JP2001006295A - Information reproducing device and method therefor, as well as information providing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information reproducing device which can arbitrarily fetch sounds, characters and videos in an optimum form for an aimed story. SOLUTION: A microcomputer 2 has a central processing unit(CPU) 3, a ROM 4 and a RAM 5. The CPU 3 has a function of a word counter, manages a character header and every small unit (for example, a word) within a character information unit by a counter and specifies the information indicated by a pointer. The microcomputer 2 monitors a key manipulation section 13, calls a sound header Sn-H out of a header recording section 14 according to key manipulation input, detects a character header Cn-H bonded thereto from the recording medium and displays the character information Cn-I visually corresponding to the sound information Sn-I on an information display section 12 via a character/image display driver 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus and method for reading and reproducing audio information and visual information related to the audio information, and an information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional audio reproducing apparatus has a function of locating a reproduction point, but simply reproduces a story of "content". Also, electronic dictionaries are nothing more than computerization of dictionaries and are not linked to stories.

[0003] For example, when studying English conversation, a voice processing device corresponding to a tape, a text for recognizing voice as characters, and a dictionary for examining the contents thereof, if necessary, are required.

[0004]

The above devices, texts, dictionaries, etc., which are required for studying English conversation, are all present independently, making them inconvenient to carry and handle, making commuter trains inconvenient. Etc. are subject to considerable limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides an information reproducing apparatus and method capable of arbitrarily extracting audio, text, video, and the like in an optimal form for a target story, and an information recording medium. For the purpose of providing.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of audio information units divided by a predetermined length; and a plurality of information units for each audio information unit. The audio information header, a plurality of visual information units visually corresponding to the plurality of audio information units, and a plurality of visual information headers which are information for each of the visual information units and are combined with the audio information header. Reading means for reading from a providing medium, sound header recording means for recording the sound header read by the reading means, sound information reproducing sounding means for reproducing and sounding the sound information unit read by the reading means, and key Monitor operation input,
In response to a key operation input, the audio header recording means calls the audio information header, detects a visual information header coupled thereto, and displays visual information in a visual information unit visually corresponding to the audio information unit on a display unit. Control means.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information reproducing method according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of audio information units which are divided by a predetermined length; and a plurality of audio information headers each serving as information for each audio information unit. Reading a plurality of visual information units visually corresponding to the plurality of audio information units and a plurality of visual information headers which are information for each visual information unit and are combined with the audio information header from an information providing medium; A voice header recording step of recording the voice header read in the reading step; and a voice information reproduction and sounding step of reproducing and reproducing the voice information unit read in the reading step, and performing a key operation input. Monitoring and calling the audio information header from the audio header recording step in response to a key operation input; Detect and is characterized in that the display unit visual information of the visual information units corresponding visually to the audio information units.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing medium, comprising: a plurality of visual information units visually corresponding to a plurality of audio information units separated by a predetermined length; An information providing medium for arbitrarily synchronizing with a plurality of audio information units in accordance with an input and displaying the information on a display unit, wherein a plurality of audio information headers serving as information for each of the audio information units are A plurality of visual information heads serving as information for each visual information unit are combined.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a specific example of the information reproducing apparatus according to this embodiment. The information reproducing apparatus 1 reproduces audio information from a randomly accessible recording medium such as a CD-RAM, and reproduces and outputs visual information such as characters and images in synchronization with the audio information by a user operation. And the user can freely use the dictionary function.

The information reproducing apparatus 1 comprises a microcomputer 2 having a recording medium driver 6 and an audio driver 9
, A character / image display driver 11, a key (button) operation unit 13, and a header recording unit 14.

The microcomputer 2 has a central processing unit (CPU) 2, a ROM 4, and a RAM 5. CP
U2 has a word counter function,
As will be described later in detail, a counter manages a character header and each small unit (for example, a word) in the character information unit, and specifies the information pointed to by the pointer. A basic program of the information reproducing apparatus 1 is stored in the ROM 4, and is started after the power is turned on. The RAM 5 is used as a buffer for outputting sound smoothly.

The recording medium driver 6 has a recording medium reading section 7 and a recording medium driving section 8. A speaker 10 is connected to the audio driver 9. The character / image display driver 11 is connected to an information display unit 12 composed of, for example, an LCD.

A removable recording medium is mounted on the recording medium driver 6. This recording medium is a specific example of the information providing medium of the present invention, and includes a plurality of audio information units (hereinafter, simply referred to as audio information) Sn-I divided by a predetermined length.
A plurality of character information units (hereinafter simply referred to as character information) Cn-I visually corresponding to the key (button) operation unit 13
Is an information providing medium for arbitrarily synchronizing with a plurality of audio information units and displaying the information on the information display unit 12 in response to a key operation input from the user. A plurality of character information headers (hereinafter simply referred to as character headers) Cn-H, which are information on the plurality of character information, are combined with Sn-H (referred to as a voice header). The recording medium is rotated by the drive unit 8 of the recording medium driver 6 under the control of the microcomputer 2.

The header recording unit 14 is a recording medium reading unit 7
Records the read audio header Sn-H. The voice driver 9 causes the speaker 9 to generate a voice corresponding to the voice information Sn-I read by the recording medium reading unit 7.

The microcomputer 2 is a key operation unit 1
3 and monitors the header recording unit 1 according to a key operation input.
4, the character header Cn-H associated therewith is detected from the recording medium, and the character information Cn-I visually corresponding to the sound information Sn-I is read from the character / image display driver 11. Is displayed on the information display unit 12 via the.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key operation unit 13 has a "Pre" key 21 for instructing the cueing of the previous sound, and an "ED" key 22 for instructing the selection of information play. A "Dic" key 23 for instructing a dictionary function, a "Play" key 24 for instructing reproduction, a leftward key 25a and a rightward key for instructing selection of information or as a scroll switch of an information display unit. There are provided a key 25b, an "EXE" key 26 for instructing setting of a level and the like, a repeat "Repeat" key 27 for instructing repetition, and a "MENU" key 28 for instructing a menu screen.

The information display unit 12 comprises, for example, an LCD,
The character information is displayed in synchronization with the voice information as shown in FIG. In addition, the word currently selected by the pointer (underline) can be indicated.

The microcomputer 2 specifies an arbitrary designation from the user for the character information Cn-I displayed on the information display section 12, and specifies the character information Cn-I.
Is displayed on the information display unit 12 to explain the above.

For example, audio header Sn-H, audio information Sn-H
FIG. 5 shows the operation of the information reproducing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 when I, the character header Cn-H, the character information Cn-I, and the dictionary data DnD are stored in the recording medium in a story as shown in FIG. This will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the microcomputer 2 of the information reproducing apparatus 1.

First, when the recording medium containing the story is set in the recording medium driver 6, the microcomputer 2 reads the medium information recorded at a predetermined position of the recording medium by using the recording medium reading unit 7. reading,
It is checked whether or not the capacity of the information reproducing apparatus 1 is compatible.

Next, when the "PLAY" key 24 of the key operation unit 13 is operated in step S2, the recording medium is rotated by the driving unit 8 and the sound is read from the recording medium by the recording medium reading unit 7. The header Sn-H is read and written into the header recording unit 14. At this time, the audio information Sn-I is read in step S3, and the sound is output from the speaker 10 through the audio driver 9. Here, the timing is measured by buffering the voice information read from the recording medium in the RAM 5 in order to smoothly generate the voice.

Then, the microcomputer 2 repeats the processing from step S2 to step S3,
In step S4, it is monitored whether the "ED" key 22 of the key operation unit 13 has been operated by the user. Here, when the "ED" key 22 is operated, the process proceeds to step S5, where the audio header Sn-H is called from the header recording unit 14, and further the character header combined with the audio header Sn-H and recorded in step S6. Search for Cn-H.

In step S7, the character information Cn-I of the character header Cn-H searched in step S6 is displayed. The information display unit 12 manages a pointer (for example, an underline) and manages small unit information (for example, a word) in the character information Cn-I.
Manage. By the way, the character header Cn-H contains the character information C
A continuous identification number for each small unit in nI is written.
Therefore, in step S7, the displayed character information C
Small unit information (for example, words) in nH can be managed by a counter.

That is, related information relating to a predetermined small unit (word) in the character information unit, here, an identification number is written on the recording medium, and the CPU 3 can count the identification number.

For this reason, the left advance key 2
When the “Dic” key 23 of the key operation unit 13 is operated by the user in step S8 while the pointer 5a or the right-advance key 25b is operated and the pointer points to a predetermined small unit word on the information display unit 12, The microcomputer 2 specifies the information and operates the dictionary function in step S9 as necessary. Then, the operation is confirmed in step S10, and the process returns to step S8 or step S2,
The above series of operations is repeated.

Next, a specific operation of the information reproducing apparatus 1 will be described. First, an operation when a user learns English conversation using a recording medium storing contents of English conversation will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a part of a story of English conversation content stored on a recording medium. FIG. 6A shows a specific example of the audio header Sn-H and the audio information Sn-I.
Chapter 1-1 of the audio header Sn-H is "Do you
audio information Sn- "carry any Japanese newspaper"
This is unit information of I. The chapter 1-2 of the audio header Sn-H is “Nope, Nothing like that aorry”.
Is the unit information of the audio information Sn-I.

FIG. 6B shows a specific example of a character header Cn-H and character information Cn-I. The character header Cn-H combined with the chapter chapter1-1 of the audio header Sn-H indicates unit information that the character information Cn-I includes English, Japanese, and dictionary information written in characters. In particular, the character information Cn-I includes "Do ₁ you ₂ carry ₃ any ₄ japanese ₅
newspaper ₆ "and the Japanese translation" Do you have a Japanese newspaper? And a number is assigned to each word serving as small unit information.
Left advance key 25a or right advance key 25 in y operation section 13
The pointer moved by b is underlined, for example. CPU3 is a word counter (word cou
With the function of nter), the words in this character information unit are counted, and the information pointed to by the pointer is specified.

FIG. 6C shows a number assigned to each word of each of the chapters 1-1 and 1-2 of the voice header Sn-H, for example, chapters 1-1-3, 1-1-6 and 1 -2-5 words "Carry", "Newspaper", "Sorry" and their meanings "carry / deploy", "newspaper", "sorry"
Is shown. Here, phonetic symbols and the like may be added.

The pointer shown in FIG. 6B is, for example, "News" of the word number 6 in the chapter 1-1.
When the "Dic" key 23 of the key operation unit 13 is operated by the user in step S8 of FIG. 5 in the state of "paper", the microcomputer 2 activates the dictionary function in step S9, and displays "newspaper". The information is displayed on the information display unit 12.

When the recording medium recording the English conversation content, a part of which is shown in FIG. 6, is set in the recording medium driver 6 of the information reproducing apparatus 1, the information reproducing apparatus 1 operates as follows. . FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display state of the information display unit 12.

First, the user operates the key operation unit 13 to select “ME
When the play method is determined by the "NU" key 13, the microcomputer 2 checks whether or not the capability of the information reproducing apparatus 1 is matched in step S1 shown in FIG.

Next, the user operates the key operation unit 13 to select “PL”
When the reproduction is started by operating the "AY" key 24, the microcomputer 2 rotates the recording medium by using the drive unit 8 in step S2 shown in FIG. The header Sn-H is read and written into the header recording unit 14. At this time,
In step S3, the audio information Sn-I is read, and sound is emitted from the speaker 10 through the audio driver 9. For example, assume that "Do you carry Japanese newspaper?"

Here, it is determined that the user cannot hear the above sentence and that the sentence is unknown.
When the "D" key 22 is operated, the microcomputer 2 determines that the key has been operated in step S4 in FIG. 5, moves to step S5, calls the audio header Sn-H from the header recording unit 14, and further, in step S6, Character header Cn-H recorded in combination with Sn-H
Search for. In step S7, the character information Cn-I of the character header Cn-H searched in step S6, ie, "Do
"you carry Japanese newspaper?" is displayed on the information display section 12 as shown in FIG. The information display unit 12 is limited in size due to the convenience of the device, cannot display the entire text, and displays a part such as “Do you Carry”.
By moving to the right with the right advance key 25b of the y operation unit 13, the remaining “Japanese newsp ” as shown in FIG.
aper ? "can be displayed. Of course, by moving the cursor that has moved to the right to the left with the left-advance key 25a, " Do you Carry" can be displayed as shown in FIG. 7C. At this time, “Do you carry Japanese ne” from the speaker 10 via the voice driver 9.
wspaper? "is repeatedly output. In particular, the key" Repeat key on "for automatic repetition may be operated.

Further, in the information reproducing apparatus 1, the user operates the left-advance key 25a or the right-advance key 25b, and the cursor on the information display unit 12 points to a word in a predetermined small unit. When the “Dic” key 23 of the key operation unit 13 is operated by the user,
The microcomputer 2 uses the word counter function,
The word is specified, and the dictionary function is operated in step S9. For example, when the “Dic” key 23 is operated after the cursor is placed on “newspaper”, the meaning of the word is displayed as shown in FIG. The pronunciation symbol may be displayed by the rightward advance key 25b. When the user operates the “Dic” key 23 again, the display returns to the original display screen. of course,
The "Dic" key 23 may be used as a toggle key to repeat the function of specifying a word using a cursor and the function of displaying a dictionary.

Finally, the user operates the key operation unit 1 for example.
When the "Pre" key 21 is operated, the microcomputer 2 causes the speaker 10 to produce the sound of the previous sentence. If there is no unknown text for the user,
If the "D" key 22 is not operated, the information reproducing apparatus 1 continues to reproduce the sound.

Next, another specific operation of the information reproducing apparatus 1 will be described. The operation when the user learns the history using a recording medium storing the contents of Japanese history will be described.

FIG. 8 shows a part of the story of the history content stored on the recording medium. FIG. 8A shows a specific example of the audio header Sn-H and the audio information Sn-I. The chapter chapter1-1 of the audio header Sn-H is the unit information of the audio information Sn-I that says, "It is likely that the crawling has occurred in 1600."

FIG. 8B shows a specific example of a character header Cn-H and character information Cn-I. The character header Cn-H linked to the chapter 1-1 of the audio header Sn-H indicates unit information that the Japanese dictionary and the image are linked to the character information Cn-I. In particular, this character information Cn-I includes:
It is written as "Ieyasu Tokugawa ₁ Battle of Sekigahara ₂ ". Also,
A number is assigned to each word serving as small unit information.
Further, a cursor which is moved by the user using the left advance key 25a or the right advance key 25b in the key operation unit 13 is described. CPU3 is a word counter (word cou
With the function of nter), the words in this character information unit are counted, and the information pointed by the cursor is specified.

FIG. 8C shows the numbers assigned to the respective words of the chapters 1-1 and 1-2 of the voice header Sn-H, for example, specified by chapters 1-1-1 and 1-1-2. Dictionary Dn-D about possible words "Ieyasu Tokugawa" and "Battle of Sekigahara"
Is shown. "Ieyasu Tokugawa" is an image, and "Battle of Sekigahara" shows the meaning of the word.

In a state where the pointer shown in FIG. 8B indicates, for example, "Ieyasu Tokugawa" of the word number 1 in the chapter 1-1, the user operates the key operation unit 13 in step S8 of FIG. Is operated, the microcomputer 2 activates the dictionary function in step S9, and displays the image of the face on the information display section 12.

When the recording medium which records the history content partially shown in FIG. 8 is set in the recording medium driver 6 of the information reproducing apparatus 1, the information reproducing apparatus 1
Works as follows. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display state of the information display unit 12.

First, the user operates the key operation unit 13 to select “ME
When the play method is determined by the "NU" key 13, the microcomputer 2 checks whether or not the capability of the information reproducing apparatus 1 is matched in step S1 shown in FIG.

Next, the user operates the key operation unit 13 to select “PL”
When the reproduction is started by operating the "AY" key 24, the microcomputer 2 rotates the recording medium by using the drive unit 8 in step S2 shown in FIG. The header Sn-H is read and written into the header recording unit 14. At this time,
In step S3, the audio information Sn-I is read, and sound is emitted from the speaker 10 through the audio driver 9. For example, suppose that the speaker 10 is producing a sound such as “Tokugawa Eiyasu was clashed in 1600”.

Here, it is determined that the user cannot hear the above sentence and that the sentence is unknown,
When the "D" key 22 is operated, the microcomputer 2 determines that the key has been operated in step S4 in FIG. 5, moves to step S5, calls the audio header Sn-H from the header recording unit 14, and further, in step S6, Character header Cn-H recorded in combination with Sn-H
Search for. In step S7, the character information Cn-I of the character header Cn-H searched in step S6, that is, "Ieyasu Tokugawa has won the battle of Sekigahara in 1600" is displayed on the information display unit 12. Here, the information display unit 12 on account of the device, are limited in size, it is impossible to display all the text, as shown in FIG. 9 (A) "Tokugawa
Ieyasu in 1600 "
By moving the cursor indicated by the underline to the right with the right-advancing key 25b of the key operation unit 13, FIG.
The remaining "Win in Sekigahara Battle " can be displayed as shown in. Of course, by moving the cursor that has moved to the right to the left with the left-advance key 25a, FIG.
Can be returned to the display shown in FIG. At this time, “Ieyasu Tokugawa repeats the displayed portion from the speaker 10 via the audio driver 9.

In the information reproducing apparatus 1, the user operates the left-advance key 25a or the right-advance key 25b, and the cursor on the information display unit 12 points to a word in a predetermined small unit. When the “Dic” key 23 of the key operation unit 13 is operated by the user,
The microcomputer 2 uses the word counter function to specify the word, and operates the dictionary function in step S9. For example, when the “Dic” key 23 is operated after the cursor is pointed at “Battle in Sekigahara”, the meaning of the word becomes “Place name in Gifu Prefecture” as shown in FIG. Is displayed. The dictionary can be read and advanced by operating the leftward key 25a and the rightward key 25b. For example, when the left advance key 25a is operated again,
The next meaning "battle of fate" is displayed. When the cursor is pointing to "Ieyasu Tokugawa", the "Dic" key 2
When "3" is operated, "First Shogun of the Edo Shogunate" is displayed as shown in FIG. 9 (E). Again left key 2
The dictionary can be read and advanced by operating the 5a and rightward keys 25b, and for example, an image can be displayed as shown in FIG. 9 (F). This image may not be displayed depending on the capability of the display unit. When the "Dic" key 23 is operated again, the display returns to the original display. Note that, in the display shown in FIG. 9A, first, “Tokugawa Iyasu” is displayed in hiragana, and the “Dic” key 2 is displayed.
The character may be converted to "Ieyasu Tokugawa" and a kanji in accordance with the operation of Step 3.

Next, another information reproducing apparatus capable of executing an extended function on a writable recording medium will be described. FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the information reproducing apparatus 31. The CPU 32 has a RAM / header recording unit 34,
The recording medium driver 35, the audio driver 36, the character / image display driver 38, and the MEMO input unit 40 are connected.

The recording medium driver 35 has a drive unit and a read / write unit. The voice driver 36 has a speaker 3
7 is connected. The character / image display driver 38
Is connected to an information display unit 39 composed of, for example, an LCD. A removable and writable recording medium is mounted on the recording medium driver 6.

The difference between the information reproducing apparatus 31 and the information reproducing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
This is the point that the input unit 40 is provided, and therefore the surroundings are also different. Also, the RAM and the header recording unit are integrated into one RAM.
/ Header recording section 34 is also different. The CPU 32, the ROM 33, and the RAM / header recording unit 34 form a microcomputer.

Although not shown, the MEMO input unit 40 is provided in the key operation unit. Key operation unit I /
The path from the O section 41 to the decoder 42 and the ROM 33 operates characteristically in the information reproducing apparatus 31. As described above, the recording medium driver 35 can read and write data on a writable recording medium. Although the other units have different reference numerals, they have the same functions as the units shown in FIG.

The operation of the information reproducing apparatus 31 will be described. First, when a recording medium is mounted on the recording medium driver 35, the CPU 32 of the information reproducing apparatus 31 extracts audio data of the recording medium via the recording medium driver 35 including a drive unit and a read / write unit, and outputs the audio data to the RAM / header recording unit 34. Send to The audio header data is stored in the header recording unit 34.
a, the voice information is expanded to the RAM 34b. The audio information is output while being buffered to the RAM 34b so as not to be interrupted. The audio output rate and the reading (writing) rate of the recording medium stabilize the audio output by increasing the reading (writing) rate of the recording medium.

Input from the user during operation using the key operation unit is performed via the key I / O 41 by the CPU 3.
It is conveyed to 2. The CPU 32 refers to the character header Cn-H in response to the input operation, and outputs character information Cn-I according to the data format (character or image). Since the detailed operation here is as described above, the description is omitted.

In particular, in the information reproducing apparatus 31, when textbook-like contents are stored in a readable and writable recording medium, an information management item is added to a character header Cn-H in response to a memo (MEMO) input from a user. Add. Thus, the character information is added the next time the character information Cn-I data is called. These MEMOs can be written and erased.

Further, when contents such as memorized items are stored in the recording medium, the memorization achievement ratio can be added to the audio header Sn-H so that the contents can be skipped depending on the memorization achievement level. I do. This method can be easily realized using a key. In other words, in the case of a memorable element, by feeding back the memorization degree of the user to the medium, a memorable object that is weak can be selected and taken out (can be skipped). As a result, the user's personal medium changes easily and the usability is improved.

FIG. 11 shows a readable / writable (R / W) MEMO that can add, for example, a degree of achievement to the audio header Sn-H.
4 shows a format example of a recording medium having an area.

FIG. 12 shows a part of a story of English conversation content stored on the recording medium. The storage level "1" is described in the audio header S1-H1. S
1-I1 describes the address "C1-H1" of the corresponding display data.

FIG. 13 shows a part of the story of the history content stored on the recording medium. The memorization level "1" is described in the audio header S1-H1. S
1-I1 describes the address "C1-H1" of the corresponding display data. Here, the dictionary data about Ieyasu Tokugawa is displayed on C1-I1 and the video data C1-I1 is displayed.
D1 is stored, and the display capability level and the like are entered in numerical values and the like. This is effective when the format is different.

Learning of English words on an information recording medium in which the memorization level can be set will be described based on a display example on the information display section 39. FIG. 14 shows the information display unit 3 when learning English words.
9 is a diagram illustrating a display example in FIG.

First, the user operates the key operation unit 13 to select “ME
Play such as learning by memorization level with the "NU" key 13
When the method is determined, the CPU 32 checks the capability of the information reproducing apparatus 1 and sets / confirms the reproduction / memorization level in step S1 shown in FIG. When the user sets the memorization level by himself, the reproduction level of this section is displayed on the information display section 39 as shown in FIG. The user can set the desired memorization level using the leftward key 25a or rightward key 25b shown in FIG.
Is determined by the EXE key 26. The reproduction start after the setting can be selected and reproduced from the higher setting level. This can be changed depending on how the software is created.

Next, the user operates the key operation unit 13 to select “PL”
When the reproduction is started by operating the “AY” key 24, the CPU 3
2 reads the audio header Sn-H from the recording medium using the recording medium reading unit and writes the audio header Sn-H into the header recording unit 34a while rotating the recording medium using the driving unit in step S2 shown in FIG. At this time, the audio information Sn-I is read in step S3, and the sound is generated from the speaker 37 through the audio driver 36. The reproduction order here is the order of A to Z or the order of each section. For example, suppose that “glamor” is being emitted from the speaker 10.

Here, it is determined that the user cannot hear the above-mentioned word and that the word is unknown, so that "E"
When the "D" key 22 is operated, the CPU 32 determines that the key has been operated in step S4 in FIG.
In step S5, the audio header Sn-H is called from the header recording unit 34a, and in step S6, the character header Cn-H combined with the audio header Sn-H and recorded is searched.
In step S7, the character information Cn-I of the character header Cn-H searched in step S6, that is, "glamour" played by voice is displayed on the information display section 39 as shown in FIG. This portion is repeatedly sounded from the speaker 37.

Next, in the information reproducing apparatus 31, at step S8 in FIG.
When the "c" key 23 is operated, the CPU 32 activates the dictionary function in step S9, and displays phonetic symbols and meanings on the information display section 39.

The reading operation can be performed as shown in FIG. 14C by using the left-advancing key 25a or the right-advancing key 25b of the key operation unit 13. Example sentences can also be displayed.

Further, the information reproducing apparatus 31 can set a memorization level for each word. For example, finally, FIG.
(D) is displayed, and the user is allowed to select the level of 1, 2, 3, 4,...
It is determined by the “EXE” key 26. When the user presses the “Dic” key 23 again, the display returns to the original state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the audio information and the visual information stored in the recording medium are operated as shown in the flowchart, so that a portion that cannot be heard as audio (or only audio) If it is not sufficient, character output, kanji, etc.) can be displayed by key input to make the voice data clear. For a part that cannot be recognized even when displayed as characters, the pointer is operated to use the dictionary display function. By combining and extracting information such as voices, characters, and dictionaries (images), the learning efficiency of English conversation and the like is dramatically improved. Naturally, you can reduce your belongings and access faster.

In the above example, the example of English → Japanese / English → English is used. However, if the combination is reversed, English → Japanese / Japanese → Japanese or English / French / Japanese is applied. Can be a combined language learning machine.

For example, a specific example of Japanese to English will be described using English conversation as an example. FIG. 15 shows a display example of the information display unit. First, the user operates the “PLAY” key 24 of the key operation unit 13.
Is operated to start reproduction, and when the "ED" key 22 is further pressed, "Japanese newspaper is ..." is displayed on the information display section, for example, as shown in FIG.

The key 25a for the user to move left or the key 2 to move right
When the next word is read by 5b and the "Dic" key 23 is pressed, an English sentence is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, the left advance key 25a or the right advance key 25
By operating b, the next word is read.

[0069]

According to the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily extract characters, images, and the like with respect to audio from a target story in an optimal manner. For this reason, the voice information that could not be heard can be confirmed by character information. Alternatively, it is possible to write a person's name or a place name (kanji display, image display) which could not be confirmed only by voice.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a key arrangement of a key operation unit of the information reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an information display unit of the information reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows an audio header Sn-H, audio information Sn-I, a character header Cn-H, character information Cn-I, and dictionary data DnD.
It is a storage format figure of.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of a story of English conversation content stored on a recording medium.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display state of an information display unit used to explain the operation of the information reproducing apparatus when a recording medium recording English conversation content partially shown in FIG. 6 is set in the information reproducing apparatus. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of a story of history content stored on a recording medium.

FIG. 9 shows a display state of an information display unit used for explaining an operation of the information reproducing apparatus when a recording medium which records the history content partially shown in FIG. 8 is set in the information reproducing apparatus. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of another information reproducing apparatus that can execute an extended function on a writable recording medium.

FIG. 11 is a format diagram of a recording medium having a readable / writable (R / W) MEMO area in which a degree of achievement can be added to the audio header Sn-H, for example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a part of a story of English conversation content stored on the recording medium.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of a story of history content stored on the recording medium.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example in the information display unit of the other information reproducing device at the time of learning an English word.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an information display unit, which is used to describe a specific example of Japanese to English, using English conversation as an example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 information reproducing device, 2 microcomputer, 3 C
PU, 6 recording medium driver, 7 recording medium reading unit, 8 driving unit, 9 audio driver, 11 character / image display driver, 12 information display unit, 13 key operation unit, 14 header recording unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G10L 3/00 551E F-term (reference) 5B075 ND03 ND14 ND16 ND40 NK44 PP02 PP03 PQ04 PQ10 PQ32 UU01 5B091 AA11 CB24 CB32 CC01 CC02 CC14 CC15 5D015 LL13 5D044 DE03 DE12 DE17 DE22 DE35 DE37 DE57 DE96

Claims (9)

[Claims] An audio information unit divided by a predetermined length, an audio information header serving as information for each audio information unit,
Reading means for reading a visual information unit visually corresponding to the audio information unit and a visual information header which is information for each visual information unit, and which is combined with the audio information header from an information providing medium; Voice header recording means for recording the read voice information header; voice information reproduction and sounding means for reproducing and sounding the voice information unit read by the reading means; and monitoring key operation inputs and responding to key operation inputs. Control means for calling the audio information header from the audio header recording means, detecting a visual information header coupled thereto, and displaying a visual information unit visually corresponding to the audio information unit on a display unit. Information reproducing device. 2. The visual control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit specifies, based on the visual information header, a designation for a predetermined small unit in the visual information unit displayed on the display unit, and the visual-related information explaining the relevant small unit. 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on the display unit. 3. An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means causes a management item of visual information to be written into said visual information header when said information providing medium is writable. 4. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means causes a management item of audio information to be written in said audio information header when said information providing medium is writable. 5. An audio information unit divided by a predetermined length and an audio information header serving as information for each audio information unit,
A reading step of reading, from an information providing medium, a visual information unit visually corresponding to the audio information unit and a visual information header which is information for each visual information unit and is combined with the audio information header; A voice header recording step of recording the read voice header; and a voice information reproducing sounding step of reproducing and pronouncing the voice information unit read by the reading step. Accordingly, the audio information header is called from the audio header recording step, and a visual information header coupled to the audio information header is detected, and visual information of a visual information unit visually corresponding to the audio information unit is displayed on a display unit. Information reproduction method. 6. Information for causing a display unit to arbitrarily synchronize a visual information unit visually corresponding to a voice information unit divided by a predetermined length with a voice information unit in response to a key operation input. An information providing medium, wherein a visual information header serving as information for each visual information unit is combined with a voice information header serving as information for each audio information unit. 7. The information providing medium according to claim 6, further comprising visual-related information on a predetermined small unit in the visual information unit. 8. The information providing medium according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium is a writable recording medium, and the management item of the visual information is written in the visual information header. 9. The information providing medium according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium is a writable recording medium, and the management item of the audio information is written in the audio information header.