JPH05281987A - Portable document reading-out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the portable document reading-out device through which document information can easily be listened to stereophonically at any place through headphones and only necessary document information can also be selected and listened to. CONSTITUTION:This portable document reading-out device is equipped with an IC card 1 on which hierarchically classified document information is stored, a buffer memory 2 which stores the document information transferred from the IC card, a ruled synthesis circuit 4 which performs ruled speech synthesis on the basis of the document information sent out of the buffer memory 2, a switch 5 which is pressed for the ruled speech synthesis of the document information stored in the buffer memory 2, a depression time deciding circuit 6 which decides the length of the time of the depression of the switch 5, and a retrieving means which retrieves the document information stored in the buffer memory 2 according to the signal from the depression time deciding circuit 6; and depression time length levels are made to correspond to layers of the document information, which is selected, layer by layer, according to the depression time length level of the switch 5 to perform the ruled speech synthesis.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention temporarily stores document information input by a word processor or a character recognition device or document information provided by an online connected host machine as portable document information such as an IC card. The present invention relates to a portable document reading device which can be stored in a storage unit and can hear this information at any place by regular voice synthesis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional document reading apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 62-62.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 38716, by a key operation, with reference to the cursor position, regular speech synthesis is performed on the cursor position, clauses before and after the cursor position, sentences in a row, or regular speech synthesis is sequentially performed from a designated row. there were. In the conventional method, while the document creating / input device such as a word processor is connected online, the document information is sent to the document reading device, and then the speech synthesizer sequentially and regularly synthesizes the document.

Such a document reading device is connected to a document creating device such as a word processor online, and it is impossible to carry out and listen to it by disconnecting the connection circuit with the word processor or the like and using, for example, a headphone stereo. At the same time, it was impossible to select and listen to only necessary document information.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily listen to document information in headphones stereo anywhere, and select only necessary document information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable document read-aloud device that can be heard by listening.

[0005]

A portable document reading device according to the present invention comprises a portable first storage means for storing document information classified hierarchically, and a document transferred from the first storage means. The second storage means for storing information, the address pointer means for designating the address of the document information stored in the second storage means, and the regular speech synthesis based on the document information sent from the second storage means. A rule synthesizing circuit, a switch unit which is depressed when the document information stored in the second storage unit is synthesized with a regular voice, a depression time discriminating circuit which discriminates a length of time the switch unit is depressed, Search means for searching the document information stored in the second storage means on the basis of a signal from the pressing time discriminating circuit, and the pressing time length level of the switch means is set to the document information. The number of layers is set, the pressing time length level is associated with each layer, the document information is selected for each layer based on the pressing time length level of the switch means, and the document information for each layer is set to the second level. It is characterized in that regular voice synthesis is performed by sending the regular voice from the storage means to the rule synthesis circuit.

[0006]

The document information classified in the hierarchical structure is stored in the first portable storage unit, and the document information is transferred to the second storage unit in the portable document reading device and pressed when the regular speech synthesis is performed. The pressing time length level of the switch means is set to the number of layers of the document information, the pressing time length level is associated with the hierarchy, and the document information is stored from the second storage means based on the pressing time length level of the switch means. Is selected for each layer to perform regular voice synthesis.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a large headline (¥ 1, ¥ 2, ...) And a small headline (#) as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG.
, # 2, # 3 ...), and further portable storage means for storing document information classified into further headings, and specifically, an IC card corresponds thereto. 2 is this IC card 1
A document buffer memory 3 for storing the document information transferred from is an address for designating the address of the document information stored in the document buffer memory 2 and for designating a boundary for each sentence unit in each heading. A pointer 4 is a rule synthesizing circuit for uttering a ruled speech synthesis based on the document information sent from the document buffer memory 2, and a reference numeral 5 is and is depressed when the document information in the document buffer memory 2 is subjected to the ruled speech synthesis. A vocalization switch for selecting a large headline or a subheading according to the length of time for pressing, a pressing time determination circuit 6 for determining the length of time that the vocalizing switch 5 is pressed, 7a,
Reference numeral 7b denotes a flip-flop for a large heading and a small heading, which operates during the reading of the large heading or the small heading based on the time length judged by the pressing time judging circuit 6, 8a,
8b is a flip-flop 7a for a large headline, a flip-flop 7a for a small headline,
Based on the operation of 7b, a large headline or small headline determination circuit for determining whether the document read from the document buffer memory 2 is a large headline or a small headline, and 9 is sent from the document buffer memory 2 to the rule composition circuit 4. The switch 10 for intermittently sending the output of the document information to be output is a switch 9 based on the reset signal sent from the voicing switch 5.
Is a flip-flop for connecting and disconnecting, and 11 is a clock generation circuit for generating a clock signal of a constant cycle.

In such a configuration, the features of the present invention will be described with reference to the reading document example of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG.

When the voicing switch 5 is pressed in step S1, if the pressing time length is longer than a predetermined time, for example, 1 second, the process proceeds to step S2, and if it is short, the process proceeds to step S4 described later.

In step S2, a large headline is searched, and then the large-size headline is subjected to regular voice synthesis in the rule synthesizing circuit 4. In step S3, if the voicing switch 5 is pressed for 1 second or longer while the large headline is being subjected to regular voice synthesis, the operation of step S2 is continued,
If it is shorter than 1 second, the process proceeds to step S4 and step S3.
The subheading in the large headline which has been subjected to the regular voice synthesis is searched for, and the subtitle is subjected to regular voice synthesis in the rule synthesis circuit 4.

In step S5, if the voicing switch 5 is pressed for 1 second or longer while the subheading is synthesized with the regular voice, the operation of step S2 is continued,
If it is shorter than the second, the process proceeds to step S6, the subheading next to the subheading that has been subjected to the regular voice synthesis in step S4 is searched, and the subtitle is subjected to regular voice synthesis in the rule synthesis circuit 4.

In step S7, if the utterance switch 5 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S3. If not pressed, the subheading and the large heading are sequentially read out, and then the process ends.

The above-mentioned retrieval method will be described in detail below in four cases, based on the block diagram of FIG. (A) Selection of large headline To search for a large headline, as shown in FIG. 2, a large headline (¥ 1, ¥ 2, ...) And a small headline (# 1, # 2, #).
The document information in the IC card 1 stored for each classification as in 3 ...) is transferred to the document buffer memory 2. At this time, when the voicing switch 5 is pressed for 1 second or more, the pressing time determination circuit 6 determines this time length and sets the output of the flip-flop 7a for the headline to High.

At this time, the headline discrimination circuit 8a starts its operation and sends a signal High to the OR gate 12, and based on this, the output of the AND gate 14 becomes High.
become. The address pointer 3 searches for the large heading \ 1
A signal High is sent from the headline discrimination circuit 8a to the AND gate 15a via the MA bus, and the switch 9 is closed based on the signal High, whereby the document buffer memory 2
Then, the document information of the main heading is sent to the rule synthesizing circuit 4 via the BI bus for each sentence unit, and the ruled speech is synthesized as in the "relationship between pitch change amount and sound quality deterioration".

While the rule synthesizing circuit 4 utters the ruled voice, the uttering signal BUSY is sent from the rule synthesizing circuit 4 to the OR gate 12, and the address pointer 3 further increments the address and is stored at that address. The next major heading of ¥ 2 is searched, and the document information is uttered from the rule synthesizing circuit 4 as a rule voice as in “Examination of pitch level interval”. (B) Selection of subheading during vocalization of a large headline If you want to hear the subheading # 1 in the large headline while uttering ¥ 2, then press the voicing switch 5 for less than 1 second to start subheading # 1. The search method of is explained.

When the utterance switch 5 is pressed for less than 1 second while the large headline ¥ 2 is being uttered (see (A) above), the pressing time discrimination circuit 6 discriminates the time length thereof and the subheading flip-flop 7b is operated. Set the output to High. At the same time, the voicing switch 5 sends a reset signal to the flip-flop 10 to open the switch 9.

At this time, the subheading discrimination circuit 8b starts its operation and sends a signal High to the OR gate 12, and based on this, the output of the AND gate 14 is High.
become. The address pointer 3 starts searching for the subheading # 1 in the main heading \ 2, a signal High is sent from the subheading discrimination circuit 8b to the AND gate 15b via the MI bus, and the switch 9 is closed based on this signal.
The document information of the subheading is sent from the document buffer memory 2 to the rule synthesizing circuit 4 via the BI bus on a sentence-by-sentence basis, and the subheading # 1 says "In the opinion test, the evaluation result is unstable. The regular speech is synthesized as in ".

While the rule synthesizing circuit 4 utters the ruled voice, the uttering signal BUSY is sent from the rule synthesizing circuit 4 to the OR gate 12, during which the address pointer 3 further increments the address and is stored at that address. The next subheading # 2 that exists is searched, and the document information from the rule synthesizing circuit 4 reads “The result of the pair comparison test is shown in FIG.
...... ”is used for regular speech synthesis. (C) Selection of the next subheading during speech production of a subheading During speech production of the document of subheading # 2 in the large heading \ 2,
A search method for skipping the subheading # 2 and listening to the subheading # 3 in the same large heading \ 2 will be described.

During the vocalization of the subheading # 2 of the main heading \ 2,
When the voicing switch 5 is pressed for less than 1 second, the pressing time discrimination circuit 6 discriminates the time length and sets the output of the subheading flip-flop 7b to High. At the same time, the voicing switch 5 sends a reset signal to the flip-flop 10 to open the switch 9.

At this time, the subheading discrimination circuit 8b starts its operation and sends a signal High to the OR gate 12, and based on this, the output of the AND gate 14 becomes High.
become. The address pointer 3 increments the address, searches for the subheading # 3 in the main heading \ 2, and the AND gate 15 from the subheading determination circuit 8b via the MI bus.
When the signal High is sent to b and the switch 9 is closed based on this, the document information of the subheading is sent from the document buffer memory 2 to the rule synthesizing circuit 4 via the BI bus for each sentence, and the regular voice is synthesized. It

While the rule synthesizing circuit 4 utters a ruled voice, the uttering signal BUSY is sent from the rule synthesizing circuit 4 to the OR gate 12, and the address pointer 3 further increments the address and is stored at that address. The next subheading # 4 present is searched, and the document information is subjected to regular voice synthesis from the rule synthesis circuit 4. (D) Selection of a large heading during speech production of a small heading While speech production of a document of a small heading # 1 in the large heading \ 1 is performed,
Explain the search method when listening to the main heading \ 2.

During the vocalization of Subheading # 1 with a large heading of ¥ 1,
When the voicing switch 5 is pressed for more than 1 second, the pressing time determination circuit 6 determines the length of time and sets the output of the heading flip-flop 7a to High. At the same time, the voicing switch 5 sends a reset signal to the flip-flop 10 to open the switch 9.

At this time, the headline discrimination circuit 8a starts its operation and sends a signal High to the OR gate 12, and based on this, the output of the AND gate 14 becomes High.
become. The address pointer 3 increments the address, searches for the headline \ 2, and outputs a signal High from the headline discrimination circuit 8a to the AND gate 15b via the MA bus.
Is sent out, and the switch 9 is closed based on this, the document buffer memory 2 sends B to the rule synthesizing circuit 4.
The document information of the main heading is sent out for each sentence unit via the I-bus, and regular speech synthesis is performed as in “Examination of pitch level interval”.

While the rule synthesizing circuit 4 utters the ruled voice, the uttering signal BUSY is sent from the rule synthesizing circuit 4 to the OR gate 12, during which the address pointer 3 further increments the address and is stored at that address. The next large headline of ¥ 3 is searched for, and the document information is subjected to regular voice synthesis from the rule synthesis circuit 4.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, both the large headlines ¥ 1, ¥ 2, ... And the small headlines # 1, # 2 ,. Even in the case of the document example in which the titles are attached only to the subheadings # 1, # 2, ..., For example, when the subheading # 1 in the large headline ¥ 1 is read out, the utterance switch 5 is used. If you press for more than 1 second, the subheading # 1 in the next big heading \ 2
Is performed, and the regular voice synthesis of the document information is performed.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the example sentences of the read-aloud document are classified into two hierarchies, and the criterion for discriminating the pressing time length of the utterance switch 5 is set to 1 second, but it is not limited to them.

Further, when selecting a large heading or a small heading, those headings are selected depending on the length of time that the voicing switch 5 is pressed. However, the criterion for making a selection is not limited to the length of time. Instead, it is possible to make the determination based on the number of times the vocalization switch 5 is pressed. in this case,
Instead of the pressing time determination circuit 6 of FIG.
The object of the present invention can be achieved only by using the pressing number determination circuit that counts the number of pressing times.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the document information that is hierarchically classified is temporarily stored in the portable storage means, so that the document can be used only deferredly. The reading device can be used in a portable manner.

Furthermore, by associating the depression time length level of the utterance switch provided in the portable document reading device with the hierarchy of the document information stored in the second storage means, the depression time length level of the utterance switch is associated with each other. Accordingly, the document information in the second storage means can be appropriately selected for each layer, so that the document information can be efficiently heard.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable document reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example sentence of a reading document in which titles are attached to both the large headline and the small headline according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example sentence of a reading document in which a title is added only to a subheading of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a heading search according to the length of time the voice switch is pressed according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 IC card 2 Document buffer memory 3 Address pointer 4 Rule synthesizing circuit 5 Vocalizing switch 6 Pressing time discrimination circuit 9 Switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A portable first storage means for storing document information classified hierarchically, a second storage means for storing the document information transferred from the first storage means, and the second storage means.
An address pointer means for designating an address of the document information stored in the storage means, a rule synthesizing circuit for performing regular voice synthesis based on the document information sent from the second storage means, and the second storage means. Based on a signal from the switch means that is pressed when synthesizing the document information that is being subjected to regular speech synthesis, a press time determination circuit that determines the length of time that the switch means is pressed, and the second circuit based on a signal from the press time determination circuit. Search means for searching the document information stored in the storage means, and sets the pressing time length level of the switch means to the number of layers of the document information, and sets the pressing time length level and each layer. Correspondingly, the document information is selected for each hierarchy based on the pressing time length level of the switch means, and the document information for each hierarchy is stored in the rule synthesizing circuit from the second storage means. Portable document reading apparatus characterized by is speech synthesis by rule by allowed to delivery.