AUDIO OUTPUT CONTROL DEVICE, AUDIO OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20100027832A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Koseki, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 8,379,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/387
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/025 Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

Attention can be effectively called to an advertisement, and the effect of calling attention can be known. A control device 10 is connected to a super-directional speaker 40 that outputs audio in a specific direction, and a speaker pedestal 41 that adjusts the audio output direction of the super-directional speaker 40.

The control device 10 takes a picture of an area in front of an advertisement display surface by means of a camera 50, detects a person photographed in the image captured by the imaging unit as a target, adjusts the audio output direction of the super-directional speaker 40 to the direction of the target by means of the speaker pedestal 41, and causes the super-directional speaker 40 to output audio. After outputting the audio, the control device 10 takes another picture by the camera 50, and again determines the direction in which the face of the target is looking based on this picture.

Claims

1. An audio output control device that is connected to a directional speaker that outputs audio in a specific direction, and an audio output direction adjustment mechanism that adjusts the audio output direction of the directional speaker, the audio output control device comprising:

an imaging unit that images a specific range from an advertisement display surface;

a target detection unit that detects a person photographed in the image captured by the imaging unit as a target;

an audio output control unit that causes the audio output direction adjustment mechanism to direct the audio output direction of the directional speaker toward the target detected by the target detection unit, and causes the directional speaker to output audio; and

an orientation detection unit that determines the orientation of the face of the target based on an image captured by the imaging unit after the directional speaker outputs audio as controlled by the audio output control unit.

2. The audio output control device described in claim 1, further comprising:

an attention time detection unit that determines the time the face of the target was facing toward the advertisement display surface after the orientation detection unit determines the face of the target is facing the advertisement display surface.

3. The audio output control device described in claim 1, wherein:

the audio output control unit selects from among people in the image captured by the imaging unit a person whose face is not facing the advertisement display surface as the target.

4. The audio output control device described in claims 1, wherein:

the imaging unit images a specific range from the display surface of a display device that displays an advertising image as the advertisement display surface; and

the audio output control unit outputs audio related to the advertising image displayed by the display device.

5. An audio output control method for an audio output control device that is connected to a directional speaker that outputs audio in a specific direction, and an audio output direction adjustment mechanism that adjusts the audio output direction of the directional speaker, the audio output control method comprising steps of:

imaging an area in front of an advertisement display surface;

detecting a person photographed in the captured image as a target;

causing the audio output direction adjustment mechanism to direct the audio output direction of the directional speaker toward the target detected by the target detection unit, and causing the directional speaker to output audio; and

capturing another image after the directional speaker outputs audio and determining the orientation of the face of the target based on this captured image.

6. The audio output control method described in claim 5, further comprising a step of:

determining the time the face of the target was facing toward the advertisement display surface after the orientation detection unit determines the face of the target is facing the advertisement display surface.

7. The audio output control method described in claim 5, wherein:

a person whose face is not facing the advertisement display surface is selected as the target from among the people in the image captured by the imaging unit.

8. The audio output control method described in claim 5, further comprising steps of:

imaging a specific range from the display surface of a display device that displays an advertising image as the advertisement display surface; and

outputting audio related to the advertising image displayed by the display device.

9. A program that is executed by a computer connected to a directional speaker that outputs audio in a specific direction, and an audio output direction adjustment mechanism that adjusts the audio output direction of the directional speaker, the program causing the computer to function as:

an imaging unit that images a specific range from an advertisement display surface;

a target detection unit that detects a person photographed in the image captured by the imaging unit as a target;

an audio output control unit that causes the audio output direction adjustment mechanism to direct the audio output direction of the directional speaker toward the target detected by the target detection unit, and causes the directional speaker to output audio; and

an orientation detection unit that determines the orientation of the face of the target based on an image captured by the imaging unit after the directional speaker outputs audio as controlled by the audio output control unit.