JPH05300106A - Voice guidance system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve convenience and performance by selectively outputting respective voice signals to voice equipments for voice output. CONSTITUTION:This system is provided with a key input broadcasting buffer 31 to store key input broadcasting contents instructed from a key input device with display by an operator, periodic broadcasting buffer 32 to store periodic broadcasting contents generated with periodic broadcasting set contents decided in advance and the timer function of the own system, and telegraphic message buffer 33 to store telegraphic messages transmitted from host computers 3 and 4. Namely, a voice guidance device 1 can selectively output the audio signals based on the telegraphic messages transmitted from the host computers 3 and 4, voice signals based on the key input broadcasting contents inputted from the key input device 2 with display by the operator, or voice signals based on the periodic broadcasting contents for periodic broadcasting generated by the own device to audio equipments 5-8 for audio output.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice guidance system suitable for use in a game hall or the like in which a large number of gaming machines (hereinafter referred to as "tables") such as pachinko gaming machines are installed. The present invention relates to a user-friendly voice guidance system having a controllable voice guidance device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in general, guidance broadcasts at pachinko game arcades have been generally broadcast by employees at the game arcade each time with a microphone, but the required guide broadcasts have become diversified, and guidance broadcasts have started. Due to the fact that timing is required to be done promptly and accurately in time, and because some employees are not good at broadcasting with microphones, some employees are burdened with it. Systems for automating guide broadcasting are being developed.

This conventional automatic broadcast guide system is used for operating each machine (game machine) in a game arcade and operating conditions of other machines (that is, scheduled end (stop), open (stop cancellation),
From the host computer (hall computer) that monitors and controls the status of fever, bonus start, etc., and the status of rental machines, prize machines, etc. in the amusement hall, etc. It is designed to be transmitted to a voice guidance device equipped with an output function, to synthesize and edit a voice signal corresponding to the contents of a telegram received by this voice guidance device, and to be streamed as an irregular broadcast from the speaker in the amusement hall to the hall. It was Further, according to the scheduled broadcast setting contents and the built-in clock incorporated in the host computer, when the predetermined time is reached, the host computer transmits a message corresponding to the scheduled broadcast setting contents to the voice guidance device, and similarly, the voice guidance device. Then, the voice signal corresponding to the content of the received electronic message was synthesized and edited, and it was sent as a scheduled broadcast from the speaker in the game hall to the hall.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, the broadcast text based on the contents of the telegram for the non-scheduled broadcast or the scheduled broadcast from the host computer is fixedly set in advance, and the time of the scheduled broadcast is set. The designation is generally set by a service engineer, etc., and it is very difficult and uncomfortable for an unskilled operator to make changes by operating the keyboard of the host computer after setting once. It was pointed out that there is.

Even if the host computer can change the content of the message transmission or the time of the scheduled broadcast, changing the content of the message transmission or the scheduled broadcast time on the side of the host computer means that the host computer during this time. It means that the display of the above is given up for the change setting work, and there is also a problem that the status of the amusement hall cannot be monitored by the display of the host computer during business hours during this time.

Furthermore, if events such as fever and bonus start occur frequently within a short period of time, the host computer will send a message to the voice guidance device each time, but the voice guidance device side receives it. The voice signal is synthesized and edited in the order of messages and output to the speaker, and the next message is not accepted until the broadcast commensurate with one message is completed. During this time, the host computer repeats the transmission retry, and the load on the host increases. There was also a problem. Also, when events such as the start of a fever or a bonus are concentrated in a very short period of time, that is, when, for example, 10 units occur at about the same time, the broadcasting to inform the start of the first fever or the bonus is performed in almost real time. However, there is also a problem that the broadcast notifying the start of the 10th fever and the bonus will be broadcast at a missed time with a considerable time lag.

Furthermore, since the voice guidance device continues to broadcast in this order while continuously receiving telegrams from the host computer, when an employee of the amusement arcade wants to perform interrupt priority broadcasting, Employees still had to turn off the voice guidance device to broadcast using a microphone, and the automatic broadcasting system did not work as expected, which also made it inconvenient.

Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art,
The purpose is to easily set and change the broadcast contents, reduce the load on the host computer side, and also to provide automatic broadcasts that match the priority order and messages for non-scheduled broadcasts with the same contents. The objective is to realize a voice guidance system that is superior in overall usability and performance, and can broadcast the combined contents of multiple incoming data from a host computer within a short time.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a voice guidance device having at least a voice synthesis editing function and a voice signal output function, and a message for instructing the voice guidance device about broadcast contents. In a voice guidance system comprising a host computer for transmitting a voice message and a key input device with a display for outputting an operator's instruction content to the voice guidance device, the voice guidance device is a voice based on a message transmitted from the host computer. An audio device for selectively outputting a signal, an audio signal based on the key input broadcast content from the key input device with a display input by the operator, or an audio signal based on the scheduled broadcast content for the scheduled broadcast generated by itself. It is configured to be able to output to.

In the present invention, the voice guidance device is
A message buffer for storing messages transmitted from the host computer, a key input broadcast buffer for storing key input broadcast contents from the key input device with display, and
It has a scheduled broadcast buffer that stores the scheduled broadcast content generated by itself, and is stored in a high-priority buffer according to the preset priority order (key input broadcast buffer, scheduled broadcast buffer, message buffer) in each buffer. The audio signals based on the contents are sequentially output.

Further, in the present invention, the voice guidance device is
The voice signals based on the messages extracted from the message group stored in the message buffer storing a predetermined number of messages transmitted from the host computer in descending order of priority are sequentially output.

Further, in the present invention, the voice guidance device is
In the message group stored in the message buffer that stores a predetermined number of messages sent from the host computer, there is a message of a predetermined type that is the same, except for the data that indicates the position, the number of times, etc. If a plurality of electronic messages of a predetermined predetermined type are stored, it is determined whether or not a plurality of electronic messages are stored. Is combined and synthesized into one sentence and output as a voice signal. The characteristic technical means of the present invention other than the above will be apparent from the description of the embodiments described later.

[0013]

The voice guide device is generated by the key input broadcast buffer for storing the key input broadcast contents instructed by the operator from the key input device with the display, the predetermined scheduled broadcast setting contents and its own clock function. It comprises a scheduled broadcast buffer for storing scheduled broadcast contents and a message buffer for storing messages transmitted from the host computer. The main control unit, which controls the entire voice guidance device, transfers the stored contents of the key input broadcast buffer among the above three buffers to the edit processing unit with the highest priority, and follows the conditions preset in the edit processing unit. After performing the data editing process described above, it is sent to the voice synthesis processing unit as the original broadcast text data. The voice synthesis processing unit refers to the content of the phrase data storage unit that holds the phrase data for synthesizing a sentence, based on the output data of the edit processing unit, and refers to a predetermined synthesized voice signal (text for one broadcast sentence Generated voice signal) and sends it to the output selection processing unit. Then, the output selection processing unit selectively outputs the created audio signal to an audio device such as a speaker or a receiver based on an instruction from the main control unit to perform key input broadcasting. When this broadcast ends, the contents of the key input broadcast buffer are erased. That is, when the operator inputs the broadcast contents and the start of the broadcast by the key input device with a display, the broadcast contents designated by the operator are immediately taken into the key input broadcast buffer, and the key input broadcast is performed in real time.

When the automatic scheduled broadcast mode is selected, the scheduled broadcast buffer automatically captures the scheduled broadcast contents at a predetermined time. The contents stored in the scheduled broadcast buffer are prioritized next to the key input broadcast buffer as a priority order. When the scheduled broadcast buffer is loaded with the scheduled broadcast contents when the key input broadcast buffer is empty. The main control unit transfers the contents of the scheduled broadcast buffer to the edit processing unit in the same manner, and thereafter, in the same process as described above, the generated audio is generated via the edit processing unit, the voice synthesis processing unit, and the output selection processing unit. The signal is output as a scheduled broadcast. Then, when this broadcast ends, the contents of the scheduled broadcast buffer are erased. When the automatic scheduled broadcasting mode is not selected, the automatic scheduled broadcasting is naturally not executed.

A plurality of messages, eg, 10 messages, are stored in the message buffer for storing the messages transmitted from the host computer.
Telegrams can be stored. The contents stored in this message buffer are placed at the lowest priority, and when the key input broadcast buffer and scheduled broadcast buffer are empty, the contents stored in the message buffer are edited under the instruction of the main control unit. Transferred to the department. At this time, if a plurality of electronic messages are stored in the electronic message buffer, the main control unit extracts the electronic message with the highest priority according to a predetermined priority for each electronic message and transfers it to the editing processing unit. After that, in the same process as described above, the generated audio signal is output as an irregular broadcast via the edit processing unit, the voice synthesis processing unit, and the output selection processing unit, and when this broadcast ends, the message buffer in the message buffer Broadcasted message data is deleted. With such processing, the electronic messages in the electronic message buffer are sequentially edited / combined into audio signals in accordance with the priority order, and sent as non-scheduled broadcast.

Further, in the message group stored in the message buffer, there are a plurality of messages of a predetermined type which are the same data except for the data indicating the position (stand) and the number of times (how many times). If there are multiple telegrams indicating multiple fever start such as m-th fever start, n-th fever start, ..., etc.), the main control unit determines the same type. All the electronic messages are extracted from the oldest number within the allowed maximum number (for example, 5), and all the electronic message data are transferred to the edit processing unit. The edit processing unit performs a composite process on each message data based on a predetermined composite processing program, and after performing a data edit process that combines only one common data part with each different data part, The broadcast text original data is sent to the voice synthesis processing unit. In the voice synthesis processing unit, similarly to the above, based on the output data of the editing processing unit, a synthesized voice signal (voice signal which became a sentence for one broadcast) is generated and sent to the output selection processing unit, which outputs the output selection. It is selectively output from the processing unit to the audio device, and the composite content is broadcast. That is, for example, a composite broadcast based on three telegrams is called "Fanfare Course A.
m-series a-th course B n-series b-th course Co o-series c-th fever start Congratulations. Will be broadcast. Then, when this broadcast ends, all of the broadcasted message data in the message buffer is erased.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment shown in FIGS. The present embodiment is a voice guidance system applied to a pachinko game hall, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the voice guidance system according to the present embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a voice guidance device having a voice synthesizing / editing function, a voice signal output function, etc., 2 is a key input device with a display having, for example, a liquid crystal display and a relatively small number of input keys, and 3 is a first key input device. A host computer (hereinafter referred to as the first host 3), 4 is a second host computer (hereinafter referred to as the second host 4), and 5 and 6 are for broadcasting to an unspecified number of speakers and the like. First and second audio devices, 7 and 8 are first and second audio devices (first and second audio devices) for broadcasting only to specific objects (employee-related persons such as employees) including receivers and the like. Second intercom), 9 is a CD player, which is an example of a digital audio signal input device, 10 is a printer, and 11 is an IC card that can be attached to the key input device 2 with a display.

The first host 3 monitors and controls the customer operation status of all gaming machines in the pachinko game hall, and a telegram showing the content of this event in real time for each occurrence or command of a predetermined event. Is transmitted to the voice guidance device 1 by, for example, protocol communication. The second host 4 mainly monitors an abnormal state of each gaming machine, rental machine, prize machine, etc. in the pachinko game hall, and every time an abnormal state or the like occurs, a telegram indicating the content of this abnormal state is sent. Voice guidance device 1
Similarly, for example, it is transmitted by protocol communication. The contents of the electronic message transmitted from the first host 3 include, for example, those shown in FIG.
The contents of the electronic message transmitted from the host 4 include, for example, those shown in FIG. 5, and these are transmitted, for example, as data indicating a sentence number (sentence number data to which a machine number or machine number is added). It Then, the voice guidance device 1 transmits the broadcast as shown in katakana in FIGS. 4 and 5 based on the electronic message from the first and second hosts 3 and 4.
The audio devices 5 to 8 are used for selective operation.

The first audio device 5 includes a plurality of speaker groups installed on the first floor of a pachinko game arcade, for example, and the second audio device 6 is installed on the second floor of a pachinko game arcade, for example. And a plurality of speaker groups, and the third audio device 7 includes, for example, a plurality of receiver groups (income groups) worn by employees arranged on the first floor of a pachinko game hall. Fourth
The audio device 8 is configured to include, for example, a plurality of receiver groups (income groups) worn by employees arranged on the first floor of a pachinko game hall. Here, the voice guidance device 1
Is set in advance for each broadcast content type whether to selectively broadcast each of the audio devices 5 to 8 or to broadcast at the same time in an arbitrary combination. In accordance with this, a predetermined audio device is selected. The audio signal is output to.

The CD player 9 outputs voice data such as "fanfare sound" desired by the user to the voice guide device 1.
This user input voice data is used as phrase data to be described later for constructing a sentence broadcast in one broadcast. Further, the printer 10 can output electronic message data in a printer memory, which will be described later, in the voice guidance device 1.

The key input device 2 with a display is
As shown in FIG. 2, it is connected to the voice guidance device 1 through the optical insulation type communication interface 12, whereby even if the voice guidance device 1 and the key input device 2 with a display are separated by a considerable distance. Care is taken to ensure good communication performance. Key input device with display 2
Includes a display unit 13 including a liquid crystal display, and a key input unit 14 including a cursor movement key, a ten-key pad, a cancel key, an input key, a page selection key, and the like. It is possible to send an instruction input to the voice guidance device 1 interactively with the displayed screen. By the key input device 2 with a display, various setting information by the user can be input / registered in the voice guidance device 1 as described later, and the voice guidance device 1 broadcasts according to the key input broadcast contents by key input. Is becoming Examples of the contents of the key input broadcast include those shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 6 is a small part thereof, and a large number of sentences can be selected as the contents of the key input broadcast). Based on the contents of the key input broadcast from the key input device with a display, the voice guide device 1 transmits a broadcast as shown in katakana in the figure to the first to fourth audio devices 5 to 8. It is designed to be performed selectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key input device 2 with a display is provided with a key alarm indicator light 15 composed of an LED and the like, and a scheduled broadcast indicator light 16 for notifying whether or not the scheduled broadcast mode is set. There is. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2, the voice guidance device 1 includes a scheduled broadcast indicator lamp 17 for informing the presence / absence of the scheduled broadcast mode including LEDs or the like.
An alarm indicator lamp 18 and a power indicator lamp 19 for notifying whether or not the power is turned on are provided. In addition, the voice guidance device 1 includes a power switch 20 and setting / setting of a scheduled broadcast mode.
A scheduled broadcast key switch 21 for canceling the setting is provided. In this embodiment, when the power switch 20 is turned on, power is supplied to the voice guidance device 1 and the key input device 2 with a display to perform an initial reset operation. In addition, in the present embodiment, the setting / cancellation of the scheduled broadcast mode can be performed by the scheduled broadcast key switch 21 of the voice guidance device 1 or the operation of the key input device with display 2 side.

In the state in which the above-mentioned scheduled broadcast mode is set, the voice guidance device 1 refers to its own clock function and a table storing preset scheduled broadcast contents, as will be described later, and sends the predetermined scheduled broadcast. Extract the content. The scheduled broadcast contents include, for example, those shown in FIG. 7, which are extracted / generated as data indicating a sentence number, for example, and the voice guidance device 1 is shown in katakana in this figure based on this. Such broadcasting is selectively performed by the first to fourth audio devices 5 to 8.

In the present embodiment, the IC card 11 shown in FIG. 1 can be attached to the key input device 2 with a display equipped with an IC card reader / writer.
The configuration may be such that it can be mounted on the voice guidance device 1 side. The IC card 11 is capable of transferring and storing all the user setting information (user use environment information) set in the voice guidance device 1 which will be described later.
The user use environment information on the voice guidance device 1 side can be rewritten as necessary by the information of the card 11.

Next, details of the control system in the voice guidance device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that in FIG. 3, the inside of the voice guidance device 1 is represented by each functional unit described later, but the main body of the voice guidance device 1 is actually composed of a microcomputer, and the microcomputer includes various I / O units.
O interface, ROM that stores main program and fixed data, RAM that reads and writes user setting data / received data, various flags, etc., CP that controls overall control
The functions described below are constructed by U and the like, and are embodied by various programs stored and stored in advance.

In FIG. 3, 31 is a key input broadcast buffer, 32 is a scheduled broadcast buffer, 33 is a message buffer, and 3 is a buffer.
4 is a printer memory, 35 is a key input time reserved broadcast storage table, 36 is a set scheduled broadcast storage table, 37 is an edit processing unit, 38 is a voice synthesis processing unit, 39 is a voice output selection processing unit, and 40 is basic sentence data. A storage unit, 41 is a change setting sentence data storage unit, and 42 is a phrase data storage unit including a fixed phrase storage unit 43 and a user phrase storage unit 44.
Further, 45 is a main control unit that controls or manages each of the units 31 to 42, and the main control unit 45 includes a user setting information storage unit 46. Note that the set scheduled broadcast storage table 36 and the change setting sentence data storage unit 41 constitute a part of the user setting information storage unit 46, and are shown separately for convenience of explanation.

The key input broadcast buffer 31 temporarily stores the key input broadcast contents specified by the user (operator) by the display-equipped key input device 2. The key input broadcast buffer 31 receives the broadcast content designated by the operator immediately when the operator instructs the broadcast content and the start of the broadcast by the key input device 2 with a display. Further, when the operator reserves the broadcast content and its start time by the key input device 2 with a display, the broadcast reservation content is reserved and stored in the key input time reservation broadcast storage table 35, and when the reserved time is reached, the main control having a clock function is performed. Under the control of the unit 45, the broadcast contents reserved for the corresponding time are extracted and taken into the key input broadcast buffer 31. The contents of the key input broadcast in the key input broadcast buffer 31 are cleared after the broadcast ends.

In the setting scheduled broadcast storage table 36,
The scheduled broadcast content pre-registered by the user (operator) and its start time are held. Then, in the state where the above-mentioned scheduled broadcast mode (mode for automatically performing scheduled broadcast) is set, the main controller 45 sets each scheduled broadcast in the set scheduled broadcast storage table 36 based on its own clock function. By referring to the time, when the predetermined time is reached, the corresponding scheduled broadcast contents are extracted and loaded into the scheduled broadcast buffer 32. If multiple scheduled broadcasts are reserved at the same time, the sentence with the higher priority is prioritized and loaded into the scheduled broadcast buffer 32. In the case of the same priority, the sentence with the lower sentence number is prioritized. Are fetched into the scheduled broadcast buffer 32, the contents in the scheduled broadcast buffer 32 are broadcast and cleared, and then the next scheduled broadcast contents are fetched into the scheduled broadcast buffer 32. If the scheduled broadcast mode is not selected, the fetching process into the scheduled broadcast buffer 32 is not performed.

In this embodiment, 20 scheduled broadcasts can be reserved and registered in the set scheduled broadcast storage table 36, and the same sentence can be reserved up to 15 times. However, this can be changed arbitrarily. Furthermore, the set time of the scheduled broadcast in the set scheduled broadcast storage table 36 and the set time of the key input broadcast in the key input time reserved broadcast storage table 35 are in units of minutes, but this can also be changed arbitrarily.

In the electronic message buffer 33, electronic messages transmitted from the first and second hosts 3 and 4 are transmitted in real time for each occurrence of the predetermined event or command as described above, or for each occurrence of abnormality. Up to 10 telegrams can be stored. Each message (sentence based on this message) is given a priority in advance, and as will be described later, the messages in the message buffer 33 are sequentially transferred to the edit processing unit 37 in descending order of priority and broadcast. Is cleared from the message buffer 33. The reason why the number of messages stored in the message buffer 33 is limited here is that if the number of messages stored is unlimited, then when a large number of messages arrive within a short period, the reception time of the last message and the broadcast time are This is because it is expected that there will be a considerable time lag (broadcast timing will be greatly delayed and gaps will occur).

In this embodiment, the message buffer 3 is used.
When a new message is transmitted from the first host 3 or the second host 4 when the maximum number (10) of messages is stored in 3, the new message and message buffer 33
It is possible to select a message overflow mode in which the storage control process is performed based on the comparison of the priority order with the 10 messages stored in.

When the message overflow mode is selected, the maximum number (10) is stored in the message buffer 33.
When a new message is sent from the first host 3 or the second host 4 while the message is stored, the new message and the message 10 stored in the message buffer 33 are stored.
By comparing the priorities with the individual messages, the message with the lowest priority is excluded, and the other message groups are stored in the message buffer 33, and the excluded messages are stored in the printer memory 34. It will be transferred and stored. This excluded telegram will not be used for broadcasting thereafter,
If necessary, it is printed out by the printer 10 and referred to as history information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image of the above-described message overflow processing. As shown in FIG. 8A, 10 of the occurrence (reception) sequences 1 to 10 are stored in the message buffer 33.
A case will be described in which each piece of electronic message data is stored in the form of a processing queue with a priority order and a processing order (transfer order to the editing processing section 37) added thereto. At this time, when a new message with the occurrence order 11 is received and the priority of this new message is 3, the message data with the lowest priority and the oldest (the occurrence order number is younger) in the processing queue. That is, the message data of occurrence order 1 with the priority order 4 marked with * in FIG. 8A is deleted, and the new message data received is received as shown in FIG.
It is stored in (* in FIG. 8B). The deleted message is transferred to the printer memory 34 as described above. In this state, when a new message with a priority of 4 in the generation order 12 is received next, the message data with the lowest priority and the oldest message in the processing queue, that is, (b) of FIG.
In the same manner, the electronic message data having the order of occurrence 7 with the priority of 4 is deleted and transferred / stored in the printer memory 34 in the same manner, and the new received electronic message data is transferred to the electronic message buffer as shown in (c) of FIG. It is stored in 33 (* in FIG. 8C). In this state, when a new message with the priority of occurrence order 13 is 5 is received next, in this case, the priority is higher than that of the new message in the processing queue of FIG. Since there is only one message, this new message is not stored in the message buffer 33, the processing queue is maintained in the state of FIG. 8C, and the deleted new message is transferred to the printer memory 34.・ Remembered.

FIG. 9 shows a processing flow in the message overflow mode. In step ST1 of FIG. 9, a new message is received, and the process proceeds to next step ST2. At step ST2, it is asked whether or not the message buffer 33 is full,
If YES, the process proceeds to step ST3, and if NO, step S
The process proceeds to T8, the new message is stored in the message buffer 33 as it is, and this process is terminated. In step ST3, a message having a lower priority than the new message is the message buffer 33.
In step ST4, if YES, the process proceeds to step ST4. If NO, the process proceeds to step ST9.
In step ST4, it is asked whether or not the lowest priority one in the processing queue is a plurality of messages. If YES, the process proceeds to step ST5, and if NO, the process proceeds to step ST6.
In step ST5, the oldest message with the lowest priority is deleted from the processing queue, a new message is stored in the processing queue, and the message deleted in the next step ST7 is stored in the printer memory 34. After storing, this series of processing ends. In step ST6, the message with the lowest priority is deleted from the processing queue, a new message is stored in the processing queue, and the process proceeds to step ST7 where the deleted message is stored in the printer memory 34. Then, this series of processing ends. In step ST9, it is asked whether or not there is the same priority as the new message in the processing queue. If YES, the process proceeds to step ST10, and if NO, the process proceeds to step ST13 to delete the new message. After that (a new message is not stored in the processing queue), the process proceeds to step ST7, the deleted message is stored in the printer memory 34, and this series of processes is completed. In step ST10, it is asked whether or not there are a plurality of messages having the same priority as the new message in the processing queue. If YES, the process proceeds to step ST11, and if NO, the process proceeds to step ST12. Step ST
In 11, the oldest message having the same priority as that of the new message is deleted from the processing queue, the new message is stored in the processing queue, and then the procedure proceeds to step ST7 where the deleted message is stored in the printer memory. 34, and this series of processing is completed. In step ST12, a message having the same priority as that of the new message is deleted from the processing queue, the new message is stored in the processing queue, and then the process proceeds to step ST7 where the deleted message is stored in the printer memory 34. Then, this series of processing ends.

By performing such a storage process in the electronic message buffer 33, even if the electronic message buffer 33 is full, a new one with a high priority is held in the electronic message buffer 33. Therefore, it becomes possible to automatically select the non-scheduled scheduled broadcast content as an appropriate one in consideration of the priority order.

If the message overflow mode is not selected, when the maximum number (10) of messages is stored in the message buffer 33, the first host 3 or the second host 4 sends the message. When a new telegram is transmitted, the main control unit 45 returns a signal (NAK signal) indicating that the reception of the new telegram cannot be accepted to the host side via the communication control unit (not shown). , Storage of new message in message buffer 33 and printer memory 3
The storage processing in 4 is not performed. FIG. 10A shows a communication format between the host (the first host 3 or the second host 4) and the voice guidance device 1 at this time, and an inquiry (ENQ) from the host is made.
A negative response (NAK) is returned from the voice guidance device 1, and a negative response (NAK) is also returned to the re-inquiry (ENQ) from the host. It recognizes that the message was not received. At this time, in the present embodiment, the host side abandons the transmission of this new message, but it goes without saying that the message may be retransmitted after a predetermined time.
In (b) of FIG. 10, the message from the host is the voice guidance device 1.
Shows a communication format when received / received in this case. In this case, an affirmative response (ACK) is returned from the voice guidance device 1 in response to an inquiry (ENQ) from the host, and a text (TEXT; message data) from the host is sent. ) An acknowledgment (ACK) is also returned for the transmission.

In the present embodiment, the key input broadcast buffer 31, the scheduled broadcast buffer 32, and the message buffer 33 shown in FIG. 3 have a predetermined priority order among the buffers, and the key input broadcast buffer 31 has priority. The scheduled broadcast buffer 32 has the highest priority, the next priority has the scheduled broadcast buffer 32, and the telegram buffer 33 has the lowest priority. The main control unit 45 uses the three buffers 31, 32, 33.
If the broadcast content data is stored in the key input broadcast buffer 31, the content stored in the key input broadcast buffer 31 is given the highest priority and transferred to the edit processing unit 37 in FIG. If the scheduled broadcast buffer 32 stores the scheduled broadcast contents when the key input broadcast buffer 31 is empty, the main control unit 45 gives priority to the message buffer 33 and the stored contents of the scheduled broadcast buffer 32. Is similarly transferred to the edit processing unit 37. Also, key input broadcast buffer 3
When 1 and the scheduled broadcast buffer 32 are empty, the main control unit 45 similarly transfers the stored contents of the electronic message buffer 33 to the edit processing unit 37. At this time, when a plurality of electronic messages are stored in the electronic message buffer 33, the main control unit 45 extracts the electronic message with the highest priority according to the priority order of each electronic message (in the processing queue shown in FIG. 8). Extract the message data of the earliest number in the processing order) and edit it.
Transfer to 7.

FIG. 11 shows the three buffers 31 and 3 described above.
The processing flow of the data transfer according to the priority order between 2 and 33 is shown. In step ST21 of FIG. 11, it is asked whether or not data is stored in the key input broadcast buffer 31, and if YES, the data in the key input broadcast buffer 31 is transferred to the edit processing section 37 in step ST22, and then step ST23. Go to step ST immediately if NO
Proceed to 23. In step ST23, it is asked whether or not the data is stored in the scheduled broadcast buffer 32.
If S, the data in the scheduled broadcast buffer 32 is transferred to the edit processing unit 37 in step ST24, and then the process proceeds to step ST25. If NO, the process immediately proceeds to step ST25. In step ST25, it is asked whether or not data is stored in the message buffer 33. If YES, the process proceeds to step ST26, and if NO, the process returns to step ST21. Step ST2
At 6, it is asked whether or not data of a plurality of electronic messages is stored in the electronic message buffer 33. If YES, step ST2.
7, the process proceeds to step ST28 if NO. In step ST27, the message data of the earliest number in the processing order (highest priority) in the processing queue in the message buffer 33 is extracted and transferred to the edit processing section 37, and then in step ST21. Return to. Also, step S
At T28, only one message data existing in the message buffer 33 is transferred to the edit processing unit 37, and then step ST2.
Return to 1.

In the edit processing section 37, when the data for instructing the broadcast contents (data indicating the broadcast sentence number) is transferred from the key input broadcast buffer 31, the scheduled broadcast buffer 32 or the electronic message buffer 33, the basic processing is performed. Based on a comparison table of each sentence number and combination data of phrase data for constructing each sentence, which is preset and registered in the sentence data storage unit 40 or the changed setting sentence data storage unit 41, and the user setting information. Storage 46
The data editing process is performed in accordance with the instruction from the main control unit 45 with reference to the other text editing process conditions set to. That is,
Based on the data transferred from the buffer, the edit processing unit 37 generates original broadcast sentence data which is a combination of predetermined phrase data numbers in a predetermined order, and sends this to the voice synthesis processing unit 38.

In the voice synthesis processing section 38, based on the output (broadcast text original data) from the editing processing section 37, each phrase number stored in the phrase data storage section 42 and the corresponding voice pattern data and With reference to the content of the output time comparison table of the data, a predetermined synthesized voice signal (voice signal which is a sentence for one broadcast) is generated and sent to the output selection processing unit 39. The output selection processing unit 39 outputs the audio signal created based on the instruction of the main control unit 45 to the output selection condition set in advance in the basic sentence data storage unit 40 or the change setting sentence data storage unit 41.
And, regarding the irregular broadcast, it is selectively output to the first to fourth audio devices 5 to 8 for broadcasting according to a correspondence table of unit numbers and output ports described later. In addition,
As described above, when this broadcast ends, the data in the buffer corresponding to this broadcast is erased.

Here, one of the characteristic processes in this embodiment is
The combined call broadcast processing, which is one of the above, will be described below.
When a plurality of electronic messages are stored in the electronic message buffer 33, according to the priority order given in advance for each electronic message, the priority order is the highest and the oldest order (the order of the earliest processing order in the processing queue), The message data is edited by the processing unit 37.
It will be forwarded to. In the present embodiment, when the message with the earliest (smallest) number in the processing order of the processing queue indicates the content of the predetermined event, specifically, the position (stand) and the number of times (how many times) are set. Only the data shown is different and the other is the same data.
It is adapted to search whether or not it is in the message buffer 33. Then, when there is another electronic message of the same specific text type (for example, m-th order fever start, n
When there are multiple telegrams indicating multiple fever start, such as numbered fever start ...
The main control unit 45 extracts all the electronic messages of the same type from the oldest number within the allowed maximum number (for example, 5), and transfers all the electronic message data to the editing processing unit 37.
The edit processing unit 37 performs composite processing on each message data based on a predetermined composite processing program, uses only one common data portion (for example, data indicating a fever start), and each different data portion (for example, data). m range,
After performing a data editing process for combining the data of the n-th series, ..., And the like), the data is sent to the voice synthesis processing unit 38 as broadcast sentence original data that is a combination of phrase data. In the voice synthesis processing unit 38, similarly to the above, based on the output data of the editing processing unit 37, a synthesized voice signal (voice signal which became a sentence for one broadcast) is generated and sent to the output selection processing unit 39. This is selectively output from the output selection processing unit 39 to the audio device, and the combined contents are broadcast. That is, for example, a composite broadcast based on three telegrams is displayed as “Fanfare course Am series a
Course B nth bth course Co oth cth fever start Congratulations. Will be broadcast. Then, when this broadcast ends, all of the three broadcast message data in the message buffer 33 are erased. In the present embodiment, the types of electronic messages targeted for such composite call broadcasting are “fever start”, “lucky start”, “bonus start”,
There are six types of electronic messages indicating "Fever end", "Lucky end", and "Bonus end", but these can be set and changed arbitrarily.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an image of the above-described composite call processing. As shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of electronic messages are stored in the electronic message buffer 33 in a processing queue.
For example, the sentence number and "BBBB" in the order of occurrence (reception) number
The table and the data indicating the number of times and the processing order are stored. Now, when the processing timing (broadcast preparation timing) of the processing order 1 in the processing queue arrives and the sentence number “005” of the processing order 1 is a telegram to be the target of the composite call processing, the processing queue The electronic message data of the sentence number “005” in the inside is searched. Since there are three sentence numbers “005” in the illustrated example, the processing order is 1, 4, 9
Is extracted, and based on the extracted message, the composite processing in the edit processing unit 37 as described above is performed.

FIG. 13 shows the processing flow of the composite call processing. In step ST31 of the figure, it is determined whether or not the processing timing of the message in the processing queue of the message buffer 33, which is the earliest in processing sequence, has been reached (message). It is asked whether or not the timing of data transfer in the buffer 33 has been reached, YES
If so, go to step ST32. If NO, go to step S32.
The routine of T31 is repeated. In step ST32,
It is questioned whether or not the message data having the earliest processing order in the processing queue is the object of the composite call processing. If YES, the processing proceeds to step ST33, and if NO, the processing order is earliest in the processing queue at step ST37. Only the electronic message data is extracted and edited to perform broadcasting, and the electronic message data in the processing queue used for this broadcasting is deleted, and then the process returns to step ST31. In step ST33, it is asked whether or not there are a plurality of messages of the same type in the processing queue. If YES, the process proceeds to step ST34, and if NO, the process returns to step ST31 through step ST37. In step ST34, the number of messages of the same type is 5
It is asked whether or not it is within the number, and if YES, step ST
35. If NO, the process proceeds to step ST36. In step ST35, all the messages of the same type in the processing queue are extracted, the editing / compositing process is performed by the extracted multiple messages to broadcast, and the plurality of messages in the processing queue used for this broadcasting are also extracted. Delete all the message data, and then return to step ST31. In step ST36, five telegrams of the same type in the processing queue are extracted in chronological order,
The extracted and edited 5 telegrams are used for editing / compositing and broadcasting, and 5 in the processing queue used for this broadcasting.
Delete all the message data, and then step ST
Return to 31.

When such a composite call process is used, when a fever start or the like frequently occurs in a short time when a new store is opened, efficient guidance broadcasting can be performed and the broadcasting time can be shortened. In this composite call processing, when the distributed broadcasting setting is made for the audio devices 1 and 2, the earliest processing message in the processing queue of the message buffer 33 is the audio device 1 or 2. Depending on which one corresponds, the composite call processing is performed by extracting only those corresponding to the same audio device from the same type of electronic messages in the processing queue.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the data contents of the phrase data storage section 42 used by the speech synthesis processing section 38 at the time of speech synthesis. The phrase data storage unit 42 stores the phrase number,
In addition to the phrase audio data, the output time of a phrase (not shown) is included. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the phrase voice data registered in advance before the shipment of the voice guidance device 1 is stored from the phrase number 1 to the phrase number 336 (in the figure, it is displayed on the display. Although it is shown in the form of characters, it is actually stored in the form of digital voice data.) The phrase voice data corresponding to the phrase numbers 1 to 336 is the fixed phrase storage section (the phrase voice file). It is designed to be stored and held in a (ROM) 43. In addition, in the fixed phrase storage unit 43 (the phrase number 1 to the phrase number 336), in addition to voice data that does not include numbers other than those shown in the figure, time, course, number of times, unit number, island number, floor, etc. The audio data for specifying is stored.

The phrase numbers 337 and 338 are areas for user registration (the user phrase storage section 44), and the phrase voice data desired by the user can be stored therein by using the above-mentioned CD player 9 or the like. ing. In the present embodiment, the user phrase storage unit 44 is constructed by SRAM, and can store two pieces of phrase sound data for an arbitrary time of up to 15 seconds (or one phrase sound data for an arbitrary time of up to 30 seconds). It is provided for the purpose of recording from the digital audio signal input device 9 a fanfare sound or the like that suits the taste of the user. Then, the voice synthesis processing unit 38 refers to the data of the phrase data storage unit 42 in accordance with the output of the edit processing unit 37, combines predetermined phrase voice data in a predetermined order, and generates and outputs a synthesized voice signal. It is like this. Needless to say, the number of clauses stored in the fixed clause storage unit 43 and the content of the clauses can be changed arbitrarily, and the number of clauses stored in the user clause storage unit 44 can also be changed arbitrarily.

In the basic sentence data storage unit 40, a large number of basic sentence data created in advance by combining the phrase numbers in the fixed phrase storage unit 43 are registered and stored in advance before the shipment of the voice guidance device 1. ing. This basic sentence data is created in advance so as to cover almost all the guide broadcasting sentences that are expected to be normally used in this kind of pachinko game hall. This is, for example, the right side of each of FIGS. 4 to 7. It is prepared as the text shown in the column. The basic text data storage unit 4 is included in the change setting text data storage unit 41.
The user change setting text data created by the user adding / combining or deleting an arbitrary clause to the basic text data of 0, or the user new setting text data created entirely by the user is stored.

Next, a method of setting user setting information in the user setting information storage section 46 by the above-described key input device 2 with a display will be described. When the power is applied to the key input device 2 with a display, the display unit 13 of the key input device 2 with a display is displayed as shown in FIG.
The "operation 1 mode screen" P1 as shown in 5 starts up. The reason why the "operation 1 mode screen" P1 is first started up is that it is assumed that the operator will most frequently use it in a normal use state. When the "next page" key shown in FIG. 2 is pushed in the display state, the screen switches to the "operation 2 mode screen" P2, and the "operation 1 mode screen" P1
Alternatively, when the "cancel" key shown in FIG. 2 is pushed in the display state of the "operation 2 mode screen" P2, the screen is switched to the "initial menu screen" P0. The "initial menu screen" P0 is positioned at the highest level of screen selection (mode selection), and in the display state of the "initial menu screen" P0, the "numerical value 1" key to the "numerical value 5" key shown in FIG. When you push, "Operation 1 mode screen" P
1, any one of "regular broadcast change mode screen" P3, "maintenance mode screen" P4, "constant setting mode screen" P5, and "operation type setting mode screen" P6 is selected. In order to set the user setting information, the "constant setting mode screen" P5 or the "motion type setting mode screen" P6 is selected.

FIG. 16 shows the "constant setting mode screen" P5 and the display screen of the next hierarchical level following it.
In the display state of the "constant setting mode screen" P5, FIG.
When the "numerical value 1" to "numerical value 7" keys indicated by are pushed, the "scheduled broadcast function setting mode screen" P51, "output port setting mode screen" P52, "unit allocation setting mode screen" P53, " Text composition setting mode screen ”P5
4, any one of "priority setting mode screen" P55, "function key setting mode screen" P56, and "constant setting content confirmation screen" P57 is selected.

FIG. 17 shows the above-mentioned "scheduled broadcasting function setting mode screen" P51 and the lower setting mode screen P connected to it.
511 and 512 and content confirmation mode screens P513 to P51
It is a figure which shows 6. Now, if you press the "Numeric 1" key in the display state of the "scheduled broadcast function setting mode screen" P51, the screen switches to the "scheduled broadcast text setting screen" P511, and in this state the sentence number you want to use for the scheduled broadcast is a numeric value. Use the key to select, then press the "Next page" key to switch to the "Scheduled broadcast text setting screen" P512, and interactively specify the scheduled broadcast time and select the output destination on P512 on this screen, The broadcast text, time, and output destination are set, and these are stored in the set scheduled broadcast storage table 36.
To continue setting the scheduled broadcast content, for example, enter
After confirming the input with the key, the "previous page" key is pushed to return to the setting mode screen P511 and the same operation is continued.

When the user wants to confirm the contents of the set scheduled broadcast, the "scheduled broadcast function setting mode screen" P51
In the display state of, the "numerical value 2" key is pushed to call the "confirmed mode setting confirmation mode screen" P513, and in the display state of the screen P513, for example, by pressing the "numerical value 1" key, The content confirmation mode screen ”P514 is called, and the setting content can be confirmed. Further, if the "Next page" key is pushed on the screen P514, the screen is switched to the "Confirmed mode setting confirmation mode screen" P515, and the "Next page" is displayed on the screen P515.
If the key is pushed, the screen switches to the “confirmation mode screen of the scheduled broadcast setting contents” P516. In the present embodiment, this "confirmation mode screen for scheduled broadcast settings"
In the display state of P514 to P516, it is possible to delete the contents of the scheduled broadcast setting, and the deleted operation is deleted from the set scheduled broadcast storage table 36. In addition, the above "Confirmation mode screen for scheduled broadcast settings"
When the "numerical value 2" key is pressed in the display state of P513, the scheduled broadcast setting contents can be output by the printer 10.

FIG. 18 shows the "output port setting mode screen" P52 and the lower layer setting mode screen P5 connected to it.
21 to 523 and a content confirmation mode screen P524. Now, when the "Numerical value 1" key is pushed in the display state of the "output port setting mode screen" P52,
If you switch to the "output port setting mode screen" P521 and press the "next page" key on the screen P521, you switch to the "output port setting mode screen" P522 and press the "next page" key on the screen P522 Then, the screen is switched to the "output port setting mode screen" P523. Each "output port setting mode screen" P521 to P5
23 (actually, a plurality of screens are prepared for the screen P522 in accordance with the set number of sentences), all of the already registered sentence numbers (the basic sentence data storage unit 40 and the change setting sentence). (Data in the data storage unit 41) is sequentially displayed with abbreviated sentences, and output destinations A1, A2, I1, and I2 (the audio devices 5 to 8) are selected and designated for each sentence number on each screen P521 to P523. By doing so, it is possible to specify ON / OFF of output for each sentence. In addition, "Output port setting mode screen" P
When the "numerical value 2" key is pushed in the display state of 52, the setting contents can be confirmed by switching to the "output port setting confirmation screen" P524, but the detailed screen is omitted here. By inputting the above screen, it is possible to set and change the output destination of scheduled broadcast and non-scheduled broadcast for each sentence number,
This information is stored in the change setting sentence data storage unit 41.

FIG. 19 shows the "mode setting screen for layout" P53 and the setting mode screen P53 in the lower layer, which is continuous with this.
1, P532 and a content confirmation mode screen P533. When the "numerical value 1" key is pushed in the display state of "Pattern allocation setting mode screen" P53, the screen is switched to "Pattern allocation setting mode screen" P531. The screen P531
Then, the group number is a block (Oshima) number, course number,
The floor number can be assigned and set, and the "Platform assignment mode screen" P532, which is switched by pressing the "Next page" key on the screen P531, displays the output destination for each floor ( The audio device 5 or 6) can be selected. Therefore, the output destination can be selected and specified according to the unit number. If you press the "Numeric 2" key in the display state of the "Platform assignment setting mode screen" P53, you can switch to the "Platform assignment setting confirmation screen" P523 to check the settings, but the detailed screen is omitted here. To do. By inputting this screen, it is possible to change / set the correspondence table indicating the output port of the irregular broadcast corresponding to the unit number. In order to actually output the unscheduled broadcast, the output port set corresponding to the sentence number of the targeted unscheduled broadcast (the output port set in FIG. 18) must be ON. Is assumed.

FIG. 20 shows the "sentence configuration setting mode screen" P54 and the lower setting mode screen P54 connected to it.
1 to P544 and a content confirmation mode screen P545. When the "numerical value 1" key is pushed in the display state of the "sentence configuration setting mode screen" P54, the screen switches to the "sentence configuration setting mode screen" P541. The screen P5
In 41, when the sentence number is entered, the abbreviation of the sentence corresponding to this number is displayed. If there is no corresponding sentence number, this is displayed, and a predetermined key operation may be performed to move to registration of a new sentence. it can. Now, after specifying one of the basic sentence numbers on the screen P541, "Next page"
When you press the key, "Sentence composition setting mode screen"
The screen is switched to P542, and the designated sentence number, the sentence abbreviation, and the designated sentence content are displayed on the screen P542. When it is desired to change the sentence number on this screen P542, the "numerical value 1" key is pushed, and the desired sentence number is input next, whereby the change of the sentence number is set. Also, screen P
When you want to change the sentence clause in 542, "Numeric value 2"
Press the key and press "Sentence configuration setting mode screen" P
By switching to 543 and changing the position of the current phrase number, selecting a new phrase number, and specifying the position on the screen P543, it is possible to change and set the sentence structure. The text composition set on this screen P543 can be confirmed in an easy-to-read form on the "text composition setting mode screen" P544 that is switched by pressing the "next page" key on the screen P543.
The screen is returned to the screen P543 by the "Previous page" key and the screen P5 is displayed.
It is registered by pushing the "input" key at 43 (registered in the change setting sentence data storage unit 41).
The setting of registering a new sentence can be similarly performed on the screen P543. In addition, "Sentence configuration setting mode screen" P5
When the "numerical value 2" key is pushed in the display state of 4, the setting contents can be confirmed by switching to the "sentence configuration setting confirmation screen" P545, but the detailed screen is omitted here.

FIG. 21 shows the "priority setting mode screen" P55 and the lower setting mode screen P55 that follows it.
It is a figure which shows 1 and the content confirmation mode screen P552. When the "numerical value 1" key is pushed in the display state of the "priority setting mode screen" P55, the screen is switched to the "priority setting mode screen" P551. On the screen P551, when a sentence number is input, the abbreviation of the sentence corresponding to this number is displayed. If there is no corresponding sentence number, this is displayed and a new sentence number is prompted. Then, by assigning or changing the priority to the sentence number called on the screen P551, the priority setting is registered for each sentence number in the changed setting sentence data storage unit 41. In the present embodiment, the priority order is specified by dividing it into 5 steps of 1 to 5, but the number of steps of the priority order is arbitrary. In addition, if the "numerical value 2" key is pushed in the display state of the "priority setting mode screen" P55,
The contents of the setting can be confirmed by switching to the "priority order setting confirmation screen" P552, but the detailed screen is omitted here.

FIG. 22 shows the "function key setting mode screen" P56, the lower setting mode screens P561 and P562, and the contents confirmation mode screen P563.
FIG. When the "Numerical value 1" key is pushed in the display state of "Function key setting mode screen" P56, "Function key setting mode screen" P
When the screen is switched to 561 and the "Next page" key is pushed on the screen P561, the "Function key setting mode screen" is displayed.
Switch to P562. On the screens P561 and 562, each of the "numerical values 0 to 9" keys and corresponding keys when the function key mode is used (specifically, when the operation 1 and 2 mode screens P1 and P2 shown in FIG. 15 are selected) It is possible to specify the relationship of the sentence numbers to be used. If you press the "Numerical value 2" key while the "Function key setting mode screen" P56 is displayed, you can switch to the "Function key setting confirmation screen" P563 to check the settings, but the detailed screen is omitted here. To do.
The function key information set on this screen is stored in the user setting information storage unit 46.

Incidentally, in FIG. 16, "constant setting mode screen" P
The "constant setting content confirmation screen" P57 connected to No. 5 is for confirming the setting content on the above-mentioned setting mode screens P51 to P56, but the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, a method of selecting the "operation type setting mode screen" P6 shown in FIG. 15 and setting the user setting information in the user setting information storage section 46 will be described. FIG. 23 shows "Operation type setting mode screen" P
6 shows the details of No. 6. In this "motion type setting mode screen" P6, as shown in FIG. 23, "printer output", "telegram overflow", "how to read number 2", "course broadcasting", and "number of times broadcasting" You can also choose how to read.

That is, if the "numerical value 1" key is pushed on the "motion type setting mode screen" P6,
The presence or absence of "printer output" can be selected, and the presence or absence of the printer output mode can be set by specifying "yes" or "absence" with the cursor key in this state. If "none" of "printer output" is selected, the printer 1 described above is displayed.
0 is the stop mode, and if "Yes" of "Printer output" is selected, the electronic message data transferred to the printer memory 34 during the electronic message overflow processing described with reference to FIGS. The output mode is set.

Further, if the "numerical value 2" key is pushed on the screen P6, it becomes possible to select the presence or absence of "telegram overflow". In this state, if the "Yes" is selected by the cursor key, the above-mentioned telegram overflow processing mode is set. If "None" is selected, the mode in which the above-described message overflow process is not performed is set.

When the "numerical value 3" key is pushed on the screen P6, "how to read the numeral 2" can be selected, and when "d" is selected with the cursor key in this state, the reading of the numeral 2 in the broadcast text is performed. All become "ni", and if "lid" is selected, the reading of number 2 in the broadcast text will become all "lid". That is, the edit processing unit 3 described above.
During the editing process in 7, the data representing the number 2 is
Either the phrase number indicating "ni" or the phrase number indicating "lid" is automatically selected.

By pushing the "numerical value 4" key on the screen P6, the presence or absence of "broadcast of course" can be selected.
In this state, if the cursor key is used to select "Yes", the processing mode is such that the course is broadcast, and if "No" is selected, the course is not to be broadcast. That is, when the text to be edited has data indicating the "course number" at the time of the editing processing in the above-described editing processing unit 37, if "Yes" is selected, the phrase number indicating the "course number" is the editing target. If “None” is selected, the clause number indicating the “course number” is deleted from the editing target.

By pressing the "numerical value 5" key on the screen P6, it is possible to select whether or not "broadcast of the number of times" is selected. In this state, if "yes" is selected by the cursor key, the processing mode in which the number of times of the broadcasting is performed is When "none" is selected, the processing mode is set in which the broadcast is not performed the number of times. That is,
When there is data indicating the “number of times” in the text to be edited at the time of editing processing in the editing processing section 37,
When "Yes" is selected, the clause number indicating the "number of times" is incorporated into the edit target, and when "No" is selected, the clause number indicating the "number of times" is deleted from the edit target.

In the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 23, various user setting information is set in advance in the user setting information storage section 46, and this is edited by the edit processing section 37. It can be reflected in processing. Therefore, the user can change or select the text for the guidance broadcast according to the usage environment conditions and preferences, and can also specify the output destination, the priority order, etc. It is possible to perform appropriate and efficient guidance broadcasting according to the user's preference, which greatly improves usability. Since this setting work can be performed independently of the hosts 3 and 4 by the key input device 2 with a display, which is a simple terminal board, the burden on the host side does not increase and the setting work is substantially interactive. Even beginner operators can do it. The setting data in the user setting information storage unit 46 is the above-mentioned IC.
All can be transcribed to the card 11, and if various user setting information set once in the voice guidance system of a certain game hall is recorded in the IC card 11, it can be used for different game halls. Since it is possible to automatically set the same conditions in the voice guidance system, it is extremely effective when there is a series of amusement halls.

Next, the form of key input broadcasting performed using the "operation 1 mode screen" P1 or the "operation 2 mode screen" P2 shown in FIG. 15 will be described. The "operation 1 mode screen" P1 or "operation 2 mode screen" P2 is often used after the setting registration of the various user setting information described above, and the "operation 1 mode screen" P1 is used after the power is turned on.
As mentioned above, it will be launched and displayed. An example of this "operation 1 mode screen" P1 is shown in FIG. 24, and an example of the "operation 2 mode screen" P2 which is switched and displayed by pushing the "next page" key on the screen P1 in FIG. It is shown. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, on the screens P1 and P2, the sentence numbers and sentence abbreviations that have been preset for use in the operation 1 and 2 modes are displayed in association with the numeric keys. Is becoming

Then, for example, the "operation 2 mode screen" P2
When the "numerical value 0" key is pushed in, the "key broadcast screen" P201 as shown in FIG. 26 is switched and displayed, and the text content selected on the screen P201 and the output destination can be confirmed. When it is desired to immediately start broadcasting in the state of this screen P201, the broadcast content data selected / designated by pushing the "input" key is taken into the key input buffer 31 and, as described above, Broadcasting with the highest priority of 31 is performed. When it is desired to specify the broadcast time of the broadcast content (text) displayed on the screen P201, the screen P20
By pushing the "next page" key with 1, the "key broadcast screen" P202 shown in FIG. 27 is called, and this screen P2
By designating the time with 02, the broadcast time is reserved by key input, and this is stored in the key input time reserved broadcast storage table 35. Here, the current time is displayed at the lower right of the "key broadcast screen" P202 (HH: MM in the figure), and when a time earlier than the current time is specified, this is displayed as an alarm. It prompts you to re-specify the time. This "key broadcast screen" P
The time reservation in 202 is valid only on the current day in this embodiment, but it is needless to say that it can be held unless the time reservation is changed. In the “key broadcast screen” P202, it is also possible to give an instruction to change the unit number, the number of times, and the like. In addition, "Operation 1
Even when a predetermined numeric key is selected on the "mode screen" P1, broadcasting can be performed by the same operation as above.

FIG. 28 shows a "key broadcasting screen for calling a car" P281 which is switched and displayed by pushing the "numerical value 8" key in the "operation 2 mode screen" P2.
Is shown. Enter the number of the car you want to call on this screen P281 and push the "Enter" key.
Broadcast content data for calling a car is taken into the key input buffer 31, and in the above-mentioned processing, for example, "I will call a car.
If you are traveling by car, please move the car as soon as possible. Broadcasting such as is performed. Note that the "key broadcasting screen for calling the car" P281 is in a special form because the broadcast contents are indefinite and urgent, and the text for broadcasting is not displayed on the screen.

24 and 2 are displayed on the right side of the "operation 1 mode screen" P1 and the "operation 2 mode screen" P2.
As shown in FIG. 5, "scheduled broadcast O" indicating whether or not the above-described scheduled broadcast mode for automatically performing scheduled broadcast is selected.
“N” or “scheduled broadcasting OFF” is displayed. As described above, the scheduled broadcast mode can be selected by the scheduled broadcast key switch 21 of the voice guidance device 1 as described above, but it is also selectable by the key input device 2 with a display. That is, by pushing the "numerical value 2" key in the display state of the "initial menu screen" screen P0, the "scheduled broadcast change mode screen" P3 shown in FIG. 29 is called, and "input" is displayed in the display state of this screen P3. By pressing the "" key, the selection or non-selection of the scheduled broadcast mode can be switched alternately. "Operation 1 mode screen" that is frequently used in this way
P1 and "Operation 2 mode screen" P2 "Regular broadcast ON"
Or, by displaying "scheduled broadcast OFF" and making it possible to easily change it on the "scheduled broadcast change mode screen" P3, it is possible to correctly recognize the setting state of the scheduled broadcast mode and at the time of opening a new store. It is possible to perform an operation, such as when canceling the scheduled broadcast mode, by the key input device 2 with a display.

FIG. 30 shows the "operation 1 mode screen" P1.
Also, a "broadcast reservation time confirmation mode screen" P01 that is switched and displayed by pressing the "-" key in the display state of the "operation 2 mode screen" P2 is shown. On this screen P01, the above-mentioned scheduled broadcast and time-reserved broadcast by key input are displayed in a mixed form with the sentence number and sentence abbreviation written together in order of the reserved time. Then, on this "broadcast reservation time confirmation mode screen" P01, it is possible to perform an operation of deleting individual broadcasts, for example, by deleting the corresponding sentence number or the like with the "-" key. .. Note that this deletion is effective only on the current day, and when the date is switched, each set data of the scheduled broadcast is automatically restored to the state set in the past.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiments, but it goes without saying that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The setting method and the like performed interactively can be appropriately changed.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily set or change the broadcast contents, reduce the load on the host computer side, and further, perform automatic broadcast matching the priority order or the same contents. If multiple telegrams from the host computer arrive within a short period of time, it is possible to provide a voice guidance system with excellent usability and performance, which can be broadcast in a composite content, and its value is enormous.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of components of a voice guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance and the like of the voice guidance device and the key input device with a display in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of an internal configuration of the voice guidance device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of non-scheduled broadcasting broadcast by a message from a host computer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of non-scheduled broadcasting that is broadcast by a message from the host computer.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the contents of a key input broadcast.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of scheduled broadcast.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of message overflow processing.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow of a message overflow mode.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication format between a host computer and a voice guidance device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a priority processing flow according to a priority order among the buffers.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of composite call processing.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow of composite call processing.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing stored data in a phrase data storage unit.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an initial menu screen and a display screen of a next layer following the initial menu screen.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a constant setting mode drawing and a display screen of the next layer following the drawing.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting mode screen of the scheduled broadcast function and a display screen of the next layer following the setting mode screen.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an output port setting mode screen and a display screen of a next layer following the output port setting mode screen;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting mode screen for allocating a table and a display screen for the next layer following the setting mode screen.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting mode screen of a sentence structure and a display screen of a next layer following the setting mode screen.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a priority setting mode screen and a display screen of the next layer following the priority setting mode screen;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a function key setting mode screen and a display screen of the next layer following the function key setting mode screen;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation type setting mode screen.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation 1 mode screen.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation 2 mode screen.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a key broadcast screen.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a key broadcast screen.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a key broadcast screen for calling a car.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a scheduled broadcast change mode screen.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing a confirmation mode screen of a broadcast reservation time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Voice Guidance Device 2 Key Input Device with Display 3 First Host Computer 4 Second Host Computer 5 First Audio Equipment 6 Second Audio Equipment 7 Third Audio Equipment 8 Fourth Audio Equipment 9 CD Player 10 Printer 11 IC card 12 Optically isolated communication interface 13 Display 14 Key input 20 Power switch 21 Scheduled broadcast key switch 31 Key input broadcast buffer 32 Scheduled broadcast buffer 33 Message buffer 34 Printer memory 35 Key input time reserved broadcast storage table 36 Setting scheduled broadcast storage table 37 Edit processing unit 38 Speech synthesis processing unit 39 Speech output selection processing unit 40 Basic sentence data storage unit 41 Change setting sentence data storage unit 42 Clause data storage unit 43 Fixed phrase storage unit 44 User clause storage 45 main control section 46 user setting information storage unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Honwa Uezuki 1-88, Tora, Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture Hitachi Maxell Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takatoshi Takemoto 3-20, Higashiueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo No. 3 Ace Denken Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Ishibe 3-chome Higashiueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo No. 20-3 Ace Denken Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Motoyuki Suzuki 3-chome, Higashiueno Taito-ku, Tokyo No. 20 No. 3 Ace Denken Co., Ltd.

Claims (40)

[Claims] 1. A voice guidance device having at least a voice synthesis editing function and a voice signal output function, a host computer for transmitting a telegram for instructing broadcast contents to the voice guidance device, and an operator for the voice guidance device. A key input device with a display for outputting instruction content, wherein the voice guidance device is a voice signal based on a telegram transmitted from the host computer, or a key input from the key input device with a display input by an operator. A voice guidance system characterized in that a voice signal based on broadcast contents or a voice signal generated by itself for scheduled broadcast contents can be selectively output to an audio device for voice output. 2. The voice guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the voice guidance device stores a telegram buffer that stores a telegram transmitted from the host computer, and a key input broadcast that stores the key input broadcast content from the display-equipped key input device. A buffer and a scheduled broadcast buffer that stores the scheduled broadcast content generated by itself are provided, and audio signals based on the data content stored in the buffer with a high priority are sequentially arranged according to the priority set in advance in each buffer. A voice guidance system characterized by being output. 3. The voice guidance according to claim 2, wherein the priority is set in the order of the key input broadcast buffer, the scheduled broadcast buffer, and the electronic message buffer from higher to lower. system. 4. The voice guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising a message buffer for storing a predetermined number of messages transmitted from the host computer, and the message group stored in the message buffer is given priority. A voice guidance system characterized in that voice signals based on electronic messages extracted in descending order of rank are sequentially output. 5. The voice guidance system according to claim 4, wherein the priority of the electronic message can be set by the key input device with a display. 6. The message according to claim 4, wherein when a new message is transmitted from the host computer while the maximum number of messages is stored in the message buffer, the message is stored in the new message and message buffer. A voice guidance system characterized in that a message overflow processing mode for carrying out a storage control process based on a comparison of priorities with a plurality of existing messages is selectable. 7. The new message according to claim 6, when the message overflow processing mode is selected, when a new message is transmitted from the host computer when the message buffer is full, A voice characterized by comparing the priority with a plurality of messages stored in the message buffer, eliminating the message with the lowest priority, and storing a message group other than this in the message buffer. Information system. 8. The voice guidance system according to claim 7, wherein the excluded electronic message is stored in a memory for a printer. 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the message overflow processing mode is not selected and a new message is transmitted from the host computer when the message buffer is full, a new message is transmitted. A voice guidance system characterized by rejecting acceptance. 10. The voice guidance device according to claim 1, comprising a message buffer for storing a predetermined number of messages transmitted from the host computer, and a group of messages stored in the message buffer includes: Only the data indicating the position, the number of times, etc. are different, and the others are searched for a plurality of telegrams of the same predetermined data of a predetermined type, and a plurality of telegrams of the predetermined type are stored. In this case, the voice guidance system is characterized in that the phrase corresponding to the same data and each phrase corresponding to different data for each telegram can be combined / combined into one sentence and output as a voice signal. 11. The voice guidance device according to claim 1, wherein, based on an internal clock function of the voice guidance device and preset preset broadcast instruction contents, a predetermined scheduled broadcast content is created at a predetermined time, This scheduled broadcast content is stored in the scheduled broadcast buffer, and when multiple scheduled broadcasts are specified at the same time, the scheduled broadcast contents are created in order of higher priority and stored in the scheduled broadcast buffer. A voice guidance system characterized in that 12. The voice guidance system according to claim 11, wherein the priority order of the scheduled broadcast can be set by the key input device with a display. 13. The voice guidance system according to claim 11, wherein the designated time and contents of the scheduled broadcast can be set by the key input device with a display. 14. The voice guidance system according to claim 2, wherein the content stored in each buffer is deleted from the buffer when a voice signal based on the content is output. 15. The voice guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixed phrase data storage unit that stores a large number of pre-created phrase data, and a predetermined broadcast data is stored based on the contents of the fixed phrase data storage unit. A voice guidance system characterized in that a sentence is synthesized and created, and a voice signal based on this is output. 16. The voice guidance system according to claim 15, wherein the phrase data includes alarm sound data, chime sound data, and fanfare sound data. 17. The voice guidance system according to claim 15, wherein a predetermined number of reference sentences created from the contents of the fixed phrase data storage are created and set in advance. 18. The voice guidance device according to claim 15, further comprising a user phrase data storage unit for storing the phrase data input by the user, and the user phrase data together with the memory content of the fixed phrase data storage unit. A voice guidance system characterized in that a predetermined sentence is synthesized from the memory contents of a storage unit and created, and a voice signal based on this is output. 19. The voice guidance system according to claim 18, wherein data from a digital voice signal input device attached to the voice guidance device is stored in the user phrase data storage unit. 20. The voice guidance system according to claim 19, wherein the phrase data stored in the user phrase data storage unit includes fanfare sound data. 21. The voice guidance system according to claim 15, wherein a desired sentence can be created by combining the phrase data by the key input device with a display. 22. The key assignment mode according to claim 15, wherein when the created sentence is used in a predetermined mode, the sentence is associated with a predetermined key of the key input device with a display. Characteristic voice guidance system. 23. The option selection mode according to claim 15, wherein the created sentence is output as a sentence to which a predetermined transformation process such as partial omission or reading is added. Voice guidance system. 24. The automatic voice guidance mode according to claim 1, wherein the voice guidance device can select an automatic scheduled broadcast mode in which scheduled broadcast is automatically performed based on the internal clock function of the audio guide device according to the scheduled broadcast setting contents. Voice guidance system. 25. The voice according to claim 24, wherein whether or not the automatic scheduled broadcasting mode is selected is displayed on a predetermined mode screen on a display of the key input device with a display. Information system. 26. The voice guidance system according to claim 24, wherein the automatic scheduled broadcast mode is selected by a key input device with the display or a switch attached to the voice guidance device. 27. The voice guidance system according to claim 24, wherein the scheduled broadcast designation contents set in the past are retained even when an operation not selecting the automatic scheduled broadcast mode is performed. 28. The audio according to claim 24, further comprising a scheduled broadcast setting content confirmation mode for displaying a list of the scheduled broadcast times and their contents on the display of the key input device with a display. Information system. 29. The voice guidance system according to claim 28, wherein it is possible to individually delete the set scheduled broadcast from the setting on the display screen of the scheduled broadcast setting content confirmation mode. .. 30. The broadcast according to claim 1, wherein when the key input device with a display is used to instruct the voice guidance device, the broadcast is started immediately or by a time designation. The voice guidance system is characterized by making it possible to select. 31. The display of the key input device with a display according to claim 30, wherein the time and the content of the scheduled broadcast and the time and the content of the broadcast time-specified by the key input device with a display are displayed. A voice guidance system having a broadcast reservation time confirmation mode for displaying a list above. 32. On the display screen of the broadcast reservation time confirmation mode according to claim 31, it is possible to individually delete the set scheduled broadcast and the time reserved broadcast by a set key input from the setting. A voice guidance system that is characterized. 33. The scheduled broadcast data according to claim 32, wherein the scheduled broadcast data deleted in the broadcast reserved time confirmation mode is automatically restored to the scheduled broadcast setting state when the date is changed. Characteristic voice guidance system. 34. The operation mode screen according to claim 1, wherein when the power of the key input device with a display is turned on, an operation mode screen allowing an operator to immediately select broadcast contents is displayed on the display instead of the initial menu screen. A voice guidance system characterized by. 35. The host computer according to claim 1, wherein the host computer comprises a first host computer and a second host computer installed in a game arcade, and the first host computer mainly serves as each gaming machine (machine). ), The telegram for the customer, and the telegram for mainly the amusement hall personnel are transmitted from the second host computer to the voice guidance device in real time at each predetermined event occurrence time. 36. The audio device for outputting audio according to claim 1, wherein an audio device such as a speaker that broadcasts to an unspecified large number and an audio device such as a receiver that broadcasts to a specific target. A voice guidance system that is characterized by being included. 37. The audio device according to claim 36, wherein the audio device broadcasts to the unspecified majority or the audio device broadcasts to the specific target.
Alternatively, a voice guidance system is characterized in that it is possible to select whether to output a voice signal to both. 38. The audio device for broadcasting to the unspecified number of people and the audio device for broadcasting to the specified object according to claim 37, wherein a plurality of systems are provided respectively, and an alternative is provided for each system. A voice guidance system characterized in that it is possible to select whether or not to output a voice signal at the same time. 39. The key input device with a display or the voice guidance device according to claim 1,
A voice guidance system having an IC card reader / writer attached. 40. The IC card mounted on the IC card reader / writer according to claim 39, wherein at least the setting data set by the user in the voice guidance device can be backed up and recorded. Voice guidance system.