JP2020021253A - Voice control system, information processing apparatus, registration method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a voice control system that efficiently associates a voice terminal with a device.SOLUTION: When a registration command for registering a device operable by a command input by voice to a voice terminal and the voice terminal in association with each other is input by voice to the voice terminal, a voice control system generates a registration code for starting registration and instructs a user to input the generated registration code via the device. The voice control system acquires identification information on the voice terminal to which the registration command is input by voice and identification information on the device to which the registration code is input. The voice control system registers the acquired identification information on the voice terminal and identification information on the device by using the registration code input to the device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a voice control system capable of controlling a device by a voice command, an information processing apparatus, a registration method, and a program.

  Conventionally, there has been a technology in which a voice terminal independent of an electronic device to be operated receives voice input on behalf of various electronic devices, and delivers a command to a pre-registered electronic device according to the received content. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2016-14967 A

  In order for the voice terminal to send a command corresponding to voice input to a registered electronic device as in Patent Literature 1, it is necessary to register the correspondence between the operation target electronic device (device) and the voice terminal. As voice terminals become more widespread, there is a demand for more efficient operation for this registration.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a voice control system, an information processing apparatus, a registration method, and a program for efficiently associating a voice terminal with a device.

  In order to solve the above problem, a voice control system according to the present invention is a voice control system including a voice terminal, a device operable by a command input by voice at the voice terminal, and a server, wherein the device When a registration command for registering the voice terminal in association with the voice terminal is voice-inputted by the voice terminal, a generation unit that generates a registration code related to the registration, and the registration code generated by the generation unit. First instruction means for instructing the user to input via the input unit corresponding to the device, identification information of the voice terminal to which the voice of the registration command has been input, and the input unit to which the registration code has been input. Acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the corresponding device, and acquisition by the acquisition means using a registration code input by the device. Characterized in that it comprises a registration means for registering in association with identification information of the audio terminal that the identification information of the device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently associate a voice terminal with a device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a system. It is a figure showing a database. It is a figure which shows the example of an utterance at the time of performing apparatus control by a voice command. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of operating a device by voice. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an utterance when registering a correspondence between a voice terminal and a printing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering an association between a voice terminal and a printing device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an utterance when registering a correspondence between a voice terminal and a printing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering an association between a voice terminal and a printing device. It is a figure showing a database. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an utterance when registering a correspondence between a voice terminal and a printing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering an association between a voice terminal and a printing device. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering an association between a voice terminal and a printing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a voice terminal. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a server. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a printing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. . The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

<First embodiment>
The configuration of the information system 100 including the audio terminal, the operation target electronic device, and the server group in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The information system 100 is a voice control system that can control an electronic device by a voice command input from a voice terminal.

  The voice terminal 110 includes a voice input unit 111, a voice output unit 112, and a network communication unit 113, and stores a voice terminal ID 114, which is identification information for identifying itself, in a storage unit such as a ROM or a hard disk. The voice terminal 110 is communicably connected to the voice terminal management server 120 via the network 150 by using the network communication unit 113. The voice terminal 110 acquires voice input from the user via the voice input unit 111 and transmits the voice data to the voice terminal management server 120. The voice terminal 110 outputs a voice notification to the user via the voice output unit 112 based on the voice data received from the voice terminal management server 120.

  The voice terminal management server 120 includes a voice processing unit 121, a cooperation processing unit 122, a cooperation server management database (DB) 123, and a network communication unit 124. The voice terminal management server 120 is communicably connected to each of the voice terminal 110 and the printing device management server 140 via the network 150 by using the network communication unit 124. The voice processing unit 121 performs voice recognition of the content of the utterance of the user based on the voice data received from the voice terminal 110, and converts the content into character information. The cooperative processing unit 122 specifies the printing device management server 140 that manages the device (device) to be voice-operated based on the recognized character information, and outputs a command for the device to be operated from the character information to the printing device management server. Send to 140. The cooperation server management DB 123 registers and manages a cooperation server that manages devices operated by the audio terminal 110 for each type. In the present embodiment, for example, the printing apparatus 130 corresponds to a device to be operated, and the printing apparatus management server 140 corresponds to a cooperation server. Further, the voice processing unit 121 generates voice data for voice output to the user based on the character information received from the cooperation server. The network communication unit 124 transmits the generated voice data to the voice terminal 110.

  The voice terminal 110 and the voice terminal management server 120 instruct the operation to various devices in the information system 100 according to the voice input from the user, and provide voice notification to the user as necessary. A response system 160 is formed.

  The printing device 130 is a device to be operated in the information system 110 and is a device operable by a voice command. The printing device 130 includes an input unit 131, a display unit 132, a printing unit 133, and a network communication unit 134, and stores a printing device ID 135, which is identification information for identifying itself, in a storage unit such as a ROM or a hard disk. The printing apparatus 130 is communicably connected to the printing apparatus management server 140 via the network 150 by using the network communication unit 134. The input unit 131 includes a key group, and the printing apparatus 130 acquires an operation instruction from a user via the input unit 131. The display unit 132 includes a liquid crystal display panel, and displays a user interface screen such as a state of the printing apparatus 130, a notification to a user, and an operation guide. The user can perform an interactive operation with the printing device 130 using the input unit 131 and the display unit 132.

  The network communication unit 134 constantly performs polling communication with the printing device management server 140 via the network 150. By the polling communication, the printing apparatus 130 inquires whether or not there is content to be printed by the printing apparatus 130, and when the content is present, receives print data as content from the printing apparatus management server 140. The printing unit 133 prints an image on a recording medium such as a sheet supplied to the printing apparatus 130 based on print data received from the printing apparatus management server 140 using the network communication unit 134. The printing unit may use any recording method such as an ink jet recording method, an electrophotographic method, and a thermal transfer method.

  The printing device management server 140 includes a command processing unit 141, a registration unit 142, a content output unit 143, a registration code DB 144, a printing device management DB 145, and a network communication unit 146. The printing device management server 140 is communicably connected to each of the voice terminal management server 120 and the printing device 130 via the network 150 by using the network communication unit 146. The command processing unit 141 interprets the command received by the network communication unit 146 and gives an operation instruction to each unit described later. The registration unit 142 associates the voice terminal 110 with the printing device 130 by performing processing to be described later, and performs registration in the printing device management DB 145. The content output unit 143 generates print data for causing the printing device 130 to print an image based on an operation instruction input to the audio terminal 110 by a user by a process described below. The registration code DB 144 records a registration code used in a process described later in association with the voice terminal 110, the printing device 130, or a combination thereof. In the present embodiment, the registration code is used as a one-time token.

  The printing device management DB 145 registers and manages the association between the audio terminal 110 and the printing device 130. The network communication unit 146 receives, as a command, an inquiry about the presence / absence of a content in the polling process by the printing apparatus 130. At this time, if the content output unit 143 has generated print data for the printing apparatus 130, the printing apparatus management server 140 transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 130 as a response to polling. Further, the network communication unit 146 receives, as a command, character information indicating an operation command for the printing apparatus 130 from the voice terminal management server 120. Further, in response to the result of processing the character information by the command processing unit 141, a character string of a response text to be output as voice from the voice terminal 110 to the user is transmitted to the voice terminal management server 120.

  The network 150 is a computer network that connects the voice terminal 110, the voice terminal management server 120, the printing device management server 140, and the printing device 130 so that they can communicate with each other. The network 150 may be composed of various networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or a combination thereof. The network 150 may include an access point, a switch, a router, and the like. Further, the network 150 may be configured by any medium such as a wired or wireless medium.

  Here, the hardware configuration of each device in FIG. 1 will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware block configuration of the audio terminal 110. The audio terminal 110 includes a speaker 1301, a CPU 1302, a ROM 1303, a microphone 1304, a RAM 1305, an external storage device 1306, a communication unit 1307, and a short-range wireless communication unit 1308. The blocks shown in FIG. 13 are connected to each other using, for example, an internal bus 1310. Further, the CPU represents the Central Processing Unit, the ROM represents the Read Only Memory, and the RAM represents the Random Access Memory. The operation of the audio terminal 110 according to the present embodiment is realized, for example, by the CPU 1302 loading a program stored in the ROM 1303 into the RAM 1305 and executing the program.

  The speaker 1301 corresponds to the audio output unit 112 in FIG. 1 and outputs audio based on audio data. The CPU 1302 is configured, for example, on a system control board, and controls the voice terminal 110 comprehensively. The ROM 1303 stores fixed data such as a control program executed by the CPU 1302, a data table, and an embedded OS (Operating System) program. In the present embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 1303 is a target of software execution control of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 1303. The software execution control is, for example, scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing. The microphone 1304 corresponds to the voice input unit 111 in FIG. 1 and receives a voice around the voice terminal 110, for example, a voice emitted by a user.

  The RAM 1305 includes, for example, an SRAM (Static RAM) that requires a backup power supply. Since data is held in the RAM 1305 by a data backup primary battery (not shown), data such as program control variables can be held without volatilization. Further, a memory area for storing setting information and management data of the voice terminal 110 is also provided in the RAM 1305. The RAM 1305 is also used as a main memory and a work memory of the CPU 1302. The external storage device 1306 stores application software.

  The communication unit 1307 includes a circuit and an antenna for performing communication according to a predetermined wireless communication scheme. For example, the communication unit 1307 can wirelessly connect to an external access point. The communication unit 1307 can also temporarily operate as an access point. That is, the communication unit 1307 may have an access point function. The wireless communication used in the present embodiment may have the ability to operate in accordance with the wireless LAN wireless communication system conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series, or the ability to operate in accordance with another wireless communication system. Is also good. The short-range wireless communication unit 1308 performs short-range wireless communication with the voice terminal 110 and another device existing within a certain short-range. Note that the short-range wireless communication unit 1308 performs communication using a wireless communication method different from that of the communication unit 1307. In the present embodiment, the short-range wireless communication unit 1308 operates according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The communication unit 1307 and the short-range wireless communication unit 1308 correspond to the network communication unit 113 in FIG.

  A voice recognition / voice output unit 1309 recognizes voice input via the microphone 1304 to generate voice data, and converts voice data received from the outside or message data stored in advance into voice signals. Then, a sound is output from the speaker 1301.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the voice terminal management server 120 and the printing device management server 140. FIG. 14 shows a configuration common to the above two devices, and therefore, the following description will be made as the voice terminal management server 120. In the present embodiment, the audio terminal management server 120 and the printing device management server 140 are each configured by a single server (information processing device). A server system corresponding to the terminal management server 120 or the printing device management server 140 may be configured.

  The CPU 1401 is a central processing unit for controlling the voice terminal management server 120 as a whole. The disk device 1402 stores various files and data in addition to the application program 1412, the database 1413, and the OS. The external storage medium reading device 1403 is a device for reading information such as a file stored in an external storage medium such as an SD card. The memory 1404 includes a RAM or the like, and is used when the CPU 1401 performs temporary storage or buffering of data as necessary.

  The display unit 1405 includes, for example, an LCD, and displays various types of information. The operation unit 1406 includes a keyboard and a mouse for the user to perform various input operations, and can receive instructions and operations from the user. The network communication unit 1407 is connected to a network such as the Internet via the network connection unit 1408, and performs various types of communication. The network connection unit 1408 corresponds to a network medium such as a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. In the case of a wired LAN, for example, a connector for connecting a cable of a wired LAN. It is. Note that the network connection unit 1408 may support both a wired LAN and a wireless LAN. The USB communication unit 1410 is connected to various peripheral devices via a USB connection unit 1411 and performs various communication.

  Each block in FIG. 14 is mutually connected via a bus 1409. The operation of the voice terminal management server 120 (or the printing device management server 140) in the present embodiment is realized, for example, by the CPU 1401 loading a program required for processing from the disk device 1402 into the memory 1404 and executing the program. You. Further, the voice recognition function of the voice recognition / voice output unit 1309 of FIG. 13 may be included in the configuration of FIG. In that case, the device including the configuration in FIG. 14 can analyze voice data transmitted from the voice terminal 110 and recognize and extract a predetermined word, for example. In the present embodiment, the audio terminal management server 120 and the printing device management server 140 are described as separate servers (information processing devices), but may be configured as a server in which both server functions are integrated.

  The voice processing unit 121, the cooperation processing unit 122, the command processing unit 141, the registration unit 142, and the content output unit 143 in FIG. 1 are realized as, for example, modules executed by the CPU 1401. The cooperation server management DB 123, the registration code DB 144, and the printing device management DB 145 correspond to, for example, the database 1413. The network communication units 124 and 146 correspond to the network communication unit 1407.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of the printing apparatus 130. In the present embodiment, for example, an image processing device, a copying machine, a facsimile, a single-function printing device, or the like may be used as the printing device 130 in addition to the multifunction peripheral. In the printing apparatus 130, the printing function is realized by the printer unit 1501, the scanner function is realized by the scanner unit 1502, and the storage function is realized by the memory card mounting unit 1503 and the memory card 1504. The components described above are interconnected by a bus 1514.

  The printer unit 1501 corresponds to the printing unit 133 in FIG. 1, and converts image data received from the outside or image data stored in the memory card 1504 into printing paper or the like by a recording method such as an ink jet recording method or an electrophotographic method. On a recording medium. The printer unit 1501 manages information on consumable members, for example, ink information including the remaining amount of ink and sheet information such as the number of stacked sheets.

  The scanner unit 1502 optically reads a document set on a document table (not shown), converts the document into electronic data, and transmits image data converted into a specified file format to an external device via a network, or It is stored in a storage area such as the HDD 1516. In the copy service, the scanner unit 1502 reads an original placed on a platen and transfers the image data generated by the scanner unit 1502 to the printer unit 1501, and the printer unit 1501 stores the image data in a recording medium such as printing paper based on the image data. It is realized by performing printing.

  Various file data are stored in the memory card 1504 mounted on the memory card mounting unit 1503. This file data may be read from an external device via a network and edited. In some cases, file data is stored in the memory card 1504 from an external device.

  Further, the printing apparatus 130 includes a CPU 1505, a program memory 1506, a work memory 1507, a display unit 1508, an operation unit 1509, a network communication unit 1510, a network connection unit 1511, and a flash memory 1512. The operation unit 1509 corresponds to the input unit 131 in FIG. The display unit 1508 corresponds to the display unit 132 in FIG. The CPU 1505 is a central processing unit for totally controlling each unit in the printing apparatus 130. The program memory 1506 is constituted by a ROM or the like, and stores various program codes and an application 1515 for communicating with an external server. The application 1515 can also access the printer unit 1501 to acquire information about consumables such as ink and paper. The work memory 1507 includes a RAM or the like, and temporarily stores and buffers image data and the like when each service is executed. The display unit 1508 includes, for example, an LCD, and displays various information such as a user interface screen. The operation unit 1509 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a switch, and the like, and can receive instructions and operations from a user. The network communication unit 1510 corresponds to the network communication unit 134 in FIG. 1, and performs various kinds of communication by connecting the printing apparatus 130 to a network via the network connection unit 1511.

  When the network communication unit 1510 is compatible with a wired LAN, the network connection unit 1511 is a connector for connecting a wired LAN cable. When the network communication unit 1510 is compatible with a wireless LAN, the network connection unit 1511 is an antenna. Note that the network connection unit 1511 may support both a wired LAN and a wireless LAN. In the present embodiment, the network communication unit 1510 and the network connection unit 1511 are compatible with a wireless LAN, and can be connected to an access point in accordance with, for example, a wireless LAN wireless communication system based on the IEEE 802.11 standard series. Note that the network connection unit 1511 itself can temporarily operate as an access point (master station that constructs a network). That is, the network connection unit 1511 may have a function corresponding to the access point. Further, the printing device 130 may include a short-range wireless communication unit (not shown), like the audio terminal 110.

  The flash memory 1512 is a non-volatile memory for storing image data and the like received by the network communication unit 1510. The components described above are interconnected by a bus 1513. Further, there may be a block for performing data conversion between the bus 1514 and the bus 1513. The operation of the printing apparatus 130 in the present embodiment is realized, for example, by the CPU 1505 reading a program necessary for processing from the program memory 1506 to the work memory 1507 and executing the program.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of the cooperation server management DB 123 provided in the voice terminal management server 120. Based on the call name 201, a Universal Resource Locator (URL) 202 of the cooperation server can be searched. The voice terminal management server 120 analyzes voice data based on voice input obtained from the user by the voice terminal 110 in a process described below, and specifies the URL of the cooperation server based on the analysis result and the cooperation server management DB 123.

  FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of a registration code DB 144 provided in the printing device management server 140. The voice terminal ID 301, the registration code 302, and the expiration date and time 303 of the registration code are stored in association with each other. The registration code DB 144 is used when registering the association between the voice terminal 110 and the printing device 130 in a process described below. The registration unit 142 of the printing apparatus management server 140 deletes, from the registration code DB 144, items that have passed the expiration date and time 303, for example, once a day, by periodic processing.

  FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the printing device management DB 145 provided in the printing device management server 140. When registering the correspondence between the voice terminal 110 and the printing device 130 in the processing described later, the printing device management DB 145 stores the voice terminal ID 401 and the printing device ID 402, which are identification information for identifying them, in association with each other. I do.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an utterance example when operating a device by voice via the voice terminal 110. The operation in FIG. 3 is performed in a state where the correspondence between the voice terminal ID 114 of the voice terminal 110 and the printing device ID 135 of the printing device 130 is stored in the printing device management DB 145 in advance by a process described later.

  The user 511 utters an uttered voice 501 as an operation instruction to the voice terminal 110. The first word 502 of the uttered voice 501 is a word indicating that the user is talking to the voice terminal 110. The uttered voice following the word 502 indicating that the user is speaking includes a call name 503 and a word 504 indicating activation. The call name 503 specifies which server in cooperation with the audio terminal 110 processes the subsequent operation instruction. The word 504 indicating activation indicates that an operation instruction is given to a server associated with the voice terminal 110 specified by the call name 503. The word order of the call name 503 and the word 504 indicating activation is predetermined according to the language used by the user. An utterance voice 505 following a call name 503 and a word 504 indicating activation is used as an instruction command to a cooperating server. The processing described below is performed on these, and the voice terminal 110 outputs a response voice 506 to the user 511. In FIG. 3, a response voice 506 indicating that printing has been completed is output.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing operation of device operation by voice via the voice terminal 110. In S101, the user 511 of the audio terminal 110 utters the operation instruction of FIG. In S102, the voice terminal 110 acquires the uttered voice 501 by the voice input unit 111. The voice input unit 111 detects a word 502 indicating that the user is speaking from the obtained uttered voice 501, and determines that the uttered voice 501 is an input to the voice terminal 110. In S103, the voice terminal 110 transmits the voice data of the uttered voice 501 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 113. Further, the voice terminal 110 transmits the data to the voice terminal management server 120 together with the voice terminal ID 114 as data for specifying the voice terminal 110.

  In S104, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the voice data of the voice 501 and the voice terminal ID 114 through the network communication unit 124. Further, the voice terminal management server 120 performs voice recognition on the voice data of the uttered voice 501 in the voice processing unit 121 to convert the voice data into character data, and acquires character data corresponding to the call name 503 and the command 505, respectively. In S105, the voice terminal management server 120 specifies a cooperation server that processes the command 505 in the cooperation processing unit 122. The cooperation processing unit 122 accesses the cooperation server management DB 123, searches the registered call name 201 for the uttered call name 503, and acquires the cooperation server URL 202 associated with the matching call name. For example, a URL “https://aaa.com/service/print” associated with the call name 503 “AAA company print” is acquired. Here, it is assumed that the URL is the URL of the voice terminal cooperation service provided by the printing apparatus management server 140. In step S106, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits, using the network communication unit 124, the character data converted based on the command 505 and the voice terminal ID 114, using the URL of the printing apparatus management server 140 acquired in step S105 as the communication destination. I do.

  In S107, the printing apparatus management server 140 receives the character data and the voice terminal ID 114 corresponding to the command 505 transmitted in S106 using the network communication unit 146, and interprets the contents of the character data in the command processing unit 141. Do. Here, based on the character string “print today's news” of the command 505, a process of outputting today's news as a printed matter is started. In S108, the printing device management server 140 specifies the printing device to be operated by the command processing unit 141. The command processing unit 141 accesses the printing device management DB 145, searches the registered voice terminal ID 401 for the voice terminal ID 114 received in S107, and acquires the printing device ID 402 associated with a matching one. Here, it is assumed that the printing device ID is the printing device ID 135 of the printing device 130. Through this process, the printing device 130 is specified as the device to be operated. In S109, the printing device management server 140 generates the print content of “today's news” specified by the command 505 in the content output unit 143 according to the command interpreted in S107. Furthermore, the printing device management server 140 converts the content output unit 143 into print data executable by the printing device 130 having the printing device ID 135.

  In step S110, the printing apparatus 130 transmits the printing apparatus ID 135 to the printing apparatus management server 140 using the network communication unit 134 to perform polling communication, and inquires about the presence or absence of print content for the printing apparatus. Note that, for example, after the power of the printing apparatus is turned on, S110 is realized by constantly performing polling communication.

  In S111, the printing device management server 140 receives the inquiry and the printing device ID 135 transmitted in S110 by the network communication unit 146. The content output unit 143 specifies the print data generated in S109 based on the printing device ID 135. In S112, the printing device management server 140 transmits the print data to the printing device 130 via the network communication unit 146.

  In step S113, the printing apparatus 130 receives the print data transmitted using the network communication unit 134, and performs printing using the printing unit 133. On the other hand, the printing device management server 140 generates the character data of the response voice 506 returned to the user via the voice terminal 110 by the command processing unit 141 in S114. Further, the printing apparatus management server 140 transmits the generated character data together with the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 146.

  In S115, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the character data of the response voice 506 and the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124, and generates voice data of the response voice 506 in the voice processing unit 121. In S116, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the generated response voice data to the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124.

  In step S117, the voice terminal 110 receives the response voice data using the network communication unit 113, and outputs the response voice 506 to the user using the voice output unit 112. As described above, the processing of the device operation by voice is performed.

  Next, a method of associating the voice terminal 110 with the printing device 130 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of utterance when registering the correspondence between the voice terminal 110 and the printing apparatus 130 by voice in the present embodiment. The user 511 utters an uttered voice 701 as an operation instruction to the voice terminal 110. A word 502 indicating that the user is talking to the voice terminal 110, a call name 503, and a word 504 indicating that the terminal is to be activated are the same as the description of the words having the same numbers in FIG. When registering the association between the voice terminal 110 and the printing apparatus 130, the character string “register the printer” of the registration command 702 for the associated printing apparatus management server 140 is used. The registration process described later is performed on these, and the voice terminal 110 outputs a response voice 703 to the user 511. The registration code used in the processing described later is incorporated in the registration code section 704 of the response voice 703.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering the association between the audio terminal 110 and the printing device 130 according to the present embodiment. In S201, the user 511 of the audio terminal 110 utters the operation instruction 701 of FIG. Step S202 is the same as the description of step S102 in FIG. In step S <b> 203, the voice terminal 110 transmits the voice data of the uttered voice 701 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 113.

  In S204, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the voice data of the uttered voice 701 and the voice terminal ID 114 through the network communication unit 124. Further, the voice terminal management server 120 performs voice recognition on the voice data of the uttered voice 701 in the voice processing unit 121 to convert the voice data into character data, and obtains character data corresponding to the call name 503 and the command 702, respectively. In step S205, the cooperation processing unit 122 accesses the cooperation server management DB 123 and acquires the URL of the voice terminal cooperation service of the printing apparatus management server 140 as the cooperation server URL 202 associated with the call name 503. In S206, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the character data corresponding to the command 702 and the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124 with the URL of the printing apparatus management server 140 acquired in S205 as the communication destination.

  In S207, the printing apparatus management server 140 receives the character data and the voice terminal ID 114 corresponding to the command 702 transmitted in S206 by using the network communication unit 146, and interprets the contents of the character data in the command processing unit 141. Do. In S208 and thereafter, the printing device management server 140 performs a process of registering the association between the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 and the printing device 130 according to the result of interpreting the character string “register printer” of the command 702. Do.

  In S208, the printing apparatus management server 140 generates a registration code in the registration unit 142. In the present embodiment, the registration code is a one-time token, for example, an eight-digit number string. The registration unit 142 generates a new registration code that does not match any of the registration codes 302 that have been stored in the registration code DB 144 and have not reached the expiration date and time 303 at the present time. Further, the registration unit 142 sets an expiration date and time in the generated registration code. The expiration date and time is, for example, 30 minutes after registration code generation. Then, the registration unit 142 records the generated registration code in the registration code DB 144 in association with the voice terminal ID 114 received in S207 and the set expiration date and time.

  In step S209, the printing apparatus management server 140 uses the command processing unit 141 to generate character data corresponding to the text 703 of the response voice that notifies the user 511 of the registration code generated in step S208. Further, the printing apparatus management server 140 transmits the character data corresponding to the response message 703 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 146.

  In S210, the voice terminal management server 120 uses the network communication unit 124 to receive the character data corresponding to the sentence 703 of the response voice and the voice terminal ID 114. Then, the voice terminal management server 120 generates response voice data based on the character data corresponding to the word 703 of the response voice in the voice processing unit 121. In step S211, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the generated response voice data to the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124.

  In S212, the voice terminal 110 receives the response voice data using the network communication unit 113, and outputs the response voice 703 to the user 511 using the voice output unit 112. The new registration code is transmitted to the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 by the response voice 703.

  In step S213, the user 511 inputs a registration code to the printing apparatus 130 using the keys of the input unit 131 in response to the response voice 703. In S214, the printing apparatus 130 obtains an input from the user 511 as an input code using the input unit 131. The input code corresponds to a registration code. In S215, the printing apparatus 130 transmits the printing apparatus ID 135 and the input code to the printing apparatus management server 140 using the network communication unit 134.

  In S216, the printing device management server 140 receives the transmitted printing device ID 135 and the input code using the network communication unit 146. In S217, the registration unit 142 accesses the registration code DB 144, and searches for an item that has not reached the expiration date and time 303, and that matches the value of the registration code 302 with the received input code value. By this search, the voice terminal ID 114 that is the value of the voice terminal ID 301 associated with the registration code 302 is obtained. In S218, the registration unit 142 accesses the printing device management DB 145. The registration unit 142 registers the value of the voice terminal ID 114 and the value of the printing device ID 135 associated with the input code as the voice terminal ID 401 and the printing device ID 402 in the printing device management DB 145, respectively.

  By the above processing, the correspondence between the voice terminal ID 114 of the voice terminal 110 and the printing device ID 135 of the printing device 130 is registered in the printing device management DB 145 of the printing device management server 140. Thereafter, when the user 511 of the audio terminal 110 utters the utterance of FIG. 3, the printing device management DB 145 is referred to by the processing of FIG. 4, and printing is performed by the desired printing device 130 using the registered association. be able to.

  In the above description, the values of the voice terminal ID 114, the printing device ID 135, and the registration code are stored in the registration code DB 144 and the printing device management DB 145, respectively. However, the value stored in each DB does not need to be the value of the ID and the registration code as long as the data can be collated with the ID, and may be, for example, a hash value calculated based on each value. .

  In the present embodiment, a configuration example has been described in which the voice processing unit 121 of the voice terminal management server 120 performs conversion processing between voice data of the uttered voices 501, 506, 701, and 703 and character data corresponding thereto. However, the conversion processing may be performed so as to be completed in the voice terminal 110, or the processing may be divided between the voice terminal 110 and the voice terminal management server 120. It should be done.

  Instead of the voice terminal IDs 301 and 401 stored in the registration code DB 144 and the printing device management DB 145, respectively, a user ID may be issued to the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 in advance, and the user ID may be used. . In this case, the conversion between the voice terminal ID 114 and the user ID may be performed by any of the voice terminal 110, the voice terminal management server 120, and the printing apparatus management server 140, or may be performed by another server that can communicate with them. Good. Similarly, the printing device ID 402 recorded in the printing management device DB 145 may be replaced with a user ID. The conversion between the printing device ID 135 and the user ID may be performed by the printing device 130 or the printing device management server 140, or may be performed by another server that can communicate with them.

  In the above description, in S214, the printing apparatus 130 acquires the input code from the user 511 by the input unit 131 including the key group. On the other hand, the input unit 131 may be integrated with the display unit 132 and include a software key group using a touch panel. The input unit 131 includes an image reading unit and a character recognizing unit. The user 511 reads a registration code written in characters on a sheet of paper with the image reading unit, and obtains an input code converted by the character recognizing unit into a character string. May be configured. The character recognition unit may be configured to be provided in the printing device management server 140 or another server that can communicate with them, instead of being provided in the printing device 130.

  Further, the printing apparatus 130 may have a Web server function, and the user 511 may be configured to be able to access the Web server using a terminal device (not shown). In this case, the web browser operating on the terminal device accesses the web server via the network communication unit 134 of the printing device 130, acquires a screen for inputting an input code, and obtains a screen for inputting an input code. To be displayed. When the user 511 inputs the registration code on the screen for inputting the input code, the terminal device transmits the registration code to the Web server via the network communication unit 134 of the printing device 130 as the input code. By configuring the Web server to receive the input code transmitted from the Web browser on the terminal device, the Web server functions as the input unit 131 on the printing device 130.

  In the above, an example in which the printing apparatus 130 is used as a device (device) to be associated with the audio terminal 110 has been described. However, as the device, a digital camera, a television receiver, and other home appliances having a network communication unit can be used. It is. Also in this case, the operation panel, remote controller, imaging unit, and the like included in the device function as an input unit for acquiring an input code, and can be similarly associated with the voice terminal by using the network communication unit of the device. it can.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the configuration is adopted in which the user 511 hears the registration code issued by the printing apparatus management server 140 from the voice terminal 110 and inputs the registration code to the printing apparatus 130. However, storing a large number of non-regular numbers or the like in a large number of times places a burden on the user even in a short time from when the voice terminal 110 is heard and when it is input to the printing device 130, and there is a possibility that an error may occur. . In the present embodiment, the user can determine the registration code or a part of the registration code, and the burden on the user can be reduced. Hereinafter, points different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The configuration of the information system including the voice terminal, the operation target device, and the server group in the present embodiment is the same as that of the information system 110 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C also show the contents of the cooperation server management DB 123 provided in the voice terminal management server 120 and the contents of the registration code DB 144 and the printing device management DB 145 provided in the printing device management server 140, respectively. This is the same as the description in the first embodiment shown in FIG. A sequence diagram of an example of how to operate the voice terminal 110 by voice and a device operation example by voice is also the same as the description in the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an utterance example when registering the correspondence between the voice terminal 110 and the printing apparatus 130 by voice in the present embodiment. The user 511 utters an utterance voice 701 to the voice terminal 110 as an operation instruction. The uttered voice 701 is the same as that described in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The registration processing described later is performed on these, and the voice terminal 110 outputs a temporary registration code request voice 901 to the user 511. If the user 511 utters the temporary registration code 911 in response to the temporary registration code request voice 901, the uttered temporary registration code 911 is regarded as a part of a series of registration operations. In this case, the cooperation processing unit 122 of the voice terminal management server 120 continuously transmits the command using the printing device management server 140 as the cooperation server, and continues the processing. By the processing to be continued, the voice terminal 110 outputs a response voice 921 to the user 511. In the response voice 921, a character string for outputting a registration code to be used in processing to be described later is incorporated in the registration code unit 922. The permanent registration code is generated based on the temporary registration code 911 by a registration process described later.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering the association between the audio terminal 110 and the printing device 130 according to the present embodiment. Each process from S301 to S307 is the same as the description from S201 to S207 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. After S308, the printing device management server 140 performs a process for registering the correspondence between the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 received in S307 and the printing device 130 according to the result of the command interpretation in S307.

  In step S308, the printing apparatus management server 140 uses the command processing unit 141 to generate character data corresponding to the text 901 of the response voice prompting the user 511 to utter the temporary registration code. Further, the printing apparatus management server 140 transmits the character data corresponding to the text 901 of the response voice to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 146 together with the voice terminal ID 114.

  In step S309, the voice terminal management server 120 uses the network communication unit 124 to receive the character data corresponding to the transmitted response text 901 and the voice terminal ID 114, and the voice processing unit 121 generates response voice data. In step S310, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the generated response voice data to the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124.

  In step S311, the voice terminal 110 receives the response voice data using the network communication unit 113, and outputs the response voice data 901 to the user 511 using the voice output unit 112. The response voice 901 prompts the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 to utter the temporary registration code.

  In step S312, the user 511 determines the eight-digit temporary registration code 911 in response to the response voice 901 and speaks. In S313, the voice terminal 110 acquires the uttered voice 911 by the voice input unit 111. In S314, the voice terminal 110 uses the network communication unit 113 to transmit the voice data of the uttered temporary registration code 911 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120.

  In S315, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the voice data of the temporary registration code 911 and the voice terminal ID 114 through the network communication unit 124. Further, in the voice terminal management server 120, the voice processing unit 121 performs voice recognition on the voice data of the temporary registration code 911, and converts the voice data into character data. In S316, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the character data converted from the voice data of the temporary registration code 911 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the URL of the printing device management server 140 previously specified in S305 as a communication destination. I do.

  In S317, the printing apparatus management server 140 uses the network communication unit 146 to receive the character data and the voice terminal ID 114 corresponding to the temporary registration code 911 transmitted in S316. In S318, the printing apparatus management server 140 causes the registration unit 142 to generate a registration code based on the character data of the temporary registration code 911. In the present embodiment, the registration code is a one-time token, for example, an eight-digit number string. Basically, the temporary registration code 911 is used as it is as the registration code. However, if there is already a registration code 302 that has been stored in the registration code DB 144 and has not reached the expiration date and time 303 at this time, it coincides with the temporary registration code 911, a new registration is performed based on the temporary registration code 911. Generate code. Specifically, a registration code is generated in which one or more digits of the temporary registration code 911 are changed and no matching code exists. If the number of digits of the temporary registration code 911 is less than the eight digits of the registration code, characters are added so that there is no registration code that matches an item within the expiration date of the registration code DB 144. I do. When the number of digits of the temporary registration code 911 exceeds the number of digits of the registration code, the last character is deleted so that the number of digits becomes eight. As a result of the deletion, if there is an item that matches the item within the expiration date of the registration code DB 144, the registration code is changed to an item having no matching registration code. Further, the registration unit 142 sets an expiration date and time in the generated registration code, and stores it in the registration code DB 144 together with the generated registration code. The expiration date and time is, for example, 30 minutes after registration code generation.

  In S319, the printing device management server 140 uses the command processing unit 141 to generate character data corresponding to the text 921 of the response voice that notifies the user 511 of the registration code generated in S318. Further, the printing device management server 140 transmits the character data of the response message 921 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 146.

  In step S320, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the character data of the sentence 921 of the response voice and the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124, and generates voice data of the response voice 921 in the voice processing unit 121. I do. In step S <b> 321, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the generated response voice data to the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124.

  In step S322, the voice terminal 110 receives the response voice data using the network communication unit 113, and outputs the response voice 921 to the user 511 using the voice output unit 112. The new registration code is transmitted to the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 by the response voice 921.

  Thereafter, S323 to S328 are the same as the description of S213 to S218 in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment. By this processing, the correspondence between the voice terminal ID 114 of the voice terminal 110 and the printing device ID 135 of the printing device 130 is registered in the printing device management DB 145 of the printing device management server 140. Thereafter, when the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 utters the utterance voice 501 of FIG. 3, the printing device management DB 145 is referred to by the processing of FIG. 4, and printing is performed by the desired printing device 130 using the registered association. It can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the registration unit 142 of the printing device management server 140 generates a registration code based on the temporary registration code 911 spoken by the user 511. This makes it possible to reduce the burden on the user who inputs the one-time token to the printing apparatus 130 as compared with the case where the registration code generated irregularly is used.

<Third embodiment>
In the present embodiment, two types of registration codes, a first registration code and a second registration code, are used when associating a printing device with a voice terminal. The first registration code is output from the printing device 130 and the user makes a voice input to the voice terminal 110, and the second registration code is output as a voice from the voice terminal 110 and the user inputs the second registration code to the printing device 130. By taking such a procedure, there is a risk that an unauthorized association is performed by a method such as a method in which a person other than the user who is actually operating the voice terminal 110 or the printing apparatus 130 randomly inputs a large number of registration codes. Performance can be reduced. Hereinafter, points different from the first and second embodiments will be described.

  The configuration of the information system 100 including the voice terminal, the device to be operated, and the server group in this embodiment is the same as that in the first and second embodiments shown in FIG. The contents of the cooperation server management DB 123 provided in the voice terminal management server 120 are also the same as those in the first and second embodiments shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a first registration code table 1101 and a second registration code table 1201 are provided in a registration code DB 144 provided in the printing apparatus management server 140. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the first registration code table 1101. As shown in FIG. 9A, a printing apparatus ID 1111, a first registration code 1112, and an expiration date and time 1113 are stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the second registration code table 1201. As shown in FIG. 9B, a printing device ID 1211, a voice terminal ID 1212, a second registration code 1213, and an expiration date and time 1214 are stored in association with each other. The first registration code table 1101 and the second registration code table 1201 are used when registering the correspondence between the voice terminal 110 and the printing device 130 in the processing described later. The registration unit 142 of the printing apparatus management server 140 performs the periodic processing, for example, once a day, from the first registration code table 1101 and the second registration code table 1201 of the registration code DB 144, the expiration dates 1113 and 1214 have passed. Delete each item.

  FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the printing device management DB 145 provided in the printing device management server 140. The printing device management DB 145 stores a correspondence between the voice terminal ID 1301 and the printing device ID 1302, and a registration completion flag 1303 indicating whether or not the respective correspondence has been completed. For example, in the item 1311, the association between the voice terminal ID “V0000004” and the printing device ID “P1000002” is stored, but the processing described below has not been completed and the association is still invalid, and the registration completion flag 1303 is “FALSE” meaning invalid. On the other hand, in the item 1312, the process of associating the voice terminal ID “V0000001” with the printing device ID “P1000001” has already been completed, and the registration completion flag 1303 is “TRUE” meaning valid.

  A sequence example showing an utterance example when operating a device by voice via the voice terminal 110 and a processing operation of the device operation by voice in the present embodiment are the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The description is the same as that described above. However, the processing of S108 in FIG. 4 is as follows. When the command processing unit 141 of the printing device management server 140 accesses the printing device management DB 145 and obtains the printing device ID 135 associated with the voice terminal ID 114, only the registration completion flag 1303 of which is “TRUE” is targeted. Search for. As a result, it is possible to prevent a device operation from being performed by a combination of the voice terminal 110 and the printing device 130 for which the registration processing has not been completed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of utterance when registering the association between the voice terminal 110 and the printing apparatus 130 by voice in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the first registration code and the second registration code are represented to the user by the words registration number and registration phrase, respectively. The user 511 operates the printing apparatus 130 according to a procedure described later to acquire a registration number as a first registration code. Thereafter, the user 511 utters an operation instruction to the audio terminal 110 by using the uttered voice 701. The uttered voice 701 is the same as in the first and second embodiments shown in FIG. For these, registration processing described later is performed, and the voice terminal 110 outputs a first registration code request voice 1401 that prompts the user 511 to utter the registration number that is the first registration code.

  When the user 511 utters the registration number 1411 as the first registration code in response to the first registration code request voice 1401, the main utterance 1411 is regarded as a part of a series of registration operations. Subsequently, the command is transmitted by using the printing apparatus management server 140 as the cooperation server, and the processing is continued. Through this continued process, the voice terminal 110 outputs a response voice 1421 to the user 511. In the response voice 1421, the second registration code section 1422 incorporates a character string for voice output of a registration phrase, which is a second registration code, to be used in processing described later.

  11 and 12 are sequence diagrams of a process for registering the association between the voice terminal 110 and the printing device 130 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a continuation of FIG. In S401 of FIG. 11, the user 511 of the audio terminal 110 performs an input operation for starting registration on the input unit 131 of the printing apparatus 130. For example, an operation menu is displayed on the display unit 132 of the printing apparatus 130, an operation of the input unit 131 by the user 511 is received, and a selection of a command for starting association with the audio terminal from the operation menu is received. In step S <b> 402, the printing apparatus 130 acquires an input from the user 511 through the input unit 131. Upon receiving the input, the printing apparatus 130 transmits the printing apparatus ID 135, which is information for specifying the printing apparatus, to the printing apparatus management server 140 using the network communication unit 134 in S403.

  In S404, the printing device management server 140 receives the transmitted printing device ID 135 by using the network communication unit 146, and generates a registration number as a first registration code by the registration unit 142. In the present embodiment, the registration number is a first one-time token, and is, for example, an eight-digit number string. The registration unit 142 generates a new first registration code that is stored in the first registration code table 1101 of the registration code DB 144 and does not match any of the first registration codes 1111 that have not reached the expiration date and time 1113 at the present time. Further, the registration unit 142 sets an expiration date and time in the generated registration code, and stores the date and time together with the generated registration code in the first registration code table 1101 of the registration code DB 144 in association with the printing device ID 135. The expiration date and time is, for example, 30 minutes after the generation of the first registration code. In step S405, the printing device management server 140 transmits the first registration code to the printing device 130 using the network communication unit 146.

  In S406, the printing apparatus 130 receives the first registration code using the network communication unit 134. In step S407, the printing apparatus 130 prints the received first registration code on a recording medium using the printing unit 133. In the present embodiment, the first registration code is notified to the user 511 of the audio terminal 110 by this printing. The first registration code may be displayed on the display unit 132 of the printing apparatus 130 without being limited to printing.

  In S408, the user 511 utters the uttered voice 701 shown in FIG. Each processing of S409 to S414 is the same as the description of S202 to S207 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. After S415, the printing device management server 140 performs a process for registering the correspondence between the voice terminal 110 and the printing device 130 according to the result of the command interpretation in S414.

  In S415, the printing device management server 140 uses the command processing unit 141 to generate character data corresponding to the text 1401 of the response voice that prompts the user 511 to utter the first registration code. Further, the printing device management server 140 transmits the character data corresponding to the text 1401 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 146 together with the voice terminal ID 114.

  In step S416, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the character data corresponding to the sentence response 1401 and the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124, and generates voice data of the response voice in the voice processing unit 121. I do. In S417, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the generated voice data of the response voice to the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124.

  In step S418, the voice terminal 110 receives the voice data of the response voice using the network communication unit 113, and outputs the response voice 1401 to the user 511 using the voice output unit 112. The response voice 1401 prompts the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 to utter the registration number that is the first registration code.

  When the user 511 utters the registration number 1411 as the first registration code in S419 of FIG. 12 in response to the response voice 1401, the voice terminal 110 causes the voice input unit 111 to change the utterance voice 1411 into the first input code in S420. Acquire as uttered voice. The first input code is the one for which the registration number that is the first registration code is to be uttered. In subsequent S421, the voice terminal 110 transmits the voice data of the uttered first input code 1411 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 113.

  In S422, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the voice data of the first input code 1411 and the voice terminal ID 114 through the network communication unit 124. Further, the voice terminal management server 120 performs voice recognition on the voice data of the first input code 1411 in the voice processing unit 121 and converts the voice data into character data. In step S423, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits character data converted based on the first input code 1411 and the voice terminal ID 114, with the URL of the printing apparatus management server 140 specified in step S412 as a communication destination.

  In step S424, the printing apparatus management server 140 receives the character data corresponding to the first input code 1411 and the voice terminal ID 114 transmitted in step S423 using the network communication unit 146. Further, the printing apparatus management server 140 accesses the first registration code table 1101 of the registration code DB 144 by the registration unit 142. The registration unit 142 searches for an item including the first registration code 1112 that matches the value of the received first input code 1411 from the items that have not reached the expiration date and time 1113. By this search, the printer ID 135 is acquired as the value of the printer ID 1111 associated with the value of the first input code 1411. In S425, the printing device management server 140 accesses the printing device management DB 145 through the registration unit 142. The printing device ID 135 associated with the first registration code and the received audio terminal ID value 114 are associated and stored as the audio terminal ID 1301 and the printing device ID 1302, respectively. At this time, the registration completion flag 1303 is set to “FALSE” indicating that the registration is not completed, indicating that the association between the voice terminal 110 and the printing apparatus 130 has not been completed.

  In step S426, the printing apparatus management server 140 causes the registration unit 142 to generate character data of a registration phrase that is a second registration code. In the present embodiment, the registration phrase is a second one-time token, for example, a six-digit alphabetic character string. The registration unit 142 generates a new second registration code that is stored in the second registration code table 1201 of the registration code DB 144 and does not match any of the registration codes 1213 that have not reached the expiration date and time 1214 at the present time. Further, the registration unit 142 sets an expiration date and time in the generated second registration code, and stores it in the second registration code table 1201 of the registration code DB 144 in association with the printing device ID 135 and the voice terminal ID 114 together with the generated second registration code. I do. The expiration date and time is, for example, 30 minutes after the generation of the second registration code.

  In S427, the printing device management server 140 uses the command processing unit 141 to generate the character data of the word 1421 of the response voice for notifying the user 511 of the second registration code generated in S426. Further, the printing apparatus management server 140 transmits the character data of the response message 1421 and the voice terminal ID 114 to the voice terminal management server 120 using the network communication unit 146.

  In step S428, the voice terminal management server 120 receives the character data of the sentence 1421 of the response voice and the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124, and generates voice data of the response voice 1421 in the voice processing unit 121. I do. In S429, the voice terminal management server 120 transmits the generated voice data of the response voice to the voice terminal 110 specified by the voice terminal ID 114 using the network communication unit 124.

  In S430, the voice terminal 110 receives the response voice data using the network communication unit 113, and outputs the response voice 1421 to the user 511 using the voice output unit 112. The response phrase 1421 transmits the registration phrase, which is the new second registration code, to the user 511 of the voice terminal 110.

  In S431, the user 511 inputs the second registration code to the input unit 131 of the printing device 130 in response to the response voice 1421. In step S432, the printing apparatus 130 acquires an input from the user 511 via the input unit 131 as a second input code. The second input code corresponds to a second registration code. In S433, the printing apparatus 130 transmits the printing apparatus ID 135 and the second input code to the printing apparatus management server 140 using the network communication unit 134.

  In S434, the printing device management server 140 receives the transmitted printing device ID 135 and the second input code using the network communication unit 146. In S434, the registration unit 142 of the printing device management server 140 accesses the second registration code table 1201 of the registration code DB 144. The registration unit 142 searches the second registration code 1213 of the items that have not reached the expiration date and time 1214 for an item including a value that matches the received second input code. As a result of the search, a printing device ID 135 which is a value of the printing device ID 1211 and a voice terminal ID 114 which is a value of the voice terminal ID 1212 associated with the second input code are obtained. In S436, the registration unit 142 of the printing device management server 140 accesses the printing device management DB 145. The registration unit 142 searches for an item including the voice terminal ID 114 and the printing device ID 135, updates the registration completion flag 1303 of the item, and sets the value to “TRUE” indicating the registration completion.

  Through the above processing, the effective association between the voice terminal ID 114 of the voice terminal 110 and the printing device ID 135 of the printing device 130 is registered in the printing device management DB 145 of the printing device management server 140. Thereafter, when the user 511 of the voice terminal 110 utters the speech in FIG. 3, the printing device management DB 145 is referred to by the processing in FIG. 4, and printing is performed by a desired printing device using the registered association. it can.

(Other Examples)
The present invention supplies a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus read and execute the program. This processing can be realized. Further, it can also be realized by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, or the like can be used. it can.

  When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an Operating System (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided on the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU included in the expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

  110 voice terminal: 120 voice terminal management server: 130 printing device: 140 printing device management server

Claims (17)

A voice control system including a voice terminal, a device operable by a command input by voice at the voice terminal, and a server,
When a registration command for registering the device and the voice terminal in association with each other is voice-inputted by the voice terminal, generation means for generating a registration code related to the registration,
First instruction means for instructing a user to input the registration code generated by the generation means via an input unit corresponding to the device;
Acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the voice terminal to which the voice of the registration command has been input, and the identification information of the device corresponding to the input unit to which the registration code has been input,
Using a registration code input by the device, a registration unit for registering the identification information of the voice terminal acquired by the acquisition unit and the identification information of the device in association with each other,
A voice control system comprising: A storage unit that stores the registration code generated by the generation unit and the identification information of the voice terminal acquired by the acquisition unit in association with each other,
The registration unit searches for the identification information of the voice terminal associated with the registration code input by the input unit, and the identification information of the searched voice terminal and the device acquired by the acquisition unit. Register with the identification information of
The voice control system according to claim 1, wherein:   The voice control system according to claim 2, wherein the generation unit generates the registration code based on data corresponding to a voice input to the voice terminal. Second instruction means for instructing the user to input a temporary registration code by voice using the voice terminal,
The data corresponds to the temporary registration code that is voice-input according to the instruction by the second instruction means.
The voice control system according to claim 3, wherein:   The voice control system according to claim 4, wherein the temporary registration code matches the registration code generated by the generation unit.   The voice control system according to claim 4, wherein the temporary registration code does not match the registration code generated by the generation unit.   If the temporary registration code, which has been voice-input according to the instruction by the second instruction means, is already stored in the storage means, a new registration code based on the temporary registration code is generated. Item 5. The voice control system according to Item 4. Third instruction means for instructing the user to input a second registration code by voice on the voice terminal,
The generating unit generates the registration code based on data corresponding to the second registration code that is voice-input according to an instruction from the third instruction unit;
The voice control system according to claim 1, wherein: The device comprises:
Output means for outputting the second registration code,
The third instructing means instructs the user to read out the second registration code output by the output means and to input voice by the voice terminal,
The voice control system according to claim 8, wherein:   The voice control system according to claim 1, wherein the first instruction unit instructs the user by voice output from the voice terminal. The voice terminal,
First transmitting means for transmitting data corresponding to the registration command input by voice to the server together with the identification information of the voice terminal,
The acquiring means acquires the identification information of the voice terminal transmitted by the first transmitting means,
The voice control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The device comprises:
Second transmission means for transmitting the information of the input registration code to the server together with the identification information of the device, further comprising:
The obtaining means obtains the identification information of the device transmitted by the second transmitting means,
The voice control system according to claim 1, wherein: When an instruction command to the device is input by voice at the voice terminal, a search unit that searches for the identification information of the device registered by the registration unit in association with the identification information of the voice terminal;
Control means for causing the device corresponding to the identification information of the device searched by the search means to execute processing corresponding to the instruction command;
The voice control system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: A registration method executed in a voice control system including a voice terminal, a device operable by a command input by voice at the voice terminal, and a server,
When a registration command for registering the device and the voice terminal in association with each other is voice-inputted by the voice terminal, a generation step of generating a registration code related to the registration,
An instruction step of instructing a user to input the registration code generated in the generation step via an input unit corresponding to the device;
Acquisition step of acquiring the identification information of the voice terminal in which the voice of the registration command has been input, and the identification information of the device corresponding to the input unit in which the registration code has been input,
Using a registration code input by the device, a registration step of registering the identification information of the voice terminal acquired in the acquisition step and the identification information of the device in association with each other,
A registration method comprising: An audio terminal and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a device operable by a command input by voice at the audio terminal,
When a registration command for registering the device and the voice terminal in association with each other is voice-inputted by the voice terminal, generation means for generating a registration code related to the registration,
Control means for controlling the voice terminal to input the registration code generated by the generation means via an input unit corresponding to the device;
Acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the voice terminal to which the voice of the registration command has been input, and the identification information of the device corresponding to the input unit to which the registration code has been input,
Using a registration code input by the device, a registration unit for registering the identification information of the voice terminal acquired by the acquisition unit and the identification information of the device in association with each other,
An information processing apparatus comprising: A voice terminal and a registration method executed in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a device operable by a command input by voice at the voice terminal,
When a registration command for registering the device and the voice terminal in association with each other is voice-inputted by the voice terminal, a generation step of generating a registration code related to the registration,
A control step of controlling the voice terminal to input the registration code generated in the generation step via an input unit corresponding to the device;
Acquisition step of acquiring the identification information of the voice terminal in which the voice of the registration command has been input, and the identification information of the device corresponding to the input unit in which the registration code has been input,
Using a registration code input by the device, a registration step of registering the identification information of the voice terminal acquired in the acquisition step and the identification information of the device in association with each other,
A registration method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute each unit of the information processing apparatus according to claim 15.

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