JPH04185156A - Communication equipment for simultaneous translation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable simultaneous translation to be implemented at a translation center through a communication line by providing a means making transmission reception with the translation center, a means sending a voice received from a slave set to the translation center and a means sending the translation voice received from the translation center to each slave set to a master set. CONSTITUTION:When talking parties requiring translation with each other make a call, a master set 2 is connected to a translation center 4 via a telephone line 5 to make a request of simultaneous translation. Then the translation voice signal received by the master set 2 is sent by transmission sections 8a, 8b via a mixer 15 to slave sets 3a, 3b and the translated voice is outputted to each talking party from a speaker 35 via a reception section 31 and an amplifier 33. Moreover, in this case, when the master set 2 receives the signal from the translation center 4, the signal is detected by a reception detection section 13 and a sound volume control section 16 is acted based thereon. Thus, the translation voice is heard by the talking party via the master set 2 and the conversation is attained without need of a translator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a communication device for simultaneous interpretation that allows a translation center that performs simultaneous interpretation to be used via a communication line.

Conventional technology In the past, in order for two people who could not speak the other person's language to communicate, it was necessary to have an interpreter present.

In addition, at international conferences, etc., a booth for simultaneous interpreters is set up facing the conference hall, and the simultaneous interpreter listens to the speaker's voice through headphones and translates it. Venues equipped with simultaneous interpretation systems that allow speakers to listen to the audio through their headphones are often used.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, since there are few translators who can perform simultaneous interpretation, it is very difficult and expensive to secure simultaneous interpreters when needed.

In addition, in the simultaneous interpretation system for international conferences as mentioned above, communication means are only used within the system installed at the venue to deal with a large number of people, and in essence, This is the same as having a simultaneous interpreter present at the same time, and does not suggest simultaneous interpreting using a communication line at a translation center located far away, or any technical means to do so. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device for simultaneous interpretation that allows simultaneous interpretation to be performed at a translation center via a communication line.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a base unit that is connected to a communication line with a translation center that performs simultaneous interpretation, and a base unit that is capable of communicating with the base unit and that is capable of communicating with an interlocutor. The base unit includes a plurality of handsets, each of which is held by the translation center for transmitting and receiving calls, and the base unit includes a means for transmitting and receiving sounds to and from the translation center while distinguishing between transmitted sounds and received sounds, and a means for transmitting and receiving sounds received from the handsets to the translation center. The present invention is characterized in that it includes means for transmitting to a translation center and means for transmitting translated speech received from the translation center to each child device.

Preferably, means is provided for lowering the volume of the voice received from the slave device, mixing it with the translated voice, and transmitting the mixed voice to each slave device.

According to the present invention, when a base unit is connected to a translation center via a communication line, and each interlocutor who requires an interpreter holds a slave unit and speaks, the voice is transmitted via the base unit. It is sent to the translation center and translated by a simultaneous translator or simultaneous translator at the translation center, and the translated voice is received by the base unit without being mixed with the sound transmitted to the translation center, and is transmitted via the base unit. Since the translated voice is transmitted to each handset, both parties can listen to the translated voice, allowing them to have a smooth conversation without the need for an interpreter.

In addition, if you lower the volume so that you can hear the other person's voice along with the translated audio, you will be able to hear the translated content clearly, and you will also be able to know how and when the other person is speaking. This allows for smooth conversation even when the interlocutor is far away.

Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the first to FIG. 4.

In Figure 1, l is a communication device for simultaneous interpretation,
It is composed of a base unit 2 and a plurality of slave units 3a and 3b.

Base device 2 is configured to communicate with translation center 4 via telephone line 5 via switching center 6 . The children 113a and 3b are held by interlocutors who require interpretation, and are configured to transmit and receive data to and from the base unit 2 wirelessly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 2 includes receivers 7a and 7b and transmitters 8a and 8b for transmitting and receiving data to and from the slave units 3a and 3b, respectively, and audio received by the receivers 7a and 7b. A mixer 9 that mixes signals, a high frequency transmission unit 1° that superimposes the mixed audio signal on a high frequency propagation signal and transmits it to the telephone line [5], and an external line connection unit 1 for the telephone line 5.
1, a low frequency filter n12 that separates and extracts the low frequency component transmitted from the translation center 4 from the received signal from the telephone line 5, and a receiver that detects the presence or absence of the received signal extracted through the low frequency filter 12. a detection section 13; an audio signal conversion section 14 that extracts an audio signal from a received signal obtained by superimposing an audio signal on a low frequency propagation signal; A mixer 1 mixes the audio signals and outputs the mixed audio signals to the transmitting sections 8a and 8b.
5, and a volume 111m#16 that controls the volume of the audio signal input from the reception sections 7a and 7b to the mixer 15 based on the detection signal from the reception detection section 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the translation center 4 includes an external line connection section 17 for the telephone line 5, and a high frequency component for separating and extracting the high frequency component transmitted from the base unit 2 from the received signal from the telephone line 5. A filter 18, an audio signal converter 19 that extracts an audio signal from a received signal obtained by superimposing an audio signal on this high-frequency propagation signal, and an amplifier 2o that amplifies the audio signal.
and a speaker 21 that outputs audio to the translator 30.
A microphone 22 that converts the voice emitted by the translator 30 into an audio signal, an amplifier 23 that amplifies the audio signal, and an external line connection section 17 that superimposes the audio signal on a low frequency propagation signal.
A low frequency transmission section 24 is provided for transmitting data to the telephone line m5 via the telephone line m5.

In addition, each slave unit 3a, 3b is connected to the base unit 2, as shown in FIG.
A receiver 31 and a transmitter 32 that perform transmission and reception between the two, amplifiers 33 and 34 that amplify the received signal and the transmitted signal, a speaker 35 that outputs the received signal as audio, and a microphone 36 that converts the voice of the interlocutor into an audio signal. We are prepared.

In the above configuration, when interlocutors who require an interpreter communicate with each other, they first connect the base unit 2 to the translation center 4 via the telephone line 5 to request simultaneous interpretation. Then, a translator waits in front of the speaker 21 and microphone 22 at the translation center 4. Interlocutors are from base unit 2 to slave unit 3a.
, 3b, listen to the sound from the speaker 35, and hold it so as to speak into the microphone 36.

When the interlocutor speaks in this state, the voice is converted into an audio signal by the microphone 36 and sent to the amplifier 34 and transmitter 32 to the handset 3a.
3b to the base unit 2, and in the base unit 2, the audio signal is superimposed on the high frequency propagation signal at the high frequency transmission unit 1o via the receiving units 7a, 7b and the mixer 9, and is transmitted to the telephone line v.
It is transmitted to the translation center 4 through A5. Translation center 4
Then, the signal is converted into an audio signal by the high frequency filter 18 and the audio signal converter I9, and the audio signal is output from the speaker 21 and transmitted to the translator 30. When the translator 30 immediately translates into the other party's language and speaks, the voice is converted into an audio signal by the microphone 22, passed through the amplifier 23, and superimposed on a low frequency propagation signal by the low frequency transmission section 24, and is sent to the telephone line. 5 and is transmitted to base unit 2. In the base unit 2, the low frequency filter 12 and the audio signal converter 14 convert the signal into an audio signal. In this way, when parent@2 transmits an audio signal in one language, the translation center 4 returns an audio signal translated into the other language. At that time, the propagation frequency bands of the transmitted signal and the received signal between the base unit 2 and the translation center 4 are made different from each other,
Since they are taken out separately, the audio signals will not be mixed with each other even if a single telephone line is used.

The translated audio signal received by base unit 2 is sent to mixer I
5, the translated voice is transmitted to each handset 3a, 3b by the transmitter 8a, 8b, and the translated voice is output from the speaker 35 via the receiver 31, amplifier 33 to each interlocutor. At that time, when the base unit 2 receives a signal from the translation center 4, it is detected by the reception detection unit 13, and the volume control unit 16 is activated based on it, and the audio signals from the reception units 7a and 7b adjust the volume. is narrowed down and input to the mixer 15, and the audio signal mixed with the translated audio signal is sent to each handset 3a, 3b.
sent to. As a result, each interlocutor will be able to
It can be heard along with the voice of the interlocutor, which has been narrowed down.Furthermore, while there is no reception from the translation center 4, the voice of the other party can be heard at normal volume.

In this way, when interlocutors who each require an interpreter communicate with each other, by connecting to the translation center 4 via the telephone line 5 using this communication device 1 for simultaneous interpreting, the conversation can be smoothly carried out without the simultaneous interpreter being present. can interact with.

Although the above embodiment shows an example in which the translator 3o is on standby at the translation center 4, a computer-based automatic voice translator may be installed, in which case the speaker 21 and microphone 22 are not required and the voice signal can be used as is. Needless to say. Further, although an example is shown in which the telephone line 5 is used as the communication line, other communication lines may also be used.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the translated voice and the interlocutor's voice, which has been turned down to a low volume, are mixed and heard.
Only the translated voice may be heard.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in order to distinguish between the transmitted sound and the received sound between the base unit and the translation center, transmission and reception is performed using different propagation frequency bands. By using two lines, audio signals can be transmitted and received as they are, and the configuration of the base unit becomes simpler.

Effects of the Invention According to the communication device for simultaneous interpretation of the present invention, as is clear from the above description, each interlocutor can hold a slave unit while the base unit is connected to the translation center via a communication line. When you speak, the voice is sent to the translation center via the base unit, the voice translated by the translation center is received by the base unit without being mixed with the transmitted sound, and the translated voice is transmitted to the base unit via the base unit. This allows people to listen and have conversations without the need for an interpreter to be present.

Also, by lowering the volume of the other person's speaking voice so that it can be heard along with the translated voice, you can clearly hear the translated content and also be able to understand the other person's speaking style and timing. By being able to know this, you can have a smooth conversation even if the person you are talking to is far away.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a simultaneous interpretation system using a communication line in an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a base unit, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a simultaneous interpretation system using a communication line in an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram of the translation center, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the slave unit. 1...Communication device for simultaneous interpretation, 2...Main device, 3a, 3b...Slave device, 4...Translation center, 5... ...Telephone line, 10...High frequency transmission section, 12...Low frequency filter, 14...
...Audio signal converter, 15...Mixer, 1
6...Volume control section. Agent Patent Attorney Akira Okaji Two Idiots Figure 1 “1;
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Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A base unit that is connected to the communication line with the translation center that performs simultaneous interpretation, and multiple slave units that are capable of communicating with the base unit and that are held by each interlocutor and are used to send and receive calls. and
The base unit includes a means for transmitting and receiving sounds to and from the translation center while distinguishing between transmitted and received sounds, a means for transmitting the voice received from the slave unit to the translation center, and a means for transmitting and transmitting the translated voice received from the translation center to the translation center. A communication device for simultaneous interpretation, characterized in that it is provided with a means for transmitting data to a slave device. (2) The communication device for simultaneous interpretation according to claim 1, further comprising means for lowering the volume of the voice received from the slave unit, mixing it with the translated voice, and transmitting the mixed voice to each slave unit.