Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12067966-B2
Application number	US-201917413877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2019
Priority date	Dec 20, 2018
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

An information processing apparatus including a controller that controls, based on a detected state of the apparatus, outputting of sound that is performed by the apparatus, wherein the controller sequentially changes, according to an amount of change in the state, a mode of outputting a synthetic sound that can be output by the apparatus in a normal state is provided. Furthermore, an information processing method including, by a processor, based on a detected state of an apparatus, controlling outputting of sound that is performed by the apparatus, wherein the controlling includes, according to an amount of change in the state, sequentially changing a mode of outputting a synthetic sound that can be output by the apparatus in a normal state is provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
a controller configured to, based on a detected state of the information processing apparatus, outputting of a synthetic sound which is outputted by the information processing apparatus in normal state,
wherein the control of the output of the synthetic sound comprises sequentially change a mode of the synthetic sound outputted by the information processing apparatus in the normal state based on an amount of change in the detected state of the information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the amount of change in the detected state reaches a specific threshold, output the synthetic sound in an outputting mode corresponding to the specific threshold.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the detected state includes a load on the information processing apparatus that changes based on a behavior of a user toward the information processing apparatus and
the controller is further configured to sequentially change the mode of the synthetic sound based on an amount of change in the load.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the information processing apparatus includes a robot apparatus,
the controller is further configured to sequentially change the mode of the synthetic sound output by the robot apparatus in the normal state based on the amount of change in the load, and the amount of change in the load is based on contact of the user with the robot apparatus.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the robot apparatus has a deformable structure whose shape is deformable in at least part of an exterior of the robot apparatus, and
the controller is further configured to, dynamically change the mode of the synthetic sound based on the amount of change in the load associated with contact of the user with the deformable structure.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the deformable structure includes a flexible material.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the detected state includes a position of the information processing apparatus, and
the controller is further configured to sequentially change the mode of the synthetic sound based on an amount of change in the position.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the position includes a relative position between the information processing apparatus and a specified place, and
the controller is further configured to dynamically change the mode of the synthetic sound based on an amount of change in the relative position.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control superimposition of environment sound onto the synthetic sound.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to change an amount of incorporation of the environment sound based on the amount of change in the detected state.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to dynamically change the mode of the synthetic sound and an amount of incorporation of the environment sound based on an amount of change in a relative position between the information processing apparatus and a subject.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to control audibility of the environment sound based on a distance between the information processing apparatus and a subject being less than a threshold.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to sequentially change a parameter associated with the synthetic sound based on the amount of change in the detected state.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to change a parameter associated with at least one of an oscillator, a modulator, a pitch controller, a filter, or an amplifier.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to output the synthetic sound in a specific outputting mode based on a user behavior towards the information processing apparatus.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control an action of the information processing apparatus.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the information processing apparatus to stop the action based on a detection of a user contact with the information processing apparatus.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to stop the action with a given direction of motion based on a direction in which the user contact is detected.

19. An information processing method, comprising:
controlling, based on a detected state of an apparatus, outputting of a synthetic sound which is outputted by the apparatus in normal state,
wherein the controlling the output of the synthetic sound includes, sequentially changing a mode of the synthetic sound outputted by the apparatus in the normal state based on an amount of change in the detected state of the apparatus.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer implemented instructions that, when executed by an information processing apparatus, causes the information processing apparatus to execute operations, the operations:
controlling, based on a detected state of an apparatus, outputting of a synthetic sound which is outputted by the apparatus in normal state,
wherein the controlling of the output of the synthetic sound comprises sequentially change a mode of the synthetic sound outputted by the apparatus in the normal state based on an amount of change in the detected state of the apparatus.

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Takahashi Kei
• Shimizu Junichi
• Nagahara Junichi
• Fujiki Manabu

Classifications

• G10K9/12

  electrically operated · CPC title

• B25J11/0005

  Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means · CPC title

• B25J9/0015

  Flexure members, i.e. parts of manipulators having a narrowed section allowing articulation by flexion · CPC title

• G10L13/00

  Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems · CPC title

• G10L13/10

  Prosody rules derived from text; Stress or intonation · CPC title