JP2009104231A - Information processor, sound output device, symbol display device, image forming apparatus, user attribute determination method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of determining the attribute of a user from a document, or the like, and to provide a sound output device, a symbol display device, an image forming apparatus, a user attribute determination method, and a program. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor 111 determines a group (equivalent to a section in each user attribute) to which the creator of character data 20 (including symbols, numerical values, and pictographs) in a feature category for featuring a human being by a plurality of groups belongs to. The information processor 111 comprises: a character data input means 112 for inputting character data 20; a character string storage means 131 for storing a character string corresponding to the group; and an attribute determination means 22 for determining a group to which a creator in a prescribed feature category belongs by referring to the group of the character string storage means corresponding to a character string included in the character data input by the character data input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a sound output apparatus, a symbol display apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a user attribute determination method, and a program for determining a user attribute of a character data creator or a device user.

  Various devices are used on a daily basis, but these devices are used by various people. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, people in their teens to 70s or more are using it, regardless of whether it is a student, a member of society or a freelancer, and using it regardless of nationality.

  By the way, depending on the attribute of the person who uses the information, the desired function is different even in the same mobile phone. For this reason, in a single device, it is possible to set a desired operating environment by a user operation. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, the character size to be displayed, brightness, standby screen, etc. can be set in various ways. Young people can make mobile phone communication more interesting, and elderly people can use the operation screen. You can set it to be larger.

  In this way, the user can freely change the setting of the device, but on the other hand, the setting does not change unless the user sets it, so the threshold is high for beginners, and the more functional the device, the more complicated the operation, the desired Setting has become difficult.

  If a user attribute is acquired by some method, it becomes possible to set a device according to the attribute. For example, a technique for detecting a user's emotion from a predetermined document has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 describes an emotion recognition system that includes a dictionary in which words related to emotions are weighted to some emotions, refers to the dictionary based on words included in the document, and determines the emotion of each document.
JP 2002-230011 A

  However, the emotion recognition system described in Patent Document 1 detects an attribute of a document related to an emotion and does not detect an attribute of a user. Further, since the attribute (content) of a product such as a document is likely to change unlike a user attribute, it is difficult to appropriately control the device even if the attribute of the product is detected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a sound output apparatus, a symbol display apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a user attribute determination method, and a program capable of determining a user attribute from a document or the like.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a group (each user attribute) to which a creator of character data (including symbols, numerical values, and pictograms) belongs in a feature category (corresponding to a user attribute described later) that characterizes a human by a plurality of groups. The character data input means for inputting character data, the character string storage means for storing the character string in association with the group, and the character data input means. A character string extracting means for extracting the character string from the character data thus obtained, and the group associated with the character string extracted by the character string extracting means from the character string storage means to extract the creator And attribute determination means for determining the group to which the group belongs.

  According to the present invention, a group of creators in a predetermined feature category can be determined from character data.

  Further, in one aspect of the present invention, it is characterized by having group storage means for storing a group of creators, and group registration means for registering groups determined by the attribute determination means in the group storage means for each feature category. To do.

  According to the present invention, since user attributes can be registered, it can be used to control various devices including the information processing apparatus.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when the feature category is an age group having an elderly person and other groups, the attribute determination unit is configured to add a second or higher ratio to the character data input by the character data input unit. When a standard Chinese character is included, the creator is determined to belong to the elderly group.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine that the creator of character data is an elderly person based on kanji used by relatively elderly persons.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when the characteristic category is a gender having a group of men and women, the attribute determination means includes a predetermined number or more of pictograms in the character data input by the character data input means. The creator is determined to belong to a group of women.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine that the creator of character data is a woman by using pictographs frequently used by women.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when the feature category is an age group in which elderly people or the like are grouped, the character string storage means stores character strings that are used by persons in the group in association with the groups such as elderly people. The attribute determination means counts the number of character strings included in the character data input by the character data input means for each group, and determines that the creator belongs to the group with the largest counted number. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine a group to which a user belongs in an age group by creating a database of character strings.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when the feature category is a place of birth in which a predetermined region in Japan is a group, the character string storage unit stores a character string used only by a person in the predetermined region in association with the predetermined region. The attribute determination means determines that the creator belongs to the predetermined area when the character string included in the character data input by the character data input means is a character string used only by a person in the predetermined area. It is characterized by determining.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine a group to which a user belongs in a place of birth by creating a database of character strings.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, it has control means (for example, UI control means 24, font change means 25) for controlling the information processing apparatus in accordance with a group of creators registered in the group storage means. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, since the device can be controlled according to the group to which the user belongs, the convenience for the user can be improved.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when the feature category is an age group having an elderly person and other groups, and the group of creators registered in the group storage means is an elderly person, the display device UI control means for making the size of characters to be displayed larger than a predetermined value.

  According to the present invention, when the user belongs to the elderly group, the displayed characters can be enlarged, so that the device can be easily seen by the elderly.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when the characteristic category is gender having the group of men and women and the group of creators registered in the group storage means is female, the information is displayed on the display device. Font changing means for changing the font of the character is provided.

  According to the present invention, when the user belongs to a female group, the printed character can be changed to a feminine font, and therefore, an output suitable for the user's preference is possible.

  It is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, a sound output apparatus, a symbol display apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a user attribute determination method, and a program that can determine a user attribute from a document or the like.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, an example of user attribute determination and device control using attributes obtained as a result of the determination will be described.

  User attributes are user characteristics that do not change over a long period of time, such as age group, gender, birthplace, nationality, religion, annual income group, etc., for example, characteristics that do not change for a lifetime, or are determined innately User characteristics. When an age group is a single user attribute, the user characteristics are divided into each age group. Hereinafter, the age group and the like are referred to as attribute types, and each division of the age group (10's, 20's ...) is referred to as a user attribute.

[User attribute determination for each attribute type]
First, determination of user attributes will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of information processing apparatuses 111 </ b> A to 111 </ b> C (hereinafter collectively referred to as information processing apparatuses 111) that determine user attributes. The information processing apparatus 111A and the information processing apparatus 111C are, for example, PCs (personal computers), and the information processing apparatus 111B is a mobile phone. These are connected via a network N such as a LAN or the Internet. Note that the PC and the mobile phone are examples, and the information processing apparatuses 111A to 111C are devices equipped with computers, such as PDAs (Personal Digital (Data) Assistants), PHS (Personal Handyphone System), printers, facsimile machines, A scanner device, an MFP (Multi Function Printer), or the like may be used.

  For example, after starting an application program such as word processing software, the user inputs characters by operating the keyboard 112 and the mouse 113 of the information processing apparatus 111A. The input characters are sequentially reflected on the display 114, and finally a document, a table, or the like is generated. The same applies to the case where the information processing apparatus 111B is used, and after starting an application program such as mail software, the user operates the keyboard 115 and the mouse (pointer) 116 of the information processing apparatus 111B to input characters. The input characters are sequentially reflected on the display 117, and finally e-mail is generated, for example. Hereinafter, data including characters such as document data and electronic mail is referred to as text data. It does not matter whether the text data is stored in a binary file or a text file.

  The information processing apparatuses 111A and 111B according to the present embodiment extract independent words (mainly in the case of Japanese) and words (mainly in the case of English) that constitute the text data, and use the independent words, words, and attribute determination database (hereinafter referred to as “independent words”). , DB) and the user attribute of the user who entered the text data is determined. In addition, although an independent word is demonstrated as a Japanese component and a word is demonstrated as an English component, even if it is another language, a user attribute can be determined from the component corresponding to an independent word or a word.

  Further, for example, when document data is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 111A to the information processing apparatus 111C, or when an e-mail is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 111B to the information processing apparatus 111C, the information processing apparatus 111C is self-supporting included in the text data. Based on the word, the user attribute of the user of the information processing device 111A or the information processing device 111B is determined.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 111A. The information processing apparatus 111A includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 121, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 122, input devices (corresponding to the keyboard 112 and the mouse 113 in FIG. 1) 112, 113, A NIC (Network Interface Card) 123, a drive device 124, a display control unit 125, a storage device 126, and a CPU 127 are included.

  The RAM 121 serves as a working memory for executing the OS and programs, and the ROM 122 stores programs and setting files for starting up the OS such as BIOS. The input devices 112 and 113 are devices for inputting various operations from the user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The NIC 123 is an interface for connecting to the network N, and executes protocol processing such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol). The drive device 124 is configured such that a storage medium 128 such as a CD-RW or a memory card is detachable. The drive device 124 is used when a program or data is written to the storage medium 128, and the program recorded on the storage medium 128 Data is read and sent to the storage device 126.

  The display control unit 125 forms a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen with a predetermined resolution and the number of colors based on screen information instructed by the application software, and displays various windows and data necessary for operation on the display 114. .

  The storage device 126 is a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD (hard disk drive) or a flash memory, and stores an OS, application software, and a program 133. The CPU 127 provides various functions by loading and executing the OS, application software, and program 133 from the storage device 126, and comprehensively controls processing performed by the information processing device 111A.

  Further, the storage device 126 stores an attribute determination DB 131 and an attribute table 132 which will be described later.

  The program 133 executed by the information processing apparatus 111A is stored in the recording medium 128 and distributed, or distributed from a predetermined server via the network N. When the recording medium 128 on which the program 133 is recorded is set in the drive device 124, the program 133 is installed from the recording medium 128 to the storage device 126 via the drive device 124. Further, when a program is transmitted from the server, it is installed in the storage device 126 via the NIC 123.

  The information processing apparatus 111A includes an attribute determination unit 22, an attribute registration unit 23, a UI (User Interface) control unit 24 that variably controls the size of characters displayed on the display 114, and a display 114, which are realized by executing the program 133. A font changing means 25 for changing the font of the character to be displayed, and a character string extracting means 26 for extracting a character string. A program 133 that implements the attribute determination unit 22, the attribute registration unit 23, the UI control unit 24, the font change unit 25, and the character string extraction unit 26 starts on an OS such as Windows (registered trademark).

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 111A. Although FIG. 3 illustrates the information processing apparatus 111A as an example, the user attribute determination method is common to the information processing apparatuses 111B and 111C.

  Since the attribute determination means 22 determines the user attribute from the text data 20, application software 27 for inputting the text data 20 is executed on the OS. The application software 27 may be any software that can input the text data 20, such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, or e-mail software.

  The character string extraction unit 26, the attribute determination unit 22, and the attribute registration unit 23 are executed when the information processing apparatus 111 </ b> A is activated or when the application software 27 is activated.

  The keyboard 112 inputs characters to the information processing apparatus 111A by operating keys with fingers. When the user presses a key, a corresponding key code (for example, an ASCII code) is sent to the information processing apparatus 111A. The key code is converted into a corresponding character code by, for example, BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The keyboard 112 only needs to generate a key code corresponding to characters, such as a touch panel, handwritten character input, and voice keyboard.

  When text is input in Japanese, IM (Input Method) 21 is activated by a user operation, and the character code is converted into Japanese by IM 21. When text is directly input without conversion, the character code is directly input to the application software 27 and the attribute determination unit 22.

  The IM 21 is a so-called kana-kanji conversion system that converts a series of character codes into a language such as Japanese. For example, when “G, A, N, M, I” is input from the keyboard 112, the IM 21 refers to the dictionary and converts a series of character codes to “gone” and performs a predetermined operation or setting. It is possible to convert to “Ganmi” or “Ganmi” in response. When converted to “Ganmi”, three character codes corresponding to “Ga”, “N”, and “Mi” are generated. The character code may be any of Unicode, JIS code, shift JIS code, and the like. Hereinafter, words for determining user attributes are referred to as attribute determination words.

  The character string extraction unit 26 extracts a predetermined character or character string. The character string extraction unit 26 refers to the character code of the text data 20 one word at a time, and extracts the attribute determination word registered in the attribute determination DB 131. Also, a known Japanese syntax analysis is performed for each sentence of the text data 20 with reference to the dictionary to extract the dependency relationship. As a result, in the case of the attribute determination word and its usage, for example, the character string “Bali”, the place name “Bali” and the adverb “Bali” can be extracted.

  Then, the attribute determination unit 22 determines the user attribute associated with the attribute determination word registered in the attribute determination DB 131 as the user attribute of the creator of the text data 20.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of a functional configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 111C. 4 that are the same as those in FIG. 3 are assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. In FIG. 3, although the form which inputs the text data 20 from the keyboard 112 was demonstrated, a user attribute can be determined similarly from the text data 20 contained in one file.

  When the information processing apparatus 111 </ b> C receives the text data 20 by electronic mail, the text data 20 is temporarily stored in the storage device 126. The application software 27 reads the text data 20 and displays it on the display 114 or reads it out by voice. At that time, the attribute determination means 22 extracts the text data 20 and extracts a predetermined character string as in FIG. To do. Thereafter, the user attribute can be determined as in FIG. Note that the user attribute determined by the information processing apparatus 111C is the user attribute of the user of the information processing apparatus 111A that created the e-mail.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the attribute determination DB 131. FIG. 5 shows the attribute determination DB 131 when the attribute type is an age group. In FIG. 5, approximate age groups are associated with various attribute determination words. For example, an age group of 10 to 20 years old is associated with “Bali” or “Ganmi”, and an age group of 60 years or older is associated with “Daito War”.

  The attribute determination means 22 extracts an age group associated with each attribute determination word with reference to the attribute determination DB 131 based on the attribute determination word that characterizes the age group included in the text data 20. For example, the age group of the user is detected for each piece of text data 20.

When three attribute determination words of 10 to 20 years old, one attribute determination word of 30 to 40 years old, and one of 40 to 50 years old are detected, the attribute determination means 22 has, for example, the largest number of detection. The age group is determined as the user's age group. In the short term, the user's age group can be determined by such a simple method.
10 to 20 years old ... xxx 20 to 30 years old ... xxx 30 to 40 years old ... xxx 40 to 50 years old ... xxx 50 to 60 years old ... xxx over 60 years old ... xxx pieces of detected attribute judgment words Accumulating the number can improve the determination accuracy of the user's age group. As the number of text data 20 to be created increases, the words to be used are considered to reflect the age group. Therefore, the age group of the user can be determined with high accuracy by accumulating the number of detected attribute determination words. If a sufficient number can be accumulated, the user's age group can be accurately determined by statistical processing such as calculation of an average value or a median value.

In addition, when the JIS second level kanji “弌” (989F) to “熙” (EAA0) is frequently used, it may be determined that the person is over 60 years old. An example of frequent use is when the number of JIS Level 2 Kanji characters is detected at a predetermined number or more, or at a predetermined ratio (for example, 20%) or more with respect to the total number of characters.
A user who frequently uses hiragana and katakana may be determined to be 10 to 20 years old. An example of frequent use is a case where a predetermined ratio (for example, 80%) or more with respect to the total number of characters. JIS level 2 kanji, hiragana and katakana are also types of attribute judgment words.

  If the determination results for the number of attribute determination words, JIS second level kanji, hiragana and katakana are different, the determination result with the highest accuracy is used. When a significant difference in accuracy cannot be confirmed, each is weighted for determination or the user attribute is unknown.

  Gender determination among the attribute types will be described. The gender is determined from the gender characteristic expression of the text data 20. In the case of a woman, the text data 20 often uses pictograms and emoticons. Therefore, for example, the attribute determination means 22 determines that it is a woman when pictograms and emoticons are frequently used. An example of frequent use is when a predetermined number or more of pictograms are detected.

  In addition, attribute determination words specific to women and men are registered in the attribute determination DB 131. For example, “I”, “I”, “Hetsu”, “~ Daro”, “Bakaka”, “Meshi”, etc. are associated with the user attributes of males. ) ”,“ Ufu ”and the like are associated with female user attributes. The attribute determination means 22 accumulates attribute determination words with reference to the attribute determination DB 131 in addition to determination based on the number of pictograms when gender determination is difficult from the number of pictograms. Determine.

  The determination of the birthplace among the attribute types will be described. The birthplace is determined mainly from the dialect of the text data 20. An attribute determination word specific to a dialect is registered in the attribute determination DB 131. For example, “Okan”, “Me (the other party)”, “Kita”, “Minami”, “Mcdo”, “Omoiroi”, “~ Regeneration”, “Shindoi”, “Bochobichi”, etc. are associated with hometowns in the Kinki region.

  Also, for example, “Karikata”, “~ Bai”, “Yoka”, “Batten”, “Kurene”, “Komai”, “Ichichan”, etc. are associated with their hometowns in Kyushu.

  Also, for example, “I-ga”, “Dosbe,” “What,” “Dohiya, I ’m doing well,” “Soi,” “Gaha,” “Hyairo.” -(Janana) ", etc. are associated with hometowns in the Tohoku region.

  In addition, for example, “Hometown”, “Azuma (good condition)”, “Geppa (lowest)”, and the like are associated with the birthplace of Hokkaido.

  In addition to dialects, by registering local special products, food, specialties, sightseeing names, etc. in the attribute determination DB 131, the place of origin can be determined.

  The nationality can be determined by the language in which the text data 20 is described. If a foreign language (alphabet) in the text data 20 is detected at a predetermined ratio (for example, 100%) or more with respect to the total number of characters, a foreigner (US・ British).

  The religion can be determined by registering the XX religion, the name of the lord, the founder of the religion, and the content of the commandments in the attribute determination DB 131 and comparing them with the attribute determination word of the text data 20.

  The annual salary can be determined by associating the annual salary with an article or brand name and registering it in the attribute determination DB 131 and comparing it with the attribute determination word of the text data 20.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the attribute determination DB 131. In FIG. 6, attribute determination words for user attributes in the age group, attribute determination words for user attributes in the birthplace, and the like are registered without being divided into attribute types. Since each attribute determination word has a character code registered for each character constituting the attribute determination word, if the text data 20 includes an attribute determination word, the corresponding user attribute can be extracted.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the attribute determination unit 22 determines the user attribute. First, the text data 20 is input to the information processing apparatus 111A (S10). For example, the text data 20 is input as “the jacket was good during this time (^^)”.

  The attribute determination means 22 is the character code of the text data 20, 82B1 “ko”, 82CC “no” ... 82DF “me”, 82BF “chi”, 82E1 “ya”, 97C7 “good” ... 0028 “(”, 005E “ Character strings that match the attribute determination words registered in the attribute determination DB 131 are extracted from “^”, 005E “^” 0029 “)” (S20).

  Then, the user attribute is determined for each attribute type using the extracted attribute determination word (S30). FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining a user attribute in an age group attribute type.

  The attribute determining means 22 determines whether or not the number of JIS second level kanji is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (S31). If the number is greater than or equal to the predetermined number (Yes in S31), the attribute determination means 22 sets a flag A of 60 years or older because there is a high possibility of being an elderly person (S34).

  When the number of JIS second level kanji characters is not equal to or greater than a predetermined number (No in S31), the attribute determination unit 22 determines whether hiragana or katakana is used at a ratio greater than a predetermined value (S32). If hiragana or katakana is used at a predetermined ratio or more (Yes in S32), the attribute determination means 22 sets a flag B of 10 to 20 years old or more because there is a high possibility that the person is a younger person (S33).

  Next, the attribute determination means 22 counts attribute determination words for each age group (S35). Then, the flag C is set for the age group having the maximum count (S36). Assuming that the flag C is set, at least one of the flag C and the flag A or at least one of the flag C and the flag B is set.

  The attribute determination unit 22 determines whether the flags A and C or the flags B and C match (S37). If they match (Yes in S37), the user attribute is determined as belonging to the age group of the flag (S38).

  If they do not match (No in S37), the user attribute is determined to belong to the most probable age group of flags A and C or flags B and C (S39). Probability can be determined from whether or not the count number in step S35 is significantly larger than other age groups. Although only JIS second level judgments and hiragana or katakana judgments are described, the present invention is not limited to this as long as user attributes can be judged.

  From the attribute determination DB 131 of FIG. 6 and the text data 20 described above, for example, the creator of the text data 20 is determined to be a user attribute in the 10s and 20s.

  8 is repeated for each attribute type, for example, the creator of the text data 20 is determined as a female user attribute.

  The attribute registration unit 23 registers the user attribute determined by the attribute determination unit 22 in the attribute table 132 for each attribute type. FIG. 9 shows an example of the attribute table 132. In the attribute table 132, user attributes are registered for each age group, gender, birthplace, nationality, religion, and annual income group.

  Therefore, with the above configuration, the user attribute can be determined and registered simply by generating the text data 20 by the user.

<Example of device control>
An example of device control according to the determined user attribute will be described.
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a printing system including the information processing apparatus 111A and the MFP 141. In the information processing apparatus 111 </ b> A of FIG. 10, user attributes of an age group (60 years old or older) are already registered in the attribute table 132.

  Assume that the application software 27 of the information processing apparatus 111A requests the MFP 141 to print the text data 20 (S1), but the MFP 141 does not have a sufficient number of A4 sheets for printing.

  The MFP 141 transmits an error code indicating that the A4 sheet has run out to the information processing apparatus 111A (S2). A printer application (for example, a printer driver) of the information processing apparatus 111A interprets this error code and displays an error message to the user. Here, the UI control unit 24 generates an error message according to the user attribute.

  The UI control means 24 refers to the attribute table 132 (S3) and extracts user attributes. Since the user attribute of the age group is “60 years or older”, the error message is displayed with the characters constituting the error message enlarged (S4).

  For example, when a normal error message is displayed at 10 points, the error message can be easily viewed even by the elderly by using 16-point characters for the elderly users. The characters may be thickened. How to control the UI (error message) according to the age group is registered in the UI control unit 24 in advance.

  It should be noted that the volume may be increased when an error message is output by voice with or without changing the character size or the like. For example, in the case of an elderly person, a voice “A4 paper is out. Please replenish.” Is output at a high volume.

  In FIG. 10, an error message is displayed on the display 114 of the information processing apparatus 111A. However, since the error message is also displayed on the display unit of the MFP 141, it is preferable to display the error message of the MFP 141 in a large size.

  However, since the MFP 141 does not store the attribute table 132, it is necessary to notify the MFP 141 of user attributes. In this case, when the text data 20 is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 111A, the user attribute may be attached to the text data 20 for transmission.

  Further, since the attribute determination unit 22 can be executed by the MFP 141 equipped with a computer, the MFP 141 may determine the user attribute from the text data 20. The text data 20 may be transmitted to the MFP 141 as a character code, or may be transmitted to the MFP 141 after being converted into raster data by the information processing apparatus 111A. However, for office use, the text data 20 is transmitted to the MFP 141 as it is. Therefore, the attribute determination unit 22 of the MFP 141 can determine the user attribute by the method described above.

  In addition, when copying paper, an error such as out of paper may occur. Similarly, an error message is displayed and / or voice output according to the age group. In this case, the copy source document is subjected to OCR (Optical Character Reader) to detect a character code from the document, and the user attribute is determined. Then, the character size of the error message is increased or the volume is increased according to the user attribute.

  In FIG. 10, the character size of the error message of the information processing apparatus 111 </ b> A or the MFP 141 is controlled according to the user attribute. However, for example, the font type may be controlled.

  FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a printing system including the information processing apparatus 111A and the MFP 141. In FIG. 11, the same components as those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In the information processing apparatus 111 </ b> A of FIG. 11, the gender (female) user attribute is already registered in the attribute table 132.

  When the user performs a printing operation in a state where the text data 20 is displayed in, for example, Gothic font from the application software 27 of the information processing apparatus 111A (S11), the printer application of the information processing apparatus 111A refers to the attribute table 132 (S12).

  Since the user attribute of the user of the information processing apparatus 111A is female, the font changing unit 25 converts, for example, the text data 20 into a round character and displays it as a preview (S13). That is, when the user attribute is female, it can be converted into a feminine font and printed.

  If the user confirms the preview display and inputs, for example, Yes, the text data 20 in which the font is converted into a round character is transmitted to the MFP 141 and printed in a round character (S14). For example, if No is entered, the text data 20 is transmitted to the MFP 141 in the original font and printed (S14).

  Therefore, by registering user attributes, printing that matches the user's preference is possible. Information on what font to change is stored in advance by the font changing means 25.

  Even when the font is changed as shown in FIG. 11, the MFP 141 can determine the user attribute, and the MFP 141 can control the device according to the user attribute.

  In this case, after the text data 20 is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 111A to the MFP 141, the MFP 141 once transmits image data for preview display converted into a round character according to the user attribute to the information processing apparatus 111A. In response to this, the user inputs Yes or No, and transmits a Yes or No signal from the information processing apparatus 111A to the MFP 141, so that the text data 20 can be printed with a round character or the original font.

  Therefore, various devices can be controlled by determining the user attribute by the information processing apparatus 111 of the present embodiment.

[Example of device control using user attributes]
If the user attribute is determined, various devices can be controlled according to the user attribute, and the convenience of the device can be improved. In the present embodiment, a music output device that outputs music corresponding to a case where a predetermined character or independent word (hereinafter simply referred to as a music word) is included in the text data 20, and a predetermined character or term ( An example of a dynamic font device that rewrites bitmap data of a font such as a character at predetermined time intervals when a motion setting word (to be described later) is included in the text data 20 will be described.

  By the way, in the determination of the user attribute, the user attribute is the user attribute of the user who has input the text data 20, but it is preferable to use the user attribute of the user who uses the device when controlling the device. In the following device control example, the user attribute means the user attribute of the user of the device to be controlled.

<Example of control of music output device by user attribute>
FIG. 12 shows an example of a functional configuration diagram of the music output device 200. If the attribute table 132 is available, the music output device 200 may be separate from the information processing device 111A, but the information processing device 111A includes the music output device 200 in this embodiment.

  The music output device 200 detects the text data 20 acquired by the application software 27 and outputs sound or music (hereinafter simply referred to as music) according to the music word included in the text data 20. The text data 20 may be input from the keyboard 112 or may be input from the storage device 126 as a read file.

  The rasterizer 33 expresses the character corresponding to the character code included in the text data 20 as a collection of small colored dots so that the character can be displayed on the display 114. The rasterizer 33 has a font data DB 32 and extracts font data corresponding to the character code from the font data DB 32.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of font data stored in the font data DB 32 and music data to be described later. The font data DB 32 stores font data for each character code. In the font data, the outline of a character is divided into a large number of line segments, and each line segment is expressed by a curve determined by a function called a Bezier curve. Therefore, the position of two end points of the line segment and the curve curve 1 are controlled. Alternatively, it has position information of two control points. Further, in addition to the position information, it has drawing correction information such as contour correction information and painting.

  The rasterizer 33 extracts font data corresponding to the character code, arranges it on a character size map designated by the application software 27, forms it as a collection of points, and sends it to the application software 27. As a result, the application software 27 can display characters on the display 114.

  In contrast, the sound riser 31 outputs music associated with the character code through the speaker 35. As shown in FIG. 13, the font data DB 32 stores music data for each character code. The music data indicates music information in which the pitch, length, strength, how to change the duration, etc. are set for each sound. The sound riser 31 extracts music data corresponding to the character code, and generates sound source data (for example, FM sound source data, PCM sound source data, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sound source data) based on the music information. Note that the sound source data may be stored in the font data DB 32 as music data.

The music data stores music information that gives an image of the meaning of characters. For example, the music data stored corresponding to the character code of “car” becomes music that the car “Bun” travels when output from the speaker 35. Similarly, for example,
・ For the character “烏”, the music data with the 鳴 “car car”
・ For the character "rain", the music data of the raining music "za-za"
・ For the letter "flame", the music data of the music that burns "Bobo"
・ For the character “Umi”, the music data of the wave music “Zaboon”
・ For the character "Run", the music data of the music that runs "just"
Each is stored.

Accordingly, when there is a character code associated with the music data in the text data 20,
Since the sound riser 31 generates sound source data from the music data and outputs the music, it can output the music that matches the character image. The sound source data generated by the sound riser 31 is sent to the sound source IC 34, and the sound source IC 34 amplifies the music of a predetermined tone color based on the sound source data and outputs it from the speaker 35.

  In this embodiment, by storing different music data according to the user attribute in the font data DB 32, the music to be output even with the same character is changed according to the user attribute.

  FIG. 14A shows an example of a font data DB 32 in which music data is stored when an age group is used as an example of a user attribute, and FIG. 14B shows a case where gender is used as an example of a user attribute. In FIG. 14, music data is represented by replacing music when actually output from the speaker 35 with words.

  In FIG. 14 (a), for the character “horse”, music data of “Pakapaka” is stored in the age group under 20 years old, and “Pakapaka” is stored in the age group of 21 to 40 years old. Music data of music is stored, and music data of music called “hi-hi” is stored in the age group of 41 years or older. Similarly, music data of different music depending on the age group is stored for the characters “car” and “sea”.

  Similarly, in FIG. 14 (b), music data of “Pakapaka (early)” is stored for males and “pakapaka (slow)” for females for the character “horse”. Music data is stored. Similarly, the music data for the character “car” and the character “sea” are stored depending on the gender.

  In this way, by outputting music according to user attributes, it is possible to output music that makes it easy for the user to imagine the contents of the text data 20 even if the age group and gender are different.

  In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the music data is stored for each character, but the music data may be stored for each music word. FIG. 15 shows an example of music data registered in the music word database (DB) 36.

The music word DB 36 stores music data in association with the music word code. The music word code is a character code of characters constituting the music word. For example, in the case of a music word “ramen”, it is composed of character codes of “ra”, “−”, “me”, and “n”. The music data is the same as in FIG. 13, but the music data stores the music data of the music that makes the meaning of the music word appear. For example,
・ The music data of the music that makes ramen called “Zu-zu” corresponding to “ramen”
・ For “typhoon”, the music data of music with a strong wind called “gogo”
・ For "bird", the music data of the song tweeted by "bird"
・ For "Bike", the music data of the engine music "Burun Buru"
・ For "Train", the music data of driving music called "Gatongoton"
・ For "clock", the music data of the clock music "Chikutaku"
Each is remembered.

  The sound riser 31 determines whether or not there is a music word stored in the music word DB 36 in the text data 20 every time it is detected from the text data 20, and when a music word in which music data is registered is detected, Extract music data. Since the sound riser 31 generates sound source data based on the music data, the music corresponding to the music word can be output from the speaker 35.

  Therefore, music corresponding to a music word that makes it easy to imagine the meaning of the text data 20 can be output, so that a reader of the text data 20 can easily imagine the contents of the text data 20.

  The music word DB 36 also preferably stores different music data according to user attributes.

  FIG. 16A shows an example of a music word DB 36 in which music data is stored when an age group is used as an example of user attributes, and FIG. 16B shows a case where sex is used as an example of user attributes. In FIG. 16, music data is represented by replacing music when actually output from the speaker 35 with words.

  In FIG. 16A, music data “Zu-zu” is stored in the age group of 20 years old or younger for the music word “ramen”, and “smooth” is stored in the age group of 21 to 40 years old. Is stored, and music data of “Jyurjuru” is stored in an age group of 41 years or older. Similarly, the music word “typhoon” and the music word “bird” store music data of different music depending on the age group.

  Similarly, in FIG. 16 (b), music data of music “zuruzuru” is stored for the music word “ramen”, and music data of music “churuchuru” is stored for the woman. Is remembered. The music word “typhoon” and the music word “bird” also store music data of different music depending on gender.

  Note that either one or both of music corresponding to characters and music corresponding to a plurality of characters may be output.

  With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, a description will be given of the processing procedure for outputting music using the text data 20 input by the music output device 200 using the above configuration. The flowchart of FIG. 17 starts when, for example, the application software 27 is started up and predetermined text data 20 is read out. Here, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 111A has received an e-mail.

  First, the desired application software 27 is started up, and the text data 20 is input from the keyboard 112 or received as an e-mail (S10). For example, when the application software 27 is e-mail software, when the received e-mail is opened, the music output device 200 of this embodiment is activated.

  FIG. 18 shows an example of a GUI displayed on the display 114 when the e-mail software is activated. The e-mail software has a command field 41, a screen switching field 42, a received mail list 43, and a text display field 44.

  When the user selects an e-mail to be read from the received e-mail list 43 with the mouse 113 or the like, the text data 20 “I went to eat ramen in a typhoon” is displayed in the body display column 44. .

  The sound riser 31 refers to the attribute table 132 and determines whether or not the user attribute of the user of the information processing apparatus 111A is registered (S20). If the user attribute has already been registered (Yes in S20), the user attribute is extracted (S30). Here, it is assumed that the user attribute of the twenties is extracted as the user attribute of the age group.

  When the user attribute is not registered (No in S20), for example, the user attribute of the information processing apparatus 111A may be determined from the predetermined text data 20 already stored in the information processing apparatus 111A (S40). Alternatively, the user attribute may be determined from the text data 20 obtained. Since the information processing apparatus 111A should be normally used, there is a low possibility that the user attribute is not registered. For example, if the text data 20 input in step S10 is not an email but is input by the user himself / herself, the user attribute of the information processing apparatus 111A can be determined from the input text data 20.

  Next, the sound riser 31 extracts the music data corresponding to each music word “I went to eat ramen in the typhoon” from the music word DB 36 according to the user attribute, and the music data corresponding to the music word is stored. It is determined whether or not it is performed (S50).

  In the present embodiment, music data is extracted for “typhoon” and “ramen”. In FIG. 18, the music word from which the music data is extracted is underlined.

  The sound riser 31 generates sound source data of “typhoon” and “ramen” music data according to the user attribute (S60). Since the user attributes of the age group are in their twenties, for example, the sound riser 31 can output the music “Byubyu” for the music word “Typhoon” and the music “Smooth” for the music word “Ramen”. Thus, sound source data is generated. When the sound source data is generated, the sound source IC 34 outputs the music from the speaker 35 (S70). The music output device 200 repeats the above processing until the text data 20 ends (S80).

  Therefore, the music output device 200 can control the music to be output according to the user attribute, and can output music suitable for the user of the device to be used.

------------------------------------- Output order of music In the flowchart of FIG. Can be thought of.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of the music word DB 36 having priority. In FIG. 19, the priority is displayed as an integer. “1” has the highest priority, and the larger the number, the lower the priority. When priority levels are assigned to music words as shown in FIG. 19, a predetermined number can be output in order from the highest priority order or from the highest priority order.

  When a predetermined sentence of the text data 20 includes a plurality of music words associated with music data, the sound riser 31 stores all the music data or sound source data and sets the priority order. Output from the speaker 35 in descending order.

  The setting of the priority order will be described. Priorities can be set, for example, in about 3 to 10 stages, and can be arbitrarily set by the user for each term.

  FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating an example of the priority order setting screen displayed on the display 114. The screen in FIG. 20A is displayed when the user starts a program for setting priorities. The priority order setting program for setting the priority order reads out music words and priorities from the music word DB 36 of FIG. 19 and displays them as shown in FIG.

  The priority order setting screen has a first character selection field 45 for selecting the first character of the music word on the upper side, and when the first character is selected, a priority order setting field 46 of the music word starting with the first character is displayed. FIG. 20A shows a case where “a” is selected as the first character.

  In the priority setting column 46, music words having the first character as the character (Aiueo) in the “a” line are displayed in order. Since there is a column for inputting the priority order next to the music word, the user can input a numerical value of 1 to 10, for example, according to the instruction.

  When the input of the priority order is completed and the user presses the end button 47, the priority order setting program stores the priority order in the music word DB 36. Thus, the user can arbitrarily set the priority order.

  Further, the priority order may be set for each part of speech. FIG. 20B shows another example of the priority order setting screen. Similarly, when the user starts a program for setting priorities, a screen as shown in FIG. 20B is displayed.

  In FIG. 20B, nouns, verbs, adjectives (adjective verbs), adverbs, and impression verbs are displayed as examples of parts of speech, and priority order input fields are displayed correspondingly. The user can input a priority for each part of speech according to his / her preference. Further, in FIG. 20B, although classification as part of speech is difficult, an input column for the priority order of onomatopoeia is displayed as one classification of part of speech. An onomatopoeia (or mimetic word) is a word used to describe the voice or sound of a person or animal in a form similar to that sound, or to sensuously describe the movement or state of a person or object. "Dodoki, pounding, glare, doshu". An onomatopoeia is a music word that expresses a sound resembling sound, and is effective when the content of a sentence is output as music by setting a higher priority of the onomatopoeia.

  When the text data 20 is input, the sound riser 31 refers to the music word DB 36 in FIG. 19 and extracts the music data and the priority order corresponding to each music word included in the text data 20, Sort music data in descending order.

  The sound riser 31 generates sound source data in order from the sorted music data and outputs the sound source data from the speaker 35. When the sound source data is stored in the music word DB 36 as it is, the sound source data may be directly extracted.

  For example, in the process of the flowchart of FIG. 17, the music “ramyutsuru” of ramen was output after “viewby” of the typhoon. Is output.

  When music words having the same priority are included in one sentence, the music is output in the order of appearance in the sentence. In addition, music may be output in the order of low priority instead of high priority.

  Even if the priority order is not registered in advance in the music word DB 36, the order in which music is output can be changed.

  For example, when morphological analysis is performed on one sentence, if music data is given to music words corresponding to the subject and the predicate, the music of the music words of the subject and the predicate is preferentially output (first). In a sentence like "The cat started running after being chased by a dog", the subject is "cat" and the predicate is "running". It is output and it becomes easy for the user to imagine the content of the sentence by listening to music.

  In addition, when outputting music between music words that have no dependency relationship or are far from each other, the user can imagine the content of the sentence by music by lengthening the time until the music of the music word that has no dependency relationship is output. It becomes easy to do. For example, in the sentence “let's go to the sea tomorrow and drink beer”, “the sea” is related to “go” and “beer” is related to “let's drink”. When music data corresponding to “sea”, “beer”, and “drinking” is stored in the music word DB 36, after outputting the music of “the sea (Zaboon)”, a time interval is set longer than usual, and “beer” (Spot) "and" Drink (very) "are output at regular time intervals. Thereby, it is possible to know the connection of meaning between music words at the time interval of outputting music.

  As described above, by giving priority to the output of music corresponding to the music word, the meaning of the text data 20 can be more easily transmitted.

... E-mail ringtone If the music corresponding to the music word included in the text data 20 sent by e-mail can be output as the e-mail ringtone, the user who received the e-mail can grasp the contents of the e-mail from the music. It is possible and convenient.

  In the case of the information processing apparatus 111A (PC), when the e-mail software receives a new e-mail, the e-mail software or a predetermined music file (such as WAVE or MP3) preset by the OS is played and the e-mail is received. The music that informs you that it has been output is output.

  In the case of the information processing apparatus 111B (mobile phone), when the mobile phone receives an e-mail, the OS extracts sound source data such as predetermined MIDI data set in advance, and outputs the music via the sound source IC. In the information processing apparatus 111B, the sound source data to be extracted can be made variable according to the mail address of the transmission source.

  In the present embodiment, music corresponding to the music word included in the text data 20 of the e-mail is output instead of the predetermined ringtone.

  FIG. 21 is a functional configuration diagram of a music output device 200 that outputs an incoming ringtone of an electronic mail according to a music word. In FIG. 21, the same components as those in FIG. 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 21, an e-mail is transmitted as the text data 20. The application software 27 is e-mail software in the case of the information processing apparatus 111A (PC), and in the case of the information processing apparatus 111C (cellular phone), the application software 27 outputs an OS or outputs an LED when an e-mail is received. This is a program provided by the OS.

  For example, in the case of setting to output music corresponding to a music word instead of the ring tone output from the e-mail software or OS, the e-mail software or OS does not output the ring tone even when receiving the e-mail. The text data 20 is sent to the sound riser 31.

  The sound riser 31 extracts user attributes with reference to the attribute table 132, extracts music words of the text data 20, and then extracts music data associated with the music words from the music word DB 36 according to the user attributes. , Output music. Therefore, it is possible to change the ringtone of the e-mail according to the user attribute.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a processing procedure for outputting music corresponding to the music word included in the e-mail instead of the ring tone when the music output device 200 receives the e-mail. Note that FIG. 22 illustrates a case where the mobile phone receives an e-mail.

  When the mobile phone is turned on, the application software (e-mail software or OS) 27 repeats the determination as to whether there is an incoming e-mail (S110). When the e-mail arrives, the application software 27 sends the text data 20 included in the e-mail to the sound riser 31 (S120). In the flowchart of FIG. 22, for example, text data 20 that says “I went to eat ramen in a typhoon” is sent to the sound riser 31.

  The sound riser 31 extracts the attribute information of the user of the information processing apparatus 111B from the attribute table 132 (S130). For example, it is assumed that female user attributes are extracted.

  The sound riser 31 refers to the music word DB 36 for each music word included in the text data 20 and extracts music data stored in association with each other according to the user attribute. The music word DB 36 may or may not have priority.

  If music data is extracted, they are stored, and the sound riser 31 sets a flag indicating that the music data has been extracted in the e-mail. When the sound source data is stored in the music word DB 36 as it is, the sound source data is directly extracted.

  Then, the application software 27 refers to the flag and determines whether or not music data is present in the e-mail (S140). If music data is present in the e-mail (Yes in S140), the sound riser 31 generates sound source data based on the stored music data and sends it to the sound source IC 34 (S150). Thus, music corresponding to the music word is output from the speaker 35 (S160).

  In the female user attribute, music “Pyu Pyu” is output by the typhoon, and music “Churu Churu” is output by the ramen.

  Therefore, music corresponding to the content of the e-mail text can be output according to the user's attribute instead of the preset ringtone. Note that the music volume and ringing time of the music word are preset.

  If there is no corresponding music data in the e-mail (No in S140), the application software 27 outputs a preset ringtone from the speaker 35 (S170).

  As described above, when an e-mail arrives, music is output based on the music word included in the e-mail document, so that the user can understand or guess the contents of the e-mail from the ring tone. Since music changes according to user attributes, music that matches the user's preference is output, and the contents of the e-mail are easily understood and guessed.

... Generation of sound source data by e-mail server Up until now, the sound riser 31 mounted on a mobile phone or personal computer has generated sound source data and output it as it is, but the sound riser 31 mounted on the e-mail server is the user. An embodiment will be described in which sound source data is transmitted to the client in accordance with the attribute, and the sound source data received by the client is reproduced.

  FIG. 23 shows an overall configuration diagram of an electronic mail distribution system. In the case of a mobile phone or a PHS (hereinafter simply referred to as the transmitting terminal 51), the radio wave (e-mail) transmitted from the transmitting terminal 51 is received by a base station arranged so as to cover a predetermined area, and the e-mail is transmitted to the base station. The data is transmitted from the station to the mail server 52 via the telephone network. The mail server 52 sends an electronic mail to which the transmission destination address is given to the network, and the electronic mail is transmitted from the base station detecting the presence of the reception terminal 54 to the reception terminal 54 according to a protocol such as SMTP.

  Further, when sending an e-mail to the personal computer 53, the mail server 52 sends an e-mail to a mail server (not shown) of a provider to which the personal computer 53 is subscribed, and the e-mail is sent from the provider's mail server to the personal computer 53. Sent.

  In this embodiment, neither the transmission terminal 51, the reception terminal 54, nor the personal computer 53 (hereinafter referred to simply as the reception terminal 54) generates sound source data, and the mail server 52 responds to the e-mail text. Sound source data is generated, and e-mail and sound source data are transmitted to the receiving terminal 54.

  Incidentally, there are cases where the sender does not want to attach sound source data. Therefore, when the sender wants to send the sound source data to the receiving terminal 54, the sender requests the mail server 52 to send the sound source data to the receiving terminal 54 when sending an e-mail. When requesting transmission of sound source data, the sender can be realized with a simple configuration such as selecting a radio button provided in the mail software of the transmission terminal 51.

  When there is an instruction from the sender such as selection of a radio button, the electronic mail software of the transmission terminal 51 transmits the music addition request information to the mail server 52 together with the electronic mail. The music addition request information may be described in a predetermined tag such as HTML mail (for example, Deco-mail (registered trademark)), or the end of the “title” described in “Subject” in the header portion, for example. A special symbol is added to or sent as an attached file.

  If the receiver does not want to receive the sound source data, a setting to that effect may be made in advance in the mail server 52.

  FIG. 24 shows a block diagram of the music output device 200 mounted on the mail server 52. In FIG. 24, the same parts as those in FIG. The mail server 52 has a service program 48 instead of the application software 27, and since the mail server 52 does not display characters, the mail server 52 does not have the rasterizer 33 and does not output music, and therefore has the sound source IC 34 and the speaker 35. No.

  The service program 48 is a mail server program that extracts the text data 20 from the e-mail and attaches the generated sound source data to the original e-mail and sends it to the network. For example, Sendmail (registered commercial) software that may be used in a mail server is used. The method for generating sound source data in the mail server 52 is the same as the procedure described with reference to FIG.

  By the way, in order to attach the sound source data corresponding to the user attribute, the mail server 52 needs to store the attribute table 132. The mail server 52 stores the attribute table 132 by registering from each user, or by the attribute determination means 22 determining the user attribute from the text data 20 of the e-mail and storing it in the attribute table 132. There is a way to keep it.

  Since the user attribute determined by the attribute determination unit 22 is the user attribute of the user who sent the email, the attribute registration unit 23 registers the user attribute in association with the user identification information, and the user Refer to the user attribute stored in advance when it becomes the transmission destination. Whichever method is adopted, the sound riser 31 of the mail server 52 can attach the sound source data to the e-mail according to the user attribute of the user to whom the e-mail is transmitted.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in which the music output device 200 of the mail server 52 attaches sound source data.

  First, the service program 48 receives an e-mail (S210). The text of the e-mail is, for example, “I went to eat ramen in a typhoon”. Then, the service program 48 determines whether or not the music addition request information is transmitted together with the electronic mail (S220).

  If there is no music addition request information (No in S220), the service program 48 transmits the e-mail as it is to the receiving terminal 54 (S260).

  When there is music addition request information (Yes in S220), the service program 48 extracts the text data 20 in the e-mail and sends it to the sound riser 31. The sound riser 31 extracts the user attribute of the destination user of the e-mail from the attribute table 132 (S230). For example, male user attributes are extracted.

Then, the sound riser 31 extracts music data corresponding to the music word from the music word DB 36, and generates sound source data (S240). For typhoon and ramen music words, the sound source data extracted by the male user attribute is “bubu bu bun” and “zuru zuru”, respectively.
Since the mail server 52 can have a relatively large-capacity music word DB 36, it may be configured to directly extract sound source data corresponding to the music word.

  Next, the service program 48 attaches the sound source data to the e-mail and deletes the music addition request information from the e-mail (S250). By deleting the music addition request information, it is possible to prevent unnecessary information from being transmitted to the receiving terminal 54. The service program 48 transmits an e-mail attached with sound source data (S260). As described above, the sound source data corresponding to the user attribute is transmitted to the receiving terminal 54 together with the electronic mail.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the receiving terminal 54 receives sound source data together with an e-mail and outputs music as a ringtone.

  When the mobile phone is turned on, the application software (e-mail software) 27 of the receiving terminal 54 repeats the determination of whether there is an incoming e-mail (S310). When the e-mail arrives, the application software 27 determines whether or not sound source data is attached to the e-mail (S320). Whether or not sound source data is attached is determined by whether or not an attached file with a predetermined extension is attached.

  When the sound source data is not attached to the e-mail (No in S320), the application software 27 outputs a preset ringtone from the speaker 35 (S340).

  If sound source data is attached to the e-mail (Yes in S320), the application software 27 outputs music based on the attached sound source data (S330). In other words, the music “Bumbu Bun” and “Suzuzuru” are output from the speaker 35 of the receiving terminal 54. Thereby, music according to the content of the e-mail can be output as a ring tone, and the content of the e-mail can be imaged by the ring tone. In addition, since music corresponding to the user attribute of the recipient can be output, it becomes easier to grasp the contents.

  In this embodiment, the sound source data attached to the e-mail is output as a ring tone. However, when the sound source data is attached, a preset ring tone is output and the e-mail is opened. Music may be output using the attached sound source data.

<Example of control of dynamic font device by user attribute>
Characters, pictograms, numerical values, and symbols (hereinafter simply referred to as characters) displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal display have no change in outline. For example, when a character “fire” is displayed at a certain position, “fire” is displayed. The arrangement, thickness, and shape of some of the outlines of the characters are not changed.

  In order to give movement to the displayed characters, it is possible to replace the bitmap format illustration with the character composition changed step by step like a picture-story show, but illustrations of characters with different composition as the same character If you prepare a large number of images, the storage capacity will be reduced.

  The dynamic font device 300 according to the present embodiment can realize a variety of expression methods by causing the displayed characters to move without increasing the storage capacity.

  FIG. 27 is an example of a functional configuration diagram of the dynamic font device 300. The dynamic font device 300 records the rasterizer 33, the display 114, the font data DB 32, the operation setting file 63 that defines the operation content of each character, the timer 61 that informs the rasterizer 33 of the elapsed time, and the operation content of each character. A memory 62. The rasterizer 33 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of the font data DB 32. FIG. 28A shows a character code associated with a predetermined character, a basic element code serving as a basic element among the elements constituting the character, and updated with the passage of time among elements constituting the character. Element code, which is a constituent element (symbol element), basic element code shape information, and element shape information are stored in association with each other.

  According to the example of FIG. 28A, one or more of the element codes F041, F042, F043, and F044 are displayed as one character with respect to the basic element code F040.

  FIG. 28B shows an example in which characters are generated and displayed in a bitmap format based on the basic element code F040 and the element code F044 in the character code 898A corresponding to the character “fire”, for example. In this case, the basic element shape 71 and the element shape 75 in FIG. 28A are combined, and the letters “fire” are generated and displayed.

  Thus, since the font data DB 32 stores one basic element code and a plurality of element codes in association with one character code, it can be displayed in various configurations while being the same character code. It becomes. Further, since only the basic element code shape information is stored, the storage capacity can be saved. The basic element shape information and the element shape information are described by outline data.

  The font data DB 32 of this embodiment further stores element shape information in association with user attributes. FIG. 29 shows an example of the font data DB 32 having element shape information associated with user attributes. In FIG. 29, an age group is used as an example of user attributes.

  Regardless of the user attribute, a single character is associated with multiple element codes, so it is possible to make the character move in any age group. Also, the element shape of 41 years old or older is thicker and longer, and it has a structure with excellent visibility.

  Next, the operation setting file 63 will be described. FIG. 30A is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation setting file 63. In FIG. 30A, color, size, update time, display position, and rotation are associated with each element code. The color is the color when the corresponding element code is displayed, the size is the size when the corresponding element code is displayed, the update time is the period during which the corresponding element code is displayed, and the display position is the corresponding element code Rotation indicates the rotation speed of the symbol element when the corresponding element code is displayed. Appropriate units are used for the units of size, update time, display position, and rotation.

  Accordingly, the symbol elements that are part of the characters are displayed for the time set in the update time, and when the update time has elapsed, the rasterizer 33 generates a symbol element based on the element code to be displayed next, and Update characters. By updating the symbol elements constituting the character, the character can be moved.

  FIG. 30B shows a state in which the character “fire” is updated with time when the element code is updated in the order of F041, F042, F043, and F044 in the character “fire”. In FIG. 30 (b), default values that have already been set are adopted for the setting contents of color, size, display position, and rotation. These items may be displayed as individually set values.

  In FIG. 30B, a character 76 is a character displayed by combining F040 and F041, a character 77 is a combination of F040 and F042, a character 78 is a combination of F040 and F043, and a character 79 is a combination of F040 and F044. Each character is updated at an update time, for example, every 5 seconds, in a state where the color is black, the size is 10, the display position is coordinates (X1, Y1), and the character is not rotated.

  Next, a case where movement is set for characters in a document will be described. FIG. 31 shows an example of a GUI when the operation is set for the character “fire” in the text data 20 input to the application software. This GUI is provided by executing a program.

  The application software 27 may be software that can input characters, such as word processing software. When setting the operation for the characters “fire”, the pop-up window 80 is opened by, for example, placing the mouse 113 on “fire” and right-clicking.

  When the pop-up window 80 is opened, the basic element code and the shape of the symbol element based on each element code are displayed. Since there are columns for setting the color, position, size, rotation, time, etc. for each symbol element, these are set for each symbol element. Although not shown, if a setting item for activating only an element to be displayed is provided, only a symbol element based on a specific element code can be repeatedly displayed. The pop-up window 80 is merely an example and can be set by various setting methods.

  The color, position, size, rotation, and time displayed in the pop-up window 80 of FIG. 31 correspond to the setting items of the operation setting file 63 shown in FIG. Therefore, the setting contents set in the pop-up window 80 are stored in the setting items of the operation setting file 63 shown in FIG. 30 at a predetermined timing.

  In this embodiment, the color, position, size, rotation, and time are freely set. However, a presettable value may be determined and selected. In the case of selection, a selectable value is set in advance in each setting item of the operation setting file 63 of FIG.

  In the pop-up window 80 of FIG. 31, there are items for setting the color, position, size, rotation, and time for the basic element, but in this embodiment, the basic element is not set.

  If the setting in the pop-up window 80 is associated with the setting coordinates of each setting item in the operation setting file 63 in FIG. 30, a series of operations of the current character can be specified. That is, in the pop-up window 80, the setting of F041 is black for the color, the size is 10, the update time is 5, the display position is (x1, y1), the rotation is 0π, and the setting for F042 is the color black and the size is 10 The update time is 5, the display position is (x1, y1), the rotation is 0π, and the setting of F043 is black, the size is 10, the update time is 5, the display position is (x1, y1), the rotation is 0π, The setting of F044 is assumed that the color is black, the size is 10, the update time is 5, the display position is (x1, y1), and the rotation is 0π.

  This series of operation contents is expressed using the set coordinates of the operation setting file 63 of FIG. In FIG. 30, columns with numbers 1 to 4 are provided for each of color, size, update time, display position, and rotation, and change patterns of color, size, update time, display position, and rotation are indicated by numbers. Specify with. For example, in FIG. 30, black is set in the column of color number 1. Using this number (coordinates), each setting of color, size, update time, display position, and rotation is expressed as (1, 1, 1, 1, 1). Therefore, for example, when the setting of F041 is “color is black, size is 10, update time is 5, display position is (x1, y1), rotation is 0π”, this is changed to F041 (1, 1, 1, 1,1). Of course, the number of setting items may be four or more.

  Also, “F041 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) is followed by F042 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1), and then F043 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) is displayed. Then, for example, an operation ID is used to specify a series of operations “display F044 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1)”. The series of operation contents can be specified by the operation ID. The current operation ID 81 in FIG. 31 specifies the current operation content of the word “fire”. The actual operation content can be confirmed by clicking the preview button 82.

  When the operation content is set in the pop-up window 80, the operation content is attached to the file of the text data 20 as the metadata 69 of the text data 20.

  FIG. 32 shows an example of the metadata 69. 32, the application name indicates the name of the application software 27 that displays the text data 20, and the file name indicates the file name of the text data 20 (file name to which the metadata 69 is attached).

  The character code is, for example, a character code of “fire”, and the basic element code is a code of a symbol element that is a basic element among the elements constituting the character “fire” shown in FIG. .

  The action ID is an item set for specifying a series of actions as shown in FIG. 31, and the display contents are the action contents specified by the action ID displayed in the coordinates of the action setting file 63 in FIG. It is a thing. 32, the display content “F041 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) → F042 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) → F043 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) → F044 (1, “→” in “1, 1, 1, 1)” represents the order of operations. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 32, F041 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1), F042 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1), F043 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1), F044 (1 The display contents are updated in the order of 1, 1, 1, 1). The character code ID is an item for identifying a specific character when a plurality of the same characters exist in the same file.

  Some display contents may be determined, and an operation ID for specifying the display contents may be associated with a user attribute. FIG. 33 shows an example of an attribute operation setting file 68 in which an operation ID is associated with a user attribute.

  Appropriate display contents are determined in advance for each user attribute, and are identified by the operation ID, whereby the user attribute is associated with the display content in the attribute operation setting file 68. The user attributes are age group, gender, birthplace, nationality, religion, annual income group, and the like. For example, when the age group is a user attribute, different operation IDs are associated with 1 to 40 years old and 41 years old or older. For example, at 1 to 40 years old, characters are displayed in a colorful manner, or the update time per element shape is shortened. For those over 41 years of age, the size per element shape is increased and set to a color that is easy to see. Therefore, the movement of characters can be made variable according to user attributes.

  Based on the above configuration, the operation procedure of the dynamic font device 300 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The operation procedure of FIG. 34 starts when the application software 27 is activated, for example.

  First, when the application software 27 in FIG. 27 is executed and a predetermined file including the text data 20 is opened, the rasterizer 33 extracts user attributes from the attribute table 132 (S400). Next, the metadata 69 attached to the file is acquired from the application software 27 (S410).

  When the metadata 69 is acquired, the rasterizer 33 identifies the application name and file name set in the metadata 69 and registers them in the timer 61 and the memory 62 (S420).

  FIG. 36 shows a registration example of the timer 61 and the memory 62 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 36A, the memory 62 for recording and updating the operation content of each character specifies, for example, the application name and file name, and the character code of the character in which movement is set in the text data 20 , Character code ID, symbol element color, size, time, position, rotation, and current registration information. Further, the basic element code and the shape information corresponding to the element code are registered in the memory 62. Here, the color, size, time, position, and rotation correspond to the setting items of the operation setting file 63 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 36B, the timer 61 for notifying the rasterizer 33 of the elapsed time and the like includes, for example, a character code ID, a basic element code, an element code, a moving speed, and a count value. The character code ID, basic element code, and element code specify the currently displayed character, the time indicates the period during which the symbol element is displayed, and the count value increases with the passage of time as the timer 61 clocks up. This is the current update time that is accumulated.

  Therefore, when the metadata 69 is input, first, a character code, a character code ID, and a basic element code are registered in the memory 62. Further, the shape information corresponding to the code is registered in the memory 62 with reference to the font data DB 32 (S430). Thereby, the rasterizer 33 can specify the shape of the character by referring to the memory 62.

  Further, since the metadata 69 designates the display contents of each character by the operation ID, the rasterizer 33 refers to the operation setting file 63 so that the memory 62 stores the color, size, time, position, and rotation for each element code. It can be set (S440). Thereby, the rasterizer 33 can specify the color, size, time, position, and rotation of each symbol element.

  The element code currently being displayed is specified by a method of setting a flag in the memory 62. In FIG. 36A, “*” is added as a flag to the element code being displayed.

  Based on these registered contents in the memory 62, the rasterizer 33 switches the display of specific characters. The initial character setting is specified based on the first symbol element of the display contents of the metadata 69, for example, F041 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) in FIG. 32 (S450).

  When the character in the initial state is specified, the rasterizer 33 generates bitmap data of the character based on the basic element code extracted according to the user attribute and the element shape information of the element code as shown in FIG. It outputs to 114 (S460). As a result, characters in the initial state suitable for the user attribute are displayed.

  When the rasterizer 33 outputs the bitmap data, the rasterizer 33 resets the count value of the output element code counted by the timer 61 to 0 (S470). Thereby, counting of the display period of the output element code is started. The counting may be performed by referring to a clock built in the computer or the like, or a clock of the CPU 127 may be used.

  The rasterizer 33 determines whether or not there is a display end command for the displayed text data 20 (S480). If there is a display end command (Yes in S480), the target is selected from the timer 61 and the memory 62. The registered content of the file is reset, and the processing for this file is terminated (S530). In FIG. 35, it is determined whether or not the display is finished at the timing of step S480, but the timing of interrupting the rasterizer 33 is not limited to step S480.

  While the counting is continued, the timer 61 periodically compares the time shown in FIG. 36B with the count value (S490). When the count value is counted up beyond the registered time, the timer 61 notifies the rasterizer 33 that the predetermined period has passed together with the character code ID.

  When notified that the predetermined period has elapsed, the rasterizer 33 searches for the corresponding character code ID from the contents registered in the memory 62, and among the character code IDs, the element next to the element code currently displayed is displayed. A code is specified (S500). When the element code is specified, the registered information of the element shape information, color, size, time, position, and rotation is also specified. Based on these information, the rasterizer 33 creates bitmap data and sends it to the display 114. Output (S510). At this time, the element code currently displayed in FIG. 36A is switched to the next element code.

  When bitmap data or the like is output, the rasterizer 33 deletes the element code that has been displayed so far from the contents of the timer 61 in FIG. Then, the count value of the replaced element code is reset to 0 (S520).

  As described above, the dynamic font device 300 can give movement to characters to be displayed. Since the shape and movement of characters are controlled according to user attributes, appropriate movements can be given to user attributes such as age groups.

  In this embodiment, when a file attached with metadata 69 is transmitted by e-mail or the like, if the recipient has the same rasterizer 33, font data DB 32, and operation setting file 63, the character movement is similarly performed. Can be reproduced. It may be applied to the email itself. If the recipient does not have these environments, the stationary character is displayed based on the character code, so there is no problem.

In the case where the motion is given to the picture instead of the character In the dynamic font apparatus 300, the case where the character is given a motion as a symbol has been described. However, the picture or icon can be given a motion. In the following description, the term “picture element” will be used for explanation, and a picture element means an element of a picture constituting one picture. For example, if there is a picture of a human face, the picture of the eyes and nose that make up the face is a picture element. In addition, when there is a picture displaying only eyes, the picture is composed of one picture element. Thus, there is no clear distinction between pictures and picture elements. The functional configuration diagram of the dynamic font device 300 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 37 shows an example of the font data DB 32 for picture elements. The font data DB 32 specifies a picture element by a picture element code like a character and has picture element shape information for each picture element.

  The classification shown in FIG. 37 is a group name for classifying each picture element name. The picture element name is the name of each picture element and is specified by a picture element code. Each picture element has picture element shape information that determines the shape of the picture element. For example, the picture element code M040 represents a car. When M040 is designated, a car 83 is displayed as an example of the picture element shape of the car. Similarly, if the picture element code B013 is designated, the bridge 84 is displayed as an example of bridge shape information, and if the picture element code H024 is designated, a heart mark 85 is displayed as an example of heart shape information.

  Further, the picture element shape information is registered in association with the user attribute. In FIG. 37, male and female are used as user attributes. Therefore, for example, even in the car 83, a picture of a sports car can be registered for a male and a light picture can be registered for a female, so that a picture appropriate for the user attribute can be displayed.

  The rasterizer 33 generates the shape of the picture element in the same manner as the character. Therefore, the font data DB 32 includes character information in addition to the picture element information of FIG.

  Next, a setting example when designating display of picture elements on the application software 27 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 38A shows a state where a pop-up window 80 for picture elements is opened by, for example, right-clicking on the application software 27 and setting contents are input. FIG. 38A shows a pop-up example of the setting.

  “B013, FULL, fixed” shown in the upper part of FIG. 38 (a) indicates that the picture element displayed with the picture element code B013 is displayed in a fixed state at the maximum size (FULL) on the screen. means. In addition, “M040, 30 × 20, (A, 09) to (06,09), 5” shown in the lower part of FIG. 38A represents a picture element displayed by the picture element code M040 as 30 × 20. It means that the coordinates (A, 09) to (06, 09) are updated and displayed every 5 seconds. In this way, for example, if it is defined that the display of a picture element can be specified in the form of “picture element code, size, display range, update time”, it becomes possible to easily specify a motion in a picture.

  FIG. 38B shows a picture displayed as a result of the setting shown in FIG. The picture element of the bridge specified by the picture element code of B013 is displayed at the maximum on the screen, and the picture element of the car specified by M040 is 30 × 20 in size from the coordinates (A, 09) to the coordinates (06, 09). In FIG. 38 (b), there seem to be three cars, but this shows a state in which the cars are updated every 5 seconds, and actually one car is displayed to move at the same time.

  Also, the numerical values on the upper and right sides in FIG. 38 (b) display coordinates for explanation, and are not displayed on an actual application.

  38 can be attached to the text data 20 (file) of the application software 27 in the same manner as characters. FIG. 39 shows an example of metadata 69 for a picture element. Note that the contents of FIG. 39 are registered in the memory 62 in the same manner as characters.

  In FIG. 39, the update time is set according to the user attribute. When age is a user attribute, the picture element M040 is updated every 3 seconds for users 1 to 40 years old, and updated every 5 seconds for users 41 years and older. If the update time is set in this way, different movements can be shown according to user attributes.

  The rasterizer 33 uses the coordinates “(A, 09) → (06, 09)” set in the movement range, for example, using the coordinates on the upper and right sides of FIG. (09,09) (08,09) (07,09) (06,09) are expanded and registered in the memory 62.

  Similarly, the pixel code, size, and update time are registered. Color, size, time, and rotation are fixed, and only the position is expanded. Therefore, according to the contents registered in the memory 62, the rasterizer 33 can display the picture elements of the car by changing the coordinates every 5 seconds.

  In FIG. 38, only the size, coordinates, and update time can be set, but in addition to this, contents such as color and rotation may be set.

  In this way, the picture included in the text data 20 can be moved by configuring the picture with picture elements. Since picture elements are stored as outline data, the file capacity can be saved more than bitmap data. By combining these picture elements, rich expressions can be realized. For example, when a motion is applied to a picture element constituting an emoticon and transmitted by e-mail or the like, if the recipient has the same rasterizer 33 and font data DB 32, the motion of the emoticon can be reproduced. In the case of a picture element, the operation setting file 63 may not be provided. In addition, since the movement changes even with the same picture element according to the user attribute, various expressions can be provided to the user according to the user attribute.

... Display combining characters and picture elements Although the dynamic font device 300 that gives movement to each of the characters and picture elements has been described, movement may be made by combining characters and picture elements.

  FIG. 40 shows an example of the font data DB 32. The font data DB 32 shown in FIG. 40 is composed of basic element codes and their shape information, element codes and their shape information, which constitute the character shape, and further has a pixel code and its shape information that can be displayed together with the characters.

  For example, in FIG. 40, when the character designated by the character code 611B is “love”, the heart mark designated by the picture element code H024 is registered as a picture element that can be displayed together with love.

  The picture element code is registered in association with only the characters displayed together with the picture element. A plurality of picture element codes may be registered in one character.

  Similarly to the character “fire”, the character “love” is composed of symbol elements generated based on basic element shape information and one or more element shape information. However, here, a display mode in which a picture element is superimposed on the entire character “love”, not the basic element shape information and the element shape information, will be described.

  A description will be given based on an input screen in the application software 27. FIG. 41A shows an input example when an operation is set for a picture element and a character on the application software 27. In FIG. 41A, the same components as those in FIG.

  For example, when the mouse 113 is placed on the word “love” and right-clicked, the pop-up window 80 in FIG. 41 is opened. When the pop-up window 80 is opened, the shape of the picture element based on the picture element code and the shape of the character based on the original character code are displayed. Accordingly, the color, position, size, rotation, time, etc. can be set for each character or picture element.

  The color, position, size, rotation, and time of the picture elements displayed in the pop-up window 80 in FIG. 41A correspond to the setting items in the operation setting file 63 shown in FIG. Therefore, the setting contents set in the pop-up window 80 are stored in the setting items of the operation setting file 63 shown in FIG. 30 at a predetermined timing. As is apparent from the present embodiment, the operation setting file 63 can be used without changing the configuration even when displaying a combination of picture elements and characters.

  When the operation content is set in the pop-up window 80, the operation content is recorded in the metadata 69 and attached to a file opened by the application software 27.

  FIG. 41B shows an example of the metadata 69. In FIG. 41B, the application name indicates the name of the application software in which the movement of the word “love” is set, and the file name indicates the file name of the text data 20 to which the metafile is attached.

  Here, the character code is a character code of “love”, and the basic element code is a code of a symbol element which is a basic element among elements constituting the character shown in the font data DB 32 of FIG.

  The action ID is an item set to specify a series of actions, and the display content is the action content specified by the action ID displayed in the coordinates of the action setting file 63 as in FIG. . The character code ID is an identification number for specifying a character when there are a plurality of the same characters in the same file.

  According to the display content of FIG. 41 (b), “H024 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) → H024 (1, 2, 1, 1, 1) → H024 (1, 3, 1, 1, 1) → H024 (1, 4, 1, 1, 1) ”. This indicates that the size of the picture element of the heart mark specified by H024 changes (becomes larger).

  Thereafter, since the heart mark is displayed so as to be superimposed on the character, it is displayed after a process of combining the character “love” and the generated heart mark.

  In FIG. 41 (c), for the character love, the picture element of the heart mark is “H024 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) → H024 (1, 2, 1, 1, 1) → H024 (1, 3, 1, 1, 1) → H024 (1, 4, 1, 1, 1) ”. FIG. 41C shows a sentence “I love you!” Every 5 seconds in order from the top. The heart mark grows every 5 seconds, superimposed on the love of the text data 20 "I love you!" You may set operation | movement to the symbol element which comprises the character of "love" with a heart mark.

  Therefore, since characters and picture elements can be displayed in combination and the characters and picture elements can be moved, the expression method is further improved. Also, since the picture element can be changed according to the user attribute, an expression that matches the user's preference is possible.

... When a plurality of characters have movements The dynamic font device 300 has been described in which each character and one picture element have movements. However, a plurality of characters or a plurality of picture elements have movement. It may be allowed. Hereinafter, a plurality of characters or a plurality of picture elements are referred to as motion setting words.

  FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the dynamic font device 300. 42, the same components as those in FIG. 27 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 42 differs from FIG. 27 in that it has a display method definition file 70. A configuration example of the display method definition file 70 is shown in FIG. According to FIG. 43, a plurality of motion setting words are registered in the display method definition file 70, and display contents and update times are registered in advance for each motion setting word. That is, the display method definition file 70 is a file in which information for giving motion to the entire motion setting word is set for a predetermined motion setting word based on display contents.

  For example, when the character string “jump” exists in the text data 20 opened by the application software 27, the rasterizer 33 displays the display associated with “jump” from the display method definition file 70 according to the user attribute. Extract content and update time.

  Since the characters themselves are the same even if there is a movement, for the sake of explanation, the symbol “jump (L) → jump (R)” is added to the jump display contents “jump → jump”. For example, in the case of 1 to 41 years old, the “jump (L)” on the left side gradually increases in size toward the right of the motion setting word, and the “jump (R)” on the right side is on the right of the motion setting word. The size is gradually getting smaller as you go further. Therefore, when the display content is executed, the “jump” displayed on the display 114 is displayed as alternating jumps (L) and jumps (R), and appears to move up.

  Specifically, the rasterizer 33 expands the motion setting word “jump” to the characters “ji”, “ja”, “n”, “p”, and expands the four characters from “di (L)” to “di”. (R) "," A (L) "to" A (R) "," N (L) "to" N (R) "," P (L) "to" P (R) ", By updating at the same time, it is possible to give movement to the entire motion setting word called jump.

  A state in which the motion setting word “jump” is updated and displayed will be described with reference to the contents registered in the memory 62.

  FIG. 44 shows a registration example in which the motion setting word “jump” is registered in the memory 62. The rasterizer 33 expands the jump of the display method definition file 70 into each character, and sets the color, size, and update time. At this time, the currently displayed flag is set for all the characters currently displayed or the characters displayed in the initial state. Thereafter, each time an update time elapses from the timer 61 and an interrupt occurs, a character having the same character code as the currently displayed character is detected, and character bitmap data is generated and updated with the setting contents of the character. .

  For example, in FIG. 44, since the upper four characters “G”, “A”, “N”, and “P” are displayed, when the update time elapses, the lower 4 of the same character code is displayed. Bitmap data of the characters “G”, “A”, “N”, and “P” is generated and updated.

Note that the display method definition file 70 can be registered through a pop-up window 80. For example, when a motion is registered in “jump” of the text data 20, the following setting is made.
-Select “Jump” (this will be highlighted).
Start the editing program for the display method definition file 70.
・ Set “jump” for each of L and R in the display contents. In the case of FIG. 44, the character sizes of “J”, “A”, “N”, and “P” may be specified.
・ Set the update time.

  In this way, a richer expression can be achieved by giving movement to the entire motion setting word. In addition, since the motion of the motion setting word can be made variable according to the user attribute, an expression that matches the user's preference is possible.

  As described above, by determining the user attributes of the creator of the text data 20 or the user such as the information processing apparatus 111, it is possible to control various devices according to the user attributes. For example, the music output device 200 can change the music according to the user attribute, and the dynamic font device 300 can change the movement according to the user attribute, so that the usability of the device can be improved.

It is a figure which shows an example of the information processing apparatus which determines a user attribute. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of information processing apparatus. It is an example of a functional block diagram of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the function block diagram of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of attribute determination DB. It is a figure which shows the detailed example of attribute determination DB. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the procedure in which an attribute determination means determines a user attribute. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the procedure which determines the user attribute in the attribute classification of an age group. It is a figure which shows an example of an attribute table. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of a printing system having an information processing apparatus and an MFP. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of a printing system having an information processing apparatus and an MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the function block diagram of a music output device. It is a figure which shows an example of the font data and music data which are stored in font data DB. It is a figure which shows an example of font data DB with which the user attribute was matched and the music data were memorize | stored. It is a figure which shows an example of the music data registered into music data DB. It is a figure which shows an example of music word DB by which the music data with which the user attribute was matched were memorize | stored. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of the process which outputs a music using the text data into which the music output device was input. It is a figure which shows an example of GUI which e-mail software starts and is displayed on a display. It is a figure which shows an example of music word DB which has a priority. It is a figure which shows an example of the priority order setting screen displayed on a display. It is an example of the functional block diagram of the music output device which outputs the ringtone of an electronic mail according to a music word. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence which outputs the music corresponding to the music word which an electronic mail contains instead of a ringtone, when a music output device receives an electronic mail. 1 is an example of an overall configuration diagram of an electronic mail delivery system. It is an example of the block diagram of the music output device mounted in the mail server. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence which the music output device of a mail server attaches sound source data. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure in which a receiving terminal receives sound source data with an email, and outputs music as a ringtone. It is an example of the functional block diagram of a dynamic font apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of font data DB. It is a figure which shows an example of font data DB which has element shape information matched with the user attribute. It is a figure which shows an example of an operation setting file. It is a figure which shows an example of GUI in the case of setting operation | movement about the character "fire" among the text data input into application software. It is a figure which shows an example of metadata. It is a figure which shows an example of the attribute corresponding | compatible operation | movement setting file which matched operation | movement ID with the user attribute. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of a dynamic font apparatus. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of a dynamic font apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of a timer and memory. It is a figure which shows an example of the font data DB of a pixel. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting in the case of designating the display of a picture element on application software. It is a figure which shows an example of the metadata with respect to a pixel. It is a figure which shows an example of font data DB. It is a figure which shows the example of an input in the case of setting operation | movement to a pixel and a character on application software. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a dynamic font apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a display method regulation file. It is a figure which shows the example of registration which motion setting word "jump" was registered into memory.

Explanation of symbols

20 Text data 21 IM
22 Attribute determining means 23 Attribute registering means 24 UI control means 25 Font changing means 26 Character string extracting means 27 Application software 31 Sound riser 32 Font data DB
33 Rasterizer 36 Music Word DB
61 timer 62 memory 63 operation setting file 68 attribute operation setting file 69 metadata 70 display method specification file
80 pop-up window 111 information processing device 114 display 131 attribute determination DB
132 Attribute Table 133 Program 141 MFP
200 Music output device 300 Dynamic font device

Claims (23)

An information processing apparatus for determining the group to which a creator of character data belongs in a feature category that characterizes a human by a plurality of groups,
Character data input means for inputting the character data of a plurality of characters;
A character string storage means for storing a character string in association with the group;
Attribute determination means for referring to the group of the character string storage means associated with the character string input by the character data input means and for determining the group to which the creator in the predetermined feature category belongs; ,
An information processing apparatus comprising: Group storage means for storing the group of the creator;
Group registration means for registering the group determined by the attribute determination means in the group storage means for each feature category;
An information processing apparatus comprising: When the feature category is an age group having the elderly and other groups,
The attribute determination means includes a predetermined number or more of second-level kanji characters included in the character data input by the character data input means or a second-level kanji character at a predetermined ratio or more. And determining that the creator belongs to the group of seniors,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. If the feature category is gender with the group of men and women;
The attribute determination means determines that the creator belongs to the group of women when the character data input by the character data input means includes a predetermined number or more of pictographs.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the feature category is an age group having a plurality of age categories as the group,
The character string storage means stores the character string used by the creator of each of the age categories more frequently than the creator of the other age categories in association with the age category. And
The attribute determination means counts the number of the character strings stored in the character string storage means among the character strings included in the character data input by the character data input means for each age category, The creator determines that it belongs to the age category with the largest counted number,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. In the case where the feature category is a place of birth with a predetermined area in the country as the group,
The character string storage means stores the character string used by the creator of each of the predetermined areas more frequently than the creator of the other predetermined areas in association with the predetermined area. And
The attribute determination means counts the number of the character strings stored in the character string storage means among the character strings included in the character data input by the character data input means for each predetermined area, The creator determines that it belongs to the predetermined area with the largest counted number.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Control means for controlling the information processing apparatus according to the group of the creator registered in the group storage means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: When the feature category is an age group having an elderly person and the other group, and the group of the creator registered in the group storage means is an elderly person,
UI control means for making the size of characters displayed on the display device larger than a predetermined value;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: When the characteristic category is a gender having the group of men and women, and the group of the creator registered in the group storage means is a woman,
A font changing means for changing a font of characters displayed on the display device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: In a sound output device that outputs sound,
Group storage means for storing the group to which the user of the sound output device belongs in a feature category characterizing a human by a plurality of groups;
An input means for inputting a symbol code for identifying the symbol;
A font database storing symbol drawing information corresponding to the symbol code and first music data stored in association with the symbol code and the group;
Symbol display means for displaying a symbol on a display device based on the drawing information corresponding to the symbol code;
Music output means for outputting music from a speaker based on the symbol code and the first music data corresponding to the group;
A sound output device comprising: Music data storage means for storing a music word code of a music word composed of a plurality of symbols and second music data stored in association with the group;
Symbol display means for displaying a symbol on a display device based on the drawing information corresponding to the symbol code;
The music output means outputs music from a speaker based on the music word code and the second music data corresponding to the group stored in the group storage means.
The sound output device according to claim 10. The input means is a keyboard, and the symbol code or the music word code is input from the keyboard.
The sound output device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the sound output device is a sound output device. The symbol code or the music word code is input from a data file of application software.
The sound output device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the sound output device is a sound output device. Receiving means for receiving an email containing the music word code;
Means for determining whether or not the second music data corresponding to the music word code included in the email is stored in the music data storage means;
When the second music data corresponding to the music word code is stored in the music data storage means,
The music output means outputs music generated based on the second music data as a ringtone of the e-mail,
When the second music data corresponding to the music word code is not stored in the music data storage means, the ring tone of the e-mail is output.
The sound output device according to claim 10. In a symbol display device for generating and displaying symbols,
Group storage means for storing the group to which the user of the symbol display device belongs in a feature category that characterizes a human by a plurality of groups;
An input means for inputting a symbol code for identifying the symbol;
Font data storage means for storing symbol font data including a plurality of element data of predetermined symbol elements constituting all or part of the symbol image in association with the group;
In accordance with the group stored in the group storage unit, an image creation unit that creates a symbol image with reference to font data stored in the font data storage unit;
Display means for displaying an image created by the image creation means on a display device;
The image creating means reads a plurality of element data of the symbol element in order for each set update time, and updates the image of the symbol for each update time.
A symbol display device characterized by that. The font data storage means includes
The outline data of the picture elements that are elements constituting the picture is stored in association with the picture element code and the group,
The image creating means reads out the outline data of the picture elements in order for each set update time according to the group stored in the group storage means, and updates the image of the picture element at every update time.
The symbol display device according to claim 15. Color information indicating the color of the symbol element;
Size information indicating the size of the symbol element; position information indicating a relative position of the symbol element with respect to the symbol;
Rotation information indicating the rotation angle of the symbol element, or
Update time information indicating the update time of the symbol element;
An operation setting file storage means for storing an operation setting file prescribed in any one of
The symbol display device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized by comprising: When the symbol code is included in the application software data file,
The data file is
Color information indicating the color of the symbol element;
Size information indicating the size of the symbol element Position information indicating the relative position of the symbol element with respect to the symbol,
Rotation information instructing rotation of the symbol element or the picture element, or
Update time information indicating the update time of the symbol element;
Having first metadata defining any of
The symbol display device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized by the above. The data file is
In association with the motion setting word consisting of a plurality of symbols and the group, a second meta in which at least a part of the symbols of the motion setting word is registered with either two or more symbol codes, size, or update time. Have data,
The image creating means reads out font data of symbols constituting the motion setting word at each update time according to the group stored in the group storage means, and images of the symbols constituting the motion setting word. Update,
The symbol display device according to claim 18. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image of document data and prints it on paper,
Along with the document data
Group information receiving means for receiving group information of the group to which a user of the image forming apparatus belongs in a feature category characterizing a human by a plurality of groups;
Control means for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the group information received by the group information receiving means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Having display means for displaying characters;
When the feature category is an age group having an elderly person and the other group, and the group of the group information received by the group receiving means is an elderly person,
The control unit increases the size of characters to be displayed on the display device above a predetermined value.
21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: A device user attribute determination method for determining the group to which a user of the device belongs in a feature category characterizing a human by a plurality of groups,
Inputting character data from the character data input means;
The attribute determination unit refers to the group associated with the character string included in the character data input by the character data input unit from the character string storage unit that stores the character string in association with the group. Determining the group to which the creator in the predetermined feature category belongs,
A user attribute determination method characterized by comprising: A program for determining the group of users of the computer in a feature category that characterizes a human by a plurality of groups,
Character data input means for inputting the character data, character string storage means for storing a character string in association with the group, and the connectable computer,
With reference to the group of the character string storage means associated with the character string included in the character data input by the character data input means, the group to which the creator in the predetermined feature category belongs Attribute determination means for determining,
Program to function as.

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