Abstract: From each of in-vehicle units in vehicles, a travel behavior data indicating a travel behavior of the vehicle is received and recorded in a travel history database. The travel behavior data of the vehicles are read from the travel history database; an avoidance action arising in each of the vehicles is detected based on the read travel behavior data. From the detected avoidance actions of the vehicles, a related avoidance action group being avoidance actions arising due to an identical object at different positions at different points of times in different target vehicles is extracted based on an occurrence position and an occurrence point of time of each detected avoidance action. Information on position change of the identical object as a cause of the extracted related avoidance action group is recorded as an alert target data.

Abstract: From each of in-vehicle units in vehicles, a travel behavior data indicating a travel behavior of the vehicle is received and recorded in a travel history database. The travel behavior data of the vehicles are read from the travel history database; an avoidance action arising in each of the vehicles is detected based on the read travel behavior data. From the detected avoidance actions of the vehicles, a related avoidance action group being avoidance actions arising due to an identical object at different positions at different points of times in different target vehicles is extracted based on an occurrence position and an occurrence point of time of each detected avoidance action. Information on position change of the identical object as a cause of the extracted related avoidance action group is recorded as an alert target data.

Abstract: An information providing device includes a post information acquiring section acquiring one or more information elements posted by one or more posters, a post situation estimation section estimating a post situation of each of the one or more information elements, the post situation being a situation under which the corresponding information element is posted by the poster, a device situation acquiring section acquiring a device situation under which the information providing device is placed, a determination selection section determining a suitability of the device situation with a general situation of the one or more information elements posted by the posters and selecting one or more target information elements from the one or more information elements based on the suitability, and a providing section providing an information to the user based on the one or more target information elements selected based on the suitability.

Abstract: A voice recognition apparatus includes: a voice input element for inputting voice of an user; a voice pattern memory for storing multiple voice patterns respectively corresponding to multiple phrases; a voice recognition element for calculating a similarity degree between the voice and each voice pattern and determining the highest similarity degree so that one voice pattern corresponding to the highest similarity degree is recognized as the voice; a display for displaying a recognition result corresponding to the one voice pattern; an execution determination element for executing a process according to the one voice pattern when a predetermined operation is input by the user; a load estimation element for estimating a load of the user; and a display controller for controlling the display based on a positive correlation between the load and display repetition of the recognition result on the display.

Abstract: A speech recognition system comprising a recognition dictionary for use in speech recognition and a controller configured to recognize an inputted speech by using the recognition dictionary is disclosed. The controller detects a speech section based on a signal level of the inputted speech, recognizes a speech data corresponding to the speech section by using the recognition dictionary, and displays a recognition result of the recognition process and a correspondence item that corresponds to the recognition result in form of list. The correspondence item displayed in form of list is manually operable.

Abstract: A user can wear a transmitter module on a finger. The transmitter module transmits an electric signal through a finger. An electronic device includes a touch panel as an input device and a conductive film. The conductive film is a part of a receiver module which receives the electric signal when the body part is approached to the conductive film. The control unit provides a performing module which selectively performs one function among the functions according to the detection result of the receiver module. A first function is performed when the user approaches a finger wearing the transmitter module. A second function is performed when the user approaches another finger not wearing the transmitter module.

Abstract: A voice recognition apparatus recognizes speaker's voice collected by a microphone, determines whether a telephone number is grouped into categories based on an inclusion of vocabulary in the telephone number that divides the telephone number into groups such as an area code, a city code and a subscriber number, and displays the telephone number in a display part in a grouped form of the area code, city code and subscriber number.

Abstract: A user can wear a transmitter module on a finger. The transmitter module transmits an electric signal through a finger. An electronic device includes a touch panel as an input device and a conductive film. The conductive film is a part of a receiver module which receives the electric signal when the body part is approached to the conductive film. The control unit provides a performing module which selectively performs one function among the functions according to the detection result of the receiver module. A first function is performed when the user approaches a finger wearing the transmitter module. A second function is performed when the user approaches another finger not wearing the transmitter module.

Abstract: A wearable input device is worn on a finger of a user to detect contact and separation of the finger to and from the other body part of the user, respectively, and further measure motion of the finger. In the wearable input device, a signal supply unit supplies an electrical signal to a pair of signal electrodes worn on the finger, and a current sensor detects a current flowing between the signal electrodes. The contact and the separation are detected based on the detected current. Further a triaxial acceleration sensor detects the motion of the finger. A user input is determined by extracting only the trajectory of the motion of the finger detected when the finger is in contact with the other body part.

Abstract: A voice recognition apparatus includes: a voice input element for inputting voice of an user; a voice pattern memory for storing multiple voice patterns respectively corresponding to multiple phrases; a voice recognition element for calculating a similarity degree between the voice and each voice pattern and determining the highest similarity degree so that one voice pattern corresponding to the highest similarity degree is recognized as the voice; a display for displaying a recognition result corresponding to the one voice pattern; an execution determination element for executing a process according to the one voice pattern when a predetermined operation is input by the user; a load estimation element for estimating a load of the user; and a display controller for controlling the display based on a positive correlation between the load and display repetition of the recognition result on the display.

Abstract: An input device for inputting a command to an electronic system such as an on-board navigation system includes a microphone for inputting voice, a voice recognizer for analyzing the inputted voice and comparing it with data stored in a voice recognition dictionary, a touch panel displaying keys corresponding to the inputted voice and a controller for controlling operation of the input device. User's voice inputted from the microphone is fed into the voice recognizer to calculate a degree of coincidence with the data in the voice recognition dictionary. The keys corresponding to the inputted voice having a high degree of coincidence are displayed on the touch panel in an enlarged size. The enlarging rates may be determined according to the degree of coincidence. The user is able to finalize, easily and quickly, the keys constituting a command by touching the panel because candidate keys are enlarged.

Abstract: A voice recognition apparatus recognizes speaker's voice collected by a microphone, determines whether a telephone number is grouped into categories based on an inclusion of vocabulary in the telephone number that divides the telephone number into groups such as an area code, a city code and a subscriber number, and displays the telephone number in a display part in a grouped form of the area code, city code and subscriber number.

Abstract: An information service system having user terminals and a center in which information according to a request for retrieval is provided to users at a low cost while simplifying setting of conditions for retrieval at the user terminals is simplified and maintaining real-time properties. A profile database at a center is updated using profile information transmitted by user terminals to construct an information database. Further, profile information used for retrieval is generated such that it includes information on the environment and situation around a user and information of requests and status of the user to allow proper retrieval in addition to verbal information from the user. The center searches the information database based on such profile information to provide information to the user terminal.

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.

Abstract: An interactive-type user interface device for a navigation system or the like in a car enables switching of application programs (APs) in the course of a single interaction with simple scenario descriptions for realizing interactive processing. A scenario for realizing interactive processing by a controller includes a root scenario and a plurality of AP scenario groups, each corresponding to a different AP. In each AP scenario group, only information for acquiring information needed by the respective AP is described. Processing for starting the APs and processing for loading the respective AP scenario groups are described together in the root scenario. Each AP scenario group includes an AP root scenario and multiple AP scenarios. Dialogue information relating to a predetermined topic for realizing interactive processing is described in each AP scenario, while information for branching to the AP scenarios is described in the AP root scenario.

Abstract: In a multi-module system, information required for linked operation of a plurality of modules is stored in a communication manager as profiles written in a specific format. The modules operate by referring to these profiles, and update the profiles as appropriate. The modules thereafter operate based on the updated profiles, and appropriately updates the profiles. The communication manager thus enables the linked operation among the modules based on continuously updated profiles.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a device for generating plural recognition candidates from a user's utterance including a series of words and a device for screening the candidates to select a few appropriate series of words from the candidates. In selecting the appropriate series of words, various factors are taken into consideration. Those factors include evaluation of sentence structures, grammar, relation among words and dialogue topics, and situations surrounding the user. For example, a dialogue topic is first determined, and then a recognition dictionary that only includes words relating to the determined topic is dynamically restructured in the system. Words included in the series of words are recognized and determined with reference to the restructured dictionary. Thus, recognition errors are minimized and determination of a correct series of words is effectively performed.

Abstract: An interactive-type user interface device for a navigation system or the like in a car enables switching of application programs (APs) in the course of a single interaction with simple scenario descriptions for realizing interactive processing. A scenario for realizing interactive processing by a controller includes a root scenario and a plurality of AP scenario groups, each corresponding to a different AP. In each AP scenario group, only information for acquiring information needed by the respective AP is described. Processing for starting the APs and processing for loading the respective AP scenario groups are described together in the root scenario. Each AP scenario group includes an AP root scenario and multiple AP scenarios. Dialogue information relating to a predetermined topic for realizing interactive processing is described in each AP scenario, while information for branching to the AP scenarios is described in the AP root scenario.