leader users and the follower users may be collectively referred to as users. In addition, hereinafter, sometimes the leader user may be simply referred to as a leader, and the follower user may be simply referred to as a follower.
2.* Configuration*
[0036] The overview of the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. Next, a configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, an overall configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment will be described first, and then configurations of user terminals and a server included in the information processing system according to this embodiment will be described.
<2-1. Configuration of Information Processing System>
[0037] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system 1 according to this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment includes a server 10, user terminals 20A to 20C, a digital signage apparatus 30, and a camera 40. They are coupled to each other via a communication network 5 so as to communicate with each other.
[0038] The server 10 is an information processing apparatus that manages the whole information processing system 1. For example, the server 10 according to this embodiment manages information of users, and causes identification information for identifying a leader (a second user) traveling to the same destination as a destination set by the followers (the first users) to be outputted to user terminals 20 held by followers (first users) or the digital signage apparatus 30. The identification information may include, for example, information regarding distances between the followers and the leader, information regarding directions from the followers to the leader, a captured image of the leader, and the like. Such a configuration makes it possible for the followers to find the leader and follow the leader to a destination. Note that, a detailed configuration of the server 10 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.
[0039] The user terminals 20A to 20C are information processing apparatuses held by the users (the followers or the leader). The server 10 may manage the user terminals 20 held by the users in association with the respective users, for example.
[0040] The user terminal 20A is a glasses-type head-mounted display (HMD) worn by a user. The user terminal 20B is a smartphone. The user terminal 20B is an on-board apparatus that is installed in a vehicle such as a car. Note that, the user terminals 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 are mere examples. The present technology is not limited thereto. The information processing system 1 may include any type of user terminal 20, and the number of user terminals 20 may be more or less than the number of user terminals 20 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0041] The user terminals 20 include at least a display function and display identification information provided by the server 10. Note that, a detailed configuration of the user terminal 20 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.
[0042] The digital signage apparatus 30 includes at least a display function and display identification information provided by the server 10. The digital signage apparatus 30 may be installed in various locations such as a station, an airport, a side of a road, or a wall of a building, for example.
[0043] The camera 40 is an imaging apparatus that provides the server 10 with a captured image of the leader obtained by capturing the image of the leader. The camera 40 may be a so-called live camera or a security camera installed in, for example, a station, an airport, a street, or the like. In addition, the camera 40 may be installed near the digital signage apparatus 30.
[0044] The communication network 5 is a wired or wireless communication channel through which information is transmitted from apparatuses or systems coupled to the communication network 5. For example, the communication network 5 may include a public network such as the Internet, a telephone network, or a satellite communication network, various kinds of local area networks (LANs) include Ethernet (registered trademark), a wide area network (WAN), and the like. In addition, the communication network 5 may include a dedicated network such as an Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN).
<2-2. Configuration of Server>
[0045] The overall configuration example of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a detailed configuration of the server 10 included in the information processing system 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server 10. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the server 10 is an information processing apparatus including a communicator 11, a controller 13, and a storage 15.
(Communicator 11)
[0046] The communicator 11 is a communication interface that mediates communication between the server 10 and other apparatuses. The communicator 11 supports any wireless or wired communication protocol, and directly couples to the other apparatuses for communication or couples to the other apparatuses for communication via the communication network 5 described above with reference to FIG. 2, for example.
[0047] In addition, under the control of the controller 13, the communicator 11 transmits information to the other apparatuses and receives information from the other apparatuses. For example, the communicator 11 may transmit identification information for identifying the leader or a signal for outputting the identification information, to the user terminals 20 and the digital signage apparatus 30. In addition, the communicator 11 may transmit distances to a destination to the user terminals 20 and the digital signage apparatus 30. In addition, the communicator 11 may receive location information and information regarding destinations of the users holding the user terminals 20, from the user terminals 20. In addition, the communicator 11 may receive a captured image of the leader obtained when the camera 40 captures the image of the leader, from the camera 40. Note that, the above-described information to be transmitted and received are mere examples. The present technology is not limited thereto. The communicator 11 may transmit or receive various kinds of information.
(Controller 13)
[0048] The controller 13 controls operation of respective structural elements of the server 10. For example, the controller 13 specifies the leader (the second user) who travels to a destination that is the same as a destination of the followers (the first users) who want to be navigated, and causes output of identification information for identifying the leader who has been specified.
[0049] Note that, in this specification, the wording “the output of information” includes, for example, transmission of information, display of information, acoustic output of information, output (vibration output) of information through vibration, and the like.
[0050] For example, the controller 13 may control the communicator 11 to transmit (output) information to other apparatuses.
[0051] In addition, the controller 13 may cause display (output) of information by generating a display control signal for displaying the information on another apparatus (such as the user terminal 20 or the digital signage apparatus 30) and controlling the communicator 11 to transmit the display control signal to the other apparatus. The controller 13 may cause acoustic output of information by generating an acoustic signal for acoustically outputting the information from another apparatus and controlling the communicator 11 to transmit the acoustic signal to the other apparatus. The controller 13 may cause vibration output of information by generating a signal for outputting the information from another apparatus through vibration and controlling the communicator 11 to transmit the signal to the other apparatus.
[0052] For example, the controller 13 may cause identification information to be outputted to the user terminals 20 associated with the followers. The user terminals 20 associated with the followers may be, for example, user terminals 20 held by the followers. Information regarding the association between the users and the user terminals 20 held by the users may be stored in, for example, a user DB 151 stored in the storage 15 (to be described later).
[0053] Such a configuration makes it possible for the user terminals 20 held by the followers to display identification information. This makes it possible for the followers to find the leader and follow the leader to the destination.
[0054] In addition, the controller 13 may cause identification information to be outputted to the digital signage apparatus 30. For example, the controller 13 may cause the identification information to be outputted to a digital signage apparatus 30 installed near a follower, on the basis of location information of the digital signage apparatuses 30 and location information received from the user terminal 20 held by the follower. Note that, the location information of the digital signage apparatuses 30 may be stored in, for example, a signage DB 153 stored in the storage 15 (to be described later). Such a configuration makes it possible for the follower to find the leader more easily.
[0055] The identification information caused to be outputted by the controller 13 may include, for example, information regarding distances between the followers and the leader. A distance between a follower and the leader may be specified on the basis of, for example, location information received from a user terminal 20 held by the follower and location information received from a user terminal 20 held by the leader. Such a configuration makes it possible for the followers to find the leader more easily. In addition, in a case of outputting identification information regarding a plurality of leaders (to be described later), it is possible for a follower to find a leader more easily by, for example, preferentially finding the leader closer to the follower.
[0056] In addition, the identification information caused to be outputted by the controller 13 may include information regarding directions toward the leader obtained when seen by the followers. A direction toward the leader obtained when seen by a follower may be specified on the basis of, for example, location information received from a user terminal 20 held by the follower and location information received from a user terminal 20 held by the leader. Such a configuration makes it possible for the followers to find the leader more easily.
[0057] In addition, the identification information caused to be outputted by the controller 13 may include a captured image of the leader obtained by capturing the image of the leader. The captured image of the leader may be preliminarily stored in, for example, the user DB 151 stored in the storage 15 (to be described later). In addition, the image of the leader may be captured by, for example, the camera 40, and may be received from the camera 40. Note that, in a case where the image of the leader is captured by the camera 40, for example, the controller 13 may cause transmission of information for requesting the camera 40 installed near the leader to transmit the captured image of the leader on the basis of location information received from the user terminal 20 held by the leader. Such a configuration makes it possible for the followers to find the leader more easily.
[0058] The controller 13 may specify a plurality of leaders traveling to a destination that is the same as a destination of the followers, as leaders related to output of identification information, or may specify a single leader as a leader related to output of identification information. Information regarding the destination of the followers may be received by the communicator 11 from, for example, the user terminals 20 held by the followers. In addition, information regarding the destination of the leader may be received by the communicator 11 from, for example, the user terminal 20 held by the leader.
