Voice reference apparatus, recording medium recording voice reference control program and voice recognition navigation apparatus

• US 6,950,797 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki, Hirayama, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Opsasnick, Michael N.
• Application Number:
  US09/659,066
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 704/246, 704/270, 704/275
• US Class Current: 704/246
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

A voice reference apparatus that classifies a plurality of search targets into a plurality of division blocks, searches for a search target by first specifying a division block and then specifying the search target and enables specification of, at least, the search target to be made by voice, includes: a first storage device in which recognition data related to search targets corresponding to individual division blocks are stored; a second storage device in which division block-related information indicating one or more other division blocks related to a given division block through a specific relationship is stored; a recognition data selection device that selects recognition data corresponding to only a certain division block and one or more other division blocks related to the certain division block specified by the division block-related information from the first storage device, when the certain division block has been specified; and a voice recognition processing device that performs voice recognition based upon voice recognition data generated by using the recognition data selected by the recognition data selection device and audio data corresponding to the search target specified by voice.

Claims

1. A voice reference apparatus that classifies a plurality of search targets into a plurality of division blocks in only one of which each of the plurality of search targets is included, searches for a search target by first specifying a division block and then specifying said search target and enables specification of, at least, said search target to be made by voice, the plurality of search targets belonging to a single category categorized according to attributes of search targets, comprising:

a first storage device in which recognition data related to the plurality of search targets corresponding to individual division blocks are stored so that each of the plurality of search targets is included in only one of the plurality of division blocks with no overlap of search targets between each of the plurality of division blocks;

a second storage device in which division block-related information indicating one or more other division blocks related to a given division block through a specific relationship in the category is stored;

a recognition data selection device that selects recognition data corresponding to a certain division block and one or more other division blocks related to said certain division block specified by said division block-related information from said first storage device, when said certain division block has been specified to search a certain search target; and

a voice recognition processing device that performs voice recognition based upon voice recognition data generated by using said recognition data selected by said recognition data selection device and audio data corresponding to said search target specified by voice.

2. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of division blocks are public administrative zones;

said search target is located in one of said public administrative zones; and

said division block-related information indicates one or more other public administrative zones related to a specified public administrative zone through a specific relationship.

3. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 2, wherein;

said public administrative zones are each constituted of a prefecture.

4. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 2, wherein;

said public administrative zones are each constituted of a state.

5. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 2, wherein;

said public administrative zones are each constituted of a country.

6. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 2, wherein;

said division block-related information indicates one or more other public administrative zones adjacent to a specified public administrative zone.

7. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 6, wherein;

said recognition data related to said search target includes information related to a public administrative zone in which said search target is located.

8. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a display control device that implements control to display details related to results of a search of said search target on a display device, wherein;

when implementing control to display the details related to the results of the search of said search target, said display control device also displays on said display device information related to the public administrative zone in which said search target is located.

9. A voice recognition navigation apparatus, comprising:

a voice reference apparatus;

a map information storage device that stores map information; and

a control device that implements control for providing route guidance based upon, at least, results of a search performed by said voice reference apparatus and said map information, wherein;

said voice reference apparatus, which classifies a plurality of search targets into a plurality of division blocks in only one of which each of the plurality of search targets is included, searches for a search target by first specifying a division block and then specifying said search target and enables specification of, at least, said search target to be made by voice, the plurality of search targets belonging to a single category categorized according to attributes of search targets, comprises;

a first storage device in which recognition data related to the plurality of search targets corresponding to individual division blocks are stored so that each of the plurality of search targets is included in only one of the plurality of division blocks with no overlap of search targets between each of the plurality of division blocks;

a second storage device in which division block-related information indicating one or more other division blocks related to a given division block through a specific relationship in the category is stored;

a recognition data selection device that selects recognition data corresponding to a certain division block and one or more other division blocks related to said certain division block specified by said division block-related information from said first storage device, when said certain division block has been specified to search a certain search target; and

a voice recognition processing device that performs voice recognition based upon voice recognition data generated by using said recognition data selected by said recognition data selection device and audio data corresponding to said search target specified by voice.

10. A voice recognition navigation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

the plurality of search targets are a plurality of facilities;

the plurality of division blocks are a plurality of geographical areas; and

each of said plurality of facilities is located in one of said plurality of geographical areas.

11. A voice recognition navigation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the category to which the plurality of facilities belong includes one of a ski resort category, a golf course category, a theme park category, a restaurant category and an accommodations category.

12. A recording medium that records a voice reference control program for searching for a search target specified by voice, by first specifying a division block and then specifying said search target, said control program comprising:

an instruction for reading recognition data related to search targets, a plurality of said search targets being classified into a plurality of division blocks, so that each of the Plurality of search targets is included in only one of the plurality of division blocks with no overlap of search targets between each of the plurality of division blocks, and belonging to a single category categorized according to attributes of search targets;

an instruction for reading data related to division block-related information indicating one or more other division blocks related to a given block through a specific relationship in the category;

an instruction for selecting recognition data corresponding to a certain division block and one or more other division blocks related to said certain division block specified by said division block-related information when said certain division block has been specified to search a certain search target; and

an instruction for implementing a voice recognition based upon voice recognition data generated by using said recognition data that have been selected and audio data corresponding to said search target specified by voice.

13. A data signal transmitted in a communication line and comprising a voice reference control program for searching for a search target specified by voice, by first specifying a division block and then specifying said search target, said control program comprising:

an instruction for reading recognition data related to search targets, a plurality of said search targets being classified into a plurality of division blocks so that each of the plurality of search targets is included in only one of the plurality of division blocks with no overlap of search targets between each of the plurality of division blocks, and belonging to a single category categorized according to attributes of search targets;

an instruction for reading data related to division block-related information indicating one or more other division blocks related to a given block through a specific relationship in the category;

an instruction for selecting recognition data corresponding to a certain division block and one or more other division blocks related to said certain division block specified by said division block-related information when said certain division block has been specified to search a certain search target; and

an instruction for implementing a voice recognition based upon voice recognition data generated by using said recognition data that have been selected and audio data corresponding to said search target specified by voice.

14. A voice reference apparatus that classifies a plurality of search targets into a plurality of geographical areas in only one of which each of the plurality of search targets is located, searches for a search target by first specifying a geographical area and then specifying said search target and enables specification of, at least, said search target to be made by voice, the plurality of search targets belonging to a single category categorized according to attributes of search targets, comprising:

a first storage device in which recognition data related to the plurality of search targets corresponding to individual geographical areas are stored so that each of the plurality of search targets is included in only one of the plurality of division blocks with no overlap of search targets between each of the plurality of division blocks;

a second storage device in which geographical area-related information indicating one or more other geographical areas related to a given geographical area through a specific geographical relationship in the category is stored;

a recognition data selection device that selects recognition data corresponding to a certain geographical area and one or more other geographical areas related to said certain geographical area specified by said geographical area-related information from said first storage device, when said certain geographical area has been specified to search a certain search target; and

a voice recognition processing device that performs voice recognition based upon voice recognition data generated by using said recognition data selected by said recognition data selection device and audio data corresponding to said search target specified by voice.

15. A voice reference apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

the category to which the plurality of search targets belong includes one of a ski resort category, a golf course category, a theme park category, a restaurant category and an accommodations category.