U.S. patent application number 17/302645 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-26 for service providing device, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing service providing program and service providing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Koichi SUZUKI.
Application Number | 20210264917 17/302645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005567701 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210264917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUZUKI; Koichi |
August 26, 2021 |
SERVICE PROVIDING DEVICE, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE
MEDIUM STORING SERVICE PROVIDING PROGRAM AND SERVICE PROVIDING
METHOD
Abstract
An input item information DB stores input items and weighting
factors for each service based on voice recognition, a specifying
unit specifies the input items based on uttered information, a
storage unit stores the uttered information for the specified input
items, a calculation unit calculates a score for each service based
on all the input items for which the uttered information is stored
and the weighting factors, and a request unit requests a user to
utter information for an uninput item for which the uttered
information has yet to be stored in the service having the highest
score. The request unit requests the user to utter the information
for the uninput item for a service having the least number of
uninput items in the indispensable input items or having the
highest ratio of input for the indispensable input items among the
services having the highest score.
Inventors: |
SUZUKI; Koichi;
(Miyoshi-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Toyota-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005567701 |
Appl. No.: |
17/302645 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16198380 |
Nov 21, 2018 |
|
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17302645 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3608 20130101;
G10L 2015/223 20130101; H04L 67/16 20130101; G10L 15/22 20130101;
H04L 67/322 20130101; H04W 4/024 20180201 |
International
Class: |
G10L 15/22 20060101
G10L015/22; H04W 4/024 20060101 H04W004/024; H04L 29/08 20060101
H04L029/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 11, 2017 |
JP |
2017-236653 |
Claims
1. A service providing device configured to identify voice of a
user and provide a service based on the voice, the service
providing device comprising a controller including a CPU and a
memory, the controller is configured to: store, for each service, a
plurality of input items required for providing the service to the
user; specify, based on uttered information uttered by the user,
the input items for which the uttered information is stored; store
the uttered information for the specified input items; calculate a
score for each service based on all of the input items for which
the uttered information is stored; and request the user, when the
services having the calculated highest score are, to utter the
information for an uninput item with respect to one of a service
having the least number of uninput items in indispensable input
items, among the input items, for which input is indispensable, and
a service having the highest ratio of input items compared to the
total number of the indispensable input items, among the plurality
of services, wherein the uninput item is an item for which the
uttered information has not been stored regarding the service
having the calculated highest score.
2. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is configured to: store, for each service, the input
items required for providing the service to the user and individual
weighting factors assigned to the corresponding input items; and
calculate the score for each service based on all of the input
items for which the uttered information is stored and the
individual weighting factors assigned to the corresponding input
items.
3. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit is further configured to request the user, when there
are a plurality of the services having the least number of uninput
items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest priority within
priorities set for each service among the plurality of the
services.
4. The service providing device according to claim 3, wherein the
control unit is further configured to set the priority of the
service for which utterance is requested to be lower than the
priorities of other services, when a user answer from the user in
response to a request of utterance differs from an answer
assumed.
5. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit is further configured to request the user, when there
are a plurality of the services having the least number of uninput
items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest priority within
priorities of the services set for each type of terminal used by
the user among the plurality of the services.
6. The service providing device according to claim 5, wherein the
control unit is further configured to set the priority of the
service for which utterance is requested to be lower than the
priorities of other services, when a user answer from the user in
response to a request of utterance differs from an answer
assumed.
7. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit is further configured to request the user, when there
are a plurality of the services having the least number of uninput
items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest number of records
of use by the user among the plurality of the services.
8. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit is further configured to request the user, when there
are a plurality of the services having the least number of uninput
items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the most recent record of use
by the user among the plurality of the services.
9. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit is further configured to request the user, when there
are a plurality of the services having the least number of uninput
items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest number of records
of use by all users among the plurality of the services.
10. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit is further configured to provide, when there is a
service for which the uttered information is stored with respect to
all of the indispensable input items, the service to the user.
11. The service providing device according to claim 1, wherein the
service includes a service in which a schedule is registered in a
schedule table of the user or a service in which a navigation
screen is displayed on an information terminal of the user to
provide a travel route guidance.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
service providing program for providing a service to a user, the
service providing program causing a computer to: store, for each
service, a plurality of input items required for providing the
service to the user; specify, based on uttered information uttered
by the user, the input items for which the uttered information is
stored; store the uttered information for the specified input
items; calculate a score for each service based on all of the input
items for which the uttered information is stored; and request the
user, when the services having the calculated highest score are, to
utter the information for an uninput item with respect to one of a
service having the least number of uninput items in indispensable
input items, among the input items, for which input is
indispensable, and a service having the highest ratio of input
items compared to the total number of the indispensable input
items, among the plurality of services, wherein the uninput item is
an item for which the uttered information has not been stored
regarding the service having the calculated highest score.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according
to claim 12, wherein the service providing program further causing
a computer to: store, for each service, the input items required
for providing the service to the user and individual weighting
factors assigned to the corresponding input items; and calculate
the score for each service based on all of the input items for
which the uttered information is stored and the individual
weighting factors assigned to the corresponding input items.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according
to claim 12, wherein the service providing program further causing
a computer to: request the user, when there are a plurality of the
services having the least number of uninput items in the
indispensable input items or when there are a plurality of the
services having the highest ratio of input for the indispensable
input items, to utter the information for the uninput item with
respect to a service having the highest priority within priorities
set for each service among the plurality of the services.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according
to claim 14, wherein the service providing program further causing
a computer to: set the priority of the service for which utterance
is requested to be lower than the priorities of other services,
when a user answer from the user in response to a request of
utterance differs from an answer assumed.
16. A service providing method that identifies a user's voice and
provides a service based on the user's voice through a service
providing device, the service providing method comprising: storing,
for each service, a plurality of input items required for providing
the service to the user; specifying, based on uttered information
uttered by the user, the input items for which the uttered
information is stored; storing the uttered information for the
specified input items; calculating a score for each service based
on all of the input items for which the uttered information is
stored; and requesting the user, when the services having the
calculated highest score are, to utter the information for an
uninput item with respect to one of a service having the least
number of uninput items in indispensable input items, among the
input items, for which input is indispensable, and a service having
the highest ratio of input items compared to the total number of
the indispensable input items, among the plurality of services,
wherein the uninput item is an item for which the uttered
information has not been stored regarding the service having the
calculated highest score.
17. The service providing method according to claim 16, the service
providing method further comprising: storing, for each service, the
input items required for providing the service to the user and
individual weighting factors assigned to the corresponding input
items; and calculating the score for each service based on all of
the input items for which the uttered information is stored and the
individual weighting factors assigned to the corresponding input
items.
18. The service providing method according to claim 16, the service
providing method further comprising: requesting the user, when
there are a plurality of the services having the least number of
uninput items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest priority within
priorities set for each service among the plurality of the
services.
19. The service providing method according to claim 18, the service
providing method further comprising: setting the priority of the
service for which utterance is requested to be lower than the
priorities of other services, when a user answer from the user in
response to a request of utterance differs from an answer
assumed.
20. The service providing method according to claim 16, the service
providing method further comprising: requesting the user, when
there are a plurality of the services having the least number of
uninput items in the indispensable input items or when there are a
plurality of the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest priority within
priorities of the services set for each type of terminal used by
the user among the plurality of the services.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/198,380 filed Nov. 21, 2018, which claims
the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-236653 filed
on Dec. 11, 2017. The specification, drawings and abstract are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a service providing
device, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
service providing program and a service providing method.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2015-69103 (JP 2015-69103 A) describes an information processing
device that executes a voice search based on an input voice.
According to JP 2015-69103 A, when input information does not meet
search requirements and the voice search cannot be executed, the
device prompts the user to supply the missing information to
automatically supplement the information required for the
search.
SUMMARY
[0004] In JP 2015-69103 A, the voice search is specified as a
service to be provided by the information processing device. Thus,
the user does not need to designate a type of service when using
the voice search. However, when there are a plurality of types of
services to be provided to the user, conditions required when the
services are provided differ between services. In this case, when
the user uses the services, the user needs to utter words after
designating the type of the service to be used, which causes
inconvenience to users.
[0005] The present disclosure provides a service providing device,
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a service
providing program and a service providing method to improve
convenience for users.
[0006] A first aspect of the disclosure relates to a service
providing device that identifies a user's voice and provides a
service based on the user's voice. The service providing device
includes a storing unit configured to store, for each service, a
plurality of input items required for providing the service to the
user and individual weighting factors assigned to the corresponding
input items, a specifying unit configured to specify, based on
uttered information uttered by the user, the input items for which
the uttered information is stored, a storage unit configured to
store the uttered information for the input items specified by the
specifying unit, a calculation unit configured to calculate a score
for each service based on all of the input items for which the
uttered information is stored and the individual weighting factors
assigned to the corresponding input items, and a request unit
configured to request the user, when there is an uninput item for
which the uttered information has not been stored with respect to
the service having the highest score calculated by the calculation
unit, to utter information for the uninput item. When there are a
plurality of the services having the highest score calculated, the
request unit requests the user to utter the information for the
uninput item with respect to either one of a service having the
least number of uninput items in indispensable input items, among
the input items, for which input is indispensable, and a service
having the highest ratio of input for the indispensable input
items, among the plurality of the services.
[0007] According to the first aspect of the disclosure, the request
unit may be configured to request the user, when there are a
plurality of the services having the least number of uninput items
in the indispensable input items or when there are a plurality of
the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest priority within
priorities set for each service among the plurality of the
services.
[0008] According to the first aspect of the disclosure, the request
unit may be configured to request the user, when there are a
plurality of the services having the least number of uninput items
in the indispensable input items or when there are a plurality of
the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest priority within
priorities of the services set for each type of terminal used by
the user among the plurality of the services.
[0009] The service providing device according to the first aspect
may further include an adjusting unit configured to set the
priority of the service for which utterance is requested to be
lower than the priorities of other services, when a user answer
from the user in response to a request of utterance differs from an
answer assumed.
[0010] According to the first aspect of the disclosure, the request
unit may be configured to request the user, when there are a
plurality of the services having the least number of uninput items
in the indispensable input items or when there are a plurality of
the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest number of records
of use by the user among the plurality of the services.
[0011] According to the first aspect of the disclosure, the request
unit may be configured to request the user, when there are a
plurality of the services having the least number of uninput items
in the indispensable input items or when there are a plurality of
the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the most recent record of use
by the user among the plurality of the services.
[0012] According to the first aspect of the disclosure, the request
unit may be configured to request the user, when there are a
plurality of the services having the least number of uninput items
in the indispensable input items or when there are a plurality of
the services having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items, to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to a service having the highest number of records
of use by all users among the plurality of the services.
[0013] The service providing device according to the first aspect
may further include a providing unit configured to provide, when
there is a service for which the uttered information is stored with
respect to all of the indispensable input items, the service to the
user.
[0014] According to the first aspect of the disclosure, the service
may include a service in which a schedule is registered in a
schedule table of the user or a service in which a navigation
screen is displayed on an information terminal of the user to
provide a travel route guidance.
[0015] A second aspect of the disclosure relates to a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a service
providing program for providing a service to a user. The service
providing program causes a computer to: identify a user's voice and
store, for each service, a plurality of input items required for
providing the service based on the user's voice and individual
weighting factors assigned to the corresponding input items,
specify, based on uttered information uttered by the user, the
input items for which the uttered information is stored, store the
uttered information for the input items specified, calculate a
score for each service based on all of the input items for which
the uttered information is stored and the individual weighting
factors assigned to the corresponding input items, and request the
user, when there is an uninput item for which the uttered
information has not been stored with respect to the service having
the highest score calculated, to utter the information for the
uninput item. When there are a plurality of the services having the
highest score calculated, the computer requests the user to utter
the information for the uninput item for either one of a service
having the least number of uninput items in indispensable input
items, among the input items, for which input is indispensable, and
a service having the highest ratio of input for the indispensable
input items, among the plurality of the services.
[0016] A third aspect of the disclosure relates to a service
providing method that identifies a user's voice and provides a
service based on the user's voice. The service providing method
selects, as a desired service desired by the user, either one of a
service having the least number of uninput items in indispensable
input items for which input is indispensable, and a service having
the highest ratio of input for the indispensable input items, among
a plurality of the services based on information uttered by a user,
and requests the user to utter the information for the uninput
items.
[0017] The disclosure can provide a service providing device, a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a service
providing system, and a service providing method to improve
convenience for users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial
significance of exemplary embodiments will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
denote like elements, and wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a
service providing system including a service providing device
according to an embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating input item information
stored in an input item information database (DB), when a service
provided is schedule management; and
[0021] FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the input item information
stored in the input item information DB, when the service provided
is navigation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] A preferred embodiment will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings. In the respective drawings,
units denoted with the same reference numerals have the same or
similar configuration.
[0023] A configuration of a service providing system including a
service providing device according to an embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 1. A service providing system 100
includes an information terminal 1 that is used by a user, and a
service providing device 2 and a voice recognition device 3
disposed in a data center or the like. The information terminal 1
and the service providing device 2, and the service providing
device 2 and the voice recognition device 3 are configured to be
able to communicate with each other over a network. The network may
be a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of the
wired network and the wireless network. In this embodiment, as an
example, a network including a wireless network is used between the
information terminal 1 and the service providing device 2, and a
wired network is used between the service providing device 2 and
the voice recognition device 3.
[0024] The information terminal 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a tablet
type terminal device including mobile phones represented by a
smartphone. The information terminal 1 includes, for example, a
control unit including a central processing unit (CPU) and a
memory, an operation unit, a display, a storage unit, and a
communication unit as a physical configuration. Various functions
incorporated in the information terminal 1 are implemented when the
CPU executes a predetermined program stored in the memory.
[0025] The service providing device 2 includes, for example, a
specifying unit 21, a storage unit 22, a calculation unit 23, a
request unit 24, a providing unit 25, and an adjusting unit 26 as a
functional configuration. The service providing device 2 includes,
for example, a control unit including a CPU and a memory, a storage
device, and a communication device as a physical configuration. The
CPU executes the predetermined program stored in the memory so that
respective functions of the specifying unit 21, the storage unit
22, the calculation unit 23, the request unit 24, the providing
unit 25, and the adjusting unit 26 are implemented. Details of the
respective functions will be described later.
[0026] An input item information database (DB) 27 stores, for each
service, input item information including input items required for
providing services based on voice recognition. For example, the
services include schedule management, navigation, traffic
information, and weather forecast. Content required for providing
each service is stored in a database of the service providing
device 2. Examples of the database for storing the content include
a schedule management DB 2a, a navigation DB 2b, a traffic
information DB 2c, and a weather forecast DB 2d.
[0027] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate data items included in the input
item information DB 27, such as an item name, a weighting factor,
indispensability, and a storage status. The item name is a name for
specifying the input item. The weighting factor is a coefficient
for weighting the input item when a score described later is
calculated. The indispensability is information indicating whether
an input for the input item is indispensable for receiving the
service. The storage status is information indicating whether
information uttered by the user (hereinafter also referred to as
"uttered information") based on the input item is stored.
[0028] The input item information stored in the input item
information DB 27 will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A illustrates the input item information
when the service provided is schedule management, and FIG. 2B
illustrates the input item information when the service provided is
navigation (route search).
[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a start time, an end time, a
purpose, and a place are set as item names that are items to be
input for receiving the schedule management service. "Three (3)" is
set as a weighting factor for each of the start time and the end
time, "1" is set as a weighting factor for the purpose, and "2" is
set as a weighting factor for the place. Among the input items, the
start time and the end time are set as items for which an input is
indispensable (indispensable input items) for receiving the
schedule management service. FIG. 2A illustrates a state where,
among the input items, the uttered information of the start time is
already stored, while the uttered information of the other items
has yet to be stored (uninput items).
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, a departure time, an arrival
time, a departure place, a destination, and means of transportation
are set as item names of items to be input for receiving the
navigation service. "Three (3)" is set as the weighting factor for
each of the departure time, the arrival time, the destination, and
the means of transportation, and "1" is set as the weighting factor
for the departure place. Among the input items, the departure time,
the arrival time, the destination, and the means of transportation
are set as items for which an input is indispensable for receiving
the navigation service.
[0031] A mark "OR" shown in the indispensability, which is set in
two or more item names, indicates that any one of the input items
is an indispensable input item. FIG. 2B shows that input for either
one of the departure time and the arrival time is indispensable.
FIG. 2B illustrates a state where, among the input items, the
uttered information of either one of the departure time and the
arrival time is already stored, and the uttered information of the
other items has yet to be stored.
[0032] Further description will be made referring back to FIG. 1.
Each function of the service providing device 2 will be described
in order. The specifying unit 21 receives information uttered by
the user from the information terminal 1 and specifies an input
item for which the received uttered information is stored. A
procedure of specifying the input item will be specifically
described below.
[0033] First, the specifying unit 21 transmits a voice received
from the information terminal 1 to the voice recognition device 3.
The voice recognition device 3 analyzes the received voice,
converts the voice into text, and transmits the text to the service
providing device 2. The voice analysis can be performed using a
known voice analysis scheme.
[0034] Subsequently, the specifying unit 21 determines which item
name, among the item names provided for each service, corresponds
to the uttered information in the text received from the voice
recognition device 3, and specifies the input item for which the
uttered information is stored.
[0035] The storage unit 22 stores the uttered information for the
input item specified by the specifying unit 21.
[0036] The calculation unit 23 calculates a score for each service
based on all input items for which the uttered information is
stored and weighting factors corresponding to the input items. A
specific example of a procedure of calculating the score will be
described below.
[0037] For example, when the information uttered by the user is
"from 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock", the uttered information is stored
for the start time and the end time among the input items of the
schedule management service illustrated in FIG. 2A. In this case, a
weighting factor "3" of the start time+a weighting factor "3" of
the end time="6" becomes the score of the schedule management
service. Meanwhile, in the navigation service illustrated in FIG.
2B, the uttered information is stored for the departure time or the
arrival time among the input items. In this case, the weighting
factor "3" of the departure time or the arrival time becomes the
score of the navigation service.
[0038] For example, when the information uttered by the user is "to
Nagoya Station at 12 o'clock", the uttered information is stored
for the end time and the place among the input items in the
schedule management service illustrated in FIG. 2A. In this case, a
weighting factor "3" of the end time+a weighting factor "2" of the
place="5" becomes the score of the schedule management service.
Meanwhile, in the navigation service illustrated in FIG. 2B, the
uttered information is stored for the arrival time and the
destination among the input items. In this case, a weighting factor
"3" of the arrival time+a weighting factor "3" of the
destination="6" becomes the score of the navigation service.
[0039] When there is an input item for which the uttered
information has yet to be stored with respect to the service having
the highest score calculated by the calculation unit 23, the
request unit 24 illustrated in FIG. 1 requests the user to utter
information for the uninput item. Questions to be asked to the user
when requesting the user to utter the information for the uninput
item will be specifically described below.
[0040] For example, in a case where the service having the highest
score is the schedule management service and the uninput items are
the purpose and the place among the input items, a question "Where
do you want to go (place) and what do you want to do (purpose)?" is
given to the user. In a case where the service having the highest
score is the navigation service and the uninput item is the
departure place among the input items, a question "Where do you
plan to depart from?" is given to the user.
[0041] When there are a plurality of services having the highest
score calculated by the calculation unit 23, the request unit 24
selects either one of (a) a service having the least number of
uninput items among the indispensable input items, and (b) a
service having the highest ratio of input for the indispensable
input items, and requests the user to utter the information for the
uninput item for the selected service. Specific examples of the
above (a) and (b) are described below.
[0042] (a) Suppose the information uttered by the user is "from 9
o'clock", for example. In this case, one item, which is the end
time, is the uninput item among the indispensable input items in
the schedule management service illustrated in FIG. 2A. Two items,
which are the destination and the means of transportation, are the
uninput items among the indispensable input items in the navigation
service illustrated in FIG. 2B. In this case, the service having
the least number of uninput items among the indispensable input
items is the schedule management service. Therefore, the request
unit 24 requests the user to utter the information for the uninput
item with respect to the schedule management service.
[0043] (b) Suppose the information uttered by the user is "to
Nagoya Station at 12 o'clock", for example. In this case, the ratio
of input for the indispensable input items with respect to the
schedule management service illustrated in FIG. 2A is 1/2=0.5. The
ratio of input for the indispensable input items with respect to
the navigation service illustrated in FIG. 2B is 2/3=0.67. In this
case, the service having the highest ratio of input for the
indispensable input items is the navigation service. Therefore, the
request unit 24 requests the user to utter the information for the
uninput item with respect to the navigation (route search)
service.
[0044] When there are a plurality of services having the least
number of uninput items among the indispensable input items or when
there are a plurality of services having the highest ratio of input
for the indispensable input items, the request unit 24 illustrated
in FIG. 1 narrows the service by selecting any one of the following
services (1) to (5). In this case, the request unit 24 requests the
user to utter the information for the uninput item of the selected
service.
[0045] (1) The service having the highest priority within the
priorities set for each service
[0046] (2) The service having the highest number of records of use
by the user The condition in (2) is particularly effective when the
priority described above in (1) is not set.
[0047] (3) The service having the most recent record of use by the
user The condition in (3) is particularly effective when the
priority described above in (1) is not set.
[0048] (4) The service having the highest number of records of use
by all users Here, "all users" refer to, for example, all users
belonging to each attribute when users are categorized by
attributes such as gender and age.
[0049] (5) The service having the highest priority within the
priorities of the service set for each type of terminal used by the
user For example, when the type of the information terminal 1 is a
smartphone, the priority of the schedule management service is set
higher than the priorities of the other services. When the type of
the information terminal 1 is a navigation terminal, the priorities
of the route search service and the traffic information service are
set higher than the priorities of the other services.
[0050] When there is a service for which the uttered information is
stored with respect to all of the input items, the providing unit
25 provides the corresponding service to the user. For example,
when the uttered information is stored for all of the input items
of the schedule management service, a schedule is registered in the
schedule table of the user. Meanwhile, when the uttered information
is stored for all of the input items of the navigation service, a
navigation screen is displayed on the information terminal 1 of the
user so as to provide a travel route guidance.
[0051] Alternatively, the service may be provided to the user when
the uttered information is stored for all of the indispensable
input items of the service. For example, the schedule may be
registered in the schedule table of the user when the uttered
information is stored for the start time and the end time, which
are indispensable input items of the schedule management service.
The navigation screen may be displayed on the information terminal
1 of the user to provide a travel route guidance when the uttered
information is stored for the departure time or the arrival time,
the destination, and the means of transportation, which are
indispensable input items of the navigation service.
[0052] When an answer from the user in response to the request of
utterance differs from the answer assumed, the adjusting unit 26
sets the priority of the assumed service (priorities of the above
(1) and (5), for example) lower than the priorities of the other
services. Examples of the case in which the answer from the user
differs from the answer assumed include a case in which the answer
from the user is not included in (is not similar to) patterns of
answers set in advance for each input item, and a case in which the
answer from the user matches an input item that is different from
the input item assumed.
[0053] As described above, the service providing system 100
according to the embodiment can specify the input items for which
uttered information is stored based on the information uttered by
the user, store the uttered information for the specified input
item, calculate a score for each service based on all of the input
items for which the uttered information is stored and the weighting
factors corresponding to the input items, and request the user to
utter the information for the uninput item when there is an input
item for which the uttered information has yet to be stored with
respect to the service having the highest calculated score.
[0054] In addition, when there are the plurality of services having
the highest score, the service providing system 100 selects either
one of the service having the least number of uninput items in the
indispensable input items, and the service having the highest ratio
of input for the indispensable input items, and requests the user
to utter the information for the uninput item with respect to the
selected service.
[0055] Furthermore, there are cases in which there exists the
plurality of services having the least number of uninput items in
the indispensable input items or the plurality of services having
the highest ratio of input for the indispensable input items. In
this case, among the plurality of the services, the service
providing system 100 selects any one of the service having the
highest priority within the priorities set for each service, the
service having the highest priority within the priorities of the
services set for each type of terminal used by the user, the
service having the highest number of records of use by the user,
the service having the most recent record of use by the user, and
the service having the highest number of records of use by all
users, and requests the user to utter the information for the
uninput item with respect to the selected service.
[0056] When there is a service for which the uttered information is
stored for all of the indispensable input items, the service can be
provided to the user.
[0057] With the service providing system 100 in the embodiment
described above, it is possible to provide a service desired by the
user, which is led by the system, while specifying uninput items
based on the information uttered by the user and requesting the
user to utter the information for the uninput items. This enables
improvement in convenience for the user.
[0058] Modification
[0059] The disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described
above and can be implemented in various other forms without
departing from the gist of the invention. Accordingly, the
embodiment described above is merely illustrative in all respects
and is not to be construed as restrictive. For example, the
processes described above can be optionally changed in order or
executed in parallel as long as there is no inconsistency in
processing content.
[0060] In the case where the user utters words after the providing
unit 25 according to the embodiment described above provides the
service to the user, the providing unit 25 may change the service
to be provided to the user based on the uttered information. For
example, in the case where the user utters words related to a
destination or means of transportation after the user registers
their schedule using the schedule management service, it can be
assumed that the user desires the navigation service instead of the
schedule management service. In such cases, the providing unit 25
may provide a travel route guidance as a navigation service.
[0061] When there are a plurality of services having the highest
score calculated by the calculation unit 23, the request unit 24
according to the embodiment described above selects either one of
(a) and (b) described above and requests the user to utter the
information for the uninput item with respect to the selected
service. However, the condition for the above process is not
limited to a case in which there are a plurality of services having
the highest score. For example, the request unit 24 may select,
among the plurality of the services, either one of (a) and (b)
described above as the service desired by the user regardless of
the score, and request the user to utter the information for the
uninput item with respect to the selected service.
[0062] The service providing device 2 in the embodiment described
above includes the specifying unit 21, the storage unit 22, the
calculation unit 23, the request unit 24, the providing unit 25,
and the adjusting unit 26 as a functional configuration. However,
the invention is not limited thereto, and any function can be
appropriately deleted or added as necessary. For example, the
providing unit 25 and the adjusting unit 26 may be incorporated in
a device different from the service providing device 2, or a voice
recognition function of the voice recognition device 3 may be
incorporated in the service providing device 2.
* * * * *