JP2006030464A - Audio output device, character image display device, audio output method and character image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To let various users listen to audio information in such a way that they may be interested. <P>SOLUTION: An audio output device 100 comprises; an object information acquiring section 102 for acquiring object explanation information including information about an attribute of an object located in the neighborhood; and an audio output section 110 for audio-outputting the explanation information of the object by a language with which such a type of human being is assumed to speak, when the object is personified based on the information about the attribute and set to a predetermined type of human being. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio output device, a character image display device, an audio output method, and a character image display method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a voice guidance device that reproduces explanatory information on exhibits in an art museum or the like is known.

In Patent Document 1, an identification information generating device that generates identification information for identifying an exhibit as a wireless signal is arranged near an exhibit to be described so that a user can carry and move the playback device. The configured system is described. The reproducing apparatus stores the description information about the exhibit corresponding to the identification information detected by the storage means storing the description information about the plurality of exhibits, the reception circuit that detects the identification information of the radio signal, and the reception circuit. It has a selection circuit for selecting from the storage means, and an output means for outputting the selected explanation information by a user's operation. As a result, it is possible to realize a reduction in labor costs and user satisfaction by reducing the number of explainers.
JP-A-5-333799

  By using the voice guidance device as described above, the user can hear the explanation of the exhibit at an art museum or a museum, and can know information on the exhibit. However, the conventional voice guidance device only unilaterally explained the exhibition. For this reason, it is convenient for users who are interested in exhibits such as museums, but sometimes feels boring for children and users who are not very interested in exhibits.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an audio output device and a character image display device configured to allow various users to listen to audio information with interest. There is to do.

  According to the present invention, the description information acquisition unit that acquires the description information of the object including the information related to the attribute of the object located in the vicinity, and the type information that indicates the human type when the object is anthropomorphic based on the information related to the attribute An audio output device comprising: a type setting processing unit for setting an audio; and an audio output unit for outputting explanation information in words that are assumed to be spoken by a human of that type based on the type information Provided.

  Here, the information regarding the attribute includes, for example, the product name and name of the object, the date of manufacture, the country of production (production area), the function / use, the material, and the like. The predetermined type of human can be classified according to age or gender, or can be classified according to personality. For example, if the object is a new object, the type of the object is set as a child, and the voice output unit outputs the description information in a voice that the child speaks. Also, for example, if the object is an old object, the type of the object is set as an elderly person, and the voice output unit outputs the explanation information in a voice that the elderly person speaks. The information related to the attribute can also include information indicating the type of the object itself.

  The explanation information acquisition unit can acquire the explanation information of the object from, for example, the object or an information storage device arranged in the vicinity of the object. The audio output device acquires object identification information from the object or an information storage device arranged in the vicinity of the object, and the description information acquisition unit receives the object description information from another device based on the identification information. It can also be acquired. In this case, the information storage device may be an IC tag such as an RFID. Furthermore, the audio output device can read identification information such as an object or a barcode arranged in the vicinity of the object, and can acquire object description information from another device based on the identification information.

  Furthermore, the description information acquisition unit may be configured to recognize a material constituting the object by contacting the object. In this case, for example, the type of the object can be set according to the material of the material constituting the object. For example, if the object is a soft object, the type of the object is set as a gentle person, and the audio output unit outputs the explanation information in an easy word. For example, if the object is a hard object, the type of the object is set as a serious person, and the sound output unit outputs the description information in a sound with sound.

  As described above, according to the audio output device of the present invention, since the type of the object differs according to the information related to the attribute of the object, the user can feel as if he / she is listening to the voice of the object itself. , You can listen to the explanation information of the object with interest.

  The voice output device of the present invention determines, for each type, a word storage unit that stores words that are expected to be spoken by a human of that type in association with the type, and contents of explanation information output by the voice output unit And a reading processing unit that reads words from the word storage unit that correspond to the content of the explanation information and that is associated with the type of the object, and that is spoken by a human of that type, The voice output unit can output the words read by the reading processing unit.

  The voice output device of the present invention can further include a description information storage unit that stores the description information of the object related to the item for each predetermined item in association with the item, and the reading processing unit includes the word storage unit When the desired word is read out, and there is a portion to which the explanation information of the object related to any of the items is added in the read word, the explanation associated with the corresponding item from the explanation information storage unit Information may be read and a sentence may be created by combining the word and the explanation information, and the voice output unit can output the sentence created by the read processing unit as a voice.

  The reading processing unit determines whether or not there is a portion to which the description information of the object is added in the words read from the word information storage unit. For example, when the word “yes, yes” is read out, and there is no place to add the object description information, the reading processing unit notifies the voice output unit of the word as it is. In this case, the voice output unit outputs the word “Yes, that is right” as a voice. In addition, when the name of the object, which is the object description information, has to be added to the part of “XX”, for example “I am“ XX ””, the read processing unit is the description information storage unit To read the name of the object. The reading processing unit adds the name of the object, for example, “whiteboard” to “XX” of “I am“ XX ””, and creates a sentence “I am a whiteboard”. In this case, the voice output unit outputs the sentence “I am a whiteboard” as a voice.

  In this way, even when the description information of the object corresponding to the same item is output as a sound, the sound is output as a different sentence according to the type of the object. Thereby, the user can feel as if he / she is listening to the voice of the object itself, and can listen to the explanation information of the object with interest.

  In the audio output device of the present invention, the information related to the attribute can include information related to a human type when the object is anthropomorphized.

  The audio output device of the present invention can further include an attachment portion configured to be attachable to an object, and the explanation information acquisition unit can obtain explanation information of the object to which the attachment portion is attached.

  In this way, the user can feel as if he / she is listening to the explanation information directly from the object. This makes it possible to listen to the explanation information of the object with particular interest from children, the elderly and the like.

  In the audio output device of the present invention, the explanation information acquisition unit can acquire the explanation information of the object from the information storage unit attached to the object.

  In the audio output device of the present invention, the explanation information acquisition unit can be configured to be able to read explanation information wirelessly from the information storage unit attached to the object, and a plurality of objects each having the information storage unit attached thereto are in the vicinity. In this case, it is possible to read the information of the strongest information storage unit among the information storage units attached to the plurality of objects.

  In this way, even when a plurality of objects each having an information storage unit attached thereto are in the vicinity, the explanation information of the desired object is obtained by arranging the audio output unit at a position where the desired object is closest. can do.

  The audio output device of the present invention can further include an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information for identifying the object from the object, and the explanation information acquisition unit is based on the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, The description information of the object can be acquired from another device.

  In the audio output device of the present invention, the identification information acquisition unit can be configured to wirelessly read the identification information from the identification information storage unit attached to the object, and each of the plurality of objects to which the identification information storage unit is attached Can be read from the identification information storage unit having the strongest intensity among the identification information storage units attached to the plurality of objects.

  In this way, even when a plurality of objects each having an identification information storage unit attached thereto are in the vicinity, by arranging the audio output unit at a position where the desired object is closest, the identification information of the desired object can be obtained. Can be acquired.

  The audio output device of the present invention can further include a user information acquisition unit that acquires information about a user in the vicinity, and the audio output unit determines the user based on the information about the user acquired by the user information acquisition unit. In the case of classification into the following types, it is possible to output the description information of the object in speech with words that are assumed to be spoken by the type of person to whom the object is set.

  In this way, the user can feel more familiar. For example, when the user is a child or an elderly person, the voice output unit can output the explanation information in a voice that is easy to understand. In addition, when the user is an adult, the audio output unit can output, for example, a commercial related to an object.

  The audio output device of the present invention can further include a display unit that displays a character image, and the audio output unit can output the explanation information as a voice of the character image.

  Here, the audio output device can store a character image in advance. In this case, since the type of the character image differs depending on the information related to the attribute of the object, the user can listen to the description information of the object while enjoying the conversation with the character image.

  The voice output device of the present invention can further include a voice recognition unit that recognizes the user's voice, and the voice output unit can output a voice that responds to the user's voice recognized by the voice recognition unit.

  In this way, the user can feel as if he / she is talking to the object by using the audio output device, and can listen to the explanation information of the object with interest.

  According to the present invention, the display unit, the character information acquisition unit that acquires information about the attribute of the character image to be displayed on the display unit, and the type information indicating the type when the character image is anthropomorphized based on the information about the attribute. A character image display device comprising: a type setting processing unit to be set; and a voice output unit that outputs voice of a character image in words that are assumed to be spoken by a human of that type based on the type information Is provided.

  According to the character image display device of the present invention, since the type of the character image changes according to the information related to the attribute of the character image, the user can enjoy communication with the character image.

  The character image display device of the present invention can further include an image storage unit that stores information related to the character image.

  The character image display device stores information on the character image in the image storage unit in advance, and the character information acquisition unit newly acquires only information on the attribute of the character image, and information on the attribute of the newly acquired character image The character image types can be made different based on the above. In this way, since the character image type varies from time to time, the user can enjoy communication with the character image without getting bored.

  In the character image display device of the present invention, the character information acquisition unit can acquire information on the character image and the attributes of the character image.

  Here, for example, when identification information is attached to a product sold in a store or the like and the product purchaser transmits the identification information to a predetermined center, a character image and a character image are displayed on the character image display device according to the identification information. Information regarding the attribute of the character image may be transmitted. In this way, the purchaser is expected to purchase the product in order to obtain the desired type of character image, and the product can be promoted.

  The character image display device of the present invention can further include a voice recognition unit that recognizes the user's voice, and the voice output unit can output a voice in response to the user's voice recognized by the voice recognition unit. .

  In this way, the user can feel as if he / she is talking with the character image by using the character image display device.

  According to the present invention, using the audio output device including the explanation information acquisition unit, the type setting processing unit, and the audio output unit, the explanation information acquisition unit includes information on the attribute of the object located in the vicinity. A step of acquiring object description information, a step of setting a type information indicating a human type when the type setting processing unit anthropomorphizes the object based on information about the attribute, and a voice output unit including the type information A speech output method characterized in that it includes the step of outputting the description information in speech in words that are expected to be spoken by that type of person.

  According to the present invention, a character image displayed on a display unit by a character information acquisition unit using a character image display device including a display unit, a character information acquisition unit, a type setting processing unit, and an audio output unit. A step of acquiring information related to the attribute, a step in which the type setting processing unit sets type information indicating a type when the character image is anthropomorphized based on the information on the attribute, and a voice output unit is based on the type information And a step of outputting a sound of the character image in words assumed to be spoken by that type of human being.

  According to the present invention, in a voice output device and a character image display device, various users can listen to voice information with interest by outputting voices with different ways of speaking.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
The audio output device according to the present embodiment acquires descriptive information including information related to the attribute of the object from the information storage device attached to the object, and anthropomorphizes the object based on the information related to the attribute to obtain a predetermined type. When set to human, the description information of the object is output as a voice in a language that is expected to be spoken by that type of human. For example, if the object is new, the object type is set to child. When the object is old, the type of the object is set to old.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio output device according to the present embodiment.
The audio output device 100 includes an object information acquisition unit 102, a user information acquisition unit 104, a type setting processing unit 106, a setting information storage unit 108, an audio output unit 110, an acquisition information storage unit 111, a response example storage unit 112, and a response reading process. Unit 114 and voice recognition unit 116.

  The sound output device 100 may be anything as long as it has a sound output function. For example, a mobile phone terminal having the following functions may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the object 200 includes an object information storage unit 202 that stores object description information. The object information storage unit 202 is an information storage device such as an RFID. The object information acquisition unit 102 acquires the description information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 202. Here, the description information includes, for example, information related to the attributes of the object, such as the product name and name of the object 200, the date of manufacture, the country of production (production place), and the function / use. The object information acquisition unit 102 stores the acquired description information in the acquisition information storage unit 111.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the acquired information storage unit 111. Here, as the description information of the object 200, “whiteboard”, “2004/6” are associated with items such as “name”, “production date”, “production country”, and “function” of the object 200, respectively. / 1 "," Taiwan ", and" Printer "are stored. The object information storage unit 202 of the object 200 can store the description information of the object 200 in association with the items as described above. Further, when the description information acquired from the object information storage unit 202 is not associated with an item, the object information acquisition unit 102 extracts information corresponding to each item from the description information, and acquires the information associated with the item. It can also be stored in the storage unit 111.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the object information acquisition unit 102 can acquire the description information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 202, for example, wirelessly. When the object information acquisition unit 102 wirelessly acquires the information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 202, when there are a plurality of other objects to which the object information storage unit is attached, the object information acquisition unit 102 Of the object information storage units attached to a plurality of objects, the information of the strongest object information storage unit can be read. Further, the audio output device 100 itself is attached to the object 200, and the object information acquisition unit 102 and the object information storage unit 202 are electrically connected to acquire the description information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 202 by wire. It can also be.

  The user information acquisition unit 104 acquires information about the user. The information regarding the user is, for example, the age and sex of the user.

  The type setting processing unit 106 refers to the setting information storage unit 108 based on the description information of the object 200 acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 and the information about the user acquired by the user information acquisition unit 104, and sets the type of the object. I do. Different types are associated with the setting information storage unit 108 according to the attribute of the object 200 and the type of user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the setting information storage unit 108.
The setting information storage unit 108 holds a type ID in association with the type of the object 200 and the user. Here, the type of the object 200 is classified according to whether the object 200 is old or new. Whether the object 200 is old or new can be determined based on the date of manufacture of the object 200, for example. The type of user can be classified according to whether the user is a child, an adult, or an elderly person. The classification of the user can be determined based on the age of the user, for example.

  For example, if the object 200 is old and the user is a child, the type setting processing unit 106 sets the type when the object 200 is anthropomorphic to “1”. The type “1” is an elderly person who talks with, for example, a grandchild.

  When the object 200 is new and the user is a child, the type setting processing unit 106 sets the type when the object 200 is anthropomorphic to “4”. The type “4” is, for example, a child who talks with a child's friend.

  When the object 200 is new and the user is an elderly person, the type setting processing unit 106 sets the type when the object 200 is anthropomorphic to “6”. Type “6” is, for example, a grandchild who talks with grandparents.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the voice recognition unit 116 acquires a question from the user as a voice signal and performs voice recognition. In addition, the voice recognition unit 116 notifies the response read processing unit 114 of the words resulting from the voice recognition.

  The response example storage unit 112 stores a plurality of response examples for various questions from the user. In the present embodiment, the response example storage unit 112 holds a plurality of response examples for each response example in association with the type ID.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part of the internal configuration of the response example storage unit 112. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a response example when the audio output device 100 introduces the object 200 by itself. For example, when the type of the object 200 is set to any of 4, 5, or 6, the word “I am <name>” is stored in association with the type ID as a self-introduction. When the type of the object 200 is set to 1, 2, or 3, the word “I am <name>” is stored in association with the type ID as a self-introduction. In addition, the response example storage unit 112 can also store a word “I am <name>” as a standard when the type of the object 200 is not set. When the type of the object 200 cannot be set or when a standard is selected according to a user instruction, the response read processing unit 114 reads a word associated with “standard” from the response example storage unit 112. Here, in the <name> portion, the name of the object 200 of the description information acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 from the object information storage unit 202 is entered.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the response read processing unit 114 determines the content of the words to be read from the response example storage unit 112 based on the words notified from the voice recognition unit 116.

  For example, when the user asks “What is your name?”, The response read processing unit 114 determines to read the self-introduction of the object 200 from the response example storage unit 112. At this time, if the type of the object 200 has already been set, the response read processing unit 114 reads the response example associated with the corresponding type ID.

  The response read processing unit 114 also refers to the acquired information storage unit 111 when it is necessary to add information related to the item of the description information of the object 200 to the words read from the response example storage unit 112. The description information of the object 200 associated with the item to be read is read out. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the response read processing unit 114 reads the word “I am <name>”, and includes an item <name>. The response read processing unit 114 reads, for example, explanation information “whiteboard” associated with the name from the acquired information storage unit 111. The response read processing unit 114 creates a sentence “I am a whiteboard” by combining “I am <name>” and “whiteboard”.

  The voice output unit 110 outputs the words read by the response read processing unit 114 or the sentences created by the response read processing unit 114 as voices.

  The type setting processing unit 106 can determine whether the object 200 is old or new according to the elapsed time from the date of manufacture of the object 200 to the present. Here, it is assumed that the type setting processing unit 106 has determined that the object 200 is new. The type set by the type setting processing unit 106 differs depending on the type of user, but in the example shown in FIG. In this case, the response read processing unit 114 reads the word “I am <name>” from the response example storage unit 112 as a response example when the audio output device 100 introduces the object 200 by itself. In addition, the response reading processing unit 114 reads the word “whiteboard” corresponding to <name> from the acquired information storage unit 111. The response readout processing unit 114 combines these to create a sentence “I am a whiteboard” as an example of a response when the audio output device 100 introduces the object 200. The sound output unit 110 outputs a sound “I am a whiteboard”.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure in which the audio output device 100 outputs the description information of the object 200 as audio.
When there is a voice output instruction from the user (YES in S100), the object information acquisition unit 102 acquires description information from the object information storage unit 202 of the object 200 (S102). Subsequently, the user information acquisition unit 104 acquires information about the user (S104). Information about the user is acquired by, for example, asking the user “What is your age?” From the audio output unit 110 in a state before the type of the object 200 is set, and letting the user answer the question. can do.

  The type setting processing unit 106 sets the type of the object 200 based on the description information of the object 200 acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 and the information about the user acquired by the user information acquisition unit 104 (S106).

  Thereafter, the voice recognition unit 116 recognizes the inquiry from the user, and the response read processing unit 114 reads the response to the inquiry from the acquired information storage unit 111 and the response example storage unit 112. At this time, the response read processing unit 114 reads the response associated with the type ID set in step S106 from the response example storage unit 112. The response read processing unit 114 creates a response to the user by combining the response example read from the response example storage unit 112 and the explanation information read from the acquired information storage unit 111. The voice output unit 110 outputs the response created by the response read processing unit 114 as a voice, whereby a dialogue with the user is performed (S108).

  If there is an end instruction from the user (YES in S110), this process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a procedure in which the audio output device 100 outputs the description information of the object 200 as audio.
Similarly to the case illustrated in FIG. 5, when a voice output instruction is issued from the user (YES in S120), the object information acquisition unit 102 acquires the description information from the object information storage unit 202 of the object 200 (S122). Here, the type setting processing unit 106 sets a temporary primary type based on the description information acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 (S124). Next, the user information acquisition unit 104 acquires information about the user (S126). Here, the information about the user is the primary type set in step S124, and is obtained by asking the user such as “What is your age?” From the audio output unit 110 and letting the user answer. can do.

  Thereafter, the type setting processing unit 106 sets the type of the object 200 based on the description information of the object 200 acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 and the information about the user acquired by the user information acquisition unit 104 (S128).

  Thereafter, the same processing as Step S108 and Step S110 described in FIG. 5 is performed (S130 and S132).

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the audio output device 100 when the audio output device 100 described above is attached to the object 200. Here, the object 200 is a whiteboard. An object information storage unit 202 is attached to the object 200. The audio output device 100 is configured to be electrically connected to the object information storage unit 202.

  The audio output device 100 acquires the description information from the object information storage unit 202 in the procedure described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the object (whiteboard) 200 is new. The audio output device 100 sets the type of the object 200 to a child.

Here, a case where the user is also a child will be described as an example.
When the user asks something, the voice recognition unit 116 of the voice output device 100 acquires the question from the user as a voice signal and performs voice recognition. The response read processing unit 114 reads a response to the user's inquiry from the response example storage unit 112 according to the voice recognition result of the voice recognition unit 116. Here, since the response example is stored in the response example storage unit 112 in association with the type ID, the response read processing unit 114 stores the type of response example when the object 200 is a child. Read from unit 112. Further, when it is necessary to include the description information of the object 200 in the read response example, the response read processing unit 114 reads the corresponding information with reference to the acquisition information storage unit 111, and the response example storage unit A response example is generated together with the response example read from 112.

  For example, when the user asks “What is your name?”, The response readout processing unit 114 determines to introduce itself according to the speech recognition result of the speech recognition unit 116. The response read processing unit 114 reads the response example of the self-introduction associated with the set type ID from the response example storage unit 112. Here, the response read processing unit 114 reads a response example “I am <name>”. Since the <name> portion is descriptive information of the object 200, the response read processing unit 114 reads “whiteboard” corresponding to <name> from the acquired information storage unit 111. The response read processing unit 114 combines these to create a sentence “I am a whiteboard”. The sound output unit 110 outputs a sound “I am a whiteboard”.

  Similarly, the voice recognition unit 116 recognizes an inquiry from the user, the response read processing unit 114 reads the response to the user, and the voice output unit 110 repeats the process of outputting the voice. For example, when the user utters words such as “I should stop drawing”, the speech recognition unit 116 recognizes the words, and the response read processing unit 114 responds to the acquired information storage unit 111 and the response example. A response example is read from the storage unit 112. The audio output unit 110 outputs, for example, audio such as “Please erase properly after drawing”. When the user utters a word such as “I'm gone”, the voice output unit 110 outputs a voice such as “Bye-bye, let's play again” by the same processing.

  When the whiteboard has a printing function, the response read processing unit 114 reads out the response example from the acquired information storage unit 111 and the response example storage unit 112. For example, the voice output unit 110 reads “I am amazing. You can print out what you've written. " When this whiteboard is made in Taiwan, the audio output unit 110 outputs audio introducing the production place such as “I am from Taiwan”.

  As described above, according to the audio output device 100 in the present embodiment, when the object 200 to be explained is anthropomorphic and set to a predetermined type of human, it is assumed that the human of that type speaks. The explanation information of the object 200 is output as speech. Therefore, the user can feel as if talking with the object 200. In addition, since the type of the object 200 changes according to the type of user, the user can have a friendly conversation. Thereby, the information about the object 200 can be acquired without a child, an elderly person, etc. getting bored. In addition, the audio output device 100 according to the present embodiment can be used when a child learns about an object or a thing related thereto. In such a case, by using the audio output device 100, it is possible to obtain knowledge about an object and a thing related to it with an interest of the child.

(Second embodiment)
The audio output device according to the present embodiment is the first in that it acquires the identification information of the object from the information storage device attached to the object, and acquires the description information of the object from another device based on the identification information. It differs from the audio output device in one embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the audio output device according to this embodiment.
Audio output apparatus 100 in the present embodiment further includes an object identification information acquisition unit 118 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the object 200 includes an object identification information storage unit 204 that stores object identification information. The object identification information storage unit 204 may be an information storage device such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or an IC tag.

  The object information storage unit 300 stores the description information of the object in association with the identification information of the object. The object information storage unit 300 can be, for example, a server that holds identification information of a plurality of objects and explanation information of these objects in association with each other.

  The object identification information acquisition unit 118 can acquire the identification information of the object 200 from the object identification information storage unit 204, for example, wirelessly or by wire. The object identification information acquisition unit 118 can wirelessly acquire the object 200 from the object identification information storage unit 204. When a plurality of other objects to which the object identification information storage unit is attached are nearby, the object identification information acquisition unit 118 includes an object identification information storage unit attached to each of the plurality of objects. Among them, it can be configured to read the information in the object identification information storage unit having the strongest strength. The object information acquisition unit 102 acquires the description information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 300 based on the identification information of the object 200 acquired by the object identification information acquisition unit 118.

  Since other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for notifying the user of the description information of the object 200 using the audio output device 100 according to the present embodiment.
When there is a voice output instruction from the user (YES in S140), the object identification information acquisition unit 118 acquires the identification information of the object 200 from the object identification information storage unit 204 of the object 200 (S142). Subsequently, the object information acquisition unit 102 acquires the description information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 300 based on the identification information acquired by the object identification information acquisition unit 118 (S144).

  Thereafter, the same processing as Step S104 to Step S110 described in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment is performed (S146 to S152).

  In the first embodiment, the same processing as in steps S124 to S132 described in FIG. 6 may be performed (not shown).

  As described above, the audio output device 100 according to the present embodiment can provide the same effects as those of the audio output device 100 according to the first embodiment. In addition, by holding the object information storage unit 300 in an external server, it is easy to update the description information of the object stored in the object information storage unit 300, and the information can be updated as appropriate.

(Third embodiment)
The audio output device according to the present embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that it further includes a storage unit that stores information relating to the user in association with the identification information of the user. As a result, when the user has heard explanation information about any item in the past, the user can provide more detailed information or new information, or interact with the user according to the degree of intimacy Can do. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the audio output device 100 according to the present embodiment.
The audio output device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a user recognition unit 120 and a user information storage unit 122 in place of the user information acquisition unit 104 of the audio output device 100 shown in FIG.

  The user information storage unit 122 stores information about the user. Information about the user includes, for example, a user ID, age, sex, name, and the like. Here, the user ID may be a character string or numeric string unique to the user, user face image data, voice data, or the like. Further, the user information storage unit 122 can store a history when the user has heard the explanation information of any object 200 in the past in association with the user ID.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the user information storage unit 122.
The user information storage unit 122 includes a user ID column, an age column, a gender column, a name column, and a history column. The user information storage unit 122 stores information related to the user such as the user's age, sex, and name, and identification information of an object that the user has heard of explanation information in the past, in association with the user ID. In addition, the user information storage unit 122 stores information regarding how the user has interacted with the object in the past, and numerical values indicating the familiarity between the object and the user, in association with the object identification information. You can also Here, an example is shown in which the intimacy between the object and the user is digitized. The higher the number, the higher the familiarity.

  For example, the user with the user ID “0001” has an age of 5 years, a gender of male, and a name of Taro. This user has heard the explanation information of the object with the object ID 0001 or the object ID 0005 in the past using the audio output device 100. The closeness between the user and the object with the object ID 0001 is “2”, and the closeness with the object with the object ID 0005 is “4”.

  For example, the user with the user ID “0003” has an age of 25, a gender of female, and a name of Hana. This user has heard the description information of the object having the object ID 0005 in the past using the audio output device 100. The closeness between the user and the object with the object ID 0005 is “1”. The intimacy can be set according to, for example, the number of times the user accessed the object, the time, and the like.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the user recognizing unit 120 acquires information about the user, similar to the user information acquiring unit 104 (see FIG. 8, etc.). The user recognition unit 120 refers to the user information storage unit 122 and performs processing for recognizing the user of the audio output device 100. When the user ID is face image data, the user recognition unit 120 can include, for example, a camera, and matches the user's face image data captured by the camera with the face image data stored in the user information storage unit 122. Thus, the user can be recognized. The user recognition unit 120 can also recognize the user by matching the user's voice data input from the voice recognition unit 116 with the voice data stored in the user information storage unit 122. In addition, the user can be recognized by inputting the user ID and comparing the user ID with the user ID stored in the user information storage unit 122.

  When the information about the user is not stored in the user information storage unit 122, the user recognition unit 120 assigns a new user ID, assuming that the user is a new user, and sends the information about the user to the user recognition unit 120. Remember.

  When information about a user is stored in the user information storage unit 122, the user recognition unit 120 reads out information about the user from the user information storage unit 122 and notifies the type setting processing unit 106.

  As described in the first embodiment, the response example storage unit 112 stores a response example in association with each type for each of a plurality of types. In the present embodiment, the response example storage unit 112 further stores a response example in association with each type for each of a plurality of types classified according to the familiarity between the user and the object. The setting information storage unit 108 holds a type ID in association with the type of the object and the user and the closeness between the object and the user. The type setting processing unit 106 refers to the setting information storage unit 108 based on the description information of the object 200 acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 and the information about the user read from the user information storage unit 122, and the type of the object. Set up.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for notifying the user of the description information of the object 200 using the audio output device 100.
When there is a voice output instruction from the user (YES in S160), the object identification information acquisition unit 118 acquires the identification information of the object 200 from the object identification information storage unit 204 of the object 200 (S162). Subsequently, the object information acquisition unit 102 acquires the description information of the object 200 from the object information storage unit 300 based on the identification information acquired by the object identification information acquisition unit 118 (S164).

  The user recognition unit 120 acquires information about the user (S166). The user recognition unit 120 refers to the user information storage unit 122 and determines whether information about the user has already been stored (S168). When the user is new (YES in S168), the user recognition unit 120 assigns a user ID to the user (S170). Here, the user ID may be notified to the user, or simply a process of storing a new user ID item in the user information storage unit 122 may be performed.

  In step S168, when the user is not new (NO in S168), the user recognition unit 120 reads out information related to the user from the user information storage unit 122 based on the user ID and the like. In this case, since the user's age, sex, etc. are already known, it is possible to proceed to the next step without asking the user.

  Subsequently, the type setting processing unit 106 sets the type of the object 200 based on the description information of the object 200 acquired by the object information acquisition unit 102 and the information about the user acquired by the user recognition unit 120 (S174). Further, in the present embodiment, the type setting processing unit 106 refers to the user information storage unit 122 to acquire information on the relationship between the user and the object 200, and based on the information, the type setting of the object 200 Set.

  Thereafter, the voice recognition unit 116 recognizes the question from the user, the response read processing unit 114 reads the response to the question from the acquired information storage unit 111 and the response example storage unit 112, and the voice output unit 110 outputs the voice. Thus, a dialogue with the user is performed (S176).

  When there is an end instruction from the user (YES in S178), the response read processing unit 114 updates the user information storage unit 122 (S180). The response read processing unit 114 can update the numerical value of the familiarity between the object 200 and the user according to the number of times the user has interacted with the object 200 via the audio output device 100, the time, and the like. In addition, in step S176, the response read processing unit 114 can store the dialog contents in the user information storage unit 122 while the user is performing the dialog.

  According to the audio output device 100 in the present embodiment, since the type of the object 200 is set according to the relationship between the user and the object 200, the user can have a more friendly dialogue. When the audio output device 100 according to the present embodiment is used for learning of a child, the child can learn more about an object and a thing related to it with more interest.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the example of the sound output device in which the type of sound to be output changes according to the description information of the object has been described. However, the present embodiment includes a display unit that displays a character image. An example of a character image display device will be described. The character image display device in the present embodiment has the same function as the sound output device described in the above embodiment, and can output sound. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, the type of the character image displayed on the display unit changes according to the attribute information of the object. In this way, the user can listen to the explanation as if the character image explained the object. Further, since the type of the character image changes according to the information regarding the attribute of the object and the type of the user, the user can have a friendly conversation.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character image display device in the present embodiment.

  The character image display device 130 includes an object information acquisition unit 102, a user information acquisition unit 104, a type setting processing unit 106, a setting information storage unit 108, a voice output unit 110, an acquisition information storage unit 111, a response example storage unit 112, and voice recognition. Unit 116, object identification information acquisition unit 118, display unit 132, character image information storage unit 134, and character formation processing unit 136.

  The character image display device 130 may be anything as long as it has an audio output function and can display a character image. For example, a mobile phone terminal having the following functions may be used.

  The character image information storage unit 134 stores information related to the character image displayed on the display unit 132. The character image information storage unit 134 can store a character image for each of a plurality of types. For example, when the type of the object 200 is a child, a character image wearing children's clothes is stored. In addition, when the type of the object 200 is an elderly person, a character image having wrinkles on the face of the character image is stored.

  The character formation processing unit 136 reads out a response example and a character image corresponding to the type set by the type setting processing unit 106 from the response example storage unit 112 and the character image information storage unit 134.

  The character image information storage unit 134 can store a character image in advance. For example, the object information acquisition unit 102 can acquire a character image.

  According to character image display device 130 in the present embodiment, the type of character image displayed on display unit 132 changes according to the attribute information of object 200. In this way, the user can listen to the explanation as if the character image explained the object. Further, since the type of the character image changes according to the information regarding the attribute of the object and the type of the user, the user can have a friendly conversation.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the character image display device has the same configuration as the character image display device 130 described in the fourth embodiment. The character image is set to a predetermined type based on information related to the attribute associated with the identification information attached to the object.

Such an example will be described below.
For example, when a product is purchased at a store or the like, a toy bonus or the like may follow. Similarly, in the present embodiment, identification information is attached to a product, and based on the identification information, information regarding the character image and the attribute of the character image may be given to the purchaser. it can.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the character image and information regarding the attribute of the character image are transmitted to the purchaser based on the identification information attached to the product. Here, the character image display device 130 is a mobile phone.

  A purchaser who purchases a beverage 400 (object 200) containing a plastic bottle at a store or the like receives the product ID 402 attached to the plastic bottle via the mobile phone 404 (character image display device 130) and the object information storage unit 300 (FIG. 13). Reference) is transmitted to the center 406 that holds the information. From the center 406, the character image set according to the product ID 402 and information related to the attribute of the character image are transmitted to the mobile phone 404.

  The product ID 402 may be a character string, a number string, or the like. In this case, the purchaser inputs the character string or the number string into the mobile phone 404 and transmits it to the center 406. The product ID 402 can also be a two-dimensional barcode. In this case, the purchaser can take the product ID 402 using the camera function of the mobile phone 404 and send the image to the center 406. it can. The product ID 402 may be any product as long as it can identify the product. In addition, the product ID 402 is covered in some way when the product is arranged so that the unpurchased person does not send the product ID 402 to the center 406 before the product is purchased. It is preferable to keep it.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a character image acquired by the purchaser. A character image set in accordance with the product ID 402 is displayed on the display unit 408 of the mobile phone 404.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 15A, “Nico Nico Bear” is displayed. The mobile phone 404 also acquires information regarding the attribute of “Nico Nico Bear” along with the image of “Nico Nico Bear”.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15B, “Angel bear” is displayed. For example, even for the same product, it can be set so that an unusual character image such as “Angel Bear” or “Ijiwaru Bear” can be obtained at a ratio of one to several tens. Thereby, a purchase intention of a purchaser can be raised.

  In the above example, when the user transmits the product ID attached to the product to the center, the mobile phone describes an example of acquiring information on the character image and its attribute. However, if the same product is purchased multiple times, Only the information related to the attribute of the character image is sent, and the character image can be changed in character.

  According to character image display device 130 in the present embodiment, consumers' willingness to purchase can be increased.

  The constituent elements of the audio output device 100 and the character image display device 130 described in the first to fifth embodiments are the constituent elements of this figure loaded in the CPU, memory, and memory of an arbitrary computer. And a storage unit such as a hard disk for storing the program, and an interface for network connection, which are realized by an arbitrary combination of hardware and software. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications to the implementation method and apparatus. Each figure described above shows a functional unit block, not a hardware unit configuration.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, these are the illustrations of this invention, Various structures other than the above are also employable.

  In the second embodiment, the form in which the object identification information storage unit 204 such as an information storage device is attached to the object 200 has been described. However, the object 200 has a one-dimensional bar instead of the object identification information storage unit 204. Other identification information that can identify the object 200 such as a code or a two-dimensional barcode may be attached. In this case, the object identification information acquisition unit 118 can read the identification information using, for example, a camera function or input means. In this way, the description information of the object 200 can be acquired even using a terminal that does not have a reading function, such as an RFID or an IC tag.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the object information acquisition unit 102 passes the object information storage unit 300 from the object 200 to which the object information storage unit 202 is attached. Instead, the description information can be acquired from the object information storage unit 202 of the object 200.

  Further, the audio output device 100 and the character image display device 130 can be configured to recognize the material constituting the object 200 by contacting the object 200. In this case, the object 200 may be configured without the object information storage unit 202 and the object identification information storage unit 204.

  The voice output device 100 and the character image display device 130 can also have a foreign language voice output function and a translation processing function. For example, according to the country of production of the object 200, the voice is output in the language of the country of production. It can also be done.

  In the above embodiment, the voice output device 100 and the character image display device 130 are interactive. However, the voice output device 100 and the character image display device 130 only output a description. It can also be. Even in this case, when the explanation is output by voice, the explanation is given in different words depending on the type of the object, so that the user can listen to the explanation with interest.

  In the audio output device 100 and the character image display device 130, the level, tone, speed, and the like of the audio output by the audio output unit 110 may be changed according to the type of the object.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice output apparatus in embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of an internal structure of an acquisition information storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of a setting information storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of an internal structure of a response example memory | storage part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure in which an audio | voice output apparatus carries out the audio | voice output of the description information of an object. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the procedure in which an audio | voice output apparatus carries out the audio | voice output of the description information of an object. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of the audio | voice output apparatus at the time of attaching an audio | voice output apparatus to an object. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice output apparatus in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure in which an audio | voice output apparatus carries out the audio | voice output of the description information of an object. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice output apparatus in embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of an internal structure of a user information storage part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure in which the audio | voice output apparatus outputs the description information of an object by audio | voice. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the character image display apparatus in embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode that the information regarding the character image and the attribute of the character image is transmitted to a purchaser based on the identification information attached | subjected to goods. It is a figure which shows the character image which the purchaser acquired.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Audio | voice output apparatus 102 Object information acquisition part 104 User information acquisition part 106 Type setting process part 108 Setting information storage part 110 Voice output part 111 Acquisition information storage part 112 Response example storage part 114 Response reading process part 116 Voice recognition part 118 Object identification Information acquisition unit 120 User recognition unit 122 User information storage unit 130 Character image display device 132 Display unit 134 Character image information storage unit 136 Character formation processing unit 300 Object information storage unit 400 Beverage 402 Product ID
404 Mobile phone 406 Center 408 Display unit

Claims (20)

A description information acquisition unit for acquiring description information of the object including information on attributes of an object located in the vicinity;
A type setting processing unit that sets type information indicating a human type when the object is anthropomorphic based on the information about the attribute;
Based on the type information, a speech output unit that outputs the explanation information in a language that is supposed to be spoken by a human of that type;
An audio output device comprising: The audio output device according to claim 1,
A word storage unit that stores words that are assumed to be spoken by a person of that type for each type information, in association with the type information;
The content of the explanation information output by the voice output unit is determined, and the word corresponding to the content of the explanation information from the word storage unit and associated with the type information of the object. A readout processing unit for reading out words that humans are supposed to speak;
Further including
The voice output device, wherein the voice output unit outputs the words read by the read processing unit. The audio output device according to claim 2,
A description information storage unit that stores the description information of the object related to the item for each predetermined item in association with the item;
The reading processing unit reads out a desired word from the word storage unit, and when there is a place to add the description information of the object related to any of the items in the read word, the explanation information storage unit Read the explanation information associated with the corresponding item from, create a sentence combining the word and the explanation information,
The voice output device, wherein the voice output unit outputs a voice of the sentence created by the read processing unit. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The information on the attribute includes the type information,
The type information setting processing unit sets type information of the object based on the type information. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A mounting portion configured to be attachable to the object;
The audio output device, wherein the explanation information acquisition unit acquires the explanation information of an object to which the attachment unit is attached. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The audio output device, wherein the explanation information acquisition unit acquires the explanation information of the object from an information storage unit attached to the object. The audio output device according to claim 6,
The explanation information acquisition unit is configured to be able to read the explanation information wirelessly from the information storage unit attached to the object, and when the plurality of objects to which the information storage unit is attached are in the vicinity, An audio output device that reads information in the information storage unit having the strongest strength among the information storage units attached to a plurality of objects. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An identification information acquisition unit for acquiring identification information for identifying the object from the object;
The audio information output device, wherein the explanation information acquisition unit acquires the explanation information of the object from another device based on the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit. The audio output device according to claim 8, wherein
The identification information storage unit is configured to be able to read the identification information wirelessly from an identification information storage unit attached to the object, and when there are a plurality of objects each having the identification information storage unit attached thereto, An audio output apparatus that reads information of the identification information storage unit having the strongest intensity among the identification information storage units attached to the plurality of objects. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
It further includes a user information acquisition unit that acquires information about users in the vicinity,
The voice output unit, when the user is classified into a predetermined type based on information about the user acquired by the user information acquisition unit, the type of person set with the object is A voice output device that outputs the explanation information of the object in a voice that is supposed to be spoken. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A display unit for displaying a character image;
The voice output device, wherein the voice output unit outputs the explanation information as voice of the character image. The audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
A voice recognition unit for recognizing the user's voice;
The voice output device, wherein the voice output unit outputs a voice in response to a user voice recognized by the voice recognition unit. A display unit;
A character information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the attribute of the character image to be displayed on the display unit;
A type setting processing unit that sets type information indicating a type when the character image is anthropomorphized based on the information about the attribute;
Based on the type information, a voice output unit that outputs the voice of the character image in words that are supposed to be spoken by that type of human,
A character image display device comprising: The character image display device according to claim 13,
A character image display device, further comprising an image storage unit for storing information relating to the character image. The character image display device according to claim 13,
The character information acquisition unit acquires information about the character image and attributes of the character image. The character image display device according to any one of claims 13 to 15,
A voice recognition unit for recognizing the user's voice;
The character image display device, wherein the voice output unit outputs a voice in response to a user voice recognized by the voice recognition unit. Using an audio output device including an explanation information acquisition unit, a type setting processing unit, and an audio output unit,
The description information acquisition unit acquires description information of the object including information related to attributes of an object located in the vicinity;
The type setting processing unit setting type information indicating a human type when the object is anthropomorphic based on the information on the attribute;
The voice output unit, based on the type information, outputting the explanation information in a voice that is assumed to be spoken by a human of that type;
An audio output method comprising: Using a character image display device including a display unit, a character information acquisition unit, a type setting processing unit, and an audio output unit,
A character information obtaining unit obtaining information on attributes of a character image to be displayed on the display unit;
The type setting processing unit setting type information indicating a type when the character image is anthropomorphized based on the information on the attribute;
The voice output unit, based on the type information, outputting the voice of the character image in a word that is supposed to be spoken by a human of that type;
A character image display method comprising: Computer
Description information acquisition means for acquiring description information of the object including information related to attributes of an object located in the vicinity;
Type setting processing means for setting type information indicating a human type when the object is anthropomorphic based on information on the attribute;
Based on the type information, a voice output means for outputting the explanation information in a voice that is assumed to be spoken by a human of that type;
A program characterized by making it function. Computer
Character information acquisition means for acquiring information on the attribute of the character image to be displayed on the display unit;
Type setting processing means for setting type information indicating a type when the character image is anthropomorphized based on the information on the attribute;
Based on the type information, a voice output means for outputting the voice of the character image in a language that is assumed to be spoken by a human of that type;
A program characterized by making it function.

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