JP2018207169A - Apparatus controller and apparatus control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique related to apparatus control capable of increasing satisfaction level of each of multiple users using the apparatus.SOLUTION: An apparatus controller 1 for recognizing the content of voice of a user, and controlling an apparatus based on the content includes a voice recognition section 11 for recognizing an adult, i.e., a permission user permitted control instruction of the content of the voice and the apparatus based on the user's voice and a child, i.e., a limitation user limited control instruction of the apparatus, a storage section 20 for storing priority ratio data 22 of the adult and child predetermined in relation to employment of control conditions of the apparatus, and a control section 10 for controlling the apparatus with control conditions corresponding to the content of voice recognized in the voice recognition section 11. When the voice recognition section 11 recognizes the voices of adult and child in a prescribed period, the control section 10 controls the apparatus by applying the priority ratio to the control conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control apparatus and a device control method.

  In recent years, remote operation by voice or remote control is used in a wide range of devices such as automobile navigation devices, televisions, air conditioners, lighting, and smartphones. In these devices, voices from a plurality of users and operations by remote controllers may compete. When operations compete, operations may be adopted in an unintended arrival order, and there is a concern that it is unusable. An example of a conventional technique related to a device control apparatus that addresses such a problem is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  The conventional remote control management device described in Patent Document 1 has a conflict determination unit that determines whether or not operation instructions of a plurality of remote control devices compete with each other, and a remote controller with a higher priority when the operation instructions conflict. A control unit that controls the controlled device in response to an operation instruction of the device. By controlling the controlled device based on the priority, even when operations are performed in parallel, the conflict is resolved and the usability is improved.

JP, 2014-110517, A

  However, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the operation instructions of other remote control devices are not reflected by corresponding to the operation instructions of the remote control device with higher priority. As a result, there has been a concern that users operating other remote control devices will be dissatisfied.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique related to device control that can increase the satisfaction of each of a plurality of users who use the device.

  An apparatus control apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus control apparatus that recognizes the contents of a user's voice and controls the apparatus based on the contents, and based on the user's voice, the contents of the voice and the user A voice recognition unit for recognizing whether the user is allowed to control the device and / or the restricted user who is restricted to control the device; and the allowable user determined in advance for adopting the control conditions of the device And a storage unit that stores a priority ratio of the restricted user, and a control unit that controls the device under the control condition corresponding to the content of the voice recognized by the voice recognition unit, and within the predetermined period When the voice recognition unit recognizes each of the allowed user's voice and the restricted user's voice, the control unit applies the priority ratio to the control condition to apply the device. Gosuru a configuration (first configuration).

  The “permitted user who is permitted to give a device control instruction” means a user who is not restricted from using the device. The “restricted user whose device control instruction is restricted” means a user who is restricted from using the device and can use only a part of the functions.

  In the device control device having the first configuration, the priority ratio is equal to the content of the voice of the allowed user and the content of the voice of the restricted user (second configuration). ).

  Further, in the device control device of the second configuration, when the content of the sound includes a numerical value as the control condition, the control unit and the numerical value of the content of the allowed user and the content A configuration (third configuration) for calculating an intermediate value of the content of the voice of the restricted user with the numerical value may be used.

  In the device control apparatus having the first to third configurations, the storage unit stores initial settings of the allowed user and the restricted user that are set in advance with respect to the numerical control conditions related to the device, and the voice The control unit is configured to control the device by applying the initial setting to the control condition when the numerical value as the control condition is not included in the content (fourth configuration). Also good.

  Further, in the device control apparatus having the first to fourth configurations, the storage unit includes a predetermined number of the permitted user and the restricted user regarding whether or not the control condition of the device is as requested by the user. The correction ratio is stored, and when the voice recognition unit recognizes either the voice of the allowed user or the voice of the restricted user within a predetermined period, the control unit determines the correction ratio as the control condition. The configuration (fifth configuration) may be applied to control the device.

  Moreover, the apparatus control apparatus of the said 1st to 5th structure WHEREIN: The structure (6th structure) by which a speech recognition part recognizes the said user's position based on the said user's said sound may be sufficient.

  In the device control apparatus having the first to sixth configurations, the control unit has a plurality of functions that can be controlled by the device, and the storage unit stores control histories of the plurality of functions by the control unit. And when the function is not included in the content of the voice, the control unit performs the control under the control condition corresponding to the content of the voice with respect to the function controlled immediately before based on the control history. A configuration (seventh configuration) for controlling the device may be used.

  Further, the input method according to the present invention is a device control apparatus that recognizes the content of a user's voice and controls the device based on the content, the step of receiving the user's utterance for a predetermined period; Recognizing whether the user is one of an allowed user who is allowed to control the device and a restricted user who is restricted to control the device; A step of determining whether or not each of the allowed user's voice and the restricted user's voice has been recognized, and when each of the allowed user's voice and the restricted user's voice is recognized within the predetermined period. Applying the priority ratio of the allowed user and the restricted user determined in advance for adopting the control condition of the device corresponding to the content of the voice, and controlling the device. A configuration (eighth configuration).

  According to the configuration of the present invention, when each of the voice of the permitted user and the voice of the restricted user is recognized, the device is controlled according to the control condition that takes into account the requirements of the permitted user and the restricted user based on the priority ratio. . Therefore, the satisfaction of each of a plurality of users who use the device can be increased.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the apparatus control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the apparatus control process by the apparatus control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the apparatus control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the apparatus control process by the apparatus control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the apparatus control apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the apparatus control process by the apparatus control apparatus of 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following contents.

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1. Configuration of device control device>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a device control apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The device control apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 and a storage unit 20 shown in FIG.

  The device control device 1 can be incorporated into a navigation device 100 provided in a vehicle, for example. The navigation device 100 includes, for example, a voice input unit 101, an audio device 102, and a television device 103. Further, for example, an air conditioner 201 is separately provided in the vehicle. The device control apparatus 1 is electrically connected to the audio input unit 101, the audio apparatus 102, the television apparatus 103, and the air conditioner 201. The voice input unit may be provided in the device control apparatus 1 itself.

  The device control apparatus 1 accepts a voice input from a user via a voice input unit 101 configured with a microphone or the like. Furthermore, the device control apparatus 1 recognizes the content of the user's voice and controls devices such as the audio device 102, the television device 103, and the air conditioner 201 based on the content.

  The control unit 10 is a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown). In the control unit 10, the CPU performs arithmetic processing based on the program 21 stored in the storage unit 20, and comprehensively controls the entire device control apparatus 1.

  The control unit 10 includes a voice recognition unit 11 and a function determination unit 12 as part of functions realized by the CPU performing arithmetic processing based on the program 21.

  The voice recognition unit 11 performs voice recognition processing using the voice data acquired via the voice input unit 101. In the voice recognition process, the voice content acquired via the voice input unit 101 is compared with the voice data recorded in a voice recognition dictionary (not shown), so that the contents of the voice are based on the voice uttered by the user. Is recognized. As a result of the voice recognition processing, the voice recognition unit 11 converts the voice recognition unit 11 into a character string (text) representing the content of the voice spoken by the user.

  Further, the voice recognition unit 11 recognizes based on the user's voice whether the user is an allowed user who is allowed to control the device or a restricted user who is limited to the device control instruction. The permissible user who is permitted the instruction to control the device is a user who is not restricted from using the device provided in the vehicle, for example, an adult user. The restricted user whose device control instruction is restricted is a user who is restricted from using the device provided in the vehicle and can use only a part of the functions, for example, a child user.

  The voice recognition unit 11 can analyze a frequency component included in the voice such as the pitch of the voice. Then, based on the user's voice, the voice recognition unit 11 determines that a user having a feature of 20 years or older for either man or woman is “adult”, and designates a user having a feature of any man or woman under 20 years of age as “child”. judge. Thereby, the voice recognition unit 11 can recognize whether the speaker is an adult or a child.

  In addition to voice, it may be determined whether the speaker is an adult or a child based on the physical characteristics of the user. For example, by identifying features such as the size of the user's face and other body parts by image recognition, or by determining the weight of the user sitting on the seat of the vehicle, it is possible to determine whether the speaker is an adult or a child. It is possible to recognize.

  The function determination unit 12 determines whether or not the character string representing the voice, which is the result of the voice recognition process, corresponds to the functions of the devices such as the audio device 102, the television device 103, and the air conditioner 201 and the control conditions thereof. Furthermore, the function determination unit 12 detects a numerical value related to a set value or the like as a function control condition from a character string representing speech.

  And the control part 10 controls apparatuses, such as the audio apparatus 102, the television apparatus 103, the air conditioner 201, on the control conditions corresponding to the content of the audio | voice recognized by the audio | voice recognition part 11. FIG.

  The storage unit 20 stores priority ratio data 22 and correction ratio data 23 in addition to the program 21.

  The priority ratio data 22 is data representing the priority ratios of adults and children determined in advance regarding the adoption of the device control conditions. The priority ratio is applied to the control conditions of the device when the voice recognition unit 11 recognizes each of an adult voice and a child voice within a predetermined period.

  For example, the priority ratio of adults and children is equal to, for example, the content of adult audio and the content of children's audio. That is, when the audio device 102 and the television device 103 have numerical values related to the sound volume setting and numerical values related to the temperature setting of the air conditioner 201 included in the sound, the control unit 10 determines the numerical value spoken by the adult and the numerical value spoken by the child. The same weighting is performed for the set value.

  In addition, regarding the priority ratios of adults and children, the weighting of adults and children is the same as an example, and the weighting may be different. For example, the weight of the adult may be heavier than that of the child, and the weight of the child may be heavier than that of the adult.

  The correction ratio data 23 is data representing an adult and child correction ratio determined in advance as to whether or not the device control conditions are as requested by the user. The correction ratio is applied to the control conditions of the device when the voice recognition unit 11 recognizes either an adult voice or a child voice within a predetermined period.

  For example, when the numerical value related to the volume setting of the audio device 102 and the television device 103 or the numerical value related to the temperature setting of the air conditioner 201 is included in the voice, the control unit 10 applies 100% to the numerical value spoken by the adult. On the other hand, for example, the control unit 10 applies 50% to the numerical value spoken by the child. At this time, 50% of the difference between the current setting value of the device and the numerical value requested by the child is added to or subtracted from the current setting value of the device.

<1-2. Device control processing by device control device>
Next, the flow of device control processing by the device control apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of device control processing by the device control apparatus 1.

  For example, during activation of the navigation device 100 provided in the vehicle (“Start” in FIG. 2), the device control device 1 accepts an utterance related to the operation of the air conditioner 201 from the user via the voice input unit 101 (FIG. 2). Step S101). Subsequently, the control unit 10 uses the voice recognition unit 11 to recognize the voice content and whether it is an adult or a child from the voice spoken by the user (step S102).

  Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the air conditioner 201 is being activated (step S103). When the air conditioner 201 is not activated (No in step S103), the control unit 10 transmits a control signal related to activation to the air conditioner 201, and activates the air conditioner 201 (step S104).

  When the air conditioner 201 is activated (Yes in step S103) or activated, the control unit 10 provides a detection period for detecting whether there are utterances from a plurality of users (step S105). This detection period is, for example, 30 seconds. During this detection period, the control unit 10 detects the user's utterance using the voice recognition unit 11 (step S106), and if the utterance can be detected, the content of the voice and whether it is an adult or a child is determined based on the voice uttered by the user. Recognize (step S107).

  When 30 seconds, which are detection periods of utterances from a plurality of users, have passed, in addition to the utterances from the user (for example, the driver) received in step S101, from other users (for example, other users other than the driver) It is determined whether or not an utterance has been detected (step S108).

  When the utterance from another user is not detected within a predetermined period from the first user's utterance to the end of the utterance detection period from a plurality of users (No in step S108), the control unit 10 performs step S101. It is determined whether the user of the utterance accepted in step 1 is an adult or a child (step S109). Then, the control unit 10 refers to the storage unit 20 and applies the correction ratio (correction ratio data 23) relating to adults or children to the control condition of the air conditioner 201 (step S110). For example, the correction ratio for adults is set to 100%, or the correction ratio for children is set to 50%.

  The case where utterances from a plurality of users cannot be detected is, in other words, the case where only one user utters.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that the current in-vehicle temperature acquired from the air conditioner 201 or the like is 28 ° C. Assume that, for example, an adult speaks “set to 24 ° C.” while the air conditioner 201 is activated. As a result, the function determination unit 12 determines that the control condition of the air conditioner 201 is met from the content of the sound indicating “temperature” of “24 ° C.”, and further detects the set value related to the temperature of “24”. Since the correction ratio is 100% applied to the numerical value spoken by an adult, the control unit 10 transmits a control signal to the air conditioner 201 to set the vehicle interior temperature to 24 ° C. (step S111).

  Further, it is assumed that the vehicle interior temperature is 28 ° C. and the child speaks “set to 24 ° C.” while the air conditioner 201 is activated. Since the correction ratio is 50% applied to the numerical value spoken by the child, the control unit 10 transmits a control signal to the air conditioner 201 to set the vehicle interior temperature to 26 ° C. (step S111). At this time, 2 ° C., which is 50% of the difference between the current in-vehicle temperature of 28 ° C. and the 24 ° C. requested by the child, is subtracted from the current in-vehicle temperature of 28 ° C. to calculate a set value of 26 ° C.

  On the other hand, when utterances from other users can be detected within a predetermined period from the utterance of the first user to the end of the utterance detection period from a plurality of users (Yes in step S108), the control unit 10 It is determined whether each user is an adult or a child (step S112). When the plurality of utterances are adults and children, the control unit 10 refers to the storage unit 20 and applies the priority ratio (priority ratio data 22) of the adult and the child to the control condition of the air conditioner 201. (Step S113). For example, the priority ratio is equal to the content of adult audio and the content of children's audio.

  Here, it is assumed that the in-vehicle temperature is 28 ° C., and during the activation of the air conditioner 201, for example, an adult speaks “set to 26 ° C.” and a child speaks “set to 24 ° C.”. Since the priority ratio is equal for adults and children, the control unit 10 is an intermediate value “25 ° C.” between the numerical value “26 ° C.” of the voice content of the adult and the numerical value “24 ° C.” of the voice content of the child. Calculate “° C.”. That is, the control unit 10 transmits and sets a control signal to the air conditioner 201 to set the vehicle interior temperature to 25 ° C. (step S111).

  And the control part 10 complete | finishes the equipment control process which concerns on control of the air conditioner 201 by the equipment control apparatus 1 ("End" of FIG. 2).

  As in the first embodiment, the device control apparatus 1 stores the priority ratio data 22 of the adult who is an allowed user and the child who is a restricted user, which are determined in advance for the storage unit 20 to adopt the control conditions of the device such as the air conditioner 201. Remember. And, when the voice recognition unit 11 recognizes each of adult voice and child voice within a predetermined period, that is, from the first user's utterance to the end of the utterance detection period from a plurality of users, The control unit 10 controls the devices such as the air conditioner 201 by applying the priority ratio (priority ratio data 22) to the control condition corresponding to the content of the voice recognized by the voice recognition unit 11.

  According to this configuration, when each of the voice of an adult who is an allowed user and the voice of a child who is a restricted user is recognized, the device is controlled according to a control condition in which the requirements of the adult and the child are considered based on the priority ratio. Can be controlled. Therefore, the control conditions of the device can be made as close as possible to the requirements of adults and children, and the satisfaction of each of a plurality of users who use the device can be increased.

  The priority ratio is equal to the content of the adult voice and the content of the child voice. In this regard, when the numerical value as the control condition is included in the audio content, the control unit 10 calculates an intermediate value between the numerical value of the adult audio content and the numerical value of the child audio content. That is, the requirements regarding the control conditions of the devices such as the air conditioner 201 are adopted fairly for each adult and child. Therefore, it becomes possible to increase the satisfaction of each adult and child.

  In addition, the device control apparatus 1 stores predetermined adult and child correction ratio data 23 regarding whether or not the storage unit 20 sets the control conditions of the devices such as the air conditioner 201 as requested by the user. Then, when the voice recognition unit 11 recognizes either an adult voice or a child voice within a predetermined period, that is, from the first user's utterance to the end of the utterance detection period from a plurality of users. The control unit 10 controls the devices such as the air conditioner 201 by applying the correction ratio (correction ratio data 23) to the control condition corresponding to the content of the voice recognized by the voice recognition unit 11.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to apply, for example, 100% of an adult's request regarding the device control conditions. This makes it possible to operate the device under appropriate control conditions. On the other hand, with respect to the control conditions of the device, for example, a child's request can be corrected and applied to be smaller than 100%. Thereby, it can suppress that an apparatus is controlled as an extreme request | requirement of a child. Therefore, in the case of a child, it is possible to adjust the control conditions within a certain range and operate the device suitably.

  Note that when the device control apparatus 1 is incorporated into, for example, the navigation apparatus 100 provided in the vehicle as in the present embodiment, the voice recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of the user from the voice spoken by the user in the vehicle interior. Anyway. The voice recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of the user by analyzing factors such as voice strength and loudness.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to specify the position in the vehicle where the speaker is sitting. That is, for example, a driver (adult) can be specified. Therefore, it becomes easy to recognize that the speech is an adult utterance, and it is also possible to set a priority ratio that increases the ratio at which the driver's request is adopted. For example, the user of a backseat can be specified. Therefore, it can be easily recognized that the speech is a child. That is, it is possible to improve the accuracy of distinguishing adults from children.

  In the first embodiment, the case of two persons, an adult and a child, has been described with respect to utterances from a plurality of users. However, the present invention can be applied even when there are three or more persons.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the device control apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of device control processing by the device control apparatus 1. Since the basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, the components that are different from the first embodiment will be described below, and the components that are common to the first embodiment. The detailed description is omitted.

  In the device control apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the storage unit 20 stores initial setting data 24 for device functions as shown in FIG. The initial setting data 24 is data representing initial settings for adults and children determined in advance with respect to numerical control conditions related to the device. The initial setting is applied to the control condition of the device when the content of the user's voice does not include a numerical value as the control condition.

  For example, when the device to be controlled is the air conditioner 201 and the speaker is an adult, the initial setting value for cooling is (in-car temperature during speech-10 ° C.), and the initial setting value for heating is (in-car temperature during speech) + 15 ° C.). When the speaker is a child, the initial setting value for cooling is (in-vehicle temperature −5 ° C.), and the initial setting value for heating is (in-vehicle temperature + 10 ° C.). Initial setting values are also defined in advance for the sound volume and the like of the audio device 102 and the television device 103 and stored in the storage unit 20.

  During the activation of the navigation device 100 (“Start” in FIG. 4), the device control device 1 accepts an utterance related to the operation of the air conditioner 201 from the user via the voice input unit 101 (step S201 in FIG. 3). Subsequently, the control unit 10 uses the voice recognition unit 11 to recognize the content of the voice and whether it is an adult or a child from the voice spoken by the user (step S202).

  Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not a numerical value as a control condition is included in the audio content (step S203). When the numerical value is not included in the audio content (No in Step S203), the control unit 10 applies the initial setting (initial setting data 24) to the control condition (Step S204).

  Similarly, also in the detection period of utterances from a plurality of users (step S207), the control unit 10 determines whether or not a numerical value as a control condition is included in the voice content (step S210). When the numerical value is not included in the audio content (No in step S210), the control unit 10 applies the initial setting (initial setting data 24) to the control condition (step S211).

  Here, for example, it is assumed that the current in-vehicle temperature acquired from the air conditioner 201 or the like is 30 ° C. Assume that, for example, an adult speaks “Cool air conditioner temperature” without including specific numerical values while the air conditioner 201 is activated. As a result, the function determination unit 12 detects the device control conditions of “air conditioner”, “temperature”, and “down”. Then, it is recognized that no numerical value is included in the audio content. Regarding the initial setting, since the initial setting value of the cooling for an adult is (in-speech vehicle interior temperature −10 ° C.), the control unit 10 sets a control condition so that the vehicle interior temperature is 20 ° C.

  Further, it is assumed that the temperature inside the vehicle is 30 ° C., and the child speaks, for example, “lower the air conditioner temperature” without including a specific numerical value while the air conditioner 201 is activated. Regarding the initial setting, the initial setting value of the cooling in the case of a child is (in-car interior temperature −5 ° C.), so the control unit 10 sets the control condition so that the in-vehicle temperature is 25 ° C.

  The processing after step S212 is the same as the processing after step S108 shown in FIG. That is, when utterances from a plurality of users cannot be detected (No in step S212), the correction ratio is applied to the control condition of the air conditioner 201 (step S214). On the other hand, when utterances from a plurality of users can be detected (Yes in step S208), the priority ratio is applied to the control condition of the air conditioner 201 (step S217).

  As in the second embodiment, the device control apparatus 1 stores initial setting data 24 for adults and children that the storage unit 20 determines in advance regarding numerical control conditions related to devices such as the air conditioner 201. When the voice content does not include a numerical value as the control condition, the control unit 10 applies the initial setting (initial setting data 24) to the control condition corresponding to the voice content recognized by the voice recognition unit 11. Then, the devices such as the air conditioner 201 are controlled.

  According to this configuration, even if the numerical value as the control condition is not included in the audio content, the numerical value in consideration of the demands of adults and children based on the initial settings and the extreme demands of the children is obtained. It can be set as a control condition for the device. Therefore, the control conditions of the device can be made as close as possible to the requirements of adults and children, and the satisfaction of each of a plurality of users who use the device can be increased.

<3. Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the device control apparatus 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of device control processing by the device control apparatus 1. Note that the basic configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments described above, so the components that are different from those of the embodiments will be described below, and Detailed description of common components is omitted.

  In the device control apparatus 1 of the third embodiment, the control unit 10 has a plurality of controllable functions of devices such as the audio device 102, the television device 103, and the air conditioner 201 as described above. The storage unit 20 stores control history data 25 as shown in FIG. The control history data 25 is data representing the control history of a plurality of functions by the control unit 10.

  When the navigation apparatus 100 is activated ("Start" in FIG. 6), when the device control apparatus 1 receives an utterance related to the device operation from the user (step S301), the control unit 10 determines the control target from the content of the user's voice. It is determined whether or not the function of the device can be identified (step S302).

  When the function is not included in the content of the user's voice (No in step S302), the control history (control history data 25) is referred to. And the control part 10 specifies the function of the apparatus controlled immediately before from control history (step S303).

  The following process (step S304) is the same as the process of steps S202 to S217 shown in FIG. 4 described in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. That is, when the audio content does not include a numerical value as a control condition, the initial setting is applied to the control condition of the device. Further, when utterances from a plurality of users cannot be detected, the correction ratio is applied to the control conditions of the device. On the other hand, when utterances from a plurality of users can be detected, the priority ratio is applied to the control conditions of the device.

  As in the third embodiment, in the device control apparatus 1, the storage unit 20 stores the control history data 25 of a plurality of functions by the control unit 10. And when a function is not contained in the content of audio | voice, the control part 10 is a device, such as an air conditioner 201, on the control conditions corresponding to the content of audio | voice with respect to the function controlled immediately before based on the control history (control history data 25). To control.

  For example, when the previous control history is volume adjustment of the audio device 102 and the previous control history is temperature adjustment of the air conditioner 201, when the content of the user's voice is “decrease”, the control unit 10 The volume adjustment of the audio device 102 controlled immediately before is specified from the control history. Then, the control unit 10 reduces the volume of the audio device 102 by a predetermined value in response to the content of the voice “decrease”.

  According to this configuration, even when the function of the device to be controlled is not included in the audio content, the function of the device is specified based on the control history, and the control condition of the device is made as close as possible to the requirements of adults and children. It becomes possible.

  As described above, when the content of the user's voice can specify a device to be controlled among a plurality of devices such as “lower the temperature of the air conditioner”, the control unit 10 controls the specified device. Then, when the content of the user's voice is “decrease” and the device to be controlled cannot be specified among a plurality of devices, the control unit 10 controls the device controlled immediately based on the control history as the control target. To do.

  For example, when the content of the user's voice is “lower the temperature of the air conditioner” and the speech recognition unit 11 cannot recognize the utterance “lower”, the control unit 10 controls immediately before based on the control history. The air conditioner 201 is controlled under the control conditions relating to the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner 201.

<4. Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. Below, the modification concerning the whole said embodiment is demonstrated. In addition, all the elements of the said embodiment and all the elements of the form demonstrated below can be implemented in combination suitably.

  In the above embodiment, the device control device 1 is incorporated in the navigation device 100 that is an in-vehicle device, but may be provided as a separate device from the navigation device 100. The device control device may control devices such as an audio device and a television device that are not included in the navigation device.

  In addition, the device control device may be applied to a device used in a home, office, store, or the like. Furthermore, the device control device may be a computer that functions as a device control device by executing a program. This computer includes portable devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, and tablet terminals.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the apparatus control apparatus 1 made object the audio apparatus, the television apparatus, an air conditioner etc. as an apparatus to control, the apparatus used as a control object is not necessarily limited to these. For example, the present invention may be applied to other devices as long as the device can be adjusted based on the user's voice, such as adjusting the brightness of a room lamp provided in the passenger compartment. Similarly, the function of the device to be controlled is not limited to temperature adjustment and volume adjustment, and adjustment according to the function of each device is possible.

  On the other hand, the function of applying control conditions that take into account the requirements of adults and children may be limited to a specific function, for example, temperature adjustment of an air conditioner. This limited function can be arbitrarily selected by the user. This improves the setting accuracy when the function is set based on the priority ratio, the correction ratio, and the like.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that various functions are realized in terms of software by CPU arithmetic processing according to a program. However, some of these functions are realized by an electrical hardware circuit. May be. Conversely, some of the functions realized by the hardware circuit may be realized by software.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus control apparatus 10 Control part 11 Voice recognition part 20 Storage part 22 Priority ratio data (priority ratio)
23 Correction rate data (correction rate)
24 Initial setting data (initial setting)
25 Control history data (control history)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Navigation apparatus 101 Voice input part 102 Audio apparatus (apparatus)
103 Television equipment (equipment)
201 Air conditioner (equipment)

Claims (8)

A device control device that recognizes the content of the user's voice and controls the device based on the content,
Based on the voice of the user, a voice recognition unit that recognizes the content of the voice and whether the user is an allowed user permitted to control the device or a restricted user restricted to control the device When,
A storage unit for storing a priority ratio of the allowed user and the limited user determined in advance for adopting the control condition of the device;
A control unit that controls the device under the control condition corresponding to the content of the voice recognized by the voice recognition unit;
With
When the voice recognition unit recognizes each of the allowed user's voice and the restricted user's voice within a predetermined period, the control unit applies the priority ratio to the control condition to A device control apparatus characterized by controlling.   The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority ratio is equal to the content of the voice of the allowed user and the content of the voice of the restricted user.   When the content of the voice includes a numerical value as the control condition, the control unit calculates the numerical value of the content of the voice of the allowed user and the numerical value of the content of the voice of the restricted user. The device control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an intermediate value is calculated. The storage unit stores initial settings of the allowed user and the limited user that are set in advance with respect to the numerical control conditions related to the device,
The control unit controls the device by applying the initial setting to the control condition when the content of the voice does not include a numerical value as the control condition. The apparatus control apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 4. The storage unit stores a correction ratio of the allowable user and the limited user that are set in advance as to whether or not the control condition of the device is as requested by the user,
When the voice recognition unit recognizes either the voice of the allowed user or the voice of the restricted user within a predetermined period, the control unit applies the correction ratio to the control condition. The device control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is controlled.   The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voice recognition unit recognizes the position of the user based on the voice of the user. The control unit has a plurality of controllable functions of the device,
The storage unit stores a control history of the functions by the control unit,
When the function is not included in the content of the sound, the control unit controls the device with the control condition corresponding to the content of the sound with respect to the function controlled immediately before based on the control history. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein the device control device is a device. A device control method for recognizing the content of a user's voice and controlling the device based on the content,
Receiving the user's utterance for a predetermined period;
Recognizing, based on the voice of the user, the content of the voice and whether the user is an allowed user allowed to control the device or a restricted user restricted to control the device;
Determining whether each of the allowed user's voice and the restricted user's voice is recognized within the predetermined period;
The permitted user and the restriction determined in advance for adopting the control conditions of the device corresponding to the content of the voice when the voice of the permitted user and the voice of the restricted user are recognized within the predetermined period. Applying the user priority ratio to control the device;
A device control method comprising:

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