JP2005077873A - Method and system for providing speech content - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for providing speech contents that can realize guidance broadcast of voice quality, and to provide a tone matching use environment. <P>SOLUTION: A speech-providing service device has the steps of: receiving document data, corresponding to speech contents that a requester needs from a requester's device through a communication line, such as Web; selecting a vocal actor who voices the received document data out of vocal actors previously registered in a vocal actor table of the speech providing service device and sending document data to be vocalized to a terminal device of the selected vocal actor; receiving speech contents, corresponding to the document data that the vocal actor voices through the terminal device of the vocal actor by the speech providing service device; and transmitting the speech contents of the vocal actor received from the terminal device of the vocal actor to the requester's device of the requester by the speech providing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio content providing method and system for providing audio content in which a voice requested by a client is uttered by a voice actor to the client via a communication line such as the Web, for example, guidance in department stores and various event venues. The present invention relates to a method and system for providing audio content suitable for use in broadcasting or the like.

Conventionally, as a method for selling audio data, for example, methods described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-358092 and 2002-55686 are known.
The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-358092 provides read-out of script data by arranging synthesized speech of a favorite actor or voice actor in arbitrary script data.
The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-55686 provides a user's voice with a certain quality according to facial expressions and behaviors.
JP 2002-358092 A JP 2002-55686 A

By the way, in-store broadcasting of department stores and the like, a professional staff usually performs various types of guidance broadcasting. However, if there is no staff, guidance broadcasting cannot be performed in a tone suitable for in-store broadcasting of department stores.
Therefore, it is conceivable to perform guidance broadcasting by applying the method described in the prior art.
However, in the techniques described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2002-358092 and 2002-55686, it is necessary to store voice data or phoneme data for guidance broadcasting in advance. There is a problem that temporary information broadcasting cannot be performed.
Moreover, since voice data requested by the user is created by synthesizing voice data or phoneme data, it does not sound natural and is uncomfortable. In particular, for example, department store guidance broadcasts and amusement park guidance broadcasts have different tone, but there is a problem that it is difficult to achieve a tone guidance broadcast suitable for the use environment with synthesized sounds. In addition, even for department store guidance broadcasts, there are subtle differences in the tone of guidance broadcasts between department stores A and B, and with synthesized sounds, it is possible to realize guidance broadcasts with voice quality and tone suitable for the individuality of each department store. There is a problem that it is difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an audio content providing method and system capable of realizing voice quality and tone guidance broadcasting suitable for the use environment.

In order to achieve the above object, the audio content providing method according to the present invention provides audio content in which a voice request is made by a voice actor to speak to a client via a communication line such as the Internet. A method,
In the voice providing service device, the voice providing service includes a first step of receiving text data corresponding to the voice content required by the client from the client main device via a communication line such as the Internet, and a voice actor that utters the received text data. A second step of selecting voice actors pre-registered in the voice actor table of the apparatus, and transmitting the sentence data to be spoken to the selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet; and a voice actor terminal device A third step of receiving audio content corresponding to the sentence data uttered by the voice actor from the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and a voice actor received from the voice actor terminal device in the voice providing service device. The audio content of the Characterized in that it comprises a fourth step of transmitting over the wire.
Further, in the second step, voice actors that utter text data based on designation information such as proper names, gender, voice quality, language, etc. of voice actors received from the client apparatus are stored in the voice actor table in advance. It is characterized by selecting from among them.
In the second step, voice actors who utter text data based on information about the client's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment received from the client device are stored in advance in the voice actor table. It is characterized by selecting from among them.
Further, the present invention is further characterized by further comprising a fifth step of charging the request source for the usage fee of the audio content after transmitting the voice content of the voice actor to the requesting main apparatus.

In addition, the audio content providing method for providing the client with the voice content in which the voice requested by the client is uttered by the voice actor via a communication line such as the Internet,
In the voice providing service device, the voice providing service includes a first step of receiving text data corresponding to the voice content required by the client from the client main device via a communication line such as the Internet, and a voice actor that utters the received text data. A second step of selecting from among voice actors registered in advance in the voice actor table of the device, and transmitting the sentence data to be spoken to the selected one or more voice actor terminal devices via a communication line such as the Internet; A third step of receiving audio content corresponding to the sentence data uttered by the voice actor from one or more voice actor terminal devices in the audio providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and in the audio providing service device One set of voice content of voice actors received from one or more voice actor terminal devices A fourth step of transmitting the requesting main apparatus of the request source via a communication line such as the Internet, and a fifth step of causing the audio content of one or more voice actors received by the requesting main apparatus to sound for trial listening; The sixth information is transmitted from the requesting main apparatus to the voice providing service apparatus via the communication line such as the Internet from the requesting main apparatus. A voice recording request for the sentence data is transmitted to the selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet based on the voice information selection information of the voice actor selected by the client in the voice providing service device. Step 7 and the recorded voice content of the sentence data recorded by the voice actor who received the voice recording request An eighth step of transmitting from the terminal device or another device to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and the recorded voice content of the voice actor received by the voice providing service device is sent to the requesting requesting client device via the Internet And a ninth step of transmitting via a communication line such as the above.
Further, in the second step, voice actors that utter text data based on designation information such as proper names, gender, voice quality, language, etc. of voice actors received from the client apparatus are stored in the voice actor table in advance. It is characterized by selecting from among them.
In the second step, voice actors who utter text data based on information about the client's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment received from the client device are stored in advance in the voice actor table. It is characterized by selecting from among them.
In the second to fourth steps and the seventh and eighth steps, the mobile phone is used as a voice actor terminal device to receive text data, to transmit audio content for viewing, and to transmit recorded audio content. It is characterized by performing.
In addition, the method further comprises a tenth step of charging the request source for the usage fee of the recorded audio content after transmitting the recorded audio content of the voice actor to the requesting main apparatus.

An audio content providing system according to the present invention includes a request main device used by a client, a terminal device used by a voice actor, and an audio providing service device that provides an audio content providing service. A voice content providing system that provides voice content to a client via a communication line such as the Internet, wherein the voice content is produced by a voice actor.
Voice providing service device
First means for receiving sentence data corresponding to the audio content required by the requester from the requester apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet, and voice actors for uttering the received sentence data are registered in advance in the voice actor table. A second means for selecting the voice actor from the voice actor terminal device, and transmitting the text data to be spoken to the selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet; and the sentence data uttered by the voice actor from the voice actor terminal device. Third means for receiving the corresponding audio content via a communication line such as the Internet, and fourth means for transmitting the voice content of the voice actor received from the voice actor terminal device to the requesting main apparatus of the request source via the communication line such as the Internet. With the means of
A fifth means for receiving text data from the requester and transmitting it to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and a voice content of the text data from the voice providing service device on the Internet. And 6th means for receiving via the communication line of
The voice actor terminal device receives seventh voice data received from the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet, and voice content uttered by the voice actor for the received text data. And an eighth means for transmitting to the apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet.
In addition, the requester device further comprises means for transmitting designation information such as a proper noun, gender, voice quality, and language of a voice actor that pronounces sentence data,
The second means of the voice providing service device pre-registers in the voice actor table a voice actor that utters sentence data based on the designation information such as the proper noun, gender, voice quality, language, etc. of the voice actor received from the client main device. It is characterized by selecting from voice actors.
Further, the requester device further comprises means for transmitting information on the client's type of business, usage of audio content, and usage environment,
The second means of the voice providing service device is pre-registered in the voice actor table for a voice actor that utters text data based on information of the client's business type, usage of voice content, and usage environment received from the client main device. It is characterized by selecting from voice actors.
The voice providing service device may further include a billing unit that charges the request source for the usage fee of the voice content after transmitting the voice content of the voice actor to the requesting master device.

Also, the audio content that consists of the requester device used by the client, the terminal device used by the voice actor, and the audio providing service device that provides the audio content providing service, the voice requested by the client A system for providing audio content to a client via a communication line such as the Internet,
Voice providing service device
A first means for receiving text data corresponding to the audio content required by the requester from the requester apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet, and a voice actor in which voice actors for speaking the received text data are registered in the voice actor table in advance. A second means for transmitting text data to be uttered to the selected terminal device of one or more voice actors via a communication line such as the Internet, and the voice actors from the one or more voice actor terminal devices. A third means for receiving audio content corresponding to the sentence data uttered by the voice data via a communication line such as the Internet, and a set of audio content for audition of voice actors received from one or more terminal devices of voice actors. A fourth means for transmitting to the requester apparatus of the request source via a communication line such as the Internet, and an audio content for viewing the voice actor selected by the requester Based on the selected information, the fifth means for transmitting the voice data recording request to the selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet, and the voice actor terminal device or other device that requested the recording. Receiving the recorded audio content of the text data via a communication line such as the Internet, and transmitting to the requesting main apparatus of the request source via a communication line such as the Internet,
The requesting apparatus receives text data from the requester and transmits to the voice providing service apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet, and a voice content corresponding to the text data from the voice providing service apparatus. An eighth means for receiving via a communication line such as the Internet; a ninth means for producing the received audio content of one or more voice actors for trial listening; and one or more audio contents for the produced trial listening. Tenth means for transmitting selection information of the voice content of the voice actor selected by the client from among the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet,
The voice actor's terminal device receives eleventh means for receiving text data from the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet, and voice content produced by the voice actor for the received text data. A twelfth means for transmitting the content to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and receiving a voice recording request for the text data from the voice providing service device; And a thirteenth means for transmitting to the provided service device via a communication line such as the Internet.
The voice providing service device may further include a billing unit that charges the requester for a usage fee of the recorded voice content after the voice actor recorded voice content is transmitted to the requesting client main device.

According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to register voice data in advance, it is possible to easily realize temporary guidance broadcasting such as lost child guidance.
In addition, with natural pronunciation, it is possible to achieve voice quality and tone guidance broadcasting suitable for the usage environment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of an audio content providing system according to the present invention.
In the system shown here, the business entity 1 that manages the voice providing server device receives voice actor designation information and text data from the information terminal 3a of the user (client) 3 via a communication line such as the Internet. The voice providing server device of the business entity 1 selects a voice actor based on the received information, and transmits a voice data voice request to the selected voice actor 2 terminal device (for example, a mobile phone or a personal computer). The voice actor 2 that has received the utterance request utters the text data in a read-out format and transmits it to the voice providing server device of the business entity 1. In this case, the text data may be input from the handset of the mobile phone owned by the voice actor and transmitted to the voice providing server device of the business entity 1 without recording, or in an appropriate environment such as a recording studio. It is possible to adopt a form in which recording is performed and transmitted using the data communication function of the mobile phone, or the recorded audio content is transmitted from a personal computer used by the voice actor.
In addition, when using a plurality of voice actors in accordance with a video such as a television commercial, it is transmitted from the user information terminal 3a to the voice providing server device of the business entity 1 together with the video and text data to which the voice is added. Then, to the terminal devices of a plurality of voice actors, the voice part of each voice actor is designated and the video and text data are transmitted, and the text data is uttered as the video progresses. Then, the voice content uttered is returned to the voice providing server device of the business entity 1. In the voice providing server device, the voice content received from each voice actor is returned to the information terminal 3a of the user 3.
After the audio content is transmitted to the information terminal 3a of the user 3 or prior to the transmission, the payment fee is settled by the settlement company 4. The user 3 performs guidance broadcasting using the received audio content.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
The system shown in FIG. 1 is for client computers 11, 12, 13 used by a client who purchases audio content, client computers 14, 15 used for recording by a voice actor, and voice actors uttering audio for trial listening. The voice distribution request information received from the client computers 11 to 13 through the Internet 19 is sorted by voice actor by the server device 18, and the client computers 14 to 15 or the mobile phones 16 and 17 are connected. Use it to utter and create audio content. The created audio content is sent back to the server device 18 via the Internet 19 again. The server device 18 that has received the audio content transmits the audio content to the requesting client computers 11 to 13 via the Internet 19. Upon receiving the audio content, the client computers 11 to 13 take out the audio content and use it for guidance broadcasting or the like.

The configuration of the server device 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
The server device 18 has a configuration similar to, for example, an ordinary personal computer, and includes a receiving unit 301 that receives sentence data transmitted from the client computers 11 to 13 of the requester, and audio content uttered by the voice actor, and a voice actor. A voice actor selection unit 302, a user information database 303 in which information of users who can receive a voice content providing service is registered by the server device 18, and a voice actor that stores information such as a unique name card, voice quality, and characteristics of the voice actor. Information database 304, reception information database 305 that stores request information such as text data received from the request source, trial recording unit 306 that receives and records audio for trial listening from a mobile phone, and audio for trial on the Web Audition screen upload section 307 to be registered and voice recordings to voice actors A transmission unit 308 that transmits image data or audio content for trial listening to the user, an audio recording request unit 309 that requests audio recording to the voice actor, and a registered audio information database 310 that stores audio content and sentence data , A distribution data reception unit 311 that receives audio content recorded by a voice actor as distribution content, a distribution data transmission unit 312 that transmits audio content, a charging processing unit 313 that performs charging processing, and a charge information database that stores charging results 314 and a settlement processing unit 315 entrusting settlement to an external settlement company.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the server device 18. The keyboard 401, the mouse 402, the recording device 403 used when the mobile phone does not have a recording function, the line connection unit 404, the CPU 405, and the various types shown in FIG. An external storage device 406 holding a database group, a display device 407, and a storage device 408 are provided. In the storage device 408, the voice actor selection unit 302, the audition recording unit 306, the voice recording request unit 309, the distribution data reception unit 311, the distribution data transmission unit 312, the billing processing unit 313, and the like shown in FIG. A program corresponding to the settlement processing unit 315 is stored.

Next, the configuration of the client computers 11 to 13 of the requester will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client computers 11 to 13 of the client, and has the same configuration as that of an ordinary personal computer, for example. Inside, a login unit 501 that performs user management, a language selection unit 502 that selects a language to be used as speech, a text input unit 503 that inputs a text to be purchased as speech, and a voice actor that reads the text are selected. A voice actor selection unit 504, a transmission unit 505 that transmits a request for audio content or a request for audio recording, a reception unit 506 that receives audio content for audition or audio recording, and a sample for listening when selecting a voice actor The listening part 507, the recording request transmission part 508, the audio | voice reception preservation | save part 509 which preserve | saves the delivery data (audio | voice content) received from the server apparatus 18, and the broadcast equipment 510 which broadcasts the received audio | voice content.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the client computers 11 to 13 of the requester. The keyboard 601, the mouse 602, the line connection unit 603, and the input / output unit 604 connected to the broadcasting facility 510 in FIG. 5. A CPU 605, an external storage device 606, a display device 607, and a storage device 608. In the storage device 608, the login unit 501, the language selection unit 502, the text input unit 503, the voice actor selection unit 504, the transmission unit 505, the audition unit 507, the recording request transmission unit 508, and the voice in FIG. A program corresponding to the reception storage unit 509 is stored.

Next, the configuration of the client computers 14 and 15 used by the voice actor will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client computers 14 and 15 and has the same configuration as that of a normal personal computer, for example. Inside, a receiving unit 701 that receives a recording request, a recording unit 702 that records in accordance with text and video, a distribution data creation unit 704 that converts audio into audio content for distribution, and a transmission unit that transmits distribution data 705 and a recording device 703 for inputting voice from outside for recording.
As the cellular phones 16 and 17 used by the voice actor, general-purpose cellular phones having an Internet connection function can be used.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the client computers 14 and 15, and includes a keyboard 801, a mouse 802, a line connection unit 803, an input / output unit 804 that performs input / output with the recording device 703, a CPU 805, It consists of an external storage device 806 for storing the recorded voice, a display device 807, and a storage device 808. In the storage device 808, programs corresponding to the reception unit 701, the recording unit 702, the distribution data creation unit 704, and the transmission unit 705 of FIG. 7 are stored.

Next, a series of procedures of the audio content providing method will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a series of procedures for providing audio content to the client.
In step S1, the user who is the client logs in to the client computer 11 owned by the user. Next, in step S2, the user selects a language to be used (a language to be spoken by a voice actor). Next, a voice actor is selected in step S3, and voice sentence data to be uttered by the voice actor is input in step S4.
Next, in steps S5 and S6, the language and voice actor designation information selected in steps S2 and S3 and the text data input in step S4 are transmitted to the server device 18 via the Internet 19 as utterance request data.
The server device 18 receives the utterance request data in step S7. In step S8, based on the voice request data, based on the voice actor in the voice request data and the language designation information, the voice actor to utter the sentence data is determined.
The voice actor is registered in advance in a voice actor information table (described later) of the voice actor information database 24, and is selected from the registered voice actors.
The selection method is as follows: (1) Select a voice actor registered in the voice actor information table based on the specified information such as proper name, gender, voice quality, language, etc. of the voice actor received from the user, (2) received from the user There is a method of selecting a voice actor registered in a voice actor information table based on information on a user's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment.
In this case, unless the user designates only one specific voice actor, a plurality of voice actors are selected. However, this is not the case when only one voice actor corresponding to the condition is registered. In the present invention, a voice actor is selected by appropriately combining either or both of the above (1) and (2).
In addition, when registering a voice actor in the voice actor registration table, the business entity 1 collects a registration fee.

If the voice actor is selected, next, in step S9, the voice actor's mobile telephones 16 and 17 are contacted, sentence data to be uttered by the voice actor is transmitted via the Internet 19, and the sentence data is uttered. The voice content uttered is received by the server device 18 via the base stations of the mobile phones 16 and 17 and the Internet 19.
In the server device 18, the audio content received by the line connection unit 44 is transferred to the trial recording unit 306 and recorded in the trial audio data table (see FIG. 29) in the registered audio information database 310 in the external storage device 406.

Next, in step S10, audio content for trial listening is uploaded to the trial listening screen.
In step S11, the user accesses the Web page of the server device 18, selects audio content for trial listening, and downloads it. The content to be downloaded is a collection of trial listening content for a plurality of voice actors in a selected order.
Instead of downloading from the Web page of the server device 18, it may be transmitted to the requesting user in the mail format.

Subsequently, the audio content transmitted from the server device 18 is reproduced by the audition unit 507 in the client computer 11 of the requesting user.
In step S12, the user auditiones the reproduced audio for trial listening. In steps S 13 and S 14, a favorite voice actor is selected from the sampled voice actors, and recording request data for the voice actor is transmitted to the server device 18 via the Internet 19.
The server device 18 that has received the recording request data transmits the recording request in voice or mail format to the client computers 14 and 15 of the voice actor selected by the user in steps S15 and S16. Note that if the mobile phones 16 and 17 have a recording function and can ensure the sound quality required by the guidance broadcast or the like, the recording request can be transmitted to the mobile phones 16 and 17.

In step S17, the voice actor client computers 14 and 15 receive the recording request. In step S18, the voice actor who has received the recording request utters the sentence data requested to be recorded using the recording device 703 attached to the client computers 14 and 15 used by the voice actor. The audio content of the spoken text data is recorded (recorded) in the external storage device 806 by the recording unit 702.
In this case, instead of the recording device 703, audio content recorded in a dedicated recording studio may be recorded in the external storage device 806 by the recording unit 702. When high quality sound such as a TV commercial is required, it is desirable to use the one recorded in the recording studio.

In step S19, the distribution data creation unit 704 creates distribution data of the audio content that has been recorded. In steps S20 and S21, the distribution data is transmitted from the transmission unit 705 to the server device 18.
In step S <b> 22, the server device 18 receives distribution data from the voice actor client computers 14 and 15.
In step S23, the server device 18 receives the distribution data by the reception unit 301, and records it in the registered voice information database 310 by the distribution data reception unit 311 in step S23. In step S24, billing processing is performed for the requesting user. The billing process is a credit card settlement, and settlement is performed by an external settlement company. At this time, a compensation is paid to the voice actor by the settlement company.
In step S25, the server device 18 transmits the recorded data, which is the voice data selected by the user to the distribution data, that is, the text data requested by the requesting user, to the requesting client computer 11 via the Internet 19.

The requesting client computer 11 receives the recorded audio content in step S26 and stores it in the external storage device 606 by the audio reception storage unit 509 in step S27.
The requesting client computer 11 passes the audio content stored in step S28 to the broadcasting facility 510 and outputs it as a guidance broadcast.

Next, various databases held in the external storage device 46 of the server device 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a user information table in the user information database 303. In the user information table, the user ID, password, and personal information (name, address, telephone number, business type, usage of the audio content, usage environment, etc.) of the user who can use the audio distribution service are registered. When receiving the distribution service, user authentication is performed to determine whether the distribution service can be provided based on the registration information in the user information table. This user authentication is performed, for example, in step S7 in FIG.
Business type in personal information or usage and usage environment of audio content include, for example, department store, event management, amusement park, business content such as mobile phone audio content creation, commercial creation, in-field broadcasting, out-of-field broadcasting, etc. Information on the environment such as usage, silence, and loud noise is registered.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a reception information table held in the reception information database 305. In the reception information table, the reception date, user ID, voice actor, and text data are registered as information requested by the user, and the identification information (such as sound 12) of the audio content distributed to the request source and the usage amount thereof are stored. It is supposed to be registered.
As the text data, text data received from the requesting user is registered. If the voice request data received from the requesting user includes information specifying the voice actor, the voice actor information is searched for a voice actor satisfying the specified condition from the voice actor information table described below, The proper noun or identification information of the voice actor of the search result is registered for one to a plurality of people.
The method for selecting a voice actor is (1) selecting a voice actor registered in the voice actor information table based on designation information such as the proper noun, gender, voice quality and language of the voice actor received from the user. (2) User information There is a method of selecting a voice actor registered in the voice actor information table based on information on the user's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment registered in the table 303.
In this case, unless the user designates only one specific voice actor, a plurality of voice actors are selected. However, this is not the case when only one voice actor corresponding to the condition is registered. In the present invention, a voice actor is selected by appropriately combining either or both of the above (1) and (2).
If the voice request data does not include voice actor designation information, an appropriate voice actor is selected by the method (2).

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a voice actor information table held in the voice actor information database 304. The voice actor information table contains voice actor identification information, name, gender, age, and personal information (real name, address, phone number, email address, language, voice quality, voice characteristics, etc.) for voice actors requesting voice data. It is registered.
The language indicates the language that each voice actor can speak. For example, when English and German can be spoken in addition to Japanese, information on the language type such as Japanese, English, and German is registered. . In the voice quality, for example, information such as transparency, refreshing feeling, gentle and gentle feeling, and powerfulness is registered. Voice features include information for department stores, event venues, and commercials.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a registered voice information table in the registered voice information database 310. In the registered voice information table, voice content distributed to the user, voice actor identification information, and sentence data are registered. When there is a request to reuse the distributed audio content, the server device 18 distributes the list of registered information in the registered audio information table to the request source, and listens to the audio content to be reused. Can be provided. Although not shown, each audio content is set with a flag indicating whether or not it is for trial listening.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a fee information table held in the fee information database 314. In the fee information table, the user ID, voice actor, voice, text data identification information and amount are registered for the audio content purchased by each user.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the login screen 1501 of the client computers 11 to 13 used by the client user. A user operation procedure on the login screen 1501 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a series of user operations in the login screen example.
The user performs a login operation on the client computers 11 to 13 used by the user, and displays the login screen 1501 of FIG. In step S1601, the user ID is input to the login screen 1501, and in the subsequent step S1602, a password is input. After the input, the user presses an OK button 1502 to log in to the voice providing distribution service provided by the server device 18.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the language selection screen 1701 on the user client computers 11 to 13. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a series of user operations on the language selection screen 1701.
In step S1801, the user selects the language of the voice to be uttered by the voice actor from the language list displayed on the language selection screen 1701, and in step S1802, presses the OK button 1702 to determine the language.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a voice actor selection screen 1901 in the user client computers 11 to 13. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a series of user operations on the voice actor selection screen 1901.
In step S2001, the user selects a voice actor from the list of voice actors displayed on the voice actor selection screen 1901 with reference to information such as name, age, sex, voice quality, and characteristics, and presses an OK button 1902 in subsequent step S2002. Determine the voice actor. On this voice actor selection screen 1901, a plurality of voice actors can be selected simultaneously. If an appropriate voice actor is not found, the OK button 1902 is pressed without selecting a voice actor. In that case, an appropriate voice actor is selected by the server device 18 according to information such as the user's business type and the usage of the audio content registered in the user information table.
The voice actor list displayed on the voice actor selection screen is created by the server device 18 based on the information registered in the voice actor information table of FIG. 12 and distributed to the client computers 11 to 13 of the user who performed user registration. It is.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a test recording screen 2101 displayed on the mobile phones 16 and 17 used by the voice actor. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a voice actor operating procedure on the trial recording screen 2101.
In step S2201, the voice actor connects to the test recording screen 2101 of the server device 18 from the cellular phones 16 and 17, presses the recording start button 2102 in step S2202, and then becomes a transmitter of the cellular phones 16 and 17 in step S2203. Sentence data is input for listening as sentence data and transmitted to the server device 18. The server device 18 records the received audio as audio content for viewing in the registered audio information table of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a preview screen 2301 displayed on the user's client computers 11 to 13. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of user operations on the trial listening screen 2301.
In step S2401, the user selects a voice actor to be auditioned from the audition screen 2301, and in step S2402, the user presses an OK button 2302 to determine the audio content of the voice actor to be auditioned.
Note that the trial listening screen 2301 is displayed on the display device 607 of the user client computer 11 to 13 by connecting to the trial listening screen of the server device 18.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording request screen 2501 when a user who has finished listening to audio content requests to record audio content for a desired voice actor. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of user operation when a recording request is made.
In step S2601, the user selects a desired voice actor from a plurality of selection candidate voice actors displayed in the pull-down menu 2502 of the recording request screen 2501, and in the subsequent step S2602, the sentence data to be requested for recording is input to the sentence input field 2503. To do. After the input, an OK button 2504 is pressed in step S2603 to request recording.
In many cases, the text data that is requested for trial listening is the same as the text data that is requested for recording for actual use in guidance broadcasts, but the text data for audition determines the voice actor. Therefore, it is possible to omit a part of sentence data for requesting recording.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a recording screen 2701 on the client computers 14 and 15 of a voice actor who has received a recording request. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the voice actor operation procedure using the recording screen.
In step S2801, the voice actor activates the recording unit 702 of the client computer device 14 used by the voice actor, and displays the recording screen 2701 of FIG.
Next, in step S2802, the recording start button 2702 is pressed, and in the next step S2803, the sentence data requested for recording is recorded using the recording device 703.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a trial audio data table of the registered audio information database 310. The audition audio data table is a collection of audio data of a plurality of voice actors for the test audition sentence data requested by the user in the order of selection of voice actors, and includes a plurality of audio contents for audition 2902, 2904, 2906. In the meantime, the name of the voice actor is registered with voice identification information 2901, 2903, 2905 such as “voice 1”.
This audition audio data table is created for each utterance request each time an utterance request is received from the user.

  In the above description, the client computers 14 and 15 used by the voice actor are composed of a notebook personal computer or the like that can be connected to the Internet 19 via a wireless line, so that the audio content for trial listening can be used without using the mobile phones 16 and 17. The recorded audio content that is actually used in the transmission / reception, guidance broadcasting, etc. can be transmitted / received. In short, it is possible to send and receive audio content for trial listening, and to transmit and receive recorded audio content that is actually used in guidance broadcasting, etc., using a portable terminal device that can be connected to the Internet.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, voice text data such as guidance broadcasting required by the client is distributed to a plurality of voice actor terminal devices by the server device, and the text data is distributed to the voice actors of the distribution destinations. By generating and delivering the audio content from the server device to the requester's terminal device, the requester can easily acquire and use audio such as guidance broadcasts that are temporarily required Is possible.
In addition, it is possible to perform the guidance broadcast with the voice of the voice and voice quality expected by the client.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of an audio content providing method according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a server apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a server apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client computer of a requester. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a client computer of a requester. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client computer which a voice actor uses. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the client computer which a voice actor uses. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the provision method of an audio | voice content. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user information table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a reception information table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a registration audio | voice information table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a voice actor information table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a charge information table. It is a figure which shows the example of a login screen in a user's client computer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of login operation in a user's client computer. It is a figure which shows the example of a language selection screen in a user's client computer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of language selection operation in a user's client computer. It is a figure which shows the example of a voice actor selection screen in a user's client computer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the voice actor selection operation in a user's client computer. It is a figure which shows the example of the recording screen for trial listening in the mobile telephone which a voice actor uses. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the recording operation for trial listening in the mobile telephone which a voice actor uses. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the trial listening screen in a user's client computer. It is a flowchart which shows the operation procedure with respect to the preview screen in a user's client computer. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the recording request screen in a user's client computer. It is a flowchart which shows the operation procedure of the recording request screen in a user's client computer. It is a figure which shows the example of a recording screen in the client computer which a voice actor uses. It is a flowchart which shows the operation procedure of the recording screen in the client computer which a voice actor uses. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the audio | voice data table for trial listening.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Business entity 2 Voice actor 3 User 3a Information terminal 4 Settlement company 11, 12, 13 Requester's client computer 14, 15 Voice actor client computer 16, 17 Mobile phone of voice actor 18 Server device 19 Internet 301 Receiving unit 302 Voice actor selecting unit 303 User information database 304 Voice actor information database 305 Reception information database 306 Audition recording unit 308 Transmission unit 309 Audio recording request unit 310 Registered audio information database 311 Distribution data reception unit 312 Distribution data transmission unit 313 Charge processing unit 314 Charge information database 315 Payment processing Section 501 Login section 502 Language selection section 503 Text input section 504 Voice actor selection section 505 Transmission section 506 Reception section 507 Audition section 508 Recording request transmission section 509 510 broadcasting equipment

Claims (15)

A method of providing audio content in which audio content in which a voice requested by a client is uttered by a voice actor is provided to the client via a communication line such as the Internet,
A first step of receiving text data corresponding to the audio content required by the client from the client in the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet;
A voice actor that utters the received text data is selected from voice actors registered in the voice actor table of the voice providing service device, and the text data to be uttered is transmitted to the selected voice actor's terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet. A second step of transmitting at
A third step of receiving audio content corresponding to the sentence data uttered by the voice actor from a voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet in the voice providing service device;
The audio providing service device further comprises a fourth step of transmitting the audio content of the voice actor received from the voice actor terminal device to the requesting main apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet. Method.   In the second step, a voice actor that utters text data based on designation information such as a proper name, sex, voice quality, language, etc. of the voice actor received from the client apparatus is selected from voice actors registered in the voice actor table in advance. The audio content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the audio content is selected.   In the second step, a voice actor that utters text data based on information of the client's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment received from the client apparatus is selected from voice actors registered in the voice actor table in advance. The audio content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the audio content is selected.   4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a fifth step of charging the request source with a usage fee of the audio content after transmitting the voice content of the voice actor to the requesting main apparatus. The audio content providing method described in 1. A method of providing audio content in which audio content in which a voice requested by a client is uttered by a voice actor is provided to the client via a communication line such as the Internet,
A first step of receiving text data corresponding to the audio content required by the client from the client in the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet;
A voice actor to utter the received text data is selected from voice actors registered in advance in the voice actor table of the voice providing service device, and the text data to be uttered is selected for the selected one or more voice actor terminal devices via the Internet or the like. A second step of transmitting via the communication line of
A third step of receiving audio content corresponding to the text data uttered by the voice actor from one or more voice actor terminal devices via a communication line such as the Internet in the voice providing service device;
A fourth step of transmitting the voice content of voice actors received from one or more voice actor terminal devices as a set to the requesting main apparatus of the request source via a communication line such as the Internet in the voice providing service device;
A fifth step of generating the audio content of one or more voice actors received at the requesting apparatus for trial listening;
The sixth information is transmitted from the requesting main apparatus to the voice providing service apparatus via the communication line such as the Internet from the requesting main apparatus. Steps,
A seventh step of transmitting a voice recording request for the sentence data to a selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet, based on selection information of the voice content of the voice actor selected by the client in the voice providing service device When,
An eighth step of transmitting the recorded voice content of the sentence data recorded by the voice actor who has received a voice recording request from the terminal device or other device of the voice actor to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; ,
A voice content providing method comprising: a ninth step of transmitting the recorded voice content of a voice actor received at a voice providing service device to a requesting main device of a requester via a communication line such as the Internet.   In the second step, voice actors that utter text data based on designation information such as proper nouns, gender, voice quality, language, etc. of voice actors received from the client apparatus are selected from voice actors registered in the voice actor table in advance. 6. The audio content providing method according to claim 5, wherein the audio content providing method is selected.   In the second step, a voice actor that utters text data based on information of the client's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment received from the client apparatus is selected from voice actors registered in the voice actor table in advance. 6. The audio content providing method according to claim 5, wherein the audio content providing method is selected.   In the second to fourth steps and the seventh and eighth steps, a cellular phone is used as a voice actor terminal device to receive text data, transmit audio content for trial listening, and transmit recorded audio content. The audio content providing method according to claim 5, wherein the audio content is provided.   9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: a tenth step of charging the request source for a usage fee of the recorded audio content after transmitting the recorded audio content of the voice actor to the requesting main apparatus. The audio content providing method according to one item. Voice content that consists of a client device used by a client, a terminal device used by a voice actor, and a voice providing service device that provides a voice content providing service. Audio content providing system provided to the client via a communication line such as
Voice providing service device
First means for receiving sentence data corresponding to the audio content required by the requester from the requester apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet, and voice actors for uttering the received sentence data are registered in advance in the voice actor table. A second means for selecting the voice actor from the voice actor terminal device, and transmitting the text data to be spoken to the selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet; and the sentence data uttered by the voice actor from the voice actor terminal device. Third means for receiving the corresponding audio content via a communication line such as the Internet, and fourth means for transmitting the voice content of the voice actor received from the voice actor terminal device to the requesting main apparatus of the request source via the communication line such as the Internet. With the means of
A fifth means for receiving text data from the requester and transmitting it to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and a voice content of the text data from the voice providing service device on the Internet. And 6th means for receiving via the communication line of
The voice actor terminal device receives seventh voice data received from the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet, and voice content uttered by the voice actor for the received text data. An audio content providing system comprising: an eighth means for transmitting to a device via a communication line such as the Internet. The requesting apparatus further comprises means for transmitting designation information such as a proper name of a voice actor that pronounces sentence data, gender, voice quality, language,
The second means of the voice providing service device pre-registers in the voice actor table a voice actor that utters sentence data based on the designation information such as the proper noun, gender, voice quality, language, etc. of the voice actor received from the client main device. 11. The audio content providing system according to claim 10, wherein the voice content is selected from voice actors. The client apparatus further comprises means for transmitting information on the client's business type, usage of audio content, and usage environment,
The second means of the voice providing service device is pre-registered in the voice actor table for a voice actor that utters text data based on information of the client's business type, usage of voice content, and usage environment received from the client main device. The audio content providing system according to claim 10, wherein the voice content is selected from voice actors.   13. The voice providing service device further comprises billing means for billing the request source for the usage fee of the voice content after the voice content of the voice actor is transmitted to the request source device of the request source. The audio content providing system according to any one of the above. A requester device used by a client, a terminal device used by a voice actor, and a voice providing service device that provides a voice content providing service. An audio content providing system mainly provided via a communication line such as the Internet,
Voice providing service device
A first means for receiving text data corresponding to the audio content required by the requester from the requester apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet, and a voice actor in which voice actors for speaking the received text data are registered in the voice actor table in advance. A second means for transmitting text data to be uttered to the selected terminal device of one or more voice actors via a communication line such as the Internet, and the voice actors from the one or more voice actor terminal devices. The third means for receiving the voice content of the sentence data uttered by the voice via a communication line such as the Internet and the voice content for audition of the voice actor received from the terminal device of one or more voice actors as one set The fourth means for transmitting to the client main apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet, and selection of audio content for viewing the voice actor selected by the client Based on the information, a fifth means for transmitting the voice data recording request to the selected voice actor terminal device via a communication line such as the Internet, and the sentence from the voice actor terminal device or other device requested to record. Receiving a recorded audio content of the data via a communication line such as the Internet, and transmitting the content to the requesting main apparatus of the request source via a communication line such as the Internet,
A seventh means for receiving text data from the requester and transmitting the text data to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as a Web; and voice content corresponding to the text data from the voice providing service device. An eighth means for receiving via a communication line such as the Internet; a ninth means for producing the received audio content of one or more voice actors for trial listening; and one or more audio contents for the produced trial listening. Tenth means for transmitting selection information of the voice content of the voice actor selected by the client from among the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet,
The voice actor's terminal device receives eleventh means for receiving text data from the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet, and voice content produced by the voice actor for the received text data. A twelfth means for transmitting the content to the voice providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet; and receiving a voice recording request for the text data from the voice providing service device; An audio content providing system comprising: a thirteenth means for transmitting to a providing service device via a communication line such as the Internet.   15. The voice providing service device further comprises billing means for billing the request source for the usage fee of the recorded voice content after transmitting the voice actor's recorded voice content to the requesting master device. The audio content providing system described in 1.

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