JPH03123254A - Telephone set for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the dialing with less operation to a desired destination and to improve the operability by collating a voice of user with a dial destination registered in advance and operating an abbreviation dial switch corresponding to the order of utterance. CONSTITUTION:A name of dialing destination is registered by a dialing destination registration means M1 prior to use, the dialing destination telephone number is stored in a telephone number storage means M2 corresponding to the registered name. When an automobile telephone set is in use, a voice collation means M3 collates the voice of the user with the registered dialing destination and a dialing destination object specifying means M4 specifies an object of the dialing destination. A specified object is uttered sequentially by a dialing destination object utterance means M5. Each dialing destination object corresponds to an abbreviation dial switch KK by an object-switch correspondence means M6 and after the utterance is started, when the abbreviation switch KK is operated, the dialing is executed. Thus, dialing is made to a desired dialing destination with a few operations and then the operability is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a car phone, and more particularly to a car phone that can identify a call destination by voice recognition.

[Conventional technology] Due to the progress of the information society and the development of electronic technology, car phones have become rapidly popular in recent years, and there are problems inherent in the operation of making a call from a car to outside (hereinafter referred to as the calling operation). Various proposals have been made to solve the problem. For example, there are hands-free telephones that have a speed dial switch and microphone near the steering wheel that allow you to make calls and talk to the other party with a single touch while driving, and devices that use voice recognition to make making calls easier. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-92800 discloses the latter technique).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, there are still some problems with the conventional car phone (mountain). Although it is easy to operate if it can be operated, it is difficult to install a large number of speed dial switches near the steering wheel (in practice, there are only about three), and it is not possible to easily make calls to a large number of destinations. Although voice recognition can avoid restrictions on destinations depending on the number of switches, there is a problem with insufficient usability.Example 2: Calling the wrong place due to ambiguity in pronunciation and difficulty in distinguishing extremely similar names In addition, even if it was possible to confirm the correct or incorrect result of voice recognition, there was a problem in that it took time and effort to utter the voice many times in order to recognize the correct destination. , which requires operations such as selecting one person from a number of identified candidates and calling the destination, and pressing a button corresponding to the desired candidate after reading the display of the multiple candidates. However, since it is necessary to move the line of sight to the display section, its use must be limited in terms of vehicle driving.

Concerning the usability of car telephones (Table) In addition to these issues, there are also the following requirements: There was a desire to be able to operate the car phone whenever possible, and the car phone of the present invention solves the above problems, improves usability, and eliminates restrictions on use as a car phone. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] A car telephone of the present invention that achieves the above object is equipped with a speed dial switch KK for making a call to a pre-registered call destination, as illustrated in FIG. Destination registration means M1 for registering the name of the destination by voice in a car phone
a telephone number storage means M2 for storing the telephone number of the destination in association with the registered name; and a voice input device for inputting the user's voice and comparing it with the registered destination when making a telephone call. a verification means M; a destination candidate specifying means M4 for identifying a plurality of destination candidates based on the verification results; Destination candidate reading means M5 capable of sequentially reading out the candidates, and each of the read destination candidates read out according to operation conditions of the speed dial switch KK, such as the arrangement of the speed dial switch KK and the number of times the speed dial switch KK is operated. Candidate-switch mapping means M6 associates the candidate with each of the above, and when the speed dial switch KK is operated after the start of reading by the destination candidate reading means M5, the candidate telephone number specified by the operation condition is The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a calling means M7 that reads out the telephone number from the telephone number storage means M2 and performs a calling operation to the telephone number.

[Function] Before using the car telephone of the present invention having the above configuration, the name of the destination is registered by the destination registration means M1, and on the other hand, the telephone number of the destination is registered in association with the registered name. The telephone number is stored in the telephone number storage means M2.

When using a car phone (above), the voice matching means M3 compares the user's voice with pre-registered call destinations, and the call destination candidate specifying means M4 identifies a plurality of call destination candidates. (After the first destination candidate is read out by the destination candidate reading means M5, the next candidates are sequentially read out at predetermined time intervals.

Each of the read destination candidates (top) is associated with the operation conditions of the speed dial switch KK by the candidate-switch association means M6.

After the destination candidate reading means M4 starts reading out the destination candidates, operate the speed dial switch KK according to the operation conditions of any of the destination candidates that have already been read out. Once the (other party) is specified, the calling means M7 reads the telephone number of the other party and performs a calling operation to that number.

[Example] In order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above, preferred embodiments of the automobile telephone of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a car telephone according to an embodiment.

As shown in the figure, this car phone (friend) is equipped with a well-known telephone radio 3 connected to an antenna 1 outside the vehicle, and a telephone radio 3 connected to an antenna 1 outside the vehicle.
The telephone control device 5 is connected to a telephone controller 5 and controls selection of telephone numbers, etc., and peripheral devices connected to the telephone controller 5. Peripheral equipment (above) In addition to the handset telephone 7, a call switch 10 whose main function is to start a call operation, a speed dial switch 11, 12, 13 that makes a call to a pre-registered phone number, a microphone 15 for voice input, and a speaker. ]8.In addition, each switch 10
or 13. A microphone 15 (as shown in FIG. 3) is provided on the steering wheel 20 at a position where it can be easily operated by the driver.

Telephone control device 5 (as shown in FIG. 2, the well-known C
A terminal control unit 21 that has a built-in PU, ROM, RAM, etc. and is connected to the telephone radio 3, a speed dial memo 23 that stores the telephone number of the destination registered in advance, and a voice memory 25 that performs voice recognition and synthesis. A voice recognition/synthesizing section 27 that executes based on data stored in the , a switch input section 30 that inputs signals from each external switch 10 to 13, a handset interface 32 that controls the interface with the handset telephone 7, a microphone 15, and a speaker. 1
8 and the voice recognition/synthesizer 27 and mediate the voice communication between the telephone radio 3 and the telephone radio 3;

Speech synthesis/recognition unit 27 (itself, cpu.

It is configured as an arithmetic and logic operation circuit equipped with ROM and RAM, and upon receiving commands from the terminal control unit 21, performs voice recognition, transfers the results, and outputs voice through voice synthesis. That is, the voice recognition/synthesis unit 27 (the voice recognition/synthesis unit 27) performs arithmetic processing on the voice inputted in advance from the microphone 15, and performs arithmetic processing on the voice input in advance from the microphone 15,
As shown in FIG. 2, a time-series voice pattern vP is stored in a predetermined area of the voice memory 25 together with a registration number RN, and the voice input from the microphone 15 at the time of recognition is matched with the stored voice pattern vP. , has a function of identifying those with a high degree of matching.

When the voice is specified, the voice recognition/synthesis section 27 (upper terminal control section 21 outputs the corresponding registration number RN to the terminal control section 21. When receiving an instruction for voice synthesis, it reads out the synthesis pattern MP stored in another area of the voice memory 25 based on the registration number RN and outputs it to the voice control section 34, as shown in FIG. 4(B). The audio control unit 3411 synthesizes audio using ADPCM and outputs it from the speaker 18.

Speed dial memory 23 (friend speed dial switch)
In addition to the phone number to be called when 1 to 13 are operated, the destination phone number TN to be called by voice recognition is also stored in association with the registration number RN, as shown in Figure 4 (C). There is.

Next, a call control routine executed by the terminal control section 21 of the telephone control device 5 will be explained with reference to FIG. When this routine is started, it first reads the status of each switch 10 to 13 via the switch interface 30 (step 100), determines which switch has been operated, and operates the switches 10 to 13. (Step 110). It is determined that the speed dial switches 11 to 13 have been operated (f
S. Reads the corresponding telephone number from the speed dial memory 23 (step 120), outputs this number to the telephone radio 3, and performs a calling process (step 130). Thereafter, this routine exits to "rNEXT" and ends. In addition, if you want to hang up after the call (upper call switch 1
Just press 0.

On the other hand, when the transmission switch 10 is operated (step 1] 0), the voice recognition/synthesizer 27 is activated and the result is received and received (step 140). Speech recognition/synthesis unit 27 (First, by voice synthesis,
After outputting the voice to prompt the user to input the voice, as described above, 1:.

The user's voice is input from the microphone 15, pattern matching is performed between the pre-registered name of the destination and the input voice, and the third candidate is identified in descending order of matching rate. The registration numbers RN corresponding to the voices up to the third candidate are delivered to the terminal control unit 21.

After the candidates are identified in this way, the first candidate is output as a synthesized sound (step 150). In order to execute the output, the terminal control unit 21 first specifies the first candidate with the highest degree of matching using the registration number RN, and then outputs the registration number RN to the voice recognition/synthesis unit 27 and outputs the voice Follow the instructions for synthesis. Upon receiving the registration number RN and the command, the voice recognition/synthesis unit 27 outputs the corresponding data for voice synthesis to the voice control unit 34. It can be read aloud.

Immediately after the first candidate is read out in the synthesized voice, the timer 361 is set to T1 (=3) seconds and its operation is started (step 160).

Provided that the name read out by voice synthesis matches the user's intended destination, and the user is in a state where he or she is not solely responsible for driving, etc., but is able to carry out other operations (2. In order to make a call to the selected party, user 1.t performs a predetermined operation. That is, when making a call to the first candidate, user 1.t turns on the speed dial switch 11. 11.1
2. 13 is in one-to-one correspondence with the 1st degree 2.3 candidate, and turning on any one of them is an operation to make a call to the corresponding candidate from among the read out candidates.

If it is determined that the speed dial switch 11 is turned on (step 170), the first candidate telephone number TN associated with the speed dial switch 11 is displayed as shown in FIG.
Step 120) of reading from the table shown in C);
This number is output to the telephone radio 3 together with a dialing command signal to execute the dialing process (Step 130).
rNEXT" to end this routine.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the speed dial switch 11 is not turned on (step 170), the timer 36
Step 180 to determine whether the second operation has ended.
), the determination as to whether the speed dial switch 11 is turned on is repeated until T1 seconds have elapsed.

When it is determined in step 180 that the operation of the timer 36 for T1 seconds has ended without the speed dial switch 11 being turned on, the user is considered to be in one of the following two cases. There are cases where the speed dial switch 11 cannot be turned on within the operating time of the timer 36 because the hands cannot take their hands off the driving operation, and cases where the first candidate read out by voice synthesis does not match the destination desired by the user (
Example (f, when "Kito" is pronounced as "Kato" but "Kitu" is synthesized and output), speed dial switch]
This is the case where 1 is intentionally not turned on. In order to deal with such cases and enable calls to be made to the desired destination, the
The routine proceeds to step 190 and subsequent steps.

In step 190 (as in the case of the friend first candidate,
The second candidate is output as a synthesized sound. After that, set time T2 (=T1) seconds in the timer 36 and start the operation.
step 200), speed dial switch 11 or 1
2 is turned on (step 210). If it is turned on (L), the user wishes to make a call to the corresponding candidate, so the telephone number TN of the candidate corresponding to the speed dial switch 11 or 12 is shown in FIG. 4(C). Reading from the table Step 12
0), this number is output to the telephone radio 3 together with a command signal for dialing to execute the dialing process.Step 130
), exits to rNEXTJ and ends this routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 210 that the speed dial switch 11 or 12 is not turned on (step 220 to determine whether the 12-second operation of the timer 36 has ended), the timer 36 is activated for 12 seconds. The determination as to whether the speed dial switch 11 or 12 is turned on (step 210) is repeated until the end of the process.

When it is determined that the 12 seconds of operation of the timer 36 has ended (step 220), the user has not yet been able to turn on the speed dial switches 11 and 12, or has purposely not turned them on. In order to deal with this situation and make it possible to make a call to the desired party (step 230), the third candidate is output as a synthesized voice in the same manner as in the case of the first and second candidates.
0) Set the seconds and start the operation step 24
0), it continues to determine whether the speed dial switch 11, 12 or 13 is turned on until it is recognized that the 13 seconds of operation of the timer 36 has ended (step 250).
．． 260). When any of the speed dial switches 1] to 13 is turned on (':L), since the user wishes to make a call to the corresponding candidate, the telephone number TN of the candidate is read out (Step 120); This number is output to the telephone radio 3 along with a dialing command signal to execute the dialing process (Step 130), rNEXT
Exit to J to end this routine.

Speed dial switch 11. ．． 12 or 13 is not turned on until the 13 seconds of operation of the timer 36 ends.
X Exit to rNEX TJ and end this routine.

The car phone of this embodiment configured as described above can easily specify the destination and make a call using voice recognition, making it extremely easy to use as an in-car phone. ing.

In addition, since the recognized voice is read out in the form of speech synthesis up to the third candidate, there will be no problem even if it is a long-range λ phone due to misrecognition. (The correctness rate for the input voice is about 98 percent, and it has been confirmed that up to the third candidate is sufficient in practice.

Furthermore, there is no need to repeat the utterance multiple times in order to recognize the correct destination. Furthermore, since the next candidate is automatically read out, there is no need to press a switch or perform any other operations to read the next candidate.

Furthermore, even if you are unable to make a call when the candidate you originally wanted to make a call is read out due to reasons such as not being able to take your hands off the driving operation, the order of the candidates and the speed dial switch 11, 12
．． 13, so you can make a call to the desired destination when it becomes possible.Therefore, there is very little chance that your attention will be diverted from driving. %5 After the third candidate is read out,
Since the timer 36 has been running for a sufficient period of time, there is no need to rush to initiate the call operation, regardless of which candidate the desired call destination is.

As described above, the car phone of this embodiment is extremely easy to use.There is also no risk of compromising safety in driving a vehicle.

In addition, there is no need to provide a dedicated switch for selecting the next candidate around the steering wheel 20 to output the voice of the next candidate, and the hardware is simple.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Speed dial switch 1 for each of the first to third candidates
A configuration in which any one of 1 to 13 is associated with the number of operations performed in a short period of time, a configuration in which the reading of the first to third candidates is repeatedly carried out multiple times, and a configuration in which the number of repetitions can be arbitrarily changed. , after reading the third candidate, the timer 36
A configuration in which the fourth candidate through the nth candidate or all candidates are output one after another in accordance with the operation of , and a configuration in which the operating time of the timer 36 can be freely set by the user do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, in the car telephone of the present invention, a plurality of candidates identified by voice recognition are sequentially read out. Therefore, you only need to make a call after confirming that the candidate read out matches the person you wish to call, and there is no risk of making a mistake in calling the destination.Also, it is necessary to repeat the utterance in order to have the phone recognize exactly one voice. There is no need to move the line of sight to the screen in order to select a given candidate.

Furthermore, since the reading of a plurality of identified candidates is automatically performed at predetermined time intervals, there is no need to perform an operation to read out the next candidate.

Moreover, each readout option is associated with the operating conditions for the speed dial switch, so in order to make a call, you only need to select the one that corresponds to the desired destination from among the operating conditions. There is no need to perform a call operation immediately after the desired destination is read out. Therefore, operations related to the telephone can be performed at a desired timing, such as after performing a necessary driving operation.

As mentioned above, it is very easy to use as a car phone.
Along with this, there is an advantage that vehicle driving safety is also excellent.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a car telephone as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. Explanatory doctor Figure 4 (A), (B), (C
) are explanations showing the relationship between the registration number RN and each data. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a call control routine executed by the terminal control unit 21. KK...Speed dial switch Ml...Destination registration means M2...Telephone number storage means M3--Voice verification means M4...Destination candidate identification means M5...Destination candidate reading means M6. ...Candidate-switch correspondence is means M7...Transmission means 3...Telephone radio 5...Telephone control device O.--
Transmission switch 1.12.13... Speed dial switch 0... Steering 21... Terminal control unit 3... Speed dial memory 7... Voice recognition/synthesis unit 6... Timer Fig. 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A car telephone equipped with a speed dial switch that allows a call to be made to a pre-registered destination, comprising: destination registration means for registering the name of the destination by voice; A telephone number storage means for storing a telephone number of a call destination in association with a name; a voice verification means for inputting a user's voice when making a telephone call and comparing it with the registered call destination; A destination candidate specifying means for identifying a plurality of destination candidates based on the above, and a destination candidate that is capable of sequentially reading out the next destination candidates at predetermined time intervals after reading out the first destination candidate. reading means; candidate-switch association means for associating each of the read destination candidates with each of the operation conditions of the speed dial switch, such as the arrangement of the speed dial switch and the number of times the speed dial switch is operated; After the destination candidate reading means starts reading out,
and calling means for reading out a candidate telephone number specified by the operation condition from the telephone number storage means and making a call to the telephone number when the speed dial switch is operated. A car phone with features.