JPH10327238A - Voice receiver and communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the user to visually confirm contents of received voice signals during absence. SOLUTION: A speech recognition unit 48 recognizes an incoming call voice signal received during absence and converts the recognized voice signal into a character code. The unit 48 sends a message denoting execution of speech recognition to an opposite party and outputs a voice signal denoting a speech recognition state during the speech recognition state. When the unit 48 is successful in voice recognition, the unit 48 supplies an incoming call date and time, a 'speech recognition success' and a recognition content to a printer 44, by which they are printed out. When speech recognition is failed, the unit 48 records the received voice to a recording unit 50 and supplies character information denoting an incoming call date and time and 'speech recognition failure' to the printer 44, by which they are printed out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice receiving apparatus and a communication terminal, and more particularly, to a voice receiving apparatus and a communication terminal that output received voice without voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a facsimile apparatus, for example, a conventional facsimile apparatus of the G3 system includes an image scanner 12 as document reading means and an image print output means in a modem (modem) 10. A certain printer 14 is connected, and a switch 16 switches connection between a modem 10 or a communication unit (so-called telephone) 18 and a communication line. The switch 16 may be automatic or manual. In the automatic case, if a control circuit (not shown) receives a call signal from the communication line and connects to the communication line, and if a carrier can be detected within a predetermined time, it is determined that the connection is to a facsimile, and the switch 16 is turned on. When a connection is made to the modem 10 and a carrier signal cannot be detected within a certain period of time, it is determined that the signal is voice, and the switch 16 is connected to the communication unit 18.

In an answering machine, as shown in FIG. 5, a switch 20 is connected to a recording unit 22 and a communication unit 2.
The switch 20 is connected to the recording unit 22 in the answering machine mode, and is connected to the talking unit 24 in the talking mode. In the answering machine mode, after connection to the line, a predetermined message is transmitted, recording of the received signal is started, and recording is stopped when the line is disconnected or a predetermined time elapses. If there is even one recording,
The user is notified that there is a recording by turning on a lamp or the like.

[0004] Both are extensions of the functions of ordinary telephones, and facsimile machines with an answering machine function combining these are also in practical use. FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of the configuration. The switch 26 selectively connects the facsimile machine 28, the communication unit 30, or the recording unit 32 to a communication line. The switch 26 has a case of automatic switching and a case of manual switching. In the case of automatic switching, the switch 26
For example, if a carrier signal is detected within a predetermined time after the line is connected, the connection is made to the facsimile apparatus 28, and if no carrier signal is detected, the connection is made to the communication unit 30.
After the connection to the telephone unit 30, if the off-hook is not performed even after a call for a certain period of time, the switch 26 connects to the recording unit 32 and operates in the answering machine mode.

[0005]

In the prior art, the facsimile was only combined with the answering machine, and the functions of the two could not be combined and used. For example, the facsimile signal is received by the facsimile device 28, and the voice is recorded by the recording unit 32. The voice is output or recorded in real time, and the facsimile signal is printed out from the printer. The contents of the answering machine cannot be recognized unless they are reproduced.

[0006] Therefore, for example, for a hearing-impaired person, the answering machine function is difficult to use or cannot be used.

[0007] From this standpoint, it is desired to enhance the answering machine function, and an object of the present invention is to present a voice receiving device and a communication terminal that output voice in a visually recognizable form.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the received voice is recognized by the voice recognition means and converted into a character code. The speech recognition result is output by an output unit, for example, a printing device. Thus, the content of the received voice can be confirmed without the trouble of reproducing the recorded voice. By providing a recording unit for recording the received voice when the voice recognition unit fails in the voice recognition, it is possible to prepare for a failure in the voice recognition.

As the recognition result of the voice recognition means, at least the incoming date and time and the details of the recognition are output if the voice recognition is successful, and the incoming date and time and information indicating the failure of the voice recognition are output if the voice recognition fails. By doing so, the contents and status of the incoming call can be immediately and visually confirmed.

The transmitting side can recognize that the voice recognition is being performed based on the sound signal indicating that the voice recognition is being performed. By providing the retry request means, the probability of successful voice recognition can be increased.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 40 denotes a facsimile signal modem (modem), reference numeral 42 denotes an image scanner for reading a document to be transmitted, and reference numeral 44 denotes a printer for printing out a received image and the like. 46 is a communication unit, 48 is a voice recognition unit that recognizes the received voice and converts it to a character code signal,
50 is a recording unit. The character code recognized by the voice recognition unit 46 is supplied to the printer 44 and printed out as character information. 52 is the modem 4
0, a switch for connecting any one of the communication unit 46 and the voice recognition unit 48 to the communication line.
Are connected to the communication line.

The switch 52 can be switched automatically or manually. In the case of automatic switching, when the switch 52 detects a carrier signal within a predetermined time after the line connection, the switch 52 determines that the signal is a facsimile signal and connects to the modem 40,
If the carrier is not detected, it is determined that the voice is sound and the communication unit 46 is connected. If the voice to be transmitted is not input even when connected to the call unit 46, it is determined that the user is out of the office, and the switch 52 is connected to the voice recognition unit 48.

The portion including the modem 40, the image scanner 42 and the printer 44 functions as a normal facsimile machine. That is, when an original is read by the image scanner 42 for transmission, the image signal is transmitted to the modem 4.
0, converted to a facsimile signal, and transmitted to a communication line (a partner facsimile apparatus connected via the communication line). Further, the facsimile signal from the partner facsimile apparatus is demodulated by the modem 40 and printed out by the printer 44.

When the switch 52 is connected to the voice recognition unit 48, the voice recognition unit 48 accepts a "print message" as a voice message to the partner terminal.
Please speak slowly for 20 seconds. "
The recognition of the received voice is started, and a confirmation sound indicating that the voice is being recognized is transmitted. The character code information obtained as a result of the voice recognition is temporarily stored in an internal memory device for printing out by the printer 44. The confirmation sound for voice recognition is, for example, a high tone when the voice recognition is successful, and a low tone when the voice recognition fails. If the speech recognition fails, the speech recognition unit 48 will also send a retry voice message saying "Speech recognition failed. Please try again." Send sound.

When the voice recognition is successful in one call, the voice recognition unit 48 outputs a recognition result to the printer 44 together with the date and time information of the call and the character information of "successful recognition" to the printer 44 after the line is disconnected. If the speech recognition does not succeed even after the retry is repeated a predetermined number of times, the speech recognition unit 48
Outputs the date and time information of the call and the character information of "unrecognizable" to the printer 44 after the line is disconnected. FIG. 2 shows an output example of the printer 44. Speech recognition was successful at the first, second, and fifth times, and failed at the third and fourth times.

If the voice recognition fails even if the retry is repeated a predetermined number of times, the voice recognition unit 48 causes the recording unit 50 to record the received voice. That is, the voice recognition unit 48 transmits the message "Receiving a voice message now. Please insert a message after the beep sound" to the other terminal, and operates the recording unit 50 in the recording mode. Then, the audio signal from the partner terminal is supplied to the recording unit 50 to be recorded.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the speech recognition unit 48. 54, an input terminal for a signal received from a communication line (specifically, the switch 52); 56, an amplifier for amplifying a signal from the input terminal 54;
A / D that converts the analog output signal of
The converter, 60 is a microprocessor for executing voice recognition processing and other processing, and 62 is a microprocessor 60
ROM for storing operation program and fixed data of
4 is a RAM for temporarily storing received data and voice recognition results
It is. 66 is a D / A converter for converting voice data (for example, voice data of a response message) output from the microprocessor 60 into an analog signal, 68 is an amplifier for amplifying the output of the D / A converter 66, and 70 is an amplifier An output terminal for connecting the output 68 to the switch 52 (communication line via). The microprocessor 60 also supplies printer control data and print data to the printer 44 via the serial interface 72,
A recording control signal is supplied to the recording unit 50 via the.

The microprocessor 60 reads out from the ROM 62 a voice data corresponding to a voice recognition start message, for example, a voice message corresponding to "Print message accepted. Please speak slowly for 20 seconds". 66. This voice message data is converted to an analog signal by a D / A converter 66, amplified by an amplifier 68, and
0, transmitted to the partner terminal via the switch 52 and the communication line. As for the confirmation sound of the voice recognition, the microprocessor 60 reads out high-pitched sound or low-pitched sound data from the ROM 62. This sound data is similarly converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 66, amplified by the amplifier 68, and transmitted to the partner terminal via the output terminal 70, the switch 52, and the communication line.

As a technique for recognizing voice in real time, a known method can be used. The audio signal received from the communication line is applied to an A / D converter 58 via an input terminal 54 and an amplifier 56, converted into a digital signal, and input to a microprocessor 60. Microprocessor 6
0 indicates that the audio data from the D / A converter 58 is stored in the RAM 64
The received voice data is converted into character code data by a well-known method, for example, by comparison with voice data stored in the ROM 62 in advance. If the voice recognition is successful, the obtained character code data is stored in the RAM 64. If the voice recognition is not successful, the microprocessor 60 operates the recording unit 50 in the recording mode, and supplies the voice data stored in the RAM 64 to the recording unit 50 for recording.

When the call ends, the microprocessor 6
0 converts the date and time of the call and the information indicating the success / failure of the voice recognition, and if the voice recognition is successful, converts the character code data stored in the RAM 64 into print data, From the interface 72 to the printer 44
To supply. As a result, the history and contents of the answering machine are printed out as shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the embodiment in which the voice is printed out has been described. Of course, the received voice may be displayed as characters or images by the display means.

[0023]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the contents of the incoming voice can be output as a non-voice, for example, printed, and the trouble of reproducing the recording unit can be omitted. Even in the case of a hearing impaired person or an environment where hearing is difficult to use, the contents of the input voice can be easily confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a printing example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a speech recognition unit 48;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a conventional facsimile machine.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a conventional telephone with an answering machine function.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional facsimile apparatus with an answering machine function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Modulator / demodulator (modem) 12: Image scanner 14: Printer 16: Switch 18: Talk unit (so-called telephone) 20: Switch 22: Recording unit 24: Talk unit 26: Switch 28: Facsimile device 30: Talk unit 32: recording unit 40: modem (modem) 42: image scanner 44: printer 46: communication unit 48: voice recognition unit 50: recording unit 52: switch 54: input terminal 56: amplifier 58: A / D converter 60 : Microprocessor 62: ROM 64: RAM 66: D / A converter 68: Amplifier 70: Output terminal 72: Serial interface 74: Control terminal

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A voice recognition means for recognizing a received voice and converting it into a character code, an output means for outputting a non-voice output of a recognition result of the voice recognition means, and ,
An audio receiving device comprising: a recording unit that records a received audio. The output means outputs at least the incoming date and time and the content of the recognition as a recognition result of the voice recognition means if the voice recognition is successful, and the incoming date and time and the voice if the voice recognition fails. The voice receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the voice receiving device outputs information indicating recognition failure. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is a printing unit.
Or the voice receiving device according to 2. 4. The voice receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting a sound signal indicating that voice recognition is being performed by said voice recognition means. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising retry request means for outputting a retry request signal for requesting a retry up to a predetermined number of times when voice recognition by said voice recognition means has failed. Audio receiving device. 6. The voice receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a facsimile modem and image reading means. 7. A communication terminal comprising a facsimile apparatus provided with an image input means, an image output means and a modem, a communication unit for voice communication and a recording unit, and capable of selecting facsimile communication and communication, and receiving date and time information. From the image output means of the facsimile apparatus. 8. A voice recognizing means for recognizing a received voice and converting it into a character code, wherein the image output means of the facsimile apparatus at least recognizes the incoming date and time and the contents of the recognition when the voice recognition is successful. The communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein the communication terminal outputs, when the voice recognition fails, information indicating an incoming call date and time and a failure in the voice recognition. 9. The communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein said image output means is a printing means. 10. The communication terminal according to claim 8, further comprising means for outputting a sound signal indicating that speech recognition is being performed by said speech recognition means. 11. The communication terminal according to claim 8, further comprising retry request means for outputting a retry request signal for requesting retry up to a predetermined number of times when voice recognition by said voice recognition means has failed.