JPH01226263A - Voice message reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer storing/reproducing service extremely superior in the intelligibility of a voice message by transferring the head addresses of a voice section and a non-voiced section to a control part at the time of voice media message storage, and generating a message control table, and referring to the message control table at the time of reproduction. CONSTITUTION:At the time of the voice media message storage, when a voice communication control part 21 receives analog media information shown as a voice waveform, the voice communication control part 21 outputs a write address as the head of the non-voiced section and the head of the voiced section to the control part 29. The control part 29 registers the head addresses of the voided section and the non-voiced section contained in every storage unit #1, #2, #3... and the distinction of voiced/non-voiced in the message control table. At the time of the reproduction of the voice media message, the control part 29 obtains the head address in the storage unit of the non-voiced section from the message control table, and the voice media message up to said non-voiced section is read in the voice communication control part 21, and is reproduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a voice message playback method, and more particularly to a voice message storage device connected to a communication network, which transmits and receives all messages by telephone and voice, and stores and plays all of the messages. This invention relates to a voice message playback method.

[Conventional technology]

Connected to the communication network, transmits and receives audio to and from the phone, and stores all audio.
An example of a reproducing voice message storage device is a multimedia mail device. Multimedia mail system R is
For example, in the case of a telephone, it provides a service that saves the trouble of making repeated calls when the other party is busy or absent, and it is connected to a communication network and stores and delivers messages such as voice, text, and facsimile. It is.

In the following description, since any information processing device such as a converter can be considered to be equivalent to a communication terminal if it is connected to a communication network, it will be collectively referred to as a communication terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a typical example of a conventional multimedia mail device. From the T shown in Figure 3, various information is available. Multimedia mail device 2 that performs integrated processing,
Storage device 20, communication control unit compatible with information communication, for example, voice communication control unit 2I.

Text communication control unit 221, image communication control unit 23, and packet communication control unit 24. buffer 25.26.27.28,
and management department 29. It is configured with all the operation consoles 290.

The storage device 20 stores images, audio, text, images, etc. from storage devices such as magnetic disks and optical disks as digital information.

- 10,000, voice, text, image communication control unit 21.22.2
3 is a connection control with the circuit switching network 1 such as call origination, recovery, and call reception, and all communication control with the communication terminal after being connected to the telephone 4, 5, etc. through the circuit or the switching network 1 9゜The packet communication control unit 24 also controls the packet communication network 3.
The buffer 2
Transfer to 8.

The buffers 25, 26, 27, and 28 adjust the transfer speed between each communication terminal and the storage device 20. For example, the buffer 25 installed between the voice communication control unit 21 and the storage device [20] It is divided and used as a 2-bank buffer, and the voice communication control unit 21 and the storage device 20 alternately read all the banks and read 1+f@ and the voice communication control unit 21 and the storage device 20
Enables continuous transfer between

The management unit 29 controls the storage device 20 and each communication control unit 21.22.
．． 23 and 24, and performs functions such as storing messages, starting retrieval, and managing transmission and reception processing with communication terminals. In addition, the management section 29 is operated by an operation console 290.
are connected and registered in advance through the operation console 290 in an address table that combines the user name, the address of the text terminal used by the same user, and the telephone number, for example, text terminal 6 and telephone 4. The addresses and numbers of the text terminal 7 and telephone 5 are held in pairs.

Note that the packet type communication network 3il''r is a communication network that is accessed by multiple communication terminals in multiple rooms for each packet and has all broadcasting functions, and as an example, 1EBE standard 80 Z.
3 “C3hAA/CD access method and physics = 5
- Layer specification J1985 (IEEE 5 standard
802-3C8MA/CD Access Meth
odd and Physical L-ayer 5
specification), IEEE standard SO2.4
Token Passing Bus Access Method and Physical Layer Specification J 1985 (IEEE 5 standard
802.4 Token-Passing Bus
Access Method and Physi
cal Layer 5 specification),
IEEE Standard 802.5 ") - Kunling's Access Method and Physical Layer Specification J 1985 (IBEE 5
tand-ard 802.5 Token Rin
g Access Method and Physics
For example, a packet type communication network defined by the Al Layer 5 specification) can be mentioned.

Now, when storing multimedia messages in such a configuration, user A can send text media messages,
Requests the storage of all multimedia messages, including audio media messages. Multimedia mail device 2
The management unit 29 searches the address table from the address of the text terminal 6, obtains the telephone number of the telephone 4 for convenience of the user (AV), and connects the telephone 4 via the circuit switched network 1.

Thereafter, user A sends a text media message from the text copy 6 and a voice media message from the telephone 4 to the multimedia mail device 2, and stores them in the storage device 20 under the control of the management section 29.

On the other hand, telephone 5. User B using text terminal 7
When receiving all the multimedia messages, first, the text copy 7 sends a multimedia message reception request to the management section 29 .

After connecting to the telephone 5, the management section 29 sends the entire multimedia message buffer 25 from the storage device 20 to the text terminal 7 via the voice communication control section 21.
The voice media message is reproduced in its entirety from the telephone 5, and the entire text media message is displayed on the text booklet 7.

Next, the conventional audio storage/reproduction method will be fully explained with reference to FIG.

When the audio communication control unit 21 receives the analog audio waveform, it converts it into, for example, 64 kbps PCM digital information, and then outputs it to the buffer 25 and writes audio media information therein. Then, under the control of the management unit 29, data is transferred from the buffer 25 to the storage device 20 for each storage unit indicated by #0 to #3, such as a track or sector of the storage device 20, and stored therein.

On the other hand, when playing an audio media message, the management unit 2
9, a buffer 2 is created for each storage unit of the storage device 20.
Transfer to 5. Thereafter, the audio communication control unit 21 reads audio media information from the buffer 25, converts the digital audio media information into analog information, and reproduces the analog information. At that time, if multiple storage and playback requests are made to the storage device 20 at the same time, the reading time from the storage device 20 becomes longer, for example, as shown between storage unit #1 and storage unit #2 in FIG. As a result, playback interruptions of audio media messages occur.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional voice message playback method described above, the storage device handles all media messages uniformly and processes them in the order in which storage/playback requests occur. Therefore, if a large number of storage/playback requests occur at the same time, such as simultaneous playback of different media messages or storage/playback requests from multiple users, and the time required to read the audio media message from the storage device becomes long,
There is a drawback that the audio reproduction is interrupted even during the reproduction of a voiced section such as a word of a voice message, making it extremely difficult for the user to understand the reproduced audio.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for reproducing voice messages which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, eliminates interruptions in voice reproduction, and improves the overall sound quality of the reproduced voice.

[Means to solve all problems]

The method of the present invention includes: a voice communication control unit connected to a communication network for transmitting and receiving at least voice messages; a buffer for writing and reading voice messages between the voice communication control unit; and a buffer connected to the buffer for transmitting voice messages. A voice message storage device comprising a storage device that stores the voice messages divided into predetermined memory units, and a management section that controls all transfers of voice messages between the voice communication control section and the storage device and manages voice message meetings. In the message playback method, when the voice message is stored, the voice communication control unit determines whether the voice message is voiced or silent, and manages the distinction between the voiced section and the silent section and the write start address of the voiced section and the silent section. create a message control table in which the management section retains at least the distinction between a sound section/silent section included in each storage unit of the storage device and the storage unit circle start address of the sound section/silence section. When the audio message is played back, the management unit searches the message control table for the start address of the silent section and the following sound section in the storage unit, and transmits the audio message up to the silent section in the storage unit. causing the control unit to reproduce the memory unit that is being reproduced and causing the audio communication control unit to reproduce the silent interval in its entirety until the memory unit that follows the memory unit that is being reproduced is transferred from the storage device to the buffer; After the transfer, the audio communication control section is configured to cause the voice communication control unit to reproduce the sound section following the silent section.

[Effect]

The present invention first causes the voice communication control unit to determine the sound section and silent section of the voice media message at the time of storage, and causes the voice section to transfer the first address of each voice section to the management section, and further,
The management section is made to create a complete message control table containing the start addresses of the sound section and silent section included in the storage unit for each storage unit of the storage device.

When playing back a voice message, the management unit searches the message control table, finds the start address of the silent section and the sound section, and starts the voice communication. l1lJ'@ part plays the entire first sound section of the valley memory unit, and when the silent section is played, the next memory unit can be read and the playback preparation is completed, and after that, the entire sound section is played back. Let it start. As described above, when there is an overload, the silent section is fully extended, thereby making it possible to reproduce the sound section without interruption.

〔Example〕

Next, the invention will be described in detail with reference to all nine drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, showing the operation contents in storage/playback of audio media messages. Further, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a message control table for the audio media message of FIG. 1. The hardware configuration itself in the non-embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, and the embodiment will be described below based on FIGS. 1 and 2 while referring to the third diagram.

Similar to the conventional example, the voice message is transferred from the voice communication control unit 21 to the buffer 25 when it is stored, and is transferred and stored in the storage device 20 in units of storage. Also, during playback, il'I: is transferred from the storage device 20 to the buffer 25. It is sent to the telephone via the voice communication control 21.

At this time, in the conventional example, the voice communication control unit 21 only plays the silent section sound from the voice media message transferred from the buffer 25, but in this actual example, the voice communication control unit 21 plays the silent section sound based on the request from the management unit 29. It also plays section sounds.

Now, in FIG. 1, the voice communication control unit 21 receives analog voice media information shown as a voice waveform when accumulating voice messages.

This is converted into, for example, 54 kbps PCM digital information and output to the buffer 25. Furthermore, the voice communication control unit 21 determines whether voice communication information? Divide into blocks of processing units of tens of milliseconds, for example 32 milliseconds, and calculate the power of audio information and zero crossing points for each block, and the calculation result is greater than a predetermined threshold. If so, use a sound block. On the other hand, if the calculation result is smaller than the threshold value F, the block is set as a silent block. All of these first
The accumulated messages in the figure are shown as sound blocks and silent blocks. The voice communication control unit 21 writes the entire write address as the beginning of a silent section and the beginning of a sound section, respectively, when a series of sound blocks is replaced with a silent block, and when a series of silent blocks is replaced with a sound block, respectively. Output to the management section 29. This is shown by the addresses (#0) to (#8) of the beginning address of the voice section in Figure 1.

The management unit 29 transfers the audio media information from the buffer 25 to the storage device 20 in units of storage indicated by #0 to #3 in the figure, and stores it therein. At this time, each time the management unit 29 receives the voice section start address of the voice section and silent section from the voice communication control section 21, the management section 29 stores the storage units #o, #1, #2.
, $3, . . . , the start addresses of the sound sections and silent sections and the distinction between sound and silence are registered in the message control table. The registered contents of this message control table are shown in FIG.

- 10,000, when playing an audio media message, the management unit 2
9 reads the storage unit from the storage device 20 to one bank (bank #0) of the two banks included in the buffer 25. Furthermore, the management section 29 obtains the start address within the storage unit of the silent section from the message control table. The management section 29 causes the entire voice communication control section 21 to read and reproduce the voice message message at the end of the silent section.

Further, the management unit 29 simultaneously transfers the next storage unit from the storage device 20 to the other bank (bank #1) different from the bank #0 of the buffer 25. At that time, bank #
If the next storage unit is not transferred to bank #1 of the buffer 25, the management unit 29 causes the voice communication control unit 21 to transmit the silence until the next storage unit is transferred to bank #1 of the buffer 25. to play. and,
After transferring the next storage unit, bank #0 of the buffer 25 is transferred again.
The voice media message is read into the voice communication control unit 21 from the sound section, and the reproduction is completely restarted from the sound section.

For example, as shown in the playback message in FIG.

The management unit 29 stores data from the storage device 20 to the bank O of the buffer 25.
The data is transferred to storage unit #0', and the audio communication control unit 21 is caused to start audio reproduction. Then, since memory unit #1 is transferred to bank 1 and can be continuously played by the end of the playback of the silent section starting from address (#1), the management section 291'C audio communication control section 21 immediately after the end of the playback of the silent section. Continuously reproduce the sound section starting from address (#2). Thereafter, when the playback of storage unit #l starts, since storage unit #2 is not transferred to bank O by the end of the playback of the silent section from address (#3), the management section 29 sends the voice communication control section 21 to the silent section. , and causes the voice communication control unit 21 to insert a silent section. This is shown as a completely inserted silent section. After that, when storage unit #2 is transferred, the management unit 29
Address of storage unit #1 (#4) in voice communication control unit 21
The playback is completely restarted from the sound section.

In the above description, a method has been described in which the voice communication control unit 21 stores all voice message information as is even when all silent blocks are detected. In order to reduce the amount of storage, the voice communication control unit 21 outputs a silence flag indicating silence and the length of a silent section to the sofa 25 instead of audio media information when a silent block is detected, and outputs a silence flag '(r
[If you issue it, a long silent section following the silence flag will be read,
There is a method of generating white noise ti of the length of the silent section and reproducing the entire silent section.

The invention is similarly applicable even when silent compression/expansion is performed, and is applicable regardless of the presence or absence of the silent compression/expansion function.

Next, the message control table will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, a message is generated and held by the management N529 of the multimedia mail device 2 in the conventional example, and is stored in the storage device 2 under the control of the management section 29.
It may also be transferred and stored in 0. Further, the message control table holds the distinction between voiced/silent voice sections of a single or plural voice sections included in the storage unit in the storage device and the storage unit circle start address. For example, in the case of a magnetic disk device, the storage unit is, for example, the number of bytes that can be stored in one sector (sector length), an integral multiple of the sector length, or a track length.

In this way, the start addresses of the voiced sections and silent sections are transferred from the voice communication control section 21 to the management section 29, and it is possible to manage the voice sections without increasing the processing load of the management section 29. , it becomes possible to play back the voice message without interrupting the sound section.

Although the above explanation has been made using a multimedia mail device as an example, the present invention is also applicable to the storage/storage of voice messages.
The present invention is similarly applicable to general message storage devices that perform full reproduction, and is not limited to multimedia mail devices.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in the message storage device, when storing a voice message, the voice communication control section transfers the start addresses of the sound section and the silent section to the management section, and the management section sends the message control table to the management section. This allows the management department to refer to the message control table at the time of playback.The management department can immediately search for the start address of a silent section or a sound section, and can reproduce the sound without interrupting the entire playback of the sound section. The entire voice message can be played back, and the processing load and processing time on the management section do not increase.As a result, it is possible to provide a storage/playback service with extremely high intelligibility of voice messages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of one embodiment of the invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a representative example of a conventional multimedia mail device, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional voice media message storage/playback method. 1... Circuit switched network, 2... Multimedia mail device, 3... Packet type communication network, 4, 5... Telephone, 6
゜7...Text terminal, 20...Storage device, 21.
...Voice communication control section, 22...Text communication control section,
23... Image communication control unit, 24... Packet communication control unit, 25.26.27.28... Buffer, 29.
...Administration Department, 290...Operation console. Agent Patent Attorney Susumu Uchihara

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A voice communication control unit connected to a communication network and transmitting and receiving at least voice messages; a buffer for writing and reading voice messages between the voice communication control unit; and a buffer connected to the buffer for transmitting voice messages. A message storage device comprising: a storage device that stores data divided into predetermined storage units; and a management section that controls transfer of voice messages between the voice communication control section and the storage device and manages the voice messages. In the message playback method, when the voice message is stored, the voice communication control unit determines whether the voice message is voiced or silent, and manages the distinction between the voiced section and the silent section and the writing start address of the voiced section and the silent section. create a message control table in which the management section retains at least the distinction between a sound section/silent section included in each storage unit of the storage device and the start address within the storage unit of the sound section/silence section. and when the audio media message is played back, the management unit obtains the start addresses of the silent section and the subsequent sound section in the storage unit from the message control table, and the audio communication control section transmits the audio media message in the storage unit up to the silent section. and causing the voice communication control unit to extend and play the silent section until the storage unit following the storage unit being played is transferred from the storage device to the buffer, and to transfer the subsequent storage unit. 2. A voice message playback method, characterized in that the voice communication control unit then plays back a voiced section following the silent section.