JPH08162981A - Broadcasting device reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a broadcasting voice reproducing device by which the voice signal for which a re-listening is requested can be listened and the broadcasting voice during the reproduction of the voice signal can be listened. CONSTITUTION: The received broadcasting voice is stored as digital data in a ring memory 12. When a re-listening is requested, the voice signal stored in the ring memory 12 is read out and this signal is reproduced. After the re- listening, because a read control part 20 detects a silent part where the voice signal does not substantially exist from the voice signal stored in the ring memory 12 and thins out this silent part, the voice signal to be supplied to a voice reproduction part 18 is shortened in time. Thus, also the voice signal received while the voice signal for which the re-listening is requested is reproduced can be listened without substantially imparing data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast sound reproducing device having a function of relistening a predetermined portion of broadcast sound.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, medium-wave AM broadcasting and ultra-short-wave FM
2. Description of the Related Art Broadcast audio reproduction devices such as radio receivers that receive radio broadcasts such as broadcasts and television broadcasts and listen to these have become widespread. For example, by using a portable or in-vehicle radio receiver, various kinds of information can be heard as voice at any time even while moving or driving a car.

However, even if these devices are used, it is not always possible to clearly hear the broadcast sound. For example, a driver of a car is distracted because he is listening to a broadcast while driving, and may miss important parts when he is listening to a weather forecast or traffic information.

Therefore, in order to deal with such a situation, conventionally, a tape recorder or the like is separately prepared to record the broadcast sound, and later, the recorded broadcast sound is reproduced and confirmed as necessary. The means to do was considered.

As another method, it has been proposed to use so-called solid recording technology. This is because the received voice signal is stored as a digital signal in a ring memory endlessly, and when there is a request for relistening, the storage process is interrupted, and the part that has been requested, that is, the part that has been missed. The method is to play and listen to the sound of.
According to this method, the missed part can be repeatedly heard, the reliability of recording is higher than that of the tape recorder, and further, the size of the entire apparatus can be easily reduced.

[0006]

However, by any of the methods proposed so far, during the reproduction of the tape recorder or the reproduction of the sound recorded in the memory, the broadcast sound received during this period is There was a problem that I could never listen. This is because the received broadcast sound is not recorded during the reproduction of the recorded sound. Therefore, if there is necessary information in the part broadcasted when the recorded sound is reproduced, there is a possibility that this information may be missed. In addition, after playing the recorded sound, an operation for listening to the broadcast sound had to be performed again.

The present invention has been made in order to solve these problems, and not only the audio signal of the portion for which re-listening is requested, but also the audio signal broadcast during reproduction of the re-listening requested audio signal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast sound reproducing device that can be heard by anyone.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the broadcast audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features.

In a broadcast audio reproducing apparatus for reproducing a received audio signal, a storage means for storing an audio signal for a predetermined time by sequentially storing the received audio signal in place of an old signal before a predetermined time, Re-listening requesting means for requesting re-listening of the audio signal stored in the storage means,
In response to the request for relistening, the old voice signal stored in the storage unit is controlled to be read out, and the voice signal input to the storage unit after the request for relistening is subjected to a speech speed conversion process to obtain the voice signal. The read control means for performing a control for reducing the signal output time and shifting to the real-time reproduction of the received audio signal; and the audio reproduction means of the audio signal output by the read control means. It is characterized in that the audio signal requested for re-listening and the audio signal received after the request for re-listening can be reproduced.

The read control means reads the audio signal stored in the storage means after the re-listening request, divides the audio signal into frames for a predetermined period, determines a silent portion of the audio signal in the frame, and It controls to output a voice signal to the voice reproduction means by shortening a silent portion, and temporally compares the received latest voice signal and a voice signal which is stored in the storage means and can be output after the re-listening request. When a difference is detected and the difference disappears, switching control for reproducing the received audio signal in real time is performed.

Signal bypass means for supplying the received audio signal to the audio reproducing means, and switching for supplying the audio signal outputted from any one of the signal bypass means and the read control means to the audio reproducing means. And a means for reproducing the received audio signal in real time, the switching means supplies the audio signal from the signal bypass means to the audio reproduction means.

[0012]

In the broadcast audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention, since the audio signal is stored in the storage means, the stored audio signal can be reproduced in response to the request for relistening. Further, read-out control means is provided, and the read-out control means can perform thinning-out processing on the audio signals stored in the storage means and output the audio signals in a time-shortened manner. I decided to provide a function. Therefore, it is possible to listen to the audio signal received during the reproduction of the audio signal for which re-listening is requested and stored in the storage unit without substantially losing the audio.

Further, an unvoiced portion in which the voice signal is substantially absent is detected from the voice signal stored in the storage means, and the voice signal is thinned by shortening the unvoiced portion, which is shortened in time. It was decided to reproduce the audio signal. As a result, the audio signal is shortened without the substantial audio data being lost, so that the reproduced audio is not difficult to hear. That is, according to this method, the pitch of the reproduced sound does not become high unlike the method of simply fast-forwarding and outputting the audio signal. And, compared to normal playback sound, there is no problem such as difficulty in identifying vowels, and it is possible to play sound that is natural and easy to hear even if thinning processing is performed, and playback of real-time broadcast sound The transition to is smooth.

Further, when the received audio signal is reproduced in real time, if the audio signal is supplied from the signal bypass means to the audio reproduction means, signal processing such as analog / digital conversion is performed on the audio signal on the way. Since it is not performed, there is an effect that the deterioration of sound quality and the like during real time reproduction is small.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Schematic Configuration of Apparatus] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a main part of a broadcast audio reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An analog-digital (A / D) converter 10 for converting an analog voice signal into predetermined digital data is provided to a signal input unit to which the received voice signal is supplied.
Is connected. Further, a signal bypass section 16 for supplying a received signal to an audio reproducing section 18 such as a speaker at the time of real-time reproduction of broadcast audio is connected to the signal input section.

The A / D converter 10 converts the input analog audio signal into a predetermined sampling frequency (for example, 1
It is sampled at 0 kHz and converted into a digital audio signal having a predetermined quantization bit number (for example, 8 bits).
Then, this digital audio signal is supplied to the ring memory 12.

The ring memory 12 is a memory for sequentially storing an input voice signal in place of an old signal before a predetermined time, and always stores a voice signal for a predetermined time according to its storage capacity (for example, 1 Mbit). are doing.

Here, for example, sampling frequency = 10
kHz, quantization bit rate = 8 bits, ring memory 12
If the storage capacity of is 1 Mbit,

## EQU1 ## 1 Mbit / (8 bit × 10 k) = 12.5 sec (1), and the time that can be stored in the ring memory 12 is 12.5.
Seconds.

The ring memory 12 controls the reading of a voice signal from the ring memory 12, and a read control unit 20 for performing a predetermined speech rate conversion process on the voice signal, and a read control unit 20 from the ring memory 12. The digital-analog (D / A) converters 14 for converting the generated digital audio signals into analog audio signals are respectively connected. The read control unit 20 includes a buffer 22, a voice speed conversion control unit 24, a write address counter 26, and a read address counter 28, and further includes an address match detection unit 30 and a switch control unit 32.

The output side of the D / A converter 14 is provided with a switch SW which is switched and controlled by the read controller 20.
The audio signal output from either the A / A conversion unit 14 or the signal bypass unit 16 is selectively supplied to the audio reproduction unit 18. The audio reproducing unit 18 is a so-called audio output unit including a speaker and the like, and when an analog audio signal is supplied, reproduces and outputs the analog audio signal.

[Operation of Device] First, when listening to broadcast sound in real time, the switch unit SW is switched to the signal bypass unit 16 side, and the audio signal input from the signal input unit is the signal bypass unit 16. It is directly supplied to the sound reproducing unit 18 such as a speaker via the. As described above, during real-time reproduction, the switch SW is switched to the signal bypass unit 16 side, so that the A / D conversion and the D / A conversion processing are performed on the broadcast sound, so that the sound quality of the sound is deteriorated. Is prevented.

When a request for relistening occurs due to missed listening to real-time broadcast audio, the user of the apparatus operates the relisting request section 34 (for example, a one-touch type button) provided in the apparatus. The re-listening request from the re-listening request unit 34 is sent to the switch control unit 32 of the read control unit 20.
Then, the switch control unit 32 switches the switch unit SW to the D / A conversion unit 14 side.

When a relisting request is supplied to the read address counter 28, the ring memory 12 is responded in response to the request.
Of the audio signal immediately before the write address, that is, the read address returns to the address of the audio signal a predetermined time before.

FIG. 2 shows an access position of the ring memory 12 immediately after the re-listening request is made, and as shown in FIG. 2, a predetermined time (for example, 12.5 seconds) for the real-time broadcast sound. The delayed old audio signal is sequentially read from the ring memory 12. Then, the read audio signal is sequentially converted into an analog audio signal, supplied to the audio reproducing unit 18 via the switch unit SW, and reproduced here.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the address of the ring memory and the passage of time. The vertical axis represents the address of the ring memory and the horizontal axis represents time. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the audio signal in the period of T0 to T1 for which re-listening is requested is read out from the ring memory 12 at a normal speed in the period of T1 to T2. At the time T2 when this reading is completed, the write address and the read address of the ring memory 12 are separated by the same distance as the time T1 (click point) when the relistening request is made. Therefore, the reproduced audio signal also lags the real-time broadcast audio by a predetermined time.

When the reading of the audio signal requested for relistening is completed, the read control unit 20 of FIG.
With respect to the audio signal to be output to, the speech speed conversion process, that is, the thinning process is started, and the audio signal received in the period T1 to T2 during the reproduction of the audio signal for which re-listening is requested is not lost in real time. The transition to the reproduction of the audio signal is performed.

In the speech speed conversion process, the read control unit 20 first starts reading the input voice signal after the click point stored in the ring memory 12, and sequentially stores it in the buffer 22. Then, the speech speed conversion control unit 24
However, the audio signal read out to the buffer 22 is divided into frames of a predetermined short time, and the average power of the audio signal for each frame is calculated. Furthermore, the speech speed conversion control unit 24 compares the calculated average power with a predetermined threshold value, and if the average power is less than or equal to the threshold value, the frame is determined to be a silent frame.

When a silent frame is detected from the voice signal,
The speech speed conversion control unit 24 uses the read address counter 28.
Instructing that the address in which the voice signal of the silent frame is stored be skipped and read out. Then, in response to this, the read address counter 28 skips the address of the silent frame to read the audio signal from which the silent frame is thinned out from the ring memory 12, and the audio signal is sent to the D / A converter 14. Supplied.

Such speech speed conversion processing is performed until the read address of the ring memory 12 catches up with the write address as shown in FIG. Then, at T3, the read address catches up with the write address.
When the address match detection unit 30 detects that the two addresses match, a predetermined detection signal is supplied from the address match detection unit 30 to the speech speed conversion control unit 24 and the switch control unit 32, and the speech speed conversion control unit. 24 ends the speech speed conversion process.

Further, the switch control section 32 switches the switch section SW to the signal bypass section 16 side in accordance with this detection signal, and the audio reproducing section 18 automatically transmits the real-time broadcast audio via the signal bypass section 16. Is supplied to reproduce the broadcast sound.

When the speech speed is increased by about 20%, if the storage time of the ring memory 12 is about 12.5 seconds, the speech speed conversion period of about 1 minute will occur in real time depending on the amount of silent frames. It is possible to output the broadcast sound of. However, this speech speed conversion speed can be arbitrarily set according to the device by the storage capacity of the ring memory 12 or the like, but in any case, by performing the speech speed conversion as in the present embodiment, After a lapse of a predetermined period, it becomes possible to listen to the broadcast sound in real time.

According to the configuration of the broadcast audio reproducing device described above, when the audio signal has a silent frame, the read control unit 20 directly controls the read address of the ring memory 12 and skips the address of the silent frame. ing. Therefore, it is possible to thin out almost silent frames, and it is possible to reproduce the broadcast sound in real time in a relatively short time from the request for relistening.

By the way, in such a structure, a memory may be additionally provided on the output side of the ring memory 12.

When the above memory is provided, the audio signal requested for re-listening is read out from the ring memory 12 and D /
When supplied to the A conversion unit 14, at the same time, in this memory,
The audio signal read from the ring memory 12 is stored. When the user wants to hear the voice signal stored in the memory, that is, the voice that has already been re-listened, the user operates a button or the like provided separately. As a result, the audio signal is read from the memory, D / A converted, and the portion for which the re-listening request has been made can be heard again. When the reading of the audio signal from the memory is completed, the reading of the audio signal stored in the ring memory 12 is started, and the voice speed conversion process for shifting to the reproduction of the real-time broadcast audio is performed. Since the audio signal read out from the memory and the audio signal read out from the ring memory 12 do not have continuity as information, a predetermined short period is taken after the audio signal is read out from the memory. It is desirable to shift to the reproduction of the audio signal read from the memory 12.

The configuration for performing the speech speed conversion process is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and for example, the D / A conversion unit 14 is directly connected to the output side of the buffer 22 of the read control unit.
May be connected.

In this case, the audio signals are sequentially read from the ring memory 12 and stored in the buffer 22 at a timing sufficiently faster than the output timing of the audio signals from the buffer 22 to the D / A converter 14. Then, when the voice speed conversion control unit 24 detects a silent frame from this voice signal, the next address of the ring memory 12 is accessed at that time and the next voice signal is read. With such a configuration, the unvoiced frame of the audio signal cannot be completely omitted, so that the shortening rate thereof is lower than that of the configuration of FIG. However, since the voice speed conversion control unit 24 does not have to control the skip of the read address and the like, the control content performed by the voice speed conversion control unit 24 is relatively simple.

Further, the voice speed conversion processing is not limited to the omission or shortening of the silent frame of the voice signal, and for example, for the voiced portion of the voice signal, the voice signal is subjected to the pitch period (5
It is also possible to omit a part (for example, 1/2) of the pitch of the audio signal by dividing the audio signal into 20 ms). If this method is used, the reproduced sound will be a little quicker, but since the pitch of the reproduced sound does not change, it is easy to hear, and the shortening rate of the audio signal can be increased, so that the real-time sound can be received very early from the request for relistening. It becomes possible to listen to the broadcast sound of.

Since the operator wants to listen carefully during the read-out period of the audio signal for which re-listening is requested, in the present embodiment, the read-out control unit 20 particularly thins out the audio signal during this period. I decided not to process. However, if the thinning processing is performed on the audio signal in this period, too, it becomes possible to listen to the real-time broadcast audio at an earlier point.

As described above, if the received broadcast voice is stored as digital data in a storage means such as a ring memory and is reproduced in response to a relisting request, the missed broadcast is heard again. It becomes possible. Furthermore,
Since the speech speed conversion processing is performed on the voice signal stored in the ring memory, the substantial voice data is omitted for the voice signal received during the reproduction of the voice signal requested for re-listening. It is possible to shorten the time and play it back.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to hear the broadcast audio received during the reproduction of the audio signal for which re-listening is requested, which could not be heard at all in the past.

Further, unlike the method in which the voice signal is simply fast-forwarded and output, the voice speed conversion processing performs the thinning processing of the voice signal, so that the pitch of the reproduced sound does not become high, and the reproduced sound becomes a normal reproduced sound. In comparison, problems such as difficulty in identifying vowels do not occur. Therefore, the processed audio signal is natural and easy to hear, and the transition to real-time broadcast audio reproduction can be smoothly performed.

[0044]

As described above, according to the broadcast sound reproducing apparatus of the present invention, since the sound signal is stored in the storage means, it is possible to reproduce the stored sound signal in response to the relisting request. Further, read control means is provided, and the read control means can perform thinning processing on the audio signal stored in the storage means and output the audio signal in a timely manner. We decided to provide a thinning function. Therefore, it is possible to listen to the audio signal received during the reproduction of the audio signal for which re-listening is requested and stored in the storage unit without substantially losing the audio.

Further, an unvoiced part in which the audio signal is substantially absent is detected from the audio signal stored in the storage means, and the unvoiced part is shortened to thin out the audio signal, thereby shortening the time. It was decided to reproduce the audio signal. As a result, since the audio signal is shortened without the substantial audio data being lost, the pitch of the reproduced sound is not increased unlike the method of simply fast-forwarding and outputting the audio signal,
Also, there is no problem such as difficulty in identifying vowels as compared with normal reproduced voice. Therefore, the audio signal subjected to the decimation process is natural and easy to hear, and the transition to real-time broadcast audio reproduction can be smoothly performed.

Further, when the received voice signal is reproduced in real time, if the voice signal is supplied from the signal bypass means to the voice reproducing means, signal processing such as analog / digital conversion may be performed on the voice signal on the way. Since it is not performed, there is an effect that the deterioration of sound quality and the like during real time reproduction is small.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a main part of a broadcast audio reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an access position of the ring memory 12 in FIG. 1 immediately after a relistening request is made.

3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the address position of a ring memory and the passage of time in the broadcast audio reproducing device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 A / D converter, 12 ring memory, 14 D /
A conversion section, 16 signal bypass section, 18 audio reproduction section,
20 read control unit, 22 buffer, 24 voice speed conversion control unit, 30 address coincidence detection unit, 32 switch control unit, 34 relistening request unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A broadcast audio reproducing apparatus for reproducing a received audio signal, and a storage unit for storing the audio signal for a predetermined time by sequentially storing the received audio signal in place of an old signal before a predetermined time. Re-listening requesting means for requesting re-listening of the audio signal stored in the storage means, and controlling to read out an old audio signal stored in the storage means in response to the re-listening request, and A read control unit that performs control for performing a voice speed conversion process on the voice signal input to the storage unit after the request to shorten the output time of the voice signal and shift to real-time reproduction of the received voice signal. And a voice reproduction unit for reproducing the voice signal output by the read control unit, and reproduces the voice signal requested to be re-listened and the voice signal received after the re-listening request. A broadcast sound reproducing device characterized by being capable. 2. The broadcast audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the read control unit reads the audio signal stored in the storage unit after the relisting request and divides the audio signal into frames for a predetermined period, A silent part of the audio signal therein, and controls to output the audio signal to the audio reproducing means by shortening the silent part, and to receive the latest audio signal and the memory after the re-listening request. Means for detecting a time difference from an audio signal which is stored in the means and can be output, and when the difference disappears, switching control for reproducing the received audio signal in real time is performed. . 3. The broadcast audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal reproducing unit supplies the received audio signal to the audio reproducing unit, the signal bypassing unit, and the reading unit. A switching means for supplying an audio signal output from any of the control means to the audio reproducing means, and when reproducing the received audio signal in real time, the switching means causes the signal A broadcast sound reproducing apparatus, wherein a sound signal is supplied from the bypass means to the sound reproducing means.