JP5790021B2 - Audio output system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a voice output system including a masker sound output device that outputs a masker sound and a voice terminal device.

  Conventionally, when a plurality of audio contents are reproduced in the same space, a technique has been proposed in which the reproduced sounds of the respective audio contents are prevented from affecting each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the apparatus of Patent Document 1, the volume is lowered when content is not played back in another area, and the volume is raised when content is played back in another area.

  In recent years, speakers have been attached to dialogue counters such as banks and dispensing pharmacies, and voices that are less relevant to the speaker's voice are output as masker sounds. ) Is known to be difficult to hear.

JP 2008-76985 A

  Masking sound makes it difficult to obtain a masking effect when the volume is low. Therefore, it is necessary to output the masker sound at a certain volume, but if the volume of the masker sound is too high, it becomes impossible to hear the sound to be heard (for example, the calling voice).

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an audio output device that can obtain a sufficient masking effect and can listen to a sound to be heard at an appropriate volume.

  The audio output system of the present invention includes a masker sound output device that outputs a masker sound and a terminal device carried by the user. The masker sound output device is installed so as to output a masker sound to the user. Then, the terminal device outputs a necessary voice for each user.

  With the above configuration, since the voice to be heard is output from the terminal device (voice terminal) carried by the user at the closest position of the user, even when the masker sound volume is increased to obtain a masking effect, The sound that the user wants to hear can be heard at an appropriate volume.

  Moreover, in the said audio | voice output system, it is also possible to improve a masking effect more because an audio | voice terminal outputs the audio | voice which assists a masker sound. The sound that assists the masker sound is the same as the masker sound output by the masker sound output device, the background sound such as the stream of the brook or the noise of the trees, and the musical sound generated intermittently A mode of outputting a sound with high performance (production sound) or the like is also possible.

  In the audio output system, the audio of a predetermined content can be output from the audio terminal. By outputting the audio of the content from the audio terminal, the user's attention can be directed from the audio to be masked to the audio of the content, and the masking effect can be further enhanced.

  Note that it is desirable to further improve the masking effect by providing reception means for accepting selection of content from the user and outputting audio of the content desired by the user.

  Actually, it is desirable to select from contents displayed on a plurality of display devices provided at a waiting place such as a bank or a dispensing pharmacy and output a corresponding sound.

  Further, it is desirable that the voice assisting the masker sound is output when selection of content is not accepted from the user.

  According to the present invention, a sufficient masking effect can be obtained, and the sound that the user wants to hear can be heard at an appropriate volume.

It is a layout diagram showing the configuration of the audio output system. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the voice terminal, and FIG. 2B is an external view of the voice terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a masker sound output device. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a server. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing the operations of the server, the voice terminal, and the masker sound output device when the collected voice signal is transmitted to the server, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server and other information processing apparatus (for example, home PC) when performing the operation. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a server and an audio | voice terminal. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a server and an audio | voice terminal.

  FIG. 1 is a layout diagram showing an outline of an audio output system. The voice output system is installed in a dialogue counter and a waiting place such as a bank or a dispensing pharmacy. A masker sound output device 3 for outputting a masker sound is installed in the vicinity of the dialogue counter, and the masker sound is emitted toward the waiting place. This masking sound masks the content of a person who has a conversation in the dialog counter so that the person who is in the waiting place cannot understand the content of the speech.

  In FIG. 1, there are a user 90 and a staff 91 in each of the three interaction counters, and a plurality of users 92 in a waiting place away from the interaction counter. The staff 91 is, for example, a pharmacist who explains medicines, the user 90 is a patient who listens to medicines, and the user 92 is a patient waiting for a turn.

  Each user 92 receives the voice terminal 1 from the staff 93 at the reception location and carries it. The voice terminal 1 is provided with a speaker, and when the turn comes, a calling voice (synthetic voice, actual staff voice, beep sound, etc.) is output. The user 92 can know that the turn has come by listening to the calling voice. The user 92 whose turn has arrived carries the voice terminal 1 to the dialogue counter, and returns the voice terminal 1 to the staff 91 within the dialogue counter. In this way, the voice terminal 1 has a function of wireless calling (so-called pager). Thus, even if the masker sound output device 3 outputs the masker sound at a certain volume to obtain the masking effect by outputting the calling voice from the voice terminal 1 carried by the user, it is necessary for each user. Voice (calling voice in this embodiment) can be heard at an appropriate volume.

  In the audio output system of the present embodiment, the display device 7 is provided at the waiting place. The display device 7 is a general-purpose information display generally provided at a waiting place, and displays a video of predetermined content. In this example, three display devices 7 are installed, and individual content images are displayed for each channel, such as a bean knowledge channel, a health channel, and an advertisement channel. The audio terminal 1 also outputs audio of these contents. The content that is the target of audio output can be manually selected by the user operating the audio terminal 1. The user 92 listens to the audio of the content output from the audio terminal 1, so that his / her attention is directed to the audio of the content, not the audio to be masked (conversation in the dialogue counter), and the masking effect is further improved. Can be increased.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration and operation for realizing the audio output system will be described. FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing a configuration of the voice terminal 1, and FIG. 2B is an external view of the voice terminal 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the masker sound output device 3, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the server 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operations of the server 5 and the masker sound output device 3. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing operations of the server 5 and the voice terminal 1.

  The audio terminal 1 includes a microphone 11, an A / D converter 12, a signal processing unit 13, a D / A converter 14, a speaker 15, a control unit 16, a communication unit 17, and an operation unit 18.

  The masker sound output device 3 includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a signal processing unit 33, a D / A converter 34, and a speaker 35.

  The server 5 includes a communication unit 51, a control unit 52, a masker sound generation unit 53, a masker sound storage unit 54, a content storage unit 55, and an output interface (I / F) 56.

  The masker sound output device 3 is connected to the communication unit 51 of the server 5 via the communication unit 31, and transmits and receives various data from the server 5. Here, sound data related to masker sound is received mainly from the server 5.

  The control unit 52 of the server 5 instructs the masker sound generation unit 53 to generate a masker sound, and outputs sound data related to the masker sound generated by the masker sound generation unit 53 to the masker sound output device 3 via the communication unit 51. To do.

  The masker sound generation unit 53 reads various sound data stored in the masker sound storage unit 54, generates sound data related to the masker sound, and outputs the sound data to the control unit 52. The masker sound may be any sound as long as the sound can be masked. For example, the disturbance sound, the background sound, and the effect sound stored in the masker sound storage unit 54 are combined. To generate.

  Disturbing sound is a sound that disturbs the voice to be masked, and it is a human voice that is modified on the time axis or frequency axis so that it does not make any meaning in the vocabulary (the contents cannot be understood). . If the disturbing sound is a modified human voice on the time axis, the voice of a specific speaker (multiple voices including males and females) is recorded in advance and divided into sections of a certain length every predetermined time The voice signal is read out in the opposite direction in each section, and the voice is changed to a voice that does not make sense lexically. When modifying on the frequency axis, the peak (formant) of the spectral envelope is extracted, and a specific formant that affects the vocabulary is changed to change to a vocabulary meaningless voice.

  Note that the disturbing sound may be generated each time by acquiring the voice of the speaker in the dialogue counter using the microphone of the voice terminal 1 and modifying the acquired voice.

  The background sound is a sound with no uncomfortable feeling that is difficult for the listener to notice audibly, such as a stream of a stream or a buzz of trees. As a result, the background noise level is raised and the uncomfortable feeling of the disturbing sound is made inconspicuous.

  The production sound is a high performance sound such as a musical sound generated intermittently. As a result, the listener's attention is also directed to the production sound, and the sense of incongruity of the disturbing sound is made inconspicuous psychologically. By causing the user 92 to listen to the masker sound that is a combination of the disturbing sound, the background sound, and the effect sound, it is possible to reduce discomfort while masking the voice of the speaker.

  Note that the sound data related to the disturbing sound, the background sound, and the effect sound stored in the masker sound storage unit 54 is not limited to one, and may be a plurality of sound data. In this case, the masker sound generation unit 53 selects and reads specific sound data from the plurality of sound data. When a plurality of sound data are stored, the selection may be made in accordance with a combination table (a table stored in the masker sound storage unit 54) defined in advance. In addition, the sound volume and read timing of each sound may be described in the table, and the sound volume and read timing of each sound may be individually changed. Further, each sound data can be stored in advance as a synthesized masker sound and reproduced.

  The server 5 generates sound data relating to such a masker sound and transmits the sound data to the masker sound output device 3. The control unit 32 of the masker sound output device 3 receives the sound data related to the masker sound via the communication unit 31 and performs a reproduction process. For example, if the sound data related to masker sound is compressed data encoded, it is decoded, converted into a digital audio signal, and output to the signal processing unit 33. The signal processing unit 33 adjusts the volume and frequency characteristics of the input digital audio signal and outputs the adjusted signal to the D / A converter 34. The digital audio signal output from the signal processing unit 33 is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 34 and emitted from the speaker 35. In this way, a masker sound is output to the user 92 at the waiting place.

  Next, functions and operations of the server 5 and the voice terminal 1 will be described. The voice terminal 1 is connected to the communication unit 51 of the server 5 via the communication unit 17 and transmits / receives various data from the server 5. Here, the sound data mainly related to the calling voice and the sound data of the content are received from the server 5.

  The control unit 52 of the server 5 reads the sound data and video data related to the content from the content storage unit 55 and transmits the sound data related to the content to the audio terminal 1 via the communication unit 51. Further, the control unit 52 outputs video data related to the content to each display device 7 via the output I / F 56. A plurality of types of sound data and video data related to the content are stored, and are simultaneously read by the number of display devices (three in this embodiment).

  Note that a plurality of sound data may be simultaneously read out and transmitted to all the audio terminals 1 by broadcast. However, the sound data related to the content requested from the audio terminal 1 may be read out and transmitted by unicast. Good. For example, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (bean knowledge channel), ch. 2 (health channel), ch. 3 (promotional advertising channel) content video is displayed. Therefore, the user presses buttons displayed as “1”, “2”, and “3” in the operation unit 18 of the voice terminal 1 as illustrated in FIG. For example, when the user presses a button labeled “1”, the control unit 16 changes the ch. A distribution request for sound data of one content is made. Then, the control unit 52 of the server 5 performs ch. The sound data of one content is transmitted to the voice terminal 1 that has been requested.

  In this way, the server 5 transmits the sound data related to the content to the audio terminal 1. The control unit 16 of the audio terminal 1 receives sound data related to the content via the communication unit 17 and performs a reproduction process. For example, if the sound data is encoded compressed data, it is decoded, converted into a digital audio signal, and output to the signal processing unit 13. When a plurality of sound data are transmitted from the server 5 simultaneously, only the digital audio signal of the channel corresponding to the pressed button in the operation unit 18 is output to the signal processing unit 13.

  The signal processing unit 13 adjusts the volume and frequency characteristics of the input digital audio signal and outputs the adjusted signal to the D / A converter 14. The digital audio signal output from the signal processing unit 13 is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 14 and emitted from the speaker 15. In this way, the audio of the content is output to each user 92 in the waiting place. In addition, you may make it each user 92 listen to the audio | voice of a content not through a speaker but through headphones.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the voice terminal 1 includes a button displayed as “OFF” in addition to the buttons displayed as “1”, “2”, and “3”. When the user presses a button displayed as “OFF”, the control unit 16 requests the server 5 to stop the sound data reproduction process or stop the distribution of the sound data. Thereby, it can be set not to output the audio of the content. At this time, instead of the audio of the content, an audio assisting the masker sound may be output. As the voice assisting the masker sound, the same masker sound output by the masker sound output device 3 is output, or a part thereof (only the background sound, only the effect sound, disturbing sound + background sound, disturbing sound + effect) Sound, background sound + effect sound, etc.) may be output. In any case, when the user presses the button displayed as “OFF”, the control unit 16 makes a request for delivery of auxiliary sound. Then, the control unit 52 of the server 5 transmits a voice assisting the masker sound (a masker sound output to the masker sound output device 3 or a part thereof) to the requested voice terminal 1. Thereby, since the voice assisting the masker sound is output in the immediate vicinity of the user, a sufficient masking effect can be obtained even if the volume of the masker sound output from the masker sound output device 3 is low.

  In addition, the voice terminal 1 shown in the present embodiment includes a microphone 11 so that the voices of the staff 91 and the user 90 in the dialogue counter can be collected. The microphone 11 outputs an analog audio signal related to the collected audio to the A / D converter 12. The A / D converter 12 changes the input analog audio signal to a digital audio signal and outputs the digital audio signal to the control unit 16. The control unit 16 encodes the input digital audio signal as it is, or encodes it into compressed data such as MP3, and transmits it to the server 5 via the communication unit 17.

  The sound data related to the conversation voice in the conversation counter transmitted to the server 5 is accumulated as recorded data in the content storage unit 55 via the control unit 52. The sound data transmitted to the server 5 is used by the masker sound generator 53 to generate a disturbing sound. Alternatively, the user can read the recorded data via the Internet using a home PC or the like, and listen to the conversation content (for example, explanation of the medicine) again.

  FIG. 5 (A) shows the server 5, the voice terminal 1, and the masker sound output device when the sound data related to the voice signal collected by the voice terminal 1 is transmitted to the server 5 and the server 5 generates the masker sound. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. First, the control unit 16 of the voice terminal 1 determines whether or not a voice signal of a predetermined level (a level that can be distinguished from noise) or more is input and the microphone 11 has picked up the voice (s1). When it is determined that the voice is being picked up (s1, Yes), the control unit 16 encodes the input voice signal as it is or into compressed data such as MP3 and transmits it to the server 5 (s2). The control unit 52 of the server 5 receives the audio signal (sound data) transmitted from the audio terminal 1 (s3) and stores it in the content storage unit 55 as recorded data (s4).

  When receiving audio signals (sound data) from a plurality of audio terminals 1, it is preferable to store the recorded data in the content storage unit 55 so as to be distinguished from each other. For example, when each user 92 receives the voice terminal 1 from the staff 93 at the reception place, unique identification information (ID) is issued for each user. When each user 92 receives the call and goes into the dialogue counter, the staff 91 in the dialogue counter operates a dedicated terminal (not shown) installed in the vicinity of the staff 91 to identify each user's identification information, and The identification information (manufacturing number and the like) of the voice terminal 1 used by the user is transmitted to the server 5. Alternatively, the voice terminal 1 received from the user 92 is operated to transmit identification information of each user. And the audio | voice terminal 1 transmits its identification information (manufacturing number etc.) with an audio | voice signal in the process of said s3. The server 5 stores the received audio signal, the user identification information, and the identification information of the audio terminal 1 in the content storage unit 55 in association with each other. Thereby, the recording data reproduced by each user can be identified in the recording data reproduction operation described later (FIG. 5B). Note that if the recording data playback operation described later (FIG. 5B) is not executed, the audio signal received from the audio terminal 1 need only be temporarily stored for generating masker sound, and the content storage unit 55 There is no need to store it as recorded data.

  Next, the control part 52 performs the process which produces | generates a masker sound (disturbance sound) (s5). Here, it is preferable that the disturbing sound is generated from an audio signal collected in the dialogue counter in which conversation is currently being performed. In other words, the audio signal currently received from the audio terminal 1 is modified on the time axis or the frequency axis to generate a disturbing sound. The generated disturbing sound is combined with other sound data (background sound or sound effect) stored in the content storage unit 53 to be a masker sound. Of course, the latest recorded data among the recorded data stored in the content storage unit 55 may be read to generate a disturbing sound. In addition, when voice signals (speaker's voice) are received from a plurality of voice terminals 1, these voice signals are synthesized (mixed) and then modified on the time axis or frequency axis to generate a disturbing sound. Is preferred.

  Thereafter, the control unit 52 outputs the generated masker sound to the masker sound output device 3 (s6). The masker sound output device 3 receives the masker sound transmitted by the server 5 (s7) and performs a reproduction process (s8). As described above, it is possible to generate an optimum disturbing sound corresponding to the conversation voice in the conversation counter.

  Next, FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing operations of the server 5 and other information processing apparatuses (for example, home PCs) when recording conversation contents. The operation of the home PC shown in the figure is realized by an application installed on the home PC, a specific script on the WEB browser, or the like. Since the hardware configuration of the home PC is the same as that of a general personal computer, illustration and description are omitted.

  First, the home PC determines whether or not each user operates the home PC to give an instruction to reproduce recorded data (s71). For example, it is determined whether each user operates the application and inputs unique identification information (ID). When the ID is input and the reproduction instruction of the recorded data is performed (s71, Yes), the home PC transmits the input ID to the server 5 via the Internet (s72). The server 5 receives the ID from the home PC (s73), and reads out the recorded data associated with the received ID from the recorded data stored in the content storage unit 55 (s74). Then, the read recording data is transmitted to the home PC (s75). The home PC receives the transmitted recording data (s76) and performs playback processing (s77). If a plurality of recording data associated with each ID is accumulated, the server 5 transmits a list of recording data (list information such as recording date and time) to the home PC after the process of s73, A process of accepting whether to play the recorded data is performed. When the user operates the home PC and selects recorded data to be reproduced from the received list, the selected recorded data is transmitted from the server 5 to the home PC.

  Thus, the conversation content recorded using the voice terminal 1 is stored in the server 5 as recorded data, so that the user, the user's family, and the like can reproduce the conversation content using the home PC. It becomes possible, and explanation of medicines and precautions can be reconfirmed.

  Next, the operations of the server 5 and the voice terminal 1 when the user receives the voice terminal 1 after receiving it at a bank, a pharmacy, or the like will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The operations shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are started when the power of the voice terminal 1 is turned on. For example, when the user receives the voice terminal at the reception counter, the staff 93 turns on the voice terminal 1, so these operations are started. These operations are also started when the user presses each button on the operation unit 18.

  First, in FIG. 6, the control unit 16 of the voice terminal 1 confirms whether or not a channel is designated by the user pressing the various channel buttons of the operation unit 18 (s11). If the channel is designated (s11, Yes), the control unit 16 requests the server 5 to distribute the sound data of the corresponding channel (s12). Upon receiving the distribution request (s13), the control unit 52 of the server 5 transmits the sound data of the requested channel content to the requested voice terminal 1 (s14). Then, the audio terminal 1 receives the sound data of the transmitted content (s15) and performs a reproduction process (s16).

  On the other hand, when the channel is not designated (s11, No), that is, when the “OFF” button is pressed or immediately after the power is turned on, the control unit 16 makes a request for distributing the audio to assist the masker sound. Perform (s17). When the control unit 52 of the server 5 receives the distribution request (s18), the control unit 52 requests the voice assisting the masker sound (for example, the same sound data of the masker sound transmitted to the masker sound output device 3). It transmits to the voice terminal 1 (s19). The voice terminal 1 receives the voice (sound data) that assists the transmitted masker sound (s20), and performs the reproduction process (s21).

  In the example of FIG. 6, an example of outputting a voice assisting a masker sound when channel designation is not made and immediately after power-on is shown, but channel designation is performed first after power-on. Up to the above, it is possible to output sound of predetermined content (for example, an advertising channel).

  Next, in FIG. 7, the control unit 52 of the server 5 determines whether or not a calling terminal is designated (s31). The designation of the calling terminal is performed, for example, by operating a dedicated terminal (not shown) installed near the staff 91 in the dialogue counter. At this time, the user to be called is also specified. Alternatively, after the staff 91 in the dialogue counter receives the return of the voice terminal 1 from the user 90 and the explanation is finished and the user 90 leaves the seat, the voice terminal 1 that has received the return is operated to specify the call target. It is good also as an aspect to do. When the staff 91 performs a call operation, a call signal is transmitted from the dedicated terminal (or voice terminal 1) to the server 5, and the process proceeds to Yes in the determination of s31.

  The control unit 52 transmits sound data related to the calling voice to the calling voice terminal 1 (s32). Then, the calling voice terminal 1 receives the sound data related to the calling voice (s33) and reproduces the calling voice (s34).

  As described above, in the voice output system of the present embodiment, the masker sound is output from the masker sound output device 3 at a certain volume, and the calling voice is output from the voice terminal 1 carried by the user while ensuring the masking effect. And you can hear the necessary sound at an appropriate volume.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which sound data related to masker sound is downloaded (or streamed) from the server 5 to the masker sound output device 3 is shown. However, a storage unit is provided in the masker sound output device 3 to store internal data. It is also possible to read out sound data related to masker sound from the unit. In this case, the masker sound output device 3 does not require a communication function.

  Further, the voice terminal 1 can be realized by using a portable terminal such as a general cellular phone and software, instead of a device dedicated to the voice output system shown in the present embodiment.

  Further, the masker sound output device 3 and the server 5 can be realized by using hardware and software of an information processing device such as a general personal computer, instead of a device dedicated to the sound output system shown in the present embodiment. It is.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which audio related to content displayed on the display device 7 is output from the audio terminal is shown, but predetermined content (for example, music or the like) may be output without the display device 7. Is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Voice terminal 3 ... Masker sound output device 5 ... Server 7 ... Display apparatus 11 ... Microphone 12 ... A / D converter 13 ... Signal processing part 14 ... D / A converter 15 ... Speaker 16 ... Control part 17 ... Communication part 18 ... Operation unit 31 ... communication unit 32 ... control unit 33 ... signal processing unit 34 ... D / A converter 35 ... speaker

Claims (6)

A masker sound output device that outputs a masker sound;
A terminal device carried by the user;
An audio output system comprising:
The masker sound output device is installed to output a masker sound to the user,
The terminal device includes voice output means for outputting a voice required for each user ,
The sound output unit of the terminal device outputs a sound assisting the masker sound . The audio output system according to claim 1, wherein the audio output unit of the terminal device outputs audio of predetermined content.   A masker sound output device that outputs a masker sound;
  A terminal device carried by the user;
  An audio output system comprising:
  The masker sound output device is installed to output a masker sound to the user,
  The terminal device includes voice output means for outputting a voice required for each user,
  An audio output system, wherein the audio output means of the terminal device outputs audio of a predetermined content. The terminal device includes a receiving unit that receives selection of the content from a user,
The audio output system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the audio output means outputs the audio of the content selected by the accepting means. The terminal apparatus includes a reception means for receiving a selection of a user or Rako content,
It said voice output means, when said not received the selection of content by accepting means, audio output system according to claim 1 or claim 2 outputs audio to assist the masking sound. It further comprises a display device for displaying content video,
It said voice output means, audio output system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that outputs audio of the content corresponding to the image displayed on the display device.

Images