Response processing apparatus, response processing method, and response processing program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022036897-A1
Application number	US-201917309423-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2019
Priority date	Dec 7, 2018
Publication date	Feb 3, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A response processing apparatus (100) includes an acquisition unit (40) that acquires, from a user, input information that is information used as a trigger to cause an information device to generate a response, a selection unit (50) that selects an information device that generates a response corresponding to the input information from among a plurality of information devices, and an output control unit (55) that controls output of a response that corresponds to the input information and that is generated by the selected information device.

First claim

1 . A response processing apparatus comprising:
an acquisition unit that acquires, from a user, input information that is information used as a trigger to cause an information device to generate a response; a selection unit that selects an information device that generates a response corresponding to the input information from among a plurality of information devices; and an output control unit that controls output of a response that corresponds to the input information and that is generated by the selected information device.

2 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires, as the input information, voice information that is spoken by the user.

3 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires, as the input information, detection information on a detected behavior of the user.

4 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when determining that the response processing apparatus is not able to generate a response corresponding to the input information, the selection unit selects an information device that generates a response corresponding to the input information from among the plurality of information devices.

5 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the selection unit determines whether each of the information devices is able to generate a response corresponding to the input information, and selects, as an information device that generates a response corresponding to the input information, an information device other than an information device that is determined as not being able to generate a response corresponding to the input information.

6 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the selection unit selects a plurality of information devices as information devices that generate response corresponding to the input information, and the output control unit determines a response to be output to the user on the basis of information on comparison among the responses generated by the plurality of information devices.

7 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the output control unit determines a response to be output to the user on the basis of one of an information amount and a type of each of the responses generated by the plurality of information devices.

8 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the selection unit selects a plurality of information devices as information devices that generate responses corresponding to the input information, and the output control unit synthesizes a plurality of responses generated by the plurality of information devices and generates a response to be output to the user.

9 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the selection unit converts the input information to a mode that is recognizable by each of the selected information devices, and transmits the converted input information to the plurality of information devices.

10 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the acquisition unit acquires a context of the user, and the output control unit determines a mode of output of a response generated by the selected information device on the basis of the context.

11 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires, as the context, attribute information on the user, the attribute information being registered in advance by the user.

12 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the output control unit determines one of a type of a response to be output to the user and an output destination that outputs the response, in accordance with the attribute information on the user.

13 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires, as the context, location information indicating a location of the user.

14 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the output control unit determines an information device that outputs a response to the user on the basis of a positional relationship between the user and at least one of the information devices.

15 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires, as the context, estimation information on one of an estimated behavior and an estimated emotion of the user.

16 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the output control unit determines one of a type of a response to be output to the user, a mode of the response, and an information device that outputs the response, on the basis of the estimation information.

17 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
when determining that any of the response processing apparatus and the plurality of information devices is not able to generate a response corresponding to the input information, the acquisition unit acquires a context of a different user other than the user, and the output control unit determines an output destination of an output related to the input information on the basis of the context of the different user.

18 . The response processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the acquisition unit acquires, from the user, a reaction to a response that has been output in the past, and the output control unit determines one of a type of a response to be output to the user, a mode of the response, and an output destination that outputs the response, on the basis of the reaction acquired from the user.

19 . A response processing method performed by a computer, the response processing method comprising:
acquiring, from a user, input information that is information used as a trigger to cause an information device to generate a response; selecting an information device that generates a response corresponding to the input information from among the plurality of information devices; and controlling output of a response that corresponds to the input information and that is generated by the selected information device.

20 . A response processing program that causes a computer to function as:
an acquisition unit that acquires, from a user, input information that is information used as a trigger to cause an information device to generate a response; a selection unit that selects an information device that generates a response corresponding to the input information from among a plurality of information devices; and an output control unit that controls output of a response that corresponds to the input information and that is generated by the selected information device.

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Saito Mari

Classifications

• G10L15/28

  Constructional details of speech recognition systems · CPC title

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G10L15/22 Primary

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G06F2203/011

  Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns · CPC title

• G10L25/63

  for estimating an emotional state · CPC title