JPH0635662A - Method and device for inputting and outputting terminal data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce an installation, and also, to use a display device as a terminal as it is without changing an application software on a host by inputting and outputting necessary data as the terminal of the host through a telephone set. CONSTITUTION:A computer network 1 is constituted of a host 11, a display terminal 13 connected to the host 11 by a line 12, and a voice terminal 14, and constituted so that character data for displaying onto a screen and its attribute data are sent out from the host 11 to the terminal 14, and command data is sent out of the terminal 14 to the host 11. In this case, the terminal 14 is constituted by containing a telephone set 23 having push-buttons, and based on the character data, a composite voice is outputted from the telephone set 23, and also, data based on a signal inputted from the push-buttons of the telephone set 23 is inputted as command data to the host 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio terminal data input / output method and apparatus which can be mixed with a display terminal.

With the recent advances in office automation, computer networks have spread widely inside and outside offices, and effective use of host resources has been achieved. Along with this, the number of terminals installed has greatly increased, and it has become increasingly difficult to secure a space for installing terminals in an office.

The terminal is required to have a function of allowing the operator (terminal operator) to recognize the data sent from the host and transmitting the operator's intention as a command to the host. The appearance of a terminal data input / output method that does not require much installation space is desired.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device used as a terminal of a computer network includes a display device having a screen for displaying data sent from a host, a keyboard for sending command data to the host, and the like. It is configured to include.

In such a display terminal,
The operator visually recognizes characters or numbers displayed on the screen, writes command data requested by the host on the screen using a keyboard, and sends the command data to input / output data to / from the host.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional display terminal, since the display device and the keyboard require a relatively large space, for example, one display terminal occupies one office desk. There was a problem that it would end up.

In particular, the display device requires a certain size so that the operator can easily visually recognize it.
There is a limit to the miniaturization of the device. On the other hand, various voice telephone systems using a telephone having a push button as a terminal have been put into practical use in response to the multimedia of the man-machine interface.

For example, in a telephone seat reservation system, a reservation center is called to input desired conditions with push buttons, and reservation status data of a host is accessed to make a reservation. The reservation approval / disapproval is voice-synthesized by the host or a device subordinate to the host, and is output as voice from the telephone.

However, in such a voice telephone system, the signal output from the host or a device subordinate to the host is a voice signal premised on the voice output to the telephone,
Only the telephone can be used as a terminal.

Therefore, when the technology of the voice telephone system is incorporated into the above-mentioned conventional computer network and the telephone is used as a terminal of the computer network, a voice signal is transmitted from the host or a device subordinate to the host to the terminal. Therefore, the telephone and the display device cannot be simultaneously used as terminals of the same host or application.

Moreover, by replacing the display device with the telephone as the terminal, it is expected that the currently operating application software will have to be changed significantly, and the labor and cost for that will be enormous.

In view of the above problems, the present invention reduces the installation space by using a telephone as a terminal,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal data input / output method and device in which the display device can be used as it is as a terminal without changing the application software on the host.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method according to the invention of claim 1 is as follows, as shown in FIG.
The host 11 sends character data for display on the screen and its attribute data to the terminal 14,
Is a terminal data input / output method for a computer network 1 configured to send command data from the host 11 to the host 11, wherein the terminal 14 includes a telephone 23 having a push button,
A voice synthesized based on the character data is transmitted to the telephone 2
3 and outputs data based on a signal input from the push button of the telephone 23 to the host 11 as the command data.

In the method according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the character data is converted into voice in the order corresponding to the display position on the screen and is output from the telephone 23, and the command data is input to the host 11. Then, the data based on the signal input from the push button of the telephone 23 is input to the host 11 as the command data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device 33 for converting the character data into a voice signal, a telephone set 23 having a receiver and a push button for outputting the voice signal as voice, and the push button. And a means 31 for converting the signal input from the above into the command data.

In the apparatus according to the invention of claim 4, means 45 for storing various messages as data, message data corresponding to the contents of the designated screen, and a specific position within the screen should be displayed. A means 42 for extracting character data, a means 43 for converting the extracted data into a voice signal, a telephone 23 for outputting the voice signal as voice, and a signal input from a push button of the telephone 23 for the command data. Converted to the host 11
And a means 54 for outputting to.

In the apparatus according to the invention of claim 5, means 45 for storing various messages as data, message data corresponding to the contents of a designated screen, and a specific position within the screen should be displayed. A means 42 for extracting character data, a means 43 for converting the extracted data into a voice signal and outputting the voice signal to the telephone 23, and a signal input from a push button of the telephone 23 for converting the command data into the command data. And a means 54 for outputting to the host 11.

[0018]

All or part of the character data included in the data sent from the host 11 is converted into voice and output as voice from the telephone.

A signal input from the push button of the telephone is converted into command data and input as command data to the host 11. With respect to the data sent from the host 11, a message is used to efficiently convey the contents of the screen or the contents of the command to be input. In that case, the message data is stored in advance in a storage device such as a magnetic disk device, a message corresponding to the contents of the screen is extracted, converted into voice, and output as voice from the telephone.

The push button according to the present invention includes a PB
It includes various operating means capable of outputting a signal or a signal similar thereto.

[0021]

1 is a block diagram showing a computer network 1 according to the present invention. The computer network 1 includes a host 11, display terminals 13, 13 ... And a voice terminal 1 connected to the host 11 by a line 12.
It is composed of 4. The terminal control device and the like are not shown.

The host 11 sends data (data stream) DS to the terminals 13 and 14 based on the data (command data or response data) RD sent from the terminals 13 and 14, and the like. Perform processing according to the command.

The data stream DS sent from the host 11 includes character data (or character string) TD such as characters and numbers for display on the screen and its attribute data (or control data) AD.

The display terminal 13 is a conventionally known one including a display device having a screen and a keyboard. In the display terminal 13, the data stream D sent from the host 11
The character data TD in S can be displayed on the screen at the position, size, font, color, etc. specified by the attribute data AD. Further, it is possible to send the command data RD to the host 11 by inputting from the keyboard.

The voice terminal 14 can receive the data stream DS sent from the host 11 in the same manner as the display terminal 13 and can send a command to the host 11 in the same manner as the display terminal 13. That is, the audio terminal 14 is equivalent to the display terminal 13 when viewed from the host 11.

The voice terminal 14 is composed of an input / output conversion device 21, an exchange 22, and a large number of telephones 23, 23 ... FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the input / output conversion device 21.

The input / output conversion device 21 comprises a processing device 31, a magnetic disk device 32, a voice input / output device 33, a line control device 34, a display device 35, a keyboard 36 and the like.

The magnetic disk device 32 includes various programs for processing in the processing device 31, a voice dictionary, and a PCM.
The message MD accumulated as data and other programs or data are stored.

The voice input / output device 33 is a known device that converts the message MD or the character data TD into a voice signal AS, or recognizes the voice signal AS and converts into a character data. The voice input / output device 33 has a storage / playback mechanism 41 and a voice synthesis mechanism 42. The storage / playback mechanism 41 plays back the stored message as a voice, and the voice synthesis mechanism 4
2 synthesizes voice from character data.

The line control device 34 is for connecting the processing device 31 and the voice input / output device 33 to a telephone line. The display device 35 is for displaying or confirming the processing state or operating state of the processing device 31, and the keyboard 36 is for inputting commands or data to the processing device 31.

The processing unit 31 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
M, various interface circuits, etc. are included. The processing device 31 extracts the message MD corresponding to the contents of the screen specified by the host 11 or the PB signal from the data stream DS transmitted from the host 11, and also specifies the specified area of the specified screen. The character data TD to be displayed is extracted, converted into data of a format suitable for voice synthesis and output to the voice input / output device 33, and data or line control input from the voice input / output device 33. The PB signal input from the device 34 is converted into character data TD and is attached with attribute data (control data) and sent to the host 11.

Further, the processing device 31 sends a log-on or log-off to the host 11, a process for pre-storing and storing various messages MD as data, the stored message MD and data from the host 11. The processing for associating with the stream DS and various other processing are executed, and the input / output conversion device 2
Control the whole of 1. The processing device 31 can be realized by, for example, a so-called personal computer or the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the input / output conversion device 21. The emulator 41 operates so that the voice terminal 14 operates as a terminal of the host 11.
It receives the data stream DS and sends out command data RD to the host 11.

The audio input / output APL 42 defines which of the many screens included in the data stream DS sent from the host 11 and which area of the screen the emulator 41 and The character data TD and the like of the portion defined with the voice synthesis recognition 43 are transferred. Further, the message MD extracted from the message file 45 is transferred to the speech synthesis recognition 43,
The code conversion of the character data TD is performed, the PB signal is converted to the character data TD, and logon and logoff are automatically issued.

The message MD or character data TD sent from the voice input / output APL 42 is converted into a voice signal AS by the voice synthesis recognition 43 and sent to the telephone 23 via the line control 44. The voice input from the telephone 23 is voice-recognized by the voice input / output APL 42 and is sent to the voice input / output APL 42 as character data TD.

Therefore, when the host 11 is called from one telephone 23, the data stream DS is sent from the host 11 to the voice terminal 14 in accordance with the PB signal input from the telephone 23, and the data stream DS designated by the data stream DS is transmitted. The partial character data TD is converted into voice and output as voice from the handset of the telephone 23. By listening to the voice, the operator can understand the content of the data stream DS, that is, the content of the screen.

When a command to the host 11 is required,
The operator operates the push button on the telephone 23 to
Send B signal. PB signal is converted to character data TD,
The command data RD is sent to the host 11.

As described above, the operator can input / output data required as the terminal of the host 11 by using the telephone 23. According to such a voice terminal 14, for example, the input / output conversion device 21 and the exchange 22 are installed in the vicinity of the host 11, and a large number of telephones 23 are installed at a place required as a final terminal. It is possible to construct a computer network 1 in which the host 11 can be used.

Since the telephone 23 is small and its installation space is very small, the telephone 23 does not occupy an office desk. Moreover, host 1
1 can treat the voice terminal 14 as being equivalent to each other without distinguishing it from the display terminal 13, so that the same application provided by the host 11 can be used by either the display terminal 13 or the telephone 23. .

Moreover, since it is not necessary to change the application running on the host 11 by adding the voice terminal 14, it is possible to use the conventionally used application as it is.

Next, a specific example in which an electronic mail, which is one of the applications of the host 11, is used by the telephone 23 will be described. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the message MD stored in the message file 45, and FIG. 5 is a screen HG1 displayed when an electronic mail is used.
5 are shown in order, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the procedure of the operation or process corresponding to the screen of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the messages MD are numbered so that they can be identified, and the messages MD are extracted from the message file 45 by this number.

The screens HG1 to HG5 shown in FIG.
This is a screen (host screen) sent from the terminal to the terminal, and is displayed on the screen when an electronic mail is used from the display terminal 13, but is naturally not displayed when the electronic mail is used from the telephone 23. However, it is possible to display on the display device 35.

In FIG. 6, the operator dials the host 11 from the telephone 23 (# 1), and when the call is received (# 2), the emulator is activated (# 3). here,
Based on the PB signal from the telephone 23, the logon is sent to the host 11, and after connecting with the host 11, the connection with the e-mail application is made.

Then, when the reception of the data corresponding to the screen HG1 is confirmed from the host 11 (# 4), the message MD for requesting the input to the operator is output by voice (# 5).

From the telephone 23, "Please give me the employee number."
Is issued (# 6), the operator inputs the corresponding number or symbol from the push button of the telephone 23 (# 7). The number of digits is checked (#
8), the host 11 inputs the screen HG1 (# 9).

Next, the screen HG sent from the host 11
Corresponding to 2, the number "2" of incoming emails is read as character data TD (# 10), and the character data T
The message MD corresponding to the screen HG2 is output with the voice of D (# 11).

From the telephone 23, voices such as "mail", "2", "this is the case", "please enter the subscriber number" are issued (# 12), and the operator inputs the corresponding number or symbol (# 13). ). The number of digits is checked (# 1
4), the input to the host 11 is performed on the screen HG3 (# 15).

Corresponding to the screen HG4, the document names "About the demonstration" and "OA seminar guide" are read as the character data TD (# 16), and the message MD is displayed.
Is output together with (# 17).

From the telephone 23, "Documents are as follows"
The first document name is read aloud, followed by the voice "Please input 1 when reading aloud"(# 18). Since the operator wants to know the contents of the first document, he operates the push button and inputs "1"(#
19). As a result, a request for reading (displaying) the document contents is instructed (# 20), and an instruction to the host 11 for the screen HG4 is sent (# 21).

Then, the next screen HG5 displays the character data TD.
(# 22), the read character data TD is output as voice (# 23), and the operator turns the telephone 2
You can hear the contents from # 3 (# 24).

Since the message MD for ending is output after that, when the telephone 23 is operated in accordance with the message MD, "logoff" is sent to the host 11 to end the use of the electronic mail, and To be separated.

In addition to the above-mentioned message MD, an input error notification, acceptance response, next processing request, continuation determination,
There are various messages such as host processing status notifications.

As described above, the application of the host 11 can be used by the telephone 23 in the same manner as by the display terminal 13. According to the above-described embodiment, the voice terminal 14 is equivalent to the display terminal 13, and the voice terminal 14 can output any character data TD of the data stream DS sent from the host 11 by voice, so that the host 11 can output the voice data. It is possible to create an application with a high degree of freedom without being aware of the presence of the voice terminal 14 in creating the application.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the message MD corresponding to the screen HG from the host 11 is read out, so that the contents of the screen or the contents of the command to be input can be efficiently transmitted to the operator by the message MD. . On the other hand, the reading of the message MD may be eliminated, and only the voice output of the character data TD from the host 11 and the data input based on the PB signal to the host 11 may be performed. In this way, data input / output is simplified, and application to most applications provided by the host 11 is possible without performing any other special processing in the processing device 31.

In the above embodiment, various methods can be used to convert the character data TD and the message MD into voice. As the voice terminal 14, one input / output conversion device 21 may be used for one telephone 23. As the telephone 23, a telephone having a display screen may be used. In that case, all or part of the contents output to the telephone 23 can be displayed on the screen.

The above-described embodiment can be applied to various applications such as an application in which the host 11 calls a specific telephone 23. The connection of the display terminal 13 may be omitted. The display device 35 or the keyboard 36 may be omitted. In addition, the configuration of each part of the input / output conversion device 21, the configuration of the voice terminal 14 or the computer network 1, etc.
Various changes can be made along the gist of the present invention.

[0058]

According to the present invention, by using a telephone as a terminal, the installation space can be reduced, and the display device can be used as a terminal as it is without changing the application software on the host. A method or device can be provided.

According to the invention of claim 2, input / output of data is simplified, and application to an application is possible without performing any special processing. According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, with respect to the screen sent from the host, the contents of the screen or the contents of the command to be input can be efficiently transmitted to the operator by a message.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a computer network according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an input / output conversion device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a software configuration of an input / output conversion device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a message stored in a message file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram sequentially showing screens displayed when an electronic mail is used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of an operation or processing procedure corresponding to the screen of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer Network 11 Host 14 Voice Terminal (Terminal Data Input / Output Device) 21 Input / Output Converter (Terminal Data Input / Output Converter) 23 Telephone 31 Processor 33 Voice Input / Output Device 42 Voice Input / Output APL 43 Voice Synthesis Recognition 45 Message File

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Tomoko Yamazaki 3-22 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 3-22 Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (72) Tadaaki Yoshikawa 3-chome Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture No.22 inside Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A host (11) sends character data for display on a screen to a terminal (14) and its attribute data, and command data is sent from the terminal (14) to the host (11). A terminal data input / output method for a computer network (1) configured to send a message, wherein the terminal (14) includes a telephone set (23) having a push button, A voice synthesized based on the above is output from the telephone (23), and data based on a signal input from a push button of the telephone (23) is input to the host (11) as the command data. How to input / output terminal data. 2. The host (11) sends character data for display on a screen and its attribute data to the terminal (14), and the terminal (14) sends command data to the host (11). A terminal data input / output method for a computer network (1) configured to send a message, wherein the terminal (14) includes a telephone (23) having a push button, and the character data is stored. It is converted into voice in the order according to the display position on the screen and output from the telephone (23). When the command data input position to the host (11) is reached, the input is made from the push button of the telephone (23). A terminal data input / output method, characterized in that data based on a signal is input to the host (11) as the command data. 3. The host (11) sends character data for display on a screen and its attribute data to the terminal (14), and the terminal (14) sends command data to the host (11). A terminal data input / output device (14) for a computer network (1) configured to send a voice, the means (33) for converting the character data into a voice signal, and outputting the voice signal as voice. A terminal data input / output, comprising: a telephone set (23) having a handset and a push button for operating and a means (31) for converting a signal input from the push button into the command data. apparatus. 4. The host (11) sends character data for display on a screen and its attribute data to the terminal (14), and the terminal (14) sends command data to the host (11). A terminal data input / output device (14) for a computer network (1) configured to send messages, the means (45) for storing various messages as data
Means for extracting message data corresponding to the contents of the designated screen and character data to be displayed at a specific position on the screen (42), and means for converting the extracted data into a voice signal ( 43)
A telephone (23) for outputting the voice signal as voice, and means for converting a signal input from a push button of the telephone (23) into the command data and outputting the command data to the host (11). (54) A terminal data input / output device comprising: 5. The host (11) sends character data for display on a screen and its attribute data to the terminal (14), and the terminal (14) sends command data to the host (11). A terminal data input / output conversion device (21) for a computer network (1) configured to send data, the means (45) for storing various messages as data
A means (42) for extracting message data corresponding to the contents of the designated screen and character data to be displayed at a specific position on the screen, and a telephone (for converting the extracted data into a voice signal). 23) and means (43) for outputting to the host (11) for converting the signal inputted from the push button of the telephone (23) into the command data. ) And a terminal data input / output conversion device.