JP2000285063A - Information processor, information processing method and medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to enjoy chat even when the user is not skillful in the operation of a keyboard. SOLUTION: A personal computer(PC) 1 to be a chat client recognizes an inputted voice as voice and transmits text data to a server 2 to be a chat server as a voice recognition result. On the other hand, the PC 1 receives text data transmitted from the server 2 and synthesizes a voice on the basis of the text data. Then a voice (synthetic voice) corresponding to the text data is outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a medium. The present invention relates to an apparatus, an information processing method, and a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, there is a chat system as a tool for easily communicating with a large number of remote users. In a chat system, text data transmitted from a client logged in to a server is received by the server and transmitted to another logged-in client. Many users can easily communicate with each other.

[0003] Heretofore, in a conventional one server, a chat can be performed only between users connected to the server. (Intern
If you connect to one of the servers called IRC server by the chat method called “et Relay Chat” method, you can chat with the client connected to the server linked to that server. In addition, about IRC, IETF (Internet Engineeri
ng Task Force) RFC (Request For Comments) 1
459.

[0004]

By the way, in a chat system, text data is transmitted and received between a server and a client in real time. However, conventionally, in order to perform a chat, a user operates a keyboard. Then you have to enter the text data.
Therefore, users who are not skilled in keyboard operation
It was difficult to enjoy chatting. Also, hiragana input from the keyboard is difficult to read unless the sentence is mixed with kanji by a kana-kanji conversion system (front-end processor). Therefore, it is necessary to be skilled in operation of the kana-kanji conversion system.

Therefore, without operating the keyboard,
As a tool that allows a large number of remote users to communicate with each other, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
There is a system for exchanging audio data between a large number of terminals as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 274596.

However, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-274596, since voice data is transmitted as it is, a large amount of data and a wide-band transmission path are required. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-274596 discloses that audio data is transmitted after being compressed. However, in the case of high compression, the sound quality is degraded, and in the case of low compression, wideband transmission is performed. Road is needed.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to enable users to easily communicate with each other even in a narrow-band transmission path.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which performs voice recognition of an input voice and outputs the voice recognition result as text data. And transmitting means for transmitting the text data to the server.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing method, a voice recognition step of recognizing an input voice and outputting the voice recognition result as text data, and transmitting text data as the voice recognition result to a server. And a transmitting step of transmitting.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute a medium, wherein the program performs speech recognition on input speech,
The method includes a voice recognition step of outputting the voice recognition result as text data, and a transmitting step of transmitting text data as a voice recognition result to a server.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: receiving means for receiving text data transmitted from a server; and performing speech synthesis based on the text data from the server, and performing synthesis corresponding to the text data. Voice synthesis means for outputting sound.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing method, a receiving step of receiving text data transmitted from the server, a voice synthesis is performed based on the text data from the server, and a synthesis corresponding to the text data is performed. And a voice synthesizing step of outputting a sound.

[0013] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute a medium performs a receiving step of receiving text data transmitted from a server, and performs speech synthesis based on the text data from the server. And a voice synthesizing step of outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to the text data.

[0014] In the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the information processing method according to the fifth aspect, and the medium according to the sixth aspect, the input voice is recognized by speech, and the speech recognition result is a text. Output as data. And
Text data as a result of the speech recognition is transmitted to the server.

[0015] In the information processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the information processing method according to the ninth aspect, and the medium according to the tenth aspect, text data transmitted from a server is received and transmitted from the server. Speech synthesis is performed based on the text data, and a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data is output.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of a chat system to which the present invention is applied.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, three personal computers (personal computers) 1-1 to 1-3 and two chat servers 2-1 and 2-2 are connected to a communication network such as the Internet, for example. 3 are interconnected.

The servers 2-1 and 2-2 are each provided with an HD in which a chat server program for providing a chat space as a place where a user performs a chat is stored.
(HardDisk) 27 (FIG. 3), and by executing the program, functions as a chat server for controlling chatting between personal computers. That is, the servers 2-1 and 2-2 (the server 2-1)
In the case where it is not necessary to distinguish between the two and 2-2, the user will be referred to as a server 2 as appropriate), and the user chats with the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3 connected via the communication network 3. It provides a chat environment to perform. Here, the servers 2-1 and 2-2 provide, for example, a chat environment based on the IRC method. Therefore, users who have connected to the server 2-1 have connected to the server 2-2. In addition to the users, the user connected to the server 2-1 and the server 2
It is also possible to chat with a user connected to -2.

On the other hand, the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3 (hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3, are referred to as the personal computer 1 as appropriate) are the servers 2-1 and 2- 2 stores a chat client program for chatting while sharing the chat space provided by the PC 2 with another personal computer. The chat client program and the chat server program in the servers 2-1 and 2-2 are stored. Is executed, the personal computer 1 displays a chat space for chatting.

When all of the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3 are connected to the server 2, for example, text data is input from the personal computer 1-1, and the server 1-1 receives text data via the communication network 3. 2, the text data is received by the server 2 and transmitted to the other personal computers 1-2 and 1-3. The text data input in the personal computers 1-2 and 1-3 is transmitted to other personal computers in the same manner.

As described above, the personal computers 1-1 to 1
-3, a chat is performed via the server 2.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG.

The communication I / F (Interface) 11 includes, for example, a modem, a terminal adapter, a network card, and the like, and controls communication via the communication network 3. ROM (Read Only Memory) 1
2 is, for example, a BIOS (Basic Input Output System)
m) programs are stored. CPU (Central
The processing unit (13) stores application programs such as a chat client program and a voice processing program stored in the HD 17 into a RAM (Random).
Access memory) 14 is expanded and executed to perform processing for chat, voice recognition, voice synthesis, and the like. The RAM 14 temporarily stores programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU 13.

The input unit 15 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone (microphone), etc., and is used to input necessary commands and data. The output unit 16 includes, for example, a display, a speaker, headphones, and the like, and is configured to display predetermined information or output by voice under the control of the CPU 13. HD1
Reference numeral 7 denotes an OS such as Windows 95, 98 (trademark), Linux, etc., in addition to the application programs described above.
(Operating System) programs and the like.

In the personal computer 1 configured as described above,
In the CPU 13, the OS program stored in the HD 17 is expanded in the RAM 14 and executed. Further, the CPU 13 executes the application program stored in the HD 17 under the control of the OS program, thereby performing the above-described processing for chat, voice recognition, voice synthesis, and other processing described below. Will be

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the server 2 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the server 2 comprises communication I / Fs 21 to HD27 which are the same as the communication I / Fs 11 to HD 17 constituting the personal computer 1, respectively.
However, the HD 17 includes a chat server program and the like.
A program for the server 2 to function as a chat server is stored.

In the server 2 configured as described above, C
By executing the application program stored in the HD 27 in the PU 23, processing necessary for chatting between personal computers is performed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a description will be given of a process performed by executing the chat client program on the personal computer 1 and executing the chat server program on the server 2. FIG.

In FIG. 4, the blocks constituting the personal computer 1 are functional blocks realized by executing the chat client program on the personal computer 1, and the blocks constituting the server 2 are the same as those of the server 2.
Is a functional block realized by executing the chat server program.

In FIG. 4, the personal computer 1 is composed of a chat communication unit 31 and a chat processing unit 32, but the personal computer 1-i (in the present embodiment, i = 1, 2, 2, 3).
3) Chat communication unit 31 and chat processing unit 3
2 are described as a chat communication unit 31-i and a chat processing unit 32-i, respectively.

Now, suppose that the personal computers 1-1 and 1-2 are connected to the server 2 via the communication network 3 and that a chat is performed between the personal computers 1-1 and 1-2. For example, the user of the personal computer 1-1 operates the input unit 1
When the text is input by operating the keyboard constituting the text No. 5, the text data is supplied to the chat processing unit 32-1. The chat processing unit 32-1 performs a predetermined process on the input text data. That is, for example, when a chat is performed by the IRC method, the text data is converted to a 7-bit visible ASCI.
Is converted into I-string data, and the chat communication unit 31-1
Supplied to In the chat communication unit 31-1, text data from the chat processing unit 32-1 is transmitted to the server 2 via the communication network 3.

In the server 2, the chat server function unit 41
In, the text data from the chat communication unit 31-1 is received and transmitted via the communication network 3 to another personal computer (chat client) other than the personal computer 1-1, which is currently connected. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the personal computer other than the personal computer 1-1 connected to the server 2 is the personal computer 1-2. Therefore, in the chat server function unit 41, the chat communication unit 31-1 Is transmitted to the personal computer 1-2 via the communication network 3.

In the personal computer 1-2, the chat communication unit 31
In -2, text data from the chat server function unit 41 is received and supplied to the chat processing unit 32-2. In the chat processing unit 32-2, the chat communication unit 3
Necessary processing is performed on the text data from 1-2, and the text data is supplied to the output unit 16 and displayed.

On the other hand, when the user of the personal computer 1-2 inputs text by operating the keyboard constituting the input unit 15, the text data is transferred to the personal computer 1-1 along a route reverse to that described above. Sent to.

That is, in the personal computer 1-2, the input text data is transmitted to the server 2 via the chat processing unit 32-2, the chat communication unit 31-1, and the communication network 3. In the server 2, the chat server function unit 41 receives text data from the personal computer 1-2, and via the communication network 3, other personal computers (chat clients) other than the personal computer 1-2, That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the data is transmitted to the personal computer 1-1. In the personal computer 1-1, the chat communication unit 31-1 receives text data from the chat server function unit 41 and supplies the text data to the chat processing unit 32-1. Chat processing unit 32-1
Then, necessary processing is performed on the text data from the chat communication unit 31-1, and the text data is supplied to the output unit 16 and displayed.

As described above, if the chat client program is only executed in the personal computer 1, the user needs to operate the keyboard to input the text as the content of the chat, which is troublesome.

FIG. 5 shows, in addition to the chat client program stored in the HD 17 of the personal computer 1,
3 shows an example of a functional configuration of the personal computer 1 that is realized by executing a voice processing program.

In FIG. 5, the voice input device 51 is
, And is constituted by a microphone or the like. Then, the voice input device 51 converts the voice input thereto into a voice signal as an electric signal, further performs A / D conversion, and supplies the voice signal to the voice recognition device 52 as digital voice data. . The voice recognition device 52 converts the voice data from the voice input device 51 into, for example, an HMM (Hidd
The voice recognition is performed in accordance with a predetermined voice recognition algorithm such as an en Markou Models method, and the voice recognition result is output as text data. The text data as a result of the speech recognition is transmitted to the personal computer 1 shown in FIG.
Communication unit 31 and chat processing unit 3 constituting
2 is supplied to the chat client function unit 30 corresponding to the second embodiment.

In the speech recognition device 52, text data as a speech recognition result is subjected to kana-kanji conversion processing as necessary and output.

The text-to-speech apparatus 53 is supplied with text data from another personal computer transmitted from the server 2 from the chat client function unit 30. The text-to-speech apparatus 53 performs speech synthesis based on the text data from the chat client function unit 30, and corresponds to the text data.
For example, data of a synthesized sound in the WAV format or the AU format is generated and supplied to the audio output device 54.
The audio output device 54 corresponds to the output unit 16 in FIG. 2, and includes a speaker and the like. Then, the voice output device 54 follows the synthesized voice data from the voice reading device 53,
A synthetic sound for reading text data from the server 2 is output.

Next, the operation of the personal computer 1 configured as shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the personal computer 1, the user, for example,
Doing utterance such as "Hello" (FIG. 6), the voice is input to the voice input device (microphone) 51 is audio data as an electrical signal. This voice data is supplied to a voice recognition device 52, where the voice is recognized. Further, in the voice recognition device 52, the voice recognition result is converted into text data, and if necessary, converted into kana-kanji characters, and then supplied to the chat client function unit 30. In the chat client function unit 30, the text data from the voice recognition device 52 is transmitted to the server 2 via the communication network 3, as described with reference to FIG. In other words, as described above, a user of the utterance "Hello" is a text data is transmitted to the server 2.

On the other hand, the text data transmitted from the server 2 via the communication network 3 is received by the chat client function unit 30 as described with reference to FIG. In the voice reading device 53, the chat client function unit 3
A synthesized sound corresponding to the text data from 0 is generated,
It is supplied to the audio output device 54. The voice output device 54 outputs a synthesized voice from the voice reading device 53.
That is, for example, from the server 2, "Today is fine weather."
When the text data such as is transmitted, the voice output device 54 outputs the synthesized sound “Today is fine weather.”
Is output (FIG. 6).

Next, a screen displayed by executing the chat client program and the voice processing program on the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG.

When the chat client program is executed in the personal computer 1, the output unit 16 displays a chat window 61 as shown in FIGS.

Here, for example, the personal computer 1-1
It is assumed that a chat is performed between the personal computer 1-1 and the personal computer 1-2. The user of the personal computer 1-1 is a user A, and the user of the personal computer 1-2 is a user B. The window 61 displayed on the output unit 16 of each of the personal computers 1-1 and 1-2 is referred to as a window 61-1 or 61-2.
It is described.

The window 61, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, displays a chat character display area 62 in which the contents of a chat performed between users are displayed, and the latest text input by the user. It consists of a text input field 63. Note that the chat character display area 62 or the text input field 63 constituting the window 61-1 will be appropriately described as the chat character display area 62-1 or the text input field 63-1 below (FIG. 7). 61-
The chat character display area 62 or the text input field 63 constituting the chat character display area 62-2 or the text input field 63-
2 (FIG. 8).

Now, when the user A utters, for example, "Today is fine weather,"
The voice is recognized and converted to kana-kanji. This kana-kanji conversion result is displayed in the text input field 63-1 as shown in FIG. 7, and then transmitted to the server 2 via the communication network 3.

The server 2 receives the text data “Today is fine weather” from the personal computer 1-1 and sends it to the personal computer 1-2 via the communication network 3. In the personal computer 1-2, the text data "Today is fine weather" from the personal computer 1-1 is transmitted to the chat character display area 62- of the window 61-2 displayed on the output unit 16 as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. Further, in the personal computer 1-2, for example, a text-to-speech synthesis is performed, so that a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data “Today is fine weather” is generated and output.

As described above, the input voice is recognized by speech, and the text data as the speech recognition result is transmitted to the server 2 via the communication network 3, so that the user is skilled in operating the keyboard. Even if you do not, you can easily enjoy chatting.

Since text data is exchanged between the personal computer 1 and the server 2 via the communication network 3, the conventional chat system can be used as it is. Therefore, even if the chat client that chats with the personal computer 1 does not have a voice processing program for performing voice recognition and voice synthesis as described above, it is possible to chat with the personal computer 1. it can. Also in this case, the personal computer 1 can input text data by voice and output the transmitted text data as a synthesized sound.

Further, since text data is exchanged instead of voice data, the transmission can be performed in a narrow band.

Also, since the synthesized sound corresponding to the text data transmitted from the server 2 is generated and output, the user can chat without looking at the display on the output unit 16. That is, a chat can be performed without a display.

Therefore, as a chat client,
In the extreme, there is no need for a key for inputting text or a display for displaying text, and only a microphone for inputting voice and a speaker for outputting voice are required. Can easily be used as a chat client.

When performing text-to-speech synthesis,
Phoneme data and syllable data, which are basic units for the synthesis, are required, and these are stored in the HD 17 in advance. However, phoneme data and voice data may be downloaded via the communication network 3.

Speech synthesis can be performed not only by text speech synthesis but also by, for example, a recording / editing method (a method in which uttered words and phrases are stored in advance and connected).

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 2 as a chat client
Will be further described.

When the user operates the input unit 15 to execute the chat client program, the CPU
At 13, the chat client program stored in the HD 17 is loaded into the RAM 14 and executed.

As a result, the CPU 13 displays a chat window 61 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and further executes a process for establishing a connection with the server 2 and logging in at step S1. Will be When the login to the server 2 is completed, step S2
To determine whether the user has spoken.
If it is determined in step S2 that the user has not spoken, that is, if no voice has been input to the input unit 15, steps S3 to S6 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S7.

If it is determined in step S2 that the user has spoken, that is, if a voice is input to the input unit 15, the process proceeds to step S3, and the voice is recognized.

That is, in step S 3, the CPU 13 determines that the audio processing program stored in the HD 17
When loaded and executed on the AM 14, the speech of the user is recognized by speech. Further, in step S3,
The speech recognition result is converted into text data and converted into kana-kanji characters. Then, the result of the kana-kanji conversion is displayed in the text input field 63 of the window 61,
The audio processing program is unloaded from the RAM 14.

The user looks at the speech recognition result (the kana-to-kanji converted version) displayed in the text input field 63 and, if there is an error, identifies the error in, for example, the input unit 15.
Correct by operating the keyboard or the like. In this case, in step S4, the speech recognition result displayed in the text input field 63 is corrected according to the operation of the input unit 15.

The result of the voice recognition displayed in the text input field 63 can be corrected by voice input instead of operating the keyboard of the input unit 15.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether or not the text data as the speech recognition result displayed in the text input field 63 is to be transmitted to the server 2. If it is determined in step S5 that the text data displayed in the text input field 63 is not to be transmitted, that is, if the input unit 15 is not operated to transmit the text data, for example,
Skip to step S7 and proceed to step S7.

If it is determined in step S5 that the text data displayed in the text input field 63 is to be transmitted, that is, if the input unit 15 is operated to transmit the text data, for example, the process proceeds to step S6. The CPU 13 controls the communication I / F 11 to transmit the text data displayed in the text input field 63 to the server 2 via the communication network 3, and proceeds to step S7.

In this case, the server 2 receives the text data from the personal computer 1 and sends it to another chat client. As a result, the chat client displays text data from the personal computer 1,
Alternatively, in the same manner as in the personal computer 1, in a chat client in which the voice processing program is installed, a synthesized sound corresponding to text data from the personal computer 1 is output.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not text data has been transmitted from the server 2, and if it has been determined that text data has not been transmitted, that is, the communication I / F 11
If the text data has not been received from the server 2, the process skips steps S8 and S9 and proceeds to step S10.

If it is determined in step S7 that text data has been transmitted from the server 2,
That is, when the communication I / F 11 receives text data from the server 2, the process proceeds to step S <b> 8, where necessary processing is performed on the text data, and the text data is displayed in the chat character display area 62 of the window 61. Then, the process proceeds to step S9, where the CPU 13 loads the voice processing program stored in the HD 17 into the RAM 14 and executes the voice processing program, thereby generating a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data displayed in the chat character display area 62. Output.

Then, the voice processing program is stored in the RAM 1
4, the process proceeds to step S10, and it is determined whether or not to log out. If it is determined in step S10 that logout is not to be performed, that is, for example, if the input unit 15 has not been operated to log out, the process returns to step S2, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

If it is determined in step S10 that logout is to be performed, that is, for example, if the input unit 15 has been operated to log out, the user logs out of the server 2 and further disconnects the server 2. , And the process ends.

In the above-described case, the voice processing program is loaded / unloaded as necessary. However, the voice processing program is resident in the RAM 14 while the chat client program is being executed. It is also possible to keep it.

Next, in the above case, the personal computer 1 generates a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data transmitted from the server 2, but the text data transmitted from the server 2 is In addition to converting to sound, for example, converting to facsimile (FAX) data
X can be sent. Further, the text data transmitted from the server 2 can be stored.

The processing of the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this case, in step S21, FIG.
As in the case of step S1, a process for establishing a connection with the server 2 and logging in is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S22, where it is determined whether the text data has been transmitted from the server 2, and if it is determined that the text data has not been transmitted, that is, in the communication I / F 11,
If the text data from the server 2 has not been received, the process skips steps S23 to S27 and proceeds to step S28.

In step S22, the server 2
If it is determined that text data has been transmitted from the server 2, that is, if text data has been received from the server 2 at the communication I / F 11, the process proceeds to step S23, where necessary processing is performed on the text data. S24
Proceed to.

In step S24, it is determined whether the text data from server 2 is to be transmitted to a facsimile. If it is determined in step S24 that the text data from the server 2 is to be transmitted to the facsimile,
If the personal computer 1 transmits text data to a facsimile and the facsimile number is set, the process proceeds to step S25, where the text data from the server 2 is converted into facsimile data and set. FA
It is transmitted to the X number, and proceeds to step S28.

In step S24, the server 2
If it is determined not to transmit the text data from FAX to FAX, the process proceeds to step S26, and it is determined whether the personal computer 1 is set to save the text data. If it is determined in step S26 that the text data from the server 2 is not set to be stored, the process skips step S27 and proceeds to step S28.

On the other hand, in step S26, the server 2
If it is determined that the text data is set to be stored, the process proceeds to step S27, and the text data is stored in the HD 17, and the process proceeds to step S28.
Proceed to.

In step S28, step S1 in FIG.
As in the case of 0, it is determined whether or not to log out. If it is determined that the user does not log out, the process returns to step S22, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

If it is determined in step S28 that the user logs out, the user logs out of the server 2 and
Further, the connection with the server 2 is disconnected, and the processing is terminated.

Here, if the PC 1 converts text data input by voice into FAX data, FAX transmission can be performed without drawing characters or the like on paper. In the personal computer 1,
FAX data is received, and OCR (Optical Characte
(r Reader), etc., if character recognition is performed and speech synthesis is performed on the result of the character recognition, the contents can be grasped without looking at the faxed contents. Further, for example, if a telephone having an answering machine function or a center that manages an answering machine function of a mobile phone recognizes a voice message by voice and converts it into text data and stores it, the voice data can be stored. As compared with the case of performing the above, the storage capacity can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the chat server and the chat client are realized by software. However, the chat server and the chat client can be realized by dedicated hardware.

When an application program such as the above-mentioned chat client program or voice processing program is installed in a computer and executed, the application program is executed on the HD1.
7, floppy disk, CD-ROM (Compact Di
sc-ROM), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and other package media, and semiconductor memory in which programs are temporarily or permanently stored are recorded and provided.
A wired / wireless communication network 3 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or a digital satellite line, and a communication I / F 11 such as a router or a modem for transferring or receiving data via the communication network 3. Or can be provided via
The medium in the present specification means a broad concept including such a medium.

[0085]

According to the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the information processing method according to the fifth aspect, and the medium according to the sixth aspect, the input voice is subjected to voice recognition, and the voice recognition result is obtained. Is output as text data. And
Text data as a result of the speech recognition is transmitted to the server. Therefore, for example, chat can be easily performed.

According to the information processing apparatus of claim 7, the information processing method of claim 9, and the medium of claim 10, text data transmitted from a server is received, and the text data is transmitted from the server. Speech synthesis is performed based on the text data, and a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data is output. So, for example, chat
This can be performed without looking at the screen display.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a chat system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a personal computer 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a server 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the chat system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the personal computer 1 of FIG.

6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the personal computer 1 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen of a personal computer 1 as a chat client.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen of a personal computer 1 as a chat client.

9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the personal computer 1 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the personal computer 1 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 to 1-3 personal computers, 2-1 and 2-2 servers, 3 communication networks, 11 communication I / Fs,
12 ROM, 13 CPU, 14 RAM, 1
5 input section, 16 output section, 17 HD, 21
Communication I / F, 22 ROM, 23 CPU, 24
RAM, 25 inputs, 26 outputs, 27H
D, 30 chat client function section, 31-
1,31-2 Chat communication unit, 32-1,32-2
Chat processing unit, 41 chat server function unit,
51 voice input device, 52 voice recognition device, 53
Voice reading device, 54 Voice output device, 61-
1, 61-2 window, 62-1, 62-2 chat character display area, 63-1, 63-2 text input field

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A system for receiving text data transmitted from a client, transmitting the text data to a server that transmits the text data to one or more other clients, and transmitting the text data from the server. An information processing apparatus for receiving, comprising: a voice recognition unit configured to perform voice recognition of an input voice and output the voice recognition result as text data; and transmitting the text data as the voice recognition result to the server. An information processing apparatus, comprising: means; receiving means for receiving text data transmitted from the server; and output means for outputting text data from the server. 2. A speech synthesizing unit that performs speech synthesis based on text data from the server and outputs a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data, wherein the output unit is configured to synthesize the speech corresponding to the text data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus outputs a sound. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct text data as a result of the speech recognition. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying the text data. 5. Receiving text data transmitted from a client, transmitting the text data to a server that transmits the text data to one or more other clients, and transmitting the text data from the server. An information processing method for receiving, comprising: a voice recognition step of performing voice recognition on input voice and outputting the voice recognition result as text data; and transmitting the text data as the voice recognition result to the server. An information processing method, comprising: a step of receiving text data transmitted from the server; and an output step of outputting text data from the server. 6. A method for receiving text data transmitted from a client, transmitting the text data to a server that transmits the text data to one or more other clients, and transmitting the text data from the server. A medium for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a program for causing the information processing apparatus to perform a process of receiving, wherein a voice recognition step of performing voice recognition of the input voice and outputting the voice recognition result as text data Transmitting a text data as a result of the voice recognition to the server; a receiving step of receiving the text data transmitted from the server; and an output step of outputting the text data from the server. Medium for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a program characterized by including 7. A method for receiving text data transmitted from a client, transmitting the text data to a server that transmits the text data to one or more other clients, and transmitting the text data from the server. An information processing apparatus for receiving, comprising: input means for inputting the text data; transmitting means for transmitting the input text data to the server; and receiving means for receiving text data transmitted from the server. An information processing apparatus, comprising: voice synthesis means for performing voice synthesis based on text data from the server, and outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to the text data. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising display means for displaying the text data. 9. Receiving text data transmitted from a client, transmitting the text data to a server that transmits the text data to one or more other clients, and transmitting the text data from the server. An information processing method for receiving, comprising: an input step of inputting the text data; a transmitting step of transmitting the input text data to the server; and a receiving step of receiving text data transmitted from the server. And a voice synthesizing step of performing voice synthesis based on the text data from the server and outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to the text data. 10. Receiving text data transmitted from a client, transmitting the text data to a server that transmits the text data to one or more other clients, and transmitting the text data from the server. A medium that causes the information processing device to execute a program for causing the information processing device to perform a process of receiving, an inputting step of inputting the text data, and transmitting the input text data to the server. A transmitting step, a receiving step of receiving text data transmitted from the server, a voice synthesizing step of performing speech synthesis based on the text data from the server, and outputting a synthesized sound corresponding to the text data. A program characterized by including the following is executed by the information processing apparatus. Media to be.