JPH11296191A - Equipment control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an equipment control system by which the disturbance of a user at the time of operation can be prevented even if an operating means controlled by speech and manual operation are mounted. SOLUTION: This equipment control system provided with an operating means controlled by speech and manual operation is installed with an exclusive means 11 for controlling equipment. Since an usable operating means can be limited to only either of speech or manual operation by the equipment control system, the disturbance of a user at the time of operation can be prevented to improve operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an equipment control system, and more particularly to an equipment control system having a plurality of voice and manual operation means, and more particularly to a plurality of operation means (mounted on a main body) in a vehicle-mounted apparatus. (E.g., a manual switch using a remote control, a manual switch using a remote control, and a voice recognition device).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years,
A device control system having a plurality of voice and manual operation means has been developed. In particular, if voice is used for operating the vehicle-mounted device, it is possible to suppress the driver's inattentive driving and the like, and to improve safety.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a conventional device control system provided with a plurality of operation means. In the device control system, information from the receiving means 2 for receiving a signal from the remote controller 9 by manual operation, the main body switch 3 provided on the main body, and the voice recognition processing means 5 are input to the control means 7 respectively. Has become
The control means 7 controls the device 8 based on these pieces of information. The microphone 4 captures voice uttered by the user 10, and the voice is subjected to A / D conversion by the voice recognition means 5, and then subjected to voice recognition processing. The memory 6 stores data for voice recognition.

In the case of the device control system as shown in FIG. 9, the voice operation and the manual operation can be selectively used according to the user's preference, and the movement of the line of sight can be suppressed by using the voice operation. , Especially for the driver.

[0005] However, in the case of the device control system described above, the operation procedure between the voice operation and the manual operation is basically different, and the structure is not such that the voice operation and the manual operation are appropriately linked. . Therefore, during a series of operations, for example, when performing an operation for obtaining "congestion information" using a navigation system, if both operations by voice and manual operations are performed, appropriate device operations cannot be performed. However, there is a possibility that the user will be confused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even when equipped with voice and manual operation means, it is possible to avoid confusion of a user at the time of operation and to control the device with good usability. It aims to provide a system.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects To achieve the above object, a device control system according to the present invention (1)
Is a device control system with voice and manual operation means, by either voice or manual,
It is characterized in that an exclusive means for controlling the device is provided.

According to the device control system (1), usable operation means can be limited to either voice or manual operation, so that confusion of a user at the time of operation can be avoided and usability is improved. good.

A device control system (2) according to the present invention includes a voice and manual operation means, and controls the device based on an operation command item selected from the operation means. It is characterized in that the operation command item by operation is constituted by a more final operation command item than the operation command item by manual operation, and the number of layers by voice operation is smaller than the number of layers by manual operation.

[0010] According to the device control system (2), since the operation command item by voice operation is constituted by a more final operation command item than the operation command item by manual operation, control of the device by voice operation is performed. It can be performed more directly.

For example, as an audio operation, when switching to "FM Osaka" of FM radio while listening to a CD, it is possible to directly switch to "FM Osaka" of FM radio simply by saying "FM Osaka". .

Further, the equipment control system (3) according to the present invention includes a voice and manual operation means, and controls the equipment based on an operation command item selected from the operation means. Alternatively, an operation instruction item by voice operation and an operation instruction item by manual operation are shared so that the device can be controlled either manually or manually.

[0013] According to the device control system (3), the operation command item by voice operation and the operation command item by manual operation are shared, that is, the operation command item that can be selected next in the operation process is the voice operation and the manual operation item. Since the operation is the same, the device operation can be appropriately performed using both the operation means by voice and the operation means by manual operation. In addition, since the operation procedure is the same between the manual operation that the operation procedure can be understood by looking at the remote control and the main body switch and the voice operation, the operation procedure by the voice operation can be prevented from being lost.

For example, as an audio operation, when switching to FM radio "FM Osaka" while listening to a CD, instead of pressing the button [FM], "FM"
Then, by pressing a memory button in which a frequency "85.1 MHz" (FM Osaka) is stored from among a plurality of memory buttons, the FM radio can be switched to "FM Osaka".

The device control system (4) according to the present invention includes a voice and manual operation means, and controls the device based on an operation command item selected from the operation means. It is characterized in that it is configured to use an operation instruction item by an operation and an operation instruction item by a manual operation in combination. According to the device control system (4), the operation command item by the voice operation and the operation command item by the manual operation are used in combination, that is, the good parts of the voice operation and the manual operation can be effectively used. Since it is configured so that it can be used, usability is very good.

For example, when using a navigation system to enter a telephone number to set a destination, first say "Denwabangoukensaku", then enter a telephone number using the numeric keypad on the remote control, and Finally, the destination can be set by saying "Moktekichi setting".

Further, the equipment control system (5) according to the present invention is configured such that in any one of the equipment control systems (1) to (4), the control amount is differentiated according to the volume of the input voice. It is characterized by being.

According to the device control system (5), the control amount can be differentiated in accordance with the volume of the input voice. In the case of "volume up" by voice, the level of volume up can be changed.

Further, the equipment control system (6) according to the present invention does not terminate the ongoing operation in any of the equipment control systems (1) to (5) until an end command item is uttered. It is characterized by being constituted.

According to the device control system (6), the operation does not end until a termination command is issued. For example, when the cursor on the operation screen is moved, if "Migi" is first uttered, The cursor can start moving to the right and then say "stop" to stop the cursor.

The same is true of the volume operation. When "volume down" is first uttered, the volume starts to decrease, and the volume can be continuously decreased until the next "stop" is uttered.

Further, the device control system (7) according to the present invention counts the number of consecutive homophone words in any of the above device control systems (1) to (6). , The control amount is determined according to the count value.

According to the device control system (7), when a homophone is continuously input, the control amount can be differentiated in accordance with the number of consecutive words. In the case of moving, if "Migi, Migi, Migi" is uttered, the cursor can be moved to the right by three.

The equipment control system (8) according to the present invention, in any one of the equipment control systems (1) to (7), inputs sound using a remote controller and sends the sound information to the equipment body. It is characterized in that transmission is performed using radio waves such as FM.

According to the device control system (8), F
By using radio waves such as M, even if there is an obstacle or the like in the space, audio information can be transmitted to the device body with high accuracy.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a device control system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system (1) according to the embodiment. Here, the description of the same configuration as the device control system shown in FIG. 9 is omitted.

The receiving means 2 and the main body switch 3 are connected to the control circuit 14 via the exclusion means 11, the microphone 4 is connected to the voice recognition processing means 5 via the exclusion means 11, and the voice recognition means 5 is switched. Control circuit 1 via means 12
5 is connected. In addition, the control means 13 controls the control circuit 1
4 and a control circuit 15, and the receiving means 2,
The device 8 is controlled based on data from the main body switch 3 and the voice recognition means 5.

The exclusion means 11 is for controlling the device 8 only by either voice or manual operation. According to a signal from the switching means 12, the remote control 9, which is a manual switch, In addition, data from the main body switch 3 is not transmitted to the control means 13.

The operation of the switching means 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 1, it is determined whether or not there is input data from the voice recognition processing means 5. If it is determined that there is input data, the process proceeds to step 2 and the exclusion unit 11 disables the manual operation.
, And the process proceeds to step 3. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no input data, the process returns to step 1.

Next, in step 3, the voice recognition processing means 5
It is determined whether there is new input data from. If it is determined that there is input data, the process proceeds to step 4, the timer t is set to 0, and the process proceeds to step 5. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no input data, the process skips step 4 and proceeds to step 5.

In step 5, it is determined whether or not the timer t is equal to or longer than a predetermined time T. If it is longer than the predetermined time T,
In step 6, a signal is output to the exclusion unit 11 so that manual operation is enabled, and the process returns to step 1. On the other hand, if it is not longer than the predetermined time T, the process returns to the step 3.

That is, the switching means 12 operates so that the operation control by the remote controller 9 and the main body switch 3 cannot be performed when the operation by voice is started, and when the operation by voice is not performed for a predetermined time T. It is configured to operate so that operation by the remote controller 9 and the main body switch 3 is enabled again.

As shown in FIG. 3, the exclusion means 11 is controlled by connecting a changeover switch 17 which can be operated by the user to the exclusion means 11, and the device 8 can be operated only by voice or manually. May be controlled.

The memory 16 stores, as voice recognition data, operation command items which are more final than the operation command items by manual operation, and the control circuit 15 operates based on the recognition data from the voice recognition processing means 5. The device 8 is configured to perform control of the device 8.

Table 1 shows the voice recognition data stored in the memory 16, and Table 2 shows the voice recognition data and the control functions performed by the control means 13 based on the data.

[0036]

[Table 1]

[0037]

[Table 2]

Next, a description will be given of a case where, as an audio operation, a user is listening to a CD and switches to "FM Osaka" of FM radio.

1. When performing manual operation using the remote controller 9 or the main body switch 3 As a first operation, the button [FM] is pressed. This switches the audio function to FM radio. As a second operation, the user presses the button storing the frequency “85.1 MHz” (FM Osaka) from among the plurality of memory buttons. As a result, the broadcasting station is switched to FM Osaka. However, here, it is assumed that the frequency “85.1 MHz” is stored in advance.

2. When performing by voice operation As is clear from Tables 1 and 2, by storing more final operation command items as data for voice recognition, it is possible to merely say "FM Osaka",
Directly switches to FM radio "FM Osaka".

According to the device control system (1) according to the above-mentioned embodiment, usable operation means can be limited to either voice or manual operation, so that confusion of the user during operation can be avoided. It is easy to use. Further, since the operation command item by voice operation is constituted by a more final operation command item than the operation command item by manual operation, it is possible to directly control the device by voice operation.

As an example other than the audio operation described above, an operation for obtaining "traffic congestion information" using a navigation system will be described. In a manual operation, it is common to first open the entire menu screen, and then obtain “congestion information” after passing through a “VICS” screen and a “character information acquisition” screen. By storing the item “Justice information” as voice recognition data, it is possible to directly obtain “congestion information”.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system (2) according to the embodiment. Here, the description of the same configuration as the device control system shown in FIG. 9 is omitted. The receiving means 2, the main body switch 3, and the voice recognition processing means 5 are connected to the control means 19, and the control means 19 is connected to the device 8 and the display means 20. In the memory 18 connected to the voice recognition processing means 5, the same operation command items as the manual operation items are stored as voice recognition data.

The control means 19 is configured such that operation command items by voice operation and operation command items by manual operation are shared so that the device 8 can be controlled either by voice or manually. Even if the operation is performed manually (remote control 9, body switch 3) or by voice, the operation status is displayed on display means 20.
Is configured to be displayed.

Table 3 shows the data for voice recognition stored in the memory 18, and Table 4 shows the data for voice recognition and the control functions performed by the control means 19 based on the data.

[0046]

[Table 3]

[0047]

[Table 4]

Next, a description will be given of a case where, as an audio operation, a user is listening to a CD and switches to "FM Osaka" of FM radio.

1. When Only Manual Operation is Performed Using Remote Controller 9 or Main Body Switch 3 As a first operation, the button [FM] is pressed. This switches the audio function to FM radio. As a second operation, a plurality of memory buttons (to 5
Frequency "85.1MHz"
Press the memory button where (FM Osaka) is stored. As a result, the broadcasting station is switched to FM Osaka. Here, it is assumed that the frequency “85.1 MHz” is stored in the memory button in advance.

2. When Performing Only by Voice Operation Input from Microphone 4 As the first operation, “FM” is uttered. This switches the audio function to FM radio.
As the second operation, "Memory Number Niban"
Is switched to the broadcast station of the frequency "85.1 MHz" (FM Osaka) stored in the memory button.

3. When Performing Manual Operation and Voice Operation (Part 1) As a first operation, a button [FM] is pressed. As a second operation, say "memory number niban".

4. When Performing by Manual Operation and Voice Operation (Part 2) As the first operation, “FM” is uttered. Second
As a third operation, a memory button in which the frequency “85.1 MHz” (FM Osaka) is stored is pressed from among a plurality of memory buttons.

According to the device control system (2) according to the above-described embodiment, the operation command item by voice operation and the operation command item by manual operation are shared, that is, the operation command item that can be selected next in the operation process. In this case, the voice operation and the manual operation are the same, so that the device operation can be appropriately performed even if both the voice operation means and the manual operation means are used. Also, the remote control 9
Since the operation procedure is the same between the manual operation that the operation procedure can be understood by looking at the main body switch 3 and the voice operation, the operation procedure by the voice operation can be prevented from being lost. Further, by displaying the operation status on the display means 20, the operation command item which can be selected next in the operation process can be recognized from the display means 20.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system (3) according to the embodiment. Here, the description of the same configuration as the device control system shown in FIG. 9 is omitted.

The receiving means 2, the main body switch 3, and the voice recognition processing means 5 are connected to the control means 22.
Is connected to the device 8 and the audio output means 23. The memory 21 connected to the voice recognition processing means 5 is used in combination with an operation command item by a manual operation.
An operation command item by voice operation is stored as voice recognition data.

Further, the control means 22 provides further necessary operation guidance to the voice output means 2 so that the operation command items by voice operation and the manual operation command items are used in combination.
3 is performed.

Next, a case where a destination is set by inputting a telephone number using the navigation system will be described. As a first operation, when "Denwa Bangou Kensaku" is uttered, the voice output means 23 guides the user to "enter a telephone number with the ten keys (on the remote control)." As a second operation, a telephone number is input by operating a ten-key on the remote controller, and as a third operation, "Mokutechi setting" is uttered.

According to the device control system (3) according to the above-described embodiment, since the good parts of the voice operation and the manual operation can be effectively used, the usability is greatly improved.

In any one of the device control systems (1) to (3) according to the above embodiment, the control amount is differentiated according to the volume of the sound input from the microphone 4, whereby: For example, in the volume operation, the level of volume up can be changed between "loud volume" and "volume up" with a loud voice.

This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 11, it is determined whether or not the volume v of voice "volume up" is equal to or greater than a predetermined volume V. If the voice volume v is equal to or more than the predetermined voice volume V, the process proceeds to step 12, and the volume is increased according to the voice volume v. On the other hand, if the voice volume v is not equal to or greater than the predetermined voice volume V, the process proceeds to step 13, and the volume is increased by a predetermined volume.

In any one of the device control systems (1) to (3) according to the above embodiment, until the end command item (for example, “stop”) is input from the microphone 4
By configuring so that the ongoing operation is not terminated, for example, when moving the cursor on the operation screen, if "Migi" is first spoken, the cursor starts moving to the right and then "Stop" Can be controlled so that the cursor does not stop until "is pronounced.

This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. However, the flowchart shows only the operation after the cursor has already started moving rightward. First,
In step 21, it is determined whether or not the voice "stop" has been input. If the input has been made, the process proceeds to step 22, where control is performed to stop the movement of the cursor. On the other hand, if the input has not been made, the process returns to step 21.

In any one of the device control systems (1) to (3) according to the above-described embodiment, when a homophone is continuously input from the microphone 4, the number of continuations is counted.
By configuring so that the control amount is determined according to the counted value, for example, when moving the cursor on the operation screen, if “Migi, Migi, Migi” is uttered, three cursors are used. You can move it to the right.

This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 31, the data D input from the microphone 4 is fetched, and in step 32
Then, it is determined whether or not the data D is "Migi" data. If it is determined to be "Migi", the process proceeds to step 34, where 1 is added to the counter C (the initial value is 1), and the process returns to step 31. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not “Migi”, the process proceeds to Step 33.

In step 33, it is determined whether or not the counter C is 2 or more. If the counter C is 2 or more,
That is, if the homophone is continuously input, the process proceeds to step 35, where the data D and the counter C are output to the control means. On the other hand, if the counter C is not 2 or more, the process proceeds to step 36, and outputs only the data D to the control means.

In the device control system according to the above-described embodiment, when sound is input using a remote controller and the sound information is transmitted to the device main body side, the sound information is transmitted using radio waves such as FM. Even if there is an obstacle or the like in the space, the voice information can be transmitted to the device body with high accuracy. Further, by providing a display on the remote controller to display operation command items by voice operation, it is possible to make the remote control more user-friendly. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the operation instruction item is displayed on another display, or the operation instruction item is guided using a speaker.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a switching unit in the device control system (1) according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system (2) according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a device control system (3) according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of differentiating a control amount according to a loudness of a sound.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when an end command item is input.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation in a case where a homophone is continuously input.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a conventional device control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Receiving means 3 Body switch 4 Microphone 5 Voice recognition processing means 6, 16, 18, 21 Memory 7, 13, 19, 22 Control means 8 Equipment 9 Remote control 10 User 11 Exclusive means 12 Switching means 14, 15 Control circuit 17 Switching Switch 20 display means 23 sound output means

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus control system provided with voice and manual operation means, wherein said apparatus is provided with exclusive means for controlling the apparatus only by either voice or manual operation. Control system. 2. An apparatus control system comprising voice and manual operation means for controlling a device based on an operation instruction item selected from the operation means, wherein the operation instruction item by voice operation is an operation instruction item by manual operation. An apparatus operation system comprising a more final operation command item than a manual operation and a smaller number of layers by voice operation than a number of layers by manual operation. 3. A device control system comprising a voice and manual operation means for controlling a device based on an operation command item selected from the operation means, wherein the device is controlled either by voice or manually. A device control system, wherein operation command items by voice operation and operation command items by manual operation are shared. 4. An equipment control system comprising voice and manual operation means for controlling an apparatus based on an operation instruction item selected from said operation means, wherein an operation instruction item by voice operation and an operation instruction item by manual operation A device control system configured to be used in combination with the above. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control amount is differentiated according to the volume of the input voice.
5. The device control system according to any one of Items 4 to 4. 6. The device control system according to claim 1, wherein the ongoing operation is not terminated until an end command item is uttered. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the same phonetic word is continuously input, the number of continuous voice words is counted, and a control amount is determined according to the count value.
The device control system according to any one of the above items. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voice is input using a remote controller, and the voice information is transmitted to a device main body using radio waves such as FM. 8. The device control system according to any one of items 7.