Text information read-out device and music/voice reproduction device incorporating the same

• US 6,694,297 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Tatsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US09/737,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 704/260, 704/270, 704/275, 704/276, 704/278, 386/95, 846/09
• US Class Current: 704/276
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/091 Info, i.e. juxtaposition of unrelated auxiliary information or commercial messages with or between music files metadata G10H2240/075
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

The present invention has as its object to provide text information to a listener with voice when music is reproduced from a medium on which the text information is stored together with music data and to provide easily and smoothly use of the text information. The present invention is a text information read-out device for reading out text information from a medium on which text information is stored together with music data, including a text information extraction unit for extracting text information, a voice synthesizer obtaining voice data from the extracted text information, and a controller for controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of music data.

Claims

1. A text information read-out device reading out text information from a medium on which text information is stored together with music data, comprising:

a text information extraction unit extracting text information related to the music data;

a voice synthesizer obtaining voice data from the extracted text information; and

a controller controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of music data.

2. A text information read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a read-out timing of the voice data to any one of a reproduction start timing of the music data, a predetermined period of time after the reproduction start timing of the music data, and a reproduction end timing of the music data.

3. A text information read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a read-out timing of voice data on the basis of a volume of the music data to be reproduced.

4. A text information read-out device comprising:

an identification information read-out unit reading out identification information from a medium on which identification information is recorded together with music data;

a text information search unit searching for text information related to the music data on the basis of the identification information;

a voice synthesizer obtaining voice data from searched text information; and

a controller controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of the music data.

5. A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for reading out text information from a medium on which text information is recorded together with music data is recorded, the method steps comprising:

extracting text information related to the music data;

synthesizing voice data from the extracted text information; and

controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of music data.

6. A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps comprising:

reading out identification information from a medium on which identification information is recorded together with music data;

searching for text information related to the music data on the basis of the identification information;

synthesizing voice data from searched text information; and

controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of the music data.

7. A music/voice reproduction device which perform reproduction of music data and read-out of text information from a medium on which the text information is stored together with the music data, comprising:

a text information extraction unit extracting text information related to the music data;

a voice synthesizer obtaining voice data from the extracted text information;

a music data reproduction unit reproducing the music data; and

a controller controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of music data.

8. A music/voice reproduction device comprising:

an identification information read-out unit reading out identification information from a medium on which identification information is recorded together with music data;

a text information search unit searching for text information related to the music data on the basis of the identification information;

a voice synthesizer obtaining voice data from searched text information;

a music data reproduction unit reproducing music data; and

a controller controlling a read-out timing of the voice data in synchronism with reproduction of the music data.