JP2015216453A - Information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device that can execute alternative processing when it is difficult for a user to perceive sound output.SOLUTION: An information processing device has an alarm notifying part for notifying an alarm sound, a determining part for determining whether the notification of the alarm sound by the alarm notifying part is proper or not to a party to be notified, and an alternative processing execution part for executing alternative processing using an external device on the basis of the determination result of the determining part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, an increasing number of users enjoy playing music by using an information processing apparatus such as a mobile phone. A mobile phone outputs music data for reproduction from an earphone or from a built-in speaker. The position of the speaker varies depending on the model. When a speaker is disposed on the main surface of the housing (the surface on which the operation unit is disposed) or on the side of the housing, the user's hand may block the speaker when the user grips the mobile phone. . In addition, in the case where a speaker is disposed on the rear surface of the housing, the speaker may be blocked by placing the mobile phone on a table or the like.

  In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of determining whether or not a speaker is blocked using a microphone and controlling the output level of the speaker. Specifically, a microphone collects sound output from a speaker such as a mobile phone. And when the input level from a microphone falls, the technique which judges that the speaker is obstruct | occluded and adjusts the output of a speaker is shown.

JP 2013-201681 A

  However, in the process shown in Patent Document 1, there is a limit even when the output level is raised when the speaker is blocked, and the speaker is not adjusted even when the output level is adjusted to the maximum volume. In the case of a sound absorbing state that is blocked, the user may be difficult to notice the sound output.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of executing an alternative process when a user hardly notices sound output. And

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an alarm notification unit that notifies an alarm sound, a determination unit that determines whether notification of the alarm sound by the alarm notification unit is appropriate for the notifier, and a determination unit An alternative process execution unit that executes an alternative process using an external device based on the determination result.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a microphone capable of collecting an alarm sound. The determination unit determines whether the alarm sound collected via the microphone is equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure.

Preferably, the predetermined sound pressure is changed according to the set sound volume of the alarm sound.
Preferably, the microphone and the alarm notification unit are provided in different devices.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device. The alternative process execution unit transmits predetermined information to the external device via the communication unit.

  The information processing apparatus can execute an alternative process when it is difficult for the user to notice the sound output.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone 10 based on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal functional block of the mobile telephone 10 based on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the alarm setting screen 111 displayed on the display. It is a figure explaining the relationship between an alarm volume and the sound pressure threshold value of a microphone input. It is a flowchart explaining the state determination process in the state determination part 106 based on embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the alternative process in the alternative process execution part 107 based on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the alternative process of the external device in the alternative process execution part 107 based on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated. In this example, a mobile phone will be described as an example of an information processing device. However, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, and any device having an alarm function or the like can be applied.

<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a mobile phone 10 based on the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a display 13 having a touch pad is arranged on the surface of the casing of the mobile phone 10. The user can input an instruction to the mobile phone 10 by operating the icon displayed on the display 13 or the software keyboard with a finger. In addition, the mobile phone 10 includes a microphone 18 that collects sound and a receiver 19 that a user puts on the ear and listens to the received sound on the surface of the casing. In addition, a speaker 17 for outputting a ringtone, a received sound, an alarm sound, music, and the like to the outside is provided on the side of the casing.

  In the mobile phone 10 having such a configuration, when the speaker 17 is blocked, it is difficult to output sound from the speaker 17. For example, when an alarm sound is notified to the user, the volume is reduced, and in this example, an alternative process using an external device is executed.

<Functional block configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks inside the mobile phone 10 based on the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, a display 13, a control unit 15, an amplifier 17 a, a speaker 17, a microphone 18, an amplifier 18 a, and a receiver 19. In the mobile phone 10, the control unit 15 is mainly configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and implements the functions of each unit by executing various computer programs stored in the storage unit 12. In this example, the control unit 15 includes a reproduction unit 105, a state determination unit 106, an alternative process execution unit 107, and an alarm setting unit 108.

  The communication unit 11 is responsible for the communication function of the mobile phone 10, and specifically includes an antenna, a communication circuit, a reception signal processing circuit, a transmission signal processing circuit, an echo canceller, and the like.

  The storage unit 12 is a memory area for storing various computer programs, screen data, icon images, various setting information, mail data, address book data, and the like for controlling the mobile phone 10.

  As an example, the storage unit 12 stores alarm sound data 101 for reproducing the alarm sound by the reproduction unit 105 as shown in FIG. Moreover, although not shown in figure, the memory | storage part 12 may memorize | store the music data which are the data which carried out the compression encoding of the music as alarm sound data.

  The display 13 includes a touch pad 103 that is an input device and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 104 that is a display device. Although not shown, the display 13 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight that is a light source.

  The touch pad 103 includes a capacitive touch sensor and is provided so as to overlap with the LCD 104. The touch pad 103 is made of a transparent member so that an image displayed on the LCD 104 can be seen. The control unit 15 receives operation instructions from various users via the touch pad 103.

  The control unit 15 is connected to each unit of the mobile phone 10 and controls the entire mobile phone 10. The control unit 15 has the same functions as those realized by a conventional general mobile phone processor, such as call control, network connection control, and screen control. It also has a function of setting an alarm sound output time and outputting an alarm sound when the time is reached.

  The control unit 15 has an output control function of the speaker 17. Here, in particular, a description of functions similar to those realized by a conventional processor of a general mobile phone will be omitted, and a function relating to output control of the speaker 17 and a function of executing alternative processing will be specifically described.

  The alarm setting unit 108 sets an alarm sound volume, an alarm sound output time, an alarm sound alternative setting, and the like.

  When the time set by the alarm setting unit 108 is reached, the reproduction unit 105 reproduces the alarm sound by reading and executing the alarm sound data 101 stored in the storage unit 12. Specifically, the reproduction unit 105 converts the alarm sound into an analog signal and outputs it to the amplifier 17a. If the compression-encoded music data is stored as alarm sound data, the compression-encoded data is expanded, then converted into an analog signal, and output to the amplifier 17a. The alarm sound data 101 may be stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, or may be received from an external server device via the communication unit 11 and stored in the storage unit 12.

  The state determination unit 106 determines whether or not the notification of the alarm sound is appropriately notified to the notifier. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the above-described speaker 17 is closed.

  The state determination unit 106 outputs the determination result of the state determination to the alternative process execution unit 107. The state determination unit 106 can store a flag indicating a determination result as to whether or not the speaker 17 is blocked in a memory such as the storage unit 12 and can determine the state based on the flag.

  The amplifier 17 a is connected to the speaker 17. The amplifier 17a is a variable gain amplifier composed of a gain adjustment circuit and the like.

  The speaker 17 is used in a hands-free call or music reproduction process, and outputs a received sound or music to the outside with an output level (sound pressure) higher than that of the receiver 19. The speaker 17 also functions as a notification means for outputting an alarm sound, a ringtone, a notification sound when receiving mail, and the like.

  When it is determined that the notification of the alarm sound is appropriately notified to the notifier based on the determination result of the state determination unit 106 described above (in this example, it is determined that the speaker 17 is not blocked). In the case), the alternative process execution unit 107 does not execute the alternative process and determines that the notification of the alarm sound is not properly notified to the notifier (in this example, the speaker 17 is blocked). If it is determined that the alternative process is performed, the alternative process execution unit 107 executes the alternative process.

  The replacement process execution unit 107 executes the replacement process based on the determination result of the state determination unit 106. In the alternative processing in this example, processing that replaces the alarm sound is executed using another external device independent of the mobile phone 10. Note that the processing in the mobile phone 10 may be stopped and only the external device may be processed, or both may be processed.

  The microphone 18 has a function of collecting a user's voice and external sound and electrically converting it to generate a transmission voice signal. The microphone 18 outputs the generated transmission voice signal to the amplifier 18a.

  The amplifier 18a amplifies the analog audio signal collected by the microphone 18 with a predetermined amplification factor and raises the level, and then outputs it to an A / D conversion unit (not shown). The audio signal converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit is input to the control unit 15.

  The receiver 19 is an earpiece-type earpiece that is used in a handset call in which the user holds the mobile phone 10 and makes a call while holding it on the ear, and outputs a received sound to the outside at an output level designated by the user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the alarm setting screen 111 displayed on the display 13.
The alarm setting screen 111 shown in FIG. 3 includes an operation bar 112 for setting the volume of the alarm sound.

  Also shown is a setting dialog 113 for executing an alternative process to be described later instead of an alarm sound. The setting dialog 113 is provided so that it can be dropped down, and an external device to be substituted can be selected from a plurality of options. In this example, a fixed telephone, a wireless speaker, a terminal, and the like can be selected, and a case where the fixed telephone is set is shown.

  The user can set the volume of the alarm sound by a drag operation of tracing the operation bar 112 with a finger. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the volume of the alarm sound can be set in six levels from level 0 to level 5. In the example of FIG. 3, the volume of the alarm sound is “level 3”.

  Further, an alarm time setting area 114 for setting a time for outputting an alarm sound is provided, and a desired alarm time can be set by a touch operation or the like. In this example, a case where “10:00” is set is shown. In addition, it is not restricted to the said time in particular, It is possible to set to arbitrary time.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the alarm volume and the sound pressure threshold value of the microphone input.
As shown in FIG. 4, six levels from “0 to 5” are shown as the alarm volume. When the alarm sound is output at the set alarm volume, the threshold value of the sound pressure input by the microphone input is shown. When a sound pressure lower than the sound pressure threshold is detected, it is determined that the notification of the alarm sound is not properly notified to the notifier. Based on this determination, it is determined that the speaker 17 is in a closed state.

  When the alarm volume is “0”, no sound is output, so no sound pressure threshold is provided.

When the alarm volume is “1”, the sound pressure threshold is set to 60 dB.
When the alarm volume is “2”, the sound pressure threshold is set to 65 dB.

In the case of the alarm volume “3”, the sound pressure threshold is set to 70 dB.
When the alarm volume is “4”, the sound pressure threshold is set to 75 dB.

When the alarm volume is “5”, the sound pressure threshold is set to 80 dB.
The sound pressure threshold is changed according to the alarm volume, and it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the notification person is appropriately notified.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining state determination processing in the state determination unit 106 based on the embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 5, it is determined whether an alarm sound has been reproduced (step S1). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the playback unit 105 has played back an alarm sound when the alarm time set by the alarm setting unit 108 is reached.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the alarm sound has been reproduced (YES in step S1), the process proceeds to the next step. When it is determined that the alarm sound is not reproduced (NO in step S1), the state is maintained.

  Next, an alarm sound is detected (step S2). Specifically, the microphone 18 collects the reproduced alarm sound output from the speaker 17, and an audio signal converted into digital data is input to the control unit 15.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the sound pressure threshold is greater than or equal to the amplitude value of the input digital data (step S3).

  If it is determined in step S3 that the sound pressure threshold value is exceeded (YES in step S3), it is determined to be normal (step S5).

Then, the process ends (END).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the sound pressure is less than the threshold value (NO in step S3), it is determined that there is an abnormality (step S4).

Then, the process ends (END).
The determination result in the state determination unit 106 is output to the alternative process execution unit 107.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an alternative process in the alternative process execution unit 107 based on the embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality (step S10).
If it is determined in step S10 that there is an abnormality (YES in step S10), the alternative setting is confirmed (step S11). Specifically, the set external device to be substituted for the alarm sound set in FIG. 3 is confirmed.

Next, it is determined whether the alternative setting is a fixed telephone (step S12).
If it is determined in step S12 that the telephone is a fixed telephone (YES in step S12), a calling process is performed for the fixed telephone (step S13). Specifically, a call signal is output to a number registered as a fixed telephone at home, and a ringing tone is output from the fixed telephone.

Then, the process ends (END).
If it is determined in step S12 that the alternative setting is not a fixed telephone (NO in step S12), it is determined whether or not the wireless speaker is a wireless speaker (step S14).

  If it is determined in step S14 that the alternative setting is a wireless speaker (YES in step S14), an audio output process is performed (step S15). Specifically, a process of outputting audio data to the wireless speaker is executed. Sound is output from the wireless speaker.

Then, the process ends (END).
If it is determined in step S14 that the alternative setting is not a wireless speaker (NO in step S14), it is determined whether the alternative setting is a terminal (step S16).

  If it is determined in step S16 that the alternative setting is a terminal (YES in step S16), an information notification process is executed (step S17). Specifically, a process of notifying the terminal of information data is executed.

Then, the process ends (END).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the alternative setting is not a terminal (NO in step S16), the process ends (END).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the substitute processing of the external device in the substitute processing execution unit 107 based on the embodiment.

  FIG. 7A shows that when the mobile phone 10 is placed on a futon, if it is determined that the notification of the alarm sound is not appropriate for the notifier (when the alarm sound is low), the mobile phone 10 The case where the telephone 10 sends a call notification to the fixed telephone 50 which is an external device and the fixed telephone 50 outputs a ringing tone is shown.

  With this processing, the fixed telephone 50 outputs a ringing tone, notifies the user of the ringing tone as an alternative to the alarm tone, and wakes up or alerts the user.

  FIG. 7B shows a case where the headset 20 is connected to the mobile phone 10. An alarm sound is output from the headset 20. This is a case where the headset 20 for notifying the alarm sound is provided separately from the mobile phone 10 provided with the microphone 18. When it is determined that the notification of the alarm sound is not properly notified to the notifier (when the alarm sound is low), the mobile phone 10 sends a call notification to the fixed telephone 50 which is an external device. The fixed telephone 50 outputs a ringing tone. It is possible to wake up the user or call attention by notifying the user of a ringing tone as an alternative to the alarm sound.

  FIG. 7C shows a case where a wireless speaker 60 is used as an external device. When it is determined that the notification of the alarm sound is not appropriate for the notifier (when the alarm sound is small), audio data is output from the mobile phone 10 to the wireless speaker 60. It is assumed that the wireless speaker 60 can communicate with the mobile phone 10 via the communication unit 11. The wireless speaker 60 receives audio data from the mobile phone 10 and outputs audio from the wireless speaker 60. For example, as the sound data, an alarm sound may be output, or sound data in which a sound “It is time” may be output. If the wireless speaker has a sound source instead of the sound data, it may be instructed to output the sound of the sound source.

  FIG. 7D shows a case where the terminal 70 is used as an external device. When it is determined that the notification of the alarm sound is not appropriate for the notifier (when the alarm sound is small), the terminal 70 is notified of the information, and the information is output from the terminal 70. It is assumed that terminal 70 can communicate with mobile phone 10 via communication unit 11. For example, when calling attention to the user, it is possible to call attention to the user by outputting, for example, a display of “It's time”. Moreover, you may make it change the color of LED of the terminal 70, make it vibrate with the said alerting, or output an audio | voice.

[Other embodiments]
In the above description, the fixed telephone 50, the wireless speaker 60, and the terminal 70 have been described as examples of the external device.

  In this example, the method of determining whether the alarm sound notification is appropriate for the notifier according to the sound pressure input via the microphone 18 for the alarm sound has been described. In particular, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the headset 20 is connected to the mobile phone 10, no sound is output from the speaker 17. You may make it judge that it is not appropriate.

  It is also possible to provide a program that causes a computer to function and execute control as described in the above flowchart. The program may be a program module provided as part of an operating system (OS) of a computer, in which necessary modules are called at a predetermined timing and executed at a predetermined timing.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10 mobile phone, 11 communication unit, 12 storage unit, 13 display, 15 control unit, 17 speaker, 17a, 18a amplifier, 18 microphone, 19 receiver, 20 headset, 50 fixed phone, 60 wireless speaker, 70 terminal.

Claims (5)

An alarm notification unit for notifying an alarm sound;
A determination unit that determines whether or not notification of the alarm sound by the alarm notification unit is appropriate for a notifier;
An information processing apparatus comprising: an alternative process execution unit that executes an alternative process using an external device based on a determination result of the determination unit. It further comprises a microphone capable of collecting the alarm sound,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether the alarm sound collected through the microphone is equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined sound pressure is changed according to a set sound volume of the alarm sound.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the microphone and the alarm notification unit are provided in different apparatuses. A communication unit capable of communicating with the external device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternative process execution unit transmits predetermined information to the external apparatus via the communication unit.

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