Data input method and data input device

• US 20040054819A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Tatsuya, Hosono, Masahiko, Nakajima, Hiroshi, Daimoto, Hiroshi, Ushida, Hirohide
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

When a user inputs data to a device having a plurality of data input units such as a text data input unit, e.g., a keyboard, a screen or the like and a voice data input unit, e.g., a microphone or the like, an optimal input method is automatically selected and provided to the user in accordance with an item of the data to be inputted by the user. A data input method selects an optimal input unit for the user from the text data input unit and the voice data input unit to control a data input operation in accordance with information such as the type of an item of data to be inputted, a data amount, an ambient noise state, a recognition result at the time of inputting data with voice, and the like.

Claims

1. A data input method having at least text data input means and voice data input means, comprising the steps of:

storing information of data to be inputted; and

reading out the information of the data to be inputted to select input means used for inputting data in accordance with the read information.

2. A data input method having at least text data input means and voice data input means, comprising the steps of:

storing information of data to be inputted;

reading out the information of the data to be inputted to determine an amount or type of inputted data from the read information; and

controlling input means on the basis of the determination result.

3. A data input device having input means for inputting data and output means for outputting a message for prompting a data input operation, comprising:

text data input means for inputting text data;

voice data input means for inputting voice data;

input item storage means for storing an item to be inputted; and

input control means for selecting one of the text data input means and the voice data input means in accordance with the characteristics of the item to be inputted which is stored in the input item storage means.

4. The data input device according to claim 3, wherein

the input control means selects data input means in accordance with an amount or type of data of the item to be inputted which is stored in the input item storage means.

5. The data input device according to claim 3, further comprising:

noise measurement means for measuring noise generated around the data input device, wherein

when voice data input means is selected and the noise measured by the noise measurement means is higher than a predetermined value, the input control means changes input means from the voice data input means to the text data input means.

6. A data input device having input means for inputting data and output means for outputting a message for prompting a data input operation, comprising:

text data input means for inputting text data;

voice data input means for inputting voice data;

input control means for selecting the voice data input means as data input means and, when the voice data inputted by the voice data input means is recognized, so that the number of misrecognitions is equal to or more than a predetermined number, changing input means from the voice data input means to the text data input means.