JP2012073411A - Masker sound output control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a masker sound output control device capable of forming comfortable acoustic space for both of a person who wants to listen to a content sound and a person who does not want to do it.SOLUTION: A masker sound output control device acquires content data including sound data on a content sound and a masker sound for masking the content sound and outputs the content sound to a viewing area 51 from a speaker 41C based on the acquired content data. The masker sound output control device also outputs the masker sound to mask areas 54A and 54C from speakers 41R and 41L based on the acquired content data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a masker sound output control device that outputs a masker sound that masks content sound to an area other than the content viewing area and prevents the content sound from being heard in an area other than the content viewing area.

  In recent years, digital signage (electronic signage) that transmits various types of information using electronic display devices such as displays has been introduced outdoors, in stores, in public spaces, or in transportation. In digital signage, various images such as advertisement information such as products, weather information, or news are displayed on a display device. Also, with digital signage, not only video display but also content sound that matches the video may be output. For this reason, when digital signage is installed in multiple areas in the same space and different information is transmitted in each area, a user in one area is moved to the area where he / she is due to sound leaking from other areas. There is a risk that information sent to the destination may not be obtained.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for suppressing content sounds from leaking into surrounding areas and affecting each other when different content sounds are emitted in an adjacent area. According to this Patent Document 1, the user can listen to only the content sound directed to himself / herself without being distracted by the content sound being reproduced in another area.

JP 2008-76985 A

  However, since Patent Document 1 generates a sound (masking noise) that is unrelated to the content, the masking noise heard from each area may be annoying.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a masker sound output control device capable of forming a comfortable acoustic space for those who want to hear content sounds and those who do not.

  The masker sound output control apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit, a content sound output unit, and a masker sound output unit. The acquisition means acquires content data including sound data related to a content sound and a masker sound that masks the content sound. The content sound output means outputs the content sound to the content viewing area based on the sound data related to the content sound included in the content data acquired by the acquisition means. The masker sound output means outputs the masker sound to the mask area around the content viewing area based on the sound data relating to the masker sound included in the content data acquired by the acquisition means.

  In this configuration, a content sound is output for the content viewing area, and a masker sound for masking the content sound is output for the mask area around the content viewing area. As a result, even if the content sound leaks from the content viewing area to the mask area, the listener in the mask area is masked by the content sound and is not concerned. As a result, a comfortable acoustic space can be formed for each of those who want to hear the content sound and those who do not. Further, since the content data to be acquired includes data related to the content sound and masker sound, it is possible to output a masker sound that does not make the listener in the mask area feel bothersome.

  In the masker sound output control device according to the present invention, when the external device outputs a content sound different from the content sound output by the content sound output means, the acquisition means outputs the content sound output by the external device. Sound data related to the masker sound to be masked is further acquired. The masker sound output means synthesizes and outputs a plurality of masker sounds acquired by the acquisition means.

  In this configuration, a combination of the masker sound output from the own device and the masker sound masking the content sound output from the external device is output to the mask area. Thereby, in the mask area, the content sound output from the external device is also masked, so that the mask area can be made a more comfortable acoustic space.

  The masker sound output control apparatus according to the present invention includes sound collection means and volume adjustment means. The sound collection means collects sound in the mask area. The volume adjusting unit adjusts the output volume of the content sound or masker sound output by the content sound output unit or masker sound output unit based on the level of the sound collected by the sound collecting unit.

  In this configuration, the volume of the content sound or masker sound is adjusted according to the sound level of the mask area. For example, when the volume of the content sound is high in the mask area, it is possible to perform more effective masking in the mask area by decreasing the volume of the content sound or increasing the volume of the masker sound.

  The masker sound output control device according to the present invention includes timing adjustment means. When the external device outputs the masker sound that masks the content sound output by itself to the mask area, the timing adjustment means outputs the masker sound based on the timing at which the external device outputs the masker sound. Adjust the timing.

  In this configuration, a configuration is shown in which the timing for outputting the masker sound is adjusted so that the masking effect in the mask region is not suppressed by interfering with the masker sound output from the external device.

  In the masker sound output control device according to the present invention, the acquisition means acquires content data including a plurality of sound data related to the masker sound. The masker sound output means outputs a plurality of masker sounds to each of a plurality of different mask areas.

  In this configuration, a plurality of comfortable acoustic spaces can be formed by outputting different masker sounds to the plurality of mask regions.

  The masker sound output control device according to the present invention further includes sound output means. The sound output means causes the mask area to output a sound different from the masker sound.

  In this configuration, an example is shown in which a listener in the mask area can output, for example, useful information sound.

  According to the present invention, a comfortable acoustic space can be formed for each person who wants to listen to the content sound and those who do not.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of installation of the information provision apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the structure of an information provision apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows typically the function which an information provision apparatus has. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the operation | movement performed with an information provision apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the case where an information provision apparatus has another speaker structure. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of installation of the information provision apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a masker sound output control device according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Below, the information provision apparatus provided with the masker sound output control apparatus which concerns on this invention is demonstrated. The information providing apparatus is applied to digital signage that transmits necessary information to surrounding viewers by reproducing content using a speaker and a display. In the following, content reproduction refers to displaying video and outputting sound linked to the video (hereinafter referred to as content sound).

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an installation example of the information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a plurality of information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 are installed in a train and information is transmitted to passengers. The information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 have the same configuration. In the following description, the common configuration will be described with respect to the information providing device 1 and the information providing devices 2 and 3 will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Is shown in parentheses and the description is omitted.

  Each of the information providing devices 1, 2, 3 includes displays 31, 32, 33 and speaker units 41, 42, 43. The displays 31, 32, and 33 are installed above the doors D1, D2, and D3 on the same side of the same vehicle, for example, and display images. The video may be a still image or a moving image. The content of the video may be the same content on the displays 31, 32, 33, or may be different content, and can be changed as appropriate, such as advertisements, tips, quizzes, or along-line information. On the displays 31, 32, and 33, the same content video may be repeatedly displayed, or the content may be switched randomly. Hereinafter, with the door D1 as a reference, the door D2 side is the front in the vehicle front-rear direction and the door D3 side is the rear.

  The speaker units 41, 42, 43 are installed above the displays 31, 32, 33, respectively. The speaker unit 41 (42 or 43) has three speakers 41C, 41R, and 41L (42C, 42R, 42L, or 43C, 43R, and 43L). Each of the speakers 41C, 41R, and 41L (42C, 42R, 42L or 43C, 43R, and 43L) is a directional speaker that can emit sound to a specific area, and is oriented so that sound is easily emitted to a specified area. Has been adjusted and installed.

  Speakers 41C, 42C, and 43C emit sound to areas 51, 52, and 53 in front of doors D1, D2, and D3 (hereinafter referred to as viewing areas). The speakers 41R, 42R, 43R emit sound to the viewing areas 51, 52, 53 and areas (hereinafter referred to as mask areas) 54A, 54B, 54C adjacent to the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. The mask area 54A (54C) is located between the viewing areas 51 and 52 (51, 53). The speakers 41L, 42L, 43L emit sound to the viewing areas 51, 52, 53 and areas (hereinafter referred to as mask areas) 54C, 54A, 54D adjacent to the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, the speakers 41R and 42L emit sound to the same mask area 54A, and the speakers 41L and 43R emit sound to the same mask area 54C.

  The speakers 41 </ b> C, 42 </ b> C, 43 </ b> C output content sounds that are linked to the images displayed on the displays 31, 32, 33 to the viewing areas 51, 52, 53. That is, when the passenger wants to view the content reproduced by the information providing devices 1, 2, 3, while standing in the viewing area 51, 52, 53, while viewing the video displayed on the display 31, 32, 33, The content sound output from the speakers 41, 42, and 43 can be heard.

  The speakers 41R, 41L (42R, 42L or 43R, 43L) output masker sounds that mask content sounds leaking from the viewing area 51 (52 or 53). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 play different contents. In this case, since two different content sounds leak from the viewing areas 51 and 52 in the mask area 54A, the speakers 41R and 42L output masker sounds that mask the two content sounds.

  In addition, since two different content sounds leak from the viewing areas 51 and 53 in the mask area 54C, the speakers 41L and 43R output masker sounds that mask the two content sounds. The speakers 42R and 43L output masker sounds that mask content sounds leaking from the viewing areas 52 and 53. Here, the masker sound is created in advance in accordance with the content sound, and for example, the time axis or the frequency axis of the content sound is changed so that the content sound cannot be understood. The masking sound may be a chat voice, but is more preferably a sound that does not make passengers feel uncomfortable.

  Accordingly, when the passenger does not want to view the content reproduced by the information providing devices 1, 2, 3, the passenger can understand the content of the leaked content sound by standing in any of the mask areas 54A to 54D. In addition, the mask areas 54A to 54D become a comfortable acoustic space for themselves. Note that the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 may reproduce the same content. In this case, the speakers 41L and 41R, the speakers 42L and 42R, and the speakers 43L and 43R may output the same masker sound.

  In addition, the information providing apparatus 1 includes microphones 131, 132, and 133. The microphones 131, 132, and 133 collect the sounds in the areas 51, 54A, and 54C. The microphones 131, 132, and 133 collect content sounds and masker sounds in each region, and are used by the information providing apparatus 1 to adjust the volume of the content sounds and masker sounds. The microphones 131, 132, 133 are installed at positions where sound can be efficiently collected in each area such as a wall, a handrail, and a door D1 in the vehicle. In FIG. 1, only the microphones 131, 132, and 133 included in the information providing apparatus 1 are displayed. However, the information providing apparatuses 2 and 3 also collect microphones (not shown) that collect sound in each area corresponding to the own apparatus. It has.

  Hereinafter, the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 will be described in further detail. Since the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 have the same configuration and operate in the same manner, the information providing apparatus 1 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the information providing apparatus 1. The information providing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an audio input unit 13, an audio output unit 14, a video output unit 15, and a communication unit 16. The control unit 11 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and controls the operation of the information providing apparatus 1. The storage unit 12 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like, and stores necessary programs or data read by the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 16 is connected to a server device (not shown) via a network so that data communication is possible. The communication unit 16 receives data related to content to be reproduced (hereinafter referred to as content data) from the server device and stores the data in the storage unit 12. The content data includes video data and audio data. Furthermore, the audio data includes data of content sounds and masker sounds suitable for masking the content sounds. By acquiring content data including masker sound data from the outside, the information providing apparatus 1 does not need to generate masker sound data by itself. Further, by generating masker sound data in advance, the information providing apparatus 1 can output a masker sound optimal for the content sound.

  The audio input unit 13 includes an A / D converter (not shown), and microphones 131, 132, and 133 are connected to the audio input unit 13. The microphones 131, 132, and 133 collect sound of the viewing area 51 and the surrounding mask areas 54A and 54C and convert them into electric signals (hereinafter referred to as sound collection signals). Note that the sound collected by the microphones 131, 132, and 133 includes sounds leaked from other areas such as air-conditioning equipment noise and outdoor noise in addition to the voices of passengers in the viewing area 51 and the mask areas 54A and 54C. including. The voice input unit 13 performs A / D conversion on each collected sound signal input from the microphones 131, 132, and 133 using an A / D converter. The control unit 11 acquires the sound volume in the viewing area 51 and the mask areas 54A and 54C based on each A / D converted sound collection signal. The volume may be an average value of the signal level of the collected sound signal in a certain period, or may be a maximum value. Also, the volume may be the volume when content sound is not output, or the volume after removing the content sound component from the collected sound signal.

  The audio output unit 14 includes a D / A converter, an amplifier, an output terminal, and the like (not shown), and speakers 41C, 41R, and 41L are connected thereto. The audio output unit 14 receives content sound data and masker sound data. The audio output unit 14 performs D / A conversion on each audio data with a D / A converter, adjusts the amplitude (volume) to an optimum value with an amplifier, and outputs the result to the speakers 41C, 41R, and 41L. Thereby, the speaker 41C outputs a content sound to the viewing area 51, and the speakers 41R and 41L output a masker sound to the mask areas 54A and 54C.

  The video output unit 15 is connected to a display 31 and D / A converts video data included in content data stored in the storage unit 12 to generate, for example, a composite signal. Then, the video output unit 15 outputs the generated composite signal to the connected display 31.

  Next, functions of the information providing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating functions of the information providing apparatus 1. The function shown in FIG. 3 is realized by the control unit 11 executing a program stored in the storage unit 12.

  The information providing apparatus 1 includes a content data acquisition unit 21, a content data storage unit 22, a video output unit 23, a content sound output unit 24, a right masker sound adjustment output unit 25, a left masker sound adjustment output unit 26, an output adjustment unit 27, and Functions such as a volume control unit 28 are provided.

  The information providing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to the server apparatus 100 via a network so that data communication is possible. The server apparatus 100 may be installed in a vehicle in which the information providing apparatus 1 is installed, or may be installed in a management center that manages the vehicle. The server device 100 includes a data storage unit 101, a data search unit 102, and a data output unit 103. The data storage unit 101 stores a plurality of content data. The data search unit 102 searches for content data from the data storage unit 101. The data search unit 102 may search for data requested from the information providing devices 1, 2, 3 or may search content data according to time, for example, content data of lunch information in the case of noon. Good. Further, the data search unit 102 acquires information such as the travel location or stop station of the vehicle in which the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 are installed, and content data corresponding to the location, for example, nearby store information You may make it search content data. The data output unit 103 outputs the content data searched by the data search unit 102 to the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3.

  The content data acquisition unit 21 acquires content data from the server device 100 via a network. The content data acquisition unit 21 stores the acquired content data in the content data storage unit 22. The video output unit 23 acquires video data included in the content data stored in the content data storage unit 22 and outputs the video data to the display 31. The content sound output unit 24 extracts content sound data included in the content data stored in the content data storage unit 22, and outputs the content sound data to the speaker 41C. As a result, in the viewing area 51, the reproduced content can be viewed.

  The right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 and the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26 extract masker sound data included in the content data stored in the content data storage unit 22 and output it to the speakers 41R and 41L. Since the masker sound data included in the content data is data suitable for masking the content sound, it is difficult to hear the reproduced content sound in the mask areas 54A and 54C where the masker sounds are output from the speakers 41R and 41L. The right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 and the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26 are output controlled by the output adjustment unit 27 when the masker sound data is output to the speakers 41R and 41L.

  The output adjustment unit 27 determines whether or not the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 play different contents, and masks the content sound output by the information providing device 2 (or 3) when it is determined that they are different. The masker sound data is acquired and output to the right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 (or the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26). The right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 and the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26 synthesize the masker sound data included in the content data stored in the content data storage unit 22 and the masker sound data output from the output adjustment unit 27. Then, the synthesized masker sound data is output to the speakers 41R and 41L. As a result, a masker sound that masks the content sound output from each of the information providing apparatuses 1 and 2 (or 1 and 3) is output to the mask area 54A (or 54C).

  Note that the output adjustment unit 27 may be notified from the server device 100 of the content content to be reproduced by the information providing device 2 and determine whether or not the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 are to reproduce different content. Then, the information providing devices 1, 2, 3 may be communicable and may be determined by being notified from the information providing devices 2, 3. Further, the output adjustment unit 27 may acquire masker sound data for masking the content sound output from the information providing devices 2 and 3 from the server device 100 or may be acquired from the information providing devices 2 and 3. Also good.

  In addition, since only the content sound from the mask areas 52 and 53 leaks to the mask areas 54B and 54D, the information providing devices 2 and 3 perform masking sounds included in the content data stored in the content data storage unit 22. Based on the data alone, masker sounds are output from the speakers 42R and 43L.

  The output adjustment unit 27 adjusts the output timing of masker sound data by the right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 and the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26. When the same or similar masker sound is output from the speaker 41R (or 41L) of the information providing apparatus 1 and the speaker 42L (or 43R) of the information providing apparatus 2 (or 3), interference occurs due to the phase being aligned or shifted. May be canceled by. In this case, the masking effect in the mask region 54A (or 54C) may be suppressed. Therefore, the output adjustment unit 27 synchronizes with the information providing device 2 (or 3) to output the masker sound from the speaker 41R (or 41L), and determines the timing of outputting the masker sound from the speaker 41L (or 43R) of the information providing device 2 (or 3). ) So that it does not interfere with the masker sound output from (), and instructs the output timing to the right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 (or the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26).

  The volume adjustment unit 28 acquires the volume of each of the areas 51, 54A, and 54C based on the collected sound signals from the microphones 131, 132, and 133. The volume adjustment unit 28 adjusts the output volume from each speaker 41C, 41R, 41L based on the acquired volume. For example, when the volume of the viewing area 51 is greater than or equal to the threshold, the volume adjustment unit 28 increases the output volume of the content sound from the speaker 41C and instructs the content sound output unit 24 to hear the content sound more. When the volume including the content sound component in the mask area 54A (or 54C) is equal to or higher than the threshold, the volume adjustment unit 28 increases the output volume of the masker sound from the speaker 41R (or 41L), and the mask area 54A (or 54C). ) Instruct the right masker sound adjustment output unit 25 (or the left masker sound adjustment output unit 26) not to hear the content sound.

  Further, as a result of the correlation of the audio feature amount between the sound collected by the microphones 132 and 133 and the masker sound output from the speakers 41R and 41L, the volume adjusting unit 28 effectively produces the content sound in the mask areas 54A and 54C. If it is determined whether or not it is masked, and it is determined that it is not effectively masked, volume adjustment such as increasing the output volume of the masker sound may be performed. In addition, the volume adjustment unit 28 determines that the higher-order spectral components are not effectively masked from the sounds collected by the microphones 132 and 133, and adjusts the output volume of the masker sound. May be.

  Next, the operation in the information providing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of operations executed by the information providing apparatus 1. The process shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the control unit 11 reading a program stored in the storage unit 12.

  The control unit 11 determines whether or not content data including video data and audio data has been acquired from the server device 100 (S1). The control unit 11 may request and acquire content data from the server device 100. When the content data has not been acquired (S1: NO), the control unit 11 ends this process. When content data is acquired (S1: YES), the control unit 11 stores the acquired content data in the storage unit 12 (S2).

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the information providing apparatus 2 and the content data to be reproduced are the same (S3). The control unit 11 may make the determination by notifying the content of the content reproduced by the information providing apparatus 2 (or 3) from the server apparatus 100, or by communicating with the information providing apparatus 2 (or 3). You may judge. When the content to be reproduced is not the same (S3: NO), the control unit 11 acquires masker sound data related to the information providing device 2 (or 3) from the server device 100 or the information providing device 2 (or 3) (S4). ).

  The control unit 11 synthesizes the masker sound data acquired in S4 and the masker sound data included in the content data stored in S2 (S5). As a result, it is possible to output masker sound that masks both content sounds output by the information providing apparatuses 1 and 2 (or 1 and 3) to the mask area 54A (or 54B). On the other hand, when the content to be reproduced is the same (S3: YES), the control unit 11 may perform the process of S6 because the same masker sound may be output from the speakers 41L and 41R, the speakers 42L and 42R, and the speakers 43L and 43R. Transition to processing.

  Next, the control part 11 acquires the sound volume of each area | region 51, 54A, 54C based on the sound collection signal from microphone 131,132,133 (S6). As described above, the control unit 11 adjusts the output volume from each speaker 41C, 41R, 41L based on the volume (S7). As a result, the content sound or masker sound is output at a volume that allows masking in each of the areas 51, 54A, and 54C to be performed more effectively.

  In synchronization with the information providing device 2, the control unit 11 adjusts the timing for outputting the masker sound from the speaker 41L so as not to interfere with the masker sound output from the information providing device 2 (S8). Thereby, it can be avoided that the mask effect in the mask area 54A (or 54C) is suppressed due to the interference with the masker sound output from the information providing apparatus 2 (or 3).

  The control unit 11 reproduces the content (S9). Specifically, the control unit 11 outputs the video to the display 31 and outputs the content sound from the speaker 41C. And the control part 11 outputs a masker sound from the speakers 41R and 41L (S10). When the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 are reproducing the same content, the control unit 11 outputs the same masker sound from the speakers 41 </ b> R and 41 </ b> L. When the information providing apparatuses 1 and 2 are reproducing different contents, the control unit 11 causes the speakers 41R and 41L to output different suitable masker sounds as described above.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, content sounds are output to the viewing areas 51, 52, and 53, and masker sounds that mask the content sounds are output to the mask areas 54A to 54D. . As a result, even if the content sound leaks from the viewing areas 51, 52, and 53 to the mask areas 54A to 54D, the listener in the mask areas 54A to 54D is masked by the content sound and is not concerned. . As a result, a comfortable acoustic space can be formed for each of those who want to hear the content sound and those who do not. Further, even when the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 are playing different contents, a suitable masker sound can be output to each of the mask regions 54A to 54D, so that a comfortable acoustic space can be formed. it can.

  The specific configuration of the information providing apparatus 1 can be appropriately changed in design, and the actions and effects described in the above-described embodiment are merely a list of the most preferable actions and effects resulting from the present invention. The operations and effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the above embodiment.

  For example, the information providing apparatus 1 includes the speaker unit 41 in which three speakers 41C, 41L, and 41R are integrated. However, the speakers 41C, 41L, and 41R may not be integrated. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where the information providing apparatus 1 has another speaker configuration. As shown in FIG. 5, the speakers 41C, 41L, and 41R may be installed immediately above the regions 51, 54A, and 54C. In this case, when a plurality of information providing apparatuses are installed, the number of speakers can be reduced. Although not shown, sound may be emitted to each of the areas 51, 54A, and 54C using a speaker array without using the directional speakers 41C, 41L, and 41R.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated the case where the three information provision apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 were installed, the number of installation can be changed suitably. For example, although the case where the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 are installed in a train is described, the installation location can be changed as appropriate, such as a movie theater, a building entrance, or a store. Further, the installation distance and the number of the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 are not particularly limited.

  In the above-described embodiment, the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 are installed on the same side of the vehicle. However, the two information providing devices 1 and 2 may be installed facing each other. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another installation example of the information providing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the displays 31 and 32 are arranged to face each other. The speaker units 41 and 42 are installed above the displays 31 and 32 and include two speakers (not shown). One speaker outputs content sounds using the viewing areas 51 and 52 in front of the displays 31 and 32, respectively. The other speaker outputs a masker sound with the mask area 55 between the viewing areas 51 and 52. Thereby, the passengers U1 and U2 in the viewing areas 51 and 52 can view the content reproduced by the information providing apparatuses 1 and 2. On the other hand, for the passenger U3 in the mask area 55, the content sound reproduced by the information providing apparatuses 1 and 2 is masked.

  Furthermore, the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 may output useful information other than masker sounds to the mask areas 54A to 54D. Useful information is, for example, a message indicating that the seat is a priority seat. By outputting these sounds to the mask areas 54A to 54D, the mask areas 54A to 54D can be made a more comfortable acoustic environment.

  In addition, the masker sound output control device according to the present invention is an information providing device that reproduces content. However, the information providing devices 1, 2, and 3 may not include the displays 31, 32, and 33, and may be speakers. An existing speaker may be used without providing the units 41, 42, and 43. In addition, the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 acquire content data from the server apparatus 100 via the network, but may store them in a storage device or the like included in the information providing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3.

1,2,3-information providing device (masker sound output control device, external device), 14-audio output unit (audio output unit), 21-content data acquisition unit (acquisition unit), 24-content sound output unit (content Sound output means), 25-right masker sound adjustment output section (masker sound output means, acquisition means), 26-left masker sound adjustment output section (masker sound output means, acquisition means), 27-output adjustment section (timing adjustment means) ), 28-volume adjusting unit (sound collecting means, volume adjusting means), 51, 52, 53-viewing area (content viewing area), 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D-mask area, 131, 132, 133-microphone ( Sound collection means)

Claims (6)

Acquisition means for acquiring content data including content data and sound data relating to masker sound masking the content sound;
Content sound output means for outputting the content sound to the content viewing area based on the sound data relating to the content sound included in the content data acquired by the acquisition means;
A masker sound output means comprising: masker sound output means for outputting a masker sound to a mask area around the content viewing area based on sound data relating to a masker sound included in the content data acquired by the acquisition means. Control device. When the external device outputs a content sound different from the content sound output by the content sound output means,
The acquisition means includes
Further obtaining sound data relating to masker sound that masks the content sound output by the external device;
The masker sound output means includes
The masker sound output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of masker sounds acquired by the acquisition unit are synthesized and output. Sound collecting means for collecting sound in the mask area;
Volume adjustment means for adjusting the output volume of the content sound or masker sound output by the content sound output means or the masker sound output means based on the level of the sound collected by the sound pickup means The masker sound output control device according to claim 1 or 2. When the external device outputs a masker sound that masks the content sound output by itself to the mask area,
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timing adjustment unit that adjusts a timing at which the masker sound output unit outputs a masker sound based on a timing at which the external device outputs a masker sound. The masker sound output control device described in 1. The acquisition means includes
Acquire content data containing multiple sound data related to masked sounds,
The masker sound output means includes
The masker sound output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the masker sound is output to each of a plurality of different mask regions. 6. The masker sound output control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a voice output unit configured to output a voice different from a masker sound in the mask region.

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