JP2000249594A - Goods unit price-reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the goods code or the goods name of a goods file to coincide with the goods code or the goods name of a recognition dictionary when the goods name or the goods code being stored in the goods file is updated. SOLUTION: A microprocessor 12 updates information being stored in a goods file 19 based on the data of an update file when the update file accumulating date required for updating information that is stored in the goods file 19 is taken in externally via a communication control part 23. Also, a recognition dictionary 17 that a voice recognition part 16 has is updated based on the storage information of the updated goods file 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading a unit price of goods using voice input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a unit price reading device utilizing voice input has been used for an electronic balance, and one example thereof is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-10817. In this publication, as shown in FIG. 7, a product is weighed by a weighing unit 1 and its weight value is supplied to a calculation unit 2 while a microphone 3 is supplied.
Then, after inputting the product name or product code by voice and converting the voice signal into a digital signal by the voice input unit 4, the voice recognition unit 5 recognizes the product name or product code and notifies the arithmetic unit 2. The calculation unit 2 reads the corresponding unit price from the storage unit 6 based on the product name or the product code from the voice recognition unit 5, calculates the unit price × weight = price, and displays the unit price, weight value, and price on the display unit 7. It is displayed.

[0003] The storage unit 6 stores a product file in which a product name, a unit price, and the like are set and stored in advance corresponding to a unique product code assigned to each product. The voice recognition unit 5 includes a recognition dictionary in which various words matching the product name and product code of each product are registered in advance, and a character string obtained by analyzing a digital signal given from the voice input unit 4. Speech recognition is performed by searching the recognition dictionary for a phrase that is the closest to. Here, the arithmetic unit 2, the voice input unit 4, the voice recognition unit 5, and the storage unit 6 constitute a commodity unit price reading device.

The electronic scale is used for calculating the price by measuring the sales weight of a product having a predetermined price per unit weight, that is, a unit price, such as food such as meat or salad, for example, at a retail store. It is used for face-to-face sales and product pricing in the backyard. When performing this type of business, the product code of all the products to be handled, product names, unit prices, and the like must be set in advance in the product file of the storage unit 6 so that the product unit price cannot be read out, which hinders the business. May occur. For this reason, it is necessary to add necessary information, such as a product code, a product name, and a unit price, to the product file every time a new type of product to be handled increases. The corresponding information stored in the file had to be changed. In addition, it has been desired to reduce the data amount of the product file in a timely manner by deleting information on the product that has been handled from the product file.

Therefore, conventionally, an update file storing data necessary for updating (addition, change, deletion) of information stored in a product file is created by a computer or the like, and this update file is transmitted via a communication line or a storage medium. And read it into the electronic balance. Then, the control unit (arithmetic unit 2) of the electronic balance adds a new product code, a product name, a unit price, and the like to the product file based on the information in the update file, or sets a unit price of the product stored in the product file. Or delete the product code, product name, unit price, etc. of the product from the product file.

[0006]

As described above, in a conventional unit price reading apparatus used for an electronic balance or the like, the unit price storage means for setting and storing unit prices corresponding to the product names or product codes of various products. Although it was possible to update the information, no consideration was given to the information stored in the recognition dictionary possessed by the voice recognition means. Therefore, a product name or a product code not registered in the recognition dictionary is added to the product unit price storage means, and conversely, a product name or a product code registered in the recognition dictionary is deleted from the product unit price storage means. was there.

In the former case, there is a possibility that words (product names or product codes) not registered in the recognition dictionary are input by voice. In such a case, there is a possibility that the voice recognition unit cannot recognize the voice or erroneously recognizes a similar phrase. In any case, there is a problem that the correct unit price stored in the unit price storage unit cannot be read. Was. On the other hand, in the latter case, for example, when the product name input by voice is similar to the product name deleted from the product unit price storage unit, the voice recognition unit deletes the product name input by voice from the product unit price storage unit. If the product name is erroneously recognized as a product name, there is a problem that an error occurs because the product name corresponding to the product unit price storage means is not set.

Such a problem can be solved by adding or deleting a word registered in the recognition dictionary every time a product name or a product code stored in the product unit price storage means is added or deleted. Therefore, the present invention automatically updates the product name and the product code words registered in the recognition dictionary each time the product name and the product code stored in the product unit price storage means are updated. An object of the present invention is to provide a unit price reading device that can reduce the incidence of erroneous recognition and recognition failure and improve reliability.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a product unit price storage means for setting and storing a unit price corresponding to a product name or a product code of various products, a voice input means for voice inputting a product name or a product code, Voice recognition means for recognizing the voice signal input by the voice input means as a product name or a product code with reference to a recognition dictionary in which various words are registered in advance. In the unit price reading device for reading out the corresponding unit price from the unit price storage unit based on the data, the data necessary for updating the information stored in the unit price storage unit is fetched from the outside. A storage information updating unit for updating information to be stored, and a voice recognition unit based on the storage information of the product unit price storage unit updated by the storage information updating unit. It is obtained by a recognition dictionary updating means for updating the 識辞 document. With such a configuration, when the product name and the product code stored in the product unit price storage unit are updated, the product name and the product code stored in the updated product unit price storage unit are registered such that the product name and the product code are registered. Since the word is updated, the product code or product name stored in the product unit price storage means always matches the product code or product name registered in the recognition dictionary.

[0010] The present invention is also directed to a method in which the storage information updating means starts updating the information stored in the commodity unit price storing means and the recognition dictionary updating means finishes updating the information of the recognition dictionary of the speech recognition means. It is desirable to provide a voice input prohibiting unit for prohibiting voice input from the voice input unit. By doing so, the voice input is prohibited while the information stored in the product unit price storage unit is being updated and the words registered in the recognition dictionary are being updated, so that the product code stored in the product unit price storage unit is prohibited. Alternatively, it is possible to prevent a reading error of the product unit price due to a mismatch between the product name and the product code or the product name registered in the recognition dictionary.

Further, according to the present invention, when the stored information updating means is instructed from outside to update the information stored in the commodity unit price storing means, the voice recognizing means determines whether or not the voice signal is being recognized. If not, it is preferable that the unit fetches data necessary for updating the information stored in the unit price storage unit from the outside and updates the information stored in the unit price storage unit based on this data. By doing so, the data stored in the product unit price storage unit is updated during the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit, and is registered in the recognition dictionary with the product code or product name stored in the product unit price storage unit. Since the product code or the product name does not become inconsistent, an error in reading the product unit price due to the data stored in the product unit price storage unit being updated during the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit. It can be prevented before it happens.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the commodity unit price reading device using voice input according to the present invention is applied to an electronic balance.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of such an electronic weigher. This electronic weigher supplies a weight value from a weighing unit 11 for weighing goods to a microprocessor 12 having an arithmetic function. Like that. Further, a microphone 13 for inputting voice is provided, and a voice signal from the microphone is converted into a digital signal by a voice input unit 14 and supplied to a voice recognition period control unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, the voice recognition period control section 15 starts a timer and counts a predetermined time upon receiving a voice input start notification from the microprocessor 12. Then, the passage of the voice signal from the voice input unit 14 is permitted, and this voice signal is supplied to the voice recognition unit 16. That is, the voice recognition unit 16 is set to a recognizable state. In this state, when the timer counts for a certain time,
The passage of the audio signal from the audio input unit 14 is prohibited.
That is, the voice recognition unit 16 is set to a non-recognizable state. Further, a voice input end notification is transmitted to the microprocessor 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the voice recognition section 16 has a recognition dictionary 17 in which words such as a product code and a product name of each product are registered. When a voice signal is input from the voice input unit 14, the voice recognition unit 17 refers to the recognition dictionary 17 to recognize whether the voice signal is a product name or a product code,
If it is a product name or a product code, the word of the recognition result is transmitted to the microprocessor 12.

The microprocessor 12 has a storage unit 1
8 and data can be read from the storage unit 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 18 stores a product file 19 as a product unit price storage unit in which a product name, a unit price, and the like are set and stored in correspondence with a product code unique to each product. It is remembered.

Thus, the microprocessor 12
As shown in FIG. 5, when the weight value is received from the weighing unit 11, the weight value is set in a weight area (not shown) of the storage unit 18 and displayed on the display unit 20. At this time, if the weight of the previous product has been set in the weight area, it is overwritten and set. Next, a voice recognition flag is set in a flag area (not shown) of the storage unit 18. In addition to transmitting a voice input start notification to the voice recognition period control unit 15,
Send a display start notification to.

When the microprocessor 12 receives the phrase of the recognition result from the speech recognition unit 16, it searches the product file 19 in the storage unit 18 based on the phrase, and matches the product name or product code that matches the phrase. Check whether the unit price is stored. When it is determined that the corresponding unit price is stored, the unit price and the corresponding product name are read from the product file 19 and stored in the storage unit 1.
8 are stored in the unit price area (not shown) and the product name area (not shown), respectively, and are displayed on the display unit. At this time, if the product name and unit price of the previous product have been set in the corresponding area, they are overwritten and set.

Next, the microprocessor 12 calculates “price = weight value × unit price” from the weight value and the unit price set in the storage unit 18 to calculate the price, and displays the price on the display unit 20. Here, when label printing is set, the printing unit 22 is driven to print the product name, unit price, weight, price, etc., for example, on the label. Thereafter, a display end notification is transmitted to the voice input enabled period notification unit 21 and the voice recognition flag is reset.

If the product name or the product code that matches the word of the recognition result is not stored in the product file 19 of the storage unit 18, the microprocessor 12 generates an error. When a voice input end notification is received without receiving a recognition result from the voice recognition unit 16, a display end notification is transmitted to the voice input enabled period notification unit 21 and the voice recognition flag is reset. It has become something.

The voice input period notification unit 21 includes a lamp,
It is composed of a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, etc., and when a display start notification is received from the microprocessor 12, a voice input enabled state is notified by display, and when a display end notification is received from the microprocessor 12, the display of the voice input enabled state is stopped. I do.

Further, the electronic balance of the present embodiment has a communication control unit 23 mounted thereon.
(Local Area Network) or the like, and can communicate with a computer device (not shown) called a store processor, for example.

Thus, the microprocessor 12
As shown in FIG. 6, when a command is received from the store processor via the communication control unit 23, the command is analyzed. Then, when it is confirmed that the received command is an update command for instructing updating of information stored in the product file 19, it is determined whether or not the voice recognition flag is set in the flag area of the storage unit 18.
Here, if the voice recognition flag is set,
Since the voice recognition unit 16 is performing voice recognition, the communication control unit 2
Then, a non-permission response is transmitted to the store processor via the server 3 and the command reception processing ends.

On the other hand, when the voice recognition flag has been reset, the voice recognition is not performed by the voice recognition unit 16, and the microprocessor 12 sends a signal to the store processor via the communication control unit 23. Send an authorization response. Further, a voice input prohibition notice is transmitted to the voice input control unit 24.

Here, the microprocessor 12 comprises:
Update of information stored in the product file 19 (addition, change,
Waiting for the reception of an update file storing the data required for (deletion). When the update file is received from the store processor via the communication control unit 23, the product file 19 is stored on the basis of the data stored in the update file.
To update the information to be stored (storage information updating means).

When the microprocessor 12 finishes updating the product file 19 based on the data of the update file, the microprocessor 12 reads the product code and the product name of each product from the product file 19. Then, the data of the product code and the product name of each product read from the product file 19 is
6 to update the recognition dictionary.

Thus, the speech recognition unit 16 checks the recognition dictionary 17 with the product code and the product name of each product received from the microprocessor 12, and if there is a product code or product name that does not exist in the recognition dictionary 17, The phrase is added to the recognition dictionary 17, and conversely, if there is a word in the recognition dictionary 17 that does not exist in the information received from the microprocessor 12, the phrase is deleted from the recognition dictionary 17, and the recognition dictionary 17 is updated (recognition). Dictionary updating means). And the voice recognition unit 16
Sends an update completion notification to the microprocessor 12 when the update of the recognition dictionary 17 is completed.

Therefore, the microprocessor 12
When receiving the update completion notification of the recognition dictionary 17 from the voice recognition unit 16, a voice input permission notification is transmitted to the voice input control unit 24, and this command reception processing is completed.

Upon receiving the voice input prohibition notice from the microprocessor 12, the voice input control unit 24 controls the voice input unit 14 to stop the process of converting the voice signal from the microphone 13 into a digital signal. Prohibit voice input. Further, upon receiving the voice input permission notification from the microprocessor 12, the voice input is controlled by controlling the voice input unit 14 to convert the voice signal from the microphone 13 into a digital signal, thereby permitting the voice input. (Voice input prohibition means).

In the electronic balance according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the product file 19 of the storage unit 18 stores the product name, unit price, etc. corresponding to the product code of each product for which the price is calculated by the electronic scale. Is set and stored in advance. Further, in the recognition dictionary 17 of the voice recognition unit 16, various words corresponding to the product code and the product name of each product are registered.

In this state, when the store clerk weighs the product with the weighing unit 11, the weight value of the product is
Sent to. Then, the weight value is displayed on the display unit 20 under the control of the microprocessor 12, and the voice recognition flag is set in the flag area of the storage unit 18. Further, a voice input start notification is transmitted to the voice recognition period notifying unit 15, the passage of the voice signal from the voice input unit 14 to the voice recognition unit 16 is permitted for a certain time, and the voice input start notification is displayed on the voice input enabled period notification unit 21. A start notification is transmitted and a voice input enabled state is displayed.

Then, the clerk speaks out the product name or product code of the product being measured toward the microphone 13.
Then, the sound input from the microphone 13 is transmitted to the sound input unit 1.
4, the digital signal is converted into a digital signal, and the voice recognition period control unit 1
5 and is supplied to the speech recognition unit 16. When the speech recognition unit 16 searches the recognition dictionary 17 for a phrase closest to a character string obtained by analyzing the speech signal from the speech input unit 14, the phrase is supplied to the microprocessor 12 as a recognition result. Then, the product file 19 in the storage unit 18 is searched under the control of the microprocessor 12, and
It is determined whether or not a product name or a product code that matches the phrase of the recognition result is stored. Then, if stored, the unit price corresponding to the product name or product code is read out together with the product name and displayed on the display unit 20. The price is calculated from the weight value and the unit price and displayed on the display unit 20. Further, a display end notification is transmitted to the voice input enabled period notification unit 21 to stop displaying the voice input enabled state, and the voice recognition flag set in the flag area of the storage unit 18 is reset.

On the other hand, in the store processor, an update file storing data necessary for updating (adding, changing, deleting) the information stored in the product file 19 is created, and the update of the product file 19 is performed on the electronic balance via a communication line. Is transmitted, the microprocessor 1
2 works as follows.

First, it is determined whether or not the voice recognition flag is set in the flag area of the storage unit 18. If it is set, a non-permission response is transmitted to the store processor via the communication line. Thus, the update file is not transmitted from the store processor to the electronic balance during the voice recognition in the voice recognition unit 16.

If the voice recognition flag has been reset, a permission response is transmitted to the store processor via the communication line. Further, it transmits a voice input prohibition notice to the voice input control unit 24. As a result, the process of converting the audio signal from the microphone 13 into a digital signal in the audio input unit 14 is stopped, and as a result, the audio input is prohibited.

In the store processor, the update file is transmitted to the electronic balance via a communication line in response to the permission response. Therefore, when receiving the update file, the microprocessor 12 updates the information of the product file 19 based on the information of the update file. For example, if the information in the update file is product information such as a product code, a product name, and a unit price to be added to the product file 19, the product information is added to the product file 19. If the information of the update file is the product code to be deleted from the product file 19, the record of the product code is found from the product file and deleted. If the information in the update file is the product code of the product whose unit price is to be changed and the unit price after the change, a record of the corresponding product code is found from the product file 19 and the unit price of this record is rewritten to the unit price after the change.

When the information of the product file 19 is updated based on the information of the update file, the product code and the product name of each product are read from the updated product file 19. Then, the data of the product code and the product name of each product is transmitted to the voice recognition unit 16. As a result, the speech recognition unit 16 updates the recognition dictionary 17 so that the words registered in the recognition dictionary 17 match the product code and product name of each product read from the updated product file 19. You. Then, after the update of the recognition dictionary 17 is completed, an update completion notification is transmitted from the speech recognition unit 16 to the microprocessor 12. In response to this, a voice input permission notification is transmitted from the microprocessor 12 to the voice input control unit 24.
Thereby, the process of converting the audio signal from the microphone 13 prohibited in the audio input unit 14 into a digital signal functions. That is, voice input is permitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the data necessary for updating the information stored in the product file 19 is fetched from the store processor, the information stored in the product file 19 is updated based on this data. Also, since the recognition dictionary 17 of the speech recognition unit 16 is updated based on the updated storage information of the product file 19, the product name and the product code stored in the product file 19 are updated each time. Then, the words in the recognition dictionary 17 are automatically updated so that the product names and product codes stored in the updated product file 19 are registered. Therefore, since the product name or product code of each product stored in the product file 19 always matches the product name or product code registered in the recognition dictionary 17, erroneous speech recognition due to the mismatch between the two. And the recognition failure can be eliminated, and the reliability of the product unit price reading process can be improved.

In this embodiment, the product file 1
9 to start updating the information stored in the recognition dictionary 1
Until the updating of the information of No. 7 is completed, the voice input from the voice input unit 14 is prohibited. Therefore, while the information stored in the product file 19 is being updated and the phrase registered in the recognition dictionary 17 is being updated, voice input is prohibited, so that the product code or the product name stored in the product file 19 is not used. It is possible to prevent a reading error of the unit price of the product due to a mismatch between the product code or the product name registered in the recognition dictionary 17.

Further, in this embodiment, when the store processor instructs to update the information stored in the product file 19, the voice recognition unit 16 determines whether or not the voice signal is being recognized. An update file is fetched from the store processor, and the product file 19 is updated based on the data of the update file. Therefore, during speech recognition by the speech recognition unit 16, the product file 1
9 is not updated and the product code or product name stored in the product file 19 does not become inconsistent with the product code or product name registered in the recognition dictionary 17. It is possible to prevent an error in reading the unit price of the product due to the update of the data stored in the product file 19 during the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit 16.

The product unit price reading device of the present invention can be applied not only to an electronic balance but also to an electronic cash register or POS terminal having a voice input function.

In the above embodiment, the voice input unit 1
The voice input is prohibited by controlling the process of converting the voice signal into a digital signal in step 4. However, for example, a switch is provided between the microphone 13 and the voice input unit 14, and the voice input control is performed in response to the voice input prohibition notification. The unit 24 may be configured to prohibit voice input by opening the switch.

Also, in the case where a device for reading data from a storage medium such as a floppy disk, memory card, CD-RAM or the like is connected, an update file is read from the storage medium and the product file 19 is updated. The present invention is applicable.

[0044]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, each time the product name or product code stored in the product unit price storage means is updated, the product name or product code registered in the recognition dictionary is updated accordingly. Can be automatically updated, the occurrence rate of erroneous speech recognition or recognition failure can be reduced, and a product unit price reading device capable of improving reliability can be provided. Also, during the updating of the information stored in the product unit price storage means and the updating of the words registered in the recognition dictionary, voice input can be prohibited, so that the product code or the product name stored in the product unit price storage means can be used. It is possible to provide a product unit price reading device capable of preventing a product unit price reading error due to a mismatch between the product code or the product name registered in the recognition dictionary. Further, the data stored in the product unit price storage unit is updated during the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit, and the product code or product name stored in the product unit price storage unit and the product code registered in the recognition dictionary. Also, since there is no inconsistency with the product name, it is possible to prevent a reading error of the product unit price due to the data stored in the product unit price storage unit being updated during the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit. It is possible to provide a product price reading device capable of performing the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of an electronic balance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a product file stored in a storage unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a recognition dictionary included in the voice recognition unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a voice input start notification receiving process of the voice recognition period control unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a weight value receiving process of the microprocessor according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing update command reception processing of the microprocessor according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Weighing part 12 ... Microprocessor 13 ... Microphone 14 ... Voice input part 15 ... Voice recognition period control part 16 ... Voice recognition part (voice recognition means) 17 ... Recognition dictionary 18 ... Storage part 19 ... Product file (product price storage means) 20) display unit 21 ... voice input available period notification unit 22 ... printing unit 23 ... communication control unit 24 ... voice input control unit (voice input prohibition means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G10L 3/00 551L

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A product unit price storage unit for setting and storing a unit price corresponding to a product name or a product code of various products, a voice input unit for voice inputting a product name or a product code, and a voice input by the voice input unit. Voice recognition means for recognizing a signal as a product name or a product code by referring to a recognition dictionary in which various words are registered in advance, and the product unit price storage means based on the product name or the product code recognized by the voice recognition means. In the commodity unit price reading device that reads out the corresponding unit price from, when data necessary for updating the information stored in the commodity unit price storage unit is fetched from outside, the information stored in the commodity unit price storage unit is read based on this data. A storage information updating unit to be updated; and the voice recognition unit based on the storage information of the product unit price storage unit updated by the storage information updating unit. Unit price read device comprising a recognition dictionary update means for updating the 識辞 document, by comprising a. 2. A speech input unit from when the storage information updating unit starts updating information stored in the unit price storage unit to when the recognition dictionary updating unit finishes updating the information of the recognition dictionary of the speech recognition unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voice input prohibiting unit for prohibiting voice input from the user. 3. The storage information updating means, when externally instructed to update information stored in the unit price storage means, determines whether or not the voice recognition means is recognizing a voice signal, and does not recognize the voice signal. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein data necessary for updating the information stored in said unit price storage unit is fetched from the outside, and the information stored in said unit price storage unit is updated based on the data. Product price reading device described.