JP2003108580A - Voice information providing system and voice information providing business using this voice information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein a conventional voice information providing system is not good for convenience in use, and is unreasonable for developing as business since a recording medium must be preattached to an object book, and the whole pages for receiving an offer of voice information on the book are required to be read by a reader. SOLUTION: The book is specified by reading a pattern, a character, and a sign of a specific page of the book by a user terminal 1, and book specific information is outputted. A voice information providing server 20 is arranged for storing the voice information on the book in relation to the specific information, and the voice information is downloaded in the user terminal 1 from this voice information providing server 20. The user terminal 1 and the voice information providing server 20 are connected via a telephone line 100.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice information providing system for automatically reading the contents of a book with synthetic voice and a voice information providing business using the voice information providing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many systems have been proposed in which the contents of a book are read out by voice (electronically synthesized voice). For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-159094 proposes a separation-type automatic reader that reads print character information printed on a book with an imaging device and provides the read description content with electronically synthesized voice. 13 and 14 show this separation type automatic reading machine, FIG. 13 is a character reading device 110 for reading the information of the printed characters of a book, and FIG. 14 is a voice synthesizing device 120 for providing the read written contents by voice. These are provided separately from each other. The character reading device 110 for reading the contents of a book includes a pull-out type manuscript table 111, an operation panel 112, an IC memory card insertion slot 113, a handy scanner 114 for reading manuscripts P such as newspapers or magazines that are difficult to place on the manuscript table, and the like. Are arranged. Further, inside the main body 110, a page turning device (not shown) and an OCR device (not shown) which will be described later are provided.

Next, the operation will be described. Platen 111
Place the booklet original B on the top of the
At the same time as the is pushed into the main body 110, the IC memory card 103 is attached to the IC memory card insertion opening 113 in the direction of arrow a. OC by operating the keys on the operation panel 112
The R device performs a reading operation, and at the time of page break, the page turning device performs page break. The read data is A / D converted and written in the IC memory card 103. Next, the speech synthesizer 120 of FIG. 14 will be described. The voice synthesizer body 120 is a small portable body, and has a speaker 121, a display unit 122, a headphone 123, an operation panel 124, an IC memory card insertion slot 125.
Are installed. The IC memory card 103 in which the data of the booklet original is stocked by the character reading device 110
Is attached to the IC memory card insertion slot 125 in the direction of the arrow and the data is read and output as sound from the speaker 121 or the headphone 123 via a digital signal processor (not shown), or on the display unit 122 by a display element. Display characters.

Since the character reading device 110 needs to scan all the pages of the book, if the user tries to provide a function that allows the user to easily read the contents of all pages of the book, the page turning function, etc. Is required, and as a result, a large-scale mechanism is inevitably required to some extent. Therefore, when the character reading device 110 and the voice synthesizing device 120 are incorporated in one terminal, the terminal has a large-sized mechanism, and it is difficult to realize a terminal that can be easily carried by a user. is there. Since the character-reading device 110 and the voice synthesizing device 120 are separately provided in the separation-type automatic reader of the above publication, when the user listens to the voice, the voice synthesizing can realize the function with a relatively small shape. Device 120
All that is needed is to provide an automatic reading machine that is convenient to carry.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-161691 proposes a reading system for providing voice information of a book via a communication means. In this reading system, a recording medium in which information including type information indicating the type of the book is recorded is attached to a book in advance, and a server for recording and storing content information such as audio data corresponding to the type information is provided to read the book. The voice data corresponding to the type information stored in the recording medium is downloaded from the server via the voice information communication means, and the voice is provided to the user.

Also in this reading system, a terminal having a function of reading type information from a recording medium when a user listens to a voice, a communication function, and a voice synthesizing function is sufficient, and the terminal has a relatively small shape. Since the function can be realized, it is possible to provide a convenient reading system for carrying. here,
Corresponding to this reading system, a storage device in which voice information of various books is stored in advance, a communication function, and searching, selecting voice information of a book requested by the user through this communication function, and allowing the user to download the voice information It is not impossible to develop a business as a business. However, the books that can be used when conducting the business of providing audio information using this reading system are limited to the books to which the recording medium has been attached. In order to provide new services to books that have already been published, it is necessary to attach a recording medium to the books. In order to service already published books, collect the books and attach the medium. There is a cost for doing the work. In addition, since it is necessary to attach a recording medium when issuing a new book, the cost of the book itself is increased. Therefore, even if a newly published book is made compatible with the system, the cost is increased, and it is difficult to sufficiently provide the book compatible with the system.

[0007]

According to the above-described separation type automatic reader, the character information of the book needs to be read by the character reading device in advance in order to use the reading function by voice. Therefore, for a book newly obtained at a place where the user is out, it is not possible to receive voice information unless the user goes to a place where a character reading device for reading the character information of the book is installed.

Further, according to the above-mentioned reading system, if the book does not include a medium corresponding to the reading system in advance, that is, a recording medium on which information including type information indicating the type of the book is recorded is attached in advance. If the book is not published, it will not be possible to receive audio information. This causes a problem that the book that can be used when conducting the business of providing the voice information using the above-mentioned reading system is limited, so that it cannot be realized as a business.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is not necessary for a user to go to a device installed in a specific place, and a specific record is made in a book in advance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice information providing system in which the number of books that can be used is not limited and there is no need to add media. Moreover, it aims at showing the business which provides audio | voice information using this audio | voice information provision system.

[0010]

A voice information providing system according to the present invention stores voice information obtained by converting the contents of a book into voice data together with book specifying information for specifying the book, and the book specifying information is externally supplied. A voice information providing server having a voice information output unit that outputs the voice information corresponding to the book specifying information when input, and stores images of specific pages of a plurality of books and the book specifying information in advance. At the same time, the image of the specific page of an arbitrary book is read, the book specifying means for outputting the book specifying information corresponding to this image, the book specifying information is transmitted to the voice information providing server, and the voice information providing server A user terminal having a voice information reproducing means for reproducing the voice information received from the user terminal, and transmitting / receiving data between the voice information providing server and the user terminal. Those having a Nau communication means.

In addition, a book specification database in which images of specific pages of a plurality of books are recorded in advance in association with book specifying information for specifying the books, and images of the specific pages of arbitrary books are input from outside. A book identification means for outputting the book identification information corresponding to the image, and a voice database in which voice information obtained by converting the content of the book into voice data is recorded in association with the book identification information. When the book specific information is given, a voice information providing server having a voice information output means for outputting the corresponding voice information and an image of the specific page of an arbitrary book are read, and this image is provided to the voice information providing server. A book information input means for transmitting, a user terminal having a voice information reproducing means for reproducing the voice information transmitted from the voice information providing server, the voice information providing service It is obtained by a communication means for transmitting and receiving data between server and the user terminal.

The communication means is connected via a telephone line.

The image of the specific page of the book is the image of the design described in the book.

Further, the image of the specific page of the book is an image of characters or codes described in the book.

Further, the characters or codes described on the specific page are characters or bar codes indicating the standard book number given to the book.

Further, the book specifying means stores a character string collation database in which an image of a character string or a code described on the specific page and a standard book number of this book are recorded in advance in association with each other, and the character string collation database. And a character string information collating means for specifying the standard book number of the book by comparing the character string or the code recorded in (1) with the character string or the code included in the image of the specific page.

Further, the character string information collating means is connected to the user terminal or the voice information providing server via the communication means.

The specific page is the front cover or back cover of the book, or the imprint page.

The user terminal is mounted on the vehicle.

In the voice information providing business according to the present invention, the voice information obtained by converting the contents of the book into voice data is stored in advance together with the book specifying information for specifying the book, and when the book specifying information is inputted from the outside, Using a voice information providing server having voice information output means for outputting the voice information corresponding to the book specifying information, the voice information providing server is connected to the voice information providing server via a communication means including a telephone line,
A book specifying unit that stores images of specific pages of a plurality of books together with the book specifying information, reads a specific page of an arbitrary book as an image, and outputs the book specifying information corresponding to the images, the book To a plurality of users having a user terminal equipped with a voice information reproducing means for transmitting the specific information to the voice information providing server and reproducing the received voice information, and a user ID or password transmitting means for specifying the user. On the other hand, the audio information is provided.

Further, a book specifying database is provided in which images of specific pages of a plurality of books are recorded in advance in association with book specifying information for specifying the books, and the images of the specific pages of arbitrary books are input from the outside. A book identification means for outputting the book identification information corresponding to the image, and a voice database in which voice information obtained by converting the content of the book into voice data is recorded in association with the book identification information. When the book identification information is given, a voice information providing server having a voice information output means for outputting the corresponding voice information is used, and the voice information providing server is connected to the voice information providing server through a communication means including a telephone line, Book information input means for reading the image of the specific page of the book and transmitting this image to the voice information providing server, the voice transmitted from the voice information providing server Sound information reproducing means for reproducing the broadcast, there is provided the sound information to a plurality of users with a user terminal having a transmitting means of the user ID or password identifying the user.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1. 1 is a functional block diagram of a voice information providing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the outer shape of the user terminal used in the system. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 1 is a user terminal that can be carried by a user terminal, and 20 is a voice information providing server. Reference numeral 2 denotes a book specifying unit including an image sensor 2a, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 3 is a transmitting means for transmitting the data for identifying the book identified by the book identifying means 2 to the voice information providing server 20, and 4 is a receiving means for receiving the voice information from the voice information providing server. The transmitting means 3 and the receiving means 4 form a first communication means 101. Reference numeral 5 denotes a voice information reproducing means that includes a speaker or an earphone and outputs voice information (voice information is voice information of character information described in this book) as a sound. The user terminal 1 has a function of a mobile phone (not shown), but since the function as a mobile phone is known, the description thereof will be omitted. Two
Reference numeral g is a microphone for telephone function, and 121 is a speaker for telephone function.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a receiving means provided in the voice information providing server 20, which is connected to the transmitting means 3 via the telephone network 100. 202 is the book number of each book (book specific information)
When a book identification information, that is, a book number is input from the receiving means 201, a voice data database 202a is stored which is associated with the voice information obtained by converting the content of this book into voice, and the corresponding voice information is searched and selected. Transmission means 2
Output to 03. Here, the receiving means 201 and the transmitting means 20
3 constitutes the second communication means 102. First communication means 101, second communication means 102 and telephone line 100
Is the communication means referred to in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the book specifying means 2 of FIG. The image signal of the book (not shown) input from the image sensor 2a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is input to the display section 2b and the book number recognition section 2d. The display unit 2b displays an image of a specific page captured by the image sensor 2a (for example, an image of a specific page such as the front cover, back cover, spine cover, or so-called imprint of a book). The user is the display unit 2
Adjust the position of the terminal while checking the image input status with b,
When the appropriate image is obtained, the recognition start button 2c is pressed. In the book number recognizing unit 2d, representative image information of a book for which the voice information providing system can provide the voice information and the book number of the book are stored as a pair of data. The book number recognition unit 2d captures image information in synchronization with the depression of the recognition start button 2c, compares the captured image with typical images of various books stored in advance, and determines the book number from the image with the matched pattern. Identify.

Here, the image means, for example, a design of the front cover (not limited to the back cover and imprint), for example, a picture if there is an illustration, or a design of that pattern if the background is drawn. Alternatively, some character information that can identify the book on the cover, for example, the name of the book, the name of the author, the name of the issuing company, the date of issue may be used. Of course, when the book number can be directly read as a character string, the image comparison operation is not necessary. If the book number is successfully obtained, the text data of the obtained character string is output to the transmission means 3 as the book designation information, and a symbol indicating that the recognition is completed is inserted in the image displayed on the display unit. Pause and display.

The above-mentioned book number is a number that identifies a book, for example, the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) defined in JIS-X0305-1988, or JIS-X.
The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) defined in 0306-1988 corresponds to the above book number. These are collectively referred to as standard book numbers. Further, in the above configuration, the image obtained by the image sensor 2a is displayed so that the user (user) can easily adjust the image pickup position. However, the present invention is not limited to the above without the function of displaying the image. Obviously, the system shown can be configured to carry out the business.

Regarding the book specifying means 2 shown above,
Although it has been described that the book number is recognized by image-recognizing the picture or character string indicating the book number, the book is printed with a pattern (code string) such as the book JAN code indicating the international standard book number. Often Therefore, it is possible to read these patterns and obtain the character string data indicating the book number. With this configuration, recognition can be performed more accurately.

Next, the transmitting means 3 and the receiving means 4 (these are collectively referred to as the first communication means 101 as described above) will be described. The transmitting unit 3 includes book designation information output from the book specifying unit 2 provided in the user terminal 1,
A user name given to the user terminal 1 in advance and, if necessary, a password entered by the user from the button 2c of the terminal 1 to prove that the user of the terminal 1 is an authorized user are input. , A receiving means 201 provided in the voice information providing server 20 via the telephone line 100.
Output to.

Next, the voice information output means 202 has the database 202a in which the book number and the voice information are stored in association with each other as described above, and when the book specifying information, that is, the book number is inputted from the receiving means 201, it corresponds. The voice information is searched, selected, and output to the transmission means 203. As a form of the voice information, a voice converted into an analog electric signal, a voice encoded as voice data to be digital data, or a text data indicating the contents of voice can be used. Further, when outputting the specific voice information, information about the amount of money to be charged to the user (or of the charge deducted from the pre-contracted account) may be output at the same time.

Next, the voice information output from the voice information output means 202 is input to the transmitting means 203, and the voice information reproducing means via the receiving means 4 of the user terminal 1 via the communication line 100 of the telephone network. Output to 5. Next, the voice information reproducing means 5 receives the voice information output from the receiving means 4, converts the input voice information into a voice, and then the speaker 1
21 or an earphone (not shown).

Embodiment 2. FIG. 4 shows the outer shape of the user terminal 1X according to the second embodiment. Also, the functional blocks of the entire system are the same as those in the block diagram (FIG. 1) of the first embodiment (for convenience of explanation, the reference numeral of the user terminal is 1X, and the reference numeral of the book specifying means is 2X), and the description thereof is omitted. To do. In this embodiment, the JAN code described in the first embodiment is used as a pattern indicating a number or code for identifying a book. JAN code is generally called barcode,
A printed bar-shaped light-dark pattern represents a book number or the like.

The user terminal 1X of FIG. 4 is a portable telephone having a function of reading the JAN code printed on the target book (so-called bar code reading device). FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram of the book specifying means 2X of the user terminal 1X. User selects JAN code reading start switch 2
While pressing e, the JAN code reading unit 2f traces over the JAN code printed on the book. The JAN code reading unit 2f has a function of detecting the light / dark of the traced portion as a signal and a function of detecting the speed when the user traces, and uses the above-mentioned light / dark signal and the information of the speed when the user traces. Recognizes the book number represented by the JAN code. If the book number is successfully recognized, the obtained book number data is output to the transmitting means 3 as book specifying information and the fact that the recognition is completed is displayed on the display unit. Since the function as a mobile phone is well known, its explanation is omitted. 2g is a microphone for telephone function, and 121 is a speaker for telephone function. Since the other components of the system are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment 3. In the voice information providing system according to the third embodiment, a user terminal is mounted on a vehicle (built in a vehicle information terminal). In this case, the book is specified by the character string described on the specific page of the book, such as the front cover or back cover of the book. FIG. 6 shows the outer shape of the user terminal 1Y (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle terminal) used in this voice information providing system. The functional block diagram of the system is the same as the block diagram (FIG. 1) of the first embodiment (for the convenience of explanation, the reference numeral of the vehicle-mounted terminal is 1Y and the reference numeral of the book specifying means is 2).
Since it is Y), the description will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the book identifying means 2Y included in the vehicle-mounted terminal 1Y of FIG. The image sensor 2a is provided in the console section of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 6, and when the user desires a reading service of the book, the user holds the cover of the book in front of the image sensor 2a and presses a recognition button (not shown). To do. Image sensor 2a
The captured image is input to the character string recognition / extraction unit 2j, and the character string recognition / extraction unit 2j uses the recognition start button 2
Image information is captured in synchronization with the pressing of c, and the character string captured in the captured image is recognized. The recognized character string is output to the book information search unit 2L of the character string information collating means 2k as book specifying information.

Database 2m of book information collating means 2k
In the (book identification data database), a character string written in a book and a book number that identifies the book are stored in association with each other. The book information search unit 2L compares the recognized character string input from the character string recognition and extraction unit 2j with the character string stored in the database 2m, selects a matching one, and selects the book identification number corresponding to the character string. To the transmitting means 3. The book identification number may be any number that can identify the book, and may be a number that is set in advance by the service provider. In addition, JIS-X030
International Standard Book Number (ISB
N) or an international standard serial number (ISSN) defined in JIS-X0306-1988 may be used to identify a commonly used book.

Fourth Embodiment In the configuration shown in the third embodiment, the character string collating means 2k is provided in the book specifying means 2Y inside the vehicle-mounted terminal 1Y. By the way, it is necessary to update the database 2m from time to time due to the issue of new books or revisions, which is troublesome for the user regardless of the hardware form of the database 2m. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, in addition to the in-vehicle terminal 1Y, a communication unit (third device) connected via the telephone line 100 is used.
By providing the character string information collation server 40 connected by the communication means), and performing the character string collation here, it is possible to save the trouble of updating the database for the character string collation for each vehicle. Character string information collation server 40
Maintenance is easy because the update result is reflected to all terminals just by updating the database. Further, since it is not necessary to process the search of the database having a relatively large processing amount inside the vehicle-mounted terminal 1Y or the voice information server 20, the processing amount of the terminal or the voice information providing server can be reduced. In the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the character string matching server 40
Is provided outside the vehicle-mounted terminal 1Y. Therefore, it is possible to provide only the service that specifies the book by performing the character string matching (meaning the service that does not include the provision of voice information). Although the in-vehicle terminal 1Y has been described here, the same applies to the user terminal 1 of the first embodiment. It is the communication means referred to in the present invention including the first, second and third communication means.

Embodiment 5. FIG. 9 shows a functional block diagram of the voice information providing system according to the fifth embodiment. In the present embodiment, a book specifying unit that specifies a book from a captured image is provided on the audio information providing server side. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment indicate the same or similar parts, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. 1Z is a user terminal of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 110 denotes a book information input unit, the detailed configuration of which is shown in FIG. The image sensor 2a can be used to identify the design, number or code (J
The part of the book in which the AN code etc.) is described is imaged. The installation form of the image sensor 2a is the form shown in Embodiment 1 (FIG. 2) or the form shown in Embodiment 3 (FIG. 6).
The same as The character string recognition and extraction unit 110a directly reads the character string from the image obtained by the image sensor 2a,
The read character string is transmitted to the voice information providing server 20X by the transmitting means 3. When the character string recognition and extraction unit 110a cannot extract the character string from the image, the image data is directly transmitted by the transmission unit 3 to the voice information providing server 20.
Sent to X. The transmission means 3 is a communication network 10 such as a telephone line.
It is connected to the voice information providing server 20X via 0.

Reference numeral 210 is a book specifying means provided in the voice information providing server 20X, and its configuration is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 11, the character string information collating means 2k, the database 2m, and the book information searching unit 2L are the same as those in FIG. 7 of the third embodiment, and therefore detailed description will be omitted. In the database 2m of the character string information collating means 2k, image information such as a picture, a character string, and a code written in a book and a number identifying the book are stored in association with each other. The book information search unit 2L compares the book information input from the receiving unit 201, that is, the character string recognized by the character string recognition and extraction unit 110a with the character string stored in the database 2m, and selects a matching one, and The book identification number corresponding to the character string is output to the voice information output means 202.

When this character string is not a book number, or when an image such as a picture is input as it is because the character string could not be detected, it is checked whether or not there is data that matches the picture image, and the book number, etc. Extract the number that identifies the book. If the book number is successfully recognized, the obtained book number is output to the voice information output means and the corresponding voice information is output. The voice information output means 202 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the configuration exemplified above, the character string information collating means 2k is provided inside the voice information providing server 20X. However, the character string information collating means described in FIG. If the column information collation server 40 performs this, an independent business that provides only a service for collating character strings and identifying a book becomes possible. FIG. 12 shows the book identifying means 210 of FIG. 11 configured in this way to facilitate understanding. Similar to the first embodiment, this system can also develop a business of providing voice.

[0041]

As described above, according to the voice information providing system of the present invention, the user terminal identifies the book based on the features of the characters or the pattern printed on the particular page of the book, and identifies the identified book number. Since the voice information providing server communicates with the voice information providing server and the voice information of the specified book is delivered by communication, the user can obtain the voice information of all pages only by causing the terminal to read the specific page of the book. Can be done. Also, voice information can be obtained from a newly acquired book. Further, since it is not necessary to attach a storage medium or the like for specifying the book in advance to the book, the system can be configured without increasing the cost of the book. It is possible to provide a voice information providing system in which the number of books that can use the service is not limited.

Further, the user terminal photographs a character or a pattern printed on a specific page of the book, communicates the photographed image to the voice information providing server, and the voice information providing server identifies the book from the transmitted image. At the same time, since the voice information of the specified book is distributed by communication, the user can obtain the voice information of all pages only by causing the terminal to read the specific page of the book. Also, voice information can be obtained from a newly acquired book. Also, since it is not necessary to attach a storage medium etc. for specifying the book in advance to the book,
The system can be configured without increasing the cost of books.
It is possible to provide a voice information providing system in which the number of books that can use the service is not limited.

Further, since the communication means is constructed by using the telephone line, it can be widely used by general users.

Further, since the book can be specified by using the design of the specific page of the book, it is possible to directly use the book that is generally issued (has not been specified in advance for recognition).

Further, since the book can be specified by recognizing the book number or the code representing the book number written on a specific page of the book, the recognition can be performed accurately.

Further, since the book can be specified by recognizing the book number or the parcode representing the book number described on a specific page of the book, the recognition can be performed accurately.

Further, since the book specifying means is provided with the character string collating database and the character string information collating means, the recognition is accurately performed.

Further, since the character string collating means is connected through the communication line, it is possible to make the business of only specifying the book a business.

The specific pages of the book are the front cover, the back cover,
Since it is a spine cover or an imprinted page, general books can be targeted.

Further, since the user terminal is mounted in the vehicle, it can be used in the vehicle and listen to the contents of the book while driving.

In the voice information providing business according to the present invention, the design of the specific page of the book and the printed book number in the user terminal,
Since the book is identified by recognizing the bar code or the like, it is possible to directly target a book that is in circulation, and to obtain the effect that the communication data amount is small.

Further, since the image of the specific page of the book taken by the user terminal is transmitted to the voice information providing server and the book is identified by the voice information providing server, it is not necessary to have an image database for each user terminal, and the database of the database is not required. The effect is that updating is also easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voice information providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the user terminal 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a book specifying unit in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a user terminal of the voice information providing system according to the second embodiment.

5 is a block diagram of a book identification unit of the user terminal of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an external view of an in-vehicle terminal of the voice information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram of a book specifying unit of the vehicle-mounted terminal of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a detailed block diagram of a book specifying unit of the voice information providing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a voice information providing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a block diagram of a book information input means of the system of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a detailed block diagram of a book specifying unit of the system of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a modified block diagram of the book specifying unit in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an external view of a conventional separation type automatic reader.

FIG. 14 is an external view of a conventional user terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1X, 1Y, 1Z user terminals, 2 book specifying means, 2a image sensor, 2m database of book specifying data, 5 audio information reproducing means, 100
Telephone line, 101 First communication means, 20, 20X
Voice information providing server, 102 second communication means, 1
10 book information input means, 121 speaker, 20
2 voice information output means, 202a voice data database.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A voice information obtained by converting the contents of a book into voice data is stored in advance together with book specifying information for specifying the book, and when the book specifying information is input from the outside, the book corresponding to the book specifying information is stored. A voice information providing server having voice information output means for outputting voice information, and stores in advance a specific page image of a plurality of books together with the book specific information, and also displays an image of the specific page of any book. A book specifying means for reading and outputting the book specifying information corresponding to this image; transmitting the book specifying information to the voice information providing server;
A user terminal having a voice information reproducing means for reproducing the voice information received from the voice information providing server, and a voice comprising a communication means for transmitting and receiving data between the voice information providing server and the user terminal. Information provision system. 2. A book specification database in which images of specific pages of a plurality of books are recorded in advance in association with book specifying information for specifying the books, and images of the specific pages of arbitrary books are input from outside. A book specifying means for outputting the book specifying information corresponding to the image, and a voice database in which voice information obtained by converting the contents of the book into voice data is recorded in association with the book specifying information, When the book specific information is given, a voice information providing server having a voice information output means for outputting the corresponding voice information, and an image of the specific page of an arbitrary book are read, and this image is provided to the voice information providing server. Book information input means for transmitting, user terminal having voice information reproducing means for reproducing the voice information transmitted from the voice information providing server, the voice information providing server Voice information providing system characterized in that a communication means for the transmission and reception of data between the user terminal. 3. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is connected via a telephone line. 4. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image of the specific page of the book is an image of the design described on the specific page. 5. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image of the specific page of the book is an image of characters or codes described on the specific page. 6. The voice information providing system according to claim 5, wherein the character or code written on the specific page is a character or a bar code indicating a standard book number given to the book. 7. The character string collation database, wherein the book specifying means records in advance an image of a character string or code described on the specific page and a standard book number of the book in association with each other. A character string information collating means for identifying the standard book number of the book by comparing the character string or the code recorded in the above with the character string or the code included in the image of the specific page. The voice information providing system according to claim 5. 8. The voice information providing system according to claim 7, wherein the character string information collating means is connected to the user terminal or the voice information providing server via the communication means. 9. The specific page is a front cover or a back cover of the book, or an imprinted page,
The voice information providing system according to any one of 2, 4, 5, and 6. 10. The voice information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is mounted on a vehicle. 11. Audio information obtained by converting the content of a book into audio data is stored in advance together with book specifying information for specifying the book, and when the book specifying information is input from the outside, the book corresponding to the book specifying information is stored. Using a voice information providing server having voice information output means for outputting voice information, the voice information providing server is connected to the voice information providing server via a communication means including a telephone line, and images of specific pages of a plurality of books and the book are previously stored. A book specifying unit that stores the specific page together with the specific information, reads a specific page of an arbitrary book as an image, and outputs the book specific information corresponding to the image, and transmits the book specific information to the voice information providing server. A user terminal equipped with a voice information reproducing means for reproducing the received voice information, and a transmitting means for transmitting a user ID or password for identifying a user. Audio information provider, characterized in that to provide the audio information to a plurality of users with. 12. A book identification database in which images of specific pages of a plurality of books are recorded in advance in association with book identification information for specifying the books, and images of the specific pages of arbitrary books are input from outside. A book specifying means for outputting the book specifying information corresponding to the image, and a voice database in which voice information obtained by converting the contents of the book into voice data is recorded in association with the book specifying information, When the book identification information is given, a voice information providing server having voice information output means for outputting the corresponding voice information is used, and the voice information providing server is connected to the voice information providing server via a communication means including a telephone line, Book information input means for reading an image of the specific page of a book and transmitting this image to the voice information providing server, the voice transmitted from the voice information providing server A voice information providing business characterized by providing the voice information to a plurality of users having a user terminal equipped with a voice information reproducing means for reproducing information and a user ID or password transmitting means for identifying the user. .