Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Recognition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-08
2001-06-05
Dorvil, Richemond (Department: 2641)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Recognition
C704S231000, C704S270000, C704S008000, C704S275000, C704S235000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243675
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application relates to and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 11-262301 filed on Sep. 16, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system and method for realizing smooth communication of information between an information apparatus such as a navigation system and users.
2. Related Art
Many recent on-vehicle navigation systems are provided with a sophisticated user interface. A user interface is essentially necessary for smooth information output from a system to a user and information input from a user to a system. The information output includes output of speech such as synthesized speech in addition to display by use of a display. The information input includes input of speech based on a speech recognition technique in addition to a switch operation.
Navigation systems provided with a user interface that is switchable between output formats of information as desired by a user have been proposed and realized. For example, the navigation system disclosed in JP-A-8-193837 is switchable between languages (Japanese language, English language, and French language) and dialects (Osaka dialect, Nagoya dialect, and Tohoku dialect). Thereby, a Japanese language user can use information output by means of Japanese language, and Osaka local people can use information output by means of Osaka dialect. Thus, suitable information output corresponding to a user has been realized.
However, in the case of the conventional navigation system, it is required for a user to display a menu screen and to select a desired menu item on display on the menu screen when the information output type is to be switched. As a result, the output format cannot be switched unless the user has previously learned how to switch the information output format. Furthermore, even if the English menu is displayed in response to a selection of the English language, the user can switch from the English menu to the Japanese menu or German menu as desired by the user only if the user can understand the English menu.
Alternatively, the output mode can be switched by the use of a speech command. This case requires that the user remember in advance a fixed speech command for switching. In a system in which the output mode is switched to “Osaka dialect” by means of the speech command “set switching to Osaka language”, the output mode cannot be switched with a speech input that is not exactly the same speech as “Osaka language” such as “I want to switch to Osaka language” or “set to Osaka language”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to realize an automatic switching operation to an information output format that is acceptable to a user that wants to switch between pluralities of information output formats.
The present invention comprises an information processing system with a speech input unit, a memory unit, an information output unit, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to drive the information output unit to issue an inquiry which requests an input of speech from a user, determine the type of speech inputted by the user with reference to a plurality of types of speech stored in the memory unit, set an output mode of information for the information output unit in correspondence with the determined type of speech input, and drive the information output unit to issue information in the set output mode.
Preferably, the inquiry and the information are displayed on a display panel of the information output unit. The pluralities of types of speech are different languages, and the setting step sets the output mode of the information output unit to the same language as the speech inputted by the user.
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patent: 5855000 (1998-12-01), Waibel et al.
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patent: 7-20894 (1995-01-01), None
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patent: 11-112665 (1999-04-01), None
Denso Corporation
Dorvil Richemond
Law Office of David G. Posz
Nolan Daniel A.
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