Patent Publication Number: US-2015089002-A1

Title: Electronic apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/883,119 filed on Sep. 26, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An electronic apparatus having a function of recording sound is provided. As to an electronic apparatus, improvement in the convenience of the user is requested. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic apparatus of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a control procedure of record start in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a confirmation screen of the record start in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a control procedure of record stop in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a confirmation screen of the record stop in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a control procedure of E-mail transmission in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing another control procedure of the E-mail transmission in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  show confirmation screens of the E-mail transmission in the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, in an electronic apparatus, a microphone, a storage unit which stores at least one of record start instruction keyword, a voice recognition section which recognizes a voice content that is input through the microphone, and a record start execution section which executes a record start in the case where the voice content recognized by the voice recognition section is coincident with the record start instruction keyword. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     In the specification, several components are denoted by plural expression examples. These expression examples are only exemplifications, and do not deny that the components are indicated by other expressions. Also components which are not denoted by plural expression examples may be indicated by other expressions. 
       FIGS. 1 to 9B  show an electronic apparatus  1  of an embodiment. For example, the electronic apparatus  1  is a tablet type computer (i.e., tablet PC). An electronic apparatus to which the embodiment can be applied is not limited to the example. The embodiment can be widely applied to various electronic apparatuses such as a notebook portable computer (i.e., note PC), an All-in-One Personal Computer (i.e., AIO), a portable telephone (including a smart phone), a portable Music Player, a voice recorder, a game machine, a clock, and a television receiver. 
       FIG. 1  is an external perspective view showing a tablet PC of the embodiment. 
     The electronic apparatus  1  includes a rectangular plate-like case  11 . A touch panel  14  is configured on one surface of the case  11 . 
     The touch panel  14  has functions of both display and input sections. The touch panel  14  is configured by a display (a display  17  in  FIG. 2 ), plural elements which are arranged on the upper surface, and which are used for detecting a contact operation, and a transparent operation surface (a touch sensor  18  in  FIG. 2 ) which is stacked thereon. 
     The display  17  includes an area where a display screen configured by characters, an image, and the like is to be displayed. For example, the display  17  is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (ElectroLuminescence) display, an inorganic EL display, or the like. 
     The touch sensor  18  detects an operation of a contact object which is in contact with the operation surface, thereby receiving instructions. 
     A button  19  is to be pressed by the user, thereby receiving instructions. 
     In the case  11 , a speaker  15  for outputting sound, and a microphone  16  for inputting sound are placed. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the electronic apparatus  1  of the embodiment. The electronic apparatus  1  is configured by connecting a main control section  30 , a power supply circuit section  31 , an input control section  32 , a display control section  33 , a voice input section  34 , a communication control section  35 , and a storage section  36  in a manner where they are mutually communicable with one another through a bus. 
     The main control section  30  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The main control section  30  operates based on various programs stored in the storage section  36  to generally control the electronic apparatus  1 . 
     The power supply circuit section  31  includes a power supply source (not shown). The power supply circuit section  31  switches over the ON/OFF states of the power supply of the electronic apparatus  1  based on an operation of turning ON the power supply. In the case where the power supply is in the ON state, the power supply circuit section  31  supplies electric power from the power supply source to various sections to enable the electronic apparatus  1  to operate. 
     The input control section  32  includes an input interface for the touch sensor  18  and the button  19 . The input control section  32  receives a detection signal from the touch sensor  18  at predetermined time intervals, as information indicative of the coordinates of the input position, produces a signal indicating the input, and transmits the signal to the main control section  30 . The input control section  32  further receives a signal indicative of pressing of the button  19 , produces a signal indicating the input, and transmits the signal to the main control section  30 . 
     The display control section  33  includes a display interface for the display  17 . Based on the control of the main control section  30 , the display control section  33  controls the display  17  to display an image corresponding to document data and an image signal. 
     Based on the control of the main control section  30 , the voice input section  34  produces an analog audio signal from sound collected by the microphone  16 , and converts the analog audio signal to a digital audio signal. When acquiring a digital audio signal, the voice input section  34  converts the digital audio signal to an analog audio signal, and outputs the signal as sound from the speaker  15  based on the control of the main control section  30 . 
     Based on the control of the main control section  30 , the communication control section  35  performs a spectrum reverse diffusion process on a reception signal which is received from a base station through an antenna  38 , to reconstruct data. In accordance with instructions from the main control section  30 , the data are transmitted to the voice input section  34  to be output from the speaker  15 , transmitted to the display control section  33  to be displayed on the display  17 , or stored in the storage section  36 . When the communication control section  35  further acquires audio data collected by the microphone  16 , data which are input through the touch sensor  18 , or data stored in the storage section  36  based on the control of the main control section  30 , the section performs a spectrum reverse diffusion process on the data, and transmits the data to a base station through the antenna  38 . 
     The storage section  36  is configured by: a ROM (Read Only Memory), hard disk drive, non-volatile memory, or data base which stores processing programs for processes to be performed by the main control section  30 , data required in the processes, and the like; a RAM (Random Access Memory) which temporarily stores data to be used when the main control section  30  performs the processes; etc. Particularly, the storage section  36  stores processing programs for various processes to be performed by the main control section  30  in the embodiment. 
     The storage section  36  stores plural predetermined voice recognition processes corresponding to a digital signal which is output from the voice input section  34 . For example, the plural voice recognition processes include at least a process in which voice is received as a command, and a predetermined application is operated by the command. In a word-processing software application, with respect to a digital signal for voice of “Save” which is uttered by the user toward the microphone  16 , for example, a process of saving a document in preparation is a voice recognition process. 
     The storage section  36  further stores E-mail addresses which are destinations of E-mail transmissions. Particularly, the storage section stores a specific E-mail address which is used in an E-mail transmission process in the embodiment. The specific E-mail address may be arbitrarily designated (registered) by the user from plural E-mail addresses stored in the storage section  36 . 
     A voice recognition process execution section  40  performs a recognition process on the voice content based on the digital signal which is output from the voice input section  34 , and then detects whether matching with the voice recognition process (voice command) stored in the storage section  36  is achieved or not. If matching is achieved, the voice recognition process (voice command) is executed. 
     An E-mail transmission execution section  41  executes E-mail transmission to an E-mail address stored in the storage section  36  in accordance with the voice recognition process (voice command). 
     Next, the control operation of record start in the electronic apparatus  1  of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . 
     In the following description of the operation, it is assumed that the power supply of the apparatus body is turned ON before the operation in the following step. 
     In step S 1 , first, the voice input section  34  detects that voice is input through the microphone  16 . In step S 2 , then, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  matches with one of the plural voice commands (for example, “Record”, “Record start”, and the like) stored in the storage section  36 . 
     If there is matching (Yes in step S 2 ), a confirmation message as to whether record is to be started or not is displayed (step S 3 ).  FIG. 4  shows an example of a message displayed for confirming whether record is to be started or not.  FIG. 4  shows a screen of a confirmation message in the case where the voice command is “Record”. 
     In step S 4 , next, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is “Yes” or not. If “Yes” (Yes in step S 4 ), a record start sound is output from the speaker  15 , and the voice command of (Record) is executed (step S 8 ). 
     If the voice input section  34  does not detect in step S 4  that an input of voice sounds through the microphone  16  exists, or if the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects that the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is not “Yes” (No in step S 4 ), the control waits for an elapse of a predetermined time period (for example, 3 seconds) (step S 5 ), and then the process of the voice command is cancelled to abort the record start process (step S 6 ). 
     According to the embodiment, the user can cause the apparatus to start record by uttering voice sounds without picking up and operating the apparatus. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     In the embodiment, a part or all of the processes of steps S 3  to S 7  may be omitted. In the case where all of the processes are omitted, if the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects in step S 2  that the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  matches with one of the plural voice commands stored in the storage section  36 , the voice command (Record) is executed (step S 8 ). At this time, the record content is stored in the storage section  36  in a usual file format (for example, the MPG format or the like). 
     Next, the control operation of record stop in the electronic apparatus  1  of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 5 . 
     In the following description of the operation, it is assumed that record is started before the operation in the following step (step S 8  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     In step S 11 , first, the voice input section  34  detects that voice is input through the microphone  16 . In step S 12 , then, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  matches with one of the plural voice commands (for example, “Stop”, “Record stop”, and the like) stored in the storage section  36 . 
     If there is matching (Yes in step S 12 ), a confirmation message as to whether record is to be stopped or not is displayed (step S 13 ).  FIG. 6  shows an example of a message displayed for confirming whether record is to be stopped or not.  FIG. 6  shows a screen of a confirmation message in the case where the voice command is “Record stop”. 
     In step S 14 , next, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is “Yes” or not. If “Yes” (Yes in step S 14 ), a record stop sound is output from the speaker  15 , and the voice command of “Record stop” is executed (step S 18 ). 
     If the voice input section  34  does not detect in step S 14  that an input of voice sounds through the microphone  16  exists, or if the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects that the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is not “Yes” (No in step S 14 ), the control waits for an elapse of a predetermined time period (for example, 3 seconds) (step S 15 ), and then the process of the voice command is cancelled to abort the record stop process (step S 16 ). 
     According to the embodiment, the user can cause the apparatus to stop record by uttering voice sounds without picking up and operating the apparatus. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     In the embodiment, a part or all of the processes of steps S 13  to S 17  may be omitted. In the case where all of the processes are omitted, if the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects in step S 12  that the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  matches with one of the plural voice commands stored in the storage section  36 , the voice command (Record stop) is executed (step S 18 ). At this time, the process of storing into the storage section  36  is ended. 
     In the embodiment, when the user utters voice sounds, the record stop process is performed. The invention is not limited to this. When a predetermined time period has elapsed after record start (step S 8  in  FIG. 3 ), for example, record may be automatically stopped. 
     Next, the control operation of E-mail transmission in the electronic apparatus  1  of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 7 . 
     In the following description of the operation, it is assumed that, before the operation in the following step, record is started (step S 8  in  FIG. 3 ), the record is stopped (step S 18  in  FIG. 5 ), and the record content is stored in the storage section  36 . 
     In step S 21 , first, the input control section  32  detects that the touch sensor  18  or the button  19  is input. In step S 22 , then, the E-mail transmission execution section  41  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  32  matches with one of plural input commands (for example, “Transmission”, “E-mail transmission”, “Transmission to Mr. A”, and the like) stored in the storage section  36 . For example, an input corresponding to plural input commands is pressing of the button  19  in the case where the button  19  is a dedicated button. Alternatively, the input is the case where the user touches a predetermined place of the touch sensor  18 . In order to prevent an erroneous operation from occurring, an input may be received only when the button  19  is pressed two consecutive times for a short time period. 
     If there is matching (Yes in step S 22 ), the E-mail transmission execution section  41  detects in step S 23  whether a specific E-mail address is registered in the storage section  36  or not. 
     If a specific E-mail address is registered (Yes in step S 23 ), a confirmation message as to whether an E-mail is to be transmitted or not is displayed (step S 25 ).  FIGS. 9A and 9B  show examples of messages displayed for confirming whether an E-mail is to be transmitted or not.  FIG. 9A  shows a screen of the confirmation message in the case where a single specific E-mail address is used, and the input command is “E-mail transmission”.  FIG. 9B  shows a screen of the confirmation message in the case where plural specific E-mail addresses are used, and the input command is “Transmission to Mr. A”. 
     If it is detected in step S 23  that a specific E-mail address is not registered (No in step S 23 ), an E-mail preparation screen for transmitting an E-mail is displayed (step S 24 ). In this case, when the user performs the usual production of an E-mail, the user can transmit the E-mail. 
     In step S 26 , next, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is “Yes” or not. If “Yes” (Yes in step S 26 ), a process of transmitting an E-mail attached with the record content stored in the storage section  36  is executed on the specific E-mail address (step S 29 ). 
     If the voice input section  34  does not detect in step S 26  that an input of voice sounds through the microphone  16  exists, or if the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects that the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is not “Yes” (No in step S 26 ), the control waits for an elapse of a predetermined time period (for example, 3 seconds) (step S 27 ), and then the process of the voice command is cancelled to abort the E-mail transmission process (step S 28 ). 
     According to the embodiment, the user can transmit an E-mail attached with the record content to a specific destination by uttering voice sounds without picking up and operating the apparatus. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     In the embodiment, a part or all of the processes of steps S 25  to S 28  may be omitted. In the case where all of the processes are omitted, if it is detected in step S 23  that a specific E-mail address is registered, the process of transmitting an E-mail attached with the record content stored in the storage section  36  is executed on the specific E-mail address (step S 29 ). 
     Next, another control operation of the E-mail transmission in the electronic apparatus  1  of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 8 . 
     In the following description of the operation, it is assumed that, before the operation in the following step, record is started (step S 8  in  FIG. 3 ), the record is stopped (step S 18  in  FIG. 5 ), and the record content is stored in the storage section  36 . 
     In step S 31 , first, the voice input section  34  detects that voice is input through the microphone  16 . In step S 32 , then, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  matches with one of the plural voice commands (for example, “Transmission”, “E-mail transmission”, “Transmission to Mr. A”, and the like) stored in the storage section  36 . 
     If there is matching (Yes in step S 32 ), the E-mail transmission execution section  41  detects in step S 33  whether a specific E-mail address is registered in the storage section  36  or not. 
     If a specific E-mail address is registered (Yes in step S 33 ), a confirmation message as to whether an E-mail is to be transmitted or not is displayed (step S 35 ).  FIGS. 9A and 9B  show the examples of the messages displayed for confirming whether an E-mail is to be transmitted or not.  FIG. 9A  shows the screen of the confirmation message in the case where a single specific E-mail address is used, and the voice command is “E-mail transmission”.  FIG. 9B  shows the screen of the confirmation message in the case where plural specific E-mail addresses are used, and the voice command is “Transmission to Mr. A”. 
     If it is detected in step S 33  that a specific E-mail address is not registered (No in step S 33 ), an E-mail preparation screen for transmitting an E-mail is displayed (step S 34 ). In this case, when the user performs the usual production of an E-mail, the user can transmit the E-mail. 
     In step S 36 , next, the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects whether the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is “Yes” or not. If “Yes” (Yes in step S 36 ), a process of transmitting an E-mail attached with the record content stored in the storage section  36  is executed on the specific E-mail address (step S 39 ). 
     If the voice input section  34  does not detect in step S 36  that an input of voice sounds through the microphone  16  exists, or if the voice recognition process execution section  40  detects that the digital signal output from the voice input section  34  is not “Yes” (No in step S 36 ), the control waits for an elapse of predetermined time period (for example, 3 seconds) (step S 37 ), and then the process of the voice command is cancelled to abort the E-mail transmission process (step S 38 ). 
     According to the embodiment, the user can transmit an E-mail attached with the record content to a specific destination by uttering voice sounds without picking up and operating the apparatus. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     In the embodiment, a part or all of the processes of steps S 35  to S 38  may be omitted. In the case where all of the processes are omitted, if it is detected in step S 33  that a specific E-mail address is registered, the process of transmitting an E-mail attached with the record content stored in the storage section  36  is executed on the specific E-mail address (step S 39 ). 
     In the case where an E-mail is to be transmitted, the record content may be automatically translated to another language (for example, to/from English and the like), and converted to text document data, and the text document data may be attached to the E-mail together with the record content. 
     The electronic apparatus of the embodiment has the communication control section  35  which transmits data to a base station connected to the Internet network. However, there is an electronic apparatus having no communication control section which transmits data to a base station, such as an alarm clock. 
     In this case, the record content and specific E-mail address which are stored in the storage section  36  are transmitted to another electronic apparatus having a communication control section which transmits data to a base station. Then, the other electronic apparatus executes the process of transmitting an E-mail attached with the record content, on the specific E-mail address. 
     As a method of communicating between the electronic apparatus of the embodiment and the other electronic apparatus, for example, there is a short-distance wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). 
     In steps S 4 , S 14 , S 26 , and S 36  in the embodiment, the detection of “Yes” is performed by a voice recognition process. The detection method is not limited to this. The detection of “Yes” may be performed by a process in which the input control section  32  detects that the touch sensor  18  or the button  19  is input. 
     The technique described in the embodiment may be distributed while being stored in the form of a program which is executable by a computer, in a storage medium such as a magnet disk (a flexible disk, a hard disk, or the like), an optical disk (a CD-ROM, a DVD, or the like), or a magnetooptical disk (MO), or a semiconductor memory, and then distributed. 
     As the storage medium, any storage medium may be used as far as it can store a program and be read by a computer, and have any storage format. 
     A part of the processes for realizing the embodiment may be executed by an OS (Operating System), MW (MiddleWare) such as a database management software or network software, and the like which run in the computer based on instructions from a program that is installed from a storage medium in the computer. 
     The storage medium in the invention is not limited to a medium which is independent from a computer, and includes also a storage medium into which a program transmitted through a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded, and which stores or temporarily stores the program. 
     The number of the storage medium is not limited to one. The storage medium of the invention includes also the case where the process in the embodiment is executed from plural storage media, and such media may have any configuration. 
     The functions of the modules which have been described in the embodiment may be realized by a software application which is executed by a processor, by a processing circuit implemented by hardware, by hardware, or by a combination of a software application, hardware, and a software module. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms, furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.