JP2005043968A - Communication device, voice reading method, control program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an efficient voice reproduction with a simple operation even if voice mail messages and e-mails are mixed in incoming by enabling a person to known a mail transmitter by voice while suppressing the increase in cost. <P>SOLUTION: A correspondence table of a plurality of e-mail addresses to names corresponding to respective e-mail addresses is stored in a storage part 103. A communication control part 109 receives e-mails. A CPU 100 extracts a name corresponding to an e-mail address included in a received e-mail, and a voice synthesis processing part 104 synthesizes voice and outputs the name. A text included in the e-mail is then synthesized in voice and outputted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, and more particularly to a communication apparatus having an e-mail receiving function and a voice synthesizing function that reads out a received e-mail by voice.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of the Internet, telephones that can receive e-mails via telephone lines have been developed. In the e-mail receiving function in this telephone, for example, an incoming mail is notified from an e-mail server on the Internet to the terminal (phone), and the terminal connects to the e-mail server in accordance with this notification, and a predetermined protocol (TCP / IP, HTTP, POP, etc.) are used to receive the e-mail addressed to the e-mail server and store it in the memory of the own terminal. Note that the connection to the e-mail server via the telephone line may be made by a manual operation after notification of mail arrival.
[0003]
In such mail reception by a telephone, a device has also been devised for outputting voice (speech-reading) of electronic mail data stored in a memory in a terminal using voice synthesis means (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this apparatus, it becomes possible for visually impaired persons to check e-mails.
[0004]
On the other hand, telephones having an answering machine function are also widely used. In this answering machine function, an incoming call is connected by setting the answering machine mode, and the voice of the caller is recorded on a tape or memory according to the auto answer message, and the user can reproduce and listen to this voice later. .
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-24805 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the e-mail generally used by Japanese, the e-mail body is mostly written in Japanese, while the e-mail address is shown in alphabet. For this reason, when a phone having the above-mentioned conventional e-mail receiving function is used to read out such an e-mail by speech synthesis, the e-mail address is only used if the speech synthesizer supports Japanese and does not support English. Cannot be read out, and if the mail sender name is not described in the text, the mail sender cannot be known. In this case, there is no choice but to rely on visual means.
[0007]
Note that the above problem can be solved by installing speech synthesis means compatible with both English and Japanese in the telephone, but in this case, the dictionary data for speech synthesis that the telephone must have will greatly increase. This will increase the cost of the phone.
[0008]
Also, if the answering machine function is added to the telephone having this e-mail receiving function, when both the answering machine message and the e-mail arrive when the user tries to check the incoming call, they are reproduced as audio. The operation to perform is complicated and difficult to understand, and the efficiency is poor.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and enables the voice sender to be known by voice while suppressing an increase in cost, and both an answering message and an e-mail are mixed in an incoming call. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that enables efficient audio reproduction with a simple operation even in the case of doing so.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, storage means for storing a correspondence table of a plurality of e-mail addresses and names corresponding to the respective e-mail addresses, receiving means for receiving e-mails, and the receiving A first speech synthesizer that synthesizes and outputs the text contained in the e-mail received by the means, and a correspondence table stored by the storage means; There is provided a communication apparatus comprising: extraction means for extracting a name corresponding to an included e-mail address; and second voice synthesis means for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted by the extraction means. The
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
In the figure, 100 is a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system, 101 is a ROM for storing programs and data used by the CPU 100, and 103 is a RAM for storing data such as voice data and e-mail data. .
[0014]
A speech synthesis processing unit 104 synthesizes speech based on text data such as e-mail data, and converts the text data into speech. An audio codec 105 is used for recording and reproduction in the answering machine function, and encodes and decodes an audio signal. An audio output unit 106 such as a speaker outputs audio signals sent from the audio synthesis processing unit 104 and the audio codec 105 as audio. A display unit 107 is used for system status confirmation, user registration, mail viewing, and the like. An operation unit 108 includes keys and the like. Reference numeral 109 denotes a communication control unit including a modem unit, which inputs and outputs analog data signals from the line interface (I / F) and the line. This communication control unit 109 is connected to the telephone line 110. The units 100 to 109 are connected to each other via a system bus 111.
[0015]
Next, an e-mail receiving operation performed by the communication apparatus having such a configuration will be described.
[0016]
The email is first received by an email server (not shown) located in the global area. In the e-mail server that has received this e-mail, the address of the e-mail transmission destination is searched, and if this address matches the address previously given to the communication device, the e-mail server Notify the device of the arrival of mail. There are various types of notification methods. For example, an e-mail server makes a call based on the telephone number of the communication device, and the communication device receives the call and forms a call. An incoming mail is notified from the server to the communication device using predetermined data (specifically, V.23 signal data recommended by the modem).
[0017]
In the communication device, an incoming call from the outside is monitored by the communication control unit 109, and if there is an incoming call, if the incoming call signal is a specific incoming signal (primary response signal: CAR, etc.), it is determined that there is an incoming data, Connect the line. Since the data communication is performed when the line is connected, the modem of the communication control unit 109 is activated, and the V.V. The arrival of a mail arrival notification signal by 23 or the like is monitored. As a result of this monitoring, V. 23, when the incoming mail notification signal is detected, it is not an incoming call. Therefore, the incoming mail notification signal is received without outputting the telephone ringing sound (ringer sound) to the voice output unit 106. Is released.
[0018]
Thereafter, when mail is automatically received, the communication device connects to the electronic mail server based on the telephone number of the known electronic mail server, and then a known protocol (TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, etc.) ) Receive mail addressed to you from the e-mail server, and after receiving the mail, release the line.
[0019]
In addition, when receiving a mail manually, when a mail arrival notification is received from the e-mail server in advance, the display unit 107 of the communication apparatus displays “mail received” and this display is displayed. The viewed user manually connects to the email server based on the phone number of the email server, and then sends the email addressed to him from the email server using a known protocol (TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, etc.) After receiving and receiving mail, the line is released.
[0020]
It is assumed that the mail reception process using the above-described protocol is realized by executing software on the CPU 100. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and may be realized by hardware.
[0021]
In this embodiment, the data communication is performed by the modem of the communication control unit 109. Alternatively, the data communication may be realized by executing software by the CPU 100.
[0022]
The mail data received in this way is stored in the storage unit 103 and displayed on the display unit 107 by a user operation, and can be used for user browsing.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a plurality of received mail data stored in the storage unit 103.
[0024]
Each mail data is composed of a sender address (for example, inoue@abc.co.jp), a title (also called a subject), a text, and a reception date and time when the electronic mail server receives the mail. The unread flag shown in FIG. 2 is for managing whether or not the received mail has been browsed by the user. For example, a flag is set if the mail has not been browsed by the user. If there is, the flag is cleared.
[0025]
The mail data stored in this way can be displayed in order for each mail data on the display unit 107 in accordance with an instruction from the user, and after being browsed by the user, the unread flag in the browsed mail data is cleared. .
[0026]
Next, a telephone book (address book) stored in the storage unit 103 will be described.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the telephone book stored in the storage unit 103. The phone book is pre-registered by the user and used to simplify dialing calls.
[0028]
The telephone directory of the present embodiment stores the mail address of the partner as well as the partner name and telephone number. Data forms a group of names, telephone numbers, and email addresses. For example, the name is “Inoue”, the telephone number is “03-1111-1111”, and the mail address is “inoue@abc.co.jp”.
[0029]
Next, the mail reading function of the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the mail reading process executed by the CPU 100 of the communication apparatus.
[0031]
First, in step S01, it is determined whether or not the user has instructed to select mail reading by using the display unit 107 and the operation unit 108. If mail reading is instructed to be selected, the process proceeds to step S02, and the storage unit 103 The received mail (new mail) in which the unread flag is set is searched from a plurality of received mail data (FIG. 2) stored in the display unit 107 and displayed when the new mail exists. The process proceeds to S03, and if there is no new mail, the process returns to step S01.
[0032]
In step S03, one sender address of the new mail is extracted. In step S04, the mail address field of the telephone directory (address book, FIG. 3) is searched, and the same mail address as the sender address extracted in step S03. Is registered in the phone book. If registered, the process proceeds to step S05, and the name corresponding to the mail address is extracted from the telephone directory. For example, when the sender address is “inoue@abc.co.jp”, the mail address column of the telephone book is referred to in order to determine whether there is a mail address that matches the mail address field. When there is a mail address, a name (for example, “Inoue”) corresponding to the mail address is extracted.
[0033]
If the same mail address as the sender address is not registered in the phone book, the process proceeds to step S07.
[0034]
In step S06, the data of the name (eg, “Inoue”) extracted in step S05 is sent to the speech synthesis processing unit 104. The speech synthesis processing unit 104 refers to dictionary data for speech synthesis stored in the storage unit 103, converts the input text data (for example, “Inoue”) into speech data, and outputs the speech data to the speech output unit 106. . The audio output unit 106 converts the audio data from digital to analog (D / A) to obtain an analog audio signal, which is output from the speaker. In the above example, the sound “Inoue” is generated from the speaker.
[0035]
In addition, for example, not only the voice of only the name is generated, but a fixed sentence such as “It is an email from” may be prepared, and the name + the fixed sentence may be synthesized and output. In this case, a voice saying “It is an email from Mr. Inoue” is generated.
[0036]
Next, in step S07, the title and text in the new mail extracted in step S03 are extracted from the received mail data (FIG. 2), and the speech synthesis processing unit 104 extracts the title and text in the same manner as in step S06. The text data in the main text is converted into audio data, and the audio output unit 106 converts the audio data from digital to analog (D / A) and outputs it from the speaker. When this voice output is completed, the unread flag of the mail to be processed is cleared in the received mail data (FIG. 2).
[0037]
In the next step S08, it is determined whether there is still a new mail in the received mail data (FIG. 2). If there is still a new mail, the process returns to step S03 to continue the processing for the new mail. If there is no new mail, this mail reading process is terminated.
[0038]
In addition, during the execution of the process of step S06 or step S07, it is possible to accept the user's operation performed on the operation unit 108, and if the user instructs to read out another new mail The reading process being executed may be stopped and the process may proceed to step S08. Thereby, the user can skip and read the received mail which does not need to be read out.
[0039]
As described above, in the first embodiment, when the received mail is read out, the name of the mail sender corresponding to the mail address is extracted from the pre-registered phone book and is read out. The sender can be reliably recognized by voice.
[0040]
Further, since it is not necessary to read out the mail address itself, it is only necessary that the speech synthesis process supports only Japanese. Therefore, the first embodiment greatly contributes to downsizing and cost reduction of the communication device.
[0041]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
[0042]
The configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0043]
In the second embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment includes an answering machine function.
[0044]
The answering machine function stores voice data transmitted from a partner communication apparatus (telephone) via a telephone line in the own communication apparatus and reproduces it in accordance with a user operation. Specifically, an incoming call from the line 110 is detected by the communication control unit 109, and when this communication apparatus is set to the absence mode, the line connection for the incoming call is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed. The voice data transmitted from the line is converted into a digital signal (message data) by the voice codec 105 and stored in the storage unit 103. The audio codec 105 converts analog audio data into a digital signal and vice versa. A typical example of a digital signal is a signal in a format called PCM.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the message data and the received mail data are stored in the storage unit 103 in the order of the reception date and time.
[0046]
FIG. 5 is a table configuration diagram showing message data and received mail data stored in the storage unit 103 according to the second embodiment.
[0047]
The example shown in FIG. 5 shows a state in which one piece of mail data and two pieces of message data (voice data) are stored, which are arranged in the order of reception date and time.
[0048]
Since the sender address, title, text, reception date and time, and unread flag in the mail data are the same as those described in the description of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. In the mail flag column in the mail data, a flag for distinguishing mail data from message data (voice data) is described. For example, in the case of mail data, a mail flag is set, and message data (voice data) Data) is cleared. The same applies to the mail flag column in the audio data.
[0049]
In the received telephone number column in the voice data, the telephone number of the caller notified when a telephone call from the line side is entered. The caller's notification of the telephone number is performed using the same means (means using V.23 signal) as the above-mentioned mail arrival notification, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0050]
In the audio data column, audio data digitally encoded by the audio codec 105 is described in the audio data column, and in the reception date / time column, unlike the reception date / time of the mail data, it is locally managed on the communication device side. Received date and time are listed.
[0051]
Further, in the unread flag column in the audio data, a flag is set when the audio data is not reproduced, and the flag is cleared when the audio data is reproduced, similarly to the mail data.
[0052]
Next, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the voice reproduction processing of message data and mail data will be described.
[0053]
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the message data and mail data voice reproduction processing executed by the CPU 100 in the second embodiment.
[0054]
First, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the user has instructed selection of reading out mail data or voice data using the display unit 107 and the operation unit 108. If reading out is instructed, the process proceeds to step S12. In the plurality of message data and received mail data (FIG. 5) stored in the storage unit 103 and displayed on the display unit 107, there is a received mail (new mail) that has not been played back yet. Is determined. When such a new mail exists, the process proceeds to step S13, and when there is no new mail, the process proceeds to step S20.
[0055]
Specifically, in step S12, with reference to the storage table of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 5, it is checked whether there is data in which both the mail flag and the unread flag are set.
[0056]
Here, when there is a new mail, the processes of steps S13 to S17 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the processes of steps S03 to S07 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The description here is omitted. In step S18, it is determined whether there is received mail (new mail) or new message data that has not yet been played back in the storage table of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. If there is new mail or new message data, the process returns to step S12 to continue the processing for the new mail or new message data. If there is no new mail or new message data, the voice reproduction process is terminated.
[0057]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that no new mail exists, the process proceeds to step S20, where it is determined whether or not there is new message data (voice data of recorded messages). Specifically, referring to the storage table of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 5, it is checked whether or not there is data in which the mail flag is cleared and the unread flag is set. If the data exists, the process proceeds to step S21 in FIG. 7. If the data does not exist, the process returns to step S11 and waits for a user operation.
[0058]
In step S21, referring to the storage table of storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 5, the telephone number of the caller (received telephone) in one of the new message data (voice data of the recorded message) determined to be present in step S20. Number). Next, in step S22, it is determined whether or not the caller's telephone number can be extracted in step S21. If the caller's telephone number cannot be extracted (for example, when the caller ID notification service is not subscribed), step S26 is performed. Proceed to
[0059]
Next, in step S23, the mail address field of the phone book (address book, FIG. 3) is searched, and whether or not the same phone number as the caller's phone number extracted in step S21 is registered in the phone book. Is determined. If registered, the process proceeds to step S24, and the name corresponding to the telephone number is extracted from the telephone directory. If it is determined in step S23 that the same telephone number is not registered in the telephone directory, the process proceeds to step S26.
[0060]
Next, in step S25, the name data extracted in step S24 is sent to the speech synthesis processing unit 104, where speech synthesis processing is performed based on the name data to obtain speech data. Output as audio.
[0061]
After the name is output by voice in this way, in step S26, the voice code in the new message data to be processed is read out with reference to the storage table of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. The decoded data is output from the audio output unit 105. Thereafter, the process returns to step S18 in FIG. 6 to search for other unread data.
[0062]
In the voice output of the name in step S25, instead of simply reading out only the name, prepare a fixed sentence such as “It is a phone call from Mr.” and read out the fixed sentence after the name. Also good. In this case, for example, after outputting a voice saying “It is a phone call from Mr. Inoue”, a message voice is output based on the voice data.
[0063]
Further, as in the first embodiment, if voice is output, for example, “This is an email from Mr. Inoue” in step S17, it is possible not only to specify the received email and the caller, but also whether it is an email or a phone call. A distinction can be made immediately.
[0064]
Similarly to the first embodiment, when the name output process and the voice output process based on the mail text or the message data can be moved to step S18 by the user operation, the desired voice information can be obtained. It can be reached in a short time.
[0065]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
[0066]
The configuration of the third embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the second embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0067]
In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the voice data and e-mail stored by the answering machine function are stored in the storage unit 103 in the order of reception date and time (see FIG. 5).
[0068]
In the second embodiment, only the received mail is played back first, and the recorded message is played back later, whereas in the third embodiment, in the storage table of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. Play in the order received.
[0069]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of voice reproduction processing of message data and mail data executed by the CPU 100 according to the third embodiment. The same step numbers are assigned to the same steps as those in the audio reproduction process of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the description thereof is omitted. In the third embodiment, the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is used, but the illustration thereof is omitted.
[0070]
In step S102, the unread flag column is referred to in the storage order in the storage table of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 5, and it is determined whether or not there is a new mail or new recorded message in which the unread flag is set. As a result, if it exists, the process proceeds to step S110, and if not, the process proceeds to step S18.
[0071]
In step S110, it is determined with reference to the mail flag column whether the unread flag is set to be an email or an absence message. If it is mail, the process proceeds to step S13, and if it is an answering message, the process proceeds to step S21 in FIG. 7 in the second embodiment to be diverted.
[0072]
As described above, in the third embodiment, since mails or answering messages are reproduced in the order of reception date and time, the other party has sent an e-mail regarding a certain message, but since there is no response from us, the other party calls. If this is the case, it will be easier to understand because the context of the contents of the requirements is correct.
[0073]
[Other embodiments]
It is to be noted that the object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus. Is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.
[0074]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0075]
Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.
[0076]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on an instruction of the program code. Includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.
[0077]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0078]
As described above, various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described. Examples of embodiments of the present invention are listed below.
[0079]
[Embodiment 1] Storage means for storing a correspondence table of a plurality of e-mail addresses and names corresponding to the respective e-mail addresses;
Receiving means for receiving e-mail;
First speech synthesizer for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit;
Extracting means for extracting a name corresponding to an e-mail address included in the e-mail received by the receiving means with reference to the correspondence table stored by the storage means;
Second speech synthesis means for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted by the extraction means;
A communication apparatus comprising:
[0080]
[Embodiment 2] The second speech synthesizer is operated prior to the operation of the first speech synthesizer,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stop control means for stopping the operation of the first speech synthesis means in accordance with a user operation.
[0081]
[Embodiment 3] Voice storage and reproduction means for storing a voice signal received from a telephone line and reproducing the voice signal;
A specifying means for specifying a caller telephone number of the voice signal stored by the voice storage / playback means;
Storage means for storing a correspondence table of a plurality of names and an e-mail address and a telephone number corresponding to each name;
Receiving means for receiving e-mail;
First speech synthesizer for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit;
Referring to the correspondence table stored by the storage unit, the name corresponding to the telephone number specified by the specifying unit or the name corresponding to the e-mail address included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit is extracted. Extraction means to
Second speech synthesis means for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted by the extraction means;
A communication apparatus comprising:
[0082]
[Embodiment 4] The second speech synthesizer is operated prior to the playback of the speech signal by the speech storage / playback unit or prior to the operation of the first speech synthesizer,
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising stop control means for stopping reproduction of a voice signal by the voice storage / reproducing means according to an operation by a user or stopping the operation of the first voice synthesizing means. .
[0083]
[Embodiment 5] The reproduction of the audio signal by the audio storage / reproduction unit and the operation of the first audio synthesis unit, the time when the audio storage / reproduction unit received the corresponding audio signal, and the electronic The communication apparatus according to the third embodiment, further comprising a control unit that causes the time of receiving the mails to be adjusted in order from the earliest time.
[0084]
[Embodiment 6] The second voice synthesizer synthesizes and outputs the name, and outputs a voice indicating whether the object is an email or a voice signal received from a telephone line. The communication apparatus according to Embodiment 3, characterized by:
[0085]
[Embodiment 7] In a voice reading method applied to a communication device including a storage device in which a correspondence table of a plurality of electronic mail addresses and names corresponding to the electronic mail addresses is stored,
A receiving step for receiving e-mail;
An extraction step of referring to a correspondence table stored in the storage device and extracting a name corresponding to an email address included in the email received by the reception step;
A first speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted in the extraction step;
A second speech synthesizing step for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the e-mail received by the receiving step after the execution of the first speech synthesizing step;
A voice reading method comprising:
[0086]
[Embodiment 8] The speech reading method according to Embodiment 7, wherein execution of the second speech synthesis step is stopped according to an operation by a user.
[0087]
[Embodiment 9] In a voice reading method applied to a communication device including a storage device in which a correspondence table of a plurality of names and an e-mail address and a telephone number corresponding to each name is stored.
An audio signal receiving step for receiving an audio signal from a telephone line;
A specifying step of specifying a caller telephone number of the voice signal received by the voice signal receiving step;
A mail receiving step for receiving e-mail;
Referring to the correspondence table stored in the storage device, a name corresponding to the telephone number specified by the specifying step or a name corresponding to the e-mail address included in the e-mail received by the mail receiving step An extraction step to extract;
A first speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted in the extraction step;
An audio reproduction step of reproducing the audio signal received by the audio signal reception step after the execution of the first audio synthesis step;
A second speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the email received by the email reception step after the execution of the first speech synthesis step;
A voice reading method comprising:
[0088]
[Embodiment 10] The speech reading method according to Embodiment 9, wherein execution of the speech reproduction step or the second speech synthesis step is stopped according to an operation by a user.
[0089]
[Embodiment 11] The voice reproduction step and the second voice synthesis step include a time when a corresponding voice signal is received by the voice signal receiving step, and a time when a corresponding electronic mail is received by the mail receiving step. The voice reading method according to claim 9, wherein the voice reading method is executed in the order from the earliest.
[0090]
[Embodiment 12] In the first voice synthesis step, the name is voice-synthesized and output, and voice indicating whether the target is an e-mail or a voice signal received from a telephone line is output. Embodiment 10. The voice reading method according to embodiment 9, wherein
[0091]
[Embodiment 13] A program for causing a computer to execute a voice reading method applied to a communication device including a storage device storing a correspondence table of a plurality of email addresses and names corresponding to the respective email addresses In
The voice reading method comprises:
A receiving step for receiving e-mail;
An extraction step of referring to a correspondence table stored in the storage device and extracting a name corresponding to an email address included in the email received by the reception step;
A first speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted in the extraction step;
A second speech synthesizing step for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the e-mail received by the receiving step after the execution of the first speech synthesizing step;
The program characterized by having.
[0092]
[Embodiment 14] To cause a computer to execute a voice reading method applied to a communication device including a storage device in which a correspondence table of a plurality of names and an e-mail address and a telephone number corresponding to each name is stored In the program of
The voice reading method comprises:
An audio signal receiving step for receiving an audio signal from a telephone line;
A specifying step of specifying a caller telephone number of the voice signal received by the voice signal receiving step;
A mail receiving step for receiving e-mail;
Referring to the correspondence table stored in the storage device, a name corresponding to the telephone number specified by the specifying step or a name corresponding to the e-mail address included in the e-mail received by the mail receiving step An extraction step to extract;
A first speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted in the extraction step;
An audio reproduction step of reproducing the audio signal received by the audio signal reception step after the execution of the first audio synthesis step;
A second speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the email received by the email reception step after the execution of the first speech synthesis step;
The program characterized by having.
[0093]
[Embodiment 15] A voice reading method applied to a communication device having a storage device storing a correspondence table of a plurality of e-mail addresses and names corresponding to the respective e-mail addresses is read as a program and read out by a computer In possible storage media,
The voice reading method comprises:
A receiving step for receiving e-mail;
An extraction step of referring to a correspondence table stored in the storage device and extracting a name corresponding to an email address included in the email received by the reception step;
A first speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted in the extraction step;
A second speech synthesizing step for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the e-mail received by the receiving step after the execution of the first speech synthesizing step;
A storage medium comprising:
[0094]
[Embodiment 16] A computer storing a voice reading method applied as a program to a communication device having a storage device storing a correspondence table of a plurality of names and an e-mail address and a telephone number corresponding to each name In a storage medium readable by
The voice reading method comprises:
An audio signal receiving step for receiving an audio signal from a telephone line;
A specifying step of specifying a caller telephone number of the voice signal received by the voice signal receiving step;
A mail receiving step for receiving e-mail;
Referring to the correspondence table stored in the storage device, a name corresponding to the telephone number specified by the specifying step or a name corresponding to the e-mail address included in the e-mail received by the mail receiving step An extraction step to extract;
A first speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the name extracted in the extraction step;
An audio reproduction step of reproducing the audio signal received by the audio signal reception step after the execution of the first audio synthesis step;
A second speech synthesis step for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the email received by the email reception step after the execution of the first speech synthesis step;
A storage medium comprising:
[0095]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, by referring to the correspondence table between the mail address and the name corresponding to the mail address, the name of the mail sender can be read out by voice when reading the received mail. did. As a result, the name of the mail sender can be read aloud simply by providing a voice synthesis means only in Japanese, and the cost and size of the communication device can be suppressed.
[0096]
In addition, since voice mail messages and received mails are mixed, they are managed collectively, so that it is possible to efficiently reproduce voices with a simple operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a plurality of received mail data stored in a storage unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a telephone directory stored in a storage unit.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a mail reading process executed by a CPU of the communication apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a table configuration diagram showing message data and received mail data stored in a storage unit according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart (1/2) illustrating a procedure of voice reproduction processing of message data and mail data executed by a CPU according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart (2/2) illustrating a procedure of voice reproduction processing of message data and mail data executed by a CPU according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of voice reproduction processing of message data and mail data executed by a CPU according to the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Central processing unit (CPU, extraction means)
101 ROM
103 RAM (storage means)
104 speech synthesis processing unit (first speech synthesis means, second speech synthesis means)
105 Audio codec
106 Audio output unit
107 Display section
108 Operation unit
109 Communication control unit (reception means)
110 Telephone line
111 System bus

Claims (1)

Storage means for storing a correspondence table of a plurality of email addresses and names corresponding to the email addresses;
Receiving means for receiving e-mail;
First speech synthesizer for synthesizing and outputting the text included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit;
Extracting means for extracting a name corresponding to an e-mail address included in the e-mail received by the receiving means with reference to the correspondence table stored by the storage means;
And a second speech synthesis unit that synthesizes and outputs the name extracted by the extraction unit.

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