JP4152137B2 - Telecommunication conversation device and conversation system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telecommunications conversation apparatus and conversation system, and more particularly to an apparatus and system for performing a telecommunications conversation between a subscriber telephone line user and a network line user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a telephone conference system as a means for a long distance conversation between a plurality of persons. In a conventional conference call system, a specialist who has a special exchange receives a call and combines / distributes multiple lines. In addition, it is becoming common to use text chat on the Internet WEB site and conduct electronic conferences (BBS) using network technology. Furthermore, such technology relating to network conferencing is being commercialized as an Internet telephone using a multimedia terminal as a result of the development of speech synthesis processing technology and the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional conference call system, there is a problem that the contract and the payment of the fee for using the system are complicated, and since the exchange is used, the contents of the conversation with a third party called a specialist Could leak, and there was also a problem with confidentiality.
[0004]
On the other hand, text conferencing (chat and BBS) using a network such as the Internet is also common among WEB users, and has also been performed by personal computer communication etc. In this case, There was a problem that a dedicated terminal was required to use the network. Therefore, there is a problem that a user who has only a general telephone or a user who uses a public telephone cannot participate in the conference.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems in the conventional telephone conference system and the like, and does not require a contract or payment of a fee for using the system, and can ensure confidentiality. It is possible to provide a long-distance communication conversation device that can be used even by a user who does not have a dedicated terminal for using the network without giving a special function to the network switching device or the like. Objective.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a telecommunications conversation apparatus which is input from a terminal for a subscriber telephone line, a terminal for a network line, and a terminal for the network line. Means for separating data into character information and voice information; means for converting the separated character information into voice information; and synthesizing the separated voice information and the converted voice information into one voice data. Means for analog-converting the voice data and outputting from the terminal for the subscriber telephone line, digitally converting the voice data input from the terminal for the subscriber telephone line, and for the network line and means for outputting from the terminal, and a microphone for inputting voice, and means for synthesizing speech data inputted to the microphone to said one audio data, to the microphone Means for digitally converting the inputted voice data and outputting it from the terminal for the network line; and converting the synthesized voice data and the voice data inputted from the terminal for the subscriber telephone line into voice and outputting the voice. And a speaker .
[0007]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a user of a subscriber telephone line, a user of a network line, and a user of a network line can be provided via a telecommunications conversation device without giving a special function to a network switching device. Can carry out long-distance communication conversations. As a result, even users who use only voice telephones can participate in conversations with multiple people using a network line without adding special functions to the switching device or purchasing / using a network terminal. Thus, it is possible to provide a long-distance conversation opportunity for a plurality of persons to a person who is unfamiliar with the machine or who needs to access from a portable terminal that is difficult to input characters. Furthermore, since a microphone or the like is provided, a long-distance communication conversation can be performed directly between a subscriber telephone line user and a network line user from the long-distance communication conversation apparatus.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 2 is a conversation system, wherein the telecommunications conversation apparatus according to claim 1 is installed in a user's house capable of simultaneously accessing both a subscriber telephone line and a network line. A long-distance communication conversation is performed between a user, a user using the subscriber telephone line, and a user using the network line.
[0011]
According to the invention described in claim 2, since it is possible to carry out a long-distance communication conversation between users without using a specialist or the like using an exchange, the content of the conversation is not leaked to a third party, and confidentiality An excellent conversation system can be provided.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a telecommunications conversation apparatus and conversation system according to the present invention, in which the telecommunications conversation apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as “conversation apparatus”) includes one or more subscriber telephone lines. And a terminal for a network line, and installed in a user [b] home that can simultaneously access one or more subscriber telephone lines and a network line. The term “network line” is used to express a line for connecting to a specific LAN, and an Ethernet LAN (a LAN based on Ethernet (registered trademark)) is taken as an example as a typical current LAN. A subscriber telephone line, an ADSL line, an ISDN line, a LAN dedicated line, etc. for dialing up to an Internet connection company.
[0013]
When the voice incoming from the subscriber telephone line is input to the conversation device, it is recognized as voice data, converted into digital data, and temporarily recorded in the memory. This data is converted into an audio format that can be called from the WEB, such as the asf format. On the other hand, via a network line, a WEB site created in a predetermined format is accessed, and voice data obtained from the subscriber telephone line is uploaded. At the same time, WEB data uploaded from other connected users is acquired at this location, and character information (HTML description part) and attached file information (audio data, image data) are classified from the acquired data. From the information, the character display information from which the program description language part and the annotation part are removed is separated, converted into analog voice data, and output to the subscriber telephone line. Furthermore, voice data is separated from the attached file information, converted into analog voice data, and output to the subscriber telephone line.
[0014]
It is also possible to synthesize and stream these plural audio data. Also, the timing for sending voice from the subscriber line, the selection of network information, the timing for sending information, etc. can all be set in the conversation device, and the conversation device performs an operation according to this setting.
[0015]
Next, an embodiment of the conversation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the inside of the conversation device. A user having a conversation device is referred to as user [b]. A user who has only a voice telephone is a user [a], a user who has a function of connecting a network line and uploading text information and voice information on the web is a user [c] [d] [e] [f] And
[0017]
User [b] and user [c] [d] [e] [f] are connected by a network line and are browsing the same WEB site. The WEB site is managed by the user [b] via the network, and manages the connection user name and the connection state to the subscriber telephone line. A user connected to the WEB site is assigned an individual user name, and can obtain the right to transmit character information or voice information converted into data to the WEB site. In addition, it is possible to receive information transmitted to the WEB site, display characters on its own terminal, and reproduce sound. Note that the software for accessing the WEB site, displaying / uploading character information, and reproducing / uploading voice information may be general-purpose software or provided by the user [b] as a plug-in.
[0018]
User [b] The conversation device at home takes in WEB data uploaded from these users from the WEB site via the network control interface unit (1) and separates them for each user (2). Furthermore, character data (3) and voice data (4) are separated from each user's data, and character data (3) is converted into voice data (5). The frequency of the sound to be converted is determined for each user name in advance. The conversation device includes the voice data (4) and voice data (5) while the user [a] is connected to the subscriber telephone line, and the voice data input by the user [b] to the conversation device. (6) into one voice data (7), analog-converted by the voice processing unit (8), and output to the user [a] via the MODEM control unit (9).
[0019]
At the same time, when the voice spoken by the user [a] is input to the conversation device via the MODEM control unit (9), it is converted into digital data by the voice processing unit (8), and the voice data of the user [a] ( 10) is output to WEB.
[0020]
The voice spoken by the user [b] through the microphone is input from the voice input unit (11) of the conversation device, and is converted into digital data by the voice data processing unit (12), so that the voice data (13) of the user [b] is obtained. Are synthesized for the telephone line (6) and output to the telephone line together with the voices of other users. The WEB data creation circuit (2) outputs the voice data of the user [b] to the WEB.
[0021]
Therefore, the user [a] can hear the voice data sent from the user [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] and the character data converted into the voice data from the telephone, and the user [a]. Can be heard as voice data by users [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] connected to the WEB site.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram describing the data processing flow when the present invention is implemented.
[0023]
The data in the WEB display data frame is data that can be displayed / output by WEB connection. The following processing is performed so that the user [a] using the telephone can hear the data in the WEB display data frame.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data processing flow of the telecommunications conversation apparatus according to the present invention. There are a method realized by software and a method realized by hardware, but either method may be realized.
[0025]
First, the overall processing flow will be described.
(1) When data is uploaded to the WEB site, the WEB data input process (14) is started.
{Circle around (2)} The WEB data update process (15) is started at a constant cycle, and performs overall operation monitoring processes such as WEB site data update and telephone line status monitoring.
{Circle around (3)} When a call is received on the subscriber line, the telephone line processing (16) is started.
(4) When voice comes in from the microphone, the microphone voice input process (17) is started.
(5) If there is a KEY input, the KEY input process (18) is started.
[0026]
Next, the flow from when data is input from the WEB site to when it is output to the telephone line will be described.
(1) Data input to the WEB is separated for each user according to user information (IP address or the like) attached to the data. If the user information is unknown, the user selects whether to register as a new user or reject input.
(2) The data of (1) is further separated into character input data and voice input data. In the case of data for changing user registration information, update processing of user information is performed.
(3) When there is character input data, the character remark part is extracted and the WEB display is updated. Also, the character utterance part is converted into voice data. The conversion format at this time is previously determined for each user as user information. For example, the voice of the user [c] uses a lower male voice and attaches a cry of a cat to the end of the word so that the user can distinguish the voice by the voice. The converted audio data is added to the audio data [A].
(4) If there is voice input data, the speech data is added to the voice data [A] as it is. In this case, the user's own voice flows.
(5) Audio data [A] is converted to analog and output to the telephone line.
(6) While the telephone line and WEB are connected, (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) is repeated.
[0027]
Next, the flow from when voice is input from the telephone line to when it is output to the WEB will be described.
(1) Digitally convert the voice of a telephone and capture it as a voice data user [a].
(2) Upload the voice data user [a] to the WEB display data area.
(3) Repeat (1) and (2) while the telephone line and WEB are connected.
[0028]
Next, a flow from input from the microphone of the user [b] to output to the telephone line will be described.
{Circle around (1)} When there is an input from the microphone, the voice is converted to digital and added to the voice data [A]. In this case, the voice of the user [b] himself / herself flows.
(2) Audio data [A] is converted to analog and output to the telephone line.
(3) Repeat (1) and (2) while the telephone line is connected.
[0029]
Next, the flow from input from the microphone of the user [b] to output to the WEB will be described.
{Circle around (1)} When there is an input from the microphone, the voice is converted into digital data and uploaded to the WEB display data area as voice data [b].
(2) Repeat (1) while the WEB is connected.
[0030]
5 and 6 are WEB connection screen images. A user who is connected to the WEB can input characters while having a “conversation system” WEB site displayed on the browser, or can talk using a microphone and a speaker connected to his / her terminal.
[0031]
The screen configuration includes telephone line connection status [ON / OFF, user name] (19), network line connection status [character input ON / OFF, voice input ON / OFF, user name] (20), host user information [ User name, microphone connection state] (21), character conversation window (22), and character input window (23). FIG. 5 shows a state in which the telephone line user is not connected, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the telephone line user calls the host user (user [b]) and can talk to the network connected user. .
[0032]
The basic configuration of the conversation device according to the present invention is as shown in FIG. 3, but the following variations are conceivable for the range of the conversation device. Another configuration will be described using a block diagram of a data processing flow.
[0033]
7 and 8 show an example of use as a conversation device using the functions of a general-purpose personal computer. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the data processing portion of the conversation apparatus is performed as software processing and no hardware addition is performed. That is, the conversation device software is installed in a personal computer having a voice input / output function, a telephone line connection terminal, and a LAN connection terminal, and the personal computer functions as a conversation device.
[0034]
FIG. 8 shows the telephone input / output (MODEM), microphone input, speaker output, KEY input, monitor output, and LAN connection interface all using personal computer hardware, and data processing unit hardware via BUS such as PCI. It is an example of adding. In this case, a combination of a personal computer installed with software having an interface function with the data processing unit and the data processing unit hardware functions as a conversation device.
[0035]
In FIG. 3, since there is only one telephone line, only one unit (one user) can participate in the telephone. However, if the user who can use a plurality of subscriber telephone lines is a host, As shown in FIG. 9, since a conversation apparatus having a plurality of telephone lines can be used, the number of telephone participation users can be increased. FIG. 10 shows an embodiment installed at the user [b] home.
[0036]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to increase the number of telephone participation users by host users having conversation devices participating in a plurality of networks.
[0037]
Furthermore, by adding a function for converting voice to text into the conversation device, it is possible to display the voice of the telephone participant user on the WEB site. By adding this function, even a user of a WEB site having only a character display function can participate in a conversation device conference. FIG. 11 shows a data processing flow block diagram in this case.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the long-distance communication conversation device and conversation system according to the present invention, it is not necessary to pay a contract or a fee for using the system, and it is possible to ensure confidentiality. Even if the user does not have a dedicated terminal for using the network without giving a special function to the exchange device or the like, it can be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a conversation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a conversation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a data processing flow of the conversation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing data processing of the conversation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a WEB connection screen image of the conversation system according to the present invention, in which a telephone line is not connected;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a WEB connection screen image of the conversation system according to the present invention, showing a state in which a telephone line is connected.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a data processing flow of the conversation system according to the present invention, and shows only software processing.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a data processing flow of the conversation system according to the present invention, showing a case where a personal computer is used together.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a data processing flow of the conversation system according to the present invention, showing a state in which a plurality of lines are connected.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a conversation system according to the present invention, and shows a case where a plurality of lines are used.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a data processing flow of the conversation apparatus according to the present invention and shows a character / speech bidirectional processing.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Network control interface unit 2 WEB data Compositing / decomposing / creating 3 Character data (network users)
4 Voice data (Network users)
5 Voice data (converted from character data)
6 Voice synthesizer 7 Voice data (telephone output)
8 Voice processing part 9 MODEM control part 10 Voice data (phone input)
11 Conversation device voice input device 12 Conversation device input voice data processing unit 13 Voice data (conversation device input)
14 WEB data input processing 15 WEB data update processing 16 telephone line data processing 17 conversation device (microphone) voice input data processing 18 KEY input data processing 19 WEB: telephone line connection status check window 20 WEB: network line connection status check window 21 WEB : Conversation device microphone connection state check window 22 WEB: Chat window 23 WEB: Conversation device user write window

Claims (2)

A terminal for a subscriber telephone line;
A terminal for a network line;
Means for separating data input from the network line terminal into character information and voice information;
Means for converting the separated character information into voice information;
Means for combining the separated voice information and the converted voice information into one voice data;
Means for analog-converting the voice data and outputting from the terminal for the subscriber telephone line;
Means for digitally converting the voice data input from the terminal for the subscriber telephone line and outputting from the terminal for the network line ;
A microphone for voice input,
Means for synthesizing voice data input to the microphone into the one voice data;
Means for digitally converting audio data input to the microphone and outputting from the network line terminal;
A telecommunications conversation apparatus comprising: a speaker that converts the synthesized voice data and voice data input from a terminal for a subscriber telephone line into voice and outputs the voice . The telecommunications conversation device according to claim 1 is installed in a user's house capable of simultaneously accessing both a subscriber telephone line and a network line,
A conversation system comprising a long-distance communication conversation between the user, a user using the subscriber telephone line, and a user using the network line.

Images