JP2006074219A - Portable terminal device and sentence reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means which changes the sentence reading function of an electronic mail, etc. with a low cost to match the language of a district where a portable terminal device is located. <P>SOLUTION: When the portable terminal device 01 is located at the situation of an LA=XX, the device 01 saves the present position information XX, and a software for sentence reading of the language coinciding with the situation of the LA=XX is downloaded by accessing database corresponding to many languages on the internet. The content of the electronic mail, etc. by the languages of this area is read by the software for the sentence reading of the language coinciding with the LA=XX, and voice outputted. When the device 01 moves at its place to an LA=YY, the LA=YY is reported as LA information from a base station to the device 01. The device 01 updates the LA information from the XX to the YY, accesses to the many language corresponding database, requests the downloading of the software for the sentence reading of the language coinciding with the LA=YY, and updates the software for the sentence reading of the terminal device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device (cell phone, PHS, PDA, etc.) capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, and in particular, a mobile terminal device having a function of reading a text received by an e-mail or a web browser. And a system for reading out received text.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a system having a function of reading a text such as a received electronic mail in a mobile terminal device (mobile phone, PHS, PDA, etc.).

  In Patent Document 1, when a mail reading terminal device is connected to the Internet line network and a user is specified by operating the telephone, the contents of the e-mail stored in the specified user's mailbox are used as voice signals. In the e-mail reading system that converts and outputs to the telephone, the e-mail reading device determines the language (Japanese, English, etc.) of the body of the e-mail by the character code data of the body language inserted in the header of the e-mail. There is described a technique for determining, creating a synthesized voice signal in the determined language, and outputting the synthesized voice signal to a telephone.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, as a voice synthesis means, a real voice of a person is sampled, and a phoneme database in which the sampling data is converted into a database is used. A phoneme database and synthesis target data are provided, and the mobile terminal device communicates with a server device on the network, thereby downloading these speech synthesis processing program, phoneme database, and synthesis target data to the terminal device via the network. Thus, the mobile terminal can listen to readings of novels and news articles that are the synthesis target data with the character voice desired by the user.

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the language (Japanese, English, etc.) of the body text of the e-mail is discriminated based on the character code data of the text language inserted in the header portion of the e-mail, and the synthesized language is used. Since the voice signal is generated and output, the language of the transmitted e-mail can be read out with the correct pronunciation without the user having to specify the language of the e-mail body. The mobile terminal device communicates with the server device on the network, and selects and downloads the speech synthesis processing program, the phoneme database desired by the user, and the synthesis target data to be read, so that the desired synthesis can be performed on the mobile terminal. It is possible to output sound.

JP 2001-273203 A JP 2002-328694 A

  For example, when a user who moves across regions that use different languages (foreign languages) or dialects uses a mobile terminal device that has a text-to-speech function, the contents of the received e-mails and web browsers in regions with different languages Since there are many cases where the text is written in the language of the region, it is preferable to have a program for performing speech synthesis processing of the language for each region.

  Also, even in the same language, dialects specific to each region are often used or accents differ, and therefore, the function of reading out received e-mails and web browser browsing contents in the language or dialect of the region. If so, users will be able to increase their affinity for the region.

  When a portable wireless terminal device is used only in a certain region, a speech synthesis processing program having a local language or region-specific accent is provided in the portable wireless terminal device. A text-to-speech function can be realized, but when the mobile wireless terminal device moves across regions using different languages (foreign languages) or dialects, a speech synthesis processing program for each region is stored in advance in the mobile wireless terminal device. If it is provided, a large-capacity storage device is required and also causes an increase in cost.

  In the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, although it is possible to determine the language of the body of the e-mail and read the body correctly, or to read the text using a desired voice character, the mail received by the mobile terminal device, etc. No particular consideration is given to the fact that the reading function is provided with the function of reading out the voice or accent unique to the area where the mobile terminal device is located.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to change the text-to-speech function of an e-mail or a Web browser in a mobile terminal device at a low cost according to the language or dialect of the region where the mobile terminal device is located. It is to provide a possible means.

  The present invention uses a location registration function provided in a portable terminal device such as a portable radio telephone, and in cooperation with the location information, text such as an e-mail or a web browser in a language or dialect corresponding to the region. Is provided with a function for reading out

  Specifically, the mobile terminal device of the present invention has a configuration capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, and means for acquiring location information where the mobile terminal device is located, and the acquisition Means for accessing a multilingual or dialect correspondence database on a network determined in advance based on the position information and downloading software for reading text in a language that matches the acquired position information; and the received e-mail or Web The content of the browser is read out in a language or dialect that matches the acquired position information by the downloaded text reading software, and has means for outputting the voice.

  The location information acquisition unit has a function of acquiring the location information from the base station by the mobile terminal device performing location registration with the base station, and the text-to-speech software download unit is acquired A function of automatically accessing the multilingual or dialect correspondence database and downloading text-to-speech reading software in a language or dialect that matches the changed position information when the position information changes. By doing so, even if the user is not particularly conscious, the text can be read out in the local language or dialect.

  The text-to-speech reading system of the present invention is connected to a network, and text-to-speech software having a function of converting a language or dialect of a specific area into voice data is associated with the position information for each specific area. A multilingual database or a dialect database to be stored respectively, and a portable terminal device capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, and obtaining position information of a region where the portable terminal device is located Accessing the multilingual correspondence database or dialect correspondence database on the network based on the obtaining means and the obtained position information, and reading the text-to-speech software corresponding to the obtained position information to the multilingual correspondence database or dialect correspondence Text-to-speech software downloaded from database A mobile terminal device having means for downloading, and means for reading out the content of the received e-mail or web browser in the language or dialect of the region where the mobile terminal device is located by the downloaded text reading software and outputting the voice When the e-mail or web browser is browsed from the mobile terminal device, the content is voice-output in a language or dialect having accents specific to the region where the mobile terminal device is located. And

  According to the present invention, depending on the region where the mobile wireless terminal device is located, the text-to-speech software specific to that region can be downloaded via the network, so that the received e-mail or web browser can be It is possible to output sound with accents specific to the region where the user lives.

  Further, according to the present invention, the text-to-speech language or dialect is switched in cooperation with the location information, so that the text-to-speech function of an e-mail or a web browser is realized in the language or dialect of the country or region where the portable information terminal exists Can increase the affinity to the area.

  FIG. 1 shows the main configuration of a mobile terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, an antenna unit 11 that transmits and receives radio waves to and from a radio base station, and a radio that performs modulation and demodulation of radio signals and transmission power control. Control unit 12, speech / video signal compression / decompression processing, speech path control unit 13 that performs DA / AD conversion, microphone unit 14 that performs processing to convert an externally input audio signal into an electrical signal, A speaker unit 15 that performs processing for conversion into an audible signal, a key input unit 16 that performs input processing for receiving key input from various keys provided in the key operation unit, and a color LCD (or organic EL that performs various displays according to key input) ROM / RAM comprising a display unit 17 comprising a display unit 17, a ROM unit storing programs for performing various controls of the mobile phone, and a RAM unit storing various user data 18. A CPU unit that is connected to each unit in the apparatus via the bus 20 and controls or processes various functions of the portable terminal device according to a program stored in the ROM unit or software downloaded to the RAM unit. 19.

  As LA (Location Area) information, which is a feature of the present invention, for example, an area identification code broadcast from each base station for each location registration area received by a control channel on which a mobile terminal device is waiting is used. The area identification code is stored in the RAM unit 18 as LA information, and is read out when the text reading software is requested from the server and transmitted to the server via the Internet. Then, text-to-speech reading software in a language or dialect that matches the LA information downloaded from the server database is also stored in the RAM unit 18.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a communication infrastructure for providing position information and text-to-speech software to a mobile terminal device in the embodiment mobile phone, and the mobile terminal device 01 contracted with the mobile phone operator A Within the service provision range (in the radio wave area) of the cellular phone operator A, it is connected to the Internet via the core network of the cellular phone operator A, and is connected to other networks via the Internet or a multilingual database or dialect on the Internet. Can access a server that provides a supported database.

  FIG. 3 shows a multilingual database or dialect displayed on the display unit 17 and connected to the Internet when a mode for executing a text reading function of an e-mail or Web browser is selected in the portable terminal device of the present embodiment. An example of a screen for selecting whether to automatically access the correspondence database and download the corresponding text-to-speech software or to manually download the desired text-to-speech software is shown.

  In the screen of FIG. 3, when “Auto” is selected, the CPU 19 is a multilingual database connected on the Internet based on the current position information stored in the RAM 18 inside the mobile terminal device 01. Then, the wireless control unit 12 is controlled to download the text-to-speech software that matches the position information.

  In addition, when “Manual” is selected, the user can specify which position information matches the text-to-speech software to be downloaded, for example, “Japanese”, “English”, “Chinese” in a multilingual database. If you select “Japanese”, the Japanese text-to-speech software is downloaded from the server and fixed to the text-to-speech software for Japanese regardless of location information. . When “standard language” is selected, software for outputting sound with accents of the standard word is downloaded regardless of the position of the mobile terminal device.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment when “Auto” is selected on the screen of FIG. 3 will be described.

  The mobile phone carrier A has a plurality (three in the figure) of service provision ranges (LA = XX, YY, ZZ) as service provision ranges (radio wave areas), and languages used in the respective service provision ranges are mutually different. Be different.

  When the user of the mobile terminal device 01 is located at LA (Location Area) = XX within the service provision range (in the radio wave area) of the mobile phone carrier A, the current location is stored in the RAM 18 inside the mobile terminal device 01. Information: LA = XX is stored. At this time, by accessing the multilingual database on the Internet, the text-to-speech software for the language that matches LA = XX is downloaded to the mobile terminal device 01 and stored in the RAM 18.

  Accordingly, the contents of the e-mail or Web browser received in this area (LA = XX) in the language of this area are converted into voice data by the text-to-speech software stored in the RAM 18 in a language matching LA = XX. The sound is output from the speaker unit 15 as sound.

  If the text of the e-mail or the text on the web browser screen does not match the language of the set text-to-speech function (the text is in a language not included in the downloaded text-to-speech software) A warning is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal device 01, a warning sound is sounded, and the text is not read out. In addition, when the setting such as the manner mode is set not to sound, only a warning is displayed on the screen and no warning sound is generated.

  Next, when the mobile terminal device 01 moves to a location area YY, LA = YY is notified from the base station to the mobile terminal device 01 as LA information. In response to the LA information being changed to LA = YY, the CPU 19 of the mobile terminal device 01 updates the LA information stored in the RAM 18 inside the mobile terminal device 01 from XX to YY.

  Further, in response to the LA information being changed to LA = YY, the CPU 19 controls the wireless control unit 12 to access a multilingual database on the Internet, and reads out sentences in a language that matches LA = YY. Request a software download. Then, the text reading software stored in the RAM 18 is controlled to be updated by the text reading software in a language matching LA = YY downloaded from the multilingual database.

  As a result, the portable terminal device 01 automatically receives text-to-speech software in a language that matches the LA = YY information by accessing a predetermined multilingual database on the Internet based on the LA = YY information. To be downloaded. As an opportunity to start the download, the automatic mode is used in the embodiment. However, the user may manually select the download.

  Thereafter, when the user of the portable terminal device 01 located at LA = YY activates the text-to-speech function when browsing an e-mail or Web browser, the text is read out in a language that matches the LA = YY information stored in the RAM 18. The e-mail or web browser browsing content is converted into audio data by the software for use, and output from the speaker unit 15 as audio.

  In the embodiment, when the text reading software in the language matching LA = YY information is downloaded, the text reading software in the language matching LA = XX previously stored in the RAM 18 is updated. However, the text-to-speech reading software in the language that matches LA = XX is not deleted and remains in the RAM 18, and the mobile terminal device 01 moves the location to the Location Area YY. When an e-mail or the like in a language used in Area XX is received, text reading software in a language matching LA = XX may be activated to read text in a language matching LA = XX. .

  As another embodiment of the present invention, when the user of the mobile terminal device moves in the same country, the dialect correspondence database shown in FIG. It becomes possible to realize a text-to-speech reading function by switching. In this case, the basic configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment, so that detailed description is omitted. In this case, when “standard word” is selected, software for outputting sound using the accent of the standard word is downloaded regardless of the position of the mobile terminal device, and is fixed to the accent of the standard word.

It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the portable terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the communication infrastructure which provides the positional information and the text reading software to the portable terminal device in this implementation portable. It is a figure which shows the example of the download selection screen of the text reading software in this implementation mobile phone.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Antenna part 12 Wireless control part 13 Communication path control part 14 Microphone part 15 Speaker part 16 Key input part 17 Display part 18 ROM / RAM
19 CPU
20 buses

Claims (8)

  In a portable terminal device capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, position information acquisition means for acquiring position information where the portable terminal device is located, and predetermined information based on the acquired position information Access to a multilingual database on the network and download the text reading software downloading means for downloading the text reading software in the language that matches the acquired position information, and the contents of the received e-mail and Web browser are downloaded A portable terminal device comprising means for reading out a voice in a language that matches the acquired position information by means of text reading software and outputting the voice.   The location information acquisition unit has a function of acquiring the location information from the base station by performing location registration between the mobile terminal device and the base station, and the text-to-speech software download unit includes the A feature is provided that automatically accesses the multilingual database when a change occurs in the acquired position information and downloads text-to-speech software in a language that matches the changed position information. The portable terminal device according to claim 1.   In a portable terminal device capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, position information acquisition means for acquiring position information where the portable terminal device is located, and predetermined information based on the acquired position information Access to a dialect-compatible database on the network and download software for reading text in a language that matches the acquired location information, and the downloaded text for the contents of the received e-mail or web browser A portable terminal device comprising means for reading out a voice in a dialect that matches the acquired position information by means of reading software and outputting the voice.   The location information acquisition unit has a function of acquiring the location information from the base station by performing location registration between the mobile terminal device and the base station, and the text-to-speech software download unit includes the It is characterized by having a function of automatically accessing the dialect correspondence database when a change occurs in the acquired position information and downloading the text-to-speech reading software of the dialect that matches the changed position information. The portable terminal device according to claim 1. A text-to-speech software connected to a network and having a function of converting a sentence input in a language of a specific region into voice data having an accent specific to the specific region, and position information for each specific region A multilingual database that stores each correspondingly,
A portable terminal device capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, based on position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of an area where the portable terminal device is located, and the acquired position information Access to the multilingual database on the network and download the text reading software corresponding to the acquired position information from the multilingual database; and the received e-mail and Web browser A mobile terminal device having means for reading out the content in the language of the region where the mobile terminal device is located and outputting the voice by the downloaded text-to-speech software;
A text-to-speech system characterized in that when the electronic mail or web browser is browsed from the portable terminal device, the content is voice-output in a language having an accent unique to the region where the portable terminal device is located. . A server used in the text-to-speech system according to claim 5,
The multilingual database is provided, and when receiving a request to download the text-to-speech software from the mobile terminal device via a network, the location information corresponds to the location information received from the mobile terminal device. The server has a function of reading out the text-to-speech software to be read from the multilingual database and transmitting it to the portable terminal device. A dialect for storing text-to-speech software connected to a network and having a function of converting input text into speech data having accents specific to a specific area, corresponding to the position information for each specific area A supported database,
A portable terminal device capable of sending and receiving e-mails and browsing a web browser, based on position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of an area where the portable terminal device is located, and the acquired position information Accessing the dialect correspondence database on the network and downloading the text reading software corresponding to the acquired location information from the dialect correspondence database, and the received contents of the e-mail and Web browser A portable terminal device having means for reading out the voice with the accent unique to the area where the portable terminal device is located by the downloaded text-to-speech software;
A text-to-speech system characterized in that when the electronic mail or Web browser is browsed from the mobile terminal device, the content is voice-output by accents specific to the region where the mobile terminal device is located. A server used in the text-to-speech system according to claim 7,
The dialect correspondence database is provided, and when receiving a request to download the text-to-speech software from the mobile terminal device via the network, the dialect correspondence database corresponds to the location information based on the location information received from the mobile terminal device. A server having a function of reading out text reading software from the dialect correspondence database and transmitting it to the portable terminal device.

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