JPH1013543A - Voice storage device, voice mail system and voice mail reproduction method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the user to reproduce a part required for the user more quickly by reproducing a prescribed range of a voice mail addressed to the user based on a position of the voice mail addressed to the user. SOLUTION: Received voice mails are stored for each destination and a reproduction instruction for a prescribed time from a head of each voice mail is received from the destination user and the voice mail addressed to each user is reproduced from the head for a prescribed time. The voice storage device 1 is provided with a valid part detection function 5, a storage medium 6, a management data table 7, and an index management function 8. The valid part detection function 5 detects a non-voice part and a voiced part of the voice mail. The storage medium 6 stores the input voice data according to the destination. The management data table 7 manages the stored position of voice data. The index management function 8 references the management data table 7 to generate the voice data of the designated area desiring reproduction according to the destination as index data for the reproduction and management.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice storage device, a voice mail system, and a voice mail reproducing method, and more particularly, to continuously reproduce a small portion at the head of a stored voice mail in which a silent portion generated at the head is removed. Regarding services.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a voice mail service, voice mail is input from an input / output device such as a telephone and a control device and recorded in a voice storage device. Generally, the audio storage device and the input / output and control device are connected via a communication network,
The voice storage device is remotely controlled by an input / output and control device. Voice recording is performed by transmitting a recording request command from the input / output and control device to the voice storage device, inputting voice from the input / output and control device, and recording the input voice as digital data in the voice storage device. .
In addition, sound reproduction is performed by transmitting one digital data stored in the sound storage device to the input / output and control device, and performing digital-analog conversion (hereinafter, referred to as “digital-analog conversion”) in the input / output and control device.
This is performed by outputting a sound that has been subjected to D / A conversion. Alternatively, one digital data stored in the voice storage device is D / A converted and then transmitted as analog data to the input / output and control device to output the voice.

In the conventional voice mail service, in order to continuously play voice mail, a command for "playing the next message" is transmitted to the voice storage device by the user operating the input / output and control device. It is necessary to send one after another.

[0004]

In the conventional method, there is no other way but to listen to the stored voice mails one by one, and a user operation is required to move to the next voice mail on the way. . Further, even if the processing shifts to the next data, it takes a long time to reproduce necessary information because silence is included at the head of the stored voice mail. For this reason, even if the user performs the voice mail reproduction operation, the user is kept waiting for the actual voice output for the time of the silent part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice storage device, a voice mail system, and a voice mail reproducing method, in which a portion required by a user can be reproduced more quickly.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a storage means for storing input voice mail for each destination, and a head of voice mail stored in the storage means. Managing means for managing, for each of the destinations, a position of the voice mail stored in the storage means within a predetermined range of the voice mail, and a user of the destination of the voice mail stored in the storage means Receiving means for receiving an instruction to reproduce the predetermined range of the voice mail, and the predetermined range of the voice mail addressed to the user managed by the managing means when the instruction is received by the receiving means Reproducing means for reproducing the predetermined range of the voice mail addressed to the user based on the position stored in the storing means.

[0007] Further, storage means for storing the input voice mail for each destination, and a position of one voice mail stored in the storage means, which is stored in the storage means within a predetermined period of time. Management means for managing the destination for each destination, receiving means for receiving from the user of the destination of the voice mail stored in the storage means an instruction to reproduce the voice mail addressed to the user within the predetermined period, When the instruction is received by the receiving unit, the address of the voice mail addressed to the user is managed based on the position of the voice mail addressed to the user stored in the storage unit in the predetermined range, which is managed by the managing unit. A reproduction unit for reproducing the predetermined range of the voice mail may be provided.

[0008] A clue for judging the urgency of the stored voice mail tends to concentrate on the head of the voice mail, for example, by giving the name of the sender. In addition, since the audio reproduction technology has also been improved and the quality of the audio has been improved, it has become easier to determine the voice of the reproduced data. Therefore, according to the present invention, the urgency of the voice mail can be quickly known by listening to the head of the stored voice mail.

Further, when there are a plurality of voice mails addressed to the user stored in the storage means, the reproducing means manages each of the plurality of voice mails addressed to the user managed by the management means. The predetermined range may be sequentially reproduced. Thus, when there are a plurality of voice mails, a predetermined range can be sequentially heard. In addition, the reproduction in the predetermined range can be performed earlier, and it is possible to respond to the request of the user who needs the reproduction in the predetermined range.

[0010] Further, there is further provided detecting means for detecting a silent part and other sound parts of the voice mail, and the storing means stores the voice mail of the sound part detected by the detecting means. It may be performed. This allows
When storing voice mail in the storage medium, detect the presence of voice in the voice mail and record the voice mail in the voice storage device with the invalid part removed from the beginning of the voice mail data until the voice starts. Can be. By playing back a small amount of data continuously from the beginning by using the voice mail from which the invalid part has been deleted, the user can quickly reproduce the part required by the user, and inform the user of the importance of the voice mail. Can be provided more in less time.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a voice mail system. In FIG. 1, the audio storage device 1 and the input / output and control device 2 are configured to be connected via a communication network 3. The input / output and control device 2 is a terminal that can input and output audio and can remotely control the audio storage device 1. Examples of the input / output and control device 2 include a telephone 2-1, a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) 2-2 having a microphone and a speaker, a telephone and a PC.
2-3, a mobile phone, a PHS 2-4, and the like.
The input / output and control device 2 can perform analog-to-digital conversion (hereinafter, referred to as A / D conversion) on the input voice mail and transmit the voice mail as voice data. The voice mail can be output after the A conversion. Alternatively, the voice mail is A / D converted in the voice storage device 1, and the voice data is
A conversion may be performed. The voice storage device 1 stores voice for each destination of voice data and, when instructed by a destination user, reproduces and outputs a voice mail addressed to that user.

Next, a method for recording and reproducing voice mail according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the voice storage device 1 having the features of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the voice storage device 1 is controlled by the operation of the input / output and control device 2, and further performs input / output of voice mail. The voice storage device 1 is a “valid part detection function 5” that is a detection unit that detects a silent portion and other voice portions of voice data, and a storage unit that stores input voice data according to a destination. "Storage medium 6"
A "management data table 7", which is a management means for managing the storage position of the audio data stored in the storage medium 6, and the management data table 7 are referred to, and according to the destination, the designated area to be reproduced is designated. An "index management function 8" is provided for creating audio data as index data, and reproducing and managing the index data.

The valid part detecting function 5 starts the recording of the input voice data 4 input by the input / output and control unit 2 and the invalid part which is a silent portion from the beginning of the data to the position where the actual voice recording starts. Effective part 4 that is sound after position
-3. The storage medium 6 is constituted by a hard disk or the like, and stores the effective portion 4-3 of the audio data separated by the effective portion detection function 5. The storage medium 6 is connected to the inside or outside of the audio storage device 1. The management data table 7 is provided for each user, and includes an address 7-1 indicating a storage position of the mail in the storage medium 6, and an unlisted / listened flag indicating whether the user has or has not heard the mail. 7-2 is recorded as management data. In addition, the management data table 7 can record information of a caller such as a caller ID and a caller telephone number of the voice mail, a recording date and time, a recording time, a sampling rate, and the like. The index management function 8 performs management by taking out a small amount of data at the head from each of the stored audio data and creating index data. To create index data,
It can be done after recording. The area of the index data to be created can be specified in advance by a user or a system administrator. For example, it is possible to specify the time from the beginning of the effective part, such as 15 seconds from the beginning of the effective part. Also, an intermediate area may be specified, such as from 20 seconds to 5 seconds after the voice mail has elapsed. The validity information of the voice mail is easy to concentrate on the head portion, for example, telling the name of the mail sender, so that the user can easily determine the importance by listening to the index data.

A case where voice mail is recorded will be described by taking as an example a case where user A shown in FIG. 2 records a voice mail addressed to user B. User A is an input / output and control device 2
To instruct the voice storage device 1 to record a voice mail addressed to the user B, and input voice data 4 to the voice storage device 1. The input voice data 4 is separated into an invalid portion occurring at the head of the voice data and other valid portions 4-3 by the valid portion detection function 5 in the voice storage device 1.
As a result, only the valid part is held as the information of the index data. The effective portion 4-3 of the separated audio data is stored in the storage medium 6. Information for managing the stored voice data is recorded in the management data table 7 of the user B. In the management data table 7, the address 7-1 of the storage medium 6 of the recorded voice data, the information of the caller (user A in this example), the recording date and time, the recording time, the sampling rate, and the like are recorded. Also,
When new voice data is stored, the unlisted / listened flag 7-2 is set to "unlisted". In FIG. 2, the audio data addressed to the user B is 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4
-4, 4-5, and 4-6 are stored.

Next, a method of creating and reproducing index data will be described with reference to a case where user B shown in FIG. 3 wants to reproduce the index data of a voice mail. As shown in FIG. 3, the user B operates the input / output and control device 2 to instruct the voice storage device 1 to reproduce the index data of the voice mail addressed to the user B. For example, the instruction to reproduce the index data of the voice mail may be an index reproduction command 9 and may be determined in advance by pressing the “# 3” button. In this case, when the user B presses the “# 3” button of the input / output and control device 2, the input / output and control device 2 transmits the index reproduction command 9 to the voice storage device 1 together with the mail information to be reproduced. As the mail information, for example, I
D and the like. The voice storage device 1 that has received the index reproduction command 9 transmits the index data 10 to the input / output and control device 2 to reproduce the index of the target voice mail.

FIG. 4 shows a method for creating the index data 10.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the index management function 8 refers to the audio data 4-1 to 4-6 destined for the user B stored in the storage medium 6 by referring to the unlisted / listened flag 7-2 of the management data table 7. Determine if you have already listened / listed. The index management function 8 stores the unlisted audio data 4-
From each of 1, 4, 3-4, 4-4, and 4-6, an index 4-1 that is data for a predetermined time from the beginning.
Take out 1, 4-3-1, 4-4-1 and 4-6-1.
The length of the index extracted from the audio data is determined in advance by a user or a system administrator. If the length of the audio data is shorter than the length of the index to be extracted, the entire audio data is used as the index. The index management function 8 edits the index of the audio data and the segment 11 alternately,
Create 0. For example, a sound “beep” can be inserted as the break 11. At the end of the index data, an end signal 12 is added. End signal 12
For example, a sound such as "End of index" can be added. The creation of the index data may be performed in advance, or may be performed each time there is an instruction to reproduce the index data.

Next, a method of reproducing the entire audio data corresponding to the index during the reproduction of the index data will be described with reference to FIG. An instruction to reproduce the entire voice mail corresponding to the index is issued by the whole mail reproduction command 1.
4, and is determined in advance as a button press of “# 5”.
The user B listening to the index data 10 with the input / output and control device 2 (index playback mode 13)
By listening to the voice mail, the importance can be determined.
For example, when the index 4-1-1 is reproduced as "XX. I will call again.", The user B determines that the importance is low, and listens to the index 4-1-1 as it is. When the playback position of the index data 10 reaches the break, a beep sounds to notify that the break is a break. In addition, the next index is played,
At this time, for example, the index 4-3-1 indicates “Hello! ×
X, but the question is asked during this time, the user B
Judges that the importance is high, and to reproduce the entire voice mail 4-3 corresponding to the index 4-3-3, "#
5 "button to send out the entire mail playback command 15 to the voice storage device 1 (voice mail playback mode 1).
5). The voice storage device 1 that has received the entire mail reproduction command 15 judges from the current position of the current index data 10 and reproduces the voice data 4-3 corresponding to the index 4-3-3. When the reproduction of the audio data is completed (voice mail reproduction end 16) or when the “# 3” button is pressed as the index reproduction command 9, the mode shifts to the index reproduction mode 13 again, and the next index 4-
Resume from the reproduction of 4-4. When the reproduction of all the indexes is completed, for example, "end of the index" is output as an end signal, and the index reproduction mode 13 ends.

FIG. 6 shows transition of commands in the voice storage device 1 for implementing the present invention. In FIG.
When the user accesses the voice storage device 1, the device enters a waiting state for "command input 17". In this waiting state, when the user inputs a command, the mode transits to the corresponding mode. For example, when an index playback command is input, the mode transits to “index playback mode 20”.
When the normal reproduction command is input, the mode transits to the “normal reproduction mode 21”, and the mode is recorded as the current state.

If the user wants to keep the voice data, he inputs a "recording command 18" and inputs a voice mail (18-1). The voice storage device 1 that has received the voice data detects an effective portion of the voice (18-2), and stores only the valid portion in the storage medium 6 (18-3). Furthermore,
The management data for the stored voice mail, for example, an unlisted / listened flag is recorded (18-4).

When the user wants to set the access method to the voice storage device, he inputs a "setting 19" command and makes various settings (19-1). For example, the data length of the index to be taken out can be set.

If the user wants to reproduce an index, he or she inputs an "index reproduction 20" command. Upon receiving this command, the voice storage device 1 checks the stored voice data left for the user (20
-1) If the data has not been heard, the index is extracted, and the extracted index is edited (20-).
2) Check whether the next stored audio data exists (20)
-3). If there is stored voice data, the check of stored voice data (20-1) and subsequent steps are repeated. When the check of all data is completed, the reproduction of the index is performed sequentially (20-
4). If the user makes an entire reproduction request during the reproduction of the index (20-5), the audio data corresponding to the index is reproduced (21-1). When the reproduction of the audio data is completed (23), or when an index reproduction command is input during the reproduction (22), the reproduction of the index is terminated and it is checked whether the next index exists.
(20-6). If there is the next index, index reproduction is performed (20-4), and if there is no index to be reproduced, the processing is ended. Further, when an instruction to stop the reproduction of the currently reproduced index is issued during the index reproduction, the reproduction of the currently reproduced index may be stopped, and the index data of the next voice mail may be reproduced.

When a user plays a voice mail,
A "normal reproduction 21" command is input. The voice storage device 1 that has received this command plays back the voice data based on the mail information to be played back that is transmitted together with the previous command. When the reproduction is completed, the process ends (23-1). When the "index reproduction" command is input during the reproduction of the audio data (22), the mode is switched to the index reproduction mode, and the check can be sequentially performed from the check (20-1) of the stored audio data.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, only a predetermined area (index data) of a voice mail can be reproduced. When there are a plurality of voice mails, the index data can be reproduced sequentially and continuously. This allows the user to hear only a part of the voice mail in a short time, and determine whether the voice mail is important. For this reason,
The user can quickly know the importance of the voice mail left for him.

[0026]

According to the present invention, in a voice storage device, a voice mail system and a voice mail reproducing method, a portion required by a user can be reproduced more quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus configuration of a system for providing a voice mail service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method for inputting and storing audio data.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for reproducing index data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method of creating index data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method of reproducing the entire voice mail corresponding to the currently reproduced index while listening to the index data.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of command transitions and processing for realizing the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Voice storage device 2 ... Input / output control device 2-1 ... Telephone 2-2 ... PC with speaker and microphone 2-3 ... Combination of telephone and PC 2-4 ... Mobile telephone, PHS 3 ... Communication network 4 ... Input voice data 4-1 ... Valid input voice data 4-2 ... Valid input voice data 4-3 ... Valid input voice data 4-4 ... Valid input voice data 4-5 ... Valid input voice data 4- 6 ... valid part of input voice data 4-1-1 ... index of valid part of input voice data 4-1 4-2-1 ... index of valid part of input voice data 4-2 4-3-1 ... valid part of input voice data 4-3 Index 4-4-1... Index of input voice data valid portion 4-4 4-5-1. Index of input voice data valid portion 4-5 4-6-1... Input voice data valid portion 4 -6 index 5 ... valid part detection function 6 ... storage medium 7 ... management data table 7-1 ... address 7-2 ... unlisted / listened flag in management data table 8 ... index management function 9 ... index playback command 10 ... Index data 11 ... Delimiter 12 ... End signal 13 ... Index reproduction mode 14 ... Whole mail reproduction command 15 ... Voice mail reproduction mode 16 ... Voice mail reproduction end 17 ... Command input and mode recording 18 ... Recording command 18-1 ... Voice data 18-2: Detecting valid part of input audio data 18-3: Saving only valid part of audio data 18-4: Recording management data for stored audio data 19 ... Setting command 19-1: Data 20: Index playback command 20-1: Saved Check voice data 20-2 ... Retrieve and edit index 20-3 ... Check whether next stored voice data exists 20-4 ... Reproduce index 20-5 ... Reproduce voice data corresponding to index being reproduced Check whether there is a request 20-6 ... Check whether the playback of the index has been completed 21 ... Normal playback command 21-1 ... Play the audio data 22 ... Index playback command during audio data playback 22-1 ... Index Check if the previous mode is the index playback for the playback command. 23 ... End playback of audio data. 23-1 ... Check if the previous mode is index playback for the end of audio data playback.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Seri 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture In the Information and Communication Division of Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing input voice mail for each destination, and a voice mail stored in the storage means in a predetermined range of voice mail determined with respect to the head of the voice mail stored in the storage means. Managing means for managing the location of each of the destinations, and receiving means for receiving from the user of the destination of the voice mail stored in the storage means an instruction to reproduce the voice mail addressed to the user in the predetermined range. And when the instruction is received by the receiving unit, based on the position of the voice mail addressed to the user stored in the storage unit in the predetermined range, which is managed by the managing unit. Reproduction means for reproducing the predetermined range of the voice mail addressed to the voice storage device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproducing means manages said plurality of voice mails addressed to said user when said plurality of voice mails stored in said storage means are addressed to said user. A voice storage device for sequentially reproducing the predetermined range of each voice mail. 3. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein said management means sets the voice mail data in said predetermined range of voice mails stored in said storage means as index data, and stores said index data in said storage means. The reproduction unit manages the position of the voice mail addressed to the user based on the position of the index data stored in the storage unit, which is managed by the management unit. An audio storage device for reproducing data. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said receiving means further receives an instruction to reproduce the entire range of the voice mail reproducing said index data when said reproducing means reproduces said index data. The audio storage device, further comprising: when the receiving unit receives the instruction to reproduce the entire range, further reproducing the entire range of the voice mail being reproduced. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, after the reproduction of the entire range of the voice mail is completed, if there is another voice mail addressed to the user stored in the storage means, A voice storage device characterized by further reproducing the index data of another voice mail. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said receiving means further receives an instruction to stop reproduction when said reproducing means reproduces said index data, and said reproducing means receives said instruction to stop at said receiving means. Stop playing the index data,
When there is another voice mail of the same destination stored in the storage means, the voice storage device reproduces the index data of the other voice mail. 7. The voice mail according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting a silent part and other sound parts of the voice mail, and wherein the storage means detects the sound part detected by the detection means. A voice storage device for storing voice mail. 8. A storage means for storing input voice mail for each destination, and a position of one voice mail stored in said storage means stored in said storage means within a predetermined period of time. Management means for managing the destination for each destination, receiving means for receiving from the user of the destination of the voice mail stored in the storage means an instruction to reproduce the voice mail addressed to the user within the predetermined period, When the instruction is received by the receiving unit, the address of the voice mail addressed to the user is managed based on the position of the voice mail addressed to the user stored in the storage unit in the predetermined range, which is managed by the managing unit. Reproduction means for reproducing the predetermined range of the voice mail. 9. A terminal having an instruction means for instructing reproduction of a predetermined period from the beginning of a voice mail, a storage means for storing input voice mail for each destination, and a storage means for storing the input voice mail in said storage means. Management means for managing, for each of the destinations, a position stored in the storage means within a predetermined range of the voice mail determined with respect to the head of the voice mail, and a user of the destination of the voice mail stored in the storage means Receiving means for receiving an instruction to reproduce the predetermined range of the voice mail addressed to the user, and, when the instruction is received by the receiving means, managed by the management means; A voice storage device comprising: a reproduction unit that reproduces the predetermined range of the voice mail addressed to the user based on the position stored in the storage unit in the predetermined range. And a voice mail system. 10. An input voice mail is stored for each destination, and an instruction to reproduce a predetermined range of a voice mail determined with respect to the head of the voice mail addressed to the user is received from the user of the voice mail destination. When the instruction is received, the predetermined range of the voice mail addressed to the user is reproduced, and if there is another voice mail addressed to the user, the voice determined with respect to the head of the other voice mail A voice mail reproducing method for reproducing a predetermined range of a mail. 11. The voice mail according to claim 10, further comprising: when reproducing the voice mail, receiving an instruction to reproduce the entire range of the reproduced voice mail, and reproducing the entire range of the reproduced voice mail. A voice mail reproducing method, which is further performed.