JP3956240B2 - Audio output processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an audio output processing apparatus used in an information processing apparatus such as a word processor or a computer having means for outputting character string information by voice.
[0002]
For example, visually impaired devices and the like are required to notify a sentence or character string to be processed by voice output, and an efficient man-machine interface is required for that purpose.
[0003]
[Prior art]
In the conventional speech output processing method for information processing equipment that outputs text string information by voice, the character strings output by the information processing equipment are all output from the beginning, so that it can be read at an angle. It was not possible to read and read only.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional audio output processing method, it takes a longer time than other output methods to output all the text and character strings output on the file and the display screen. For example, it takes a much longer time to output a sentence (character string) displayed on the display screen at a time compared to the time for visually checking the display screen.
[0005]
On the other hand, in the work of information processing equipment for visually handicapped persons, audio output is exclusively used as a method for checking an output screen such as a display. However, for the reasons described above, the work efficiency is very poor compared to healthy people, which is a disadvantageous situation.
[0006]
Furthermore, even in a healthy person, when confirming text output on a screen such as a display, a so-called “diagonal” that confirms important points in place rather than visually confirming the entire displayed text. There are many cases where it is only necessary to read and confirm.
[0007]
The present invention provides an audio output processing device that skips to the next line of the current line by operating any key on the keyboard when outputting audio, and has the same effect as “oblique reading”. The purpose is to realize in audio output.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises the following means shown in FIG. 1, for example.
[0009]
The voice output processing means 10 is means for outputting character string information by voice in the information processing device, and includes a skipping instruction input means 11, a skipping processing means 12, and an environment setting means 13. The skipping instruction input unit 11 is a determination unit that detects an input of a skipping instruction while outputting the voice of the character string information . When the skip instruction input means 11 detects an input of a skip instruction , the skip skip processing means 12 detects the screen display line where the voice output character exists from the next character of the voice output character when the instruction is input. This processing means skips the character string up to the end and outputs the voice again from the leftmost character of the next screen display line . The environment setting means 13 is a means for setting information in the environment file 15 or the like when a skipping instruction is specified or a delimiter character that determines a skipping destination is specified.
[0010]
When there is a skipping instruction, the skipping processing means 12 skips to the beginning of the line next to the line with the output character 2 at the time of the skipping instruction. Furthermore, the skip processing unit 12 may be provided with a function that skips the next character after the predetermined delimiter 4 that becomes a break in the sentence in accordance with the skip instruction.
[0011]
The skipping instruction is input by a predetermined key operation or a key operation set by the user.
Specification of a key for inputting a skipping instruction or specification of a delimiter character for determining a skipping destination is performed by an environment file 15 having environment setting information, a parameter of a start command for starting the voice output processing means 10, or an environment by a setting utility or the like This is performed by the setting means 13. Whether to skip to the next character of the delimiter or to skip to the next line is also selected by the environment setting information.
[0012]
[Action]
According to the present invention, when a skip instruction is input during voice output, skipping to the beginning of the line next to the line where the character string currently being output by voice is present is performed. Since skipping to the next line is sequentially performed every time a skip instruction is input, a necessary information portion can be easily searched.
[0013]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the present invention.
[0014]
The character buffer 1 is a buffer for storing character text data output to a display device or the like. In this embodiment, the data in the character buffer 1 is displayed on a display device or the like and is output by voice. Alternatively, the data in the character buffer 1 is output by voice instead of being displayed on a display device or the like.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the contents of the character buffer 1 are displayed on the display device, and the displayed character string is output as voice.
When an arbitrary key for inputting a skip instruction on the keyboard (hereinafter referred to as a skip key) is pressed, for example, while the voice 2 is being output at the position of the character 2 (a), the skip instruction input means 11 , It notifies the skip processing unit 12 that there has been a skip instruction. The skipping processing means 12 starts skipping from the character next to the output character 2 at the time of skipping instruction. Then, skipping is continued until the preset delimiter 4 is detected, and the skipped portion 3 is skipped. When the delimiter 4 is detected, skipping is stopped, and the character string is output again by voice from the character (b) next to the delimiter 4. Next, when the skip key of the skip instruction is pressed, the skip is performed again up to a predetermined delimiter. Thus, the user can skip skipping any number of times by pressing the skip key of the skip skip instruction.
[0016]
As a skip key used for inputting a skip instruction, for example, a BRAKE key is defined as a default, but the user can also assign an arbitrary key.
[0017]
As the delimiter 4, for example, punctuation marks (,. Instead of the delimiter 4 in the character string, a specific place such as a line head or a tab position may be skipped. The environment setting means 13 allows the user to set information indicating an arbitrary character or place as the delimiter 4 to be skipped.
[0018]
Specifically, the following is set as the delimiter 4 that becomes a break between sentences.
(1) Punctuation marks (,.,.)
▲ 2 ▼ Bracket symbols ("""() [] [] {} <><<>>""""etc.)
▲ 3 ▼ Other symbols (:;?! Blank)
FIG. 2 shows an example of processing in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0019]
For example, it is assumed that a character string as shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the text display screen, and punctuation marks (,.) Are set as the delimiter 4.
In FIG. 2B, voice output “Kyoha, Yotenkidesu” is performed. For example, when a skip key is input at the character 41 of “K”, skipping is started. Since the next character string 51 of “Bungaiinode” is not determined to be the delimiter 4, it is skipped. The next character “61” is determined to be a delimiter 4 and the skipping process is interrupted, and the voice output “Kouen Nitte Asobi Masita ....” is performed.
[0020]
Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of processing when a specific place is set as a skip destination instead of a delimiter.
For example, it is assumed that a character string as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the text display screen, and the head of the line (the left end of the screen display line) is set as the skip destination.
[0021]
In FIG. 3 (B), “Kyoha, Joy” is output as a voice. For example, when a skip key is input at the character 42 of “I”, skipping is started. Since the place set as the skip destination is the beginning of the line (the left end of the display line), the next character string is skipped to the end of the line. In this case, the next character string 52 of “TENKIDES” is skipped.
[0022]
Since the next line head 62 is a skip destination, the voice is output again from the first character of the line. If the skip key is input again at the "Ga" part while "Kibunga" is output as a voice, the "Iinode," character string 53 part from the next character to the end of the line is skipped again. . In addition, the skipping process is interrupted at the beginning of the line 63, and voice is output from the character at the beginning of the line. This process is repeated every time a skip instruction by the skip key is input.
[0023]
A flowchart of the skipping process is shown in FIG.
In step S1, the character of the character string is read.
In step S2, it is determined whether or not the skip key has been pressed. If it is pressed, the process proceeds to step S5, and if not, the process proceeds to step S3.
[0024]
In step S3, the character string (sentence) is analyzed, and voice output is performed in step S4 by voice synthesis according to the analysis result, and then the process returns to step S1 to repeat the processing.
[0025]
If the skip key is pressed, it is determined in step S5 whether or not the character just read is a character set as a delimiter. If it is a delimiter, the process returns to step S1, and if it is not a delimiter, the process proceeds to step S6.
[0026]
In step S6, a character is read, and it is skipped until a delimiter appears by returning to step S5 without outputting the voice.
An example of the setting method of the skip key and the delimiter is shown in FIG.
[0027]
Each of the skip key and the delimiter can be described directly in the environment file, set using a command parameter, or set according to an instruction of an environment setting menu such as a setting utility.
[0028]
For example, when the skip key is set to the first programmable function key (PF1 key), “SETSKIPKEY = PF1” is described in the file by the method described directly in the environment file 15. Also, in the method of designating using the parameter of the command that activates the voice output, “[activation command name] / KEY = PF1” is specified using the command parameter. In the setting method using the setting utility, the skip key setting menu provided by the setting utility is selected and designated in accordance with the menu instructions by display or sound.
[0029]
Similarly, when “() {} []” is set as a delimiter, for example, “SET KUGRI = () {} []” is described in the file in the method of describing directly in the environment file 15. Further, in the method of designating using the parameter of the command that activates the voice output, “[activation command name] / KUGIRI = () {} []” is specified using the command parameter. In the method of setting with the setting utility, the setting menu for the delimiter provided by the setting utility is selected and specified in accordance with the menu instructions by display or voice.
[0030]
Both skip key and delimiter can be specified at the same time. For example, if the skip key is specified as the default (default) BRAK key and the delimiter is specified as “..”, the setting using the command parameter is
[Start command name] / KUGIRI =. .
It becomes.
[0031]
For example, if the skip key is set as the return key and the delimiter is set to “..,”, the setting using the command parameter is
[Start command name] / KEY = RET / KUGIRI =. . ,,
It becomes.
[0032]
FIG. 6 shows a system configuration example in one embodiment of the present invention.
The processing device 20 includes a CPU and a memory. The operating system 21 activates application programs and performs input / output control for peripheral devices. The voice output program 22 is a program for realizing the voice output processing means 10 shown in FIG. 1 and has a skipping instruction input means 11, a skipping processing means 12, and an environment setting means 13. The voice output program 22 is resident in the processing device 20 when started by a start command, and the voice output device 16 outputs information to the display device 18 and the like during execution of various applications 30a, 30b, 30c,. Perform audio output. When the skip key set in advance on the input device 17 is pressed while the voice output is being performed and the input of the skip instruction is detected by the skip instruction input means 11, the skip skip processing means 12 operates. Then, while displaying the skip position on the screen of the display device 18, the voice output by the voice output device 16 is interrupted until the delimiter 4 is detected. When the delimiter 4 is detected, the sound is output again.
[0033]
The input device 17 is also used to input a character string that is a target of voice output. The character string to be output as voice may be text information such as a document file stored in the external storage device 19.
[0034]
The environment file 15 stores environment information for audio output, and the contents are changed by the environment setting means 13.
The operating system 21 controls the execution of the audio output program 22 and the applications 30a, 30b, 30c,... And inputs / outputs to / from the environment file 15, the audio output device 16, the input device 17, the display device 18, and the external storage device 19. To control. The voice output program 22 may be provided in the operating system 21 as a function of the operating system 21.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by skipping a skip key during voice output, it is possible to skip over reading from any position with a simple operation. Efficient listening is possible by specifying parts immediately and skipping them.
[0037]
In particular, it has been a big problem for visually impaired people to spend a long time to grasp the output screen, output contents, etc. However, according to the present invention, only necessary portions can be efficiently grasped and information processing can be performed. The efficiency in the operation of the equipment can be dramatically increased.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of processing in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of processing in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of skip processing in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a skip key and delimiter setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a system configuration example in an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Character buffer 2 Output character at the time of skipping instruction 3 Reading skip part 4 Separator 10 Audio output processing means 11 Reading skip instruction input means 12 Skip skipping processing means 13 Environment setting means 15 Environment file

Claims (2)

An audio output processing device for outputting character string information of a character text composed of a plurality of screen display lines displayed on a display device,
A skip instruction determination means for detecting an input of a skip instruction while outputting the voice of the character string information ;
When the input of the skip instruction is detected, the character string from the character next to the voice output character at the time of the instruction input to the end of the screen display line where the voice output character exists is skipped, and the next screen display An audio output processing device comprising skip-reading processing means for performing audio output again from the leftmost character of the line . The input of the skip instruction is
The voice output processing device according to claim 1, wherein the voice output processing device is operated by operating a predetermined environment file, a parameter of a start command, or a key specified by a setting utility.

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