WO2018025398A1

WO2018025398A1 - Communication equipment, vehicle-mounted hands-free device and sound output device

Info

Publication number: WO2018025398A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/073090
Authority: WO
Inventors: 智彰氏丸
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2016-08-05
Filing date: 2016-08-05
Publication date: 2018-02-08

Abstract

A sound signal from a portable telephone (2) acquired by a communication interface unit (10) is processed by a hands-free engine (11) and an output level adjustment unit (12), and thereby the sound volume or sound quality of output sound outputted from a speaker (4) in response to the sound signal is adjusted. An adjustability determination unit (14) determines whether or not the sound volume or sound quality of the output sound outputted from the speaker (4) is adjustable to a set sound volume or set sound quality within the range of adjustment capability of the hands-free engine (11) and the output level adjustment unit (12).

Description

Communication device, in-vehicle hands-free device and audio output device

The present invention relates to a communication device that is communicably connected to another device such as a mobile phone, processes an audio signal input from the device, and outputs the signal via a speaker or the like.

As described in Patent Document 1, a portable communication terminal that performs music playback processing is connected to an output device that is an in-vehicle navigation device, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark, hereinafter omitted), and music is output from the output device. The system is known.

JP 2013-251613 A

In the above system, when the volume is set to the minimum on the mobile communication terminal side or the frequency characteristics are greatly changed, how much processing is performed on the output device side for the audio signal acquired from the mobile communication terminal. Even if it adds, it may fall into the situation where the output with a desired setting sound volume or setting sound quality cannot be performed.
However, conventionally, no consideration has been given to the occurrence of such a situation, and there has been a problem in that the chances of output at a desired set volume or set sound quality are reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When an audio signal acquired from a counterpart device is processed by a communication device and an output sound is output, the output sound is output at a set volume or a set sound quality. The purpose is to obtain a communication device that can suppress a decrease in the number of opportunities.

A communication device according to the present invention includes a communication interface unit that acquires an audio signal output by a counterpart device that is communicably connected, an audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit, and an output corresponding to the audio signal An output adjustment unit that adjusts the volume or sound quality of the sound, and an adjustment capability that the output adjustment unit has the volume or sound quality of the output sound corresponding to the audio signal using the audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit And an adjustability determination unit that determines whether or not the sound volume can be adjusted to the set sound volume or the set sound quality within the range.

According to the present invention, the determination of whether or not the adjustment is possible can be performed by determining whether or not the volume or sound quality of the output sound can be adjusted to the set volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the output adjustment unit. It is possible to use the control, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the opportunity to be output with the set volume or the set sound quality.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted hands-free apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a hardware configuration example of the in-vehicle hands-free device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process of the vehicle-mounted hands-free apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an example of an image displayed by processing of an in-vehicle hands-free device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Hereinafter, in order to explain the present invention in more detail, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an in-vehicle hands-free device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a mobile phone 2 that is communicably connected to an in-vehicle hands-free device 1, a microphone 3 that outputs an audio signal to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1, and an audio signal that is output from the in-vehicle hands-free device 1. A speaker 4 that outputs an output sound corresponding to the audio signal and a display device 5 for displaying an image are also shown.
The voice spoken by the user of the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 is collected by the microphone 3 and sent to the telephone conversation partner via the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 and the mobile phone 2. Then, the voice of the telephone conversation partner is output from the speaker 4 via the mobile phone 2 and the in-vehicle handsfree device 1.

The in-vehicle hands-free device 1 includes a communication interface unit 10, a hands-free engine 11, an output level adjustment unit 12, an input level adjustment unit 13, an adjustment availability determination unit 14, a notification unit 15, and a setting change unit 16. Is provided. The in-vehicle hands-free device 1 may be incorporated in the in-vehicle navigation device or a portable hands-free device brought into the vehicle.

The communication interface unit 10 inputs and outputs signals to and from the mobile phone 2 and connects the in-vehicle handsfree device 1 and the mobile phone 2 so that they can communicate with each other. For example, the communication interface unit 10 acquires an audio signal output from the mobile phone 2. Then, the communication interface unit 10 outputs the audio signal to the hands-free engine 11 and the adjustment availability determination unit 14. Further, for example, the communication interface unit 10 outputs an audio signal output from the hands-free engine 11 to the mobile phone 2. The connection between the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 and the mobile phone 2 may be a wireless connection such as a Bluetooth connection or a wired connection such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection.

The hands-free engine 11 processes the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 output from the communication interface unit 10 and outputs the processed audio signal to the output level adjustment unit 12. For example, the hands-free engine 11 performs an automatic gain control process in which the signal level of the audio signal output from the communication interface unit 10 is always adjusted to a constant level and output to the output level adjustment unit 12.
The hands-free engine 11 processes the audio signal output from the input level adjustment unit 13 and outputs the processed audio signal to the communication interface unit 10. For example, the hands-free engine 11 performs known echo cancellation processing and noise cancellation processing on the audio signal output from the input level adjustment unit 13.

The output level adjustment unit 12 processes the audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit 10 from the mobile phone 2 and processed by the hands-free engine 11 and outputs the processed audio signal to the speaker 4. At that time, the output level adjustment unit 12 amplifies the audio signal, for example, and raises or lowers the signal level. When the amplification factor is less than 1, the signal level decreases. Thereby, the volume of the output sound corresponding to the sound signal output from the speaker 4 is increased or decreased. Further, the output level adjustment unit 12 performs an equalization process on the audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit 10 from the mobile phone 2 and processed by the hands-free engine 11, for example, and changes the frequency characteristics. As a result, the output sound corresponding to the audio signal output from the speaker 4 changes the sound quality of the output sound as the sound in a specific frequency band is emphasized or suppressed.

Like the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjusting unit 12, the communication interface unit 10 processes the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 and the volume of the output sound output from the speaker 4 corresponding to the audio signal or The configuration for adjusting the sound quality is collectively referred to as an output adjustment unit. The in-vehicle hands-free device 1 may be configured such that the amplification process is performed only by the hands-free engine 11 or only by the output level adjustment unit 12, and the equalization process is performed by the hands-free engine 11 instead of the output level adjustment unit 12. The in-vehicle hands-free device 1 may be configured as described above, or the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 may be configured so that equalization processing is performed by both the output level adjustment unit 12 and the hands-free engine 11.

The input level adjustment unit 13 processes an audio signal collected and output by the microphone 3 and outputs it to the hands-free engine 11. At that time, the input level adjustment unit 13 performs, for example, a process of amplifying the audio signal.

When the output sound corresponding to the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 output by the communication interface unit 10 is output from the speaker 4, the adjustment availability determination unit 14 sets the volume or sound quality of the output sound to the set volume or the set sound quality. It is determined whether or not the vehicle-mounted hands-free device 1 can be adjusted.
For example, when the mobile phone 2 outputs an audio signal with a very low signal level, even if the handsfree engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 amplify the audio signal as much as possible, the output sound output from the speaker 4 is May be lower than the set volume. Further, for example, when the mobile phone 2 outputs an audio signal whose frequency characteristics are extremely changed, even if the output level adjustment unit 12 performs as much equalization processing as possible on the audio signal, the audio signal is output from the speaker 4. The output sound that is output may be out of the set sound quality.
In such a case, unless the volume or sound quality setting on the mobile phone 2 side is changed and the signal level or frequency characteristic of the original audio signal output from the mobile phone 2 to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 is changed, the speaker The output sound output from 4 does not have the set volume or set sound quality.

The determination performed by the adjustment availability determination unit 14 will be specifically described.
For example, the adjustment availability determination unit 14 compares the signal level of the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 acquired by the communication interface unit 10 with the first threshold value. Then, when the signal level of the audio signal is equal to or higher than the first threshold, if the handsfree engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 amplify, the volume of the output sound output from the speaker 4 is determined to be the set volume. . The set volume does not indicate any single value but may indicate all values included in an arbitrary fixed range. That is, the minimum volume that the user can hear may be set as a lower limit, and all the volumes that are equal to or higher than the lower limit may be collectively set as the set volume. In this case, the volume of the output sound output from the speaker 4 is determined to be equal to or higher than the minimum volume that can be heard by the user due to amplification by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12. Instead of the minimum volume that the user can hear, a lower limit value of the volume that the user can hear without feeling stress may be used.

Further, the adjustability determination unit 14 may compare the signal level of the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 acquired by the communication interface unit 10 with the second threshold value. Then, when the signal level of the audio signal is equal to or lower than the second threshold, if the handsfree engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 amplify, it is determined that the volume of the output sound output from the speaker 4 becomes the set volume. . The amplification at this time substantially means attenuation with an amplification factor of less than 1. This set sound volume may also indicate all the values included in an arbitrary fixed range rather than an arbitrary single value. That is, the volume that starts to feel noisy by the user may be set as an upper limit, and all the volumes that are less than or equal to the upper limit may be set as a set volume. In this case, it is determined that due to the attenuation in the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, the volume of the output sound output from the speaker 4 can be suppressed below the volume at which the user begins to feel noisy. Instead of the volume at which the user begins to feel noisy, an upper limit value of the volume at which the user can listen without feeling stress may be used.
In addition, when the signal level of the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 is not less than the first threshold and not more than the second threshold, if it is amplified by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjusting unit 12, the output sound output from the speaker 4 is output. May be determined to be the set volume.

The first threshold value and the second threshold value are set according to the amplification factor that can be set by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, that is, the amplification capability. For example, the first threshold value decreases as the amplification factor that can be set by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 increases.

Further, the adjustment availability determination unit 14 multiplies the signal level of the audio signal obtained from the mobile phone 2 acquired by the communication interface unit 10 by an amplification factor that can be set by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 to make the determination. You may go. For example, when the upper limit amplification factor that can be set by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 does not exceed the third threshold value, even if the amplification is performed by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, the speaker 4 It is determined that the volume of the output sound output from is not the set volume. The third threshold is the lowest signal level at which the volume of the output sound becomes the set volume.

Further, the adjustment availability determination unit 14 analyzes the frequency characteristic of the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 acquired by the communication interface unit 10 by fast Fourier transform or the like, and compares the analysis result with the comparison frequency characteristic. The comparative frequency characteristic is a frequency characteristic of a preset pattern, and is a frequency characteristic of a sound having a set sound quality. Then, when the difference between the two is within the first setting range, if the output level adjustment unit 12 performs equalization processing, it is determined that the sound quality of the output sound output from the speaker 4 becomes the set sound quality. This set sound quality does not indicate a sound quality that matches any single frequency characteristic, but may indicate all sound quality that match any one of a plurality of arbitrary frequency characteristics. That is, for example, the sound quality that the user can hear without a sense of incongruity may be set as the set sound quality. In this case, it is determined that the sound quality of the output sound output from the speaker 4 is the sound quality that the user can hear without a sense of incongruity by the equalization processing in the output level adjustment unit 12. Note that the sound quality that the user does not feel stress even when there is a sense of incongruity may be set sound quality.

The first setting range is set according to the equalization processing capability of the output level adjustment unit 12. For example, the first setting range can be increased as the equalization processing capability of the output level adjustment unit 12 is higher and the frequency characteristics can be changed greatly.

Similarly to the case of volume, the adjustment determination unit 14 uses the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 acquired by the communication interface unit 10 and the equalization processing capability of the output level adjustment unit 12 to perform the equalization process. The determination may be made by calculating the frequency characteristic that would be obtained by the above. If the calculated frequency characteristic does not become the frequency characteristic of the set sound quality, it is determined that the sound quality of the output sound output from the speaker 4 does not become the set sound quality even if the output level adjustment unit 12 performs the equalization process.

As described above, the adjustability determination unit 14 determines the volume or sound quality of the output sound output from the speaker 4 in response to the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 output by the communication interface unit 10, and the hands-free engine 11 and It is determined whether or not the output level adjustment unit 12 can be adjusted to the set volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the output level adjustment unit 12.
The determination result by the adjustment availability determination unit 14 is output to the notification unit 15, the setting change unit 16, and the like.

The notification unit 15 provides information to the user using the determination result by the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the processing result by the setting change unit 16, and the like. The notification unit 15 may output an image signal and display an image as shown in FIG. 4 to be described later on the display device 5, or output an audio signal and output information providing sound from the speaker 4. Also good.

The setting changing unit 16 outputs a control signal for changing the setting relating to the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side to the mobile phone 2 through the communication interface unit 10 as necessary. For example, in consideration of the amplification factor that can be set by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, the mobile phone can control the minimum signal level required for the output sound volume from the speaker 4 to be the set sound volume by the control signal. 2 is notified. In order to provide a margin for adjustment processing in the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, a signal level closer to the set sound volume than the signal level may be notified instead of the minimum required signal level. Further, for example, in consideration of the equalization processing capability of the output level adjusting unit 12, the mobile phone 2 is notified of the frequency characteristics that should be satisfied at least so that the sound quality of the output sound from the speaker 4 becomes the set sound quality by the control signal. In order to provide a margin for the adjustment process in the output level adjustment unit 12, the frequency characteristic closer to the set sound quality than the frequency characteristic may be notified instead of the frequency characteristic to be satisfied at the minimum.

The mobile phone 2 includes a communication interface unit (not shown) for communicating with the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 in addition to a well-known configuration for having a telephone function. Further, the mobile phone 2 includes an output adjustment unit (not shown) for adjusting the volume and quality of the output sound output from the mobile phone 2 as is well known. The volume and sound quality of the output sound of the mobile phone 2 can be changed by the user operating the mobile phone 2. When the user instructs the mobile phone 2 to change the volume or quality of the output sound via the operation button or the like of the mobile phone 2, the setting of the output adjustment unit provided in the mobile phone 2 is changed, and the output sound of the mobile phone 2 is changed. Volume or sound quality is changed. In addition, the setting of the output adjustment unit included in the mobile phone 2 can be changed by a control signal output from the setting change unit 16.

The microphone 3 mainly collects voice spoken by the user and outputs a voice signal corresponding to the voice to the input level adjustment unit 13.
The speaker 4 outputs an output sound corresponding to the audio signal output by the output level adjustment unit 12 and provides it to the user. As a result, the user can hear the voice of the telephone partner. Instead of the speaker 4, an earphone may be used.

Here, a hardware configuration example of the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The communication interface unit 10 is a transmission / reception device 100. In addition, the transmission / reception apparatus 100 may be configured with separate transmission apparatuses and reception apparatuses as apparatuses. The functions of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16 are realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware or a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program stored in a memory. The CPU is also called a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

2A shows a processing circuit 101 that is a dedicated hardware for the functions of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example at the time of implement | achieving by. The processing circuit 101 is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. . The functions of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16 may be realized by combining separate processing circuits 101. The functions of the respective units may be realized by one processing circuit 101.

FIG. 2B shows the functions of the hands-free engine 11, output level adjustment unit 12, input level adjustment unit 13, adjustment availability determination unit 14, notification unit 15, and setting change unit 16. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example at the time of implement | achieving by CPU103 to do. In this case, the functions of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16 are software, firmware, or software and firmware. Realized by combination. Software and firmware are described as programs and stored in the memory 102. The CPU 103 reads out and executes the program stored in the memory 102, so that the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16 Implement the functions of each part. That is, the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 has a memory 102 for storing a program or the like in which steps ST1 to ST4 shown in the flowchart of FIG. In addition, these programs cause the computer to execute the procedures or methods of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16. It can be said that. Here, the memory 102 is, for example, a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, Compact discs, mini discs, DVDs (Digital Versatile Disc), and the like are applicable.

In addition, about the function of each part of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, the input level adjustment unit 13, the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16, a part is realized by dedicated hardware, A part may be realized by software or firmware. For example, the functions of the hands-free engine 11, the output level adjustment unit 12, and the input level adjustment unit 13 are realized by a processing circuit as dedicated hardware, and the adjustment availability determination unit 14, the notification unit 15, and the setting change unit 16. The processing circuit can realize the function by reading and executing the program stored in the memory.

As described above, the processing circuit includes the above-described hands-free engine 11, output level adjustment unit 12, input level adjustment unit 13, adjustment availability determination unit 14, notification unit 15, and setting by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The function of each part of the change part 16 is realizable.

Next, an example of processing of the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 configured as described above will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 and the mobile phone 2 are connected so as to be communicable, when a call is made or when the user makes a call, an audio signal is output from the mobile phone 2 and the communication interface unit 10 Acquires the audio signal (step ST1). The audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit 10 is output to the hands-free engine 11 and the adjustability determination unit 14.

Subsequently, the adjustability determination unit 14 adjusts the volume or sound quality of the output sound output from the speaker 4 in response to the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 output by the communication interface unit 10, the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment. It is determined whether or not the volume can be adjusted to the set volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the unit 12 (step ST2). The determination result is output to the notification unit 15.

If it is determined that adjustment to the set volume or the set sound quality is not possible within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 (step ST2; NO), the notification unit 15 that has received the determination The user determines whether to change the setting on the mobile phone 2 by generating an image signal for selecting whether or not to change the volume or sound quality of the output sound of the telephone 2 and outputting it to the display device 5. (Step ST3). FIG. 4 shows an example of an image displayed at this time. When the display device 5 is a touch panel, the user can instruct whether to change the setting on the mobile phone 2 side by a touch operation. Alternatively, the “change” icon and the “do not change” icon may be selected using a remote controller (not shown). Alternatively, the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 may be provided with a voice recognition function, and a user instruction may be input to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 by voice recognition.

When the selection to change the setting on the mobile phone 2 side is made (step ST3; YES), the setting change unit 16 sends a control signal for changing the setting related to the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side to the communication interface unit 10. Via the mobile phone 2 (step ST4). The mobile phone 2 that has received the control signal changes the setting related to the volume or sound quality of the mobile phone based on the control signal.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the set volume or the set sound quality can be adjusted within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 (step ST2; YES), or the setting on the mobile phone 2 side is changed. When the selection is made not to be performed (step ST3; NO), the setting on the mobile phone 2 side is maintained as it is.

The audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit 10 in step ST1 and output to the hands-free engine 11 is processed by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12 in parallel with the processing of steps ST2 to ST4. Output from the speaker 4 as output sound. Thereby, the voice of the telephone conversation partner can be delivered to the user with a reduced delay. Within the range of adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, if the setting on the mobile phone 2 side is changed because it cannot be adjusted to the set volume or the set sound quality, after the change is performed, An output sound having a set sound volume or a set sound quality is output from the speaker 4.

The setting changing unit 16 automatically outputs a control signal for changing the setting related to the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side without giving the user an opportunity to select the setting change on the mobile phone 2 side. It may be. In this case, it is preferable that the notification unit 15 notifies the user that the setting relating to the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side has been changed. However, in order to simplify the configuration, the notification unit 15 may be omitted from the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 and the process may be performed without notifying the user.

In addition, the notification unit 15 notifies the user when it is determined that the adjustment cannot be made to the set sound volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12. May be. Thereby, the user can recognize whether or not the setting on the mobile phone 2 side is changed without changing the setting on the in-vehicle handsfree device 1 side. In this case, the setting changing unit 16 may be omitted from the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 and the user may operate the mobile phone 2 to change the setting.

In addition, the notification unit 15 determines the volume or sound quality of the mobile phone 2 when it is determined that the set sound volume or the set sound quality cannot be adjusted within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12. You may make it notify the advice regarding a setting. For example, the notification unit 15 acquires a comparison result between the signal level and the first threshold value or the second threshold value, a comparison result between the analyzed frequency characteristic and the comparison frequency characteristic, and the like from the adjustment availability determination unit 14, and the mobile phone 2 side Analyze how to change the settings of. For example, when the signal level is less than the first threshold value, advice is given to increase the volume setting on the mobile phone 2 side. Alternatively, the notification unit 15 uses the signal level or frequency characteristic to be notified by the control signal from the setting change unit 16 and the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 acquired by the communication interface unit 10, on the mobile phone 2 side. You may analyze how the settings should be changed.
The user can smoothly change the setting on the mobile phone 2 side by receiving the advice. For example, if the mobile phone 2 is set to the minimum volume and cannot be adjusted to the set volume by the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjusting unit 12, “only the in-vehicle hands-free device because the set volume of the mobile phone is very low. In this case, the notification unit 15 notifies that the adjustment cannot be completed.

Further, in the above, the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 uses the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 as a communication device, and the mobile phone 2 connected to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 so as to be communicable with the counterpart device. The case where the output sound is finally output from the speaker 4 and a hands-free call is performed has been described as an example. However, when listening to music or the like with an audio reproduction device that reproduces music or the like and an audio output device that obtains an audio signal from the audio reproduction device and finally outputs an output sound corresponding to the audio signal. The configuration as in the first embodiment may be applied. In this case, a voice playback device having a voice playback function such as a portable music player is a communication device. A voice output device such as a Bluetooth speaker or an in-vehicle navigation device that can be connected to the partner device or the voice playback device is a communication device.
In short, the first embodiment can be applied to a communication device that acquires an audio signal from a counterpart device that is communicably connected and finally outputs an output sound corresponding to the audio signal.

As described above, according to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 according to the first embodiment, the volume of the output sound output from the speaker 4 in response to the audio signal from the mobile phone 2 by the adjustment determination unit 14 or It is determined whether or not the sound quality can be adjusted to the set sound volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12. The in-vehicle hands-free device 1 can be controlled by the notification unit 15 and the setting change unit 16 using this determination, and suppresses a decrease in the chance that output sound is output from the speaker 4 with a desired set volume or set sound quality. be able to.

Further, when the adjustment determination unit 14 determines that the adjustment cannot be made to the set volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side is determined. The setting changing unit 16 for outputting a control signal for changing the setting is provided. By changing the volume or sound quality setting on the mobile phone 2 side which is the counterpart device, the signal level or frequency characteristic of the audio signal input from the mobile phone 2 to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 is changed in the first place, and the hands-free engine 11 In addition, the processing by the output level adjustment unit 12 tends to make it possible to output the output sound of the set sound volume or the set sound quality from the speaker 4.

The mobile phone 2 also includes a notification unit 15 that selectively notifies the user of the change in the volume or sound quality setting, and the setting change unit 16 outputs a control signal when the execution of the setting change is selected. The volume or sound quality setting on the mobile phone 2 side is changed. In this way, the user can decide by himself whether or not to change the setting on the mobile phone 2 side which is the counterpart device. In addition, since the user only has to select whether or not to change the setting, this is particularly convenient when the user is a driver and it is difficult to perform complicated device operations.

In addition, the notification unit 15 is provided to notify that the setting change unit 16 has output a control signal to change the volume or sound quality setting on the mobile phone 2 side. In this way, the user can know that the setting of the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side that is the counterpart device has been changed. Therefore, when the connection between the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 and the mobile phone 2 is released and the mobile phone 2 is used alone, if the setting on the mobile phone 2 side is changed, the output sound with the same volume or sound quality as before is changed. Can be obtained in advance from the mobile phone 2.

Further, when it is determined by the adjustability determination unit 14 that the set sound volume or the set sound quality cannot be adjusted within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, a notification unit 15 that notifies that effect. It was decided to prepare. In this case, in order to obtain an output sound having a preferable volume or sound quality from the speaker 4, it is meaningless to change the setting on the in-vehicle handsfree device 1 side, and the setting on the mobile phone 2 side which is the counterpart device is changed. The user can notice whether or not.

Further, when the adjustment determination unit 14 determines that the adjustment cannot be made to the set volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the hands-free engine 11 and the output level adjustment unit 12, the volume or sound quality on the mobile phone 2 side is determined. The notification part 15 which notifies the advice regarding the setting of is decided to be provided. In this way, the user can know how to change the setting on the mobile phone 2 side, which is the counterpart device, and can smoothly change the setting.

Also, the present invention can be applied to the in-vehicle hands-free device 1 that is connected to the mobile phone 2 having a telephone function and operates as a communication device.

Further, the present invention can be applied to an audio output device that is connected to an audio reproducing device having an audio reproducing function and operates as a communication device.

In the present invention, any component of the embodiment can be modified or any component of the embodiment can be omitted within the scope of the invention.

As described above, the communication device according to the present invention determines whether or not the communication device can be adjusted to the set volume or the set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the communication device. Therefore, it is suitable for use as an in-vehicle hands-free device that is communicably connected to a mobile phone and outputs an audio signal from the mobile phone via a speaker.

1 in-vehicle hands-free device, 2 mobile phone, 3 microphone, 4 speakers, 5 display device, 10 communication interface unit, 11 hands-free engine, 12 output level adjustment unit, 13 input level adjustment unit, 14 adjustment availability determination unit, 15 notification Unit, 16 setting change unit, 100 transmission / reception device, 101 processing circuit, 102 memory, 103 CPU.

Claims

A communication interface unit that acquires an audio signal output by a counterpart device connected to be communicable;
An output adjustment unit that processes the audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit and adjusts the volume or sound quality of the output sound corresponding to the audio signal;
Using the audio signal acquired by the communication interface unit, the output adjustment unit adjusts the volume or sound quality of the output sound corresponding to the audio signal to a set volume or set sound quality within the range of the adjustment capability of the output adjustment unit. A communication device comprising: an adjustment availability determination unit that determines whether adjustment is possible.
A control signal for changing the setting of the volume or sound quality on the counterpart device side when the adjustment availability determination unit determines that adjustment to the set sound volume or sound quality cannot be performed within the range of the adjustment capability of the output adjustment unit. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a setting change unit for outputting.
A notification unit for notifying that the setting of the volume or sound quality setting on the counterpart device side can be selected;
3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the setting change unit outputs the control signal to change the volume or sound quality setting on the counterpart device side when execution of the setting change is selected.
3. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the fact that the setting change unit outputs the control signal to change the volume or sound quality setting of the counterpart device.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that notifies the adjustment when the adjustment determination unit determines that the output volume cannot be adjusted to a set sound volume or a set sound quality within a range of adjustment capability of the output adjustment unit. 1. The communication device according to 1.
Notification for notifying the advice regarding the setting of the volume or sound quality on the counterpart device side when it is determined by the adjustability determination unit that adjustment to the set sound volume or sound quality cannot be performed within the range of the adjustment capability of the output adjustment unit The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit.
An in-vehicle hands-free device that is connected to the counterpart device having a telephone function and operates as a communication device according to claim 1.
An audio output device connected to the counterpart device having an audio playback function and operating as a communication device according to claim 1.