JP2000122839A - Information processor and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of easily discriminating whether or not it is an information input waiting state and to provide an infor mation processing method. SOLUTION: When a voice input is not performed, a counter value (n) is increased (step S304), considering that a voice input waiting state continues, when the counter value (n) becomes n>=10, another symbol is newly added and shown at a position where a cursor of a displaying part blinks as a voice input waiting symbol (step S306) and the cursor is also moved to the next position. On the other hand, when a voice input is performed, voice recognition processing is performed and the whole currently displayed voice input waiting symbols are erased from the displaying part (step S310).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device provided with information input means for inputting information such as voice, and an information input method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an information input device provided with information input means for inputting information such as voice. This device, for example, recognizes input speech and displays character candidates,
A document or the like can be created by selecting an appropriate character from among them. Generally, at the time of voice input, the apparatus is placed in a voice input waiting state, and a message or the like indicating the state is displayed on a display unit, so that the user inputs a real voice through a microphone or the like.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional information processing apparatus, when the apparatus is developed or used, a message indicating a voice input waiting state is displayed on the display unit even if the apparatus is hung up. Usually, it is apparent that it is in a hang-up state, so that it is difficult to perform appropriate and quick debugging.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus which can easily determine whether or not the apparatus is in an information input waiting state. It is to provide a method.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having an information input means for inputting information, wherein the information input apparatus is in an information input waiting state. And a control unit that changes the mode of the notification by the notification unit according to the elapsed time of the information input waiting state.

In order to achieve the same object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the notification by the notification means is a visual display of a predetermined symbol, and Is characterized in that the predetermined symbol is additionally displayed at predetermined time intervals during the continuation of the information input waiting state.

In order to achieve the same object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when information is input in an information input waiting state, The predetermined symbol displayed by the notifying means is deleted.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information input method including an information input step of inputting information. It is characterized by including a notification step to be performed and a control step of changing a mode of notification by the notification step according to an elapsed time in an information input waiting state.

In order to achieve the same object, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing method according to the fourth aspect, the notification by the notification step is a visual display of a predetermined symbol, and the control step includes: Is characterized in that the predetermined symbol is additionally displayed at predetermined time intervals during the continuation of the information input waiting state.

In order to achieve the same object, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing method according to the fifth aspect, when the information is input in an information input waiting state, The predetermined symbol displayed in the notification process is deleted.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The present device is configured as, for example, a personal computer having a voice input function.

The information processing apparatus 7 includes a display unit 2 (notifying means), an input unit 3, a voice input unit 4, a first memory 5, and a second memory 5.
The memories 6 are connected to the CPU 1 (control means) via the CPU bus 8, respectively.

The CPU 1 controls the operation of the information processing device 7 as a whole. The display unit 2 is configured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and displays symbols, character candidates, and the like, which indicate a voice input waiting state, which will be described later. The input unit 3 includes a keyboard, a digitizer, a touch panel, and the like, and is used for various input processes such as selection of candidate characters. The input unit 3 further has a system-dependent end key 3a for ending a voice input process shown in FIG. 3 described later. The voice input unit 4 is configured by a microphone or the like,
A voice such as a real voice of the user is input.

The first memory 5 is a flash memory or RO
M, and the like, and store items whose rewriting frequency is low. The first memory 5 includes programs and data such as an OS / driver 5a, a voice input process 5b, a voice recognition engine 5c, and a voice recognition dictionary 5d. The voice input process 5b is a program for executing a voice input process of FIG. 3 described later. The voice recognition engine 5c
This is a program for recognizing the voice input by the voice input unit 4, and is mainly called from the voice input processing 5b. The voice recognition dictionary 5d is a dictionary in which data for performing voice recognition is stored, and is mainly used by the voice recognition engine 5c. The method of speech recognition is system dependent.

The second memory 6 is constituted by a RAM or the like, and mainly includes a work area 6a for executing a program stored in the first memory 5 and a counter value n used in voice input processing. Counter 6b for storing, and voice recognition candidate character buffer 6c for temporarily storing candidate characters
Etc. are provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 2 during a voice input process described later.

When the voice input processing is started, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, and the user is prompted to input a voice. The voice input waiting symbol 10 is for notifying the user that the voice input waiting state is continuing, and the symbol “◆” is displayed. This symbol is additionally displayed as the time of the voice input waiting state elapses by the processing of FIG. 3 described later. The cursor 11 indicates the position where the symbol “◆” is displayed next. The voice recognition candidate characters 12 are a group of characters that are listed as candidates as a result of recognizing the input voice.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the voice input process. This processing is executed by the CPU 1 based on the program of the voice input processing 5b in the first memory 5.

First, the counter value n of the counter 6b is initialized (step S301), and it is determined whether or not the end key 3a of the input unit 3 has been pressed (step S302). If the button has been pressed, the process is terminated, while if the end key 3a has not been pressed, it is determined whether or not a voice has been input (step S303).

As a result of the determination, when there is no voice input, the counter value n of the counter 6b is incremented by 1 (step S304), and it is determined whether or not the counter value n has become 100 or more (step S305). . As a result of the determination, when the counter value n is smaller than 100, the process returns to the step S302. On the other hand, when n ≧ 100, the symbol "" as the voice input waiting symbol 10 is displayed at the blinking position of the cursor 11 on the display unit 2. "" Is newly displayed (step S306) (notifying means, control means), and the cursor 11 is moved to the next position (usually rightward and line feed is appropriately performed) (step S307). This allows
Each time the voice input waiting state continues and the counter value n becomes 100 or more, the voice input waiting symbol 10 is additionally displayed. Then, the process returns to step S301.

On the other hand, if there is a voice input as a result of the determination in step S303, the voice is recognized, and the voice recognition candidate character 12 as the recognition result is stored in the voice recognition candidate character buffer 6c (step S308). . Then
The voice recognition candidate character 12 is displayed on the display unit 2 (step S).
309), all the currently displayed voice input waiting symbols 10 are deleted from the display unit 2 (step S310). Thus, it is possible to prevent the display of the voice input waiting symbol 10 from becoming excessively large, and to roughly grasp a period during which the voice input waiting state continues. Next, the process returns to the step S301 through processes such as character selection.

According to the present embodiment, as long as the information processing device 7 does not hang up, the symbol “◆”, which is the voice input waiting symbol 10 every time a predetermined time elapses, while the voice input waiting state continues. Is added. Therefore, if the display status of the voice input waiting symbol 10 does not change at all with the passage of time, it can be determined that the information processing device 7 is hung up, whereas if it has changed, it is in a normal voice input waiting state. You can tell at a glance that there is something. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the voice input waiting symbol 10 is in the voice input waiting state based on the display status.

Further, when a voice input is made, all the voice input waiting symbols 10 are erased, so that excessive display can be prevented, and the duration of the voice input waiting state can be roughly grasped. Can be improved.

This effect is effective not only when using an application but also when developing a system.

In the present embodiment, the voice input waiting symbol 10 is additionally displayed every time the counter value n becomes 100 or more as a fixed time. Instead of using a hardware timer, etc.,
The voice input waiting symbol 10 may be additionally displayed for each interrupt that has occurred. Also, what is displayed is not limited to the symbol “◆” and other symbols may be used as long as the user can easily recognize the symbol. Alternatively, an audio display may be used instead of the visible display, and the pitch and volume of the audio may be changed stepwise every predetermined time.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the information processing apparatus according to the above or the information processing method according to the fourth aspect, while the information input waiting state continues, the notification mode changes. It is possible to easily determine whether or not it is not.

According to the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention or the information processing method according to the fifth aspect, a predetermined symbol is additionally displayed while the information input waiting state continues. It is possible to easily determine whether or not it is in the information input waiting state from the display state of the predetermined symbol.

According to the information processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention or the information processing method according to the sixth aspect, the display of a predetermined symbol is prevented from being excessively large, and the information input waiting state is continued. You can roughly understand the time period,
The usability can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of display on a display unit during a voice input process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a voice input process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 Display part 3 Input part 4 Voice input part 5 1st memory 6 2nd memory 7 Information processing apparatus 10 Voice input waiting symbol 11 Cursor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information input device comprising information input means for inputting information, comprising: a notifying means for notifying that the user is in an information input waiting state; and An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that changes a mode of notification by the notification unit. 2. The notification by the notification means is a visual display of a predetermined symbol, and the control means additionally displays the predetermined symbol at predetermined time intervals during a state of waiting for information input. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit deletes the predetermined symbol displayed by the notification unit when information is input in an information input waiting state. . 4. An information input method including an information input step of inputting information, wherein a notification step for making a notification for recognizing a state of waiting for information input, and the notification according to an elapsed time of the state of waiting for information input. A control process for changing a mode of notification by the process. 5. The notification by the notification process is a visual display of a predetermined symbol, and the control process additionally displays the predetermined symbol at predetermined time intervals during a state of waiting for information input. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein 6. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein in the control step, when information is input in an information input waiting state, the predetermined symbol displayed in the notification step is deleted. .