JP3965543B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, and in particular, to provide a communication apparatus that is easy to set a reference for separating noise and voice and that can easily understand the set reference.
[0002]
[Background]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a telephone device with a voice recognition function has been developed that has a voice recognition function and can automatically close a line by voice response without taking a handset when a call is received.
[0003]
In addition, in such a telephone device with a voice recognition function, an expected noise level is set in advance in order to separate noise and voice, and when a voice exceeding the noise level is input from the microphone, there is a voice response. In many cases, the line is automatically closed.
[0004]
In some cases, the user can set a sound level as a reference for separating noise and sound.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional audio level setting is performed as an internal process of the apparatus in accordance with a user setting operation. For this reason, it was difficult for the user to understand how much sound level was set. Also, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to know how much sound level is set to separate noise and sound.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that makes it easy to set a reference for separating noise and speech and makes the set reference easy to understand.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the communication device according to claim 1 recognizes an external sound exceeding a predetermined sound level from the external sound while measuring a sound level of the external sound input by the microphone. A voice recognition unit, an automatic closing unit that automatically closes a line based on a recognition result of the voice recognition unit during reception of a call signal from the line, and a reference for voice recognition in the voice recognition unit Switching means for switching to a level setting mode for setting the audio level, audio level setting means for setting the audio level based on manual input when the mode is switched to the level setting mode, and input by the microphone Level display means for visually displaying the sound level of the external sound and the sound level set by the sound level setting means. That.
[0008]
According to the communication device of the first aspect, since both the audio level of the external audio and the set audio level are visually displayed on the level display means, it is possible to visually compare the two. It becomes. For this reason, it is possible to immediately understand how much sound level can be set to separate noise and sound. For this reason, it becomes easy to perform the sound level setting operation by the sound level setting means. Also, the set audio level is easy to understand for the user.
[0009]
In particular, when the user inputs sound from a microphone, the sound level of that sound is also visually displayed as the sound level of the external sound, so the contrast between your sound level and the sound level of ambient noise can be visually compared. Can be done. Therefore, it is possible to easily set the voice level that is a reference for voice recognition to an appropriate level between the voice level of noise and the voice level of one's own voice, for example.
[0010]
The communication apparatus according to claim 2 is the communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the level display means indicates a sound level of an external sound input by the microphone and a sound level set by the sound level setting means. They are displayed side by side.
[0011]
According to the communication device of the second aspect, since the audio level of the external audio and the set audio level are displayed side by side, it is possible to more easily and reliably compare the two. Further, it is possible to set a voice level as a reference for voice recognition while visually confirming the voice level of the external voice (in this case, the voice level of the noise and the voice level of the user input voice are shared). For this reason, while simplifying the configuration of the display means, it is easier to set the sound level as a reference for separating noise and sound, and the communication between the set sound level and the sound level of the external sound is easy to understand An apparatus can be obtained.
[0012]
The communication device according to claim 3 is the communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external sound is input to the first external sound input from the microphone and the first external sound. Including a second external sound that is input later by the microphone and higher than the sound level of the first external sound, and the level display means includes the sound level of the first external sound and the second external sound. Are displayed side by side as the audio levels of the external audio.
[0013]
According to the communication device of the third aspect, since the first external sound and the second external sound higher than the first external sound are displayed side by side on the level display means, the sound level of ambient noise and The user's voice level can be compared side by side. For this reason, by comparing both of them side by side, it is possible to grasp at a glance how much sound level should be set as a reference, and it becomes easier to perform the sound level setting work.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, the communication apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the communication apparatus is applied to a facsimile apparatus.
[0015]
First, FIG. 2 shows an external perspective view of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment.
[0016]
In FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 10 includes a main body 12 and a receiver 28 installed on the left side of the main body 12. The receiver 28 is connected to the main body 12 by a cord (not shown). A speaker 26 is provided on the right side of the main body 12. A key input unit 16 is provided at the front of the upper surface of the main body 12, an LCD 18 is provided at the left rear of the key input unit 16, and a microphone 27 is provided at the right rear. Further, a document insertion slot 20 is provided at the rear part of the LCD 18 and the microphone 27, and a document inserted therefrom is read by a scanner 52 (see FIG. 3) inside the main body 12, and then the front surface of the main body 12. In this case, the document is discharged from a document discharge port 14 provided below the key input unit 16. A recording paper holder 24 capable of stacking and storing a plurality of recording papers is detachably attached to the rear portion of the document insertion opening 20. The recording paper supplied from the recording paper holder 24 and used for printing is discharged from a recording paper discharge port 22 provided below the document discharge port 14.
[0017]
Such a facsimile machine 10 has an electrical structure as shown in the block diagram of FIG. That is, the CPU 32, the ROM 34, the EEPROM 36, the RAM 38, the image memory 40, the voice memory 42, the time measuring unit 43, the sensor 44, the voice recognition unit 45, the network control unit (hereinafter referred to as “NCU”) 46, the modem 48, the buffer 50, A scanner 52, an encoding unit 54, a decoding unit 56, a printer 58, a key input unit 16, an LCD 18, and amplifiers 60 and 61 are provided and are connected to each other via a system bus 30. In addition to the handset 28 and the telephone line 64, the NCU 46 is also connected to a modem 48. The speaker 26 is connected to the amplifier 60, and the microphone 27 is connected to the amplifier 61.
[0018]
More specifically, the CPU 32 controls each unit connected via the system bus 30. The control program executed by the CPU 32 and various data necessary for executing the control program are stored in the ROM 34 and the EEPROM 36.
[0019]
Here, as the control program stored in the ROM 34, for example, a level setting program for setting a voice level that is a reference for voice recognition in the voice recognition unit 45 or a level setting mode for executing the level setting program is switched. For example, an automatic closing program for automatically closing a line based on a voice recognition result of the voice recognition unit 45. Various data such as sound data and numerical data that are referred to during processing in the CPU 32 and the voice recognition unit 45 are also stored in the ROM 34.
[0020]
The EEPROM 36 stores voice level data, speed dial data, data for outputting various voice messages, and the like.
[0021]
In the RAM 38, voices captured from the receiver 28, the microphone 27, and the telephone line 64 via the NCU 46 are stored, and various data when the CPU 32 executes operations are temporarily stored.
[0022]
The image memory 40 stores a communication history, image data, and a bit image for printing, and the audio memory 42 stores a response message sent to the counterpart device and an incoming message sent from the counterpart device. To do. The timer unit 43 measures the current time. The sensor 44 detects the open / close state of the recording paper cover.
[0023]
The voice recognition unit 45 recognizes a voice that exceeds a predetermined voice level from the voice captured by the microphone 27. The voice recognition unit 45 can be configured by a voice LSI or the like, for example.
[0024]
The NCU 46 transmits and receives signals to and from a partner device (not shown) connected via the telephone lines 64 and 66 and the exchange 62.
[0025]
The modem 48 modulates and demodulates communication data such as image data and audio data transmitted and received by the NCU 46. The buffer 50 temporarily stores data including encoded image information transmitted / received to / from the counterpart device. The scanner 52 reads characters / graphics written on the reading surface of the document inserted into the document insertion slot 20 as image data, and the encoding unit 54 encodes the image data read by the scanner 52. On the other hand, the decoding unit 56 reads out the image data stored in the buffer 50 or the image memory 40 and decodes it. The printer 58 prints the decrypted data on a recording sheet. The key input unit 16 includes a numeric keypad and function keys, and enables various setting operations, telephone number input operations, and the like using these keys. The amplifier 60 amplifies a sound signal to be output as a ringing sound or a call voice by the speaker 26, and the amplifier 61 amplifies the external sound taken in by the microphone 27.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the microphone 27 corresponds to a microphone, and the voice recognition unit 45 corresponds to a voice recognition unit. The CPU 32 and the key input unit 16 correspond to switching means and sound level setting means, and the LCD 18 corresponds to level display means. The CPU 32 and the NCU 46 correspond to automatic closing means.
[0027]
In such a facsimile apparatus 10, the voice level that is a reference for voice recognition in the voice recognition unit 45 is set according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4.
[0028]
In FIG. 4, the facsimile machine 10 is in a reception standby state at the start time. In this state, when the mode is switched to the level setting mode (S1), the surrounding external sound is taken in by the microphone 27 and the sound level is measured, and the result is displayed on the LCD 18 as a noise level (S2). The external sound captured by the microphone 27 in S2 corresponds to the first external sound.
[0029]
A display screen of the LCD 18 at this time is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the LCD display in the present embodiment.
[0030]
In FIG. 1A, rectangles arranged in a line on the right side of the display of “noise level” are memories representing noise levels in 10 levels, and the level increases by 1 level as the number of filled rectangles increases. It shows that. Therefore, in this example, the noise level is 2.
[0031]
Switching to the level setting mode is performed by the CPU 32 according to a mode switching program stored in the ROM 34 based on manual input from the key input unit 16. Further, the sound level of the sound taken in by the microphone 27 is measured by the sound recognition unit 45 and stored in the RAM 38. Further, the image display on the LCD 18 is executed under the control of the CPU 32 based on the program stored in the ROM 34 and the data stored in the EEPROM 36 and the RAM 38.
[0032]
Next, it is determined whether or not a voice having a voice level higher than the noise level is input (S3). If there is no input (S3: NO), an input instruction message for prompting voice input from the microphone 27 is output. (S10). The determination of S3 is performed by the CPU 32 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 34. In addition, if the input instruction message prompts the user to input a voice such as “Please input voice”, the specific content and output form such as display output and voice output are not particularly limited. Note that the external sound measured in S3 corresponds to the second external sound.
[0033]
When a voice having a level higher than the noise level is input in S3 (S3: YES), an image is displayed on the LCD 18 as an input level (S4). A display screen of the LCD 18 at this time is shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the input level is 8.
[0034]
After the input level is displayed for a predetermined time, an audio level setting screen is displayed on the LCD 18 (S5). At this time, in the present embodiment, the currently set sound level is displayed, and the setting can be changed by an input from the key input unit 16. For this reason, it is possible to visually facilitate level setting for separating the noise level and the input level. Specifically, for example, a display screen as shown in FIG. In the case of the illustrated example, the currently set audio level is 5.
[0035]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a sound level setting input has been made using the key input unit 16 (S6). If there is an input (S6: YES), the sound level display on the LCD 18 is changed based on the input. (S7). When an input indicating determination is made from the key input unit 16 (S8: YES), a voice level is newly set based on the input made in S6, and stored as voice level data in the EEPROM 36 (S9). . At this time, the old audio level data is erased from the EEPROM 36. On the other hand, if there is no input indicating determination in S8 (S8: NO), the level setting mode is terminated without setting a new audio level. In this case, the setting of the sound level displayed in S5 is alive as it is. A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of audio level data is stored in advance and audio level data corresponding to the set level is selected.
[0036]
If there is no input for setting the audio level in S6 (S6: NO), it is determined whether or not it is necessary to change the current audio level setting displayed in S5 ( S11). Specifically, for example, the CPU 32 determines whether or not an audio level intermediate between the noise level and the input level is set according to a determination program stored in the ROM 34. In the case of the illustrated example, it is determined whether or not the audio level is in the range of 3 to 7. If a setting change is necessary (S11: YES), a setting instruction message with a content prompting the user to set the audio level is output, for example, “Please set the audio level” (S12), S6 Return to. If it is not necessary to change the setting (S11: NO), the level setting mode is terminated without changing the current audio level. The specific contents and output form of the message in S12 are not particularly limited.
[0037]
And voice recognition is performed on the basis of the voice level set by such a procedure. In the facsimile apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when a call signal is received through the line 64 and the voice exceeding the set voice level is recognized by the voice recognition unit 45, the line closing program stored in the ROM 34. The line is automatically closed by the CPU 32 based on the above.
[0038]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when setting the voice level, the ambient noise level and the user's voice level can be visually compared. Therefore, an appropriate voice level can be easily set as a reference for voice recognition. It becomes possible. In particular, since the noise level and the input level are displayed on the LCD 18 as an image, it is easy to grasp both levels, and the sound level can be reliably recognized by separating the noise and the voice response by setting the sound level to what level. You can immediately determine if you get it. Further, since the set sound level is displayed as an image, the set sound level is easily understood by the user, and the desired sound level can be easily set.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, since the current audio level setting is displayed in S5 of FIG. 4, it is possible to visually determine what audio level is currently set. Furthermore, if there is no audio level setting input in S6, it is determined whether or not the setting needs to be changed. If there is no need to change the setting, the level setting mode is terminated as it is, so unnecessary work can be omitted. . When a setting change is necessary, a setting instruction message is output, so that voice recognition is performed with an inappropriate voice level, and it is possible to prevent the facsimile apparatus 10 from malfunctioning.
[0040]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, A various deformation | transformation is possible.
[0041]
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, after using the LCD 100 having a wider display area than the LCD 18 to display the noise level and the input level side by side (FIG. 5A), the audio level can be displayed (FIG. 5 ( B)). FIG. 5 shows another example of the LCD display. In the case of FIG. 5 (A), it is possible to compare the noise level and the input level while actually checking with eyes without relying on memory, so that the appropriate audio level range can be determined more quickly. Can do. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when displaying the determination result as to whether or not the sound level is appropriate together with the display of the sound level, an inappropriate sound level is set due to a user error. Can be prevented. Such a determination is made by the CPU 32 based on a program stored in the ROM 34.
[0042]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the level may be displayed with a number instead of a memory. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of the LCD display. In the case of FIG. 6, since the space required for displaying each level is small, it is possible to display all of the noise level, input level, and audio level side by side while using the LCD 110 having a relatively small display area. It becomes. For this reason, the level relationship between the set audio level and external audio such as noise and user's audio is easy to understand, and the audio level can be set more easily and reliably. Therefore, ease of use can be improved while suppressing an increase in cost.
[0043]
It is also possible to omit the user's voice input and the input level display based on the voice level when setting the voice level. Even in this case, if the external noise level and the set audio level are visually displayed, it is possible to easily set an audio level that does not misrecognize noise.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the communication device of the first aspect, since both the audio level of the external audio and the set audio level are visually displayed on the level display means, both are visually displayed. Therefore, it is easy to perform the sound level setting operation by the sound level setting means. Also, the set audio level is easy to understand for the user.
[0045]
According to the communication device according to claim 2, since the sound level of the external sound and the set sound level are displayed side by side, it is easier to set the sound level as a reference for separating noise and sound, and Thus, it is possible to obtain a communication device in which the level between the set audio level and the external audio level is easy to understand.
[0046]
According to the communication device of the third aspect, since the first external sound and the second external sound higher than the first external sound are displayed side by side on the level display means, the sound level of ambient noise and The user's voice level can be compared side by side. For this reason, by comparing both of them side by side, it is possible to grasp at a glance how much sound level should be set as a reference, and it becomes easier to perform the sound level setting work.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an LCD display in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an audio level setting procedure in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of LCD display.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of the LCD display.
[Explanation of symbols]
16 Key input part (switching means, voice level setting means)
18 LCD (level display means)
27 Microphone 32 CPU (automatic closing means, switching means, sound level setting means)
45 Voice recognition unit (voice recognition means)
46 NCU (automatic closing means)

Claims (3)

A voice recognizing means for recognizing an external voice exceeding a predetermined voice level from the external voice while measuring a voice level of the external voice inputted by the microphone;
Automatic closing means for automatically closing a line based on a recognition result of the voice recognition means during reception of a call signal from the line;
Switching means for switching to a level setting mode for setting the voice level as a reference for voice recognition in the voice recognition means;
Audio level setting means for setting the audio level based on manual input when switched to the level setting mode;
Level display means for visually displaying the sound level of the external sound input by the microphone and the sound level set by the sound level setting means;
A communication apparatus comprising: The communication device according to claim 1.
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the level display means displays the sound level of the external sound input by the microphone and the sound level set by the sound level setting means side by side. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2,
The external sound is a first external sound input by the microphone, and a second external sound input by the microphone after the input of the first external sound and higher than the sound level of the first external sound. Including audio,
The level display means displays the sound level of the first external sound and the sound level of the second external sound side by side as the sound level of the external sound.

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