JPH09186943A - Data reception method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize a size of a voice recognition dictionary by extracting voice recognition dictionary update data from an input signal and updating a voice recognition dictionary so as to revise a kind of an input voice thereby controlling channel switching. SOLUTION: A video signal obtained by a reception section 2 is given to a data separate section 3, in which the video signal is separated into a net video signal and update data. A data decoding execution section 4 commands update of a voice recognition dictionary to a dictionary storage section D. On the other hand, a voice recognition section 5 recognizes a voice signal picked up by a microphone 11. A channel changeover control section 6 receives a recognition word as the result of voice recognition by the voice recognition section 5 and a channel corresponding to the voice picked up by the microphone 11 by referencing a program list storage section T and a clock C and a channel switching signal is outputted to the reception section 2. The reception section 2 switches a reception channel based on the instruction by the channels witching signal outputted from the channel changeover control section 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data receiving method and an apparatus thereof, and more particularly to a receiving apparatus for receiving a television broadcast or the like, and more particularly to a data receiving method and an apparatus thereof which can be operated by voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been devised a television receiver which uses a voice recognition technique and can be operated such as switching channels by speaking a program name.

[0003]

However, in this case, it was necessary to have a speech recognition dictionary for all the vocabularies that could be used. For example, in the case of a television receiver, it is necessary to have a large voice recognition dictionary in order to represent a program name, a program genre name, a cast name, a movie title name, and the like.

Further, there has not been provided means for updating a voice recognition dictionary by a general user. Further, the conventional receiving device is expensive because it requires a large-capacity storage device for storing a large voice recognition dictionary. Moreover, it is not easy for a general user to add a vocabulary or delete an unnecessary vocabulary to a speech recognition dictionary that has been created.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and a data receiving method and apparatus for minimizing the size of a voice recognition dictionary by freely changing the type of input voice to control channel switching. The purpose is to provide.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data receiving method and apparatus for controlling the channel switching by freely changing the program table data and minimizing the size of the memory to be stored.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the data input method and apparatus of the present invention have the following configurations. That is, it is a data receiving method of inputting a predetermined voice, searching a voice recognition dictionary, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, and executing a predetermined process. An update data extracting step of extracting update data and an updating step of updating the voice recognition dictionary based on the voice recognition dictionary update data extracted in the extracting step are provided.

Another aspect of the invention is to input a predetermined voice, perform voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, search a program table based on the recognition result, and execute a corresponding predetermined process. The data receiving method according to claim 1, further comprising: an update data extracting step of extracting program table update data from an input signal; and an updating step of updating the program table based on the program table update data extracted in the extracting step.

Another aspect of the present invention is a data receiving apparatus for inputting a predetermined voice, searching a voice recognition dictionary, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, and executing a predetermined process. Update data extraction means for extracting the voice recognition dictionary update data from the input signal, and update means for updating the voice recognition dictionary based on the voice recognition dictionary update data extracted by the extraction means.

Another aspect of the invention is to input a predetermined voice, perform voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, search a program table based on the recognition result, and execute a corresponding predetermined process. The data receiving apparatus includes update data extracting means for extracting program table update data from an input signal, and update means for updating the program table based on the program table update data extracted by the extracting means.

Another aspect of the present invention is a computer program product, which inputs a predetermined voice, searches a voice recognition dictionary, performs voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, and executes a predetermined process. A computer readable medium having computer readable program code means for executing, the computer program product extracting the speech recognition dictionary update data from an input signal; Computer-readable program code means for updating the voice recognition dictionary based on the voice recognition dictionary update data.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First, after summarizing one of the points of a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be given. The receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention has a storage unit having a size necessary for holding a minimum voice recognition dictionary. When the data separation unit extracts the voice recognition dictionary update data from the input signal including the image, the data interpretation execution unit updates the voice recognition dictionary stored in the dictionary storage unit according to the content of the update data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which this embodiment is applied to a television receiver. First, the dictionary storage unit D stores a voice recognition dictionary. The speech recognition dictionary stores phoneme strings and words in association with each other.

The program guide storage unit T stores, for each broadcast channel, a program name and its broadcast time, genre name, performer name, etc. in association with each other. The clock C outputs the current date and time. The receiving unit 2 separates the television broadcast radio wave received by the antenna 1 into an audio signal and a video signal.

The data separating unit 3 separates the video signal obtained by the receiving unit 2 into a net video signal and update data recorded during the blanking time. The speaker SP inputs the audio signal obtained by the receiving unit 2 and reproduces it as audio. T
The V monitor M inputs the net video signal separated by the data separation unit 3 and displays it as a video.

The data interpretation execution unit 4 instructs the dictionary storage unit D to update the voice recognition dictionary according to the contents of the update data separated by the data separation unit 3. The update contents are registration and deletion of a specific word. On the other hand, the voice recognition unit 5 refers to the voice recognition dictionary of the dictionary storage unit D to recognize the voice input from the microphone 11.

The channel switching control unit 6 inputs a recognition word as a result of voice recognition in the voice recognition unit 5, and refers to the program guide storage unit T and the clock C to make the microphone 11
The channel corresponding to the audio input via the is determined and a channel switching signal is output to the receiving unit 2. The receiving unit 2 switches the receiving channel based on the instruction in the channel switching signal output from the channel switching control unit 6.

Here, the voice recognition dictionary update data for a certain channel may be fetched while the channel is being viewed, or may be fetched at a time when normal broadcasting is not performed. The voice recognition dictionary to be taken in here is a voice recognition dictionary having as words a word that appears in the program guide of the day and a word that indicates the genre of those programs. However, frequently used words may be retained once they are captured and not deleted. (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, a configuration for acquiring the program guide information stored in the program guide storage unit 7 will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the receiver of this embodiment. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the same components as those of FIG. 1 have the same identification numbers. The first point different from FIG. 1 is that the TV broadcast radio wave received from the antenna 1 includes the program guide information like the voice recognition dictionary update data. That is, on the broadcasting station side, if necessary,
The voice recognition dictionary update data and the program guide information are superimposed on the video signal and sent.

The second difference from FIG. 1 is that update data (including voice recognition dictionary update data and program guide information) sent from the received television broadcast radio wave via the receiving unit 2 and the data separating unit 3 is received. The data interpretation execution unit 12 separates the voice recognition dictionary update data and the program guide information 10 from each other and sends them to the dictionary storage unit D and the program guide storage unit 7 to update their contents. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, one receiving section 2 is used for both the purpose of receiving a television image and the purpose of extracting command data. Of course, a dedicated receiver may be provided for each purpose. Further, with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a receiving device capable of voice recognition with a small amount of memory, and to immediately cope with a new vocabulary.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to update the voice recognition dictionary for another channel while watching the broadcast of a certain channel. Also, by incorporating enough memory to hold the program guide for a long time, it is possible to use it to set the time for reserved video recording instead of immediately reflecting the voice recognition result as a viewing channel. is there. (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, except that the data interpretation execution unit 4, the voice recognition unit 5, and the channel switching control unit 6 of FIG. Each processing is described by software and is executed by the microprocessor 200. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to units that perform similar processing in each unit in FIG.

In the receiver of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the microprocessor 200 performs overall control. A ROM 202 stores various processing programs and data. Reference numeral 205 denotes a RAM, which includes an area for loading a processing program in the data interpretation execution unit 4, the voice recognition unit 5, and the channel switching control unit 6 stored in the floppy disk 207, and a work area related to the execution of the program. Further, an area corresponding to the dictionary storage unit D is assigned to the RAM 205.

A control panel 203 inputs various commands and data to the CPU. A floppy disk control unit 206 reads the execution program from the floppy disk 207 storing the execution program of the receiver. The read execution program is stored in the RAM 205 by the microprocessor 200.

The microphone 11, the receiving unit 2, the speaker SP, the data separating unit 3, and the clock C are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 204 denotes a system bus including a control line between each processing unit and a data bus. FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of a processing program for updating the voice recognition dictionary data.

The process of FIG. 4 is started when the data separating unit 3 detects updated data. This activation can be realized by an update data detection interrupt request to the microprocessor 200, for example. In step S1, update data is input from the data separation unit 3 and it is checked whether the update data is voice recognition dictionary data.

In step S2, the inputted voice recognition dictionary data is stored in the dictionary storage unit D corresponding area allocated in the RAM 205. Then, this process is terminated, and the process returns to the program execution before the interruption. Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a processing procedure for changing the selected reception channel will be described.

In step S10, it is checked whether or not there is voice input from the microphone 11, and if there is voice input, step S1
Proceed to 1. In step S11, the voice recognition dictionary (RAM 205) stored by the processing in step S2 described above.
To recognize the input voice pattern. In step S12, the program guide stored in advance in the ROM 202 is searched to find an item corresponding to the recognized voice pattern, and the broadcast channel for the broadcast is determined.

In the program guide, information such as the program name, its broadcast time, genre name, performer name, etc. is arranged in association with each broadcast channel. In step S13,
A channel switching signal, which is an instruction signal for switching to the determined broadcast channel, is output to the receiving unit 2. On the other hand, the receiving unit 2 switches to the corresponding channel based on the input of the channel switching signal.

Then, the process returns to step S10 and the same processing is repeated. In FIG. 6, each processing program described above is
It shows a state of being stored in the floppy disk 207. Each program is loaded into the RAM 205 and executed by the microprocessor 200. (Fourth Embodiment) In the third embodiment, the channel of the receiver is switched based on the voice pattern input from the microphone. However, in the fourth embodiment, the channel switching reservation is made from the microphone. An example of the processing procedure executed based on the input voice pattern will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the processing procedure for changing the selected reception channel according to the fourth embodiment. In step S20, it is checked whether or not there is a voice input from the microphone 11, and if there is, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the stored voice recognition dictionary (RAM 205) is searched by the process of step S2 described above, and the input voice pattern is recognized.

In step S22, it is checked according to the type of the recognized voice pattern whether or not it indicates a reservation, and if so, the process proceeds to step S23. If not, the process proceeds to step S25. The processes of step S25 and step S26 are respectively performed in step S
12. Since the process is the same as that of step S13, the description thereof will be omitted.

In step S23, the program table stored in advance in the ROM 202 is searched to find the item corresponding to the recognized voice pattern, and the broadcast channel scheduled to be broadcast and the time to switch to that channel are determined. . Then, the determined broadcast channel and switching time are stored in a reservation table (not shown) of the RAM 205. In step S24, the reserved time set in step S24 is set in the clock C, and when the time comes, the microprocessor 200 is set to generate an interrupt. Then, the process returns to step S20 and the same processing is repeated.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a channel switching process procedure according to a reserved time which is activated when a clock event, that is, an interrupt from the clock C occurs, will be described. In step S30, the above-mentioned reservation table (RAM 20
Referring to 5), the channel corresponding to the interrupted time is determined. In step S31, a channel change instruction (channel switching signal) is issued to the receiver 2. On the other hand, the receiving unit switches the channel in response to the instruction.

Then, this process is terminated, and the process returns to the program execution before the interruption. (Fifth Embodiment) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the voice recognition dictionary data is included in the received signal, the voice recognition dictionary data is extracted from the received signal, and the voice recognition dictionary is changed has been described. In the present embodiment, the program guide information described above is also included in the received signal similarly to the voice recognition dictionary data, and the program guide information is extracted from the received signal to update the program guide.

FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure of a processing program for updating the voice recognition dictionary data and the program guide. The process of FIG. 9 is started when the data separating unit 3 detects updated data. This activation is performed by, for example, the microprocessor 2
This can be realized by an update data detection interrupt request for 00.

In step S30, the update data is input from the data separating section 3. In step S31, the input update data is analyzed, and if the update data is voice recognition dictionary data, the process proceeds to step S32. If the updated data is program guide information, the process proceeds to step S33. Further, if the updated data is both voice recognition dictionary data and program guide information, the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S32, the inputted voice recognition dictionary data is stored in the dictionary storage unit D corresponding area allocated in the RAM 205. Then, this process is terminated, and the process returns to the program execution before the interruption. Step S3
In 3, the inputted program guide information is stored in the area corresponding to the program guide storage unit 7 allocated in the RAM 205. Then, this process is terminated, and the process returns to the program execution before the interruption.

In step S34, the input voice recognition dictionary data is stored in the area corresponding to the dictionary storage unit D allocated in the RAM 205. In step S35, the inputted program guide information is stored in the area corresponding to the program guide storage unit 7 allocated in the RAM 205. Then, this process is terminated, and the process returns to the program execution before the interruption.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program stored in a storage medium to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the recording medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the recording medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a receiving device capable of voice recognition with a small memory, and it is also possible to include a new vocabulary in the voice recognition dictionary without the trouble of a general user.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the type of input voice can be freely changed to control channel switching, and the size of the voice recognition dictionary can be minimized. Further, the program guide data can be freely changed to control channel switching, and the size of the memory to be stored can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a receiving device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a receiving device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of a receiving device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of a receiving device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a program layout of a floppy disk storing a processing program of a receiving device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of a receiving device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart of a receiving device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a processing flowchart of the receiving apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 reception unit 3 data separation unit 4 data interpretation execution unit 5 voice recognition unit 6 channel switching control unit D voice recognition dictionary storage unit T program guide

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A data receiving method for inputting a predetermined voice, searching a voice recognition dictionary, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, and performing a predetermined process, comprising: A data input method comprising: an update data extracting step of extracting voice recognition dictionary update data; and an updating step of updating the voice recognition dictionary based on the voice recognition dictionary update data extracted in the extracting step. 2. The data input method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a process of switching a channel of the input signal. 3. The data input method according to claim 2, wherein the process of switching the channel of the input signal is a process of switching the channel of the input signal at a predetermined time. 4. The data input method according to claim 1, wherein the input signal is a television signal. 5. The data input method according to claim 4, wherein the television signal includes voice recognition dictionary update data. 6. The data input method according to claim 1, wherein the voice recognition dictionary is assigned to a predetermined storage device. 7. A data receiving method for inputting a predetermined voice, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, searching a program table based on the recognition result, and executing a corresponding predetermined process. There is provided an update data extracting step of extracting program table update data from an input signal, and an updating step of updating the program table based on the program table update data extracted in the extracting step. input method. 8. The program table includes a program name and a channel name based on the input signal, and the predetermined audio includes a program name and a channel name of the program table. Item 7
Data entry method described in. 9. The data input method according to claim 7, wherein the program table further includes a broadcast time corresponding to the program name and the channel name. 10. The data input method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined voice further includes a voice instructing the broadcast time. 11. The data input method according to claim 5, wherein the television signal is obtained by superposing voice recognition dictionary update data on a blanking interval of a video signal. 12. A data receiving device for inputting a predetermined voice, searching a voice recognition dictionary, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, and performing a predetermined process, comprising: A data input device comprising: update data extracting means for extracting voice recognition dictionary update data; and updating means for updating the voice recognition dictionary based on the voice recognition dictionary update data extracted by the extracting means. 13. The data input device according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined process is a process of switching a channel of the input signal. 14. The data input device according to claim 13, wherein the process of switching the channel of the input signal is a process of switching the channel of the input signal at a predetermined time. 15. The data input device according to claim 12, wherein the input signal is a television signal. 16. The data input device according to claim 15, wherein the television signal includes voice recognition dictionary update data. 17. The data input device according to claim 12, wherein the voice recognition dictionary is assigned to a predetermined storage device. 18. A data receiving device for inputting a predetermined voice, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, searching a program table based on the recognition result, and executing a corresponding predetermined process. And data including update data extracting means for extracting program table update data from an input signal, and update means for updating the program table based on the program table update data extracted by the extracting means. Input device. 19. The program table includes a program name and a channel name based on the input signal, and the predetermined sound includes a program name and a channel name indicating the program name of the program table. Item 1
8. The data input device according to item 8. 20. The data input device according to claim 18, wherein the program table further includes a broadcast time corresponding to the program name and the channel name. 21. The data input device according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined voice further includes a voice instructing the broadcast time. 22. The data input device according to claim 16, wherein the television signal is obtained by superimposing voice recognition dictionary update data on a blanking interval of a video signal. 23. A computer program product for inputting a predetermined voice, searching a voice recognition dictionary, performing voice recognition of the input predetermined voice, and executing a predetermined process. A computer usable medium having a possible program code means, the computer program product extracting the speech recognition dictionary update data from an input signal, the computer readable program code means, and the voice extracted in the extracting step. Computer readable program code means for updating the voice recognition dictionary based on the recognition dictionary update data.