JPH1153167A - Guidance output device and its program recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attract operator's attention specially when an important guidance is outputted by varying the output states, e.g. sound volume and sound quality of the voice guidance according what contents the guidance to be outputted has. SOLUTION: A voice guidance file 2-1 in a RAM 2 stores importance corresponding to pieces of guidance data. A CPU 1 decide the importance corresponding to guidance data when retrieving the guidance data to be outputted from the voice guidance file 2-1 and outputting it. The sound volume is controlled according to the importance. Therefore, operator's attention can be attracted to let the operator know that the guidance is important. Further, when an important voice message is outputted, the sound volume level is automatically increased and the voice guidance can be outputted even if the variable resistor is placed in a soundless state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a guidance output device for outputting operation guidance and the like, and a program recording medium therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a data processing apparatus such as an office computer, operation guidance such as an operation procedure and an input error is stored as text data, and the operation guidance is synthesized and output. In this case, the operation guidance is always output at the same sound volume according to the setting state of the sound volume control.

[0003]

By the way, the operation guidance includes not only the guidance for the next operation procedure but also a warning for an input error or the like, and the type of guidance. Instead, outputting the guidance content uniformly by voice is a monotonous voice guidance,
Unless the operator always listens to the voice guidance carefully and tries to understand the content, the operator may miss a warning such as an input error. On the other hand, if the operator is a beginner, detailed operation guidance is required. However, if the operator is an expert, the detailed operation guidance hinders the input operation. An object of the first invention is to change an output state such as a volume and a sound quality of voice guidance according to what kind of guidance is to be output when outputting voice guidance. The purpose is to allow the operator's attention to be particularly noticed at the time of output. A second object of the present invention is to provide an important voice guidance by changing a display state or adding an alarm sound according to what kind of guidance is to be output when outputting voice guidance. The purpose is to allow the operator's attention to be particularly noticed at the time of output. A third object of the present invention is to provide guidance suitable for an operator by outputting guidance having contents corresponding to the level of the operator.

[0004]

The means of the present invention are as follows. The invention according to claim 1 provides guidance storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of guidance data in correspondence with their importance, search means for searching for guidance data to be output from the guidance storage means, and this search means. Determining means for determining the importance of the searched guidance data; and, when outputting voice guidance based on the guidance data searched for by the searching means, in an output state corresponding to the importance determined by the determining means. Output means for outputting voice guidance. When the audio volume is set to a silent state, the output unit may increase the output volume of the audio guidance based on the importance determined by the determination unit and output the audio guidance. . According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the guidance data to be output is searched, the importance defined in advance corresponding to the guidance data is determined. Then, when outputting voice guidance based on the searched guidance data, the voice guidance is output in an output state corresponding to the determined importance. Therefore, when outputting voice guidance, by changing the output state such as the volume and sound quality of the voice guidance according to the type of guidance to be output, the attention of the operator when outputting important voice guidance is provided. Can be especially aroused.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guidance storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of guidance data in accordance with a plurality of pieces of guidance data, a retrieval means for retrieving guidance data to be output from the guidance storage means, and Determining means for determining the importance of the guidance data retrieved by the retrieval means, and outputting voice guidance based on the guidance data retrieved by the retrieval means,
Output means for notifying the importance determined by the determination means. When outputting the voice guidance, the output unit may notify the importance determined by the determination unit and output the voice guidance in an output state according to the determined importance. According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the guidance data to be output is retrieved, the importance defined in advance corresponding to the guidance data is determined. Then, the voice guidance is output based on the searched guidance data, and the determined importance is notified by a display, an alarm sound, or the like. Therefore, when outputting voice guidance, the display state is changed according to the type of guidance to be output, or by adding an alarm sound, etc., the attention of the operator when outputting important voice guidance is provided. Can be especially aroused.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guidance storage means for storing guidance data having the same contents according to the level of an operator, and a determination means for determining the level of the operator when the operator is designated. And output means for retrieving and outputting guidance data corresponding to the operator level determined by the determination means when searching and outputting guidance data to be output from the guidance storage means. It is.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, guidance data having the same gist is stored corresponding to the level of the operator, and when the operator is designated, the level is determined, and the guidance data according to the level is determined. Read and output. Therefore, by outputting guidance having contents corresponding to the level of the operator, guidance appropriate for the operator can be provided.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a data processing device such as an office computer, which is provided with a voice guidance function. The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the data processing device according to various programs loaded in the RAM 2. The storage device 3 includes a storage medium 4 in which an operating system, various application programs, data files, character font data, and the like are stored in advance, and a drive system thereof. The storage medium 4 is fixedly provided or removably mountable, such as a floppy disk,
It is composed of a magnetic / optical storage medium such as a hard disk, an optical disk, and a RAM card, and a semiconductor memory. The programs and data in the storage medium 4 are loaded into the RAM 2 under the control of the CPU 1 as needed. Further, the CPU 1 receives programs and data transmitted from other devices via a communication line or the like and stores them in the storage medium 4 or stored in a storage medium provided in other devices. Existing programs and data can be used via a communication line or the like. The CPU 1 has input / output peripheral devices such as an input device 5, a display device 6,
A printing device 7, an audio output device 8, and a volume 9 are connected, and the CPU 1 controls their operations according to an input / output program. The input device 5 includes a keyboard for inputting character string data and various commands, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The display device 6 is a liquid crystal display device, a CRT display device, a plasma display device, or the like, and the printing device 7 is a non-impact printer or an impact printer such as thermal transfer or ink jet. The voice output device 8 produces voice guidance, and synthesizes and outputs operation guidance data. The volume 9 can change the volume level in a hardware manner by an external operation, and also can change the volume level in a software manner under the control of the CPU 1. The voice guidance is output at a volume corresponding to the set level of the volume 9.

FIG. 1B shows the main structure of the RAM 2, and various memory areas are allocated to the RAM 2. The voice guidance file 2-1 stores and manages operation guidance and the like, and FIG. 2 shows a data structure of the voice guidance file 2-1. That is,
The voice guidance file 2-1 stores voice data (text data including a character string code) corresponding to the index key,
In the configuration in which the importance flag is stored, for example, voice data corresponding to the index key “1” is “Please input customer code” as operation guidance for guiding the next operation.
The voice data corresponding to the index key "2" stores "input a value outside the range" as an operation guidance to warn of an input error. Then, importance flags "1" and "0" are set in each audio data. The importance flag "1" means that the audio data has high importance, and "0" means that the audio data has low importance, and is arbitrarily set by the user. Here, the CPU 1 searches the audio guidance file 2-1 for audio data to be output from the audio guidance file 2-1 by using the index key, gives the audio data to the audio output device 8, and determines the importance thereof.
The volume level of the volume 9 is automatically adjusted based on the determination result. The work memory 2-2 is a work area for temporarily storing various programs, intermediate results of data processing, and the like.

Next, the operation of the data processing apparatus will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.
Here, a program for realizing each function described in these flowcharts is stored in a storage medium 4 in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 1, and its contents are stored in a work memory 2-2 in a RAM 2. 2 is loaded. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation guidance process performed when a customer is input and designated. First, upon entering this flow, the CPU 1 searches the voice guidance file 2-1 using the index key "1", reads out voice data and an importance flag corresponding to the voice guidance file 2-1 and sets them in the work memory 2-2 (step S1). A
1). Then, the volume 9 is accessed to check whether the current set volume is at the “0” level (silence state) (step A2). If the volume level is not "0", the retrieved importance flag is determined (step A3). If the flag is 1, the volume level of the volume 9 is adjusted to "20" (step A4). If the flag = 0, the volume level is adjusted to "10" (step A5). And
The searched voice data is provided to the voice output device 8, whereby voice guidance is output at the set volume (step A6). Now, the voice guidance file 2-1 stores voice data prompting the input of the customer code.
Since the importance flag is “0”, the audio data is uttered at the volume level “10”. On the other hand, even when the volume level is set to "0", the importance flag is determined (step A7). In this case, if the importance flag is "0", the voice prompting the input of the customer code is provided. The guidance output is prohibited, but if the importance flag is "1", the process proceeds to step A5, where the sound level is adjusted to "10" and the voice guidance is performed. Next, step A8
Waits for the input of a customer code. When the customer code is input, an error check is performed to determine whether the input code string has a 5-digit structure, that is, is within the valid range (step A).
9) As a result, if the result is within the valid range, the process exits from this flow. If the result is out of the range, the voice guidance file 2-1 is searched with the index key "2", and the corresponding voice data and importance flag are displayed. (Step A1)
0). Then, the importance flag is determined (step A1).
1) If the flag is 1, the volume level of the volume 9 is adjusted to "20" (step A12), and if the flag is 0, the volume level is adjusted to "10" (step A).
13). The voice data is voice-synthesized and output at the set volume (step A14).

FIG. 3 specifically shows operation guidance when a customer is input and designated. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing other operation guidance processing at the time of normal input. First, the voice guidance file 2-1 is searched based on the search key corresponding to the input operation (step B).
1) Check whether there is a corresponding index key (step B)
2). Here, if there is none, this flow ends,
If there is, the importance flag corresponding to the index key is read from the voice guidance file 2-1 (step B3).
Here, the volume 9 is accessed, and it is checked whether the volume level is "0" and a silent state is set (step B4), and if it is a silent state, the importance flag is determined (step B5). As a result, if the flag = 1, the volume is adjusted to increase the volume level to "10" (step B6). Then, the audio data corresponding to the index key is supplied to the audio output device 8, and is synthesized and output at the volume level "10" (step B10). If the importance flag = 0, no voice guidance is output. On the other hand, if the volume level is not "0", the importance flag is determined (step B7). If the flag = 1, the volume is adjusted to increase the volume level by a predetermined amount from the current set value (step B8). If the flag = 0, the volume level remains at the current set value (step B9).
Then, voice data corresponding to the index key is voice-synthesized and output (step B10).

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the guidance data to be output is retrieved from the voice guidance file 2-1 and the voice guidance is output, the importance corresponding to the guidance data is determined. ,
Since the volume is adjusted according to the degree of importance, it is possible to call attention of the operator and to notify that the guidance is important. Further, even when the volume 9 is set to a silent state at the time of outputting an important voice message, the voice guidance can be output by automatically increasing the volume level.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, FIGS. 1C and 5
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described first embodiment, the volume of the voice guidance itself is adjusted according to the importance. However, in the second embodiment, the importance is notified by blinking display or an alarm sound together with the voice guidance. It is something to do. FIG. 1C shows a main configuration of a RAM 2 according to the second embodiment. The RAM 2 has an output form file 2-3 in addition to a voice guidance file 2-1 and a work memory 2-2. ing. The voice guidance file 2-1 stores the index key, the voice data, and the importance flag as described above. In the second embodiment, the importance flag has three types of "0", "1", and "2". Is set. As shown in FIG. 5, the output form file 2-3 includes a volume value, addition of a signal tone before guidance, and blinking of the display screen as output form parameters corresponding to the importance flags “0”, “1”, and “2”. Is set. Here, the output form parameter “volume value” indicates the volume level of the voice guidance, and corresponds to the volume level “10” corresponding to the importance flag “0” and “1” and the importance flag “2”. The volume level “20” is set. When the output form parameter “Signal sound addition” is “0”,
Indicates that no signal tone is added before the voice guidance,
When it is "1", it means that it should be added. The output form parameter “blinking of the display screen” means that the display screen does not blink when it is “0” and that it should blink when it is “1”.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. First, the voice guidance file 2-1 is searched based on the index key specified and input, and voice data and an importance flag corresponding to the index key are read (step C1). Then, the output mode file 2-3 is searched based on the searched importance flag (step C2). The volume value is determined according to the search result (step C3), and the volume level of the volume 9 is adjusted accordingly, and the volume level is set to "10" (step C3).
4) Or, set to "20" (step C5).
Next, it is determined whether or not a signal tone has been added (step C6). If it is "0", no signal tone is generated (step C6).
7) If "1", a signal tone (for example, a single tone) is generated (step C8). In this case, the signal tone is generated based on the volume adjusted in steps C4 and C5 described above. Next, it is determined whether the screen is blinking (step C).
9) If it is “0”, no blinking display is performed,
If "1", the display screen is displayed blinking (step C10). In this case, the entire display screen may blink, or only the guide display area may blink. Finally, voice guidance is generated and output. At this time, voice guidance is generated and output based on the volume adjusted in steps C4 and C5 (step C1).
1).

Therefore, when the contents shown in FIG. 5 are set in the output form file 2-3, there are three types of output forms for outputting the voice guidance according to the importance. That is, when the importance flag is “0”, only the voice guidance has the volume level “1”.
0, and when the importance flag is "1", the voice guidance is output at a volume level "10".
Before that, a signal tone is output and the importance flag is set to “1”.
In the case of, the voice guidance is output at the volume level "20", a signal tone is output before that, and the display screen blinks while the voice guidance is being output. As described above, it is possible to notify that the guidance is important by a signal tone or blinking display in addition to the volume level of the voice guidance according to the importance.

(Third Embodiment) Hereinafter, FIG. 1 (D), FIG.
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described first and second embodiments, the output state is changed according to the importance of the guidance data. However, in the third embodiment, the guidance data having the same contents (the same application) is provided at the level of the operator. Is selectively output in accordance with. FIG. 1D shows a main configuration of the RAM 2 in the third embodiment. The RAM 2 has a voice guidance file 2-1 and a voice guidance file 2-1.
In addition to the work memory 2-2, a user table 2-4 and a voice guidance file 2-5 corresponding to a user level are provided. Here, the voice guidance file 2-1 is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 2 described above, but the voice guidance file 2-1 in the third embodiment is, as shown in FIG. , An audio guidance code and an importance flag are stored in correspondence with the index key. That is, in FIG. 2, the audio data is stored in association with the index key. However, the audio guidance file 2-1 shown in FIG. The guidance code is stored. User table 2-4
Has a configuration in which a user level is stored in correspondence with a user name for specifying each operator as shown in FIG.
User levels “0” and “1” are set according to whether the operator is a beginner or an expert, and the user level “0” is set.
Indicates a beginner, and user level “1” indicates an expert.
The voice guidance file 2-5 corresponding to the user level is shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), the voice guidance code and the voice data are stored in correspondence with the user level. In the user level-compliant voice guidance file 2-5, two types of voice data having the same gist are stored. The voice data is searched using the voice guidance code and the user level as keys. Here, the voice guidance code "0
The two types of voice data corresponding to “1” are contents prompting the input of the customer code, and the voice guidance code “0”
The voice data corresponding to "2" warns of a customer code input error, and each voice data corresponding to the user level "0" has more detailed content than the voice data at the user level "1".

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment. First, when a user name unique to an operator is logged in, the user table 2-4 is searched based on the user name, and a corresponding user level is read (step D1). When the index key is input and specified, the voice guidance file 2-1 is searched based on the index key, and the voice guidance code and the importance flag corresponding to the index key are read (step D2). Then, based on the voice guidance code and the user level, the voice guidance file 2-5 corresponding to the user level is searched, and the voice data corresponding thereto is read (step D3). Here, the audio data is output at a volume level corresponding to the importance flag, but the operation in that case is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. In this way, the voice guidance of the content according to the user level is output, so that beginners,
Guidance content is appropriate for skilled personnel.

In each of the above-described embodiments, one type of voice guidance is selected and output for an input. However, a plurality of voice guidances are selected for one input, and collected and collected. You may make it output at once.
In this case, the importance may be set according to the highest importance. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the volume of the audio data is adjusted according to the importance, but the sound quality may be adjusted. In the third embodiment, the voice guidance is output, but the guidance data may be displayed and output.

[0018]

According to the present invention, when outputting voice guidance, the output state such as the volume and sound quality of the voice guidance is changed according to the type of guidance to be output. When the voice guidance is output, the operator's attention can be particularly drawn. According to another invention, when outputting voice guidance, the display state is changed according to the type of guidance to be output, or an alarm sound or the like is added, so that important voice guidance can be output. At the time of output, the operator's attention can be particularly raised. According to still another aspect of the invention, a third aspect of the invention is to provide guidance appropriate for an operator by outputting guidance having contents corresponding to the level of the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a data processing device with a voice guidance function, and FIG. 1B is a RAM in a first embodiment;
2 (C) is the RAM 2 in the second embodiment.
(D) is a diagram showing a main configuration of the RAM 2 in the third embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplifying the contents of a voice guidance file 2-1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation guidance process performed when a customer is input and designated;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation guidance processing at the time of normal input.

FIG. 5 is a view exemplifying the contents of an output form file 2-3 used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation guidance process according to the second embodiment.

7A is a voice guidance file 2-1 in the third embodiment, FIG. 7B is a user table 2-4,
(C) is a voice guidance file 2- corresponding to the user level.
The figure which illustrated the content of No. 5.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation guidance process according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 RAM 2-1 Voice guidance file 2-3 Output form file 2-4 User table 2-5 User-level corresponding voice guidance file 3 Storage device 4 Storage medium 5 Input device 6 Display device 8 Voice output device 9 Volume

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A guidance storage means for storing a degree of importance corresponding to a plurality of pieces of guidance data; a retrieval means for retrieving guidance data to be output from the guidance storage means; Determining means for determining the importance of the guidance data; and, when outputting voice guidance based on the guidance data searched by the searching means, outputting the voice guidance in an output state corresponding to the importance determined by the determining means. A guidance output device comprising output means for outputting. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the sound volume is set to a silent state, the output means increases the output volume of the sound guidance based on the importance determined by the determining means and outputs the sound guidance. The guidance output device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. Guidance storage means for storing a degree of importance corresponding to a plurality of pieces of guidance data, retrieval means for retrieving guidance data to be output from the guidance storage means, and retrieval by the retrieval means. Determining means for determining the importance of the guidance data; and output means for outputting voice guidance based on the guidance data searched by the searching means and notifying the importance determined by the determining means. A guidance output device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. When outputting the voice guidance, the output means notifies the importance determined by the determination means and outputs the voice guidance in an output state corresponding to the determined importance. 4. The guidance output device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. Guidance storage means for storing guidance data having the same contents according to the level of an operator, determination means for determining the level of an operator when an operator is designated, and said guidance storage means Output means for retrieving and outputting guidance data corresponding to the operator level determined by the determination means when searching for and outputting guidance data to be output from among the above. apparatus. 6. A function for retrieving guidance data to be output from guidance storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of guidance data in correspondence with a plurality of pieces of guidance data. A recording medium storing a program for realizing a function of determining and a function of outputting voice guidance in an output state corresponding to the determined importance when outputting voice guidance based on the searched guidance data . 7. A function for retrieving guidance data to be output from guidance storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of guidance data corresponding to a plurality of pieces of guidance data, A recording medium on which a program for realizing a function of discriminating and outputting a voice guidance based on the searched guidance data and notifying the discriminated importance is recorded. 8. A function for discriminating the level of an operator when the operator is designated to the computer, and a guidance storage means for storing guidance data having the same gist corresponding to the level of the operator. And a program for realizing a function of searching and outputting guidance data corresponding to the determined operator level when searching for and outputting guidance data to be output from a storage medium.