WO2008075489A1

WO2008075489A1 - Abbreviated character train generating device, its display dvice and voice input device

Info

Publication number: WO2008075489A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/068566
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fumiko Yano
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Priority date: 2006-12-18
Filing date: 2007-09-25
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Also published as: JP2012018682A; JPWO2008075489A1; JP2012022327A

Abstract

An abbreviated character train generating device is comprised of an input character train acquiring unit (10) that acquires an arbitrary Western language input character train and an abbreviated character train generating unit (11) that generates an abbreviated character train from a partial character train of the Western language input character that has the same meaning as the partial character train.

Description

Specification

Abbreviated character string generation device, display device thereof, and voice output device

The present invention relates to an abbreviated character string generation device, a display device for the same, and an audio output device that generate an abbreviated form of a European character string.

Background art

[0002] When displaying a long character string on a display unit of a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal), it is necessary to take some measures on the display so that the user can visually recognize the character string.

First, as a first method, it is conceivable to scroll the character 歹 IJ to the left and right as is normally done in Windows (registered trademark). Specifically, a scroll bar that is operated when scrolling the character string left and right on the display screen is provided, and when the character string is read to the right end of the screen by operating the scroll bar, the character string is then moved to the left. Scroll in the direction and read the rest of the string.

[0003] As a second method, there is a method in which a character string of a predetermined length included in the screen display area of the display unit is previously prepared as data, and the character string is displayed on the display unit.

This method is mainly used in cash dispensers of post offices and banks, and navigation systems mounted on vehicles. In other words, in the second method, the position for displaying the intended character string is determined in advance, and the character string that has the length included in the screen display area (display width) is bothered. It is stored as data and is read and displayed when necessary.

[0004] On the other hand, in order to display character data in a table, list, etc. with a limited display area, replace full-width characters with half-width characters, change the font, etc. so as not to exceed the display-restricted character data length. A technique for compressing and displaying character data is known.

Also, a technique for replacing a partial character string in input character data with an abbreviated character string is known, focusing on giving an abbreviated name to a long word due to poor appearance due to mixed font data, etc. ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-7104 [0006] However, according to the background art described above, a character string to be displayed cannot be stored, a character string to be displayed dynamically changes, or a character string received from the outside must be displayed. This is a problem when the length of the character string may exceed the screen display area (display width), such as when it is not possible. In addition, the user needs to create input data while paying attention to each character string so that it is included in the screen display area, which imposes a load on that. Specifically, for example, in the case of products that are shipped to the European Union, it is necessary to create a character string corresponding to the language of each member country, which is a laborious work.

Furthermore, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the above-mentioned effort is improved only in Japanese, but this is not the case when European text is targeted. In addition, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, “Long, abbreviations for words” are used for humans who do not know the abbreviations. There was an inconvenience that it was difficult to understand the meaning of the created abbreviated character string!

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is mainly intended for character strings for European text, and is input when the length of the character string exceeds the screen display area (display width). By automatically converting the converted character string into a shortened form, it is possible to input data without making the user aware of the screen display area, and to improve usability, a shortened character string generation device, its display device, and An object is to provide an audio output device.

Disclosure of the invention

In order to solve the above-described problem, a shortened character string generation device according to the present invention includes an input character string acquisition unit that acquires a European input character string, and the partial character string of the acquired Western character input character string. A shortened character string generating unit that generates a shortened character string having the same meaning as the character string.

[0009] In addition, the display device of the present invention includes a character string width calculation unit that calculates a character string length of the European input character string displayed on the display screen in accordance with a display width of each character, and the calculated character When the column length exceeds the display width of the display screen, a shortened character string generation unit that generates a shortened character string of the length included in the display width and a shortened character string of the length included in the display width are displayed on the screen. And a shortened character string display control unit for displaying. [0010] Further, the display device of the present invention is obtained from the character string acquisition unit that acquires a character string input character string to be displayed on the display screen and the character string length of the character input character string, and the character string acquisition unit. If the character string length exceeds the display width of the display screen, a shortened character string generation unit that generates a shortened character string of the length included in the display width, and a shortened character string of the length included in the display width An abbreviated character string display control unit for screen display.

[0011] Further, the speech output device of the present invention includes a shortened character string generation unit that generates a shortened character string for speech from a European input character string, and converts the shortened character string for speech into speech and outputs the speech. And a character string voice conversion unit.

[0012] According to the present invention, when the length of the input character string in Western text exceeds the screen display area (display width), the input character string can be automatically converted into a shortened form. Thus, it is possible to provide a shortened character string generation device, a display device for the same, and a voice output device that enable data input without being conscious of the screen display area.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an abbreviated character string generating apparatus that is different from Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a screen transition diagram cited to explain the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device, which focuses on Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a screen transition diagram cited to explain the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device, which focuses on Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen transition diagram cited to explain the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device, which focuses on Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a screen transition diagram cited to explain the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device, which focuses on Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a screen transition diagram cited to explain the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device, which focuses on Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a screen transition diagram cited to explain the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device, which focuses on Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8] is a screen transition diagram quoted for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9] is a screen transition diagram cited for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

10] FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram cited for explaining the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

11] FIG. 11 is a screen transition diagram quoted for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

12] FIG. 12 is a screen transition diagram quoted for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

13] This is a flowchart cited for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

14] This is a flowchart cited for explaining the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 15] is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a shortened character string generation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

16] FIG. 16 is a screen transition diagram cited for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

17] FIG. 17 is a screen transition diagram cited for explaining the operation of the shortened character string generation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

18] This is a flowchart cited for explaining the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

19] This is a flowchart cited for explaining the operation of the abbreviated character string generation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 20] A diagram showing a functional configuration of a modified example of the shortened character string generating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

21] FIG. 21 is a diagram cited for explaining the configuration when the shortened character string generation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is applied to a navigation system. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the shortened character string generation device shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a character string speech conversion unit shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a diagram cited for explaining the screen configuration of the navigation system.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display by the navigation system.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display by the navigation system.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart quoted for explaining the operation of the control unit in the navigation system.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the navigation system.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart cited for explaining the basic operation of the control unit in the navigation system.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display by the navigation system.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart cited for explaining the basic operation of the control unit in the navigation system.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart cited for explaining the basic operation of the control unit in the navigation system.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart cited for explaining the basic operation of the control unit in the navigation system. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, in order to describe the present invention in more detail, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a shortened character string generation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an abbreviated character string generation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes an input character string acquisition unit 10 that acquires an input character string that has an arbitrary number of digits, and an input character string acquisition unit 10. The partial character string (word) of the European input character string obtained in step (b) includes a short character string generation unit 11 that generates a short character string having the same meaning as the partial character 歹 IJ.

[0015] The input character string acquisition unit 10 includes a European character input character string to be displayed on the display screen, and a European character input. This is used to obtain the character string length of a character string. Specifically, the character string length is configured by a peripheral LSI (for example, a keyboard controller), and the functions described above are realized under program control by a processor (CPU) described later.

The abbreviated character string generation unit 11 generates a shortened character string by omitting words in front of vowels. Specifically, a CPU that executes a program that implements the functions of the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 A word length determination unit 11a, a word shortening processing unit l ib, a shortened word storage unit 11c, a word segment storage unit lid, an abbreviated word storage unit l ie, a shortened word storage unit 1 If, and a shortening It consists of a character string display control unit llg.

[0016] The word length determination unit 11a has a function of selecting a word to be converted into a shortened character string by comparing the length length of each word with a threshold value described later. Further, the word shortening processing unit l ib has a function of converting the word selected by the word length determining unit 11a into a shortened form. In other words, the functions of the word length determination unit lla and the word shortening processing unit l ib are realized by sequentially reading out and executing a program stored in a memory built in the above-mentioned processor or attached externally. Is.

In the abbreviated word storage unit 11c, for example, “can 001;” is shortened to “. &.”, “Information” is abbreviated to “fo.”, And abbreviated words that are relatively frequently used are stored. In addition, the word segment storage unit lid stores information about the segment of each word, and the abbreviated word storage unit lie includes, for example, “a” “the” for English and “for French”. Words such as “la” and “le” that do not change the meaning of the sentence even if deleted are stored. Further, the abbreviated word storage unit 1 If stores and holds the word once selected by the user among the abbreviated words generated by the word abbreviation processing unit l ib.

[0017] The abbreviated character string display control unit l lg serves as a control center of the abbreviated character string generation unit 11, and outputs the input character string obtained by the input character string acquisition unit 30 to the word shortening processing unit 31b. Instructed to generate a shortened character string with reference to the words stored in the abbreviated word storage unit 31c, the segments stored in the word segment storage unit 31d, the words stored in the abbreviated word storage unit 31e, etc. The word shortening processing unit has a function to acquire a shortened character string generated by 3 lb and output it to a display unit (not shown) such as an externally connected liquid crystal monitor.

2 to 12 illustrate the operation of the abbreviated character generation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. These screen transition diagrams are quoted for clarity, and are expanded and displayed on the display screen as character string shortening tools (for European text).

2 to 12, a field indicated by reference numeral 2a is, for example, a character string input unit assigned on the display screen for a user of a personal computer to input a character string, and reference numeral 2b is a character string. The cursor indicating the input position, the field indicated by reference numeral 2c, is indicated by the reference numeral 2d, a shortened character string display section allocated on the display screen to display the shortened character string generated by the shortened character string generator 11. The button is a “shortening” button assigned on the display screen to instruct the user to execute word shortening, and the buttons indicated by reference numerals 2e and 2f are used by the user when there are multiple abbreviation candidates. “Back / Next” button assigned to select and operate the abbreviation, the field indicated by reference numeral 2g is the selected language display part assigned to the display screen to indicate the selected language. The button indicated by 2h This is a “Language” selection button assigned on the display screen to select a language.

In FIG. 2 to FIG. 12, the areas indicated by bold rectangles are all buttons that can be selected and pressed with the mouse. However, the area indicated by the dotted thick rectangle indicates that the button has a mask.

[0020] Hereinafter, the operation of the abbreviated character generation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the screen transition diagrams of FIGS.

In FIG. 2, a cursor 2b is displayed in the character string input portion 2a, indicating that a character string can be input. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, when "Show information about the destination." Is entered, the input character 歹! J acquisition unit 10 acquires the input character string and shortens the character string generation unit. 11 Deliver to (abbreviated character string display control part l lg). As a result, the mask of the “shortening” button 2d is removed, and it is possible to instruct execution of the word shortening process by the shortened character string generation unit 11 (word shortening processing unit ib).

Subsequently, when the personal computer user presses the “shortening” button 2d, the short character string generation unit 11 automatically generates a short form of the input character string “Show information about the destination.”.

Specifically, the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg serving as the control center of the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 refers to the abbreviated word storage unit lc with respect to the word abbreviation processing unit l ib, and is inputted and acquired. Instructs the user to search for words that can be converted into abbreviations from the string. Here, in “Show information about the destination.”, It is a convertible simple word (or “information”. With this, the word abbreviation processing unit l ib searches and obtains the abbreviated word storage unit 11c. "Information" of the substring (word) of the input character string in English is converted to "1 _0. " And output to the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg As a result, the "abbreviation" button 2d is pressed. Thus, the first display is “Show info, about the destination.” Next, the “Next” button 2f is unmasked, and multiple abbreviations are displayed. Selection becomes possible.

Next, when the personal computer user presses the “next” button 2f, the word shortening processing unit l ib is displayed on the shortened character string display unit 2c with reference to the shortened word storage unit lc. The word that can be converted to the abbreviated form is searched again from the character string, but since the search becomes impossible, the fact is notified to the shortened character string display control unit 1 lg.

When the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg receives a notification to that effect from the word abbreviation processing unit l ib, it again displays the abbreviated character string by referring to the abbreviated word storage unit le to the word abbreviation processing unit l ib. Instructs the user to search for optional words in the character string displayed in part 2c. Here, the word that can be omitted in the acquired European character string “Show info, about the destination.” Is “11½”. As a result, the word shortening processing unit l ib notifies the shortened character string display control unit l lg that the word “can be omitted. As a result, the“ next ”button 2f is pressed and displayed. As shown in FIG. 5, “Show info, about destina tion.” Is displayed, and the “Back” button 2e is unmasked, and the original abbreviation can be selected.

Subsequently, when the PC user presses the “Next” button 2f again, the word shortening processing unit l ib is displayed on the shortened character string display unit 2c with reference to the abbreviated word storage unit l ie. The omissible word is searched again from the existing character string, but the search becomes impossible, and this is notified to the abbreviated character string display control unit 1 lg.

Upon receiving the notification from the word shortening processing unit l ib, the shortened character string display control unit l lg notifies the word length determination unit 11a to that effect. The word length determination unit 11a determines the word having the longest length from the number of characters of each word. Of the character strings displayed in the abbreviated character string display portion 2c, the word with the longest length is “destination”. The word length determination unit 11a notifies the shortened character string display control unit llg to that effect. [0024] Upon receiving the notification from the word length determination unit 11a, the shortened character string display control unit l lg refers to the word segment storage unit l id to the word shortening processing unit l ib and relates to the segment of rdestinationj Instruct to output information. Here, the “destination” segment is “des 'ti'na't ion”.

When the abbreviated character string display control unit 1 lg receives the segment information that is the reference result of the word segment storage unit 1 Id from the word shortening processing unit 1 lb, the segment “rdestination” is again sent to the word shortening processing unit l ib. An instruction is issued to create the abbreviation along with the part information. As a result, the word abbreviation processing unit l ib determines that the last character of “des 'ti' na'tion” is the character “desti na” with the last segment omitted and “aeiou” “Determine whether or not it corresponds to a powerful vowel.

In this case, since it is “a”, it is determined as “applicable”, and thus “a” is deleted and “de stin” is shortened to the word “destination”. The word abbreviation processing unit l ib adds a period to the end of “destin”, and outputs “destin.” As a shortened form of the word “destination” to the abbreviated character string display control unit llg.

[0026] By the way, when "destination is converted to" destin. "," Show info, about destin .. "

It is a grammatical error that two periods appear at the end of the 1S string.

For this reason, the abbreviated character string display control unit llg determines that one period is unnecessary and deletes it. As a result, as shown in Fig. 6, "Show info, about destin."

Subsequently, when the personal computer user presses the “Next” button 2f again, the word length determination unit 11a determines the word having the longest length and the length from the number of characters of each word.

Among the character strings displayed in the abbreviated character string display portion 2c, the word having the longest length is “destin.”. The word length determination unit 11a notifies the shortened character string display control unit 1lg to that effect. When the shortened character string display control unit llg receives a notification to that effect from the word length determination unit 11a, it instructs the word shortening processing unit lib to generate a shortened form of “destin.”.

[0028] The word abbreviation processing unit l ib has the last character aeiou for the character string “desti” of “des 'ti'na'tion” with the rest omitted from the second segment from the end. Corresponds to a vowel consisting of It is determined whether or not to do.

In this case, since it is “i”, it is determined as “applicable”. Therefore, the word shortening processing unit l ib deletes “i”, adds a period, and changes “0 ^” to “(163 As a second abbreviation of & 11011 ”, it is output to the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg. As a result, as shown in Fig. 7,“ Show info, about dest. ” It becomes.

[0029] On the other hand, when shortening a word, if the word is too short, the meaning of the word will not be understood.

For this reason, the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg excludes words with two or fewer segments, and words with two or fewer segments as a result of shortening the words from the target of shortened character string generation. To do. Specifically, when each word of “Show info, about dest.” Is separated by segments, it becomes “S howj Γίη -fo.J“ a'bout ”“ des' t. ”, And all segments are less than 2 become. Therefore, the shortened character string display control unit l lg determines that this character string cannot be shortened any more, and as shown in FIG. End the operation.

[0030] It should be noted that the abbreviated character string display control unit 1lg does not adopt the abbreviated form when the word is abbreviated to become a word having a different meaning. In this case, it is necessary to perform a comparison determination process between the shortened character string and a regular word dictionary (not shown) prepared separately. For example, if “cor-ne-aj (cornea) is abbreviated according to the above rules, it becomes“ com ”(corn). In this case, the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg must not adopt this abbreviation. become. Also, if there is a word that is determined not to be abbreviated, the abbreviated character string display control unit llg does not consider the word as an abbreviation. For example, “MITSUBISHI” (company name), etc., where all the words are capitalized, or “Tommy” (person name), etc., where the initials of the words are capitalized, even in the middle of the sentence It is. However, in German, there is a grammatical rule that all noun words are capitalized, so the above judgment does not apply to such languages.

[0031] In addition to the above, another word that is not suitable for shortening is, for example, “deify”. If “deify” is separated by segments, it becomes “de + fy”. Here, since both “i” and “e” are vowels, simply applying the rules for generating the abbreviated character string described above will result in “d”. Originally, “deify” is a combination of the prefix “de” and the suffix “ify”. In the case of such a word, it is appropriate that the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg determines that the abbreviation cannot be made.

The abbreviated character string display controller l lg does not instruct the word abbreviation processing unit 1 lb to create a word abbreviation for words that cannot be shortened! /.

[0032] After a character string is displayed on the abbreviated character string display unit 2c, the personal computer user updates and inputs the character string in the character string input unit 2a or ends the processing by the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 If the PC user selects the abbreviated word generated by the word abbreviation processing unit l ib displayed in the abbreviated character string display unit 2c, Judgment is made, and the abbreviated word is stored in the abbreviated word storage unit 1. In the case of “Show info, about dest.” Shown in FIG. 7, “dest.” Corresponds.

Thereafter, when a character string including “destination” is shortened, “dest.” Is preferentially adopted as the shortened form of “destination”.

[0033] Next, the operation when a language other than English is shortened will be described. When the “Language” selection button 2h is operated, the selected language is switched in various ways.

Specifically, when French is selected, “French” is displayed in the selected language display portion 2g as shown in FIG. For example, if the computer user manually presses “Affichage informations sur la destination. (Show information about the destination.”), The mask for the “Short” button 2d is displayed as shown in FIG. When the PC user presses the “abbreviation” button 2d, the abbreviated character string generator 11 automatically generates the “Affichage informations sur la destination.” Abbreviation. .

[0034] Specifically, in the abbreviated character string generation unit 11, first, the abbreviated character string display control unit llg searches the word abbreviation processing unit l ib for the abbreviated word storage unit 11c, and from among the European input character strings. Instructs to search for words that can be converted to abbreviations. Here, the word that can be converted in “Affichage informations s ur la destination.” Is “informations”.

As a result, the word abbreviation processing unit l ib searches the abbreviated word storage unit 11c, converts it into “informations” and “infos”, and outputs it to the abbreviated character string display control unit 1lg. As a result, the first displayed when the PC user presses the “Short” button 2d is “Affichage infos sur la destination.” As shown in FIG. Then, “Next” button 2f The mask is removed, and a plurality of abbreviations can be selected.

[0035] Next, when the personal computer user power S "next" button 2f is pressed, the word shortening processing unit l ib searches the shortened word storage unit 11c and displays it on the shortened character string display unit 2c. The word that can be converted to the abbreviated form is searched again from the existing character string, but since the search is impossible, the fact is output to the abbreviated character string display control unit 1 lg.

When the shortened character string display control unit llg receives a notification to that effect from the word shortening processing unit lib, the character displayed in the shortened character string display unit 2c is again displayed to the word shortening processing unit lib. Instructs the user to search for an optional word in the column. Here, an optional word in the _{"Affi C hage info s sur la destination} . " Is "la". The word abbreviation processing unit l ib refers to the abbreviated word storage unit le and notifies the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg that the word “la” can be omitted. As a result, “Affichage infos sur destination” is displayed by pressing the “Next” button 2f, as shown in FIG. Then the “Back” button 2e is unmasked and the original abbreviation can be selected.

[0036] When the personal computer user presses the "Next" button 2f again, the word abbreviation processing unit l ib refers to the abbreviated word storage unit lie and the character string displayed in the abbreviated character string display unit 2c. The word that can be omitted is searched again, but the search becomes impossible, so that the shortened character string display control unit 1 lg is notified.

When the shortened character string display control unit llg receives a notification to that effect from the word shortening processing unit lib, it further notifies the word length determination unit 11a. Here, the word length determination unit 11a determines the word having the longest length from the number of characters of each word. The word with the longest length in the character string displayed in the abbreviated character string display part 2c is “destination”. The word length determination unit 1 l a notifies the shortened character string display control unit 1 lg to that effect.

When the shortened character string display control unit l lg receives the notification from the word length determination unit 11a, the shortened character string display control unit l lg refers to the word segment storage unit l id to the word shortening processing unit l ib and sets “destination” Instruct to get information about the segment.

Here, the segment of “destination” is “des 'ti'na'tion”. When the abbreviated character string display control unit 1 lg receives the segment information obtained by referring to the word segment storage unit 1 Id from the word abbreviation processing unit 1 lb, the word shortening processing unit 1 ib re- `` destination '' segment information and Both give instructions to generate the abbreviation. Whether the word abbreviation processing part l ib corresponds to the last character, aeiouy (French vowel), for the character string “destina” with the last segment omitted in “des 'ti' na • tion” Determine whether or not. In this case, since it is “a”, it is determined as “applicable”. Therefore, “a” is deleted and “destin” is shortened to “destination”. The word shortening processing unit l ib further adds a period to the end of “destin”, and outputs “desti 1.” As a shortened form of “(163 & 01”) to the shortened character string display control unit l lg.

[0038] By the way, rdestinj means "fate, fate" in French. Abbreviated character string display control unit l lg determines that it is not appropriate to adopt “destin” as a shortened form of “destination” because “destin” has a different meaning from “destination”, and word shortening processing Tells part l ib to regenerate the short form of “destination”.

The word abbreviation processing part l ib has the last character of “des 'ti' na'tion”, with the last character omitted from the last segment, aeiouy (French Vowels). In this case, since it is “i”, it is determined as “applicable”, and the word shortening processing unit 1 lb deletes “i”, adds a period, and sets “dest.” To “(¾3« 1 ^ The second abbreviation of “1011” is sent to the abbreviated character string display control unit llg.

[0039] Note that when "destination" is converted to "dest.", "Affichage infos sur dest .." is displayed, but it is a grammatical error that two periods are displayed at the end of the character string.

For this reason, the abbreviated character string display control unit llg determines that one period is unnecessary and deletes it. As a result, the content finally displayed is “Affichage infos s ur dest.J” as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts cited to explain the basic operation of the abbreviated character string generation device according to the first embodiment described above. The screen transition diagrams shown in FIGS. 2 to 12 are used. This is meant to supplement the explanation of the operation.

The operation of the abbreviated character string conversion device shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

[0041] When the computer user inputs a character string into the character string input unit 2a shown in FIGS. 2 to 12 (step ST101 “Yes” in FIG. 13), the input character string acquisition unit 10 acquires the character string. Abbreviated character string display control part l Delivered to lg. In response to this, the short sentence string display control unit l lg The display unit (not shown) is controlled so as to remove the mask of the “shortening” button 2d assigned to the display screen (step ST102).

If the PC user presses the “abbreviation” button 2d (step ST103 “Yes”), the word abbreviation processing unit 1 lb searches the abbreviated word storage unit 1 lc for a shortenable word. (Step ST104) If there is a hit (Step ST104 "Yes"), the word contained in the input character string is shortened according to the stored contents and transferred to the abbreviated character string display control unit llg (Step ST105). ).

As a result, the shortened character string display control unit l lg controls a display unit (not shown) to cancel the mask of the “next” button 2f (step ST106).

[0042] Next, the word shortening processing unit l ib refers to the abbreviated word storage unit l ie to search for a word that can be omitted (step ST107 in FIG. 14), omits the corresponding word (step ST108), Abbreviated character string display control part l Delivered to lg. As a result, the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg controls a display unit (not shown) to cancel the mask of the “return” button 2e (step ST109).

Yes

Further, the word abbreviation processing unit l ib searches the word having three or more segments with reference to the word segment storage unit l id (step ST110), and if it is found (step ST110 “Yes”), the corresponding case is found. A shortened character string for shortening the word is generated (step ST111). Here, the word shortening processing unit 1 lb generates a shortened character string in segment units, and sequentially passes the result to the shortened character string display control unit l lg.When there are no more words with three or more segments (Step ST 110 “No”), the abbreviated character string display control unit l lg sets a mask for the “next” button 2f (step ST112), and ends the series of operations.

[0043] According to the first embodiment described above, the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 uses the short character string having the same meaning as the partial character string from the partial character string of the European input character string acquired by the input character string acquisition unit 10. By generating a character string, it is possible to automatically convert the input character string to an abbreviated form when the length of the European input character string exceeds the screen display area (display width). This makes it possible to input data without making the user aware of the screen display area, improving usability.

Therefore, the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 uses abbreviations corresponding to words and proper nouns. The short word storage unit lib includes a short word storage unit 11c in which words are registered, and the short word processing unit lib searches the short word storage unit 11c to generate a short character string from the partial character string. The abbreviated character string generation unit 11 includes a word segment storage unit lid in which word segments are registered, and the word abbreviation processing unit lib omits segments obtained by searching the word segment storage unit lid. To generate a shortened string.

[0044] Further, the shortened character string generation unit 11 (word shortening processing unit 1 lb) omits the last segment constituting the word and determines whether or not the last character of the remaining character string is a vowel. If the vowel is determined, the abbreviated character 歹 IJ may be generated by omitting the vowel.

At this time, the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 (word shortening processing unit lib) may perform control so that a word composed of a predetermined number of segments or less is not a target of the abbreviated character string generation. Also, the abbreviated character string generator 11 (word abbreviation processor lib) disables the generated abbreviated character string when the generated abbreviated character string has a different meaning from the input character string. It's good. The shortened character string generator 11 (word shortener lib) generates a shortened character string from the input character string, and if the number of characters in the generated word is less than a predetermined number, You may control not to make it the object of subsequent shortened character string generation. Also, the abbreviated character string generation unit 11 may control such that when the initial character of the word constituting the input character string is uppercase, the word is not targeted for the abbreviated character string generation! / ,.

[0045] Furthermore, the abbreviated character string generator 11 (word abbreviated processor lib) does not consider the word as a target for abbreviated character string generation when all the words constituting the input character string are capitalized. You may control it.

The abbreviated character string generation unit 11 includes an abbreviated word storage unit lie in which words that have no change in meaning even if deleted, and this abbreviated word storage unit is used when generating an abbreviated character string from an input character string. The abbreviated word storage unit 1 le may be referenced to generate a shortened character string by omitting words registered in 1 le! /.

[0046] According to the first embodiment described above, a shortened character string can be generated based on almost the same rule for other languages as long as it is a forceful word language exemplified only in English and French. Is possible.

[0047] Embodiment 2. Hereinafter, an example in which the shortened character string generation device described in the first embodiment is applied to a display device will be described below as a second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the shortened character string generation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The difference from Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 1 is that the shortened character string is generated directly from the input character string in Embodiment 1, but the character width limit of the character string is entered and included in the range. The short character string is generated. The details will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 15, an abbreviated character string generation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention includes an input character string acquisition unit 30 that acquires an arbitrary European input character string, and an arbitrary character string width. Within the range of the character string width acquired by the character string width acquisition unit 33 to be acquired and the character string width acquisition unit 33, the partial character 歹 IJ Consists of a shortened character string generator 31 that generates a shortened character string having the same meaning

Yes

[0049] Specifically, the input character string acquisition unit 30 and the character string width acquisition unit 33 are configured by a peripheral LSI (for example, a keyboard controller), and are controlled by a processor (CPU) described later under program control. The above functions are realized.

Further, the abbreviated character string generation unit 31 is specifically configured by a processor (CPU) that executes a program that realizes the function of the abbreviated character string generation unit 11, and includes a word length determination unit 31a, a word shortening processing unit, 31b, abbreviated word storage unit 31c, word segment storage unit 31d, abbreviated word storage unit 31e, abbreviated word storage unit 31f, abbreviated character string display control unit 31g, and character string width calculation unit 31h Composed.

[0050] The word length determination unit 31a has a function of selecting a word to be converted into a shortened character string by comparing the length length of each word with a threshold value described later. The word shortening processing unit 31b has a function of converting the word selected by the word length determining unit 31a into a shortened form. That is, the functions of the word length determination unit 31a and the word shortening processing unit 31b are realized by sequentially reading out and executing a program stored in the above-described CPU or in an external memory. It is.

In the abbreviated word storage unit 31c, for example, “can 001;” is shortened to “. &.”, “Information” is abbreviated to “fo.”, Etc. And also The word segment storage unit 31 d stores the segment of each word, and the abbreviated word storage unit 31 e includes, for example, “a” “the” for English, “la” “le” for French, etc. In this case, words that do not change the meaning of the sentence even if they are deleted are stored. Further, the abbreviated word storage unit 31f stores and holds a word once selected by the user among the abbreviated words generated by the word shortening processing unit 31b.

[0051] The abbreviated character string display control unit 31g serves as a control center of the abbreviated character string generation unit 31 and manages the input character string length (width) acquired by the character string width acquisition unit 33, and the word shortening processing unit 31 b. In response, the input character string acquired by the input character string acquisition unit 30 is output, and the words stored in the abbreviated word storage unit 31c, the segments stored in the word segment storage unit 31d, and the abbreviated word storage unit 31e Instructs the user to generate a shortened character string by referring to the stored word, etc., acquires the shortened character string generated by the word shortening processing unit 31b, and displays the display unit (not It has a function to output to (shown).

The character string width calculation unit 31h has a function of calculating the character string length of the European input character string displayed on the display screen (display unit), and stores the individual character width of each character in the built-in memory. These are added according to the input character string, and the input character string length (width) is calculated and output to the shortened character string display control unit 31g.

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 are screen transition diagrams cited for explaining the operation of the abbreviated character generation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

16 and 17, the field indicated by reference numeral 4a is a character string input unit assigned on the display screen for the user to input a character string, reference numeral 4b is a cursor indicating the input position of the character string, The field indicated by reference numeral 4c is a shortened character string display section allocated on the display screen to display the shortened character string generated by the shortened character string generator 11, and the field indicated by reference numeral 4d is a character string. The character string width input section assigned on the display screen for inputting the limit dot number of the width of the field, the field indicated by reference numeral 4g is assigned on the display screen to display the selected language. The button indicated by the selected language display section, 4h, is a “language” selection button assigned to select a language. In the figure, the areas indicated by bold rectangles are all buttons that can be selected and pressed with a mouse or the like. Hereinafter, the operation of the abbreviated character generation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention shown in FIG. 15 will be described with reference to the screen transition diagrams of FIGS. 16 and 17.

In FIG. 16, a cursor 4b is displayed in the character string input unit 4a, indicating that a character string can be input in this area.

For example, when a character 歹 IJ input unit 4a “Show information about the destina tion.” Is input, it is acquired via the input character string acquisition unit 30 and output to the abbreviated character string display control unit 31g. Thus, the shortened character string display control unit 31g outputs the acquired character string to the character string width calculation unit 31h and instructs the calculation of the character string width.

[0055] Unlike Japanese characters, European characters are called proportional fonts, and the individual widths of the characters are usually different. The character string width calculation unit 31h is, for example, character A: 14 dots wide, character B: 12 dots wide, character C: 14 dots wide, character D: 13 dots wide, and so on. Built-in character width table (memory) where is stored.

When the character string width calculation unit 31h receives the character string from the shortened character string display control unit 31g, the character string width calculation unit 31h adds the widths of the individual characters constituting the character string and calculates the character string width of the entire character string. For example, the character string width of “Show information about the destination.” Is 342 dots, and the character string width calculation unit 31h outputs the calculation result to the shortened character string display control unit 3g.

For example, when the personal computer user inputs “250” to the character string width input unit 4d, the abbreviated character string display control unit 31g creates a shortened form of a sentence including a display width of 250 dots.

The word shortening processing unit 31b refers to each of the shortened word storage unit 31c, the word segment storage unit 31d, and the abbreviated word storage unit 31e to perform the word shortening processing in the same manner as in Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, the description here is omitted.

[0057] The first character string generated by shortening “Show information about the destination.” Is “Show info, about the destination.” On the other hand, according to the calculation result of the string width calculation unit 31h, The width of the above character string is 280 dots.

As described above, since the width of the character string exceeds the numerical value “250” input to the character string width input unit 4d, the abbreviated character string display control unit 31g applies this character string to the word shortening processing unit 31b again. Instruct to abbreviate. The word abbreviation processing unit 31b executes the word abbreviation processing again according to the first embodiment, and the character string generated as a result is rshow info, about destina. According to the calculation result of the character string width calculation unit 31h, the width of this character string is 248 dots. Therefore, since it is included in the numerical value “250” input to the character string width input unit 4d, the abbreviated character string display control unit 31g determines that the word abbreviation processing has ended, and as shown in FIG. Display section 4c “Show info, about destination.” Is displayed.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are flowcharts cited to explain the basic operation of the abbreviated character string generation device according to the second embodiment described above, and the screen transition diagrams shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are used. This is meant to supplement the explanation of the operation.

Hereinafter, the operation of the abbreviated character string conversion device 31g will be mainly described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

[0059] First, when a personal computer user inputs a character string into the character string input unit 4a shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 and a character width into the character string width input unit 4d (step ST201 “Yes” in FIG. 18), The former is acquired by the input character string acquisition unit 30, and the latter is acquired by the character string width acquisition unit 33, and is taken into the shortened character string generation unit 31.

In the abbreviated character string generation unit 31, the abbreviated character string display control unit 31g serving as the control center is acquired via the character string width acquired via the character string width acquisition unit 33 and the input character string acquisition unit 30. The character width calculated by the character string width calculation unit 3h corresponding to the Western character input character string is compared (step ST202). If it is determined that the width of the acquired character string is longer than the input character string width (step ST202 "Yes"), the shortened character string display control unit 31g Instructs generation of a shortened form of a character string.

[0060] The word abbreviation processing unit 31b searches the abbreviated word storage unit 31c for a word that can be abbreviated, and if there is a corresponding word (step ST203 "Yes"), the word abbreviated word string is shortened. Is generated and passed to the shortened character string display control unit 31g (step ST204), the shortened character string display control unit 31g further calculates the shortened character string width and the input character string width.

If it is determined that the width of the character string is longer than the input character string width! / (Step ST 205 "Yes"), the shortened character string display control unit 31g Instructs generation of a shortened form of the string. As a result, the word abbreviation processing unit 31b searches the abbreviated word storage unit 3e for a word that can be omitted, and if there is a corresponding word (step in FIG. 19). ST206 “Yes”), the abbreviation is omitted to generate a shortened character string, which is delivered to the shortened character string display control unit 31g (step ST207). Subsequently, the shortened character string display control unit 31g compares the width of the character string shortened as a result with the input width again (step ST208).

Here, when it is determined that the width of the character string is longer than the input width (step ST208 “Yes”), the shortened character string display control unit 31g stores the word segment in the word shortening processing unit 31b. Refer to section 31d to instruct further word shortening processing. By referring to the word segment storage unit 31d, the word abbreviation processing unit 31b searches for a word having three or more segments, and when there is a corresponding word (step ST209 “Yes”), shortens the word by shortening it. A character string is generated and delivered to the shortened character string display control unit 31 g (step ST210).

Here, the width of the display character string is compared again with the acquired character string width, and if the width of the display character string becomes shorter than the acquired character string width (step ST211 "No"), the shortened character string table is displayed. The display control unit 31g displays the generated character string on the abbreviated character string display unit 4c, and ends the series of operations described above.

[0062] According to Embodiment 2 described above, when the character string width acquired via the character string width acquisition unit 33 exceeds the display width of the display screen, the shortened character string generation unit 31 sets the display width to the display width. By generating an abbreviated character string, the entered character 歹 IJ can be automatically converted to an abbreviated form when the length of the European input character string exceeds the screen display area (display width). For this reason, it is possible to input data without making the PC user aware of the screen display area, thereby improving usability.

That is, it is possible to automatically convert a long character string into a shortened form mainly for a European character string. For this reason, when a long character string is displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, the user considers each character string so that it fits in the screen display capacity (display width) of the display unit. This eliminates the hassle of traditional labor.

Therefore, the character string is displayed in an application that cannot store the character string to be displayed, an application that dynamically changes the character string to be displayed, or an application that displays a character string received from the outside! It is possible to solve these problems by making the user feel uncomfortable beyond the possible screen width! /.

[0064] It should be noted that the second embodiment described above is a European text displayed on the display screen by the character string width calculation unit 30. Calculates the character string length of the input character string, and if the character string length calculated by the shortened character string generator 31 by the character string width calculator 31h exceeds the display width of the display screen, the length included in the display width is reduced. Since it is configured to generate a character string, it is effective when displaying an indeterminate character string whose display contents change each time.

On the other hand, when displaying a standard Western character input character string, the character string storage unit 40 can be used as an alternative to the character string width calculation unit 30 as shown in FIG. In the character string storage unit 40, the European input character string acquired by the input character string acquisition unit 30 is stored, and display width information for each character constituting the input character string is stored as a set. Therefore, the shortened character string display control unit 31g displays the character string width acquired through the character string width acquisition unit 33 and the character input acquired from the display character string storage unit 40 when displaying the character input character string. The character width of the character information is compared, and if the width of the acquired character string is determined to be longer than the input character string width, a shortened form of the character string is generated for the word shortening processing unit 3 lb. Is instructed. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the second embodiment shown in FIG.

[0065] In Embodiment 2 described above, the character string to be shortened is assumed to be a one-line character string. For example, in the case of a display screen area that displays a long character string of two or more lines, the character string The width limit of is the maximum width of one line X the maximum number of lines that can be displayed. In that case, whether or not the character width of the character string exceeds the display screen area is determined by the procedure described below.

In other words, from the beginning of the sentence, the width of the character string when there is one word, the width of the character string when there are two words, and so on. When the maximum line width is exceeded, a new line is inserted at the previous word. Next, the character string width is calculated again from the following words, such as the character string width for one word, the character string width for two words, and so on. If it exceeds a large number, it will break at the word before it.

[0066] The above procedure is repeated to find the line feed position to the end of the sentence, and the number of lines in the entire sentence is obtained. The abbreviated character string generation unit 31 determines that the character string exceeds the display screen area when the number of lines exceeds the number of lines that can be displayed in the display screen area.

In addition, when generating the above-mentioned abbreviated form of the sentence, the sentence is not calculated for each line. By searching for abbreviated words and abbreviated words from the whole and shortening or omitting them, the entire length of the sentence is shortened.

[0067] Embodiment 3.

Next, an example in which the shortened character string generation device described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is applied to a navigation system will be described as a third embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system including a shortened character string generation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The navigation system shown in FIG. 21 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor 1, a wheel speed sensor 2, an angular speed sensor 3, a map data storage device 4, a CD-ROM 5, a display 6, and a TMC (Traffic Message). Channel: Traffic message channel) Consists of receiving device 7, control device 8, speaker 9, and remote controller 20.

[0069] Each of the GPS sensor 1, the wheel speed sensor 2, and the angular velocity sensor 3 outputs information indicating the latitude and longitude, a signal indicating the vehicle speed, and an angular velocity necessary for detecting the current position, respectively. The map data storage device 4 stores map data. Here, the map data is acquired via a CD-ROM 5 which is a storage medium. The display (display unit) 6 displays the current position measured via the above-described sensors and the map data read from the map data storage device 4.

The TMC receiver 7 receives TMC information broadcast from FM broadcast stations. The control device 8 serves as a control center for navigation processing, and includes a current position detection unit 81, a route search unit 82, a route storage unit 83, a route guidance unit 84, and a character string speech conversion unit 85 (hereinafter referred to as TTS). : Text To Speech), a character string storage unit 86, an abbreviated character string generation unit 87, and a display control unit 88.

The current position detection unit 81 detects the current position based on sensor signals from the GPS sensor 1, the wheel speed sensor 2, and the angular speed sensor 3. The route search unit 81 searches for a route from the current position to the destination based on the destination set by the user. The route storage unit 83 is a memory that stores the route searched by the route search unit 82.

The route guidance unit 84 generates a character string and an image related to route guidance in order to inform the navigation user of the route stored in the route storage unit 83. The route guide unit 84 For example, for a character string that does not include a distance or place name, such as “Tum right”, the length of time when the character string is output as a voice is stored along with the character string.

[0071] The TTS85 has a function of converting a shortened character string for speech into speech and outputting it within a predetermined time, and synthesizes speech data from character string data related to route guidance generated by the route guidance unit 84. Do. TTS is a well-known technique and, for example, details of the technique are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-153998.

The string storage section 86 contains “Set destination” and “Please”

················ Stores the fixed character string displayed on the display 6 and the character width of the character string. For example, “Set destination is 130 dots, Please”

···························· 96 characters, etc. Information about character strings and character widths is stored as a set. The character string storage unit 86 also stores standard character strings corresponding to nine European languages including English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, and Portuguese. Has been. These languages can be switched by operating the navigation system.

[0072] The shortened character string generation unit 87 performs a shortening process of a character string (word) when the character string displayed on the display 6 exceeds the display screen area, and details of the internal configuration and the like will be described later. It is shown in 22. The display control unit 88 reads the map data from the CD-ROM 5, and displays the current position detected by the current position detection unit 81, the current position force stored in the route storage unit 83, and the route to the destination on the display 6. indicate.

The speaker 9 outputs voice data related to route guidance synthesized by the TTS 85, and the remote controller 20 is used by the user to operate the navigation system.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 shown in FIG.

The abbreviated character string generation unit 87 includes a word length determination unit 871, a word shortening processing unit 872, a shortened word storage unit 873, a word segment storage unit 874, an abbreviated word storage unit 875, and a character string width calculation unit 87 6 It consists of.

[0074] Word length determination unit 871 selects a word to be converted to a shortened character string by comparing the length length of each word with a threshold value to be described later, and word shortening processing unit 872 includes word length determination unit 871. It has a function to convert the word selected by to abbreviated form. The character string width calculator 876 It stores the character width of each character and adds them to calculate the width of the character string.

The abbreviated word storage unit 873 stores abbreviated words that are relatively frequently used, for example, “can 1101” is shortened to “ji & 11 '1” and “information” is shortened to “fo.”. The word segment storage unit 874 stores the segment of each word, and the abbreviated word storage unit 875 includes, for example, “a” “the” for English and “la” “for French”. Even if it is deleted, the meaning of the sentence remains unchanged! /, the word is stored! /, and so on.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of TTS85 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 23, the TTS 85 includes a character string analysis unit 851, a word dictionary 852, a prosody information setting unit 85 3, a speech unit selection unit 854, a speech waveform dictionary 855, and a speech output time calculation unit. 856 and a voice synthesis unit 857.

The character string analysis unit 851 analyzes the character string that is the basis of the speech with reference to the word dictionary 852, and outputs it to the prosody information setting unit 853. The word dictionary 852 stores word readings, word accent types, and word parts of speech.

Prosody information setting unit 853 has a function of setting a voice format indicating a certain arrangement method, such as long / short, accent, vowel / consonant, etc., for voice, and includes basic frequency setting unit 501, voice power setting unit 502 and a duration time setting unit 503.

The fundamental frequency setting unit 501 determines the fundamental frequency based on the accent type and word length output by the character string analysis unit 851. The voice power setting unit 502 sets the power of voice to be synthesized for each phoneme. Duration duration setting section 503 sets the duration of phonemes.

[0077] Based on the reading of each word output from the character string analysis unit 851, the speech element selection unit 854 converts the phoneme sequence that constitutes the word reading into a waveform corresponding to each phoneme and the waveform. Accompanying information is extracted from the speech waveform dictionary 855.

The voice output time calculation unit 856 has a function of adding the time duration of each phoneme set by the duration time setting unit 503 and calculating the voice output time when the entire character string is output as voice. The voice synthesizer 857 has a basic frequency setting unit 501, voice power setting for a phoneme waveform corresponding to a series of phonemes selected from the voice waveform dictionary 855 by the voice unit selection unit 854. Unit 502 and duration time setting unit 503 have a function of synthesizing and outputting voices according to the fundamental frequency, power, and duration set in each.

FIG. 24 is a diagram cited for explaining the display screen configuration of the display 6. As shown in FIG. 24, the display 6 used here uses 400 pixels in the horizontal direction (400 dots) and 240 pixels in the vertical direction (240 dots) as the effective screen display area.

The display control unit 88 of the navigation system displays the map data read from the CD-ROM 5 via the map data storage device 4 and the current position detected by the current position detection unit 81 in this effective screen display area. Furthermore, the TMC information received by the TMC receiver 7 is displayed for the route searched by the route search unit 83. The power of using the remote control 20 for navigation system operations such as map display and route search. At that time, the display 6 stores various information necessary for operation in the character string storage unit 86. Displayed with a string.

[0079] FIG. 25 is a facility list of the facility name “Tourist information” displayed on the display 6. In FIG. 25, the field indicated by reference numeral 7a is the facility title display section, and the area indicated by reference numeral 7b is the facility list. Indicates the area to be displayed,

Here, since the character string width of the character string “Tourist 1 00 ^ 11011” is 165 dots and the horizontal width of the display 6 is 400 dots as shown in FIG. 24, the character string “ In Figure 25, if you select “Name ^ C ^ A ^” from the facility list 7b and display the map, the facility map is displayed as shown in Figure 26. .

In FIG. 26, the field indicated by reference numeral 7c is a facility name display section. The facility name display section 7c displays the facility title on the left and the facility name on the right. The display width of the facility title must be 120 dots, and the facility name must be the length of the range included in this display width. Since the character string “Tourist information has a character string width of 165 dots, it will be out of the display width range. For this reason, the display control unit 88 uses the character string“ Tourist information as the display width. It is determined that display is impossible, and the shortened character string generation unit 87 is instructed to shorten the character string “Tourist information to a character string width of 120 dots or less. [0081] The process of shortening the character string by the shortened character string generation unit 87 is the same as in the second embodiment described above, and will be described briefly here.

In the abbreviated character string generation unit 87, the word abbreviation processing unit 872 refers to the abbreviated word storage unit 873 and searches the “Tourist information” for a word that can be converted into an abbreviated form. “The word that can be converted in the tourist information is“ information ”. Therefore, the word shortening processing unit 872 converts `` 1 00 ^ 11011 '' to `` 1 0. '' based on the shortened word storage unit 873, and at this time, the character string width calculation unit 876 receives `` Tourist info. ”Is calculated.

[0082] According to the calculation result of the character string width calculation unit 876, the width of the character string “Tourist info. J is 103 dots. Therefore, it is included in the range of the 120-dot display width of the facility title. The column generation unit 15 determines that the abbreviated form generation processing is completed, and outputs “Tourist info.” As a “Tourist information abbreviated form” to the display control unit 88 for display.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 25, the display control unit 88 sets “Tourist info.” As the facility title and displays it on the left side of the facility name display unit 7c.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the control device 8 when the character string stored in the display control unit 88 and the character string storage unit 86 is displayed in a shortened manner.

Hereinafter, the operation of the control device 8 (mainly the display control unit 88) of the navigation system shown in FIG. 21 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0084] When a character string display processing request is generated based on the operation of the navigation system by the user (step ST301 "Yes"), the display control unit 88 displays the width of the character string to be displayed and the width of the screen display area. (Step ST302), and if the width of the character string is determined to be longer than the width of the screen display area (step ST302 "Yes"), the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 generates the abbreviated character string. Instruct processing.

The shortened character string generation unit 87 shortens the character string (word) based on the instruction from the display control unit 88 (step ST303). When acquiring the abbreviated form of the character string, display control unit 88 displays the acquired abbreviated character string in the screen display area of the character string (step ST304), and ends a series of operations.

Next, an operation when the character string of the TMC information received by the TMC receiving device 7 is converted into a shortened character string by the shortened character string generating unit 87 will be described. [0086] When the TMC receiving device 7 receives the TMC information, the display control unit 88 displays the TMC information on the display 6. At this time, if the character string of the TMC information is too long and protrudes from the display 6 display, processing is performed to convert the character string of the TMC information into an abbreviated form. For example, assume that the TMC receiver 7 receives the TMC information shown below.

Name A-> Name B

Exit Name C

Exit Name D

closed. Rescue and recovery work in progress

Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid the area

The display control unit 88 instructs the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 to calculate the display width constituting each line and to generate a shortened form of the character string for lines whose display width exceeds 400 dots.

The character string width calculation unit 876 shown in FIG. 22 calculates the width of the character string on each line, and as a result, the following data is output for each line.

In the first line, “Name A―> Name Bj is 162 dots,

The second line “Exit Name C” is 104 dots,

The third line “Exit Name D” is 103 dots,

4TT eyes `` closed. Rescue and recovery work in progressj

5 Nechome "Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid the area" is 422 dots

[0088] The above 5TT (Z) “Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid the area” (up to 422 dots, and the display width of one line of display 6 exceeds 400 dots. Generate a shortened form of this string.

That is, the word abbreviation processing unit 872 refers to the abbreviated word storage unit 873 and searches for a word that can be converted into an abbreviated form from the above-described character string. Here, since it is not found, the word shortening processing unit 872 further refers to the abbreviated word storage unit 875 and searches for an abbreviated word from the above-described character string.

[0089] The above §ΰΰ 文子歹 The IJ “Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid the area” is an abbreviation that is “, so the abbreviated word storage unit 873 omits“ *, In歹¹ Jte arithmetic-out 1 ^ 876, "Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid the area" force, character歹¹ J was ¹ J divided by Xiao Luo "the,""Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid area" of the character歹lj width Is calculated.

Here, the sentence `` Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid area '' ^ ^:歹歹 is 390 dots and can be displayed on the display 6, so the abbreviated character string generator 87 selects `` Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid area j ''. , "Heavy lorries are recommended to avoid the a reaj

Is output to the display control unit 88. As a result, the character string shown in FIG. 28 is displayed on the display 6.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the control device 8 when the display control unit 88 displays the above-described character string of the TMC information in abbreviated manner.

The operation of the control device 8 (mainly the display control unit 88) of the navigation system shown in FIG. 20 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0091] Upon receiving the TMC information (step ST401), the shortened character string generation unit 87 calculates the width of the character string of the TMC information, and compares the width of the character string with the width of the display screen area (step ST

402). If the width of the character string is longer than the width of the display area (step ST402 “Yes”), the shortened character string generation unit 87 generates a shortened form of the character string (step ST403).

When the display controller 88 receives the abbreviated form of the character string from the abbreviated character string generator 87, the display controller 88 displays the abbreviated character string in the character string display screen area (step ST404) and ends the series of operations.

Next, an operation in which the shortened character string generation unit 87 shortens the character string that is the basis of the guidance voice for guiding the route will be described.

The route guidance unit 84 stores and stores a plurality of types of character string patterns necessary for generating a route guidance character string. The pattern is illustrated below.

Text string 1: Turn right

Voice string 2: Turn left

Voice Characters IJ3: Make a slight right turn

Voice string 4: Make a slight left turn Text string 5: Distance ahead turn right

Voice string 6: Distance ahead turn left

Text string 7: Distance ahead make a slight right turn

Voice string 8: Distance ahead make a slight left turn

Character string for speech 9: toward Tokyo name

Depending on the shape of the road, a combination of these strings or a place name may be used.

[0093] The route storage unit 83 stores information on the road traveled to the destination, the travel distance, and the travel direction. The route guiding unit 84 extracts a branch point where the vehicle should turn based on the information, and notifies the navigation user when the vehicle approaches the point.

FIG. 30 is an example of an image of a route guide map generated by the route guiding unit 84 based on the route information stored in the route storage unit 83. In FIG. 30, reference numeral 8a is a current position mark indicating the position of the vehicle, and reference numeral 8b is a path mark indicating the path.

The control device 8 (current position detection unit 81) of the navigation system detects the current position of the vehicle based on sensor signals from the GPS sensor 1, the wheel speed sensor 2, and the angular speed sensor 3. If the route guidance unit 84 determines that the vehicle is approaching the branch point of the road on which the vehicle is traveling, the route guidance unit 84 provides guidance based on the angle between the road on which the vehicle is traveling and the road on which the vehicle is branched. Select the following phonetic string 3.

Voice Characters IJ3: Make a slight right turn

At this time, the route guiding unit 84 calculates the traveling speed of the vehicle from the signal of the wheel speed sensor 2, and when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high, the route character string generation unit 87 receives the voice character string. Instructs the generation of short forms.

For example, when the speed of the vehicle is less than 60 km / h, the route guidance unit 84 has enough time for the navigation user to listen to the voice notification and to quickly travel to the branch point of the route road. Judgment and output “Make a slight right tum” character string as it is to TTS85. On the other hand, when the speed of the vehicle is 60 km / h or more, the route guidance unit 84 does not know when the navigation user listens to the voice notification but then travels to the road junction. It is determined that there is a possibility that the time will be lost, and the shortened character string generation unit 87 is instructed to generate an abbreviated form of the “rMake a slight right turn” character string.

[0096] Upon receiving the instruction from the route guidance unit 84, the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 instructs the word abbreviation processing unit 872 to search for a shortenable word by referring to the abbreviated word storage unit 873. Put out. Here, since it is not found, the word shortening processing unit 872 further searches the abbreviated word storage unit 875 for a word that can be omitted.

The word that can be omitted in the above-mentioned speech string 3 “Make a slight right turn” is “a”. As a result, the first generation of a shortened form of “Make a slight right turn” is “

“Make slight right tum”.

[0097] When the word shortening processing unit 872 further refers to the word segment storage unit 874 and examines the segment of each word in the above character string, it becomes “make” “slight” “right” “tum”, and It can be seen that there is no place to divide all three into segments.

For this reason, the shortened character string generation unit 87 (word shortening processing unit 872) determines that the character string 3 for speech cannot be shortened any more, and “Make slight right 1; 1101” is changed to “¥ ½1¾ a As a shortened form of “slight right t ura”, it is output to the route guidance section 84. The route guidance unit 84 outputs the received character string “Make slight right turn” to the TTS85. In response to this, the TTS 85 synthesizes the character string received from the route guidance unit 84 and outputs the synthesized speech via the speaker 9.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the control device 8 when the route guidance unit 84 transmits the guidance voice character string to the TTS 85.

The basic operation of the navigation system control device 8 (mainly the route guiding unit 84) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0099] When the vehicle reaches the point where the guidance voice is output (step ST501 "Yes")

), The route guidance unit 84 calculates the vehicle traveling speed from the signal of the wheel speed sensor 2 (step

ST502), in the case of 60 km / h or more (step ST502 "Yes"), the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 is instructed to generate a shortened character string.

In response, in the abbreviated character string generation unit 87, the word abbreviation processing unit 872 refers to each of the abbreviated word storage unit 873, the word segment storage unit 874, and the abbreviated word storage unit 875. Is generated and output to the route guidance unit 84. When the route guiding unit 84 receives the shortened form of the character string from the shortened character string generating unit 87 (step ST503), the route guiding unit 84 transmits the shortened character string to the TTS 85 (step ST504) and ends the series of operations.

[0100] If the voice character string used for guidance by the route guidance unit 84 includes an irregular character string such as a distance or city name, the TTS85 outputs when the character string is output as voice. Calculate the interval length.

For example, in the case of Fumiko 歹 IJ force Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to jo in the motorway, this voice guidance is output while traveling between 1000m and 900m from the branch point. It must be. This is because when such a voice guidance is notified, the navigation user normally recognizes that he / she is now 900 m from the branch point when he / she has finished listening to the voice. is there. If the vehicle's running speed is S60km / h, it will run 100m in 6 seconds. Therefore, voice notification must be performed within 6 seconds.

[0101] The current position of the vehicle is detected based on the sensor signals from the current position detector 81, GPS sensor 1, wheel speed sensor 2, and angular velocity sensor 3. When the route guiding unit 84 determines that the vehicle has reached a point 1000 m from the branch point of the road on which it travels, the route guiding unit 84 calculates the traveling speed of the vehicle from the signal from the wheel speed sensor 2.

When the vehicle speed is 60 km / h, 100 m travels in 6 seconds, so the route guidance unit 84 outputs a voice guidance string Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join t he motorway to TTS 85. , Notify that voice guidance needs to be output in 6 seconds

[0102] When TTS 85 receives the above notification from the route guidance section 84, the voice output shown in Fig. 22 is displayed. Nichi hundred meters ahead turn right to Instructs the calculation of the output time when “join tne motor way” is output as a voice. Here, the output time of “Mne hundred meters ahead turn right to join the motorway” is assumed to be 7 seconds.

To this end, TTS85 determines that voice output is not possible within 6 seconds when “Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join the motorway” is output as it is. hundred meters ahead turn right to join tne motorwayj shortened Instruct to create a.

When the shortened character string generating unit 87 receives the above instruction from the TTS 85, the shortened character string generating unit 87 instructs the word shortening processing unit 872 to search for a shortenable word by referring to the shortened word storage unit 873.

Here, since it is not found, the word shortening processing unit 872 further searches the abbreviated word storage unit 875 for a word that can be omitted. The word that can be omitted in “Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join the motorway” is “the”. The abbreviated character string generation unit 87 outputs the sentence string “Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join motorwayj” to the TTS85 as a shortened form of “Nme hundred meters ahead turn right to join the motorwayj”.

[0104] Upon receiving the above-mentioned character string from the abbreviated character string generation unit 87, TTS85 measures to f¾¾l count 1 ^ 856 at the time of voice output and outputs "Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join motorwayj" Instructs the calculation of the output time of the hour.

“The Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join motorwayj output is set to 6 hours. For this reason, TTS85 determines that the text string for speech can be output within 6 seconds. The column “Nine hundred meters ahead turn right to join motorwayj” is synthesized. The synthesized voice is output from the speaker 9.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the control device 8 when the TTS 85 synthesizes a speech character string.

The basic operation of the navigation system control device 8 (mainly TTS85) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the vehicle reaches the point where the guidance voice is output, the voice guidance character string and the running time per 100 m are output from the route guidance unit 84 to TT S85 (step ST 601).

The TTS 85 uses the voice output time calculation unit 856 to calculate the voice output time from the voice guidance character string (step ST602) and compares it with the travel time per 100 m (step ST603). If the voice output time is longer than the travel time per 100 m (step ST603 “Yes”), the TTS 85 instructs the shortened character string generation unit 87 to create a shortened form of the voice guidance character string. In response to this, in the abbreviated character string generation unit 87, the word abbreviation processing unit 872 refers to each of the abbreviated word storage unit 873, the word segment storage unit 874, and the abbreviated word storage unit 875, and shortens the character string. Is generated and output to TTS85.

Upon receiving the shortened form of the character string from the shortened character string generation unit 87 (step ST6404), the TTS 85 instructs the voice output time calculation unit 856 to calculate the voice output time again (step ST602). Then, when the voice output time output by the voice output time calculation unit 856 is equal to or shorter than the travel time per 100 m (step ST603 “Yes”), the TTS 85 activates the voice synthesis unit 857. The speech synthesis unit 857 synthesizes the output of the speech waveform dictionary 855 selected by the speech unit selection unit 854 to perform speech synthesis of the voice guidance character string (step ST605), and ends the series of operations.

[0108] When the voice character string used for guidance is a fixed character string such as the voice character string 10: You have reached the destination, the route guide unit 84 outputs the character string when The output time is stored along with the character string.

The voice output time of the character string “You have reached the destination is 6 seconds. In this voice guidance, the navigation user feels uncomfortable when the vehicle passes the destination when the voice output is completed. To remember, the audio output must be completed before the vehicle actually arrives at the destination.

[0109] Therefore, the route guidance unit 84 issues a voice guidance instruction of this character string 100m before the destination, and determines the voice guidance output time based on the vehicle traveling speed at that time. Specifically, when the vehicle traveling speed is 60km / h, it travels 100m in 6 seconds. Therefore, it is necessary to perform voice notification within 6 seconds.

Since the voice output time of the character string “You have reached the destination is 6 seconds, the route guidance unit 84 determines that the voice guidance can be output before arriving at the destination, and the vehicle power S When reaching the point 100m before, the character string “You have reached the destinat ion” is output to TTS85.

[0110] When the navigation user operates the navigation system and selects Italian as the language used, the character string display on display 6 and the sound output from speaker 9 are in Italian. Done. The Italian character string “You have reached the destination” is the voice string 10: Avet e raggiunto la destinazione. The route output section 84 characters to be stored 歹 lj “Avete raggiunt o la destinazione” has a voice output time of 7 Seconds.

[0111] When the vehicle traveling speed is 60km / h, it will travel 100m in 6 seconds.

84 decides that the voice of the character 歹 IJ “Avete raggiunto la destinazione” cannot be output at this speed, and outputs the voice guidance string Avete raggiunto la destinazione to TTS85, and the voice guidance in 6 seconds. Notify that output is necessary.

Upon receiving the above notification from the route guidance unit 84, the TTS 85 instructs the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 to generate the abbreviated form “Avete raggiunto la destinazione”.

In response to this, in the abbreviated character string generation unit 87, the word abbreviation processing unit 872 refers to each of the abbreviated word storage unit 873, the word segment storage unit 874, and the abbreviated word storage unit 875, and shortens the character string. Is generated and output to TTS85.

In this example, the abbreviation word `` la '' is the word that can be omitted in `` Avete raggiunto la destinazione ''. Is output to TTS85.

[0113] When TTS85 receives the above-mentioned character string from the abbreviated character string generation unit 87, TTS85 instructs the audio output time calculation unit 856 to calculate the output time when “Avete raggiunto destinazione” is output as a voice. To do.

The output time of “Avete raggiunto destinazione” is 6 seconds. TTS85 judges that the character string for speech can be output within 6 seconds and synthesizes the character 歹 IJ “Avete raggiunto destinazione”. The voice synthesized by the voice synthesis unit 857 is output from the speaker 9.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the control device 8 when the TTS 85 synthesizes a speech character string.

The basic operation of the navigation system control device 8 (mainly TTS85) will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0115] When the vehicle reaches the point where guidance voice is output and the guidance voice output time is longer than the driving time per 100 m, the route guidance unit 84 sends a voice guidance character string per 100 m. Data on travel time is output (step ST701). In response to this, the TTS 85 instructs the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 to create an abbreviated form of the voice guidance character string, and receives the abbreviated form of the character string from the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 (step ST702 “Yes”), the voice output time calculation unit 856 is activated to calculate the guidance voice output time (step ST703). Here, when the voice output time is less than the travel time per 100 m (step ST704 “No”), the TTS85 performs voice synthesis of the voice guidance character string (step ST705) and ends the series of operations.

[0116] According to Embodiment 3 described above, the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 generates an abbreviated character string for speech from the European character string, and the character string speech conversion unit (TTS85) performs the abbreviated character string for speech. By converting to sound and outputting it, the necessary sound output can be acquired within a predetermined time. This makes it possible to view the voice guidance before arriving at the destination, for example, by shortening the long voice output by route guidance or the like.

[0117] Note that the third embodiment described above is only exemplified for the navigation system used in Europe, but is not limited to this!

For example, in North America, there are many abbreviations related to place names, such as the abbreviation Los Angeles. In a navigation system used in such a region, the abbreviation for Los Angeles (Los Angeles) is added to the abbreviation storage unit 875 of the abbreviated character string generation unit 87 in addition to the abbreviations for ordinary words. )) Abbreviation of place names such as Ν · Υ · is stored. For example, if the character string for speech Ten kilometers ahead turn right ight toward Los Angeles is shortened, Los Angeles is converted to Α · and converted to Ten kil ometers ahead turn right toward LA

Industrial applicability

As described above, the abbreviated character string generation device, the display device thereof, and the audio output device according to the present invention provide an input character when the length of the European input character string exceeds the screen display area (display width).歹 By automatically converting IJ to abbreviated form, it is possible to input data without making the user aware of the screen display area, and a shortened character string generation device with improved usability, its display device, and voice output device Therefore, it is used for a cash dispenser of a post office or bank, a shortened character string generator used in a navigation system mounted on a vehicle, a display device thereof, a voice output device, etc. Suitable for

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An input character string acquisition unit for acquiring a Western character input character string;

An abbreviated character string generation unit that generates an abbreviated character string having the same meaning as the partial character string from the acquired partial character string of the European input character string;

An abbreviated character string generation device comprising:

[2] The shortened character string generation unit

A short word storage unit in which short words corresponding to words and proper nouns are registered;

2. The abbreviated character string generation device according to claim 1, wherein the abbreviated word storage unit is searched to generate an abbreviated character string from the partial character string.

[3] The shortened character string generation unit

A word segment storage unit in which word segments are registered,

2. The shortened character string generation device according to claim 1, wherein the shortened character string is generated by omitting a segment obtained by searching the word segment storage unit as a unit.

[4] The shortened character string generation unit

The shortened character string generation device according to claim 1, wherein the shortened character string is generated by omitting a word before a vowel.

[5] The abbreviated character string generation unit

4. The abbreviated character string generation device according to claim 3, wherein a word composed of a predetermined number of segments or less is not targeted for the abbreviated character string generation! /.

[6] The shortened character string generation unit

2. The abbreviated character string generation according to claim 1, wherein the abbreviated character string is invalidated when the generated abbreviated character string is a word having a different meaning from the Western character input character string. apparatus.

[7] The shortened character string generation unit

The shortened character string is generated from the Western input character string, and when the number of characters of the generated word is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the word is not targeted for subsequent shortened character string generation. The shortened character string generation device according to 1.

[8] The shortened character string generation unit

2. The abbreviated character string generation device according to claim 1, wherein when the initial letters of the words constituting the Western character input character string are capital letters, the word is not a target for the abbreviated character string generation.

[9] The shortened character string generation unit

2. The abbreviated character string generation device according to claim 1, wherein when all of the words constituting the European character input character string are capitalized! /, The word is not a target of abbreviated character string generation. .

[10] The shortened character string generation unit

An abbreviated word storage unit that registers words that do not change the meaning of the sentence even if deleted, and refers to the abbreviated word storage unit when generating an abbreviated character string from the European input character string, 2. The abbreviated character string generation device according to claim 1, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting the word registered in.

[11] A display device for displaying a European character string,

A character string width calculation unit for calculating a character string length of the European input character string displayed on the display screen in accordance with the display width of each character;

When the calculated character string length exceeds the display width of the display screen, a shortened character string generation unit that generates a shortened character 歹 IJ having a length included in the display width;

A shortened character string display control unit for displaying a shortened character string of the length included in the display width on the screen; and

A display device comprising:

[12] A display device for displaying a European character string,

A character string acquisition unit for acquiring a character string input character string to be displayed on the display screen and a character string length of the character input character string;

When the character string length acquired from the character string acquisition unit exceeds the display width of the display screen, a shortened character string generation unit that generates a shortened character string having a length included in the display width; and An abbreviated character string display control unit for displaying the abbreviated character string of the included length on the screen;

A display device comprising:

[13] The shortened character string generation unit

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the abbreviated word storage unit is searched to generate the abbreviated character 歹 IJ from the partial character string of the European input character string.

[14] The shortened character string generation unit

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the abbreviated word storage unit is searched to generate the abbreviated character 歹 IJ from the partial character string of the European input character string.

[15] The shortened character string generation unit

A word segment storage unit in which word segments are registered,

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting a segment obtained by searching the word segment storage unit.

[16] The shortened character string generation unit

A word segment storage unit in which word segments are registered,

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting a segment obtained by searching the word segment storage unit as a unit.

[17] The shortened character string generation unit

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting a word before a vowel.

[18] The shortened character string generation unit

The display device according to claim 12, wherein a word is omitted before a vowel to generate the abbreviated character string.

[19] The shortened character string generation unit

16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein a word composed of a predetermined number of segments or less is not targeted for generation of the abbreviated character string! /.

[20] The shortened character string generation unit 17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein a word composed of a predetermined number of segments or less is not targeted for generation of the shortened character string! /.

[21] The shortened character string generation unit

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein when the generated abbreviated character string is a word having a different meaning from the Western text input character string, the generated abbreviated character string is invalidated.

[22] The shortened character string generation unit

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein when the generated abbreviated character string is a word having a different meaning from the European input character string, the generated abbreviated character string is invalidated.

[23] The shortened character string generation unit

The shortened character string is generated from the Western input character string, and when the number of characters of the generated word is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the word is not targeted for subsequent shortened character string generation. 11. The display device according to 11.

[24] The shortened character string generation unit

The shortened character string is generated from the Western input character string, and when the number of characters of the generated word is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the word is not targeted for subsequent shortened character string generation. 12. The display device according to 12.

[25] The shortened character string generation unit

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein when the initial letters of the words constituting the Western text input character string are capital letters, the word is not a target for generating a shortened character string.

[26] The shortened character string generation unit

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein when the initial letters of the words constituting the European input character string are capital letters, the word is not a target for generating a shortened character string.

[27] The shortened character string generation unit

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein when all of the words constituting the European input character string are capitalized! /, The word is not a target for generating a shortened character string.

[28] The shortened character string generation unit 13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein when all of the words constituting the European input character string are capitalized! /, The word is not a target for generating a shortened character string.

[29] The shortened character string generation unit

An abbreviated word storage unit that registers words that do not change the meaning of the sentence even if deleted, and refers to the abbreviated word storage unit when generating an abbreviated character string from the European input character string, and the abbreviated word dictionary 12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting the word registered in.

[30] The shortened character string generation unit

An abbreviated word storage unit that registers words that do not change the meaning of the sentence even if deleted, and refers to the abbreviated word storage unit when generating an abbreviated character string from the European input character string, and the abbreviated word dictionary 13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting the word registered in.

[31] An audio output device for outputting a corresponding audio output from a Western text input string,

A shortened character string generating unit that generates a shortened character string for speech from the Western input character string; and a character string speech converting unit that converts the shortened character string for speech into speech and outputs the speech. Voice output device.

[32] The character string speech converter

A voice output time calculation unit for calculating a time length of the output voice; and when the time length of the output voice exceeds a predetermined time length, a shortened voice having a length included in the predetermined time is 32. The audio output device according to claim 31, wherein the audio output device is generated and output.

[33] The character string speech converter

A voice output time acquisition unit that acquires a time length of the output voice; and when the time length of the output voice exceeds a predetermined time length, a shortened voice having a length included in the predetermined time is 32. The audio output device according to claim 31, wherein the audio output device is generated and output.

[34] The character string speech converter

Route guidance unit that obtains the fixed character string and the time length when the character string is output as voice With

32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein when the time length acquired from the route guiding unit exceeds a predetermined time length, a shortened voice having a length included in the predetermined time is generated and output.

[35] The character string speech converter

35. The audio output device according to claim 34, wherein the predetermined time length is changed in accordance with a detected moving speed.

[36] The shortened character string generation unit

32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein the abbreviated word storage unit is searched to generate an abbreviated character string from the European sentence input character string.

[37] The abbreviated character string generation unit includes:

A word segment storage unit in which word segments are registered,

32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting a segment obtained by searching the word segment storage unit as a unit.

[38] The abbreviated character string generation unit includes:

The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting a word before a vowel.

[39] The abbreviated character string generation unit includes:

32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein a word composed of a predetermined number of segments or less is not a target for generating the abbreviated character string! /.

[40] The shortened character string generation unit

32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein when the generated shortened character string is a word having a different meaning from the European input character string, the generated shortened character string is invalidated.

[41] The shortened character string generation unit

The number of characters in the word generated as a result of generating a shortened character string from the Western text input character string 32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein when the number becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number, the word is not targeted for subsequent shortened character string generation.

[42] The shortened character string generation unit

32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein when the initial letters of the words constituting the European input character string are uppercase letters, the word is not a target for generating a shortened character string.

[43] The shortened character string generation unit

32. The speech output device according to claim 31, wherein, when all of the words constituting the European input character string are capitalized! /, The word is not a target for generating a shortened character string.

[44] The shortened character string generation unit

An abbreviated word storage unit that registers words that do not change the meaning of the sentence even if deleted, and refers to the abbreviated word storage unit when generating an abbreviated character string from the European input character string, and the abbreviated word dictionary 32. The voice output device according to claim 31, wherein the abbreviated character string is generated by omitting the word registered in.