# US 12,223,227 B2 · Voice guidance method

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- Number: US 12,223,227 B2
- Document ID: US12223227B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/989,923
- Filed: 2022-11-18
- Published: 2023-08-10
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-10
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Taizo Masuda; Ryota Tomizawa; Sei Miyazaki; Yuki Nishikawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223227B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback}
- G08B 1/08: using electric transmission {; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal}
- G08B 3/00: Audible signalling systems, e.g. audible personal calling systems
- G08B 3/10: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A voice guidance method includes: a determination step of determining whether or not a visually impaired person is included in passengers in a vehicle as a public transport; and a guidance step of, in a case where the visually impaired person is determined to be included in the passengers, providing voice guidance to inform the visually impaired person of a state around the vehicle when the visually impaired person gets off the vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A voice guidance method comprising:
receiving reservation information indicating whether a visually impaired person will board a vehicle as public transport and indicating where the visually impaired person will get off of the vehicle;
determining whether or not a visually impaired person is included in passengers in the vehicle based on the reservation information;
upon determination that the visually impaired person is included in the passengers of the vehicle, when the vehicle arrives at the location where the visually impaired person will get off of the vehicle, determine whether a movable object is coming towards the vehicle that may collide with the visually impaired person getting off of the vehicle based on sensor data; and
upon determination that the movable object that may collide with the visually impaired person getting off of the vehicle is coming towards the vehicle, output a warning voice to call attention to the movable object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The voice guidance method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of a degree of crowdedness on a sidewalk, information on a movable body coming close to the vehicle, and weather information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The voice guidance method according to claim 1, wherein, upon determination that the visually impaired person is not included in the passengers of the vehicle, the warning voice is not output.