JP2002162984A - Speech reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reproduce sound data for reading with one device while accumulating plural kinds of the sound data. SOLUTION: Not only the sound data for reading indicating the contents of paperback books, etc., but the sound data (for example, music data) of the kinds different therefrom are simultaneously stored in a data accumulation section 104 of one speech reader 3 and the desired sound data selected by a data calling out section 106 from plural kinds of the sound data are converted into audible sounds and are outputted from a speech output section 108.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice reading apparatus, and more particularly, to a voice reading apparatus that converts voice data corresponding to text data into voice in an audible range and outputs the voice data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a technique relating to a voice reading apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-12011. In this publication,
A reading device for reading the characters of the opened page of the booklet manuscript; a voice synthesizing device for converting the read characters into synthesized speech and outputting the synthesized characters; A page turning device for turning pages of the booklet manuscript. The voice synthesizer includes a data converter for converting character data read by a character reader into digital voice data, and stores the digital voice data converted by the data converter in a removable IC (integrated circuit) memory card. An IC memory card interface unit for converting the digital audio data converted by the data conversion unit into analog audio data, and then recording the analog audio data on a detachable cassette tape. The data output from such a voice reading device is data related to one book and may correspond to an amount continuously output for many hours. Reading is rare.

Therefore, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-313684 has been proposed. In this publication, the place where voice reading was completed last time can be stored with a bookmark sandwiched between the books. In detail, a recording medium storing text data, means for selectively reading text data from the recording medium,
Voice synthesis means for converting the read sentence data into voice,
Addressing means for designating an arbitrary address of text data stored in the recording medium. In operation, the reading means starts reading text data based on the address specified by the address specifying means.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional voice reading apparatus, the sentence data is simply reproduced as synthesized voice, and other music data and the like cannot be reproduced. That is, only digital audio data for reading is stored in a storage medium such as an IC memory card mounted on the audio reading device. Therefore, it has not been possible to store a plurality of types of audio data and to select desired audio data from the plurality of types of audio data.

[0005] Even if a plurality of types of audio data can be stored in a storage medium such as an IC memory card, the attribute of the audio data must be clearly indicated when the audio data for reading is written. For example, it has been difficult to output the music data separately from music data generally distributed today.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sound processing apparatus capable of storing and reproducing not only sound data for reading but also sound data of a different type.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a voice reading apparatus for converting reading voice data, which is sound data for reading, into audible sound, which is audible voice, and outputting the audible sound. This is a voice reading device including an output processing unit. The audio output processing unit includes: a sound data storage unit capable of storing a plurality of types of sound data including reading voice data and a different type of sound data from the reading voice data; and a plurality of types of sound data stored in the sound data storage unit. Sound output means for reading desired sound data from the sound data, converting the sound data into audible sound, and outputting the audible sound.

Therefore, not only the sound data for reading indicating the contents of a paperback book or the like but also sound data of a different type is simultaneously stored in the sound data storage means in one sound reading device, so that the reading sound data and It is possible to listen to desired sound data selected from a plurality of types of sound data including different types of sound data as audible sounds.

Therefore, with one voice reading device,
The user can listen to the sound based on the sound data for reading and read, and can also hear the sound based on other types of sound data, for example, music.

The above-described audio reading apparatus further includes a sound data supply unit for supplying sound data to be stored to the sound data storage unit, and the sound data supply unit and the sound output processing unit are separated. It is configured to be possible.

Therefore, a plurality of types of sound data stored in the sound data storage means can be supplied by the sound data supply section of the device. In addition, since the sound data supply unit and the sound output processing unit having the sound data storage unit are configured to be separable, only the sound output processing unit is carried to listen to the sound based on the sound data for reading and read. In addition to the above, it is possible to listen to a sound based on another kind of sound data, for example, music.

[0012] The sound data supply unit of the above-described voice reading device includes:
Text data input means for inputting text data for reading, sound data conversion means for converting the text data input by the text data input means into reading voice data and outputting, and sound data conversion means for outputting Transfer means for transferring the reading voice data for storage in the sound data storage means.

Therefore, when text data for reading is input to the sound data supply unit, the text data is converted into reading voice data and then transferred to the sound data conversion means.

Therefore, in the voice reading apparatus, only text data for reading is prepared, and reading voice data can be generated and acquired from the text data.

[0015] The text data input means of the above-mentioned voice reading apparatus may read a document for reading as an image and input text data based on the read contents. Therefore, in the voice reading apparatus, only by preparing a document desired to be read, the reading voice data can be generated and acquired from this.

In the sound data storage means of the above-described voice reading apparatus, data-related information indicating information related to the sound data is further stored corresponding to each of the sound data. Then, when selecting the desired sound data, the sound output processing unit displays a data-related information corresponding to each of the plurality of types of sound data, and a desired sound based on the data-related information displayed by the display means. Sound data selecting means for selecting data.

Therefore, in the voice reading apparatus, the sound data storage means can also hold information related to a plurality of types of sound data including reading voice data. When selecting the desired sound data, the display unit displays the related information corresponding to each of the plurality of types of sound data stored in the sound data storage unit, so that a plurality of types of sound data are displayed based on the displayed data related information. The desired sound data can be selected while individually distinguishing the sound data.

The voice output processing unit of the above-described voice reading device comprises:
When the desired sound data selected by the sound data selection means is reading voice data, the apparatus further comprises output condition specification means for specifying a desired output condition by the sound output means based on the corresponding data-related information, The sound output means outputs desired sound data in accordance with a desired condition specified by the output condition specifying means.

Therefore, when the reading voice data is output as sound by the sound output means, it is output in accordance with the desired condition specified by the output condition specifying means specified based on the corresponding data-related information.

Therefore, when outputting desired reading voice data by the sound output means, the user can specify desired output conditions based on the corresponding data-related information. You can enjoy.

The desired output condition in the above-mentioned voice reading device includes start portion specifying data for specifying a desired output start portion in the text data corresponding to the reading voice data. The output is started from the part specified by the start part specifying data.

Therefore, when the reading voice data is output as sound by the sound output means, the output is started from the portion specified by the start portion specifying data specified based on the corresponding data-related information.

Therefore, when outputting the desired reading voice data by the sound output means, the user can start the output from a desired output start portion in the corresponding text data. Voice reading can be started from the part according to the user's preference and enjoyed.

In the above-described audio reading device, when the desired sound data selected by the sound data selecting means is data other than the reading audio data, the output starts from the head of the data.

Therefore, sound data other than the sound data for reading, for example, music data, etc. are uniformly output from the beginning.

In the above-described voice reading apparatus, the sound output means performs an output operation in accordance with a desired output mode.

Therefore, the output of the sound data by the sound output means can be performed in a manner (output (reproduction) start, fast forward, rewind, etc.) according to the user's preference.

In the above voice reading device, the transferring means transfers the reading voice data output by the sound data converting means to the sound data storing means in association with the data-related information.

Therefore, when the reading voice data is transferred and stored in the sound data storage means, the data related information is stored in association with the data.

In the above-described voice reading apparatus, the data-related information includes history data indicating a history of output of the corresponding sound data by the sound output means, and each time the reading sound data is output by the sound output means, the sound data is read. The corresponding history data of the storage means is updated according to the output result.

Therefore, when reading sound data is output by the sound output means, the corresponding history data is updated according to the output result, so that the history data can always be updated to the latest content.

[0032]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a voice reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described in each embodiment.

(Embodiment 1) First, Embodiment 1 will be described.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a voice reading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG.
In (B), the voice reading device 3 has an OCR (optical
The reading of each page of the book and the recognition of characters are performed by the character reader unit 1 to obtain text data including a character code. The voice reading device 3 further includes a CPU (abbreviated central processing unit) 8 for centrally controlling and monitoring the device itself, and the CPU 8 includes a ROM (read only memory).
9, I / F (abbreviation of interface) section 10, key 1
3, an LCD driver 14 for driving an LCD (liquid crystal display) 3b, a DSP (digital signal processor) 6 for supplying digital data to a D / A (digital / analog) converter 7 connected to the earphone 4, a dictionary ROM
5 and a random access memory (RAM) 15 are connected.

A dictionary for language processing for performing language processing of text data is registered in the dictionary ROM 5. ROM 9
Stores various programs executed under the control of the CPU 8. The I / F unit 10 provides the text data provided from the OCR unit 1 to the CPU 8. The RAM 15 is an area for storing various setting conditions and data.

When the sentence data read by the OCR unit 1 is given through the I / F unit 10 in the operation, the CP
Under the control of U8, language processing such as kana-kanji conversion is performed using the language processing dictionary registered in the dictionary ROM 5.
Next, voice synthesis processing is performed using the DSP 6 to obtain voice digital data. The obtained digital data is stored in the RAM 15 and is also subjected to digital / analog conversion by the D / A converter 7, and the converted analog audio signal is output by the earphone 4.

FIG. 1A shows a functional configuration of the voice reading device 3. The voice reading device 3 includes an image input unit 100 and a character recognition unit 101 corresponding to the OCR unit 1, a voice synthesis unit 102 corresponding to the DSP 6, a voice conversion unit 103 corresponding to the D / A conversion unit 7, and data storage corresponding to the RAM 15. Part 104, I
/ F14A, transfer unit 1 operating under control of CPU 8
05, data calling unit 106, LCD driver 14 and LC
A display unit 107 and an audio output unit 108 corresponding to D3b are included.

The image input unit 100 has a function of automatically turning a book such as a paperback book one page at a time, and includes a scanner, a camera, and the like for converting the page information of the book into electronic image data by light. The character recognition unit 101 includes an image input unit 100
And reads the characters of the electronic image data input from and converts them into text data (character code). Therefore, the image input unit 100 and the character recognizing unit 101 operate as shown in FIG.
The function of CR1 is achieved. The voice synthesis unit 102 converts the character code recognized by the character recognition unit 101 into voice. The voice conversion unit 103 converts the voice synthesized by the voice synthesis unit 102 into MP3 (MPEG audio layer III).
To digital audio data. Voice converter 10
The digital audio data obtained by the conversion in
05, the data is transferred to the data storage unit 104 by the I / F 104A using a modem, a card slot, a cable, infrared communication, or the like. The I / F 104A has an I / F function for transferring data to the data storage unit 104.

The data storage section 104 has a storage capacity capable of registering a plurality of types of digital sound data. The digital sound data registered in the data storage unit 104 includes the transfer unit 1
Music data, rakugo voice data, news announcement voice data, and the like are included in addition to digital voice data for reading transferred and received by the H.05. The data storage unit 104 includes, for example, a built-in IC memory, a stick memory, a CD (Compact disc) ROM, and an MD (Mini
disc), MO (magneto-optical disc) and the like.

The data calling unit 106 stores the data
4. One of the one or more digital sound data stored in the storage unit 4 is selected, and the selected digital sound data is called by designating a reproduction method or the like. The display unit 107 reads out and displays the additional information on the digital sound data stored in the data storage unit 104 and provides it to the user. The details of the additional information will be described later. For example, data names, attributes, recording dates, playback histories, selection / non-selection,
Information such as a reproduction method. This additional information is key 13
And information set by the CPU 8 and the like.

The voice output unit 108 is connected to the data calling unit 106
The digital sound data called by the data storage unit 1
The digital audio data is read out from the digital audio data 04 and converted into analog audio data by the reproduction method designated by the data calling unit 106 and output. The audio output unit 108 corresponds to the D / A converter 7 and the earphone 4 described above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the functions of the voice reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1A are separated. In FIG. 2, the voice reading device 3 includes an image input unit 100 to a voice conversion unit 1.
And a voice reproducing unit 201 having a data storage unit 104, an I / F 104A, and a data calling unit 106 to a voice output unit 108. It has become. With such a configuration, the main unit 200 and the audio reproducing unit 201 of the audio reading device 3 can be connected and used as an integrated state as shown in FIG. As shown, the two are separated, and the lightweight audio playback unit 201
Can be carried and used by the user.

Here, sound data for purposes other than reading, for example, music data, is externally provided via the I / F 104A and stored in the data storage unit 104. Specifically, music data distributed via a network or the like is once received by a computer (not shown) and written into a storage medium, and the music data in the storage medium is stored in the I / F 10.
By being transferred from the computer via 4A,
The data is stored in the data storage unit 104. Alternatively, when a storage medium in which music data is recorded in advance is purchased, the data is read by a computer, transferred to the data storage unit 104 via the I / F 104A, and stored. The corresponding additional information in this case can be read from the header information of the sound data.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of digital sound data are stored while being specified in the voice reading device, and only the specified digital sound data is read out and reproduced and output.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of a voice reading apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3 (A) and (B)
In FIG. 2, the functions of the voice reading device are shown in a separated state as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows the main body 301 of the voice reading device 3, and FIG.
Is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3A, a main unit 301 includes an image input unit 302, a character recognition unit 303,
Voice synthesis unit 304, voice conversion unit 305, signal addition unit 30
6 and a transfer unit 307. The image input unit 302 to the sound conversion unit 305 and the transfer unit 307 correspond to the functions of the image input unit 100 to the sound conversion unit 103 and the transfer unit 105 illustrated in FIG.

In the operation, the image data 308 of each page of the book input from the image input unit 302 is converted into character code data 309 in the character recognition unit 303 by the existing character recognition technology. The speech synthesis unit 304 synthesizes the synthesized speech data 310 from the character code data 309 by using the existing speech synthesis technology. The voice conversion unit 305 converts the synthesized voice data 310 into an MP
3 and the like. The signal adding unit 306 receives the information input from the key 13 or the CP
The information set by U8 is transferred to the digital audio data 31.
1 as additional information 312 in association with each other. The additional information 312 is information for determining that the corresponding digital audio data 311 is audio data for reading output from the main body 301 of the audio reading device 3 and is associated with the audio data for reading. This is information indicating the contents of the operation.

In FIG. 3B, a voice reproducing unit 313 includes a data access unit 314, a display unit 315, and a data calling unit 3.
16, an audio output unit 317, a data determination unit 318, and a storage memory unit 321. The display unit 315, the data calling unit 316, and the voice output unit 317 are the display unit 107, the data calling unit 106, and the voice output unit 1 shown in FIG.
08. The data access unit 314 and the storage memory unit 321 correspond to the I / F 104A and the data storage unit 104.

The storage memory unit 321 includes the data access unit 3
14, one or more sets of the digital sound data 319 and the corresponding additional information 320 are registered. The digital audio data 311 transferred from the transfer unit 307 and the additional information 312 associated with the digital audio data 311 are received by the data access unit 314, and are associated with the digital audio data 319 and the additional information 320, respectively, and are stored in the storage memory unit 321. Is stored.

In the operation, when the calling data is selected by the data calling unit 316 as described above, the data discriminating unit 318 determines that the selected digital sound data 311 is the reading data transferred from the main unit 301 of the voice reading device 3. The digital audio data 311 or other data, for example, digital audio data such as music,
This is performed based on the content of the additional information 320 corresponding to the selected digital sound data 319.

The audio output unit 317 reads the selected digital sound data 319 from the storage memory unit 321 via the data access unit 314, and reproduces the digital sound data 319 based on the determination result of the data determination unit 318. Therefore, the audio reproduction unit 313 can reproduce any of the digital audio data 311 for reading and the digital audio data such as music transferred from the main unit 301.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, FIG. 4 shows another configuration example of the audio reproducing unit of the audio reading device 3. The audio reproducing unit 401 in FIG. 4 displays additional information associated with digital audio data stored in the data storage unit in advance, so that the user can select desired digital audio data based on the displayed content. Can be.

Referring to FIG. 4, voice reproducing section 401 includes a display section 402, a data calling section 403, a voice reproducing section 408, a data access section 412, and a storage memory section 409.
The data calling unit 403 includes a data selection unit 404, a reproduction method selection unit 405, a reproduction stop execution unit 406, and a fast forward rewind execution unit 407. The storage memory unit 409 is accessed by the data access unit 412, and stores a plurality of sets of digital sound data 410 and additional information 411. The display unit 402 has information on the digital sound data 410 stored in the storage memory unit 409, based on the corresponding additional information 411, such as audio data name, recording date, playback history, selection / non-selection, and playback method options. Is displayed on the LCD 3b.

In operation, the digital sound data 410 is transmitted by the data selection unit 404 via the data access unit 412.
Is selected, the reproduction method selection unit 405 selects a corresponding reproduction method. For example, when the reproduction or stop is selected, the reproduction or stop of the selected digital sound data 410 is output or stopped while the reproduction stop execution unit 406 is executing. When fast-forward or rewind is selected, the selected digital sound data 410
Is executed by the fast-forward / rewind execution unit 407. Existing techniques are applied to the above-described operations of play, stop, fast forward, and rewind.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the structure of the additional information 411 stored in the storage memory unit 409 of FIG. FIG. 5B shows a specific example of the data shown in FIG. The additional information 411 in FIG. 5A is information referred to by the data selection unit 404, and here, the additional information 411 corresponding to the audio data 410 for reading.
Is shown. In the drawing, additional information 411 includes a data name 411A, an attribute 411B, another 411C for reproduction / non-reproduction,
Recording date 411F, author name 411G, playback history 411E
And page address information 411J. Since the corresponding digital sound data 410 is reading voice data, the title of a book (a novel, a paper, etc.) is recorded in the data name 411A, and 'reading data' is recorded in the attribute 411B.
The author's name 411G has a corresponding book (novel, paper, etc.)
Is recorded, and the reproduction history 411E sequentially records the number of the page being reproduced, as well as the reproduction date and time. The page address information 411J includes
For each page, the page number and the head address of the digital sound data 410 of the page are recorded as a pair. When the page to be reproduced is determined, the head address of the digital sound data 410 of the page is read from the page address information 411J, and the corresponding digital sound data 410 is read out based on the address and reproduced.

Here, the additional information 411 corresponds to another type of digital sound data 410, for example, the corresponding digital sound data 4
When 10 is music data, a music name is recorded in the data name 411A, and 'music data' is recorded in the attribute 411B,
The composer name, lyricist name, performer name (singer name) and the like are recorded in the author name 411G.

FIG. 6 shows a display example of the display unit 402 of FIG. Referring to FIG.
LCD panel 502 and selection decision key 504 using D3b
Is provided. On the LCD panel 503, additional information 411 corresponding to the digital sound data 410 stored in the storage memory unit 409 is displayed. Additional information 4
11 is the corresponding digital voice data 4 as shown.
10 names (corresponding music titles or novel (book) titles) 411A, data attributes 411B, playback history 411
C, the last (latest) reproduction date 411D, and when the corresponding digital sound data 410 is digital audio data for reading, the last reproduction page 411E and recording date 411F of the corresponding book are included.

The attribute 411B is assigned “read” if the corresponding digital sound data 410 is data for reading, and “sound” is assigned if it is data corresponding to music. The playback history 411C stores the corresponding digital sound data 41
If 0 is data for reading, "reproduced" is assigned if the data has already been reproduced, and "unreproduced" is assigned if the data has not been reproduced yet. When the corresponding digital sound data 410 is data for reading, the last reproduction date 411D and the last reproduction page 411E indicate the date on which the data was last reproduced and the last page reproduced. The recording date 411F indicates the date when the corresponding digital sound data 410 was stored in the storage memory unit 409.

A selection decision key 504 is provided corresponding to the data selection section 404 in FIG. 4 and is operated to select desired digital sound data 410 while referring to the additional information 411 displayed on the LCD panel 502. Is done. Specifically, the selection of the desired digital sound data 410 is performed by surrounding the corresponding additional information 411 among the one or more additional information 411 to be displayed by a frame 503. For this purpose, the selection sound key 504 is operated to move the frame 503 up, down, left and right, and when the desired additional information 411 is turned ON when the desired additional information 411 is surrounded by the frame 503, the digital sound data 410 corresponding to the additional information 411 is displayed. Selected. If the user wants to cancel the selection, he or she may perform an OFF operation.

In FIG. 6, the additional information 41 located at the top of the LCD panel 502 is operated by the operation of the selection decision key 504.
A state is shown in which the digital sound data 410 corresponding to 1 (the data name 411A is “then”) is selected. Here, the selected data is specified using the frame 503, but the method of specifying the selected data is not limited to this, and a method such as using a cursor or inverting the display may be used. .

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the data selection unit 404 of FIG. The selection by the data selection unit 404
The operation is not limited to the operation of the selection determination key 504 in FIG. For example, when the desired digital sound data 410 is selected such that the LCD panel 502 constitutes a touch panel as shown in FIG. 7, additional information corresponding to the desired digital sound data 410 is selected by a pen 505 associated with the touch panel. A selection may be made by touching 411, and the selection may be determined by touching again. Also in this case, the display mode of the selected additional information 411 is changed.

The processing for selecting and determining the additional information 411 described above uses the existing technology. Next, a procedure for selecting from which part the digital sound data 410 selected as described above is reproduced will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for selecting and designating a reproducing method according to the third embodiment, and shows an example of a screen when reproducing digital sound data 410 for reading. When the digital sound data 410 selected by the data selection unit 404 is reproduced as described above, the corresponding additional information 411 is displayed on the LCD panel 502, and the button 506 indicating a reproduction method option is displayed.
To 508 are displayed. A button 506 is operated when it is desired to reproduce the selected digital sound data 410 from the beginning (start), and a button 507 is operated when it is desired to reproduce from the last reproduction page 411E. The button 508 is operated when reproduction from an arbitrary page is desired. Buttons 506-50
The operation 8 is executed by an operation for selection of up, down, left, and right or selection of ON / OFF by the selection decision key 504.

FIG. 9 shows a display screen example when the button 508 for designating reproduction from an arbitrary page in FIG. 8 is selected. When the reproduction from an arbitrary page is selected, the additional information 41 selected as shown in FIG.
1, window 509 and corresponding digital sound data 4
The total number of pages (eg 2
53) are displayed on the same screen. The window 509 indicates that the current mode is for selecting an arbitrary page for starting reproduction. The arrow 511 displayed in association with the scroll bar 510 is moved left and right along the scroll bar using the selection decision key 504, and the selection decision key 50 is displayed.
If an ON operation is performed by using the number 4, the page indicated by the display position of the arrow 511 at that time is selected and determined as an arbitrary page to be reproduced.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show another example showing a procedure for selecting and determining an arbitrary page to be reproduced according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, an arbitrary page is determined using the scroll bar 510. However, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the user may operate the numeric keypad 512 provided on the main surface of No. 1 to directly input a page number corresponding to a desired arbitrary page by numerical value and designate the page number. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, an area 51 in which characters can be input with the pen 505 is provided.
3 is provided on the LCD panel 502, and the numerical value of the page number corresponding to an arbitrary page desired to be reproduced by the pen 505 is
It is also possible to write and specify in the area 513.

When the digital sound data 410 selected by the data selection unit 404 is data other than reading data, for example, music data such that the attribute 411B is “sound”, the data is reproduced as described above. The reproduction method is not selected by the method selection unit 405, but is immediately reproduced by the audio reproduction unit 408.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a processing function for associating digital sound data 410 with additional information 411 according to the third embodiment. In the figure, a configuration for performing this association procedure in the main body 301 of the voice reading device 3 is shown. In the main body unit 301, the control unit 1101 includes the above-described image input unit 302 to the transfer unit 3 controlled by the control unit in order to perform such association.
07 is connected.

In operation, the character recognizing section 303 recognizes image data 308 input from the image input section 302 for each page. The character recognizing unit 303 stores the page number of the scanned image and the start address of the character code data 309 of the scanned page as character code page address data 1110. Also, the title of the document that appears first in the document is stored in the additional information 312 as the data name 411A. The speech synthesis unit 304 generates synthesized speech data 310 based on the character code data 309 obtained by the character recognition unit 303, and pairs the page number and the start address of the synthesized speech data 310 of the page with a synthesized speech page. It is stored as address data 1112. The voice conversion unit 305 converts the synthesized voice data 310 obtained by the voice synthesis unit 304 into digital voice data 311.
Then, the page number and the start address of the digital audio data 311 of the page are paired and stored as digital audio page address data 1114. Signal addition unit 3
06 is digital voice page address data 1114 as page address information 411J, data name 411A, recording date 411F, attribute 411B of whether or not it is reading data,
The additional information 31 is associated with information such as the reproduction history 411E.
Save as 2.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the association between the digital audio page address data 1114 and the digital audio data 311 stored in the additional information 312 by the signal adding unit 306 in FIG. The digital audio page address data 1114 stores, for each page, a page number PN and a corresponding address AD of the digital audio data 311 at the head of the content of the page.

FIG. 13 shows the main body 301 shown in FIG.
6 is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure of associating digital sound data with additional information in the embodiment. In FIG. 13, a document (book) is set on a voice reading machine (not shown), and the process starts (S1301). The page is turned by the automatic page turning function, and it is determined whether or not the page remains (S1302). If the page remains, the following process is executed.
A data transfer process (S1312) described later is executed.

When the page remains, first, the image of the opened page is input by the image input unit 302 such as the OCR unit 1 and the image data 308 is subjected to the character recognition processing by the character recognition unit 303 (S1303, S1304). ).
Character code data 309 obtained by recognition is stored in RAM 1
5 (S1305). The page number described in the image is also stored at the same time (S1306).

Next, the recognized character code data 309 is processed by the voice synthesis unit 304 and voice conversion unit 305 of the DSP 6 as follows. First, voice synthesis is performed by the voice synthesis unit 304 (S1307). Synthesized voice data 3
10 is stored in a memory such as the RAM 15 (S13).
08), the digital audio data 3
11 and the digital audio data 311 is stored in the RAM
15 (S1309, S131
0).

Next, the signal adding unit 306 sets the above-described start address AD and page number PN of the digital audio data 311 in the memory such as the RAM 15 so as to form a pair for each page. Is created and associated with the digital audio data 311 as additional information 312 along with other data such as the data name 411A and the date 411F (S
1311). The digital audio data 311 and the additional information 312 are transferred and written to the storage memory unit 409 while being associated with each other by the transfer unit 307 (S1312).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the reproduction process of the audio reproduction unit according to the third embodiment. First, the display unit 4
02 displays the contents of the additional information 411 stored and stored in the storage memory unit 409 (S140).
1) Data to be reproduced is selected by the data calling unit 403 (S1402). The data calling unit 403 determines from the corresponding additional information 411 of the selected data that the digital sound data 410 is reading data (S
1403), referring to the past history data (S140)
4) If there is a playback history (S1405), the playback history is displayed (S1406). Next, a reproduction method is selected by the reproduction method selection unit 405 (S1407), and it is determined whether or not to reproduce (S1408), and reproduction (output) is performed (S1409).

If it is determined in step S1402 that the selected data is data such as music, the process proceeds to step S1402.
8 is performed. The determination in S1403 is made based on the attribute data 411B of the data designated to be reproduced. As described above, it is possible to reproduce both the music data and the reading data.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the reproduction process of the audio reproduction unit according to the third embodiment. When the reproduction is started (S1501) and a stop command is detected (S150).
2) It is determined whether the data being reproduced is reading data (S1503). If the data being reproduced is reading data, the additional information 411 is referred to (S150).
4) The page number is detected from the address of the data being reproduced (S1505), and information such as the page number and the reproduction date and time of the reproduction history data 411E is updated and written (S15).
06), and stops (S1507). If the data being reproduced is data such as music data in S1503, the operation is immediately stopped.

The determination in step S1503 is made based on the attribute data 411B of the additional information 411 in the data being reproduced.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0078]

In the voice reading apparatus according to the present invention, not only sound data for reading indicating the contents of a paperback book or the like but also different kinds of sound data are simultaneously stored in the sound data storage means, and the reading is performed. Desired sound data selected from a plurality of types of sound data including voice data and different types of sound data can be heard as audible sounds.

Therefore, with one voice reading device,
The user can listen to the sound based on the sound data for reading, and can also read the sound based on other types of sound data, such as music.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a voice reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where functions of the voice reading device shown in FIG. 1A are separated.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are configuration diagrams of a voice reading device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the audio reproducing unit of the audio reading device 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the storage memory unit 40 of FIG.
9 is a diagram showing a configuration of additional information 411 stored in No. 9; FIG.

6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display unit 402 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the data selection unit 404 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for selecting and specifying a reproduction method according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a button 508 for designating reproduction from an arbitrary page in FIG. 8 is selected.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another example of a procedure for selecting and determining an arbitrary page to be reproduced according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows digital sound data 4 according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a processing function for associating the additional information 411 with the information 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining association between digital audio page address data 1114 and digital audio data 311 stored in additional information 312 by the signal adding unit 306 in FIG. 11;

13 is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for associating digital sound data with additional information in the main body unit 301 shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a reproduction process of an audio reproduction unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a reproduction process of an audio reproduction unit according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Voice reading device, 100, 302 Image input unit, 10
1,303 character recognition unit, 102, 304 voice synthesis unit, 103, 305 voice conversion unit, 104 data storage unit, 105 transfer unit, 106, 316 data calling unit,
107, 315 display unit, 108, 317 audio output unit,
200, 301 body unit, 201, 313 sound reproduction unit, 308, 1108 image data, 309, 1109
Character code data, 310, 1111 synthetic voice data, 311, 1113 digital voice data, 312,
320, 411, 1115 additional information, 319, 410
Digital sound data, 504 selection key, 1101
Control unit, 1110 character code page address data, 1112 synthesized voice page address data, 111
4 Digital voice page address data.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Sugiyama 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hirose 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5D045 AB30

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An audio reading device comprising an audio output processing unit for converting reading audio data, which is audio data for reading, into audible sound, which is audible audio, and outputting the audible sound. A processing unit configured to store a plurality of types of the sound data including the reading voice data and a different type of sound data from the reading voice data; a sound data storage unit; Sound reading means for reading desired sound data from a plurality of types of sound data, converting the sound data into the audible sound, and outputting the audible sound. 2. A sound data supply unit for supplying the sound data to be stored to the sound data storage unit, wherein the sound data supply unit and the sound output processing unit are separated. The voice reading device according to claim 1, wherein the voice reading device is configured to be capable of being used. 3. The sound data supply unit includes: text data input means for inputting the text data for reading; and converting the text data input by the text data input means into the reading voice data. The voice reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a sound data converting unit that outputs the reading data; and a transfer unit that transfers the reading voice data output by the sound data converting unit to store the reading voice data in the sound data storing unit. 4. The sound data storage means further stores, in association with each of the sound data, data-related information indicating information related to the sound data, When selecting sound data, a display means for displaying the data-related information corresponding to each of the plurality of types of sound data, and the desired sound data is selected based on the data-related information displayed by the display means. The voice reading device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sound data selecting unit. 5. When the desired sound data selected by the sound data selecting means is the reading sound data, the sound output processing unit determines a desired sound by the sound output means based on the corresponding data-related information. An output condition designating means for designating the output condition of (a), wherein the sound output means outputs the desired sound data in accordance with a desired condition designated by the output condition designating means. 5. The voice reading device according to 4. 6. The desired output condition includes start portion specifying data for specifying a desired output start portion in the text data corresponding to the reading voice data. The voice reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein output is started from a portion specified by the start portion specifying data of the data. 7. The sound output unit according to claim 1, wherein the output operation is performed in accordance with a desired output mode.
7. The voice reading device according to any one of items 6 to 6. 8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transfer means transfers said reading voice data output by said sound data conversion means to said sound data storage means in association with said data-related information. 8. The voice reading device according to any one of claims 7 to 7. 9. The data-related information includes history data indicating a history of output of the corresponding sound data by the sound output means, and each time the reading sound data is output by the sound output means, the sound data is output. The history data corresponding to the storage means is updated according to the output result,
A voice reading device according to any one of claims 4 to 8.