JP2002232973A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller in which a storage capacity required to store recognition object words can be reduced. SOLUTION: In the remote controller that remotely controls various devices in voice, a voice command information memory 114 storing recognition object words to command operations to each device stores commands of a desired operation object among operation objects and commands of operations of the operation objects separately, an IRED(Infrared Ray Emitting Diode) drive/control circuit 121 transmitting a remote control signal corresponding to the recognition object word recognized by a voice command recognition circuit 113 transmits a remote control signal corresponding to a combination between a recognition object word commanding a desired operation object recognized by the voice command recognition circuit 113 and a recognition object word commanding the operation of the operation objects.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device which can remotely control various devices such as a television and a video by voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As such a remote control device, for example, a remote control device described in claim 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-219575 stores a voice received by a voice recognition unit in a storage unit. Some of the remote control signals corresponding to the stored remote control signals are determined by the control means, and the remote control signals are transmitted by the transmission means.

[0003] Further, as in a remote control device described in claim 4 of the above publication, the voice received by the voice recognition means is divided into first and second keywords and recognized. When recognizing the first keyword, it is determined which of the plurality of devices corresponds to which device, and when recognizing the second keyword, which operation corresponds to the selected device is determined. In some cases, erroneous recognition of a selection instruction of various devices and erroneous recognition of an instruction of various operations of the selected device are prevented.

[0004]

However, among the above-mentioned conventional remote control devices, in the remote control device described in claim 4 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-219575, the voice received by the voice recognition means is not used. Since the recognition is performed separately for the first or second keywords, the storage capacity required for storing one recognition target word, which is information used for recognition of those keywords, is small. However, since the number of keywords increases, the storage capacity required to store all the words to be recognized is almost the same as when the voice received by the voice recognition unit is recognized as one keyword, In order to store the recognition target words, expensive large-capacity storage means is required, and there has been a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such an unsolved problem of the prior art, and is capable of reducing a storage capacity required for storing a word to be recognized. The task is to provide

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control device capable of remotely controlling a plurality of operation targets by voice, and instructing a remote control operation. Storage means for storing a recognition target word, speech recognition means for recognizing the recognition target word contained in a voice uttered from a user based on the storage means, and a recognition target word recognized by the voice recognition means Transmitting means for transmitting a remote control signal corresponding to the operation target, wherein the storage means designates the recognition target word as a command indicating a desired operation target among a plurality of operation targets and the plurality of operation targets. The transmission means stores the recognition target word indicating the desired operation target recognized by the voice recognition means and the previous word. Characterized in that it is as to transmit the remote control signal corresponding to the combination of the recognized words to instruct activation of a plurality of operation target.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the remote control device according to the first aspect, further comprising user identification means for identifying the user, and providing the user with the identification result of the user identification means. It operates according to it.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote control device according to the first or second aspect, information display means for displaying information on a remote control operation that can be instructed by a user, and a remote control displayed on the information display means An operation instruction switch for instructing a user to perform a desired remote control operation based on information on the operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote control device according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the user gives an instruction of the remote control operation from the voice recognition means, Information about the recognition means is displayed. Therefore, in the remote control device according to the first aspect of the invention, the storage unit includes:
The recognition target words are configured to be stored separately into those indicating a desired operation target from among a plurality of operation targets and those indicating an operation of the plurality of operation targets, and the transmission unit includes: A remote control signal corresponding to a combination of a recognition target word indicating a desired operation target recognized by the voice recognition unit and a recognition target word indicating operations of the plurality of operation targets is transmitted. For example, a recognition target word commonly used for all operation targets such as "switch on" and "switch off", and a common target only for some operation targets such as "fast forward" and "rewind" It is not necessary to store the recognition target words and the like in the storage means redundantly. For example, only one recognition target word may be stored. To remember As someone, since stored in the storage means can be reduced recognition terms previously, it is possible to small storage capacity of the storage means required,
It is not necessary to use expensive large-capacity storage means, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The recognition target words stored in the storage means may be stored in advance at the time of manufacture, or may be stored by a user at the time of use. In the case where the recognition target word is stored at the time of use, the user may utter the recognition target word and store it.The user may input the recognition target word using an input means such as a keyboard and input the recognition target word. You may make it memorize | store.

[0010] The order in which the voice recognition means recognizes the recognition target words from the voice uttered by the user may be either a recognition target word indicating a desired operation target or a recognition target word indicating a motion of the operation target. May be the destination, for example,
First, if the recognition order of the recognition target words is determined in advance, such as recognizing the recognition target word indicating the operation target, and then recognizing the recognition target word indicating the operation of the operation target, for example. For example, when a voice is issued from the user to indicate the operation target, the voice recognition unit only needs to refer to only the recognition target word indicating the operation target stored in the storage unit. When a voice instructing the operation of the operation target is issued from the user, only the recognition target words instructing the operation of the operation target stored in the storage means need to be referred to. The number of recognition target words to be referred to at the time of recognition is small, and erroneous recognition of a voice instructing a remote control operation can be reduced.

In the remote control device as described above, means for reading or rewriting the voice, the remote control signal, and the like stored in the storage means may be provided. When the transmission means of the remote control device cannot be used due to a failure or the like, the recognition target word stored in the storage device of the remote control device being used is read out, and the storage device of the new remote control device is used by rewriting. This is preferable because the new remote controller can be used immediately as in the case of the remote controller device. As the storage means, for example,
A flash memory or the like directly connected to the remote control device may be used, or an external storage device provided at a remote place and indirectly connected to the remote control device via a telephone line or the like may be used.

Further, since the remote control device is used away from the user's hand, various conditions of the remote control device such as whether or not the voice can be recognized by the voice recognition means in order to guarantee a reliable operation. It is preferable to provide a situation notifying means for notifying the user of the situation. As the status notifying means, any means can be used as long as it can notify various conditions of the remote control device. For example, when a voice is recognized by the voice recognizing means, a speaker for notifying the user of the fact by voice is used. Is mentioned.

[0013] The remote control device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes user identification means for identifying a user, and operates according to the user based on the identification result of the user identification means. Therefore, for example, for a visually impaired person having visual impairment, an operation procedure can be guided by voice, etc., and anyone can easily handle the remote control device, and the operability of the remote control device is improved. .

In addition, a history of recognition results of voices uttered by a user is stored, and information such as which recognition target words the user frequently uses is statistically processed. When the recognition target word is recognized from the voice uttered by the user by the voice recognition unit, the recognition target word can be recognized based on the statistically used frequency, thereby reducing erroneous voice recognition. You can also.

Further, based on the recognition result history,
After the user designates an arbitrary operation target, information such as which operation the user instructs frequently is statistically processed, and when the operation target is designated, the instruction is frequently performed. By transmitting a remote control signal for performing the operation, the user's favorite state can be immediately reproduced.

In addition, it is possible to return to the state before the latest remote control signal is transmitted based on the history of the recognition result. For example, an erroneous recognition target word is recognized from voice and used. Even if a remote control signal not intended by the user is transmitted, the operation target can be immediately returned to the original state. Further, the remote control signal transmitted immediately before is stored as the history of the recognition target word, and when the voice recognition unit recognizes the predetermined recognition target word, the stored remote control signal is transmitted to the transmission unit again. Transmission can also be performed. For example, the operation of lighting or the like that changes stepwise into a plurality of states can be easily performed with the same remote control signal, and operability is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the remote control device according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein information display means for displaying information relating to a remote control operation that can be instructed by a user, and information based on the remote control operation displayed on the information display means. And an operation instruction switch for instructing a user to perform a desired remote control operation.For example, if a switch or the like for manually instructing a remote control operation is used as the operation instruction switch, the user may have a bad physical condition due to a cold or the like. When it is difficult to make a voice, the remote control device of the present invention can be used as an ordinary remote control device. It is also effective when the user cannot speak because the user wears a respiratory organ or the like due to some trouble in the body organ, or when the user does not want to simply instruct the remote control operation by voice.

The operation instruction switch may be any switch as long as it can instruct the user to perform a desired remote control operation. For example, a push-button switch, operated by breathing Examples include a respiratory switch, a point touch switch, a pin touch switch, a breath microphone switch, and the like. The information display means may be any device as long as it displays information on a remote control operation that can be instructed by a user. If the information is displayed from the voice recognition unit when the information on the voice recognition unit is displayed, further improvement in operability can be expected.

For example, when a light emitting diode is used as the information display means, when the recognition target word is recognized from the voice indicating the operation target, it shines green, and the input of the voice indicating the operation of the operation target is performed. Notifies the user that the user has entered the waiting state, and further illuminates red when a voice instructing the operation of the operation target is received, and flashes red when the recognition target word is recognized from the received voice. For example, the light emission pattern of the light emitting diode may be changed according to various states of the remote control device.

Further, when a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in a line, and when the recognition target word is recognized from the voice indicating the operation target to be operated by the remote controller, all the light emitting diodes glow green and the operation of the operation target is performed. Wants to notify the user that the system has entered a state of waiting for the input of a voice instructing the user, turn off the light emitting diodes one by one as time passes, and finally turn off all the light emitting diodes and operate the remote control The user may be notified that the apparatus has entered a state of waiting for the input of a voice indicating the operation target.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a usage example of an embodiment of a remote control device according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a remote control device 1 according to the present embodiment
Is placed on a desk arranged along a wall opposite to a wall on which devices such as a television 2, a video 3, and an air conditioner 4 to be operated are installed.

Here, the remote control device 1 previously stores a remote control signal by infrared rays of devices such as the television 2, the video 3, the air conditioner 4, etc., a user password and a recognition target word for instructing the device to operate. Shall be FIG.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a process performed in an embodiment of the remote control device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the user utters a voice such as "Password 1", as shown in FIG. 3, recognition of "Password 1", "Password 2", "Password 3" is performed as shown in FIG. Based on the target word,
The remote controller 1 recognizes the recognition target word from the voice of "password 1" (step 20).
1) When the recognition target word is not recognized, the apparatus enters a state of waiting for the recognition target word to be uttered again (step 202 “No”). After specifying the user who uttered the voice, the apparatus enters a state of waiting for the utterance of a recognition target word indicating a device to be operated by the remote controller ("Yes" in step 202). Here, the word such as “password 1” is a password registered in advance in the remote control device 1 by each user in order to start a remote control operation for each device.

Next, when the user utters a sound such as "television", as shown in FIG. 4, a recognition target word indicating a device registered in advance and the specified user of the recognition target word are identified. With reference to the frequency of use, the score of the matching calculation of the recognition target word having a significant difference in the usage frequency is weighted, and the remote control device 1 recognizes the recognition target word “TV” from the voice. Here, the word “television” is a recognition target word set in advance by the user on the remote control device 1 in order to start the remote control operation of the television 2.

As described above, by recognizing only the sound instructing the operation of the television 2, the sound instructing the operation of the television 2, which is included in the sound uttered by the user, can be continuously operated by another device. Is not erroneously recognized as a voice instructing, and the recognition rate is improved. In addition, the user,
Subsequently, when a sound “switch on” is issued, the recognition target word instructing the operation of the television 2 registered in advance and the frequency of use of the recognition target word by the specified user are referred to (switch s1 "ON"), the score of the collation calculation of the recognition target word having a significant difference in the use frequency is weighted, and the remote control device 1 recognizes the recognition target word "switch on" from the voice. (Step 2
03), when the recognition target word is not recognized from the voice, the apparatus enters a state of waiting for the input of the recognition target word again (steps 204 “No”, 206 “Y”).
es "), a remote control signal for turning on the power of the television 2 is transmitted when the recognition target word is recognized (step 204" Yes ") (step 20).
5).

As described above, by referring to the use frequency of the recognition target word by the user, the score of the collation calculation of the recognition target word having a significant difference in the use frequency is weighted.
Recognized words that are frequently used are more easily recognized,
The recognition rate is improved. Then, when receiving the remote control signal, the television 2 turns on its own power in the same manner as when the dedicated remote control device is operated.
Here, the word “switch on” is a recognition target word that is set in the remote control device 1 in advance by the user to instruct the operation of the television 2.

The same applies to the video 3 and the air conditioner 4. When the user utters a voice signal "video" or "air conditioner", as shown in FIG. The recognition target word is recognized from the voice based on the specified recognition target word, and the recognition target word included in the voice uttered by the user is subsequently recognized based on the recognition target word indicating the operation of the television 2. (Switch s1
To sn), and enters a state of waiting for the utterance of a recognition target word that instructs the operation of those devices, and then performs recognition such as “switch on” to instruct the operation of the device. When the target word is uttered, a remote control operation corresponding to the target word is executed.

If the password has been recognized for 8 seconds or more, or the number of times the recognition target word has been recognized from the voice instructing the operation of the device is 4 or more (step 206).
"No"), the above procedure is repeated from the password recognition (step 201), but within eight seconds after the password is recognized, the recognition target word is recognized from the voice instructing the operation of the device. If the number of times performed is four or less ("Yes" in step 206), the above procedure is repeated from the point where the recognition target word is recognized from the voice indicating the device to be operated by the remote controller (step 203). .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the remote controller according to the present invention when viewed from the front side. As shown in FIG. 5, a voice transmitting / receiving unit 5 is provided at a lower portion on the front side of the remote control device 1, and a microphone for receiving a user's voice and a voice response are provided inside the voice transmitting / receiving unit 5. Speaker is provided.

An LCD panel 6a for displaying a remote control operation that can be instructed by the user and an external switch 6b for instructing the user to perform a desired remote control operation are provided on the upper part on the front side.
Are provided side by side. For example, when the user is ill due to a cold or the like and it is difficult for the user to speak out, the user can select a desired one of the remote control operations displayed on the LCD panel 6a. The remote control operation can be manually instructed from the external switch 6b.

Specifically, as shown in FIG.
The CD panel 6a displays a list of the names of the devices to be operated in a matrix form, encloses the names of the devices individually in rectangular frame lines, and extends arrows to the right from the right ends of those frame lines. Is displayed. In the initial state, the frame line located at the upper left is displayed in the form of a push button, and each time the user presses the external switch 6b once, the display of the push button is moved to the frame line immediately to the right by one. It has become. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the external switch 6b is pressed once in a state where the name of "TV" is arranged at the upper left and the name of "video" is arranged at the right of one. Then, a frame surrounding the name of "video" is displayed as a push button.

When the external switch 6b is pressed twice in succession at short intervals, as shown in FIG. 6B, a word (recording, playback) indicating the operation of the device displayed in the form of a push button is displayed. , Stop, etc.), icons, etc., are displayed in a matrix in a list in the same manner as the names of devices. In the initial state, as in the case of selecting the name of the device, the frame located at the upper left is displayed as a push button,
When the external switch 6b is pressed once by the user, the push button-shaped display of the frame is moved to the right by one, and two times at short intervals.
When the button is continuously pressed, a remote control operation corresponding to an icon or the like displayed in the form of a push button is executed. In other devices, the remote control operation is performed in the same procedure.

The method of allowing the user to select the name of the device is not limited to the method of selecting the number of times the external switch 6b is pressed, but the method of selecting the name by the time of pressing the external switch 6b. Alternatively, when the user shortly presses the external switch 6b, the push button display is moved to the frame on the right, and when the user presses the external switch 6b long, the remote control operation surrounded by the frame indicated by the push button is performed. It may be executed.

Examples of the external switch 6b include a push button switch, a breathing switch operated by breathing, a point touch switch, a pin touch switch, a breath microphone switch, and the like. Further, the LCD panel 6a performs the same display as when the user manually instructs the remote control operation from the external switch 6b when the user instructs the remote control operation by voice.

Further, a display section 7 for displaying the operating state of the device and the like is provided in the central portion on the front side. Display 7
Is composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a horizontal row, the light emitting diodes arranged on the left end and the right end,
It is provided separately from other light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode located at the left end glows green when the recognition target word is recognized from the voice instructing the device to be operated by the remote control, and enters the state of waiting for the input of the voice instructing the operation of the operation target Is notified to the user, and furthermore, when a voice instructing the operation of the operation target is received, it lights up in red, and the user is notified that the recognition target word has been entered from the received voice. It has become.

The light emitting diode arranged at the right end shines red when it fails to recognize the recognition target word from the received voice, and returns to a state of waiting for the input of the voice instructing the operation of the operation target. The user is notified of the entry. When the recognition target word is recognized from the voice that instructs the device to be operated by the remote controller, all the light-emitting diodes glow orange and the voices that instruct the operation of the device are input. Notify the user that the device has entered the wait state, change the LEDs one by one as time passes, and finally change all the LEDs to green, and select the device to be remote-controlled. The user is notified that the apparatus has entered a state of waiting for input of an instruction voice.

As described above, the operability of the remote control device 1 can be expected to be further improved by illuminating the light emitting diode of the display unit 7 when the user instructs the remote control operation by voice. Also, the remote control device 1
A remote control signal transmitting section 8 and a remote control signal receiving section 9 are provided at an upper end of the remote control signal transmitting section 8. An infrared light emitting diode (IRED) is provided inside the remote control signal transmitting section 8 and inside the remote control signal receiving section 9. , An infrared region photosensor is arranged. The remote control signal transmitting section 8 is for transmitting a remote control signal to an electric device capable of receiving a remote control signal by infrared rays.
Is for receiving a remote control signal generated by a dedicated remote control device that comes standard with a device such as the television 2, and the remote control device 1 learns the received signal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the remote controller according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the remote control device 1 is provided with a central control circuit 100 for controlling the entire circuit, and an input terminal of the central control device 100 receives a signal from the external switch 6b. It has become.

First, a method of inputting a user's password and a voice for instructing the device to operate will be described. The password issued by the user is received by the microphone 110, converted into an electric signal, and amplified by the amplifier 111. The amplified electric signal of the password is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 112 and is input to the voice password recognition circuit 103. The voice password recognizing circuit 103 recognizes the input password using information about the password preset in the voice password information memory 104. Then, the most probable password is estimated and reported to the central control circuit 100, and RA
Central control circuit 100 determines which user the password belongs to, based on the correspondence between the user and the password preset in M101.

When the user utters a voice for instructing the device to be operated by the remote controller, the voice instruction recognizing circuit 113 recognizes the device for instructing the device to operate, which is registered in advance in the set voice instruction information memory 114. Using the target word,
The recognition target word is recognized from the input voice. Then, the most probable recognition target word is estimated and reported to the central control circuit 100.

When the recognition target word is recognized from the voice of the user, the central control circuit 10 recognizes the recognition target word in the RAM 101 based on the correspondence between the recognition target word and the remote control signal.
0 determines which remote control signal is related to the recognition target word. For example, if the recognition target word is related to a channel of the television 2, transmission of the remote control signal corresponding to the channel operation to the IRED drive / control circuit 121 is performed. Is to be instructed. Then, the IRED drive / control circuit 121 takes out the corresponding code from the IRED code information memory 132 in which the remote control signal information of each device is stored in advance, drives the IRED 120 based on this, and drives the remote control signal. Is to be sent.

As the remote control signal stored in the IRED code information memory 132, the code information of the remote control signal of a TV, a video or the like already released may be fixedly stored, or the remote control signal may be stored. Learning may be performed using the sensor 130 and the photo sensor interface circuit 131. For example, the remote control device 1 emits a voice “What is the operation target?” By voice guidance, and as shown in FIG. 8, when the user emits a voice such as “TV”, the remote control device 1 The voice is recognized (step 701), and a voice "Please input an infrared signal corresponding to the power operation" is issued (step 702), and the apparatus enters a state of waiting for the input of the infrared signal.

When the user operates the remote control signal transmitting unit of the dedicated remote control device of the television 2 by approaching the photo sensor 130 (remote control signal receiving unit 9), the remote control device 1 transmits the remote control signal to the photo sensor 130. , And this is received by the photosensor interface circuit 131.
Through the IRED code information memory 132, and stores it as an IRED code in the IRED code information memory 132, and sets the correspondence between the recognition target word and the remote control signal in the RAM 101. (Step 703).

Similarly, the remote control device 1 asks "Please input an infrared signal corresponding to an increase in volume" (step 7).
04), inputting infrared signals corresponding to various operations of the television, storing them in the IRED code information memory 132, and repeatedly setting the correspondence between the recognition target word and the remote control signal in the RAM 101. As shown in FIG. 9, the code information previously learned in the IRED code information memory 131 together with the learned code information is used as the remote control signal.

A set of remote control signals including a remote control signal corresponding to a power supply operation, a remote control signal corresponding to a volume operation, and the like is different for each maker even for a television having similar functions. Even among manufacturers, it is different for each model. Therefore, the above IRED core
In the case where the code information of the remote control signals for televisions and videos which have already been sold is fixedly stored in the code information memory 132, the user sets which remote control signal set to use. It has become.

That is, the voice guidance causes the remote controller 1 to emit a voice “What is the operation target?”
As shown in FIG. 0, when the user utters a sound such as "TV", the remote control device 1 recognizes the sound (step 901), and utters a sound "What is the name of the TV maker?" The apparatus enters a state of waiting for a voice corresponding to a maker name to be input.

When the user utters a voice such as "Maker 1", the remote controller 1 recognizes the voice (step 902), and there are a plurality of TVs manufactured by "Maker 1". One of a set of remote control signals is selected and set, and various operations such as a channel change operation and a volume change operation are automatically executed by the set remote control signal (step 90).
3).

When the remote control operation is not performed properly with the set remote control signal set, the user sets "NG".
(Step 904 “No”), the remote control device 1 selects and sets another set of remote control signals,
Various operations are automatically executed again with the set remote control signal set (step 905).

When the remote control operation is successfully performed with the set remote control signal set, the user is prompted to enter "O
"K" (step 906 "Yes"), R
The correspondence between the recognition target word and the remote control signal is set in the AM 101, and the remote control device 1 sets the set of the remote control signals as the remote control signal of the television 2.

Further, since the remote control device 1 of the present embodiment is used away from the user, it is necessary to respond to each operation by voice in order to guarantee a reliable operation. Is also possible. For example, when a keyword "TV" is recognized, a response such as "TV operation" is returned. For this purpose, the central control circuit 100 controls the response voice control circuit 143.
A predetermined instruction is issued for each operation. When the response voice control circuit 143 receives this, the response voice information memory 14
4, the voice information stored in advance is taken out, and a response voice is emitted using the D / A converter 142, the amplifier 141, and the speaker 140.

The response voice emitted from the speaker 140 is
The content is changed according to the user. For example, if the user determined by the password is a visually impaired person having visual impairment, a sound explaining the method of use is also issued. And the operability of the remote control device is improved. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the sound of the remote control device 1 and an operation corresponding thereto according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, for example, when a recognition target word "TV" is recognized from a voice indicating a device to be operated by a remote controller, a recognition target word indicating a device and a device set in the RAM 101 are set in advance. Of the recognition target words registered in the voice instruction information memory 114 based on the correspondence relationship with the recognition target words instructing the operation of “switch” corresponding to the recognition target words instructing the device “TV”. After selecting a recognition target word indicating an operation such as “ON”, the remote control device 1 enters a state of waiting for the input of a voice indicating the operation of the television 2, and outputs a sound to be uttered thereafter based on the selected recognition target word. I have come to recognize.

In other words, up to this point, only the device to be operated by the remote controller is recognized, and only after receiving a voice for instructing the device such as “TV”, “switch on”, “channel 3”, etc. The voice for instructing the operation of the television 2 is not recognized, and the erroneous recognition of the voice for instructing the remote control operation can be reduced. Also, for example, when the recognition target word “video” is recognized, the recognition target registered in the voice instruction information memory 114 is determined based on the correspondence set in the RAM 101 in the same manner as in the case of the television. A word to be recognized that instructs the operation of the video 3 is selected from the words.

Therefore, when there are voices instructing the operation of the device which are expressed by the same recognition target word, there is no need to store the same in the voice instruction information memory 114, and the operation is instructed. The information to be stored in the voice instruction information memory 114 can be reduced as compared with the method of storing the recognition target words for each device as the voice to be played, so that the required storage capacity of the voice instruction information memory 114 is small. Since it is not necessary to use the large-capacity voice instruction information memory 114, which is effective, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the storage means, which is a component of the present invention, is a voice instruction information memory 114.
And the IRED code information memory 132, the voice recognition means corresponds to the voice instruction recognition circuit 113, the user identification means corresponds to the password recognition circuit 103, the transmission means corresponds to the remote control signal transmission unit 8 and the IRED 120, The information display means corresponds to the display unit 6a, and the manual instruction means corresponds to the external switch 6b.

The above embodiment is an example of the remote control device according to the present invention, and does not limit the configuration of the remote control device, the type of the remote control signal, and the like. For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12A, an example in which each user specifies the user who issued the password based on a password registered in the remote control device 1 in advance. However, since each user does not know what password was set by the other user, the user did not intend to operate the remote control, and the other user's password was included in the voice uttered accidentally. For example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the same password is used by all users, and the remote control device 1 recognizes the password, because there is a possibility that the remote control operation may be started by mistake. Sometimes, the user is identified by a known speaker recognition technology based on the voice that uttered the password,
It is preferable to reduce the possibility of erroneous operation.

Further, an example has been described in which the user issues a sound such as "switch on" after emitting a sound such as "TV". When a voice is sent, a remote control signal indicating an operation having a significant difference in the use frequency is transmitted with reference to the use frequency of the recognition target word indicating the operation of the television 2 used by the user. The operation that is instructed by the user, such as a television, an audio, and an air conditioner, can be performed with a small number of utterances, and the operability is improved.

[0058]

As described above, in the remote control device according to the present invention, the storage means stores the recognition target word between the one indicating the desired operation target among the plurality of operation targets and the one indicating the plurality of operation targets. The transmission means is configured to separately store an operation target instruction word and a recognition target word indicating a desired operation target recognized by the voice recognition means. Since a remote control signal corresponding to the combination with the recognition target word to be transmitted is transmitted, for example, a recognition target word commonly used for all operation targets such as “switch on” and “switch off”, Recognition words that are commonly used only for some operation targets such as "fast forward" and "rewind" need not be stored in the storage means redundantly, and the voice to instruct the operation is recognized. Perception of Compared with the method of storing words for each operation target, the number of recognition target words to be stored in the storage means can be reduced, so that the required storage capacity of the storage means can be reduced and the cost is large. It is not necessary to use the storage means for the capacity, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for describing a usage example of an embodiment of a remote control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a process performed by the remote control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of password recognition performed in the flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of voice instruction recognition performed in the flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the remote controller of FIG. 1 when viewed from the front side.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of the LCD panel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the remote control device of FIG. 1;

8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for causing the IRED code information memory of FIG. 7 to learn a remote control signal.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of a remote control signal stored in an IRED code information memory of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting the IRED drive / control circuit of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of storing recognition target words associated with the remote control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the password recognition process performed in the flowchart of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control device 2 Television 3 Video 4 Air conditioner 6a LCD panel 6b External switch 100 Central control circuit 103 Password recognition circuit 104 Password information memory 113 Voice instruction recognition circuit 114 Voice instruction information memory 120 IRED (Infrared light emitting diode) 121 IRED drive / control circuit 132 IRED code information memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G10L 15/24 (72) Inventor Hideyuki Yamagishi 1-3-1 Yoko, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Asahi Kasei Corporation (72) Inventor Takurou Hatakeyama 1770 Karasuyamacho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Yokohama City General Rehabilitation Center (reference) 5D015 AA04 HH11 HH13 KK01 5K048 AA11 BA03 DB04 DB05 EB02 EB14 FB11 GC06 HA04

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device capable of remotely controlling a plurality of operation targets by voice, comprising: storage means for storing a recognition target word instructing remote control operation; and a recognition target word included in a voice uttered by a user. A voice recognition unit that recognizes based on the storage unit, and a transmission unit that transmits a remote control signal corresponding to the recognition target word recognized by the voice recognition unit. Recognition target words are configured to be stored separately into those indicating a desired operation target from among a plurality of operation targets and those indicating operation of the plurality of operation targets. A remote control signal corresponding to a combination of a recognition target word indicating a desired operation target recognized by the voice recognition unit and a recognition target word indicating operations of the plurality of operation targets is output. Remote control apparatus characterized by being adapted to Shin. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising user identification means for identifying the user, wherein the remote control device operates according to the user based on the identification result of the user identification means. 3. An information display means for displaying information on a remote control operation that can be instructed by a user, and information on the remote control operation displayed on the information display means.
The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation instruction switch for instructing a user to perform a desired remote control operation. 4. The remote control according to claim 3, wherein said information display means displays information relating to said voice recognition means when a user instructs said remote control operation from said voice recognition means. apparatus.