JP2009260585A - Acoustic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an acoustic system that has a variety of acoustic functions only by replacing function modules. <P>SOLUTION: The acoustic system 100 comprises at least one or more acoustic units 1 (1A to 1C) and one function module 2. The acoustic unit 1 is a device which functions as a sound emitting device, a sound collecting device, or a sound emitting and collecting device according to the function of the function modules 2 which is connected. The function module 2 is a device which has a sound signal processing function and is connected to the acoustic unit 1 to function. The acoustic unit 1B identifies the function of the function module 2 when detecting the connection with the function module 2, and determines acoustic functions of the acoustic units 1A to 1C according to an identification result. Further, the acoustic unit 1B acquires relative position relation among the acoustic units 1A to 1C and determines functions and sound emitting and collecting directivities of the sound emitting and collecting elements MS1 to MS6 corresponding to the relative position relation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an acoustic system comprising: an acoustic unit including a plurality of sound emission and collection elements that function as speakers or microphones; and a functional module having an audio signal processing function that functions by being connected to the acoustic unit. About.

  Conventionally, various acoustic systems including a speaker array including a plurality of speakers and a microphone array including a plurality of microphones have been proposed (Patent Document 1).

In the acoustic system of Patent Document 1, a plurality of speaker units each including a speaker array including a plurality of speakers are connected, and a sound emission function is realized by controlling the plurality of speaker units as one speaker array, and a plurality of microphones. A sound collecting function is realized by connecting a plurality of microphone units each having a microphone array and controlling the plurality of microphone units as one microphone array.
JP 2000-262416 A

  However, since the acoustic system of Patent Document 1 functions only as a sound emitting device and a sound collecting device, it is necessary to prepare a sound emitting device and a sound collecting device for each function required according to the connection device. It was.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sound emitting device, a sound collecting device, and an acoustic system that functions as a sound emitting and collecting device by automatically detecting a function required according to a connection device.

  The acoustic system of the present invention is an acoustic system including an acoustic unit and a functional module, wherein the acoustic unit functions as a speaker or a microphone, and a plurality of sound emission / collection sound collecting elements arranged in an array on a housing A sound emission / collection sound determining means for determining whether the plurality of elements for sound emission / collection sound function as a speaker or a microphone, a detection means for detecting connection with the functional module, and the detection means for detecting connection Identification means for identifying the function of the function module, and the sound emission / collection sound determination means of the acoustic unit determines functions of the plurality of sound emission / collection elements according to the function identified by the identification means It is characterized by that.

  In this configuration, the acoustic system includes an acoustic unit and a functional module. In the acoustic unit, a plurality of sound emission / collection elements that function as speakers or microphones are arranged in an array. When the acoustic unit detects the connection with the functional module, the acoustic unit identifies the function of the functional module. The acoustic unit determines whether a plurality of sound emission / collection elements are to function as a microphone or a speaker according to the identification result. Accordingly, the acoustic system can cause the acoustic unit to function as a sound emitting device, a sound collecting device, or a sound emitting and collecting device according to the function of the functional module. For this reason, an acoustic system can be provided with various acoustic functions, without replacing | exchanging an acoustic unit only by replacing | exchanging a functional module.

  In addition, a plurality of the acoustic units of the acoustic system of the present invention are provided, and a connection means for connecting the relative positional relationship with other acoustic units so as to be variable, and a relative relationship between the acoustic units connected by the connection means. And a voice control means for controlling the directivity of the sound emission signal and the sound pickup signal based on the fluctuation amount measured by the measurement means.

  In this configuration, the acoustic system is arranged so that the relative positional relationships of the plurality of acoustic units are variably connected. The acoustic unit measures a relative variation amount between the acoustic units, and controls the directivity of the sound emission signal and the sound collection signal based on the measured variation amount. Thereby, the sound system can set the sound emission directivity and the sound collection directivity only by changing the relative positional relationship of the sound units.

  Furthermore, the connection unit of the acoustic unit of the acoustic system of the present invention is characterized in that it is connected to other acoustic units so as to be rotatable.

  In this configuration, the acoustic system connects a plurality of acoustic units in a rotatable manner. Thereby, sound emission directivity and sound collection directivity can be set only by rotating an acoustic unit.

  Further, each of the plurality of acoustic units of the acoustic system of the present invention is set as a main unit or a sub unit, and the acoustic unit set as the main unit includes a variation amount measured by the measuring means of the own device, and the sub unit. The directivity for the sound emission signal and the sound collection signal is determined based on the fluctuation amount measured by the measurement unit of the acoustic unit set as.

  In this configuration, the acoustic unit is set as the main unit or the sub unit. The main unit determines the directivity of the sound emission signal and the sound collection signal based on the fluctuation amount between all the acoustic units. Thereby, the acoustic unit set as the main unit can control the directivity of all the acoustic units.

  According to the present invention, the acoustic system can be provided with various acoustic functions only by replacing the functional module without replacing the acoustic unit that functions as a speaker or a microphone.

  An acoustic system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an application example of an acoustic system. 1A is an example used as a recording device, FIG. 1B is an example used as an audio conference device, and FIG. 1C is an example used as an audio signal reproducing device. is there. In addition, in the paper surface of FIG. 1, after arrange | positioning each acoustic unit 1 on a straight line, the left direction toward the sound emission and collection surface of each acoustic unit 1 is called L direction, and the sound emission and collection surface of each acoustic unit 1 The right direction toward the direction is referred to as the R direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the acoustic system 100 (100A to 100C) includes at least one acoustic unit 1 (1A to 1C) and one functional module 2. Each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C is a device that functions as a sound emitting device, a sound collecting device, and a sound emitting and collecting device according to the function of the connected functional module 2. The functional module 2 is a device that has an audio signal processing function and functions when connected to the acoustic unit 1. The acoustic units 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C are connected by the connection unit 3.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the acoustic unit 1 functions as a sound collection device when connected to a functional module 2A having a recording function. Thereby, the acoustic system 100A can be used as a recording device. As shown in FIG. 1B, the acoustic unit 1 functions as a sound emission and collection device when connected to a functional module 2B having an audio conference function. Thereby, the acoustic system 100B can be used as an audio conference apparatus. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1C, the acoustic unit 1 functions as a sound emitting device when connected to a functional module 2C having an external input function of an audio file. Thus, the acoustic system 100C can be used as a sound signal reproducing device. As described above, the acoustic system 100 can be used as a device having various acoustic functions by replacing the functional module 2 without replacing the acoustic unit 1. The acoustic function is a general term for a sound emission function, a sound collection function, and a sound emission / collection function.

  Next, functions and configurations of the acoustic system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions and configurations of the acoustic system. FIG. 3 shows an example of the relative positional relationship database. FIG. 4 shows an example of a function switching database. FIG. 5 shows an example of a sound emission / collection sound database.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the acoustic unit 1 (1A to 1C) includes a communication control unit 10, a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an audio signal processing unit 13, a switching unit 14, and sound emission / collection elements MS1 to MS6. Prepare. Hereinafter, for simplification of description, the acoustic unit 1B connected to the functional module 2 is referred to as a main unit 1B, and the acoustic units 1A and 1C not connected to the functional module 2 are referred to as sub units 1A and 1C. Note that the acoustic unit 1 connected to the functional module 2 may be disposed anywhere. For example, the acoustic unit 1A disposed at the extreme end in the L direction may be connected to the functional module 2.

  The communication control unit 10 inputs and outputs audio signals, control signals, and the like with respect to the communication control unit 10 of another acoustic unit 1 connected by the connection unit 3. Moreover, if the communication control part 10 newly detects the connection with the other acoustic unit 1, it will calculate the number of connected acoustic units and will output to the main unit 1B. Furthermore, the communication control unit 10 includes a rotation amount detection unit 101 configured by an angle sensor such as a rotary encoder. The rotation amount detection unit 101 detects the rotation amount between itself and the acoustic unit 1 connected to the device, and outputs the detected rotation amount to the main unit 1B. From the above, the main unit 1B can acquire the rotation amount between the acoustic units 1A to 1C.

  Furthermore, in addition to the functions of the communication control unit 10 described above, the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B inputs and outputs audio signals, control signals, and the like to the functional module 2. When the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B detects the connection with the function module 2, it requests the function module 2 to output a function identification signal for identifying the function of the function module 2, and the function module 2 Obtain an identification signal. Further, the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B collects the sound with the highest signal level among the collected sound beam signal input from the audio signal processing unit 13 and the collected sound beam signals input from the sub units 1A and 1C. A beam signal is selected and output to the functional module 2. In addition, the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B outputs the sound emission sound signal input from the functional module 2 to the sound signal processing unit 13 of the own device and to the sub units 1A and 1C.

  The control unit 11 outputs a sound emission / collection instruction signal for instructing the functions of the sound emission / collection elements MS <b> 1 to MS <b> 6 to the switching unit 14 to control the switching unit 14. In addition, the control unit 11 outputs a directivity instruction signal for instructing at least one of the sound emission directivity and the sound collection directivity to the audio signal processing unit 13 to control the audio signal processing unit 13.

  In addition to the functions of the control unit 11 described above, the control unit 11 of the main unit 1B determines the acoustic functions of the acoustic units 1A to 1C and generates a sound emission / collection instruction signal and a directivity instruction signal. Specifically, the control unit 11 of the main unit 1B acquires the relative positional relationship between the acoustic units 1A to 1C based on the number of acoustic units and the rotation amount between the acoustic units 1A to 1C. The control unit 11 of the main unit 1 </ b> B determines the acoustic function of the entire acoustic unit 1 based on the function identification signal of the functional module 2 input from the communication control unit 10. The control unit 11 of the main unit 1B generates a sound emission and collection instruction signal and a directivity instruction signal for each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C based on the acoustic function of the entire acoustic unit 1 and the relative positional relationship between the acoustic units 1A to 1C. To do. In addition, the detail of the acoustic function determination process of acoustic unit 1A-1C in the main unit 1B is mentioned later.

  The storage unit 12 includes a relative positional relationship database (hereinafter referred to as a relative positional relationship DB) illustrated in FIG. 3, a function switching database (hereinafter referred to as a function switching DB) illustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. The sound emission / collection sound database (hereinafter referred to as the sound emission / collection sound DB) is referred to by the control unit 11 of the main unit 1B. The storage unit 12 may be provided only in the main unit 1B.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the relative positional relationship DB stores a relative positional relationship corresponding to the number of acoustic units constituting the acoustic system 100 and the rotation amount between the acoustic units 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C. When the controller 11 acquires the number of acoustic units and the amount of rotation between the acoustic units 1A to 1C, the controller 11 can acquire the relative positional relationship by referring to the relative positional relationship DB. For example, when the number of acoustic units is three and the amount of rotation between the acoustic units 1A and 1B and the acoustic units 1B and 1C is 180 degrees, the relative positional relationship in which the acoustic units 1A to 1C are arranged in a straight line You can see that

  As shown in FIG. 4, the function switching DB stores the acoustic function of the acoustic unit 1 corresponding to the function identification signal of the function module 2 and the function of the function module 2. When acquiring the function identification signal of the functional module 2, the control unit 11 can acquire the acoustic function of the acoustic unit by referring to the function switching DB. For example, when the function identification signal 03 is acquired from the function module 2 having the voice conference function, it is understood that the entire sound units 1A to 1C may be controlled to have the sound emission / collection function.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sound emission / collection sound DB is a sound emission / collection sound for each of the sound units 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C corresponding to the relative positional relationship for each sound function (sound emission, sound collection, sound emission / release sound) of the entire sound unit 1. The functions and directivities of the dual-purpose elements MS1 to MS6 are stored. When the control unit 11 acquires the acoustic function of the entire acoustic unit 1 and the relative positional relationship between the acoustic units 1A to 1C, the controller 11 refers to the sound emission / collection sound DB, and the acoustic function for each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C and the acoustic unit 1A. Since the sound emission / collection directivity of ˜1C can be acquired, the sound emission / collection instruction signal and the directivity instruction signal can be generated for each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C. For example, when the acoustic unit 1 as a whole has a sound emission function and the two acoustic units 1 are arranged in a straight line, the sound emission of the L channel from the acoustic unit 1 arranged on the L direction side is performed. It can be seen that the directivity should be controlled so that a beam signal is output and an R channel sound emitting beam signal is output from the acoustic unit 1 arranged on the R direction side.

  The audio signal processing unit 13 includes a sound collection signal processing unit 131 and a sound emission signal processing unit 132, and performs various types of audio signal processing based on the directivity instruction signal input from the control unit 11.

  When the sound emission and collection elements MS1 to MS6 function as microphones, only the sound collection signal processing unit 131 functions and the sound emission signal processing unit 132 does not function. The sound collection signal processing unit 131 performs delay processing and the like on the sound collection signals input from the sound emission / collection elements MS1 to MS6 based on the directivity instruction signal to generate a sound collection beam signal.

  When the sound emission and collection elements MS1 to MS6 function as speakers, the sound collection signal processing unit 131 is not functioned, and only the sound emission signal processing unit 132 is functioned. The sound emission signal processing unit 132 performs delay processing on the sound emission sound signal input from the communication control unit 10 based on the directivity instruction signal, generates an individual sound emission sound signal, and releases it. Output to the sound combined elements MS1 to MS6. The individual sound emission sound signal is formed for each of the sound emission / collection elements MS1 to MS6 functioning as a speaker and is given to the sound emission / collection elements MS1 to MS6, thereby directing the sound emission / collection sound elements MS1 to MS6. Is an audio signal formed so as to realize sound emission sound.

  When the sound emission / collection elements MS <b> 1 to MS <b> 6 are mixed between those that function as microphones and those that function as speakers, the sound collection signal processing unit 131 and the sound emission signal processing unit 132 are caused to function. In this case, the sound collection signal processing unit 131 performs delay processing or the like on the sound collection signal input from the sound emission and collection element MS functioning as a microphone based on the directivity instruction signal, and collects the sound collection beam signal. Is generated. Further, the sound emission signal processing unit 132 performs delay processing on the sound emission sound signal input from the communication control unit 10 based on the directivity instruction signal, and generates an individual sound emission sound signal. An individual sound emission sound signal is output to the sound emission and collection element MS functioning as a speaker.

  Based on the sound emission / collection instruction signal input from the control unit 11, the switching unit 14 switches whether each of the sound emission / collection elements MS <b> 1 to MS <b> 6 functions as a speaker or a microphone.

  The sound emission and collection elements MS <b> 1 to MS <b> 6 are elements that function as speakers and microphones, and are connected to the audio signal processing unit 13 via the switching unit 14. When each of the sound emission / collection elements MS1 to MS6 functions as a speaker, it emits the individual sound emission sound signal input from the sound emission signal processing unit 132. Further, when each of the sound emission / collection elements MS <b> 1 to MS <b> 6 functions as a microphone, it collects surrounding sounds, generates a sound collection signal, and outputs it to the sound collection signal processing unit 131. In the present embodiment, one acoustic unit 1 includes six sound emission / collection elements MS1 to MS6. However, one or more sound emission / collection elements MS may be provided according to specifications.

  Further, the functional module 2 has a different configuration depending on the function of its own device, but in common includes at least an operation unit 20, a control unit 21, and a communication control unit 22.

  The operation unit 20 receives an operation input from the user and outputs various operation signals to the control unit 21. For example, the operation unit 20 outputs, to the control unit 21, a start signal that instructs the start of sound collection and sound emission, a volume adjustment signal that instructs sound emission volume, and the like.

  The control unit 21 controls various function units (not shown) according to various operation signals from the operation unit 20. For example, when the functional module 2 has a recording function, the control unit 21 performs control so that the audio signal input from the communication control unit 22 is stored in a storage unit (not shown). When the functional module 2 has an audio conference function, the control unit 21 transmits the audio signal input from the main unit 1B to another audio conference device via the network and receives the audio signal received from the other audio conference device. The communication control unit 22 is controlled to output the signal to the main unit 1B as a sound output sound signal. Further, when the functional module 2 has a sound signal reproduction function, the control unit 21 outputs a sound signal input from an input interface (not shown) to the main unit 1B as a sound output sound signal. 22 is controlled.

  The communication control unit 22 controls input / output of audio signals and control signals to the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B. Further, when requested to output a function identification signal for identifying the function of the function module 2 from the main unit 1B, the communication control unit 22 outputs the function identification signal of the function module 2 to the main unit 1B.

  Next, details of the acoustic function determination processing of the acoustic units 1A to 1C in the main unit 1B will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a determination process flow of the acoustic function of each acoustic unit.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the control unit 11 of the main unit 1 </ b> B receives an input of a function identification signal of the function module 2 (S <b> 101: Yes), the process after step S <b> 102 is performed. Note that if the connection of the functional module 2 is not detected, the processing after step S102 is not performed.

  The control unit 11 identifies the function of the function module 2 based on the input function identification signal of the function module 2 with reference to the function switching DB (see FIG. 4) stored in the storage unit 12 (S102). Then, the acoustic function of the acoustic units 1A to 1C as a whole is determined (S103). That is, all the acoustic units 1A to 1C function as a speaker array to be a sound emitting device, or function as a microphone array to be a sound collecting device, or a part of the acoustic units 1A to 1C is functioned as a speaker array. It is determined whether the rest functions as a microphone array to be a sound emission and collection device.

  The control unit 11 acquires the number of acoustic units that is the total number of all the connected acoustic units 1A to 1C (S104), and acquires the rotation amount between the acoustic units 1A to 1C (S105). The control unit 11 refers to the relative positional relationship DB stored in the storage unit 12, acquires the relative positional relationship corresponding to the number of acoustic units and the rotation amount between the acoustic units 1A to 1C, and determines the relative positional relationship. Determine (S106).

  The control unit 11 refers to the sound emission / collection DB stored in the storage unit 12 and acquires the functions of the sound emission / collection sound elements MS1 to MS6 for each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C corresponding to the acquired relative positional relationship. Then, the functions of the sound emission and collection elements MS1 to MS6 for each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C are determined (S107). The control unit 11 generates a sound emission / collection instruction signal for each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C based on the determined acoustic function (S108).

  The control unit 11 refers to the sound emission / collection sound DB stored in the storage unit 12, acquires the sound emission / collection directivity of the sound units 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C corresponding to the acquired relative positional relationship, and the sound unit 1 </ b> A. The sound emission directivity of ˜1C is determined (S109). The control part 11 produces | generates a directivity instruction | indication signal for every acoustic unit 1A-1C based on the determined sound emission / collection directivity (S110).

  In the processing flow described above, when the control unit 11 of the main unit 1B generates the sound emission / collection instruction signal and the directivity instruction signal, the control unit 11 controls the sub units 1A and 1C to generate the sound emission / collection instruction signal and the directivity instruction signal. To the unit 11. The control unit 11 of each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C outputs the sound emission / collection instruction signal to the switching unit 14, controls the switching unit 14, and outputs the sound collection instruction signal to the audio signal processing unit 13 The signal processing unit 13 is controlled.

  Thereby, the main unit 1 </ b> B can appropriately determine the acoustic function of each of the acoustic units 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C according to the function of the functional module 2. For example, when the main unit 1B identifies that the function of the function module 2 is an external input function of an audio file, each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C can function as a sound emitting device. Further, when the main unit 1B identifies that the function of the function module 2 is a recording function, the main unit 1B can cause each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C to function as a sound collection device.

  Moreover, the main unit 1B can determine the sound emission directivity of each acoustic unit 1A-1C according to the relative positional relationship of acoustic unit 1A-1C. As described above, the acoustic system 100 can perform various acoustic functions by simply replacing the functional module 2 without replacing the acoustic unit 1. Moreover, the acoustic system 100 can control the sound emission / collection directivity only by rotating the acoustic unit 1.

  In the present embodiment, the relative positional relationship is measured based on the number of acoustic units and the rotational amount detected by the rotational amount detection unit 101. However, the relative positional relationship is determined based on the number of acoustic units and the fluctuation amount. You may measure. For example, when the distance between the acoustic units 1A to 1C can be changed, the relative positional relationship is measured based on the number of acoustic units and the fluctuation amount of the distance between the acoustic units 1A to 1C.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the main unit 1B detects the connection of the function module 2, a request for outputting a function identification signal for identifying the function of the function module 2 is made. However, when it is detected that the function module 2 is connected to the main unit 1B, the function module 2 may automatically output a function identification signal.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the main unit 1B generates the sound emission and collection instruction signals and the directivity instruction signals of all the acoustic units 1A to 1C. However, each of the acoustic units 1A to 1C may measure the relative positional relationship and generate a sound emission / collection instruction signal and a directivity instruction signal of the own apparatus.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B selects the sound collecting beam signal having the highest signal level among the sound collecting beam signals generated by the respective acoustic units 1A to 1C, and the functional module 2 Output to. However, the communication control unit 10 of the main unit 1B synthesizes the collected sound beam signals whose signal levels are equal to or higher than the threshold among the collected sound beam signals generated by the acoustic units 1A to 1C, and passes through the communication control unit 10. You may output to the function module 2. FIG. Further, the collected sound beam signals generated by the acoustic units 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> C may be combined and output to the functional module 2 via the communication control unit 10.

It is a figure which shows the example of a use of an acoustic system. It is a block diagram which shows the function and structure of an acoustic system. An example of a relative positional relationship database is shown. An example of the function switching database is shown. An example of a release / collection sound database is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the determination processing flow of the acoustic function of each acoustic unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1A-1C) ... Acoustic unit, 2 ... Functional module, 3 ... Connection part, 10 ... Communication control part, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Audio | voice signal processing part, 14 ... Switching part, 20 ... Operation unit, 21 ... control unit, 22 ... communication control unit, 100 (100A to 100C) ... acoustic system, 101 ... rotation amount detection unit, 131 ... sound collection signal processing unit, 132 ... sound emission signal processing unit, MS1 to MS6 ... Elements for sound emission and collection

Claims (4)

An acoustic system comprising an acoustic unit and a functional module,
The acoustic unit functions as a speaker or a microphone, and determines a plurality of sound emission / collection sound elements arranged in an array on a casing and whether the plurality of sound emission / collection sound elements function as a speaker or a microphone Sound emission / collection sound determination means, detection means for detecting connection with the functional module, and identification means for identifying the function of the functional module detected by the detection means, and the sound emission / collection sound of the acoustic unit The determination unit is an acoustic system that determines the functions of the plurality of sound emitting and collecting elements according to the function identified by the identification unit.   A plurality of the acoustic units are provided, and connecting means for connecting the relative positional relationship with other acoustic units so that the relative position can be changed, and measuring means for measuring a relative fluctuation amount between the acoustic units connected to the connecting means. The sound system according to claim 1, further comprising: sound control means for controlling directivity of the sound emission signal and the sound collection signal based on the fluctuation amount measured by the measurement means.   The acoustic system according to claim 2, wherein the connection unit of the acoustic unit is pivotably connected to another acoustic unit. Each of the plurality of acoustic units is set as a main unit or a sub unit,
The sound unit set as the main unit has a sound emission signal and sound collection based on the fluctuation amount measured by the measuring means of the own device and the fluctuation amount measured by the measuring means of the acoustic unit set as the sub unit. The acoustic system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein directivity for a signal is determined.

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