JPH04310631A - Information communicating system using rewritable optical disk - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a voice information communicating system where a receiver can select and hear only the information which the receiver desires by classifying and transmitting the information classified by the item by an information supplier. CONSTITUTION:Voice information from the supplier of information is converted and inputted to an electric signal by sound-recording the human voice and the voice synthesization by a machine. The sound signal is item-classified by the content and each item is arranged onto a menu. Respective menu items are further classified into finer sub-menus, and made into plural hierarchies such as a child menu and a grandchild menu. Further, some key words are extracted from each information item, the key word information is added to the special position of the signalled voice information and the special item and the related information can be retrieved in no relation to the position on the menu. Thus, the edited voice information is transferred by using a transmitter from the information supplier.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transmission system that quickly provides information to a large number of people using a rewritable optical disc that records, reproduces, and erases information using laser light.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Systems for transmitting information to a large number of people include audio, video, and printed materials. Of these, information transmission by voice is
It has an advantage over video and printed matter, as it can be received in a limited space, with simple equipment, and while doing other tasks. For example, audio information from the radio is the most convenient way to obtain information such as news while on a crowded train or in a moving car.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, radio broadcasting, which is a conventional audio information transmission system, has the following disadvantages. Since it is not possible to select only the information that is of interest to the individual information recipient, it is limited to very general topics. If the broadcast content were to include detailed information, the time required for one broadcast would increase, and the waiting time for the information desired by the information receiver to be broadcast would become longer, reducing efficiency for the receiver. becomes worse. Furthermore, due to the circumstances of the broadcasting station, information is only sent at unilaterally determined times. Once you have heard information, you cannot ask it again to confirm it. These shortcomings are in contrast to reporting in print media such as newspapers. In the case of newspapers, it is possible to extract only the information you want from various fields, and you can read it at a time that is convenient for you, and you can read it again and again to check it. It is possible.

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages while taking advantage of the advantages of information transmission by voice, and to enable the receiver to select only the information he/she desires and to reproduce it as many times as desired at any time. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a voice information transmission system that can perform the following tasks.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above drawback is that in an information transmission system between an information provider who provides voice information and a plurality of information receivers, the information provider classifies the voice information by item, The audio information is transmitted to the information recipient in a compressed form that is shorter than when played back as audio, and the information recipient receives the audio information transmitted in this way with a receiver,
A rewritable optical disc is used, which is characterized in that it is once recorded on the rewritable optical disc by an optical disc recording device, and then only selected items from audio information are played back at any time using an optical disc playback device. This is possible by adopting an information transmission system.

[0006]

[Operation] FIG. 1 shows the flow of information in the information transmission system according to this method. The information provider typically
Newspaper companies and broadcasting stations. The audio information is converted into an electrical signal by recording a human voice or synthesizing the voice by a machine, and is then input. This audio signal is classified into items according to their contents, and each item is arranged on a menu. It is also possible to categorize each menu item into more detailed submenus, creating multiple hierarchies such as child menus and grandchild menus. Furthermore, if several keywords are extracted from each information item and the keyword information is added to a specific position of the signalized audio information, specific items and related information can be extracted regardless of the position on the menu. It becomes possible to search for information.

[0007] The audio information edited in this manner is transferred from the information provider using a transmitter. This transmission method includes a method using UHF and VHF television radio waves, a method of transmitting by microwave via a communication satellite, and a method of transmitting by wire T.
Possible methods include transmission through a V cable. Regarding each of these transfer methods, there may be cases in which a dedicated channel is used, a case in which the signal is sent as sub-audio overlaid on TV broadcast waves, or a channel is exclusively used during the TV broadcast downtime late at night.

[0008] When transferring this audio information, the audio information is sent in a temporally compressed form. That is, the transfer is completed in a shorter time than the time required to reproduce all of the transferred audio information as audio. This time compression can be achieved by simply sending an analog audio waveform in fast forward motion, by digitizing it and then sending it at high speed, or by simultaneously sending multiple pieces of audio information in a superimposed manner.

[0009] The audio information sent in this manner is received by a receiver at the home of the information receiver, and is stored on a rewritable optical disc by an optical disc recording device. It is also possible to combine the receiver and optical disc recording device into a single device, or to incorporate them into a conventional TV broadcast receiver. At this time, if the receiver or optical disc recording device is equipped with a function that detects the menu or keywords of the transferred signal and automatically records only the items registered in advance by the receiver on the rewritable optical disc, The limited recording capacity on the optical disc can be used more effectively without importing unnecessary information.

[0010] The audio information transferred in this manner is reproduced as audio information using an optical disc reproducing device. Because playback-only magneto-optical disk playback devices can be miniaturized, they can be made portable and played on commuter trains, or installed in cars and listened to the played audio information while driving. The reproduction device has a function of selecting necessary items from a hierarchical menu, and can extract and reproduce only information that is of interest to the recipient. The playback device can also be equipped with an image monitor. In this case, it is possible to display on the screen which menu item is selected in text, or to display a still image sent from the information provider.

[0011] Since rewritable optical discs can be used repeatedly, this information system can be used for a long period of time with one or two discs. Also,
In this system, the number of times the disk can be rewritten is several thousand times at most, so it is sufficient for the optical disk used to be able to be rewritten about 10,000 times.

0012

Embodiments Embodiment 1 In this embodiment, the information provider is a broadcasting station, which provides audio information mainly consisting of news information. General news is recorded from a human voice, and fixed formats such as weather forecasts and stock price information are input using synthesized speech by machines. In addition to news, the audio information also includes content that is less breaking news, such as music, drama, entertainment, and English courses. These audio information are classified into items according to their contents, and are managed using the menu shown in FIG. Most of the large menu items follow the classification of newspaper pages. Divide each menu into detailed submenus, child menus,
Create multiple hierarchies such as grandchild menus. In the case of news, by making it possible to obtain progressively more detailed information about the item, such as the title, summary, and details, as you move down the menu, you can adjust the benefits depending on the depth of the recipient's interest. To enable recipients to arbitrarily choose the level of detail of information to be sent. In the case of music, classification by style is provided as a sub-menu, and further down the hierarchy of the menu are song titles and song performances.

[0013] The audio information edited in this manner is transferred from the broadcasting station to the recipient of the information. At this time, the audio information is sent by microwave via a communication satellite to a relay point, and from there is transmitted to each home via a wired TV cable. This transfer is performed by occupying a channel during the TV video broadcast downtime late at night. Here, the audio information is once digitized and sent at high speed, thereby transferring it in a temporally compressed form. The audio information is stored on a 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk by a receiver/optical disk recording device installed in the information recipient's home. In this way, news transmission is carried out from night to early morning, and the next morning audio information is delivered to each home. In addition, this receiver/optical disc recording device has a function to selectively record menu items and keyword-related information registered in advance by the recipient onto the optical disc, so it makes effective use of the limited recording capacity on the optical disc. It can be utilized.

[0014] The magneto-optical disc on which news information has been recorded in this manner is transferred to a small optical disc reproducing device, and
Play as audio. Since the reproduction-only device can be miniaturized, it can be easily made portable or installed in a car. If you are using a portable device, you can use earphones to listen even in crowded places, such as on a commuter train, without disturbing people around you. Additionally, if you install it in your car, you can listen to the audio information played back while driving.

FIG. 3 shows an external view of the optical disk reproducing apparatus used in the embodiment. The optical disc is inserted through the insertion slot 1. The liquid crystal display panel 2 displays which item on the menu is selected. It is also possible to display still images sent from a broadcast station on this monitor. The control buttons 3 include (play), (stop), (fast forward), and (return) operation buttons related to audio playback, and (current item selection), (proceed to next item), and (previous item) buttons related to item selection on the menu. Contains operation buttons (back) (return to the upper menu). By connecting to the earphone plug 4, the reproduced audio can be heard. The volume at this time is adjusted using the volume 5.

[0016]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit information to the public quickly and in detail by voice, and it is possible for the receiver of information to receive only himself and the information he wants at his own time. You will be able to obtain this information, and you will also be able to confirm it as many times as necessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the flow of audio information in the information transmission system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a menu structure in Example 1.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an optical disc playback device used in Example 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Optical disc insertion slot, 2...Liquid crystal display panel, 3...Control button, 4...Earphone plug, 5...Volume.

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claim 1: An information transmission system between an information provider who provides information and a plurality of information receivers, wherein the information provider classifies information by item and transmits it using a transmitter,
The information receiver receives the transmitted information using a receiver, records it on a rewritable optical disc using an optical disc recording device, and uses an optical disc playback device to select the information from among the information. An information transmission system using a rewritable optical disc characterized in that only the items that have been read are played back at any time of the information recipient's choice. 2. The information transmission system using a rewritable optical disc according to claim 1, wherein the information is mainly audio information. 3. An information transmission system between an information provider who provides audio information and an information receiver, wherein the information provider compresses the audio information into a time shorter than the playback time as audio. , using a transmitter, the information receiver receives the audio information transmitted in this way using a receiver, records it once on a rewritable optical disc using an optical disc recording device, uses an optical disc reproducing device, An information transmission system using a rewritable optical disc, which is characterized in that the information can be played back at any time of the recipient's choice. 4. The information transmission system using a rewritable optical disc according to claim 2, wherein the information provider transmits the audio information in a compressed form in a time shorter than the playback time as audio. 5. The information receiver registers in advance the information items he/she wants to obtain in the receiver or the optical disc recording device, and only the information corresponding to this is automatically recorded on the rewritable optical disc. characterized by
An information transmission system using the rewritable optical disc according to claim 1.