JP2003085152A - Information transmitting device and information transmitting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein a user fails to listen since a schedule is one-sidedly presented when controlling the schedule by a computer terminal. SOLUTION: This information transmitting device 10 transmits generating information to a user when satisfying a prescribed condition such as the scheduled execution date approaches. The information transmitting device 10 has a warning part 14 for issuing a warning of the effect of transmitting the information to the user when detecting the information to be transmitted to the user, and an accepting part 16 for accepting a response for indicating that the user is put in an information receivable state. A presenting part 18 presents the information to the user after detecting the response from the user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transmitting device and an information transmitting method. The invention particularly relates to an apparatus and method for communicating information generated when predetermined conditions are met.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the widespread use of computers, it has become more common for people to use computers to perform tasks that were previously performed by humans. For example, a PC (personal computer) or P equipped with a schedule management function, such as schedule management that has been conventionally performed using a system notebook,
It has come to be performed by computer terminals such as DA.

[0003]

However, when a computer manages a schedule, the schedule is unilaterally transmitted to the user at a predetermined time. For example, when the user is away from the computer terminal, the schedule is notified. You may not notice. In addition, it was lacking in warmth only by mechanically transmitting the schedule.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information transmission technique for interactively presenting information to be transmitted to a user.

[0005]

One aspect of the present invention relates to an information transmission device for transmitting information to be transmitted to a user (hereinafter referred to as "transmission target information"), which is generated when a predetermined condition is satisfied. . The “predetermined condition” is, for example, that the date and time of the schedule is approaching, that the state of home appliances and other devices is changing, or the like. This information transmission device, when detecting information to be transmitted, issues a warning to the user that the information is to be transmitted, and indicates that the user can receive the information in response to the warning. A reception unit that receives a response and a presentation unit that detects a response from the user and presents the transmission target information to the user are included.

The present apparatus should store the timekeeping unit for measuring time and the user's schedule in association with the execution date and time, and transmit the schedule at a predetermined date and time prior to the execution date and time by referring to the timekeeping unit. It may further include a schedule management unit for notifying the warning unit as information. In this case, the warning unit may issue a warning triggered by the notification from the schedule management unit. Here, the clock unit may be a clock (RTC: real time clock).

The apparatus may further include a communication unit for notifying the warning unit of the information to be transmitted to the user via the network. In this case, the warning unit may issue a warning triggered by the notification from the communication unit.

The information received by the communication unit may be information indicating that the electric device connected to the network requires the user to take some action on the electric device.

The apparatus may further include a character storage unit for storing information (hereinafter referred to as "character information") regarding the character designated by the user in advance.
In this case, at least one of the warning and the information presentation may be performed to the user in the form of the character. Here, the "character" may be a pseudo-secretary such as a famous talent or a popular anime character. The “character information” may be data such as image data and audio data necessary for the character to behave like a secretary. Further, the “character appearance” may be an image of the character displayed on the display or the voice of the character.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an information transmitting method for transmitting information to be transmitted to a user, which is generated when a predetermined condition is satisfied. This method includes the steps of, when detecting information, warning the user that the information will be transmitted, and receiving a response to the warning indicating that the user is ready to receive the information. , Detecting a response from the user and transmitting the information to the user.

It should be noted that any combination of the above constituent elements, and the expression of the present invention converted between a method, a device, a system, a recording medium, a program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an information transmission device 10 according to an embodiment. The information transmission device 10 in the present embodiment has a secretarial function of transmitting the user's schedule to the user. The information transmission device 10 includes a transmission processing unit 12, a warning unit 14, a response reception unit 16, a presentation unit 18, a schedule management unit 22, a schedule storage unit 24, a clock unit 26, and a character storage unit 20. Have. The device 10 is a PC, PDA, mobile phone, or any other hardware. The configuration of the information transmission device 10 is realized by a hardware component such as a CPU of a computer, a memory, other elements, and a program having an information transmission function loaded in the memory as software. Then, the functional blocks realized by those collaborations are drawn. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by only hardware, only software, or a combination thereof.

The transmission processing unit 12 is a schedule management unit 2
The schedule of the user is received from 2 as the transmission target information. When the transmission processing unit 12 detects the transmission target information, the warning unit 14 issues a warning to the user that the information is transmitted. The response receiving unit 16 receives the user's response to the warning. The presentation unit 18 detects a response from the user and presents the transmission target information to the user.

The character storage unit 20 stores character information. The character storage unit 20 may store information on a plurality of types of characters. In this case, the information transmission device 10 may have a function of allowing the user to appropriately select a favorite character from the plurality of characters. A method of storing character information in the character storage unit 20 will be described later. The transmission processing unit 12 reads the character information from the character storage unit 20, and causes the warning unit 14 and the presentation unit 18 to present a warning and information to the user in the form of the character.

The schedule management unit 22 stores the user's schedule in the schedule storage unit 24 in association with the execution date and time. The schedule management unit 22 refers to the time counting unit 26 and the schedule storage unit 24 as needed, and notifies the transmission processing unit 12 of the schedule as transmission target information at a predetermined date and time prior to the execution date and time of the user's schedule. The schedule management unit 22 may store the schedule input by the user in the information transmission device 10 in the schedule storage unit 24, or may store the schedule input in another computer terminal via the network and store the schedule in the schedule storage unit 24. May be.

The schedule management unit 22 and the schedule storage unit 24 may be included in a terminal different from the transmission processing unit 12, the warning unit 14, the response reception unit 16, and the presentation unit 18.
In this case, the transmission processing unit 12 may receive the transmission target information from the schedule management unit 22 via the network.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the schedule storage unit 24. The schedule storage unit 24 has a date / time column 30, a schedule column 32, a place column 34, a notification column 36, an importance column 38, and an other column 40. Here, for example, “9 am on September 2
Stated that there is a meeting in "Second Meeting Room" from "Time", notification is required "5 minutes ago", importance of this schedule is "2", and "Material 5" is required as other information Has been done. The time in the notification field 36 may be set by the user by himself / herself, or may be automatically set by the schedule management unit 22 in consideration of the travel time according to the place where the schedule is held. Good. For example, in the case of “2:00 pm on September 3,” the place is “AB Company”, and if it takes about one hour considering the travel time from this user's work place to AB Company, schedule management The section 22 has a notification column 36.
May be stored as "1 hour ago".

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the character storage unit 20. The character storage unit 20 stores image data and sound data in association with the code column and the character name column. For example, the code “0001” is “model L
It shows the character information of "isa" and the code "0001"
The moving image data of the image spoken by the character and the compressed data of the voice data of the character are stored in association with. When the transmission processing unit 12 calls the character information, the compressed data is decompressed, and a warning or information is presented in the form of the character.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen 50 displayed on the display (not shown) of the information transmission device 10 when the user's schedule is notified to the transmission processing unit 12, and an example of a sound emitted from a speaker (not shown). Indicates. Hereinafter, a case of notifying the schedule of the "meeting" from "9 am on September 2" in the schedule storage unit 24 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Since the notification of the schedule of this meeting is “5 minutes ago”, the schedule management unit 22 sets 8:55 am on September 2nd.
Then, the transmission processing unit 12 is notified of the transmission target information. With this notification, the warning unit 14 gives a warning to the user. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4A, an image 52 of the character designated by the user is displayed on the screen 50, and the character's voice saying "Notice of schedule." The user noticed this warning,
When the “OK” button 54 is clicked, the response reception unit 16
Accepts a response from the user.

On the other hand, if there is no response from the user for a predetermined time after the warning is issued, the warning unit 14 issues the warning again after the set time has elapsed.

When the response from the user is detected, the presentation unit 1
8 presents the transmission target information to the user. At this time,
As shown in (b), an image 52 of the character is displayed on the screen 50, and the character's voice saying "I have a meeting in the second meeting room from 9 am today".
Accordingly, for example, even when the user is away from the information transmission device 10 when the warning is issued and the user does not notice the warning, the transmission target information is presented waiting for the response from the user, The information to be transmitted is not presented before the user notices it.

When the user wants to know more detailed information, he / she clicks the "MORE" button 58, and the presentation unit 18 presents detailed information. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, while the image of the character is displayed,
The voice of the character "Please bring me the Material 5" is heard. On the other hand, the user selects the “OK” button 56 or 60.
When the button is clicked, as shown in FIG. 4D, the image of the character is displayed, and the voice of the character saying "Please go ahead in time."
The image of the character may remain displayed on the screen 50 while the above warning and information are presented.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the information transmission device 10 presents the information to be transmitted to the user.
When the schedule management unit 22 notifies the transmission processing unit 12 that there is transmission target information (S110), the warning unit 14 issues a warning (S112). When the user responds to the warning (YES in S114), the presentation unit 18 presents the transmission target information to the user (S116). Step 114
If there is no response from the user within a predetermined time (S
(NO in 114), the process returns to step 112, and the warning unit 14 issues a warning again (S112). The user may set how many times each time the warning is issued by the warning unit 14. Further, the number of times of this warning may be set in advance according to the degree of importance of the schedule.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a system for storing character information in the character storage unit 20. The information transmission device 10 includes a communication unit 6 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG.
4 and the conversion unit 66. In FIG. 6, only the configuration required to store the character information in the character storage unit 20 is shown.

The download site 72 holds the character information of famous talents and characters of popular anime in a downloadable manner. The download site 72 may be provided by a character information distributor, and the character information may be distributed to the user for a fee. Furthermore, the provider of the service may collect a fee for using the service from the provider of the download site 72. The communication section 64 has a download site 72.
The character information downloaded from the Internet via the Internet 70 is stored in the character storage unit 20.

The conversion unit 66 converts the format so that image data and audio data taken by a home video camera or the like can be used as character information. The conversion unit 66 preferably compresses the converted data and stores it in the character storage unit 20. This allows the user to create original data.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of an information transmission device 80 according to another embodiment. The information transmission device 80 has a function of transmitting information to be transmitted to a user in home electronics in which a household electric appliance is connected to a network.
In the present embodiment, the information transmission device 10 shown in FIG.
The elements having the same reference numerals as those of the elements have the same functions as the elements of the information transmission device 10.

The information transmission device 80 includes a communication section 82 connected to the network 90. When the communication unit 82 receives the transmission target information via the network 90, the communication unit 82 notifies the transmission processing unit 12 of the information. Here, the network 9
An electric device 92 such as a household electric appliance is connected to 0.
The electric device 92 may be, for example, a hot water supply device for a bath, a washing machine, a dryer, a microwave oven, a rice cooker, or a video recording device. Further, the electric device 92 includes a device such as a gas stove that performs processing with energy other than electricity. The electric device 92 may be any device as long as it is connected to the network 90 and the control portion is electrically processed.

FIG. 8 shows the display of the information transmission device 10 when the electric equipment 86 is a hot water supply device for a bath and the transmission processing unit 12 is notified via the network 90 that the hot water supply for the bath has been completed. A screen 100 displayed (not shown) is shown.

When the transmission processing unit 12 receives the notification from the electric device 86, the warning unit 14 issues a warning "Notice." As shown in FIG. 8 (a). At this time, sound may be generated together with the screen display. When the user notices the warning and clicks the "OK" button 102,
The response receiving unit 16 receives the response. The presentation unit 18
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the communication target information “Bath is ready.” Is presented. If the user needs to take an action to stop the bath water, the information to be transmitted is "Please stop the hot water."
Message is included.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are exemplifications, that various modifications can be made to combinations of respective constituent elements and respective processing processes, and that such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. . Hereinafter, such an example will be described.

Both the warning and the presentation of the information to be transmitted may be performed in the form of the character, or only one of them may be performed in the form of the character. For example, since the warning may be suddenly issued when the user does not expect, the warning may be set so that the image or sound of the character is not emitted.

In the embodiment, the warning is issued when the condition set by the user and the condition of the electric device is satisfied, but the condition need not be the condition near the user. For example, if the technology of the embodiment is used when a disaster is detected at a remote place, it is meaningful in disaster prevention.

In the embodiment, the real-time clock is used as the clock unit 26, but this may be hardware such as a programmable timer or software using polling.

[0035]

According to the present invention, the information to be transmitted to the user can be presented in an interactive manner so that the user does not miss the information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information transmission device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a schedule storage unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a character storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen presented to a user.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the information transmission device presents transmission target information to the user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a system for storing character information in a character storage unit.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an information transmission device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen presented to a user.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Information transmission device, 12 ... Transmission processing unit, 14 ...
Warning part, 16 ... Response reception part, 18 ... Presentation part, 20 ...
.Character storage unit, 22 ... Schedule management unit, 2
4 ... Schedule memory, 26 ... Timer, 70 ...
Information transmission device, 72 ... Network, 76 ... Electric device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Generated when a predetermined condition is satisfied,
When the information to be transmitted to the user is detected, a warning unit that issues a warning to the user that the information is to be transmitted, and a response indicating that the user is ready to receive the information in response to the warning An information transmission device comprising: a reception unit; and a presentation unit that detects a response from the user and presents the information to the user. 2. A timekeeping unit for measuring time, a user's schedule is stored in association with its execution date and time, and a predetermined date and time prior to the execution date and time is stored with reference to the timekeeping unit.
A schedule management unit for notifying the warning unit as information for transmitting the schedule, and the warning unit issues the warning in response to the notification from the schedule management unit. Information transmission device described. 3. The system further includes a communication unit that notifies the warning unit of the information to be transmitted to the user via a network when the warning unit is notified by the notification from the communication unit. The information transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission device emits 4. The information transmission device according to claim 3, wherein the communication unit receives information from an electric device connected to the network. 5. The character storage unit for storing information about a character, wherein at least one of the warning and the information is presented to the user in the form of the character. Information transmission device. 6. Generated when a predetermined condition is satisfied,
When detecting information to be transmitted to the user, warning the user that the information is to be transmitted, and accepting a response to the warning indicating that the user is ready to receive the information. An information transmission method comprising: a step of detecting a response from the user and transmitting the information to the user.