Voice output device and voice output method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11735159-B2
Application number	US-202117329972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2021
Priority date	Jul 17, 2020
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A voice output device includes a voice output controller configured to determine, when a message reception unit receives a message, whether a start condition to be satisfied when a person intended to receive the message normally listens to voice in the predetermined space is satisfied, and cause a voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied and suspend voice output of the message when the start condition is not satisfied. The voice output is not immediately performed in response to a reception of a message but is performed only when the person intended to receive the message normally listens to the message, and the voice output of the message is suspended in other cases.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A voice output device disposed in a predetermined space, the voice output device comprising:
a voice output unit configured to output voice through a speaker,
a message reception unit configured to receive a message; and
a voice output controller configured to provide voice output of the message and to determine, when the message reception unit receives the message, whether a start condition of when a person intended to receive voice output of the message normally is able to listen to voice in the predetermined space is satisfied, and cause the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied and suspend voice output of the message when the start condition is not satisfied.

2. The voice output device according to claim 1 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied.

3. The voice output device according to claim 1 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is in the predetermined space is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

4. The voice output device according to claim 3 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied.

5. The voice output device according to claim 1 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not making a phone call is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

6. The voice output device according to claim 5 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied.

7. The voice output device according to claim 1 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not having a conversation is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

8. The voice output device according to claim 7 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not having a conversation in a loud voice is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

9. The voice output device according to claim 7 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied.

10. The voice output device according to claim 1 , wherein
the predetermined space is an in-vehicle space formed in a vehicle.

11. A voice output method for a voice output device that is disposed in a predetermined space and that includes a voice output unit outputting voice through a speaker, the voice output method comprising:
receiving a message by a message reception unit of the voice output device; and
determining, by a voice output controller of the voice output device that is configured to provide voice output of the message, when the message reception unit receives the message, whether a start condition of when a person intended to receive voice output of the message normally is able to listen to voice in the predetermined space is satisfied, and causing the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied and suspend voice output of the message when the start condition is not satisfied.

12. The voice output method according to claim 11 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied.

13. The voice output method according to claim 11 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is in the predetermined space is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

14. The voice output method according to claim 11 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not in a sleeping state is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

15. The voice output method according to claim 11 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not making a phone call is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

16. The voice output method according to claim 11 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not having a conversation is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

17. A voice output device disposed in a predetermined space, the voice output device comprising:
a voice output unit configured to output voice through a speaker,
a message reception unit configured to receive a message;
an imaging device for capturing an image of a region including a person intended to receive the message in the predetermined space; and
a voice output controller configured to provide voice output of the message and to determine, when the message reception unit receives the message, whether a start condition of when a person intended to receive voice output of the message normally is able to listen to voice in the predetermined space is satisfied, and cause the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied and suspend voice output of the message when the start condition is not satisfied.

18. The voice output device according to claim 17 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is not in a sleeping state is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

19. The voice output device according to claim 18 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied.

20. The voice output device according to claim 17 , wherein
the voice output controller determines whether a condition in which the person intended to receive the message is in a relaxing state is satisfied to determine whether the start condition is satisfied.

21. The voice output device according to claim 20 , wherein
the voice output controller monitors whether the start condition is satisfied after causing the voice output unit to suspend voice output of the message, and causes the voice output unit to start voice output of the message when the start condition is satisfied

Assignees

• Alps Alpine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zheng Hongda
• Liu Xiao

Classifications

• G10L13/04 Primary

  Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• G06F3/16 Primary

  Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L) · CPC title

• G06F3/165 Primary

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• G08B21/02

  Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons · CPC title