JP2005056491A - Audio device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an audio device capable of accurately notifying a function selected by a user even when there is a limit to the display efficiency of a remote controller. <P>SOLUTION: In the device for reproducing music data from a portable device main body 1 and outputting it to a headset 2, by operating an operation part 8 or 9, the subset of the music data reproduced from a storage part by a control unit 6 is set. A voice corresponding to the set subset is recorded from a microphone 7, and stored as a voice file in the storage part 4 corresponding to the subset. By the operation part 8 or 9, the corresponding voice file is reproduced when the subset is selected, and output to the headset 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio apparatus that reproduces music or sound, and particularly relates to its operability.

  An audio apparatus that handles music and voice (hereinafter simply referred to as voice) is excellent in portability by using a recording medium such as a small-diameter optical disk such as an MD (mini disk) or a memory card. When listening to music and voice with such an audio device, it is often used that the device main body is kept in a pocket or a bag, headphones are attached, and the device is operated only by the associated remote control device. In this case, the remote control device often does not have a display device, or even if it has a display device, it is often small and has a limited display capability.

  On the other hand, in a portable device, an apparatus intended to notify a user of a predetermined message is also known. In Patent Document 1, a portable headphone stereo is provided with a clock function, and an alarm message is output by voice synthesis.

Recently, with the increase in storage capacity of memory cards and the emergence of devices equipped with hard disks, it has become possible to record a large number of songs and sounds. Along with this, not only playing music in order but also a function of playing according to a list of songs selected in advance by the user and a function of playing in the order specified by the user have become common.
JP-A-11-326562 (paragraphs 0012 to 0013)

  However, since the conventional technology only outputs a limited message, it cannot output a message for a function freely set by the user.

  In addition, when the remote control device implements a function that allows the user to freely select and specify the song list and playback order, there may be a limited selection method such as forward feed with a specific button due to device size constraints. There were many. Furthermore, there are many cases where there is no display device, or even if it exists, effective display cannot be performed due to the limit of display capability. As described above, it is not easy for the user to select a desired function or to know which function has been selected, contrary to the increase in the number of functions for improving the convenience of the user.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an audio device that can accurately notify the function selected by the user even when the display capability of the remote control device is limited. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by setting and recording audio data explaining the contents of a function set by a user, and reproducing the recorded audio data in accordance with the selection of the function.

  It is possible to freely set voice data that can accurately recognize a function that can be arbitrarily set, and to notify a user without displaying a selection state of the function. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a special function such as speech synthesis processing, it can be realized at a low cost.

  An audio apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for reproducing music or voice, and sets means for arbitrarily setting one or more subsets of music or voice to be played, and voice data corresponding to the subset. Means and means for reproducing the corresponding audio data when an arbitrary subset is selected. Thereby, when selecting an arbitrarily set subset, the selection can be notified by the audio data.

  An audio apparatus according to the second invention is an apparatus for reproducing music or voice, wherein means for arbitrarily setting one or more modes related to reproduction, means for setting audio data corresponding to the mode, Means for reproducing audio data corresponding to the selected mode. Thereby, when selecting a mode relating to reproduction set arbitrarily, the selection can be informed by audio data.

  An audio device according to a third aspect of the invention is a device for reproducing music or sound, and means for arbitrarily setting one or more modes relating to the operation of the device; means for setting sound data corresponding to the mode; And means for reproducing the corresponding audio data when an arbitrary mode is selected. Thereby, when selecting a mode relating to the operation of an arbitrarily set device, the selection can be notified by audio data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a mobile device body as an audio device, 2 denotes headphones connected to the mobile device body 1, and 3 denotes a remote operation unit for operating the mobile device body 1. The mobile device body 1 includes a storage unit 4 that stores audio data, a signal processing unit 5 that performs processing for recording and reproducing audio data, a control unit 6 that controls operations of the signal processing unit 5, a microphone 7, And an operation unit 8. The remote operation unit 3 includes an operation unit 9 for performing the same operation as the operation unit 8 remotely (or at hand) and a display unit 10 for displaying operation modes and the like at hand. The display unit 10 may be in the mobile device body 1.

  First, the reproduction operation as an audio apparatus will be described. The operation unit 8 or 9 is operated, and the voice data (music file) stored in the storage unit 4 is designated via the control unit 6 and read from the storage unit 4. The read music data is output to the headphones 2 via the signal processing unit 5. Here, the storage unit 4 may be any recording medium such as a built-in semiconductor memory, a removable memory card, an optical disk, and a hard disk.

  Next, an operation of setting an audio file for improving the user interface in the audio apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The user operates the operation unit 8 or 9 to check a display unit 10 and freely set a subset such as a playlist in which data to be reproduced is arbitrarily combined. In this way, the processing of FIG. 2 is started with the subset set.

  In step 20, the processing target subset is selected by the operation unit 8 or 9. Next, in step 21, sound that explains the contents of the selected subset is recorded. This is stored as an audio file in the storage unit 4 via the microphone 7 and the signal processing unit 5. As long as the audio file can identify a subset such as “Best Collection 1” and “Favorite in July”, any content can be freely recorded and generated.

  In step 22, the control unit 6 creates a correspondence table that defines a subset corresponding to the stored audio file. The correspondence table is stored in the storage unit 4.

  In step 23, when the next subset is selected, the process returns to step 20, and when not selected, the process is terminated.

  By performing the above processing, a correspondence table as shown in FIG. 3 is generated. In FIG. 3, audio files S1, S2,..., Si are associated with subsets 1, 2,..., I (i is a natural number).

  When the audio device is operated and the subset is selected, processing is performed as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the user selects a desired subset by the remote control unit 3 (step 30). Next, in step 31, the control unit 6 performs control so as to reproduce the audio file for the subset selected from the correspondence table shown in FIG. In step 32, the user determines whether or not the selected subset is desired while listening to the headphones 3. If the selected subset is acceptable, the process proceeds to step 33 by a predetermined operation, and if a different subset is selected, the process returns to step 30.

  In step 33, processing based on the selected subset is performed. For example, in the case of a playlist of music, music reproduction based on the list is executed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, audio data can be freely associated with a subset and can be played back when the subset is selected. The contents can be notified to the user.

  In the above description, the audio file for subsets and the audio data such as music are stored in the storage unit 4, but may be configured to be stored in separate storage media.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, an audio apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the audio apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the audio file to be recorded / reproduced relates to the subset, whereas the present embodiment relates to the reproduction mode. Here, the playback mode is, for example, a mode related to sound quality control, and is a mode such as an equalizer characteristic, a surround characteristic, and a noise reduction. The user can select and set various characteristics and freely set the playback mode.

  Accordingly, “subset selection” in step 20 in FIG. 2 is “playback mode selection”, “subset selection” in step 30 in FIG. 3 is “playback mode selection”, and “processing based on the selected subset” in step 33 is “ By replacing with “processing based on the selected playback mode”, the operation is substantially the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  That is, the audio file corresponding to the selected reproduction mode is recorded in FIG. 2, and the audio file corresponding to the selected reproduction mode is reproduced in FIG. In this case, the correspondence table created and used is as shown in FIG. 5, and is a table of audio files P1, P2,..., Pj associated with the reproduction modes 1, 2,..., J (j is a natural number). .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, audio data can be freely associated with a playback mode and can be played back when the playback mode is selected. Without having to do so, the user can be informed of the selection.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, an audio apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the audio apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, differences from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the audio file to be recorded / reproduced relates to the subset, whereas the present embodiment relates to the operation mode. Here, the operation mode is a mode relating to, for example, control of the operation of the portable device, and is a mode such as a change or setting of a compression method, a change or setting of a compression rate, or random play. The user can freely set the operation mode by selecting and combining various operations.

  Accordingly, “subset selection” in step 20 in FIG. 2 is “operation mode selection”, “subset selection” in step 30 in FIG. 3 is “operation mode selection”, and “processing based on the selected subset” in step 33 is “ By replacing “processing based on the selected operation mode”, the operation is substantially the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  That is, an audio file corresponding to the selected operation mode is recorded in FIG. 2, and an audio file corresponding to the selected operation mode is reproduced in FIG. In this case, the correspondence table created and used is as shown in FIG. 6, and is a table of audio files A1, A2,..., Ak associated with operation modes 1, 2,..., K (k is a natural number). .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, audio data can be freely associated with an operation mode and can be reproduced when the operation mode is selected. Without having to do so, the user can be informed of the selection.

  In each of the above embodiments, a sound file is generated by recording a sound. However, a sound file that has been recorded and generated in advance may be selected.

  Further, although the present invention has been described for a case where it is applied to a portable device, it can also be applied to an audio device used in the home. In this case, the sound is output from the speaker instead of the headphones. In this way, when remote control is performed away from the main body, function setting can be performed without looking at the display section of the main body.

  The audio device of the present invention has an effect of being able to notify a user without displaying an arbitrarily set function, and is useful for improving the operability of an audio device having excellent portability or remote operability. is there.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the audio apparatus by Embodiment 1-3 of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the audio apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. Flow chart showing operation of the audio apparatus Conceptual diagram showing a correspondence table in the audio apparatus The conceptual diagram which shows the corresponding | compatible table in the audio apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows the corresponding | compatible table in the audio apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable apparatus main body 2 Headphones 3 Remote operation part 4 Memory | storage part 5 Signal processing part 6 Control part 7 Microphone 8,9 Operation part 10 Display part

Claims (3)

A device for playing music or audio,
Means for arbitrarily setting one or more subsets of music or audio to be played;
Means for setting audio data corresponding to the subset;
An audio apparatus comprising: means for reproducing corresponding audio data when an arbitrary subset is selected. A device for playing music or audio,
Means for arbitrarily setting one or more playback modes;
Means for setting audio data corresponding to the mode;
An audio apparatus comprising: means for reproducing audio data corresponding to selection of an arbitrary mode. A device for playing music or audio,
Means for arbitrarily setting one or more modes relating to the operation of the device;
Means for setting audio data corresponding to the mode;
An audio apparatus comprising: means for reproducing audio data corresponding to selection of an arbitrary mode.

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