JP2002358194A - Voice information providing system, voice information providing method and storage medium with program for allowing computer to processing in the same system stored therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice information providing system capable of providing voiced Internet information by using a telephone line network. SOLUTION: The voice information providing system connected to the Internet for providing Web information displayed by a Web file indicating a Web display format provided on the Internet to an information request origin connected through a telephone line network with a voice is provided with a script analyzing means for analyzing a script file defining the reading order of the Web information, and for generating reading information and a telephone information providing means for voicing the reading information generated by the script analyzing means, and for providing the Web information through the telephone line network to the information request origin with a voice.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice information providing system for providing information by voice using Web information provided on the Internet as an information request source.
An object of the present invention is to provide a voice information providing system capable of providing voiced Internet information using a telephone line network.

The present invention also relates to a method for providing such audio information and a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform processing in the system.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid spread of the Internet, information transmission to the Internet and acquisition of information from the Internet have been performed frequently as needed. In addition, the spread of the Internet to homes has been promoted due to the reduction in the price of personal computers, and information transmission not only to businesses but also to the individual-level Internet, and information acquisition from the Internet, has been performed more frequently.

[0004] Information provision via the Internet is based on characters,
Images and sounds can be provided at the same time, and the user has the characteristic that necessary information can be obtained when needed for 24 hours by connecting a personal computer installed at home to the Internet. Due to its characteristics, the Internet has become a place for effective information transmission and information acquisition for not only healthy persons but also persons with disabilities.

[0005]

However, the conventional information providing system using the Internet has the following problems.

First, usually, Internet information (Web
In order to use (information), a browser which is software for displaying Internet information is installed on a personal computer, and connected to the Internet via a telephone line or a dedicated line. Therefore, it is difficult for a user who has some visual impairment or a user who is not good at a personal computer to obtain information from the Internet. Also, for users who are not inconvenienced on the Internet,
If a mobile terminal such as a personal computer and a PDA cannot be used at a place where the user is going out, the Internet cannot be used.

[0007] Next, the Internet information can transmit various kinds of media. In general, however, it is often assumed that "viewing" is performed mainly on images and characters. It is not necessarily a place for effective information transmission and information acquisition. Therefore, conventionally, software that reads out Internet information has been proposed.

Conventional software for reading out Internet information (hereinafter referred to as reading-out software) analyzes a program of a Web file constituting a screen, finds out items to be read out from the program, and performs voice conversion to obtain audio-visual impairment. To provide information on the Internet to people. However, since a Web file using the frame function has only a means to convert only the file name of the Web file used in the frame to speech and connect to the Web file in the frame, and there is no means for linking to the download site, the download site In addition, there is a problem that it is impossible to use the Web file and that it is difficult for the user to understand the configuration of the Web file from the voiced contents.

For example, when a part of the screen configuration is as shown in FIG. 1, the flow of the viewpoint at the time of browsing is in the order of contents 61 to 71, whereas the conventional reading software uses the contents 61
“News”, content 62 “Talent △ △ died (□ sports)”, content 63 “appeared at the △ × Cannes Film Festival. Acclaimed from various countries. Major cities) ”, content 68“ economic information ”, content 65
"Sapporo Rain / Tokyo Cloudy then Fine / Osaka Fine", 69
“Nikkei average 15000.55”, content 66 “Precipitation probability 100%, precipitation probability 20%, precipitation probability 0%”, content 70
"Yen market 110.55", content 67 "Other regions",
It is read out as content 70 “money information”. Therefore, in such a reading order, it is difficult to recognize the configuration of the Web image only by the voice.

[0010] On the other hand, the homepage screen displays movies, photos,
Or, like painting, it is also a “place of expression”. Therefore, for a homepage creator, describing the structure of a Web file in a fixed format in accordance with the specification of the reading software restricts a number of expression methods and at the same time makes it impossible to use the latest program technology effective on the Internet. Causes inconvenience. Under these circumstances,
Even if the creator of the reading software recommends the guidelines,
It is hard to be recognized by homepage creators.

[0011] Further, such conventional reading software presupposes the use of a personal computer, and as described above, it is difficult to acquire Web information when there is an inconvenience in using the personal computer. Furthermore, it is very difficult for a user such as a visually impaired person to install the reading software and learn how to use the software.

Therefore, without restricting the creator of the homepage to the homepage creator and without assuming the use of the personal computer by the user, for example, by a telephone,
There is a need for a voice information providing system that can provide voiced Internet information.

[0013] Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a voice information providing system capable of providing voiced Internet information using a telephone line network.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a voice information providing method.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium in which a program for causing a computer to perform the processing in the above-described system is stored.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a Web file which can provide a script file for defining a reading order of display information when the Web file is accessed.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned first problem, the present invention relates to a wireless communication system provided on the Internet by connecting to the Internet.
In a voice information providing system for providing web information displayed by a web file indicating a web display format to an information request source connected via a telephone line network, a reading order of the web information is defined. Script analysis means for analyzing a script file to generate read-out information, and converting the read-out information generated by the script analysis means into speech, and providing the Web information by voice to an information requester via a telephone network. Telephone information providing means.

In such a system, Web information provided on the Internet can be provided to an information requesting source via a telephone network based on the reading order.

Therefore, since the user can obtain the Web information provided on the Internet using the telephone, it is possible to save the trouble of using the computer. In particular, when the user is visually impaired, Web information provided on the Internet can be easily obtained only by operating the telephone without using a computer. Further, since the read-out information is generated based on the reading order, it is possible to efficiently provide information by voice.

The information request source is a user who uses a telephone or the like that can be connected to a telephone line.

The Web information is, for example, a homepage published on the Internet.

The above reading order indicates, for example, a normal reading (reading direction, strength of voice) and a reading order of a healthy person.

The telephone information providing means is realized by, for example, a program for controlling a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) board for performing voice processing.

From the viewpoint of facilitating a user to link to other Web information, the present invention provides a voice information providing system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the script analysis means When the script file defines the reading order of link display information indicating a link to other Web information, the script file may be configured to generate read-out information indicating the link display information.

In such a system, since the voice is converted into voice based on the read-out information obtained by analyzing the definition of the reading order of the link display information indicating the link to the other Web information, the user can recognize that the link exists by voice. Can be distinguished.

Further, from the viewpoint that the user can easily judge the display of the data input, the present invention provides the voice information providing system according to the first or second aspect as described in the third aspect. , The script analysis means,
When the reading order of the input display information indicating the data input is defined by the script file, the reading information indicating the input display information may be generated.

[0027] In such a system, the voice is converted into voice based on the read-aloud information obtained by analyzing the definition of the reading order of the input display information indicating the data input. Can be distinguished.

In addition, from the viewpoint of being able to read aloud for each item of different classification, the present invention provides a voice information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, as described in claim 4. In the case where the script analysis unit uses the script file, the reading order is defined for each of a plurality of items in the same line in the display information by block information obtained by blocking up to the next itemized line. The reading information can be generated for each block based on the reading order.

In such a system, the read-aloud information is generated and vocalized for each block corresponding to the item.
There is no case where the contents of items of different categories are mixed and voiced.

Therefore, the user can acquire the contents of each item by voice.

Further, from the viewpoint of efficiently obtaining Web information desired by a user, the present invention is directed to claim 5 of the present invention.
The voice information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the voice by the information request source is recognized and converted into data, and whether the voice has been correctly recognized is determined. Speech recognition means for originally confirming, a genre table for classifying search information for each genre, and a search W in which Web information to be searched according to the genre is associated
a search information managing unit that associates and manages the eb table with the genre identification information for identifying the genre, and the search information in accordance with desired search information of an information request source correctly recognized by the voice recognition unit. The genre table and the search W managed by the information management means
Web obtained by searching the web table
An internet connection means for connecting to the internet can be configured based on the information.

Such a system has search information management means for managing a genre table and a search Web table, and obtains Web information corresponding to desired search information of an information request source in advance when connecting to the Internet. I do.

Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently obtain Web information desired by the user.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to provide information based on an authentication result of an information requesting source, the present invention provides the voice information according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. In a providing system, authentication information management means for registering and managing authentication information for authenticating an information request source, and the information connected via a telephone network based on the authentication information managed by the authentication information management means Authentication means for authenticating the request source, wherein the telephone information providing means comprises:
In accordance with the authentication result by the authentication unit, based on the read-out information generated by the script analysis unit,
Telephone information providing means for providing the Web information by voice to an information request source via a telephone line network can be provided.

In such a system, an information requesting source connected via a telephone network can be authenticated based on authentication information for authenticating a registered information requesting source.

Therefore, the user can perform authentication using a telephone or the like, and can receive Web information.

In order to solve the above second problem, the present invention provides a method for connecting to the Internet and displaying Web information displayed by a Web file indicating a Web display format provided on the Internet via a telephone network. In a voice information providing method for providing information to a connected information request source by voice, a script analysis procedure for analyzing a script file that defines the reading order of the Web information and generating read-out information; A telephone information providing step of converting the generated read-out information into voice and providing the Web information in voice to the information requesting source via the telephone line network.

Such a voice information providing method makes it possible to provide Web information provided on the Internet to an information requesting source via a telephone line network.

[0039] In order to solve the third problem, the present invention provides a method of connecting to the Internet and displaying Web information displayed by a Web file indicating a Web display format provided on the Internet via a telephone network. A voice information providing system for providing information by voice to an information request source to be connected. A computer for performing processing in a voice information providing system for providing information by voice to Web information provided on the Internet. In a storage medium storing the program, a script file that defines the reading order of the Web information is analyzed,
A script analysis procedure for generating read-out information, and the read-out information generated by the above-described script analysis procedure are vocalized and transmitted to the information request source via the telephone line network.
And a telephone information providing procedure for providing information by voice.

A storage medium storing such a program is provided to a computer via a W provided on the Internet.
It is possible to provide eb information to an information request source via a telephone line network.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Web file indicating a Web display format for providing information to the Internet, the display being displayed in the display format. It has a script file associating means for associating with a script file defining a reading order of information, and is configured to provide a script file associated by the associating means when the Web file is accessed.

Since such a Web file can provide a script file in which the reading order is defined, it is possible to convert the display information of the Web file into speech based on the reading order.

[0043]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An outline of the configuration of the information providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the Internet information sound conversion apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows that the Internet information-to-speech converter 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the voice information providing system according to claim 1 functioning as a server computer, and is mainly a CTI that performs voice processing. (Comput
er Telephony Integration) board 110, a content processing unit 120 for searching for user authentication and a designated homepage, a database 130 for accessing the Internet, an internet connection unit 140 for connecting to the Internet, and analyzing scripts on the homepage. A script analysis unit 150.

The user uses the telephone 10 via the general telephone line 20 to transmit the Internet information / speech conversion device 10.
0 and the Internet information sound conversion device 100
To receive information on the Internet by voice.

Further, the CTI board 110 is
It has a voice recognition processing unit 111 for recognizing and digitizing the voice of the user connected by the control unit 0, a voice synthesis processing unit 112 for converting information provided on the Internet into a voice, and the like.

The content processing section 120 includes an operation content confirmation section 121 for confirming an operation based on the information digitized by the voice recognition processing section 111, a search input section 122 for inputting a search item on the Internet,
An authentication processing unit 123 for authenticating whether the user connected by the telephone 10 is a member, a Web connection standby guidance unit 124 for guiding the user that the user is connected to the Web, and a search result guide for notifying search results. And a control unit 125 for controlling the entire Internet information sound conversion apparatus 100.
The feedback for confirming the operation instruction by the voice input by the content processing unit 120 and the provision of the Internet information and the like are voiced by the voice synthesis processing unit 112 of the CTI board 110 and used by the telephone 10. Provided to the public.

The database 130 has a search item database 131 in which a Web for performing information search on the Internet is registered, and an authentication database 132 in which user information is registered to authenticate the user. In the search item database 131, for example, a Web address that provides a main search engine is registered.

Each of the above processing units is controlled by a CPU of a computer, and database information of the database 130 is stored in an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk controlled by the computer.

First, the user connects to the Internet information-speech converter 100 via the telephone line 10 via the general telephone line 20. With this connection, the authentication processing unit 123 starts to authenticate the user. Authentication processing unit 1
23 searches the authentication database of the database 130 according to the user information and authenticates the user.

The user information is, for example, an authentication number or the like input from the telephone 10 in response to an authentication instruction from the authentication processing unit 121 of the content processing unit 120.

The operation guidance confirmation unit 121 confirms (feeds back) to the user by repeatedly providing the user with the digitized voice information by the voice recognition processing unit 111.

After the user is authenticated, the user inputs a keyword for searching the Web from the telephone 10 by voice in accordance with the operation instruction of the operation guide confirmation unit 121.

The search input unit 12 of the content processing unit 120
2 is a search item database 131 of the database 130 based on the keyword input by the user.
, A Web address of a search engine suitable for the search is extracted. The content processing unit 120 connects to the Internet 30 by the Internet connection unit 140 based on the extracted Web address of the search engine.

The content processing unit 1 connects to the Web and provides search results according to the user's keyword.
The 20 Web connection standby guidance section 124 continues to provide standby guidance to the user.

When the connection to the Web address of the search engine is completed, the content processing unit 120 performs an information search based on the keyword of the user. Web file (HTM) searched by the search engine
L) Download the script file 41 of 40.

Downloaded script file 4
1 is analyzed by the script analysis unit 150.

The search result guiding unit 125 generates voiced data according to the result of the analysis by the script analyzing unit 150, and notifies the voice synthesis processing unit 112 of the voiced data.

The voice synthesis processing unit 112 performs voice synthesis processing of the voice data notified, and outputs information to the telephone 10.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the outline of the processing by the Internet information / speech converter.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the user can use the telephone 10 to
0 (step (A-1)). CT connection notification
The content processing unit 120 received from the I board 110
Via the voice synthesizing process 112, the table of contents information on the authentication is provided to the telephone 10 of the user (step (B-
1)). The user inputs information from the telephone 10 based on the corresponding table of contents information provided by voice (step (A-
2)). If the user is a registered user, enter the ID (step (A-4)). If the user is a new user, enter the number specified in the table of contents information from the telephone 10 (step (A)). -2)).

The authentication processing unit 123 of the content processing unit 120 of the Internet information / voice conversion apparatus 100 determines whether the received information from the user is a registration of a new user (step (B-2)). When the user ID is notified, the process proceeds to step (B-5). On the other hand, if the registration is a new user, the authentication processing unit 123 instructs the user to register personal information (step (B-22)).

The user inputs personal information such as a name, a telephone number or a password in accordance with an instruction for registering personal information from the Internet information / speech converter 100 (step (A-3)).

Upon receiving the personal information, the authentication processing unit 123
The personal information is registered in the authentication database 132 of the database 130 (step (B-3)), and the authentication processing unit 123 instructs the user to input an ID (step (B-4)).

The user inputs the registered ID (step (A-4)).

The authentication processing unit 123 receives the I
D is inquired to the authentication database 132 to determine whether it is registered (step (B-5)). If there is no registered data of the user, the user is instructed to input an ID again and returns to step (B-4) (step (B-7)). If the number of re-inputs exceeds a predetermined number, the information providing process ends. .

On the other hand, if there is user registration data in the authentication database 132, the user is instructed by voice to search for Internet information to be browsed (step (B-6)).

The user instructs by voice a keyword for searching for Internet information to be viewed (step (A)
-5)).

In the Internet information speech converter, the speech recognition processing unit 111 of the CTI board 110 recognizes and digitizes a speech keyword specified by the user. The content processing unit 120 repeats the digitized voice keyword, feeds back the feedback to the user, and requests the user to determine whether the recognition is correct (step (B-8)).

The user confirms the voice keyword that has been fed back and notifies the confirmation result (step (A-
6)).

In the Internet information-speech conversion apparatus 100, the content processing section 120 determines the result of the user's confirmation (step (B-9)). If there is no problem with the voice keyword fed back based on the notification of the user's confirmation result, the process proceeds to the next step (B-92). On the other hand, if the voice keyword that has been fed back is not correctly recognized, the process returns to step (B-6), and the user is instructed by voice to perform a search operation (keyword setting) for Internet information to be viewed.

In step (B-92), the search input unit 122 of the content processing unit 120 searches the search item database 131 based on the keyword specified by the user.
To obtain Web information including a related Web address. The Web acquired from the search item database 131
The information is provided to the user as search result guide by the search result guide unit 125 (step (B-92)).

The user receives the search result guide from the Internet information / speech conversion apparatus 100 (step (A-6)
2)).

The content processing unit 100 of the Internet information / speech conversion apparatus 100 determines whether or not to connect to the Internet where the searched Web homepage is provided.
A question is asked to the user by voice (step (B-10)).

The user instructs whether or not to connect to the Internet (step (A-7)). The operation instruction by the user is given by voice or dialing of the telephone 10 (push phone).

If the user connects to the Internet in accordance with the retrieved web page information in response to an operation instruction from the user, the process proceeds to the next step (B-112). If not, the process returns to step (B-10).

In step (B-112), content processing section 120 issues a connection request to Internet connection section 140 based on the homepage information for which the user has given a connection instruction (step (B-112)).
Upon receiving the connection request, the Internet connection unit 140 connects to the Internet and connects to a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) specified by the Web homepage information. Until the connection to the URL is completed, the user is notified by voice that the connection is being made (step (B-12)).

The user hears that the connection is being established by voice from the Internet information voice converter 100 (step (A-8)).

On the other hand, the Internet information sound conversion device 1
00, the Scr in which the HTML of the Web file 40 corresponding to the URL is described
The ipt file 41 is downloaded to the Internet information sound conversion device 100 (step (C-1)).

The script analyzer 150 of the Internet information-speech converter 100 downloads the downloaded Scri
The contents of the pt file 41 are analyzed and converted into voice (step (B-13)).

Script by script analysis unit 150
Based on the analysis result of the t-file 41, the CTI board 1
The voice synthesis processing unit 112 of the ten provides the voice-synthesized information to the telephone 10 (step (B-14)).

The user listens to the Internet information by voice provided from the Internet information voice converter 100 (step (A-9)).

The script analyzer 150 of the Internet information-speech converter 100 asks the user by voice a connection selection as to whether or not to make a connection to the link in the Web file 40 (step (B-15)). . In other words, the script analysis unit 150 provides voice guidance so that the user can select whether or not to connect each time there is a link destination when providing the voice information of the script file 41 to the user. Do.

The user determines whether or not to make a connection to the link destination based on the voice guidance by using the Internet voice conversion device 1.
00 (step (A-10)).

The content processing unit 120 of the Internet information / sound converter 100 determines whether or not the user has instructed connection to the link destination (step (B-1)
6)). When connection is instructed, step (B-112)
And instructs the Internet connection unit 140 to connect to the link destination. If the connection has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step (B-13), where the contents of the script file are continuously provided.

When the provision of the downloaded script file by voice is completed, or when the information of the next search result is obtained during the provision by voice, the user transmits the connection information of the next search result to the Internet information. An instruction is given to the voice conversion device 100 (step (A-11)).

When the content processing unit 120 of the Internet information-speech conversion apparatus 100 receives a request to acquire the information of the next search result, the process proceeds to step (B-10), and the next Web searched in step B-92. Instruct the user whether to connect to the homepage.

The Internet information voice conversion device 10
The processing at 0 ends when the line connected by the telephone 10 is disconnected.

Next, the search process executed by the search input unit 112 in the above step (B-92) will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the search processing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the search item database 131
Are the genre table 51 and the search engine table 5
2 and the like. The genre table 51 and the search engine table 52 are associated by a genre code.

The search process executed by the search input unit 112 searches the genre table 51 for a genre in which the keyword is classified, based on the keyword confirmed by the user. For example, when the keyword is “music”, the keyword is classified into a plurality of genres such as genre “music” and “education”. Further, for example, when the keyword is “sports”, the keywords are classified into genres “sports” and “news”.

In the search process, related information such as connection destination information and connection destination names corresponding to genre codes of a plurality of genres obtained based on keywords is obtained from the search engine table 52. The connection destination information is, for example, an address of a Web homepage. The connection destination name is, for example,
This is the title of the Web homepage, etc., and is used when guiding the search results to the user.

When the amount of related information acquired is large, it may be provided to the user in accordance with a preset maximum number of cases. For example, if the maximum number is 10, the first 10 are provided as search result guides in the order searched from the search engine table 52.

Next, the script analyzer 15 in steps (B-13) to (B-15) shown in FIG.
Next, the script analysis process using 0 will be described.

The script analysis processing of the Web screen will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a Web screen analysis process.

As shown in FIG. 6, the script analysis unit 150 shown in FIG. 2 performs one page based on a script file in which the viewpoint flow at the time of browsing and the method of reading out the speech in the same manner as the recognition order are described. It is determined whether a frame is divided into a plurality of frames (S101). If it is not divided into a plurality of frames, step S10
Execute 3. If it is divided into multiple frames,
Step S102 is executed.

In step S102, recognition is performed from the Web file corresponding to the frame located at the upper left portion of the page, and the reading is performed.

In step S103, the web file is recognized while moving from the left to the right from the top of the web file.
The character part is read out to the bottom of the eb file.

In step S104, the link portion is read aloud so as to be distinguished from the normal character portion so as to be recognized as a link. For example, the pitch of the voice to be read is changed, or "link will be added" when the voice is read, or a warning sound is added.

In step S105, the part that suggests an input to the user, such as a form, is read aloud so as to be understood to be a part that suggests an input to the user, such as a form, from the normal character part. For example, in the same manner as the method of reading out the link portion, the pitch of the voice to be read out is changed, or "linking" is added at the time of reading out, or a warning sound is added.

In step S106, the reading is performed for each block range. In other words, regardless of whether the table is used or not, the range specified by the block is recognized and read out for each block (details will be described later).

By specifying the above-mentioned reading method in the script file 41, the script analysis unit 150 makes the W
The content of the eb file can be read aloud. In this script file 41, for example, the order of frames can be specified in the order in which reading is necessary.

The script file 41 is attached to each Web screen or each frame, so that even when a form or a link is specified during reading, voice can be provided in the specified reading order. it can.

Next, a case where a part of the Web screen shown in FIG. 1 is divided into blocks will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which a part of the Web screen is divided into blocks.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the area 90 shown in FIG. 1 is divided by blocks.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the contents of a plurality of items are described in one line, each item is divided by a block. In this case, line 1 describes an item “today's weather (main city)” and an item “economic information”.

In accordance with these two items, the following lines up to the undivided line are taken as the line range of the block. In this case, five rows from row 1 to row 5 are the row range.

The number of characters used in each line in the block is counted including the blank portion, and the maximum number of characters is recognized as a character range. In this case, the character range of block 1 is approximately 30 characters, and the character range of block 2 is approximately 20 characters.

The blocks 1 and 2 recognized as described above are described in the script file, for example, as BLOCK (number of blocks in a line, line range, character range). Therefore, block 1 has BLOCK (2,5,3
0), and block 2 is BLOCK
It is described as (2, 5, 20).

The script analysis unit 150 has a BLOC
The block range described by the K () script is moved to the right in accordance with the reading order specified in the script file, for example, every time one block is read from the left portion, and the next block is read. In this case, block 1
Is read out first, content 64 “Today's weather (major cities)”, content 65 “Sapporo rain / Tokyo cloudy then fine / Osaka fine”, content 66 “precipitation probability 100% / precipitation probability 20%
Voice is provided to the user in the order of "precipitation probability 0%" and content 67 "other regions". Next, block 2 is read out, and the content 68 “Nikkei information” and the content 69 “Nikkei average 15
000.55 ", content 70" Yen market 110.55 ", content 71" money information ".

Here, when the contents 67 and 71 are link information, the contents 67 are read out as “Link 1, other areas” and the contents 71 are read out as “Link 2, money information”, so that the user can receive the link information. Something can be provided by voice. By inputting the number of the user and the link from the telephone 10 of the user, the user can jump to the designated link destination.

The script file 41 contains a BLOC
By describing the K () script, the block can be recognized by the script analysis unit 150. Also, the script analysis unit 150 itself executes the BL
By having a mechanism to generate an OCK () script,
The block on the Web screen may be recognized, and the script file 41 may simply specify the reading rule of BLOCK ().

Next, the reading order will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 in accordance with the analysis processing of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a Web screen to be voice-converted. An example in which a Web screen is vertically divided by frames 1 and 2 is shown.

In FIG. 8, script analysis unit 150
Determines that a frame is used in step S101 according to the analysis processing of FIG. 6 (step S10).
1). Therefore, step S102 is performed, and reading out is started in order from frame 1.

The script analysis unit 150 determines in step S1
In accordance with 03, the character portion is read aloud while moving from the left to the right from the top of the frame 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing frame 1 of the Web screen of FIG.

In accordance with step S103, script analysis section 150 starts reading aloud from the top and displays content 20.
In response to 7 and 208, voice is provided to the user as in the "text input area" and "search button". Further, according to step S104, corresponding to the display contents 210, 211, and 212, voice such that the user can select a link such as "Link 1, news", "Link 2, weather", "Link 3, economy". Provided. In step (A-10) of FIG. 3, the user can connect to the linked Web homepage and receive the Internet information by voice, for example, by selecting the link number. The same applies hereinafter.

Further, the script analysis section 150 responds to the display contents 213 and 214 by displaying “New subscription is being accepted”.
Provide voice to users as "Luxury prize gift by lottery".

In accordance with step S 105, script analysis section 150 displays content 2 displayed by form 2
16, display contents 217, display contents 218, display contents 21
9, display content 220, display content 221, display content 22
2, and “Name” corresponding to the display content 223
Providing voice to users, such as "text input area", "email address", "text input area", "sex", "radio button, off, male", "radio button, off, female", "radio button, off, other" Do.

Similarly, the script analysis section 150
In response to the display contents 224 and the display contents 225, voice is provided to the user so that the user can recognize the selected area such as "age" and "selected area". Similarly, display contents 22
6, "occupation", "selection area",
Voices are provided to the user in accordance with the display contents 228 and the display contents 229, such as "house" and "selection area".

The script analyzer 150 displays the display contents 23
In response to 8 and the display content 240, a voice is provided such as "Impression etc.""Text input area, please write anything freely."

Further, the display contents 241 and 242 are displayed.
In response to the above, a voice is provided to the user so as to be recognized as a click button, such as a “send button” and a “rewrite button”.

According to step S102 in FIG. 6, when reading of frame 1 is completed, reading of frame 2 is started in order.

FIG. 10 shows frame 2 of the Web screen in FIG.
FIG.

In FIG. 10, similarly to the reading of the frame 1, the reading is performed from the upper left to the right according to step S103. According to FIG.
Reference numeral 50 corresponds to the display contents 245 and 246, and the voice is provided to the user, such as "Celebration has finally been established.

In accordance with step S104, script analysis section 150 displays contents 247, 248, 249 and 2
Corresponding to 50, a voice is provided so that the user can select a link such as "for this service", "link 4, login", "link 5, new registration", "link 6, help". The link number may be uniquely assigned within a page or a frame. By selecting the link number in step (A-10) of FIG. 3, the user can connect to the linked Web page and receive Internet information by voice.

In accordance with step S105, script analysis section 150 displays content 25 displayed on form 1.
"Text input area" corresponding to 2, 253 and 254
Speech is provided to the user as in "search button" and "search condition specification".

In accordance with step S104, the script analysis unit 150 responds to the display contents 256, 257, and 258 by giving a voice to the user such as "Link 7, news", "Link 8, weather", "Link 9, economy". Provided. Hereinafter, the display content underlined up to the display content 259 is also provided by voice together with the link number.

In addition, a voice is provided to the user corresponding to the display content 259 as in a “special campaign”. In addition, in response to the display contents 260 and 261, a voice is provided to the user such as "Topics" link 24, a rapidly increasing number of teenage crimes.

The display contents 61, 62 and 63 are
According to step S104, "news""link2"
7. Exhibited at the Cannes Film Festival, "Link 28," ○○ × ", died (○ □ sports) of talent XX. Voices are provided to users, as in "Praise from various countries (△△ Newspapers)."

Further, according to step S106, script analysis section 150 recognizes display contents 64 to 71 as two blocks, as shown in FIG. Then, the block 1 reads out first, and the display content 64 “Today's weather (main city)”, the display content 65 “Sapporo rain / Tokyo cloudy then fine / Osaka fine”, the display content 66 “Precipitation probability 1”
00%, precipitation probability 20%, precipitation probability 0% ", display content 6
7 Voices are provided to the user in the order of “other areas”. Next, block 2 reads aloud, and the display content 68 “Nikkei information”, the display content 69 “Nikkei average 15000.55”,
Display contents 70 "Yen market 110.55", Display contents 71
It is read aloud like "money information."

[0138] Hereinafter, the underlined display contents are provided by voice together with the link numbers in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a Web screen to be voice-converted. An example in which the Web screen is horizontally divided by frames 2 and 3 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 11, script analysis unit 150
According to the analysis processing of FIG. 6, it is determined that a frame is used in step S101 (step S101). Accordingly, step S102 is executed, and reading out is started in order from frame 2.

The script analysis unit 150 determines in step S1
In accordance with 03, the character portion is read aloud while moving from the left to the right from the top of the frame 2. The provision of the voice of the display content of the frame 2 is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

When the script analyzer 150 provides the display contents of the frame 2 to the end, the frame analyzer 3
In the same manner as described above, the character part is read from the upper part to the lower part from the left part to the right part. That is, in this case, according to step S105, the script analysis unit 15
0 is the display contents 271 and 2 displayed on the form 2
Corresponding to 72, a voice is provided to the user such as a "text input area" or a "search button".

Even when the screen is not divided into frames, sound is provided by the same procedure.

As described above, by providing the reading order as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in the script file 41, the Internet information can be provided to the user without changing the method of creating the homepage which is the place of expression. Can be provided by voice.

Further, the user only uses the telephone,
Internet information can be obtained.

Further, the user can jump to a desired home page simply by dialing the number corresponding to the link number.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration.

Referring to FIG. 12, this Internet information / speech conversion apparatus 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
nit) 11, memory unit 12, output unit 13,
Input unit 14, display unit 15, auxiliary storage device 1
6. It has a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) drive unit 17 and a communication unit 18. These units 11, 12, 13, 14, 1
5, 16, 17 and 18 are connected to the bus B.

The CPU 11 controls the Internet information / speech conversion apparatus 100 according to the program stored in the memory unit 12 and performs the processing in the Internet information / speech conversion apparatus 100 described above. The memory unit 12 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) and an R
It is composed of an OM (Read Only Memory), and stores a program executed by the CPU 11, data necessary for the processing by the CPU 11, data obtained by the processing by the CPU 11, and the like. Also, a partial area of the memory unit 12 is
It is allocated as a work area used for processing in U11.

The input unit 14 has a mouse, a keyboard, and the like.
It is used for inputting various necessary information, such as data input for performing the processing in step 1 and change of the input data.
The display unit 15 displays various types of information necessary for the administrator of the Internet information / sound converter 100 under the control of the CPU 11.

The auxiliary storage device 16 is composed of, for example, a hard disk unit, and stores various files, data, tables, and programs.

The Internet information sound conversion device 100
The program relating to the processing in, for example, a CD-ROM (C
ompact Disc Read Only Memory) 19. That is, the C in which the program related to the processing in the Internet information sound conversion device 100 is stored
When the D-ROM 19 is set in the CD-ROM drive unit 17, the CD-ROM drive unit 17 reads the program from the CD-ROM 19, and the read program is installed in the auxiliary storage device 16 via the bus B. . Then, when the processing in the Internet information sound conversion device 100 is started,
The CPU 11 starts the processing according to the program installed in the auxiliary storage device 16. The medium for storing the program is not limited to the CD-ROM 19, but may be any medium that can be read by a computer.

The communication unit 18 has the above-mentioned Internet connection section 140 and the above-mentioned CTI board 110, and connects to the Internet and downloads information provided on the Internet, or to the telephone 10 connected to the CTI board 110. To provide voiced information.

The above-described Internet information sound conversion device 1
00 allows the user to obtain Internet information from the telephone 10 without having to worry about operating the computer. Further, the Internet information sound conversion apparatus 100 can provide the user with Internet information that is not compatible with voice conversion via a telephone network.

The script analysis process executed by the script analysis unit 150 shown in FIG. 2 reads a script from the downloaded script file 41,
Based on the rules described in the loaded script,
The information of the Web file is provided by voice.

In the above example, the processing in the script analysis section 150 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the script analysis means in claim 1, and the processing in the speech synthesis processing section 112 in FIG. Corresponds to information provision means.

[0157]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user can obtain Web information provided on the Internet by using a telephone.
Web information can be obtained without using a computer. Therefore, it is possible to acquire a wide range of Web information only by voice and telephone operation.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide Web information provided on the Internet to an information requesting source via a telephone line network, and to provide Web information not intended for voice conversion. And a voice information providing method that can perform the same.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform the processing in the audio information providing system as described above.

[0160]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a part of a Web screen.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an Internet information sound conversion device;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a process performed by the Internet information sound conversion device;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a process performed by the Internet information sound conversion device;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search process;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a Web screen analysis process;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a part of a Web screen is divided into blocks;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Web screen to be voice-converted.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating frame 1 of the Web screen in FIG. 8;

FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing frame 2 of the Web screen in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of a Web screen to be voice-converted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Telephone 20 General telephone line 30 Internet 40 Web file (HTML) 41 Script file 51 Genre table 52 Search engine table 100 Internet information sound conversion device 110 CTI board 111 Voice recognition processing part 112 Voice synthesis processing part 120 Content processing part 121 Operation guidance Confirmation unit 122 Search input unit 123 Recognition processing unit 124 Web connection standby guidance unit 125 Search result guidance unit 130 Database 131 Search item database 132 Authentication database 140 Internet connection unit 150 Script analysis unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Miho Hosono 1-4-10-10 Shintoda, Shintoda, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture F-Term in Media Research Laboratories, Inc. F-term (reference) 5B075 KK07 ND20 PQ04 UU40

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for providing Web information, which is displayed as a Web file indicating a Web display format provided on the Internet by connecting to the Internet, to an information requesting source connected via a telephone network by voice. In the voice information providing system to be performed, a script file that defines a reading order of the Web information is analyzed to generate reading information, and the reading information generated by the script analyzing unit is vocalized to a telephone line. And a telephone information providing means for providing the Web information to the information requesting party by voice via a network. 2. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the script analysis means is configured to determine, when the script file defines a reading order of link display information indicating a link to other Web information, the link display information. A speech information providing system for generating read-aloud information indicating that 3. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the script analysis means is configured to determine the order of reading input display information indicating data input by the script file. A speech information providing system for generating read-aloud information indicating that 4. The audio information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the script analysis means uses the script file to execute the following items for each of a plurality of items in the same line in the display information. If the reading order is defined by the block information that blocks up to the line that has been divided,
A speech information providing system for generating speech information for each block based on the reading order. 5. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the voice by the information request source is recognized and converted into data.
Voice recognition means for confirming to the information requester whether or not the voice has been correctly recognized; a genre table for classifying search information for each genre;
Search information management means for managing a search Web table in which web information to be searched in accordance with a genre is associated with the genre identification information for identifying the genre, and information correctly recognized by the voice recognition means. The genre table and the search Web managed by the search information managing means according to the desired search information of the request source.
An audio information providing system comprising: an Internet connection unit that connects to the Internet based on Web information acquired by searching a table. 6. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein authentication information managing means registers and manages authentication information for authenticating an information request source, and wherein the authentication information management means manages the authentication information. Authentication means for authenticating the information request source connected via a telephone network based on the authentication information obtained, wherein the telephone information providing means executes the script in accordance with an authentication result by the authentication means. A voice information providing system comprising: a telephone information providing unit that provides the Web information to a requesting information source via a telephone line network based on the read-aloud information generated by the analyzing unit. 7. A method for providing Web information, which is displayed by a Web file indicating a Web display format provided on the Internet by connecting to the Internet, to an information requesting source connected via a telephone network, by voice. In the voice information providing method to be performed, a script file that defines the reading order of the Web information is analyzed, and a script analysis procedure for generating read-aloud information; A telephone information providing method for providing the Web information to the information requesting party via voice via a network. 8. A method for providing Web information, which is displayed by a Web file indicating a Web display format provided on the Internet by connecting to the Internet, to an information request source connected via a telephone network, by voice. Speech information providing system W provided on the Internet
In a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a process in a voice information providing system for providing information by voice using web information as an information request source, a script file defining a reading order of the web information is analyzed. A script analysis procedure for generating read-out information, and a telephone information providing procedure for converting the read-out information generated by the script analysis procedure into a voice and providing the Web information in a voice to an information requesting source via a telephone network. A storage medium storing a program having the following. 9. We provide information to the Internet
(b) in a Web file indicating a display format, a script file associating unit for associating with a script file defining a reading order of display information displayed in the display format, wherein the script file is associated by the associating unit when the Web file is accessed W providing script file
eb file.