JP5853746B2 - Audio output device and audio output system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a voice output device that outputs a hybrid voice composed of a pre-recorded voice and a newly generated synthesized voice as guidance voice related to a preset guidance point, and the voice output device and the voice output. The present invention relates to an audio output system including an external device that is communicably connected to the device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device that has a library for speech synthesis, generates synthesized speech data from input speech, and outputs synthesized speech based on the synthesized speech data is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, the process of generating the synthesized voice data has a heavy load, and therefore the generation of the synthesized voice data tends to be delayed. For this reason, when outputting a mixed sound composed of a pre-recorded recording sound and a newly generated synthesized sound, the sound is interrupted between the recorded sound and the synthesized sound delayed in generation, that is, the output of the recorded sound There is a problem that the output of the synthesized speech is not smoothly continuous and is interrupted in the middle.

JP 2005-142926 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to output recorded speech and synthesized speech when outputting mixed speech composed of pre-recorded recorded speech and newly generated synthesized speech. To provide an audio output system including the audio output device and an external device that is communicably connected to the audio output device. is there.

According to the present invention, the audio output device mounted on the moving body records the mixed audio data corresponding to the guidance point existing ahead in the traveling direction of the moving body before the moving body reaches the guidance point. It is generated using the recorded voice data extracted from the recorded voice data storage unit by the data extraction means and the synthesized voice data generated by an external device communicably connected to the voice output device. When the moving body reaches a guidance point existing forward in the traveling direction, the hybrid voice is output based on the hybrid voice data.
That is, for example, mixed voice data corresponding to a guide point existing in front of a moving body such as a vehicle is generated in advance before the mobile body reaches the guide point. As a result, even if the generation of the synthesized voice data with a large processing load is delayed, before the mobile object equipped with the voice output device reaches the guide point, it is composed of the recorded voice data and synthesized voice data with a margin. Hybrid audio data can be generated. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the output of the recorded voice and the output of the synthesized voice when outputting the mixed voice as the guidance voice based on the generated mixed voice data.

1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an audio output system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a figure which shows an example of an audio | voice data table, (b) is a figure which shows an example of a required audio | voice data table. The figure which shows schematically the buffer part for synthetic | combination audio | voice data, and the buffer part for hybrid audio | voice data The figure which shows an example of the screen for route guidance Flow chart showing operation contents of audio output system It is a figure which shows the process in which mixed audio | voice data are produced | generated, (a) is a figure which shows the state in which synthetic audio | voice data is stored, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which recording audio | voice data is further stored, (c) Is a diagram showing a state in which hybrid audio data is generated Flow chart showing contents of hybrid voice data generation processing FIG. 7 equivalent diagram according to a modified example FIG. 4 equivalent diagram according to the modification

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the audio | voice output system 10 consists of the navigation apparatus 11 mounted in moving bodies, such as a vehicle, for example, and the portable communication terminal 41 connected to this navigation apparatus 11 so that communication is possible. The navigation device 11 corresponds to an “audio output device” described in the claims, and the mobile communication terminal 41 corresponds to an “external device” described in the claims.
The navigation device 11 includes a control unit 12, a position detection unit 13, a data communication unit 14, an external storage unit 15, an internal storage unit 16, a display output unit 17, a voice output unit 18, an operation input unit 19, a navigation function unit 20, and a user. A setting function unit 21 and a speech synthesis function unit 22 are provided. The control unit 12 is mainly configured by a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I / O bus, and the like (not shown). The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the navigation device 11 such as various display output operations, audio output operations, route guidance operations, and the like according to a computer program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM.

  In addition, the control unit 12 executes a computer program, so that a guidance point detection processing unit 31, a recorded voice data extraction processing unit 32, a synthesized voice data holding processing unit 33, a hybrid voice data generation processing unit 34, and a hybrid voice output. The processing unit 35 is virtually realized by software. The recorded voice data extraction processing unit 32 corresponds to the recorded voice data extraction unit described in the claims, and the mixed voice data generation processing unit 34 corresponds to the mixed voice data generation unit described in the claims. The hybrid voice output processing unit 35 corresponds to the hybrid voice output unit described in the claims, and the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 36 generates the synthesized voice data included in the voice output device described in the claims. Corresponds to means.

  The position detection unit 13 is a detection module for detecting the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 11 is mounted. The position detection unit 13 includes various sensors such as a direction sensor 13a, a gyro sensor 13b, a distance sensor 13c, and a positioning radio wave receiver 13d. The direction sensor 13a detects the direction of the vehicle. The gyro sensor 13b detects the rotation angle of the vehicle. The distance sensor 13c detects the travel distance of the vehicle. The positioning radio wave receiver 13d receives radio waves transmitted from a positioning satellite (not shown) in order to determine the current position of the vehicle by the positioning system. The position detector 13 detects the current position of the vehicle while mutually complementing the detection data obtained from these sensors, and outputs current position information indicating the current position to the controller 12.

  The data communication unit 14 is a communication module that establishes a communication line with a data communication unit 43 of a mobile communication terminal 41 (to be described later) and transmits / receives various data to / from the mobile communication terminal 41 via the communication line. is there. In this case, the data communication unit 14 and the data communication unit 43 establish a wireless short-range communication line. The short-range communication in the present embodiment mainly assumes a distance that covers the interior of a general vehicle. For example, the type and size of the vehicle, the navigation device 11, and portable communication The distance range can be changed as appropriate according to various factors such as the communication performance of the terminal 41, and a communication function suitable for the distance range can be employed.

The external storage unit 15 corresponds to the recorded voice data storage unit described in the claims, and in this case, the external storage unit 15 is configured by a storage medium such as an SD card that can be attached to and detached from the navigation device 11.
The external storage unit 15 stores a voice data table T1 shown in FIG. 2A. The voice data table T1 stores recorded voice data or text data in association with each voice ID. Yes. The recorded voice data is pre-recorded voice data, for example, the recorded voice data [In half of a mile,] is data for outputting a pre-recorded “in half of a mile” voice. is there. The text data [ABC Street] stores character strings “A”, “B”, “C”, “S”, “t”, “r”, “e”, “e”, “t”. Data.

The external storage unit 15 stores a necessary audio data table T2 shown in FIG. This necessary voice data table T2 is a data table including “necessary voice identification information” described in the claims, and for a plurality of preset guidance points, mixed voice data corresponding to each of these guidance points is obtained. It is a data table which designates the recording audio | voice data and synthetic | combination audio | voice data required in order for every guidance point based on audio | voice ID provided to each audio | voice data. That is, for example, the voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guide point a is the voice data of voice ID = 1, 2, 3, 4, that is, the voice ID [1 shown in FIG. ] Of recorded voice data [In half of a mile,], recorded voice data [right turn] of voice ID [2], recorded voice data [onto] of voice ID [3], and details will be described later. This is synthesized voice data [ABC Street] newly generated based on the text data [ABC Street] of the voice ID [4].
Note that the “guidance point” does not indicate a point such as an intersection between a currently traveling road and a road to be guided following the road, but guides before such a point. The point set as the guidance audio | voice output start point which starts an audio | voice output is shown.

  The internal storage unit 16 is configured by a storage medium such as a memory built in the navigation device 11. In this case, the internal storage unit 16 includes a synthesized voice data buffer unit 16A and a hybrid voice data buffer unit 16B. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the synthesized audio data buffer unit 16A and the mixed audio data buffer unit 16B has a plurality of storage areas, and one audio data is stored in each storage area. It has become. The synthesized voice data buffer unit 16A is a storage area for temporarily holding synthesized voice data received from the mobile communication terminal 41 as will be described in detail later. On the other hand, the mixed sound data buffer unit 16B is a storage area for generating and holding mixed sound data composed of recorded sound data and synthesized sound data. In this case, the mixed voice data buffer unit 16B is provided with a recorded voice data storage unit 16Ba for storing recorded voice data and a synthesized voice data storage unit 16Bb for storing synthesized voice data.

  The display output unit 17 has a display screen composed of a color display such as a liquid crystal or an organic EL, and displays various types of information based on a display output signal from the control unit 12. The screen of the display output unit 17 is composed of a touch panel. The contents displayed on the display output unit 17 are, for example, a route guidance screen G1 shown in FIG. 4 and various setting screens (not shown).

The audio output unit 18 includes, for example, a speaker and outputs various types of audio based on an audio output signal from the control unit 12. The voice output from the voice output unit 18 is, in detail, a guidance voice based on hybrid voice data, which will be described later, and other route guidance voices or voices for explaining operations.
The operation input unit 19 includes various switch groups such as a mechanical switch provided near the screen of the display output unit 17 or a touch panel switch provided on the screen of the display output unit 17. The user can perform various setting operations using each switch of the operation input unit 19.

  For example, the navigation function unit 20 searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle specified based on the current position information input from the position detection unit 13 to the destination input via the operation input unit 19, and A function for guiding the vehicle based on the route, that is, a so-called navigation function is executed. The navigation function unit 20 displays a map around the current position of the vehicle on the display output unit 17 as a default display when the route guidance of the vehicle is not executed, and superimposes the current map of the vehicle on the displayed map. The current position mark indicating the position and the traveling direction is displayed. At this time, the navigation function unit 20 performs a map matching process for aligning the current position mark of the vehicle on the road in the map. This current position mark moves on the map as the vehicle travels. Further, the map displayed on the screen of the display output unit 17 is scrolled according to the current position of the vehicle. Further, when executing the route guidance of the vehicle, the navigation function unit 20 displays, for example, the route guidance screen G1 shown in FIG. 4 on the display output unit 17, highlights the searched guidance route R1 and The vehicle is guided based on the guide route R1. In this case as well, the navigation function unit 20 performs a map matching process for aligning the current position mark N of the vehicle on the road in the map, and moves the current position mark N on the map as the vehicle travels, and outputs the display. The map displayed on the screen of the unit 17 is scrolled according to the current position of the vehicle.

  The user setting function unit 21 sets a user who uses the audio output system 10, and holds information regarding the set user as user information in a user information storage unit (not shown). The information held in the user information storage unit includes at least a terminal ID for identifying the mobile communication terminal 41 owned by the user who uses the audio output system 10. The user setting function unit 21 holds, as user information, information input by the user via a user setting screen (not shown) displayed on the display output unit 17, for example. Further, the user setting function unit 21 can hold user information for a plurality of users. When the user setting function unit 21 holds a plurality of user information, for example, the user setting function unit 21 is displayed on the display output unit 17 (not shown). The current user who uses the audio output system 10 can be switched via the user switching screen. Note that the user information storage unit may be shared with the external storage unit 15, the internal storage unit 16, or a memory included in the control unit 12, or may be provided separately from these.

  The speech synthesis function unit 22 includes a speech synthesis library for speech synthesis, a speech synthesis dictionary, and the like. The voice synthesis function unit 22 converts voices input via an in-vehicle microphone (not shown) connected to the navigation device 11 or texts input via the operation input unit 19 into a voice synthesis library or a voice synthesis dictionary. Is converted into voice data, and the voice data is output as synthesized voice data.

  In this case, the guidance point detection processing unit 31 detects a guidance point existing ahead in the traveling direction of the vehicle on the guidance route set for route guidance by the navigation function unit 20. Note that when the guide route is determined, the coordinate data of the guide points existing on the guide route can be specified based on map data or the like. Therefore, in this case, the guidance point detection processing by the guidance point detection processing unit 31 is a process in which the control unit 12 recognizes the guidance points existing on the guidance route based on the determined guidance route data and map data. Can be understood as

The recorded voice data extraction processing unit 32 stores the recorded voice data necessary for generating the mixed voice data corresponding to the guide point existing in the traveling direction of the moving object detected by the guide point detection processing unit 31. Based on T2, the specified recorded voice data is extracted from the voice data table T1 of the external storage unit 15.
The synthesized voice data holding processing unit 33 generates the mixed voice data corresponding to the guidance point existing in the traveling direction of the moving object detected by the guidance point detection processing unit 31. The synthesized voice data newly generated by the terminal 41 is held in the synthesized voice data buffer unit 16A.

  The hybrid voice data generation processing unit 34 converts the mixed voice data composed of the recorded voice data extracted by the recorded voice data extraction processing unit 32 and the synthesized voice data held by the synthesized voice data holding processing unit 33 into a mixed voice data buffer. Generated in the part 16B. In this case, the hybrid voice data generation processing unit 34 sets a point a predetermined distance before the guide point as a data generation completion point, and generates the hybrid voice data until the vehicle reaches the data generation completion point. It has become. This predetermined distance is appropriately changed and set according to the processing capacity of the control unit 12, the speed of the vehicle, etc., in order to ensure that the generation of the hybrid voice data is completed before the vehicle reaches the guidance point. be able to.

  When the vehicle reaches the guidance point detected by the guidance point detection processing unit 31, the hybrid voice output processing unit 35 mixes the mixed voice via the voice output unit 18 based on the hybrid voice data generated by the hybrid voice data generation processing unit 34. Is output. The synthesized speech data generation processing unit 36 generates synthesized speech data using the speech synthesis function unit 22 described above. That is, the navigation device 11 includes the speech synthesis function unit 22 and the synthesized speech data generation processing unit 36, so that it can generate synthesized speech data by itself without depending on an external device.

Next, the configuration of the mobile communication terminal 41 will be described. The mobile communication terminal 41 includes a control unit 42, a data communication unit 43, a voice synthesis function unit 44, and the like. The control unit 42 is mainly configured by a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I / O bus, and the like (not shown). The control unit 42 controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal 41 such as various display output operations, voice output operations, call operations, and voice synthesis operations in accordance with a computer program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM.
Further, the control unit 42 virtually implements the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 51 by software by executing a computer program. The synthesized voice data generation processing unit 51 corresponds to synthesized voice data generation means provided in an external device described in the claims.
As described above, the data communication unit 43 is a communication module that establishes a communication line with the data communication unit 14 and transmits / receives various data to / from the navigation apparatus 11 via the communication line.

The speech synthesis function unit 44 includes a speech synthesis library for speech synthesis, a speech synthesis dictionary, and the like. The voice synthesis function unit 44 uses a voice synthesis library or a voice synthesis dictionary for voice input via a microphone (not shown) included in the mobile communication terminal 41 or text data received from the navigation device 11 as will be described in detail later. Etc., and a function of outputting the voice data as synthesized voice data. For example, when a voice “street” is input via a microphone, the voice synthesis function unit 44 analyzes the voice and generates synthesized voice data in which a voice “street” is output. When text data [ABC Street] is input, the speech synthesis function unit 44 analyzes the text data and generates synthesized speech data [ABC Street] from which the speech “ABC Street” is output. .
Based on the text data received from the navigation device 11, the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 51 specifies synthesized voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point detected by the guidance point detection processing unit 31. Then, the specified synthesized speech data is generated using the speech synthesis function unit 44 described above.

Next, the operation content of the audio output system 10 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, the processing described below will be described mainly with “navigation device 11” and “portable communication terminal 41”, but in reality, “control unit 12 of navigation device 11” and “control of portable communication terminal 41”. This is a process executed by the unit 42 ”.
When the navigation device 11 is activated, it reads the user information of the current user stored in the user information storage unit (step A1). And the navigation apparatus 11 searches the portable communication terminal 41 which exists in the predetermined range from the said navigation apparatus 11, establishes a communication line between the searched portable communication terminals 41, and connects so that communication is possible (step) A2).

  The mobile communication terminal 41 connected to the navigation device 11 transmits the terminal ID of the mobile communication terminal 41 to the navigation device 11 (step B1). The navigation apparatus 11 that has received the terminal ID from the mobile communication terminal 41 compares the terminal ID of the mobile communication terminal included in the user information read in step A1 with the received terminal ID, and the comparison result, that is, both terminals Whether the IDs match or does not match is stored (step A3). If both terminal IDs match, the navigation device 11 recognizes that the currently set mobile communication terminal 41 of the user is connected so as to be communicable.

  Next, the navigation device 11 is based on the currently set guide route and the current position of the vehicle, and is ahead of the vehicle in the traveling direction on the guide route and within a predetermined distance from the current position of the vehicle. In this case, 1 km Guidance points existing within are detected (step A4). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the navigation device 11 detects a guidance point a that is ahead of the vehicle in the traveling direction on the guidance route R1 and is within a predetermined distance from the current position N of the vehicle. The predetermined distance may be configured to be changeable according to, for example, the speed of the vehicle, traffic congestion around the guidance point, weather, road conditions, and the like.

  When the guidance point is detected (step A4: YES), the navigation device 11 reads out the voice ID of the voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point from the necessary voice data table T2, and reads it out. Necessary voice data is specified based on the voice ID (step A5). Then, the navigation device 11 determines whether or not the comparison result in step A3 described above is “match” (step A6). If it is “match” (step A6: YES), the navigation device 11 proceeds to step A7. Then, the synthesized voice data advance generation request process is executed. In addition, when the comparison result of above-mentioned step A3 is "mismatch" (step A6: NO), the navigation apparatus 11 will transfer to step A9 mentioned later in detail, without transferring to step A7, A8.

  In the synthesized voice data advance generation request process in step A7, the navigation device 11 transmits the synthesized voice data advance generation request information to the mobile communication terminal 41. At this time, the navigation device 11 attaches the text data itself included in the voice data identified in step A5 and the voice ID of the text data to the synthesized voice data advance generation request information. That is, when the voice data specified in step A5 includes, for example, text data [ABC Street], the navigation device 11 sends the text data [ABC Street] itself and the text data [ABC Street]. ] With voice ID [4] attached.

  When the mobile communication terminal 41 receives the synthesized speech data advance generation request information from the navigation device 11, the speech synthesis function unit 44 analyzes the received text data [ABC Street] itself to obtain the synthesized speech data [ABC Street]. Generate (step B2). Then, the mobile communication terminal 41 transmits the generated synthesized voice data [ABC Street] to the navigation device 11 (step B3). At this time, the mobile communication terminal 41 transmits the voice ID included in the received synthesized voice data advance generation request information, in this case, the voice ID [4] attached to the synthesized voice data [ABC Street]. The navigation device 11 stores the received synthesized voice data [ABC Street] in the synthesized voice data buffer 16A as shown in FIG. 6A (step A8). And the navigation apparatus 11 performs a hybrid audio | voice data production | generation process (step A9).

  Here, the contents of the hybrid audio data generation process will be described with reference to FIG. In this hybrid voice data generation process, the navigation device 11 stores the recorded voice data included in the voice data specified in step A5 in the recorded voice data storage unit 16Ba (step C1). That is, if the audio data specified in step A5 includes, for example, recorded audio data [In half of a mile,], recorded audio data [right turn], and recorded audio data [onto], FIG. As shown in (b), the navigation device 11 records the recorded voice data [In half of a mile,], the recorded voice data [right turn], and the recorded voice data [onto] in order from the data with the lowest voice ID. The data is stored in the audio data storage unit 16Ba.

  Then, the navigation device 11 compares the voice ID of the text data included in the voice data specified in step A5 with the voice ID attached to the synthesized voice data received from the mobile communication terminal 41 (step C2). . In this case, the voice ID [4] of the text data [ABC Street] included in the voice data specified in step A5 and the voice ID [ABC Street] attached to the synthesized voice data [ABC Street] received from the mobile communication terminal 41. 4] (step C2: YES), the navigation device 11 synthesizes the synthesized voice data [ABC Street] stored in the synthesized voice data buffer unit 16A as shown in FIG. 6C. The voice data storage unit 16Bb is moved (step C3). Thereby, the navigation apparatus 11 records audio data [In half of a mile,], audio recording data [right turn], audio recording data [onto], and synthesized audio data as hybrid audio data corresponding to the detected guidance point. A series of mixed audio data with [ABC Street] is generated.

  In the case where the two voice IDs do not match (step C2: NO), the navigation device 11 sends the synthesized voice data [ABC Street] stored in the synthesized voice data buffer unit 16A to the synthesized voice data storage unit 16Bb. It is designed not to move. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the navigation device 11 may be configured to execute the synthesized voice data advance generation request process again (step C4). In response to the re-synthesized voice data preceding generation request process, the mobile communication terminal 41 determines whether or not the voice ID of the text data received again matches the voice ID attached to the currently generated synthesized voice data. to decide. If both voice IDs match, the mobile communication terminal 41 immediately transmits the synthesized voice data being generated to the navigation device 11 as soon as it is generated. And the navigation apparatus 11 produces | generates the composite audio | voice data containing the received synthetic audio | voice data. On the other hand, if the two voice IDs do not match, the mobile communication terminal 41 generates synthesized voice data corresponding to the newly received text data and transmits it to the navigation device 11. And the navigation apparatus 11 produces | generates the composite audio | voice data containing the synthetic | combination audio | voice data.

  In addition, the navigation device 11 has completed data generation within a predetermined time, that is, until the vehicle arrives at the guide point at the latest, more preferably before the guide point, despite executing the synthesized voice data advance generation request processing again. If the synthesized voice data cannot be received from the mobile communication terminal 41 before the vehicle reaches the point, the synthesized voice data generation stop request process is executed, and the synthesized voice data generation process by the portable communication terminal 41 is stopped. The navigation device 11 does not have synthesized voice data, and is voice data consisting only of recorded voice data. In this case, the recorded voice data [In half of a mile,], recorded voice data [right turn], recorded voice data [ Generate audio data consisting of [onto].

  When the navigation apparatus 11 generates the hybrid voice data in the hybrid voice data generation process in step A9, the navigation apparatus 11 outputs the hybrid voice based on the hybrid voice data (step A10). That is, a series of mixed voice data in which the recorded voice data [In half of a mile,], the recorded voice data [right turn], the recorded voice data [onto], and the synthesized voice data [ABC Street] are generated is generated. In this case, the navigation device 11 outputs a voice “In half of a mile, light turn on to ABC street” based on the mixed voice data. Note that voice data that does not have synthesized voice data in the mixed voice data generation process, in this case, voice composed of recorded voice data [In half of a mile,], recorded voice data [right turn], and recorded voice data [onto]. When the data is generated, the navigation device 11 deletes the recorded voice data at the end of the voice data, in this case, the recorded voice data [onto], and the voice “in half of a mile, light turn” is recorded. Is output.

  Note that the mobile communication terminal 41 does not generate synthesized speech data even when the comparison result in step A3 is “mismatch” (step A6: NO). Therefore, in this case as well, voice data that does not have synthesized voice data in the mixed voice data generation process, in this case, recorded voice data [In half of a mile,], recorded voice data [right turn], recorded voice data [onto ] Is generated. Therefore, the navigation device 11 deletes the recorded voice data at the end of the voice data, and outputs a voice “in half of a mile, light turn”.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, a guidance point existing ahead in the traveling direction on a guidance route set for route guidance such as a vehicle is detected in advance, and the hybrid voice corresponding to the guidance point is detected. The data is configured to be generated in advance before the vehicle reaches the guidance point. As a result, even if the generation of the synthesized voice data with a large processing load is delayed, before the vehicle reaches the guidance point, the mixed voice data composed of the recorded voice data and the synthesized voice data is generated with a margin. It is possible to prevent the output of the recorded voice and the output of the synthesized voice from being interrupted when the mixed voice is output as the guidance voice based on the generated mixed voice data.

  In addition, the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 51 is provided in an external mobile communication terminal 41 that is separate from the navigation apparatus 11, and the navigation apparatus 11 requests the external mobile communication terminal 41 to generate synthesized voice data, and It was set as the structure which produces | generates mixed audio | voice data using the synthetic | combination audio | voice data which the portable communication terminal 41 produced | generated. That is, the navigation device 11 that is the main body of voice output is configured to cause the external mobile communication terminal 41 to perform synthetic voice data generation processing with a large processing load by itself. Thereby, the processing load of the navigation device 11 can be reduced, and the voice output process can be executed without difficulty.

Further, since the hybrid voice data is generated before the vehicle reaches the data generation completion point set a predetermined distance before the guidance point at which the guidance voice starts to be output, before the vehicle reaches the guidance point, The mixed voice data can be prepared with a sufficient margin, and the output of the guidance voice based on the hybrid voice data at the guidance point can be smoothly executed without delay.
The navigation device 11 can accurately specify the recorded voice data extracted from the external storage unit 15 and the newly generated synthesized voice data based on the necessary voice data table T2 prepared in advance. The generated hybrid audio data can be generated with high accuracy.

In addition, this invention is not limited only to one embodiment mentioned above, It can apply to various embodiment in the range which does not deviate from the summary, For example, it can deform | transform or expand as follows. .
The navigation device 11 uses the guidance point detection processing unit 31 to detect the “most recent” guidance point existing in the forward direction of the vehicle among the guidance points existing on the guidance route as needed as the vehicle travels. It is good also as a structure which produces | generates the mixed audio | voice data corresponding to the one latest guidance point at any time. Alternatively, the navigation device 11 detects all the guide points existing on the guide route at the time when the guide route is set, and collectively generates mixed voice data corresponding to each of the plurality of guide points. Also good. In this case, every time the vehicle reaches each guidance point, the navigation device 11 outputs guidance voice as needed based on the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point.

  When the mobile communication terminal 41 does not exist, the navigation device 11 can generate corresponding synthesized voice data by the voice synthesis function unit 22 and the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 36 included in the navigation device 11. In this case, since the synthesized speech data generation processing load is applied to the navigation device 11, a predetermined distance when setting the data generation completion point is set longer, and a longer distance from the data generation completion point to the guidance point is secured. It may be configured to do so. Thereby, the navigation apparatus 11 can generate | occur | produce hybrid audio | voice data using the synthetic | combination audio | voice data which self produced | generated until the vehicle arrives at the data generation completion point after a change. Therefore, even when the synthesized voice data is generated by the navigation device 11, the mixed voice data can be prepared with a sufficient margin before the vehicle reaches the guidance point. The output can be executed smoothly without delay.

  The external device provided with the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 51 is not limited to the mobile communication terminal 41. For example, the navigation device 11 provides traffic information such as traffic jam information and accident information, weather information, and the like. It is good also as a structure provided with the synthetic | combination audio | voice data generation process part 51 in a provision server. Further, the navigation device 11 may be configured to include the synthesized voice data generation processing unit 51.

  When the guide route once set is changed, for example, in consideration of the case where the vehicle deviates from the guide route and a new guide route is set by the reroute function provided in the navigation device 11, the navigation device 11 performs the current travel. Detect not only the guidance points that are ahead in the direction of travel on the middle guidance route, but also the routes that the vehicle may travel on, that is, the guidance points that are on a different route from the currently traveling guidance route, It is good also as a structure which produces | generates beforehand the mixed audio | voice data corresponding to each guidance point about the detected several guidance point, respectively. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the navigation apparatus 11 detects not only the guidance point a but also the guidance point b existing on the route R2 where the vehicle may travel, and corresponds to the guidance point b. Hybrid voice data is also generated in advance.

Further, the navigation device 11 may be configured to delete the audio data related to the guidance point that is no longer likely to pass. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, when the vehicle starts to travel off the guidance route R1 and travels on the route R2, the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point a generated in advance is deleted. Thereby, the storage medium with which the navigation apparatus 11 is provided can be utilized effectively without waste.
In addition, when the vehicle has started to travel on the route R2 deviating from the guide route R1, the navigation device 11 performs the synthesized speech data generation stop request process when the synthesized speech data has not been received from the mobile communication terminal 41 yet. It is good also as a structure which performs and stops the production | generation process of the synthetic | combination audio | voice data corresponding to the guidance point a by the portable communication terminal 41. FIG.
The navigation device 11 and the mobile communication terminal 41 may be connected to each other via a data communication cable so that wired communication is possible.

  In the drawing, 11 is a navigation device (voice output device), 15 is an external storage unit (recorded voice data storage unit), 31 is a guidance point detection processing unit (guidance point detection means), and 32 is a recorded voice data extraction processing unit (sound recording). (Speech data extraction means), 33 is a synthesized voice data holding processing section (synthetic voice data holding means), 34 is a hybrid voice data generation processing section (hybrid voice data generation means), and 35 is a hybrid voice output processing section (hybrid voice output means). , 36 denotes a synthesized voice data generation processing unit (synthetic voice data generation means), 41 denotes a portable communication terminal (external device), and 51 denotes a synthesized voice data generation processing unit (synthetic voice data generation means).

Claims (7)

A recording voice data storage unit (15) that is mounted on the mobile body and stores prerecorded recording voice data, and when reaching a guide point existing ahead in the traveling direction of the mobile body, the recording voice data storage unit A voice output device (11) for outputting a hybrid voice based on the hybrid voice data composed of the recorded voice data extracted from the synthesized voice data;
A recorded voice data extracting means (32) for extracting the recorded voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point from the recorded voice data storage unit;
Before the moving body reaches the guide point, the recorded voice data extracted by the recorded voice data extraction means and the mixed voice data corresponding to the guide point can be communicated with the voice output device. Mixed voice data generating means (34) for generating the mixed voice data consisting of the synthesized voice data generated by an external device connected to
When the mobile body reaches the guidance point, a hybrid voice output means (35) for outputting the hybrid voice based on the hybrid voice data generated by the hybrid voice data generation means;
Synthesized voice data generating means (36) for generating the synthesized voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point;
Equipped with a,
The hybrid voice data generation means sets a point a predetermined distance before the guide point as a data generation completion point, and generates the hybrid voice data until the mobile body reaches the data generation completion point. When the synthesized voice data cannot be obtained from the external device, the predetermined distance is set longer to increase the distance from the data generation completion point to the guide point, and the moving body is changed. An audio output device that generates the mixed audio data by using the synthesized audio data generated by the synthesized audio data generating means until reaching a later data generation completion point . The voice output device according to claim 1 , further comprising: necessary voice identification information indicating the recorded voice data and the synthesized voice data necessary for generating the corresponding mixed voice data for each of the guide points. Wherein the guide point existing ahead in the traveling direction of the moving body, an audio output device according to claim 1 or 2 is a guide point that is present on the guide path of the moving body. The audio output device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the guide point existing in the forward direction of the moving body is a guide point existing on a route different from the guide route of the moving body. A recording voice data storage unit (15) that is mounted on the mobile body and stores prerecorded recording voice data, and when reaching a guide point existing ahead in the traveling direction of the mobile body, the recording voice data storage unit An audio output device (11) for outputting mixed audio based on the mixed audio data composed of the recorded audio data extracted from the synthesized audio data and an external device (communication connected to the audio output device) 41) and an audio output system (10) comprising:
Recorded voice data extracting means (32) provided in the voice output device for extracting the recorded voice data necessary for generating the mixed voice data corresponding to the guidance point from the recorded voice data storage unit;
A synthesized voice data generating means (51) provided in the external device for generating the synthesized voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point;
Provided in the voice output device, the recorded voice data extracted by the recorded voice data extracting means before the moving body reaches the guide point, and the synthesized voice data generated by the synthesized voice data generating means Hybrid voice data generating means (34) for generating the hybrid voice data comprising:
A hybrid voice output means (35) provided in the voice output device for outputting the hybrid voice based on the hybrid voice data generated by the hybrid voice data generating means when the mobile body reaches the guidance point;
A synthesized voice data generating means (36) provided in the voice output device for generating the synthesized voice data necessary for generating the hybrid voice data corresponding to the guidance point;
Equipped with a,
The hybrid voice data generation means sets a point a predetermined distance before the guide point as a data generation completion point, and generates the hybrid voice data until the mobile body reaches the data generation completion point. When the synthesized voice data cannot be obtained from the external device, the predetermined distance is set longer to increase the distance from the data generation completion point to the guide point, and the moving body is changed. An audio output system that generates the mixed audio data by using the synthesized audio data generated by the synthesized audio data generating means included in the audio output device before reaching a later data generation completion point . The voice output according to claim 5 , wherein the synthesized voice data generation unit provided in the external device is configured to generate the synthesized voice data in response to a request to generate synthesized voice data from the voice output device. system. The voice output system according to claim 6 , wherein when the requested synthesized voice data cannot be obtained, the voice output device executes the synthetic voice data generation request again.

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