Sound information output system

• US 20060190169A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kawai, Takao
• Application Number:
  US11/358,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00

Abstract

In a sound information output system installed in a vehicle, a first determining unit is communicable with a handsfree cellular phone unit. The handsfree cellular phone unit allows handsfree conversation. The first determining unit is configured to determine whether the handsfree cellular phone unit is in off-hook state or in on-hook state. A holding unit is configured to hold output of the first sound information when it is determined that the handsfree cellular phone unit is in off-hook state.

Claims

1. A sound information output system installed in a vehicle and configured to output first sound information, the system comprising:

a first determining unit communicable with a handsfree cellular phone unit that allows handsfree conversation and configured to determine whether the handsfree cellular phone unit is in off-hook state or in on-hook state; and

a holding unit configured to hold output of the first sound information when it is determined that the handsfree cellular phone unit is in off-hook state.

2. A sound information output system according to claim 1, further comprising

a first output unit configured to output at least one of the held first sound information and second sound information when it is determined that the handsfree cellular phone unit is in on-hook state.

3. A sound information output system according to claim 1, wherein the first sound information includes a plurality of sound messages, further comprising:

a second determining unit configured to determine whether each of the plurality of sound messages is required to be output.

4. A sound information output system according to claim 3, wherein each of the sound messages is set to a predetermined geographical position, and the second determining unit further comprises:

a range setting unit configured to set a range for the predetermined position of each of the sound messages;

a current vehicle position detecting unit configured to detect a geographical current position of the vehicle when it is determined that the handsfree cellular phone unit is in on-hook state;

a third determining unit configured to determine whether the detected geographical current position of the vehicle is within the range of each of the sound messages; and

a second output unit configured to output one of the sound messages when it is determined that the detected geographical current position of the vehicle is within the range of the one of the sound messages.

5. A sound information output system according to claim 3, wherein the second determining unit further comprises:

a requirement setting unit configured to set a requirement that at least one of the sound messages meets;

a fourth determining unit configured to determine that at least one of the plurality of sound messages is required to be output when the at least one of the sound messages meets the requirement; and

a third output unit configured to output the at least one of the sound messages.

6. A sound information output system according to claim 5, wherein the sound messages are separated into a first group and a second group, the first group being directly linked to guidance for a route of the vehicle, and the second group being directly independent of the guidance for the route, the requirement represents one of the first and second groups, and the fourth determining unit is configured to determine that at least one of the plurality of sound messages is required to be output when the at least one of the plurality of sound messages belongs to the one of the first and second groups.

7. A sound information output system according to claim 5, wherein the sound messages include types and contents such that levels of weight are assigned to the sound messages according to at least one of the contents and types thereof, respectively, the requirement setting unit is configured to set a predetermined threshold level of weight as the requirement, and the fourth determining unit is configured to determine that at least one of the plurality of sound messages is required to be output when the level of weight of the at least one of the sound messages is higher than the threshold level.