Information Terminal, Server Device, Searching System, and Searching Method Thereof

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of an information terminal that allows more efficient utilization of high-level searching functions. The information terminal is provided with an audio input accepting unit to accept an input of speech information, a communication unit to establish communication with a predetermined server device via a network, an output unit, a POI specifying unit to transmit the speech information accepted by the audio input accepting unit to the server device and receive information specifying a candidate of a POI (Point Of Interest) associated with the speech information, a POI candidate output unit to output to the output unit, the information specifying the candidate of the POI received by the POI specifying unit, and a route searching unit to accept a selective input of the information specifying the candidate of the POI, and search for a route directed to the POI.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An information terminal comprising,
 an audio input accepting unit adapted to accept an input of speech information,   a communication unit adapted to establish communication with a predetermined server device via a network,   an output unit,   a POI specifying unit adapted to transmit the speech information accepted by the audio input accepting unit to the server device, and receive information specifying a candidate of a POI (Point Of Interest) associated with the speech information,   a POI candidate output unit adapted to output to the output unit, the information specifying the candidate of the POI received by the POI specifying unit, and   a route searching unit adapted to accept a selective input of the information specifying the candidate of the POI, and search for a route directed to the POI, wherein,   the POI specifying unit compresses the speech information accepted by the audio input accepting unit with a predetermined compression rate and transmits the speech information being compressed to the server device, and   when a quality of the speech information being accepted by the audio input accepting unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined level, the POI specifying unit sets the predetermined compression rate to be a value which mitigates deterioration of the quality.   
     
     
         2 . The information terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 upon receiving from the server device, multiple character string candidates obtained as a result of recognition of the speech information, the POI specifying unit further outputs to the output unit the multiple character string candidates in selectable manner, and accepts an input for selecting one of the character string candidates.   
     
     
         3 . The information terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 when the quality of the speech information accepted by the audio input accepting unit is equal to or lower than a preset level, the POI specifying unit does not transmit the speech information to the server device.   
     
     
         4 . The information terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 the POI specifying unit transmits the speech information accepted by the audio input accepting unit, sequentially to the server device.   
     
     
         5 . The information terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 in a process for outputting to the output unit, the information specifying the candidate of the POI received by the POI specifying unit, if multiple character strings are obtained as a result of recognition of the speech information, the POI candidate output unit outputs the character strings to the output unit, in such a manner that the candidate of the POI is associated with each of the character strings.   
     
     
         6 . An information terminal comprising an audio input accepting unit adapted to accept an input of one or more speech information items, wherein,
 upon accepting the input of multiple speech information items, the audio input accepting unit specifies and employs the speech information with a higher audio quality.   
     
     
         7 . An information terminal comprising a control unit and one or more audio input accepting units, wherein,
 the audio input accepting unit accepts inputting of one or more speech information items, and   when more than one audio input accepting unit is provided, the control unit employs the audio input accepting unit which is positioned closer to a user.