JP2002222077A - Device and method for information output and its program recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present unoutputted information that a user becomes unable to obtain in voice when voice output is stopped by switching the output style so that the unoutputted information is outputted in characters. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a text data holding part 101 which holds text data to be voiced out, voice output means (102, 103) which output a voice according to the text data held by the text data holding part 101, a display part 106 which displays the text data held by the text data holding part 101, an input reception part 104 which instructs to switch a means used to output the data held by the holding part 101 from the voice output means to the display part 106, and an output style switching part 105 which determines the start position of display output of the text data according to the progress state of the output by the voice output means, inhibits the voice output means from outputting the data, and allows the display part 106 to start displaying the data from the start position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information output which, when audio output is stopped, switches the information originally output by audio to character output and outputs the information, and can return to the audio output if necessary. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a device having only a small display unit, an output device for presenting information to a user using voice synthesis has been used in order to compensate for the inconvenience of obtaining information visually. ing.

[0003]

However, when it is necessary to stop the sound output in consideration of public manners, etc., the conventional output device can stop the sound output immediately. There is no means for promptly indicating to the user the information that has not been output.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the output form is switched so that the user can output the unoutputted information that cannot be obtained by the voice in characters by stopping the audio output. And an information output device for presenting the information.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information output apparatus capable of returning an output mode switched to a character output to a voice output as required.

[0006]

In order to solve such a problem, for example, an information output device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, holding means for holding data to be output as a sound, voice output means for outputting a sound based on the data held in the holding means, and display output means for displaying and outputting the data held in the holding means Instruction means for instructing a means used for outputting data held in the holding means to switch from the sound output means to the display output means; and, in response to a switch instruction by the instruction means, the sound output means A switching unit that determines a display output start position in the data based on the output progress state, inhibits output by the audio output unit, and starts display output of the data by the display output unit from the start position. Is provided.

Further, an information output device for solving the above-mentioned problem includes a holding unit for holding data to be output as a voice, a voice output unit for outputting a voice based on the data stored in the holding unit, Display output means for displaying and outputting the data held in the holding means, and instructing means for instructing the means used for outputting the data held in the holding means to switch from the display output means to the audio output means, In response to the switching instruction by the instruction means, a start position of the audio output in the data is determined based on the progress of the display output by the display output means, and the output by the display output means is prohibited. Switching means for starting sound output of the data by the sound output means.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an information output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a text data holding unit for holding text data which is a source of speech synthesis in the present apparatus. 102 is a text data holding unit 1
The voice synthesizing unit receives text data from the data No. 01 and synthesizes voice to generate voice data. An audio output unit 103 outputs the audio data generated by the audio synthesis unit 102. Reference numeral 104 denotes an input receiving unit that monitors / receives an external input for switching the output mode. A receiving unit 105 receives an output mode switching signal from the input receiving unit 104, stops the voice synthesizing process of the voice synthesizing unit 102, obtains text data corresponding to the voice data being generated from the text data holding unit 101, and displays the text data. Is an output mode switching unit that passes the text data to the output mode. A display unit 106 displays the text data passed from the output mode switching unit 105.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an information output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes an input device such as a button for receiving an operation from a user. Reference numeral 202 denotes an audio output device such as a speaker that outputs the audio data generated by the audio synthesis unit 102. Reference numeral 203 denotes a display device such as an LCD display for displaying text passed from the output mode switching unit 105 to the display unit 106.
A ROM 204 stores a program for performing each processing in FIG. 205 is a text data holding unit 101
For storing text data stored in the ROM and ROM
RA for the work at the time of executing the program stored in 204
M. A CPU 206 executes the programs stored in the ROM 204 and the RAM 205. Reference numeral 207 denotes a bus for connecting each unit of the apparatus and exchanging data.

Next, an outline of the information output apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S301, if there is text data to be output, it is stored in the text data holding unit 101. Then, the process proceeds to step S302.

In step S302, it is determined whether a voice output or a character output has been selected for the output mode, and if a voice output has been selected,
Proceed to step S303. On the other hand, if the character output has been selected, the process proceeds to step S309 to perform a character display process.

In step S303, step S301
Is transmitted to the speech synthesizer 102. In step S <b> 304, voice data is generated by sequentially performing voice synthesis processing for each arbitrary size while holding the voice synthesis completion position of the text data, and is sent to the voice output unit 103. Then, the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S305, the transmitted audio data of an arbitrary size is sequentially output from the audio output unit 103. In step S306, the input receiving unit 104 constantly monitors whether or not a button operation has been performed by the user while the audio output unit 103 is outputting audio. Notify, step S
Move on to 307.

On the other hand, if the notification from the input receiving unit 104 is not made during the voice output, it is checked in step S316 whether there is any text data that has not been voice-outputted. Voice synthesis processing is performed for each size to generate voice data, which is sent to the voice output unit 103 to continue voice output. If there is no text data that has not been output as voice, this process is terminated.

In step S307, the output mode switching unit 105 immediately interrupts the speech synthesis to the speech synthesis unit 102 to stop speech synthesis. Similarly, the voice synthesizing unit 102 immediately stops the voice being output to the voice output unit 103, and clears voice data subjected to voice synthesis processing and unprocessed text data. Then, control goes to a step S308.

In step S308, the output mode switching unit 105 obtains position information indicating the number of characters in the text data for which the speech synthesis by the speech synthesis unit 102 has been completed.
Then, control goes to a step S309.

In step S309, step S308
It is confirmed whether the position information obtained in step 1 is the last character of the text data (that is, whether there is text data that has not yet been output as voice), and if there is no text data that has not been output as voice, the process ends. . On the other hand, if there is text data that has not been output as speech, the process proceeds to step S310.

In step S310, step S308
The output mode switching unit 105 determines the display output start position on the basis of the position information of the text data obtained in step (1).
The output mode switching unit 105 includes the text data holding unit 10
Text data from 1 to the start position onward (text data that is information that the user did not obtain as voice output)
In any size. Then, control goes to a step S311.

In step S311, step S310
The text data of an arbitrary size obtained in step (1) is sequentially displayed on the display unit 106. In step S312, the display unit 106
The input receiving unit 104 constantly monitors whether or not a button operation has been performed by the user while the text data is being displayed.
If there is no instruction to change to voice output, it is checked in step S317 whether or not there is any undisplayed text data. If there is, the process returns to step S310 to reduce the undisplayed text data to an arbitrary size. The acquired text data is sequentially displayed, and the process ends when there is no undisplayed text data.

If the output mode switching unit 105 receives a command to change the output mode to voice output from the input receiving unit 104 while displaying on the display unit 106 (step S312), the output mode switching unit 105 Is interrupted for promptly stopping the acquisition of text data from the text data holding unit 101, and the display process is stopped (step S313).
Output form switching unit 10 of the text data in
Position information on how far 5 has been acquired is acquired (step S314).

In step S315, step S314
Whether the position information obtained in step 1 is the last character of the text data (that is, whether there is undisplayed text data)
Is confirmed, and if there is no undisplayed text data, the process is terminated.

On the other hand, if there is undisplayed text data in step S315, the output mode switching unit 105 determines the audio output start position in step S318 based on the position information obtained in step S314. Then, of the text data stored in the text data holding unit 101, the text data after the start position (undisplayed text data) is transmitted to the speech synthesis unit 102, and the process returns to step S304.

As described above, even when the output is switched in both directions from the audio output to the display output and the display output to the audio output, the user can obtain all the information by performing the output without interruption. [Second Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the text data holding unit 101 transmits all text data to the speech synthesizing unit 102 at once, but the text data holding unit 101 holds text data of a plurality of sentences. For example, the speech may be transmitted to the speech synthesis unit 102 one sentence at a time, and speech synthesis processing and speech output may be sequentially performed. This eliminates the need for the voice synthesis unit to manage the data position during voice synthesis, and the output mode switching unit 105 can acquire the position information of the text data currently being synthesized from the text data holding unit 101.

In the above embodiment, step S
At 304, it is assumed that the user performs an input to the input device 201 using a button, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a form in which a user inputs a character string such as a specific word by voice may be employed. In this case, the format is as shown in FIGS. The user inputs a voice to the voice input device 508 in FIG.
At 7, the voice from the user is recognized.

In the above embodiment, a physical button is assumed as the input device 201 used by the user.
This is not the case. For example, it is possible to adopt a system configuration as shown in FIG. That is, by providing a GUI input device 601 in place of the input device 201 in FIG. 2, a graphical user interface (G
UI) can also be provided to the user.

In the above embodiment, step S
In 304, it is assumed that the user performs an action for instructing output mode switching on input device 201.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the output form may be switched by a communication device 809 and an external information notification via a network 810. More specifically, for example, when the user enters a place where sound output is not desirable, such as in a train or a movie theater, the receiving unit 707 can receive a notification to stop sound output via a network. It becomes possible.

In the above embodiment, step S
Although it is assumed that the audio output from the audio output device 202 is completely stopped in 305, the processing here is an operation of lowering the volume of the audio output in accordance with the usage status of the present device, etc. The resulting lack of acquired information may be supplemented by character output.

In the above embodiment, the audio output unit 103, the input receiving unit 104, and the display unit 106 are assumed to be individually created programs.
Alternatively, as the input receiving unit 104 and the display unit 106, or as the audio output unit 103, the input receiving unit 104, and the display unit 106, a Web browser or an extended version of the Web browser may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where each unit is configured on the same computer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be.

In the above embodiment, the case where the program is stored in the ROM has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be realized by using an arbitrary storage medium. Further, it may be realized by a circuit that performs the same operation. Third Embodiment The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or to an apparatus including a single device. A recording medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out the program codes stored in the recording medium. Needless to say, it can also be achieved by executing.

In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
D-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-RA
M, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written into a memory provided with a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By stopping the audio output, an effect is obtained in which the output form can be switched and presented so that the user can output the non-output information that cannot be obtained by the audio in characters. Further, an effect is obtained that the output mode switched to output as characters can be returned to audio output as necessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of an information output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the information output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the embodiment of the information output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment in a case where the information output device according to the present invention has a voice recognition unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment when the information output device according to the present invention is provided with a voice input device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment when a GUI is provided to the information output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an embodiment when a communication receiving unit is provided in the information output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment when a communication device is provided in the information output device according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 101 Text data holding unit 102 Voice synthesis unit 103 Voice output unit 104 Input reception unit 105 Output mode switching unit 106 Display unit 201 Input device 202 Voice output device 203 Display device 204 ROM 205 RAM 206 CPU 207 Bus

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Ikeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 5D045 AA01 AA02 AB26

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing data to be output as a voice, a voice output unit for outputting a voice based on the data stored in the storage unit, and a display and output of the data stored in the storage unit. Display output means; instruction means for instructing the means for outputting data held in the holding means to switch from the audio output means to the display output means; and A start position of display output in the data is determined based on a progress state of output by the output unit, output by the audio output unit is prohibited, and display output of the data by the display output unit is started from the start position. An information output device comprising: a switching unit. 2. A storage unit for storing data to be output as an audio, an audio output unit for outputting an audio based on the data stored in the storage, and a display output of the data stored in the storage. Display output means, instruction means for instructing a means used for outputting data held in the holding means to switch from the display output means to the audio output means, and display in response to a switch instruction by the instruction means A start position of the audio output in the data is determined based on the progress of the display output by the output unit, the output by the display output unit is prohibited, and the audio output of the data by the audio output unit is started from the start position. An information output device comprising: a switching unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instruction unit further includes a voice input unit for inputting a voice, and a voice instruction receiving unit for receiving a specific voice input from the voice input unit as an instruction input. The information output device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit further includes a switching instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction input from a GUI input / output unit that provides a graphical user interface. Information output device. 5. The information output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit further includes a switching instruction receiving unit that receives an external instruction input. 6. A holding step of holding data to be output as a sound, an audio output step of outputting a sound based on the data held by the holding step, and a display output of the data held by the holding step. A display output step; an instruction step of instructing a step used for outputting the data held in the holding step from the audio output step to the display output step; and A start position of a display output in the data is determined based on a progress state of the output in the output step, an output in the audio output step is prohibited, and a display output of the data in the display output step is started from the start position. An information output method, comprising: a switching step. 7. A holding step of holding data to be output as a sound, an audio output step of outputting a sound based on the data held by the holding step, and a display output of the data held by the holding step. A display output step; an instruction step of instructing a step used for outputting the data held in the holding step to switch from the display output step to the audio output step; and displaying the display in response to a switch instruction by the instruction step. A start position of the audio output in the data is determined based on the progress of the display output in the output step, and the output in the display output step is prohibited, and the audio output of the data in the audio output step is started from the start position. An information output method, comprising: a switching step. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction step further comprises: a voice input step of inputting a voice; and a voice instruction receiving step of receiving a specific voice input in the voice input step as an instruction input. The information output method according to claim 6 or 7. 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the instruction step further comprises a switching instruction receiving step of receiving an instruction input from a GUI input / output step for providing a graphical user interface. Information output method. 10. The information output method according to claim 6, wherein the instruction step further includes a switching instruction receiving step of receiving an external instruction input. 11. A storage medium storing a control program for implementing the information output method according to claim 6 by a computer. 12. A control program for implementing the information output method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 by a computer.