Information providing device and information providing method

1 . An information providing device comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire an intersection area on a travel route, the intersection area intersecting with an area in which another moving object can move;

a recognition unit configured to recognize a travel environment around a subject vehicle;

a determination unit configured to determine, based on the travel environment, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area; and

a provision unit configured to provide an onboard terminal and/or an electronic terminal in the subject vehicle with information that notifies that the subject vehicle is approaching the intersection area, wherein

the provision unit changes the information in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit while the subject vehicle is traveling to the intersection area,

the intersection area includes an intersection provided with a traffic light,

the recognition unit, when the subject vehicle turns right or left at the intersection, detects as the travel environment an obstacle present at the intersection and a state of the traffic light,

the determination unit determines, based on the state of the traffic light, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection,

the provision unit, when the determination unit determines, based on the state of the traffic light, that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, decreases a degree of emphasis of a display portion for the information,

the determination unit, after the provision unit decreases the degree of emphasis, determines, based on a detection result of the obstacle present at the intersection, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, and

the provision unit, when the determination unit determines, based on the detection result of the obstacle present at the intersection, that the vehicle can pass through the intersection, hides the display portion for the information, or stops provision of the information.

2 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the intersection area includes an intersection, a crosswalk, and a sidewalk facing a facility that allows the subject vehicle to enter.

3 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the provision unit changes at least one of color, brightness, and size of a display portion for the information.

4 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the provision unit,

when the determination unit determines that the subject vehicle cannot pass through the intersection area, increases a degree of emphasis of a display portion for the information, and

when the determination unit determines that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area, decreases the degree of emphasis of the display portion for the information or stops provision of the information.

5 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the provision unit executes at least one of:

displaying the information together with a distance from the subject vehicle to the intersection area;

displaying the information at a position of the intersection area on the travel route displayed on a display device; and

displaying the information superimposed on an image of outside of the vehicle acquired from an imaging device.

6 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the provision unit, when the determination unit determines that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area, decreases a degree of emphasis of a display portion for the information even before the subject vehicle passes through the intersection area.

7 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the recognition unit, when a traffic light is present ahead of the subject vehicle, detects as the travel environment an obstacle present around the subject vehicle and a state of the traffic light, and

the determination unit determines whether or not the obstacle is present in the intersection area and whether or not the state of the traffic light is a state of instructing to make a stop, and

when determining that the obstacle is not present in the intersection area and that the state of the traffic light is not a state of instructing to make a stop, determines that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area.

8 . The information providing device according to claim 7 , wherein the provision unit provides the onboard terminal and/or the electronic terminal separately with information in accordance with a determination result as to whether or not the obstacle is present in the intersection area and information in accordance with a determination result as to whether or not the state of the traffic light is a state of instructing to make a stop.

9 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit, when the subject vehicle makes a stop before the intersection area and then makes a start, determines whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area.

10 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the recognition unit, when the subject vehicle turns left along the travel route at an intersection provided with a traffic light, detects as the travel environment a pedestrian and a bicycle that cross the intersection and a state of the traffic light,

the determination unit determines, based on the state of the traffic light, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection,

the provision unit, when the determination unit determines, based on the state of the traffic light, that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, decreases a degree of emphasis of a display portion for the information,

the determination unit, after decreasing the degree of emphasis, determines, based on detection results of the pedestrian and the bicycle, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, and

the provision unit, when the determination unit determines, based on the detection results of the pedestrian and the bicycle, that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, stops provision of the information.

11 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the recognition unit, when the subject vehicle turns right along the travel route at an intersection provided with a traffic light, detects as the travel environment a pedestrian, a bicycle, and an oncoming vehicle of the subject vehicle that cross the intersection and a state of the traffic light,

the determination unit determines, based on the state of the traffic light, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection,

the provision unit, when the determination unit determines, based on the state of the traffic light, that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, decreases a degree of emphasis of a display portion for the information,

the determination unit, after decreasing the degree of emphasis, determines, based on detection results of the pedestrian, the bicycle, and the oncoming vehicle, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, and

the provision unit, when the determination unit determines, based on the detection results of the pedestrian, the bicycle, and the oncoming vehicle, that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, stops provision of the information.

12 . The information providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the provision unit displays the information on at least one of a display equipped in the subject vehicle, a display included in a terminal for monitoring travel of the subject vehicle, and a display on a terminal of an occupant of the subject vehicle.

13 . An information providing method executed using a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

acquire an intersection area on a travel route, the intersection area intersecting with an area in which another moving object can move;

recognize a travel environment around a subject vehicle;

determine, based on the travel environment, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area, the intersection area including an intersection provided with a traffic light;

provide an onboard terminal and/or an electronic terminal in the subject vehicle with information that notifies that the subject vehicle is approaching the intersection area;

while the subject vehicle is traveling to the intersection area, change the information in accordance with a determination result as to whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection area;

when the subject vehicle turns right or left at the intersection, detect as the travel environment an obstacle present at the intersection and a state of the traffic light;

determine, based on the state of the traffic light, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection;

when determining, based on the state of the traffic light, that the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection, decrease a degree of emphasis of a display portion for the information;

after decreasing the degree of emphasis, determine, based on a detection result of the obstacle present at the intersection, whether or not the subject vehicle can pass through the intersection; and

when determining, based on the detection result of the obstacle present at the intersection, that the vehicle can pass through the intersection, hide the display portion for the information, or stop provision of the information.