JP2004336358A - Facsimile system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile system for allowing a user to select a service to be provided by setting and to utilize a service desired by the user. <P>SOLUTION: The data conversion unit 22 comprises a voice recognition unit for converting voice to character information, a voice synthesis unit for converting character information to voice, and an OCR processing unit for converting a picture image to character information. Therefore, bidirectional data exchange between voice and character information can be done. In addition, processed data are stored in an HDD 16. Conversion of various information is performed at the data conversion unit 22 by specifying a user ID from a control unit 26. Consequently, a service to be provided can be changed by the user ID. For example, a received picture image is converted to character information by the OCR processing unit, and then the character information is converted to voice by the voice synthesis unit. According to the operation, services can be provided to a visually impaired person. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile system that converts voice into character information or converts character information into voice by setting a destination using a facsimile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a facsimile apparatus is commonly used by a plurality of users in an office, a school, a home, and the like. Also, proposals have been made for effectively using these functions by adding voice recognition and OCR functions to a facsimile apparatus.
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-181480
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-157,1992 discloses a technique in which a voice input from a user is converted into character data, and the character data is analyzed and compared and rearranged to determine a field of specialty, a field of weakness, a bias determination of knowledge, and vocabulary. There is disclosed a technique for making a determination or the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, since a single facsimile machine is shared and used by a plurality of users, the actual situation is that each function of the facsimile machine cannot be used effectively. For example, even if a facsimile apparatus has an OCR function, an environment in which a visually-impaired person can effectively use the OCR function has not been provided.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile system in which a service (function) provided by personal setting is selected so that a user can use a desired service.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the facsimile system receives the transmitted voice or various data including character information or an image image, and voice recognition for converting the voice received by the receiving unit into character information. Means, voice synthesizing means for converting the character information received by the receiving means into voice, OCR processing means for converting the image image received by the receiving means into character information, and converting the image image, character information, voice and voice. A data storage unit for storing character information created by conversion, and a setting for registering a user ID and setting items to be processed by the voice recognition unit, the voice synthesis unit, and the OCR processing unit for each ID unit The above object is achieved by providing the management unit.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when voice or various data is received by the receiving means, a designation of a user ID on a receiving side is also received, and the receiving side receives the designation based on the received ID. It is characterized in that processing corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit is performed.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a guidance transmitting unit for performing various voice guidances to the user is provided, and the guidance transmitting unit is set by the setting management unit. The feature is to provide guidance on matters.
[0007]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when voice or various data is received by the receiving means, a designation of a user ID of a receiving side is also received, and the receiving side receives the designation based on the received ID. Based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit, the received image is converted into character information by the OCR processing unit, and the converted character information is further converted into voice by the voice synthesizing unit. It is characterized by communicating.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when voice or various data is received by the receiving means, a designation of a user ID on a receiving side is also received, and based on the received ID, the user ID is received. Based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit, the received image is converted to character information by the OCR processing unit, and the converted character information is further converted to voice by the voice synthesizing unit. It is characterized in that it is stored in data storage means.
[0008]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the fifth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises an instruction means for instructing a user to reproduce or delete the voice stored in the data storage means. It is characterized by having.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when voice or various data is received by the receiving means, a designation of a user ID of a receiving side is also received, and the receiving side receives the voice or various data based on the received ID. The voice recognition means performs voice recognition based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit, converts the voice into character information, and outputs the converted character information to a display or paper. .
In the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in claim 3, when voice or various data is received by the receiving means, a designation of a user ID on a receiving side is also received, and the reception side receives the user ID based on the received ID. The guidance transmitting unit notifies the user by voice guidance that the voice recognition unit performs voice recognition based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example thereof. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for converting voice into character information.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus includes a CPU (central processing unit) 10, a ROM (read only memory) 12, a RAM (random access memory) 14, and an HDD (hard disk). A drive 16, a system controller 18, a user ID confirmation unit 20, a data conversion unit 22, a guidance creation unit 24, an operation unit (display unit) 26, a network control unit 28, a scanner 30, and a plotter 32. These members are connected to each other via a main bus 34.
[0010]
In the first embodiment, the data conversion unit 22 includes a voice recognition unit that converts voice into text information, a voice synthesis unit that converts text information into voice, and an OCR processing unit that converts an image image into text information. Therefore, bidirectional data exchange between voice and character information is enabled.
The HDD 16 stores the processed data. Then, by designating the user ID from the operation unit 26, the data conversion unit 22 converts various types of information. Therefore, the service provided by the user ID can be switched. For example, the received image is converted into character information by an OCR processing unit, and the character information is converted into voice by a voice synthesis unit. By doing so, it becomes possible to provide services corresponding to the visually impaired.
[0011]
In the second embodiment, when a user transmits an image image or calls a called party, the other party's facsimile system receives the response and specifies the user ID using voice guidance or the like. Urge you to The user who receives it specifies the user ID using a numeric keypad or the like.
In addition, it is also possible to set not to specify the user ID from the beginning, and it is also possible to perform transmission and communication without specifying the user ID.
As described above, by receiving the communication specifying the user ID, for example, when the recipient is a hearing impaired person, the information is provided to the user by text information, and when the recipient is a visually impaired person, the information is provided to the user by voice information. be able to.
In the third embodiment, when a user transmits an image, the user specifies a destination number and a user ID, and the facsimile system of the destination checks the user ID with the user ID confirmation unit 20. The service of the setting specified by the user ID is provided. In this case, the image can be received, subjected to OCR processing and converted into character information, and the converted character information can be further converted into voice and transmitted to the destination user.
[0012]
In the fourth embodiment, when a user transmits an image, the user specifies a destination number and a user ID, and the facsimile system of the destination checks the user ID with the user ID confirmation unit 20. The service of the setting specified by the user ID is provided. In this case, the image data is received, subjected to OCR processing and converted into character information, and the converted character information is further converted into sound and stored in the HDD 16.
[0013]
In the fifth embodiment, the user can listen to the sound stored in the HDD 16 at any time by operating the operation unit 26. If the user determines that the data is unnecessary, the data (voice) can be deleted.
In the sixth embodiment, when a user calls a called party, the number of the called party and the user ID are specified, and the facsimile system of the called party checks the user ID with the user ID checking unit 20. , Provides the service of the setting specified by the user ID. In this case, voice recognition is performed on the voice spoken by the user, the voice is converted to character information, and the converted character information is output to the display unit 26 or a sheet and transmitted to the other party. Further, the character information can be stored in the HDD 16 by the setting in the same manner as described above.
In the seventh embodiment, when a user calls a called party, the number of the called party and the user ID are specified, and the facsimile system of the called party checks the user ID with the user ID checking unit 20. If the voice recognition is to be performed according to the setting specified by the user ID, the user is informed of the fact by the voice guidance created by the guidance creating unit 24 and displayed on the display unit 26.
[0014]
Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, a description will be given of a processing procedure in the case where speech is converted into character information.
First, when a line is connected (step 10), a determination is made as to whether or not to use the user ID (step 11). Then, when the user ID is used (Step 11; Y), the user is instructed to input the user ID to the operation unit 26 (Step 12). When receiving the ID input by the user from the operation unit 26 (step 13), the user ID is confirmed, and when the use is OK (step 14; OK), the input voice is converted into character information (step 15). ). Then, processing such as printing and displaying the character information is performed (step 16), and the result is transmitted (step 17). On the other hand, if the user ID cannot be confirmed in step 14 (step 14; NG), the process returns to step 12 and prompts the user to input the user ID again. If the user ID is not used (step 11; N), a normal call is made (step 18).
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first or second aspect of the invention, the service to be provided can be changed by designating the user ID. It is possible to freely select a medium (voice, paper, etc.) of the information to be obtained.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the guidance transmitting unit describes the process by voice, even a visually impaired person can use the facsimile system, for example.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the user transmits the image, the user specifies the destination number and the user ID for identifying the individual, and the destination facsimile system specifies the user ID. According to the settings, the image can be received, subjected to OCR processing and converted into character information, and the converted character information can be further converted into voice and transmitted to the user at the transmission destination.
[0016]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by storing the image-converted voice in the data storage means, it is possible to prevent information from being overlooked even if the other user is not present.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the user can listen to the voice stored in the data storage means whenever necessary. Further, when the storage area becomes unnecessary, it can be deleted, and the storage area can be effectively utilized.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the audio information is converted into character information according to the setting of the other party, and is displayed or output, whereby the information can be converted into visually recognizable information.
According to the invention described in claim 8, the user can be informed that the voice recognition will be performed in the other party's facsimile system unlike a normal telephone.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a facsimile system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a facsimile system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when converting voice into character information.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 CPU (central processing unit)
12 ROM (Read Only Memory)
14 RAM (random access memory)
16 HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
18 System controller 20 User ID confirmation unit 22 Data conversion unit 24 Guidance creation unit 26 Operation unit (display unit)
28 network control unit 30 scanner 32 plotter

Claims (8)

Receiving means for receiving transmitted voice, or various data including character information or image images,
Voice recognition means for converting the voice received by the receiving means into character information,
Voice synthesis means for converting the character information received by the receiving means into voice,
OCR processing means for converting the image received by the receiving means into character information,
Data storage means for storing image information, character information, sound and character information created by conversion from sound,
A setting management unit that registers a user ID and can set items to be processed by the voice recognition unit, the voice synthesis unit, and the OCR processing unit for each ID unit;
A facsimile system comprising: When receiving voice or various data by the receiving means, also receives designation of a user ID on a receiving side, and performs processing corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit based on the received ID. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein: A guidance transmission unit that provides various voice guidance to users is provided,
3. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein the guidance transmitting unit provides guidance on items set by the setting management unit. When receiving voice or various data in the receiving means, also receives the designation of the user ID of the receiving side, based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit based on the received ID, 2. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein the received image is converted into character information by the OCR processing means, and the converted character information is further converted into voice by the voice synthesis means and transmitted to a user. When receiving voice or various data in the receiving means, also receives the designation of the user ID of the receiving side, based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit based on the received ID, 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received image is converted into character information by the OCR processing means, and the converted character information is further converted into speech by the speech synthesis means and stored in the data storage means. The described facsimile system. 6. The facsimile system according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction unit for instructing a user to reproduce or delete the voice stored in said data storage unit. When receiving voice or various data in the receiving means, also receives the designation of the user ID of the receiving side, based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit based on the received ID, 2. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition means performs voice recognition, converts voice into character information, and outputs the converted character information to a display or paper. When receiving voice or various data in the receiving means, also receives the designation of the user ID of the receiving side, based on the setting corresponding to the ID registered in the setting management unit based on the received ID, 4. The facsimile system according to claim 3, wherein the guidance transmitting unit notifies the user by voice guidance that the voice recognition unit performs voice recognition.

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