JP6603594B2 - Audio signal transmitting apparatus, audio signal transmitting method, control program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio signal transmitting apparatus that transmits an audio signal to an audio output apparatus, an audio signal transmitting method, a control program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

  The conventional digital wireless communication system has a problem that the first part of the voice is not transmitted to the other party, that is, a so-called head break occurs.

  As a technique for solving the above problems, there is a digital wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1. In the digital wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1, the occurrence of a head break is suppressed by giving a delay to the input audio signal.

  Specifically, in the digital wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1, in the waveform of an audio pattern having a relatively slow rise as an input audio signal, even if the initial portion is somewhat cut off, the other side is clear. There is almost no deterioration of the degree. Therefore, the delay amount is small, and the delay amount of the variable delay circuit is set short.

  On the other hand, the waveform of a speech pattern that rises relatively quickly as an input speech signal has many portions that are not transmitted when a head break occurs, and becomes a received speech with reduced clarity for the other party. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the delay amount in the variable delay circuit for a waveform that rises quickly, and the delay amount of the variable delay circuit is set to be long.

  That is, the digital wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1 converts an input audio signal into a digital audio signal, detects an audio pattern with a digital audio pattern detection circuit, and variably delays an appropriate amount of audio signal delay. This is a configuration obtained by a circuit.

  As described above, the digital wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1 can variably delay the audio signal according to the pattern of the input audio signal, thereby improving the head break.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-190515 (published July 21, 1998)

  In the digital wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a head loss by giving a delay to the input audio signal, but as an alternative, the audio output start is started. There is a problem that a delay occurs in timing.

  In the method according to Patent Document 1, the delay time of the signal from the transmission side to the reception side is obtained by adding a short delay when the rising edge of the transmitted voice is slow, and adding a long delay when the rising edge of the transmitted voice is early, In particular, it is possible to shorten the delay time when the rise of the sound is gentle. Therefore, as compared with the method in which the delay time is uniform, the delay time of the signal can be shortened as a whole, so that the unnaturalness of the sound output due to the delay can be improved to some extent.

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, although the delay time has been shortened, the delay still remains, so it cannot be said that the unnaturalness of the audio output due to the delay time has been completely eliminated.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of lack of the beginning of the voice that is instructed to be reproduced by the user without causing the problem of voice delay, and to improve the unnaturalness of the voice output. It is an object to provide a signal transmission method, a control program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention according to an aspect of the present invention is an audio signal transmitting apparatus that transmits an audio signal to an audio output apparatus, and the first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by a user And at least part of the second audio signal that is an additional audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal. As described above, the audio signal transmitting apparatus includes a transmission control unit that automatically transmits the second audio signal.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to solve the problem of lack of the beginning of the voice instructed to be reproduced by the user without causing the problem of voice delay, and to further improve the unnaturalness of the voice output. .

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the audio | voice signal transmission apparatus of this invention. 5 is a timing chart of first and second audio signals transmitted by a transmission control unit and a timing chart of a first audio signal received by a receiving unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Another timing chart of the first audio signal and the second audio signal transmitted by the transmission control unit, and the first audio signal and the second audio received by the reception unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention It is a timing chart of a signal. 4 is a timing chart of first and second audio signals transmitted by a transmission control unit and a timing chart of a first audio signal received by a receiving unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Timing charts of the first audio signal and the second audio signal transmitted by the transmission control unit, and the first audio signal and the second audio signal received by the reception unit, according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a timing chart. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of operation | movement of the audio | voice signal transmission apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of another electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below with reference to FIGS. In the following, for the sake of brevity, it is assumed that the signal transmission and the signal reproduction are at the same timing. However, after a certain time has elapsed since the signal transmission, the signal reproduction is performed. Also good.

[Configuration of Audio Signal Transmitter]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1. The audio signal transmission device 1 includes a transmission control unit 14 and a storage unit 15. The transmission control unit 14 includes a punctuation mark specifying unit 6, a sound pressure detecting unit 7, a sound pressure adjusting unit 8, a reproduction start timing specifying / estimating unit 9, a time adjusting unit 10, and a mixer 11. The storage unit 15 includes a first audio signal storage unit 3, a noise audio storage unit 4, and a user history storage unit 5. Furthermore, the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 includes a reproduction instruction receiving unit 2, a modulating unit 12, and a transmitting unit 13.

  The reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 receives a reproduction instruction for the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1. As an example of the reproduction instruction, a remote instruction given by the user using a remote controller (not shown), an instruction when the user presses a reproduction button (not shown) provided on the audio signal transmission apparatus 1, and the audio signal transmission apparatus 1 The instruction | indication etc. by a user operating the operation screen of the electronic device provided with are mentioned.

  The first audio signal storage unit 3 stores the first audio signal. The first audio signal is an audio that is instructed to be reproduced by the user based on the above reproduction instruction, and the audio signal is transmitted by the user through music, words, sound effects, predetermined synthesized audio, a microphone (not shown), or the like. Various voices such as voice input to the transmission apparatus 1 can be mentioned.

  The noise sound storage unit 4 stores noise sound that is a basis of a second sound signal (described later). The noise sound is preferably a continuous sound of a specific wavelength or a sound in which sounds of a plurality of wavelengths are mixed randomly or according to a certain rule. An example of continuous sound of a specific wavelength is a sine wave. As an example of the sound in which sounds of a plurality of wavelengths are mixed randomly or according to a certain rule, there are white noise, brown noise, pink noise, blue noise, or violet noise. As described above, various known noise sounds can be used as the noise sound used for the second sound signal. The noise sound stored in the noise sound storage unit 4 may have an arbitrary sound pressure and duration. For example, when the sound volume defined by the second sound signal is sufficiently lower than the sound volume defined by the first sound signal, it corresponds to the minimum sound volume defined by the first sound signal. The noise sound having a volume to be stored may be stored in the noise sound storage unit 4. Further, for example, when the duration time of the voice defined by the second voice signal is 10 seconds or less, the noise voice for 10 seconds may be stored in the noise voice storage unit 4. Further, as a method different from the above, a method of synthesizing and transmitting noise sound each time may be adopted by providing a noise sound transmitting unit instead of the noise sound storing unit.

  The user history storage unit 5 stores various usage histories and operation histories of the audio signal transmission device 1 including a reproduction history of the first audio signal.

  When receiving the reproduction instruction, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits the first audio signal stored in the first audio signal storage unit 3 to the punctuation mark specifying unit 6. The punctuation mark specifying unit 6 specifies the timing corresponding to the punctuation mark from the sound reproduced based on the first audio signal to be reproduced. The timing corresponding to the punctuation mark corresponds to the time when the sound reproduced based on the first sound signal is interrupted for a predetermined length or longer.

  When the reproduction instruction is received, the reproduction instruction reception unit 2 transmits the first audio signal stored in the first audio signal storage unit 3 to the sound pressure detection unit 7. The sound pressure detection unit 7 detects the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal to be reproduced. In general, the sound pressure when the beginning of the sound is a consonant tends to be smaller than the sound pressure when the beginning of the sound is a vowel.

  When the reproduction instruction is received, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits the noise sound stored in the noise sound storage unit 4 to the sound pressure adjustment unit 8. Further, the sound pressure detection unit 7 transmits the detection result of the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal to be reproduced to the sound pressure adjustment unit 8. Based on the detection result, the sound pressure adjustment unit 8 increases the sound pressure of the noise sound as the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal to be reproduced is smaller. When the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal is small (for example, when the sound at the beginning is a consonant), the sound pressure of the sound defined by the second sound signal is small. There is a risk that the sound defined by the sound signal will be broken. It can be said that the sound pressure adjusting unit 8 is configured to prevent this fear.

  When receiving the reproduction instruction, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits various histories and the like stored in the user history storage unit 5 to the reproduction start timing specifying / estimating unit 9. The reproduction start timing specification / estimation unit 9 specifies or pre-estimates the reproduction start timing of the first audio signal to be reproduced based on the history or the like. That is, the reproduction start timing specifying / estimating unit 9 specifies or estimates the reproduction start timing before the transmission control unit 14 transmits the first audio signal.

  The punctuation mark specifying unit 6 transmits to the time adjustment unit 10 the result of specifying the timing corresponding to the punctuation mark of the sound reproduced based on the first audio signal to be reproduced. In addition, the sound pressure adjustment unit 8 transmits the noise sound whose sound pressure has been adjusted to the time adjustment unit 10. Further, the reproduction start timing specification / estimation unit 9 transmits the result of the prior specification or the prior estimation of the reproduction start timing of the first audio signal to be reproduced to the time adjustment unit 10. The time adjustment unit 10 adjusts the reproduction timing of the noise sound based on the result of specifying the timing corresponding to the punctuation mark and the result of the prior specification or the prior estimation. In addition, the audio signal transmission device 1 includes a timer 21 in the time adjustment unit 10. When the time adjustment unit 10 includes the timer 21, the time adjustment unit 10 can adjust the reproduction timing of the noise sound independently of the adjustment of the reproduction timing of the noise sound described above. The time adjustment unit 10 outputs the noise sound whose reproduction timing is adjusted as the second sound signal.

  The second audio signal is an audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user, and is an additional audio signal. The second audio signal needs a signal intensity and a signal duration that can prevent the beginning of the audio reproduced based on the first audio signal from being lost, and the start timing of the first audio signal Needs to be sent just before. However, it is desirable that the sound defined by the second sound signal is a sound that is as difficult as possible for the listener as much as possible after satisfying the above conditions. This is because the listener does not hinder listening to the sound defined by the first audio signal, and does not give the listener a sense of incongruity. For this reason, it is desirable that the second audio signal is as weak as possible and has a short duration, and the start timing of the audio is separated from the start timing of the first audio signal. Consciousness here means that the listener strongly cares about the sound.

  Further, in order to make it difficult for the listener to be aware of the sound defined by the second sound signal, it is desirable that the sound defined by the second sound signal is not significant. Here, insignificant speech will be described below. The first audio signal is a significant audio that reflects some human intention such as human thought, transmission information, creation, etc., such as some message or music. On the other hand, when the voice defined by the second voice signal is also a similar significant voice, it is unintentionally heard as a human characteristic by the human intention reflected in the significant voice. Therefore, it becomes easy to be recognized by the listener. For this reason, it is desirable that the voice defined by the second voice signal is not significant. Examples of insignificant speech include continuous speech of a specific wavelength, or noise speech in which sounds of a plurality of wavelengths are mixed randomly or according to a certain rule. Examples of the certain rules mentioned above include, for example, mathematical rules for the mixing ratio and method of each of multiple wavelengths, and do not reflect human intentions such as human thought, transmission information, creation, etc. Is. Such insignificant sound is recognized as noise by the listener, and thus is difficult to recognize even if the listener can hear it. Thus, the sound defined by the second sound signal is less disturbed by the listener from listening to the sound defined by the first sound signal, and is defined by the second sound signal. By making the listener aware of the sound, it is possible to reduce the feeling of discomfort to the listener.

  The playback timing of the second audio signal, in other words, what timing the time adjustment unit 10 uses as the playback timing of the noise audio will be described later.

  When receiving the reproduction instruction, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits the first audio signal stored in the first audio signal storage unit 3 to the mixer 11. In addition, the time adjustment unit 10 transmits the second audio signal to the mixer 11. The mixer 11 synthesizes the first audio signal and the second audio signal and transmits them to the modulation unit 12. For example, when the reproduction timing of the first audio signal and the reproduction timing of the second audio signal are significantly different, the mixer 11 is omitted, and the transmission control unit 14 transmits the first audio signal and the second audio signal. May be individually transmitted to the modulation unit 12.

  In this way, the transmission control unit 14 transmits the first audio signal and automatically transmits the second audio signal.

  The modulation unit 12 modulates the signal transmitted from the transmission control unit 14 and transmits the modulated signal to the transmission unit 13. The transmission unit 13 outputs the signal transmitted from the modulation unit 12 as an audio signal according to a predetermined transmission format.

  The audio signal transmission device 1 transmits the audio signal to the audio output device 16. In the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 and the audio output apparatus 16, the audio signal is transmitted by wireless communication. However, the audio signal may be transmitted by wired communication.

  The audio output device 16 includes a receiving unit 17, a demodulating unit 18, a D / A (digital / analog) converter 19, and a speaker 20.

  The transmission unit 13 of the audio signal transmission device 1 transmits the audio signal to the reception unit 17. The receiving unit 17 receives the audio signal transmitted from the transmitting unit 13 according to a predetermined reception format, and transmits the audio signal to the demodulating unit 18. The demodulator 18 demodulates the signal transmitted from the receiver 17 and transmits it to the D / A converter 19. The signal output from the demodulator 18 is a digital signal. The D / A converter 19 converts the signal transmitted from the demodulator 18 from a digital signal to an analog signal. The speaker 20 reproduces the analog signal and outputs sound.

  From here, the reproduction timing of the first audio signal and the reproduction timing of the second audio signal will be described in detail with reference to the following [Embodiment 1] to [Embodiment 4].

[Embodiment 1]
2 is a timing chart of the first first audio signal 30, the next first audio signal 31, and the second audio signal 32 transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 according to the present embodiment (in FIG. 2). And at the time of transmission), and a timing chart of the first first audio signal 34 and the next first audio signal 35 received by the receiving unit 17 (at the time of reception in FIG. 2).

  According to FIG. 2, the audio signal transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 is an audio in which the next first audio signal 31 is reproduced after a period 33 from the reproduction end timing of the first first audio signal 30. Signal. Note that the combination of the first first audio signal 30 and the next first audio signal 31 may correspond to one first audio signal, or different first audio signals. There may be.

  The time adjustment unit 10 adjusts the reproduction timing of the noise audio, and the second audio signal 32 is reproduced so that at least a part of the second audio signal 32 is reproduced prior to the start of the reproduction of the first first audio signal 30. A signal 32 is generated. Specifically, in FIG. 2, the second audio signal 32 is generated such that the reproduction start timing of the first first audio signal 30 and the reproduction end timing of the second audio signal 32 are substantially the same. ing.

  Further, according to FIG. 2, the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 reproduces the next first audio signal 35 after a period 37 from the reproduction end timing of the first first audio signal 34. It is an audio signal. The first first audio signal 34, the next first audio signal 35, and the period 37 correspond to the first first audio signal 30, the next first audio signal 31, and the period 33, respectively.

  Here, since the processing capability of the audio output device 16 is insufficient or it takes time until the audio output device 16 returns from the power saving state, the head of the audio output from the audio output device 16 is missing (head) Think of the case.

  Specifically, depending on the audio output device 16 or the speaker 20, for example, for the purpose of reducing power consumption, the length of time greatly depends on the type of the speaker, but for example, it is about 1 second for a short one and several for a long one. There is a power saving state when there is no voice input for about ten seconds. When an audio signal is transmitted when the audio output device 16 or the speaker 20 is in the power saving state, it takes time until the audio output device 16 or the speaker 20 returns to the operation state, so that the first part of the audio signal is reproduced. In some cases, it may cause a head loss.

  In particular, the present invention is intended to eliminate the head breakage caused by the above-described cause.

  In this case, the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 is the audio signal transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 lacking the head. As a result, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the second audio signal 32 is lost in the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17. The portion of the timing chart corresponding to the disappearance of the second audio signal 32 in FIG.

  On the other hand, since the first first audio signal 30 and the next first audio signal 31 are reproduced with a delay with respect to the second audio signal 32, the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 is missing or lost. Hardly occurs. That is, the first first audio signal 34 and the next first audio signal 35 are the same signals as the first first audio signal 30 and the next first audio signal 31, respectively. The period 37 is the same time as the period 33. In other words, the sound output from the speaker 20 on the basis of the first first audio signal 30 and the next first audio signal 31 is not interrupted. Similarly, the rise and dullness (a phenomenon in which the volume is forcibly changed to gradually rise) does not occur.

  According to the above configuration, the second audio signal 32 is transmitted prior to the start of reproduction of the first first audio signal 30. For this reason, when the sound output from the sound output device 16 is interrupted, the beginning of the sound reproduced based on the second sound signal 32 may be lost, but the first first sound may be lost. The possibility that the beginning of the sound reproduced based on the signal 30 is lost can be reduced.

  Further, since the additional sound is transmitted prior to the reproduction of the first first sound signal 30, in principle, the first first sound signal 34 is delayed with respect to the first first sound signal 30. Absent. That is, it is possible to prevent the head of the audio reproduced based on the first first audio signal 30 from being cut without providing a delay time for the first first audio signal 30.

  FIG. 3 shows another first audio signal 40, the next first audio signal 41, the first second audio signal 42, and the next transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 according to the present embodiment. The timing chart of the second audio signal 43 (at the time of transmission in FIG. 3), and the first first audio signal 45, the next first audio signal 46, and the next second received by the receiving unit 17 4 is a timing chart of the audio signal 48 (at the time of reception in FIG. 3).

  Note that the first first audio signal 40, the next first audio signal 41, and the first second audio signal 42 in FIG. 3 are the same as the first first audio signal 30 in FIG. It is the same signal as the next first audio signal 31 and second audio signal 32. Therefore, detailed description of the first first audio signal 40, the next first audio signal 41, and the first second audio signal 42 is omitted.

  The time adjusting unit 10 adjusts the reproduction timing of the noise audio, and before the start of the reproduction of the next first audio signal 41, the time adjustment unit 10 reproduces at least a part of the next second audio signal 43. A second audio signal 43 is generated. Specifically, in FIG. 3, the next second audio signal is set so that the reproduction start timing of the next first audio signal 41 and the reproduction end timing of the next second audio signal 43 are substantially the same. 43 is generated.

  Also, the audio signal transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 is an audio signal from which the next second audio signal 43 is reproduced after a period 44 from the reproduction end timing of the first first audio signal 40.

  Note that the first first audio signal 45, the next first audio signal 46, and the signal loss unit 47 in FIG. 3 are respectively the first first audio signal 34 and the next first audio signal in FIG. Are the same signals (signal loss) as the audio signal 35 and the signal loss part 36. For this reason, detailed description of the first first audio signal 45, the next first audio signal 46, and the signal loss unit 47 is omitted.

  Further, according to FIG. 3, the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 is reproduced with the next first audio signal 46 after a period 49 from the reproduction end timing of the first first audio signal 45. It is an audio signal.

  Also in the example shown in FIG. 3, as in the example shown in FIG. 2, a head break occurs in the audio output from the speaker 20 based on the first first audio signal 40 and the next first audio signal 41. Absent.

  However, the period 49 is longer than the period 44 by the duration of the next second audio signal 48 (the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 corresponding to the next second audio signal 43). Yes. As a result, the audio output from the speaker 20 based on the next first audio signal 41 is delayed for the duration of the next second audio signal 48. That is, the example shown in FIG. 2 has an advantage that the reproduction delay can be suppressed as compared with the example shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, after the first reproduction instruction is given to the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1, the time until the next reproduction instruction is shorter than the time until the audio output apparatus 16 shifts to the power saving state. If this is assumed, it can be suitably implemented.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 4 shows the first first audio signal 50, the next first audio signal 51, the first second audio signal 52, and the next second transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the audio signal 53 (during transmission in FIG. 4), and a timing chart of the first first audio signal 54 and the next first audio signal 55 received by the receiving unit 17 (reception in FIG. 4). Time).

  Note that the first first audio signal 50 and the next first audio signal 51 in FIG. 4 are the same as the first first audio signal 30 and the next first audio signal 31 in FIG. 2, respectively. Signal. Therefore, detailed description of the first first audio signal 50 and the next first audio signal 51 is omitted. Also, the mutual relationship between the next first audio signal 51 and the next second audio signal 53 in FIG. 4 is the same as the first first audio signal 30 and the second audio signal 32 in FIG. It is similar to the interrelationship. Therefore, detailed description of the mutual relationship between the next first audio signal 51 and the next second audio signal 53 is also omitted.

  The time adjustment unit 10 adjusts the reproduction timing of the noise audio, and before the start of the reproduction of the first first audio signal 50, the time adjustment unit 10 reproduces at least a part of the first second audio signal 52. A second audio signal 52 is generated. Specifically, in FIG. 4, the reproduction end timing of the first second audio signal 52 comes before the predetermined period 5A before the reproduction start timing of the first first audio signal 50. The second audio signal 52 is generated. The time corresponding to the period 5A is not particularly limited, but if it is less than 1 second, the sound output from the speaker 20 based on the first first audio signal 50 is cut off while suppressing the reproduction delay as much as possible. Can be prevented from occurring.

  The first second audio signal 52 is transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 at an appropriate timing before the reproduction of the first first audio signal 50 is started. With reference to the result of the prior specification or prior estimation described above by the reproduction start timing specification / estimation unit 9, the time adjustment unit 10 can easily perform the first second before the start of reproduction of the first first audio signal 50. The reproduction timing of the noise audio can be adjusted so that the audio signal 52 is transmitted at an appropriate timing.

  Note that the first first audio signal 54 and the next first audio signal 55 in FIG. 4 are the same as the first first audio signal 34 and the next first audio signal 35 in FIG. 2, respectively. Signal. For this reason, detailed description of the first first audio signal 54 and the next first audio signal 55 is omitted.

  In FIG. 4, it is assumed that the audio output device 16 shifts to the power saving state after the reception unit 17 receives the first first audio signal 54 during reception.

  The audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 lacks the beginning of the audio signal transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 for each of the reproduction of the first first audio signal 54 and the reproduction of the next first audio signal 55. It becomes. As a result, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the first second audio signal 52 and the next second audio signal 53 are lost in the audio signal received by the receiving unit 17. The portion of the timing chart corresponding to the disappearance of the first second audio signal 52 and the portion of the timing chart corresponding to the disappearance of the next second audio signal 53 in FIG. The defect portion 57 is used.

  On the other hand, the first first audio signal 50 and the next first audio signal 51 are reproduced with a delay from the first second audio signal 52 and the next second audio signal 53, respectively. The audio signal received by the unit 17 is hardly missing or lost. That is, the first first audio signal 54 and the next first audio signal 55 are the same signals as the first first audio signal 50 and the next first audio signal 51, respectively. In other words, the sound output from the speaker 20 on the basis of the first first audio signal 50 and the next first audio signal 51 is not interrupted.

  In FIG. 4, the delay time of the first first audio signal 54 with respect to the first first audio signal 50 accompanying the transmission of the audio signal from the transmission control unit 14 to the receiving unit 17 is a period 58. A delay time of the next first audio signal 55 with respect to the next first audio signal 51 is a period 59.

  The period 59 is longer than the period 58. That is, the delay generated in the sound output from the speaker 20 based on the next first audio signal 51 is larger than the delay generated in the sound output from the speaker 20 based on the first first audio signal 50. Yes.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 5 shows the first first audio signal 60, the next first audio signal 61, the first second audio signal 62, and the next second transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 according to the present embodiment. The timing chart of the audio signal 63 (at the time of transmission in FIG. 5), and the first first audio signal 64, the next first audio signal 65, and the next second audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 67 is a timing chart of 67 (at the time of reception in FIG. 5).

  Note that the first first audio signal 60 and the first second audio signal 62 in FIG. 5 are the same as the first first audio signal 50 and the first second audio signal 52 in FIG. 4, respectively. Signal. Therefore, detailed description of the first first audio signal 60 and the first second audio signal 62 is omitted. Also, the next first audio signal 61 and the next second audio signal 63 in FIG. 5 are the same as the first first audio signal 50 and the first second audio signal 52 in FIG. 4, respectively. Signal. Therefore, detailed description of the next first audio signal 61 and the next second audio signal 63 is also omitted.

  In FIG. 5, similarly to FIG. 4, the reproduction end timing of the first second audio signal 62 comes before a certain period 6 </ b> A before the reproduction start timing of the first first audio signal 60. The first second audio signal 62 is generated. The time corresponding to the period 6A is not particularly limited, but if it is less than 1 second, the sound output from the speaker 20 based on the first first audio signal 60 is cut off while suppressing the reproduction delay as much as possible. Can be prevented from occurring. In other words, the transmission control unit 14 preferably reproduces at least a part of the first second audio signal 62 within one second before the start of reproduction of the first first audio signal 60.

  A period 6B corresponding to the interval between the reproduction start timing of the first second audio signal 62 (for example, the application activation timing) and the reproduction start timing of the next second audio signal 63 is determined in advance. It is a certain time. The time corresponding to the period 6B is not particularly limited, but is preferably less than the time until the audio output device 16 shifts to the power saving state, and is preferably, for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes. Moreover, since the optimal time corresponding to the period 6B varies depending on the type of the audio output device 16 and the user's feeling, the audio signal transmitting apparatus can be adjusted arbitrarily by the user. 1 is preferably configured.

  Note that the first first audio signal 64 and the signal loss portion 66 in FIG. 5 are the same signals (signal loss) as the first first audio signal 54 and the signal loss portion 56 in FIG. 4, respectively. is there. For this reason, detailed description of the first first audio signal 64 and the signal loss unit 66 is omitted.

  Further, the next second audio signal 67 in FIG. 5 is an audio signal received by the receiving unit 17 corresponding to the next second audio signal 63.

[Embodiment 4]
The transmission control unit 14 reproduces the second audio signal during at least a part of the time when the sound to be reproduced based on at least one first audio signal is interrupted for a predetermined length or longer. As described above, the second audio signal may be transmitted. By referring to the result of specifying the timing corresponding to the punctuation mark described above by the punctuation mark specifying unit 6, the time adjustment unit 10 easily adjusts the reproduction timing of the noise sound so as to realize the transmission of the second audio signal. can do.

  According to the configuration described above, even if the sound defined by the first sound signal includes punctuation marks (the sound is interrupted), the sound output device 16 shifts to the power saving state at the timing of the punctuation marks. Can be prevented. As a result, there is an effect of preventing the head after the punctuation mark from being cut off.

  The audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 stores a plurality of types of noise audio in the noise audio storage unit 4, and the user selects a noise audio to be used as a basis for the second audio signal from the plurality of types of noise audio. It may be configured to be able to. The audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 may be configured such that the user cannot select the noise audio that should be the basis of the second audio signal from the plurality of types of noise audio, or the noise audio in the first place. Only one type of noise sound may be stored in the storage unit 4.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the first audio signal and the second audio signal do not overlap, but the first audio signal and the second audio signal may overlap.

[Example of operation flow of audio signal transmitting apparatus]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the operation (audio signal transmission method) of the audio signal transmission apparatus 1.

  First, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 receives a reproduction instruction (step S1).

  Subsequently, the first audio signal is read (step S2). Specifically, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits the first audio signal stored in the first audio signal storage unit 3 to the punctuation mark specifying unit 6, the sound pressure detection unit 7, and the mixer 11.

  Subsequently, the noise sound is read (step S3). Specifically, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits the noise sound stored in the noise sound storage unit 4 to the sound pressure adjustment unit 8.

  Subsequently, the sound pressure detection unit 7 detects the beginning sound pressure of the sound defined by the first sound signal (step S4).

  Subsequently, based on the detection result of the sound pressure by the sound pressure detection unit 7, the sound pressure adjustment unit 8 uses the second sound signal as the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal is smaller. The sound pressure of the noise sound is adjusted so as to increase the sound pressure of the specified sound (step S5).

  Subsequently, the user history is read (step S6). Specifically, the reproduction instruction receiving unit 2 transmits various usage histories and operation histories of the audio signal transmission device 1 stored in the user history storage unit 5 to the reproduction start timing specifying / estimating unit 9.

  Subsequently, the reproduction start timing specifying / estimating unit 9 specifies or estimates the reproduction start timing of the first audio signal (step S7).

  Subsequently, the time adjustment unit 10 sets the timing at which at least a part of the second audio signal is reproduced prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal (step S8: transmission control step). Specifically, the time adjustment unit 10 adjusts the reproduction timing of the second audio signal by adjusting the reproduction timing of the noise audio received from the sound pressure adjustment unit 8.

  Subsequently, the time adjustment unit 10 determines the second voice at the timing corresponding to the punctuation mark of the voice reproduced based on the first voice signal, based on the specification result of the timing corresponding to the punctuation mark by the punctuation mark specifying unit 6. The signal reproduction timing is matched (step S9). Similar to step S8, the time adjustment unit 10 adjusts the reproduction timing of the second audio signal by adjusting the reproduction timing of the noise audio received from the sound pressure adjustment unit 8.

  Finally, the mixer 11 synthesizes the first audio signal and the second audio signal (step S10).

  In the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1, essential operations are step S1 to step S3 and step S8. About each other step, it may be abbreviate | omitted suitably and the order may be changed suitably.

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the smartphone 70 and the stuffed toy 71 (electronic device) according to the present embodiment. A smartphone 70 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes the audio signal transmission device 1 (see FIG. 1). Moreover, the stuffed toy 71 shown in FIG. 7 includes the audio output device 16 (see FIG. 1).

  The operator (here, the parent) who is the user selects the sound to be reproduced (the sound reproduced based on the first audio signal) from the operation screen 72 of the smartphone 70, and the audio signal transmission device 1 of the smartphone 70. Is instructed to play. Thereby, the said audio | voice without a head can be output from the speaker 20 of the audio | voice output apparatus 16 of the stuffed toy 71. FIG. The operator can use a plurality of sounds according to the scene, so that the listener (here, a child) can feel as if he / she is talking to the stuffed toy 71.

  By preventing the head of the audio reproduced based on the first first audio signal from being cut off and reproducing the audio reproduced based on the next first audio signal without delay with respect to the listener's reaction. The dialogue between the listener and the stuffed toy 71 can be smoothly produced.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another smartphone 80 and a stuffed toy 81 (electronic device) according to the present embodiment. A smartphone 80 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes an audio output device 16 in addition to the configuration of the smartphone 70 illustrated in FIG. 7. A stuffed animal 81 shown in FIG. 8 includes an audio signal transmitting device 1 in addition to the configuration of the stuffed animal 71 shown in FIG. The audio signal transmitting device 1 of the smartphone 80 and the audio output device 16 of the stuffed toy 81 constitute one communication system, and the audio output device 16 of the smartphone 80 and the audio signal transmitting device 1 of the stuffed toy 81 are different. One communication system is configured.

In the smartphone 80 and the stuffed toy 81, another communication system is configured, and the operator listens to the listener's voice using, for example, the earphone 83 via the audio output device 16 of the smartphone 80. Thereby, the operator and the listener can have a conversation from a place away from the listener (a room other than the room where the listener is present). That is, the conversation can be performed according to the following flows (1) to (5).
(1) From the operation screen 82 of the smartphone 80, the voice to be reproduced by the operator is selected.
(2) The stuffed toy 81 utters (outputs voice).
(3) The listener responds in response to the utterance of the stuffed toy 81.
(4) A voice signal is transmitted from the stuffed toy 81 to the smartphone 80 as the voice to be played back as the reply in (3) above.
(5) The operator uses the earphone 83 to listen to the sound reproduced based on the sound signal of (4).

[Embodiment 6]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the smartphone 90 and the headphone 91 (electronic device) according to the present embodiment. A smartphone 90 shown in FIG. 9 includes an audio signal transmission device 1 (see FIG. 1). Moreover, the headphones 91 shown in FIG. 9 are so-called wireless headphones that include the audio output device 16 (see FIG. 1) and perform wireless communication with the audio signal transmission device 1 of the smartphone 90.

  According to the smartphone 90 and the headphones 91, music stored in the smartphone 90 (sound reproduced based on the first audio signal) is output from the headphones 91. Thereby, the head of the music output from the headphones 91 can be prevented from being cut off.

[Embodiment 7]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the smartphone 100 and the headset 101 (electronic device) according to the present embodiment. A smartphone 100 shown in FIG. 10 includes an audio signal transmission device 1 (see FIG. 1) and an audio output device 16 (see FIG. 1). The headset 101 shown in FIG. 10 also includes the audio signal transmission device 1 and the audio output device 16. The audio signal transmission device 1 of the smartphone 100 and the audio output device 16 of the headset 101 constitute one communication system, and the audio output device 16 of the smartphone 100 and the audio signal transmission device 1 of the headset 101 Another communication system is configured. A headset 101 illustrated in FIG. 10 is a so-called wireless headset that performs wireless communication with the audio signal transmission device 1 and the audio output device 16 of the smartphone 100.

  According to the smartphone 100 and the headset 101, at the time of a call by the smartphone 100, the headset 101 can be used to listen to the other party's voice, or the headset 101 microphone can be used to transmit the voice to the other party. .

[Example of software implementation]
The control block (particularly the transmission control unit 14) of the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). It may be realized by software.

  In the latter case, the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software that realizes each function, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which the program and various data are recorded so as to be readable by a computer (or CPU). ) Or a storage device (these are referred to as “recording media”), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program, and the like. And the objective of this invention is achieved when a computer (or CPU) reads the said program from the said recording medium and runs it. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

[Summary]
The audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to the first aspect of the present invention is an apparatus that transmits an audio signal to the audio output apparatus 16, and transmits a first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by a user. Prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal, the second audio signal is reproduced so that at least a part of the second audio signal which is an additional audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user is reproduced. The transmission control unit 14 for automatically transmitting the audio signal is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the second audio signal is transmitted prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal. For this reason, when the sound output from the sound output device is interrupted, there is a possibility that the head of the sound reproduced based on the second sound signal may be lost, but based on the first sound signal. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the beginning of the reproduced audio is lost.

  In addition, according to the above configuration, since the additional sound is transmitted prior to the reproduction of the first sound signal, there is no delay in the first sound signal in principle. That is, it is possible to prevent the head of the audio reproduced based on the first audio signal from being cut off without providing a delay time for the first audio signal.

  The sound signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to aspect 2 of the present invention is the sound signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to aspect 1, wherein the second sound signal is a continuous sound of a specific wavelength or a noise in which sounds of a plurality of wavelengths are mixed according to a random or constant rule. Includes audio.

  According to the above configuration, the sound defined by the second sound signal can be reduced to prevent the listener from hearing the sound defined by the first sound signal, and the second sound can be reduced. Since the listener is aware of the sound defined by the signal, it is possible to reduce the feeling of discomfort to the listener.

  In the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to aspect 3 of the present invention, in the above aspect 2, the noise sound is any of white noise, brown noise, pink noise, blue noise, or violet noise.

  According to said structure, various known noise audio | voices can be utilized as a noise audio | voice used for a 2nd audio | voice signal.

  The audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to aspect 4 of the present invention is the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to any one of the above aspects 1 to 3, wherein the transmission control unit 14 includes the second audio within one second before the start of reproduction of the first audio signal. Play at least part of the signal.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress a head break in the audio reproduced based on the first audio signal while suppressing the reproduction delay as much as possible.

  The sound signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to aspect 5 of the present invention is the sound signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to any one of the above aspects 1 to 4, wherein the transmission control unit 14 decreases the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal. The second sound signal generated so that the sound pressure of the sound defined by the second sound signal is increased is transmitted.

  When the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal is small (for example, when the sound at the beginning is a consonant), the sound pressure of the sound defined by the second sound signal is small. There is a risk that the sound defined by the sound signal will be broken. According to said structure, there exists an effect which prevents this fear.

  In the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to aspect 6 of the present invention, in any one of the above aspects 1 to 5, the transmission control unit 14 determines the reproduction start timing of the first audio signal to transmit the first audio signal. Prior identification or estimation in advance.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to transmit the second audio signal at an appropriate timing after specifying or estimating the reproduction start timing of the first audio signal.

  The audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to Aspect 7 of the present invention is the audio signal transmitting apparatus 1 according to any one of the Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the transmission control unit 14 is a time during which audio reproduced based on at least one of the first audio signals is interrupted. Is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, the second audio signal is transmitted so that the second audio signal is reproduced at least in part of the time.

  According to the above configuration, even when the sound defined by the first sound signal includes punctuation marks (the sound is interrupted), the sound output device shifts to the power saving state at the timing of the punctuation marks. Can be prevented. As a result, there is an effect of preventing the head after the punctuation mark from being cut off.

  The audio signal transmission method according to aspect 8 of the present invention is a method in the audio signal transmission device 1 that transmits an audio signal to the audio output device 16, and transmits the first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by the user. In addition, prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal, at least part of the second audio signal that is an audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user and that is an additional audio signal is reproduced. In addition, a transmission control step of automatically transmitting the second audio signal is included.

  According to said structure, there exists an effect similar to aspect 1.

  Each process according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, a control program for causing the computer to realize the above process by operating the computer as the above process, and a computer recording the program A readable recording medium falls within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Audio | voice signal transmitter 2 Reproduction | regeneration instruction | indication receiving part 3 1st audio | voice signal storage part 4 Noise audio | voice storage part 5 User history memory | storage part 6 Punctuation mark specific | specification part 7 Sound pressure detection part 8 Sound pressure adjustment part 9 Playback start timing specification / estimation part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Time adjustment part 11 Mixer 12 Modulation part 13 Transmission part 14 Transmission control part 15 Storage part 16 Audio | voice output apparatus 17 Reception part 18 Demodulation part 19 D / A converter 20 Speaker 21 Timer 30, 31, 34, 35, 40, 41 45, 46,
50, 51, 54, 55, 60, 61, 64, 65 First audio signal 32, 42, 43, 48,
52, 53, 62, 63, 67 Second audio signal 36, 47, 56, 57, 66 Signal loss 33, 37, 44, 49, 58, 59, 5A, 6A, 6B Period 70, 80, 90, 100 Smartphone 71, 81 Plush Toy 72, 82 Operation Screen 83 Earphone 91 Headphone 101 Headset

Claims (10)

An audio signal transmission device that transmits an audio signal to an audio output device,
A first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by the user is transmitted, and an audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal, and is an additional audio signal. such that at least a portion of the second audio signal is reproduced, a transmission control unit that transmits the second audio signal automatically,
The transmission control unit is generated so that the sound pressure of the sound defined by the second sound signal increases as the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal decreases. audio signal transmitting apparatus characterized that you send the second audio signal.   2. The audio signal transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second audio signal includes continuous audio of a specific wavelength or noise audio in which sounds of a plurality of wavelengths are mixed randomly or according to a predetermined rule.   The audio signal transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the noise sound is any one of white noise, brown noise, pink noise, blue noise, and violet noise.   The said transmission control part reproduces | regenerates at least one part of a said 2nd audio | voice signal within 1 second before the reproduction | regeneration start of a said 1st audio | voice signal, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Voice signal transmitting apparatus.   5. The transmission control unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit pre-specifies or pre-estimates the reproduction start timing of the first audio signal before transmitting the first audio signal. 6. Voice signal transmitting apparatus.   An audio signal transmission device that transmits an audio signal to an audio output device,
  A first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by the user is transmitted, and an audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal, and is an additional audio signal. A transmission control unit for automatically transmitting the second audio signal so that at least a part of the second audio signal is reproduced;
  The transmission control unit reproduces the second audio signal during at least a part of the time when a time in which the audio reproduced based on at least one of the first audio signals is interrupted is equal to or longer than a predetermined length. As described above, an audio signal transmitting apparatus that transmits the second audio signal.   An audio signal transmitting method in an audio signal transmitting apparatus for transmitting an audio signal to an audio output apparatus,
  A first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by the user is transmitted, and an audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal, and is an additional audio signal. A transmission control step of automatically transmitting the second audio signal so that at least a part of the second audio signal is reproduced;
  In the transmission control step, the sound pressure of the sound defined by the second sound signal is increased as the sound pressure at the beginning of the sound defined by the first sound signal is smaller. An audio signal transmission method comprising transmitting a second audio signal. An audio signal transmitting method in an audio signal transmitting apparatus for transmitting an audio signal to an audio output apparatus,
A first audio signal that is instructed to be reproduced by the user is transmitted, and an audio signal that is not instructed to be reproduced by the user prior to the start of reproduction of the first audio signal, and is an additional audio signal. such that at least a portion of the second audio signal is reproduced, viewed including the transmission control step of transmitting said second audio signal automatically,
In the transmission control step, the second audio signal is reproduced during at least a part of the time when a time during which the sound reproduced based on at least one of the first audio signals is interrupted is equal to or longer than a predetermined length. As described above, a method of transmitting an audio signal, wherein the second audio signal is transmitted. A control program for causing a computer to execute the transmission control step according to claim 7 or 8 .   A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to claim 9 is recorded.

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