JPH07271794A - Conversation translating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit a reply, an answer, etc., of a conversation party to a user as understandable information and to have a real conversation by providing a means which expresses information in plural ways of characters and a voice that the opposite parties can understand when the information to be transmitted on display devices are mutually selected and transmitted to opposite parties. CONSTITUTION:A means which displays character information showing the intention of a user and character information of several replies and answers from a corresponding conversation opposite party is composed of a display device 1, a display storage device 2, and a display control unit 3. A means which selects character information, etc., that the conversation opposite party desired among pieces of character information of replies and answers of the conversation opposite party being displayed on a display means is composed of a key input device 5 and part of an information control unit 6. A means which makes the character information selected by the selecting means into character information, etc., that the user can understand is composed of an information storage device 4 and the remaining part of the information processor 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foreign language translation device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a conversation translation device using an example sentence search method suitable for small and portable use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a machine device for translating a foreign language, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-227570, for example, a translation dictionary is used to accurately translate many text expressions. it can. In addition, although the number of sentence expressions is limited, a small and inexpensive portable conversation translation device that prepares several example sentences of a conversation and translates them is selected as an example sentence so that the user of the device will be able to communicate with the conversation partner. Can be told.

[0003]

The method using the translation dictionary of the prior art described above requires a high-speed processing and a large-capacity storage device, so that the mechanical device is large and expensive. Also, with a conversation translation device that prepares some example sentences, it is possible to convey the user's intention to the conversation partner by selecting a prepared example sentence, but if there is a reply or answer etc. of the conversation partner There was a problem that it was a one-way conversation because the user could not understand.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a conversation translation device, character information that a conversation partner who expresses a user's intention can understand, and some responses of the conversation partner that correspond to it. A means for displaying a character information such as an answer that the conversation partner can understand, and a reply of the conversation partner displayed on the display means, and a character information desired by the conversation partner from the character information such as an answer. Means and
The character information selected by the selecting means is converted into character information that can be understood by the user.

[0005]

In the portable conversational translation device equipped with the above means for solving the problems, the character information that the conversation partner expressing the user's intention can understand and some answers of the conversation partner corresponding to it, Answers are displayed at the same time as text information that the other party can understand. Furthermore, the conversation partner can select desired character information or the like from the character information such as replies and answers being displayed, and the selected character information or the like can be used as character information that the user can understand. Therefore, the intention of the user can be transmitted to the other party as character information, and the response such as a reply is transmitted from the other party to the user as character information. As a result, it is possible to realize a kind of writing style conversation that is not one-way.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a display device for displaying character information and the like, 2 is a display storage device for storing the contents displayed on the display device 1, and 3 is a display control device for displaying the contents of the display storage device 2 on the display device 1. 4 is an information storage device for storing information such as character information,
Reference numeral 5 is a key input device by which the user of the translation device embodying the present invention gives an instruction to the translation device, and reference numeral 6 is used to judge the instruction content of the key input device 5 and based on this, the information in the information storage device 4 is converted into display information This is an information control device that performs control such as turning.

From the display device 1, the display storage device 2, and the display control device 3, character information indicating the user's intention and some corresponding reply information of the conversation partner, character information such as answers, and the like are stored. Constitutes a means for displaying. The key input device 5 and a part of the information control device 6 constitute a means for the conversation partner to select desired character information from the character information such as the reply and answer of the conversation partner displayed on the display means. Further, the information storage device 4 and the remaining part of the information processing device 6 constitute a means for converting the character information selected by the selecting means into character information which can be understood by the user.

2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 show an example of the contents displayed on the display device 1. The display contents are transited to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 when the user and the conversation partner give instructions from the key input device 5.

[0009] Below, the user of the conversation translation device speaks Japanese,
The operation of the embodiment will be described assuming that the conversation partner understands English. First, when the device is activated, the contents of FIG. 2 are displayed on the display device 1 as an initial display. The contents of the display of FIG. 2 represent the items for instructing the operation and the selection items of the broad categories of conversation contents. The user operates the selection key of the key input device 5 to select a conversation item from the displayed contents. In response to a selection signal from the key input device 5, the information control device 6 changes the leftmost white square figure shown in the display contents of FIG. 2 to a black square figure in order from the top. The display content of FIG. 2 shows a state in which the second item “emergency” from the top is selected.

Here, the user presses the execution key of the key input device 5. As a result, the display content of the display device 1 transits to the display of FIG. 3 showing the details regarding the selected item and the content instructing the selection operation. That is, the execution signal from the key input device 5 when the user presses the execution key is sent to the information control device 6. Then, the information control device 6 reads out information corresponding to the selected item from the information storage device 4 and sends it to the display storage device 2 via the display control device 3. As a result, the display content of FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 1.

Next, the user operates the selection key of the key input device 5 to select a sentence to be transmitted to the conversation partner from the displayed selection contents in FIG. As in the case of the display contents of FIG. 2, the item selected changes from a white square to a black square. In the display content of FIG. 3, the third sentence item “Where is the toilet?” Is selected from the top. Here, the user inputs the key input device 5
By pressing the execution key of, the content displayed on the display device 1 is the sentence "Whereis" that the conversation partner can understand the sentence "Where is the toilet?" That the user wants to convey to the conversation partner.
the restroom? 4 is displayed after being translated into "", the user can show the displayed content to the conversation partner and convey the user's intention. Input device 5
Is sent to the information control device 6, and the information control device 6 reads the information corresponding to the selected item from the information storage device 4 and sends it to the display storage device 2 via the display control device 3. The display content of FIG. 4 is displayed on the display device 1. Furthermore, in the display content of FIG. 4, the conversation partner's reply and answer to the sentence the user wants to convey to the conversation partner are prepared in the form of a sentence that the conversation partner can understand in advance, so the conversation partner informs the user. A desired sentence can be selected from the displayed selection contents of FIG. 4 by operating the selection key of the key input device 5.

Similarly to the above, the conversation partner selects a sentence to be conveyed to the user from the display contents of FIG. 4 by operating the selection key of the key input device 5. In the display contents of FIG. 4, the top "(Po
inting) It is over there. ”
Is selected. Then, when the conversation partner presses the execute key of the key input device 5, the display contents are changed to the display contents of FIG. 5 which the user can understand. In the display content of FIG. 5, the conversation partner has selected “(Pointing) It is ov.
er there. It is over there (indicated and translated accordingly) (pointing). Is displayed.

Similarly, a reply to "(pointing) there." Can be selected from the display contents of FIG. 5 and transmitted to the conversation partner with the display contents of FIG.

As described above, according to this procedure, it is possible to realize a kind of writing style conversation that is not one-way.

As shown in the display contents of FIG. 4, the sentence selected in the previous display contents and the translated sentence thereof are displayed at the same time to prevent a selection error. If "Where is the toilet?" Is not displayed in the display content of Fig. 4, even if the user selects the wrong sentence item in the display content of Fig. 3, the display content of Fig. 4 is in English only. This is because the display does not allow the user to understand the contents.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the case of the screen shown to the conversation partner, it is possible to make it easier for the conversation partner to see by providing a means for reversing only the display portion of the conversation partner. In general, in a portable type, a liquid crystal display plate is used for the display device 1, and its brightness is often different depending on the viewing direction, and when facing a conversation partner, either one may be difficult to see. . Therefore,
It is more effective to provide a means for switching the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display plate so that the user can easily see the display content viewed by the user and the conversation partner viewed by the conversation partner.

Furthermore, when the display content of FIG. 3 transits to that of FIG. 4 (when changing from Japanese to English) and when the display content of FIG. 4 transits to that of FIG. 5 (English to Japanese) When the selected sentence is translated into English or Japanese, the device is equipped with a voice generator and a speaker device, which makes it close to a true conversation though it is a writing style. Therefore, the present invention becomes more effective. In addition, the generated sound is
Female voice and male voice can be generated, and the voices can be used according to the user. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the sense of incongruity that the user speaks to the conversation partner as a female voice.

In the above embodiment, the information is expressed in a language, but the effects of the present invention are the same as long as the expression can be understood by the user and the conversation partner by using symbols and images.

Next to the large classification of the display content of FIG. 2, the display content of FIG. 3 shows the items of the sentence to be conveyed by the user. In the next display content, the middle classification, and in the next display content, You can make it even easier to use by subdividing the subclasses and items.

In addition, when the user asks the conversation partner something from the user side, it may be surprising to the conversation partner if the display of the example of the display contents shown in FIG. 4 is suddenly displayed. , "I don't understand English. Please talk with me using this device."), Or add a means to show the other person what is displayed on the screen that explains how to use this device. be able to. It is more effective to provide a means for performing this by voice.

All the information of the display contents described above is stored in the information storage device 4, and is transmitted to the display storage device 2 via the display control device 3 by the information control device 6 according to the instruction of the key input device 5. It is displayed on the display device 1. The operations of the display control device 3 and the information control device 6 can be performed by one microcomputer.

[0022]

The effect of the present invention is that the conversation partner can understand the intention of the user, and the reply and answer of the conversation partner can be transmitted as the information that the user can understand, and a true conversation can be conducted. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display contents at startup.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing display contents of example sentences used by a user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display content of a user's intention and answer example sentences used by a conversation partner.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an answer selected by a conversation partner and display contents of an example sentence answered by a user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing display contents of a sentence further answered by the user.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display that makes it easier for a conversation partner to see the display content.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display device, 2 ... Storage device for display, 3 ... Display control device, 4 ... Information storage device, 5 ... Key input device, 6 ... Information control device.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masayuki Inoue, 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Stock information company Hitachi Image Information Systems (72) Inventor, Suzan Matsumoto 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Visual Media Research Laboratories (72) Inventor Yukio Nakamura 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Stock Company Hitachi Image Information Systems (72) Inventor Kenji Ojiji 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Hitachi Ltd. AV Equipment Division (72) Inventor Masanori Yoshino 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Stock Company Hitachi Ltd. AV Equipment Division (72) Hiroshi Akai 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Stock Company (72) Inventor Motohiro Tanaka Mizusawa, Iwate Prefecture, Hitachi, Ltd. AV Equipment Division No. 1 Kitano, Mashiro-shi, Hitachi, Ltd., inside Hitachi Mizusawa Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Ryota Kaijima 4-9-25 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Within Hitachi International Business Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a conversational translation device in which information is transmitted and exchanged on a display device, in selecting information to be transmitted on the display device and transmitting the information to the other party,
A conversation translation device comprising means for performing the selected information by a plurality of expressions of characters and voices that the other party can understand. 2. The conversation translation device according to claim 1, wherein the sound quality of male and female is selected and expressed by a user's selection operation.