JP3239085B2 - E-mail audio reproduction system and message audio reproduction system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic mail audio reproduction system and a message audio reproduction system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an e-mail system for sending text data or the like created by a sender to a destination via a communication network such as the Internet has rapidly spread.

[0003] Such an electronic mail system is a communication means using a screen display of a computer terminal as a main output interface. As another output interface, a text data portion of a message content is voice-synthesized, and a telephone call is received. A system for playing back to the mouth or the like has also been proposed (referred to as “e-mail sound playback system” in this specification).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of such an electronic mail audio reproduction system. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure in which a user uses a telephone to retrieve the contents of an e-mail addressed to him / her using this system.

[0005] First, as shown in FIG. 9, the system includes a mail server 1 for sequentially storing incoming e-mails.
0, an e-mail voice response device 11 for voice-synthesizing the text data portion of the e-mail stored in the mail server 10, a communication line 12 such as a public telephone line, and a voice terminal 14 such as a telephone used by the user 13. It is composed of In this system, as shown in FIG. 10, a user 13 first accesses an electronic mail voice response device 11 from a voice terminal 14 via a communication line 12 (S101). The e-mail voice response device 11 receives the access and acquires the e-mail sent from the mail server 10 to the user (S102). Further, the e-mail voice response device 11 synthesizes a voice from the text data portion of the e-mail, and outputs the synthesized voice to the voice terminal 14 via the communication line 12 (S103). As a result, the user 13 can listen to the contents of the e-mail addressed to the user 13 with the voice terminal 14 (S104).

[0006]

However, in such a system, the user 13 can only listen to the e-mail delivered to him / her in the order of arrival. Therefore, user 1
There is a problem that it is not possible to quickly retrieve important emails for the third party.

When browsing an e-mail using a screen display, the user 13 can select and read an important e-mail because the screen display has a characteristic that the list is excellent. However, when synthesizing and listening to the contents of the e-mail, it is difficult to quickly select and listen to an important e-mail for the user 13. For this reason, a system that enables the user 13 to quickly grasp the general situation of an e-mail arriving at himself / herself has been desired even when the content of the e-mail is reproduced by voice, as in the case of the screen display. .

[0008] Such a problem also arises not only with respect to voice reading of electronic mail but also with various message reproducing systems such as electronic news, an answering machine system, a voice mail system, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail audio reproduction system capable of reproducing an electronic mail or a message from a range important to a user. And a message voice reproduction system.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an electronic mail sound reproducing system which allows a user to quickly understand the outline of an electronic mail received by himself / herself by voice.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic mail audio reproduction system according to the first invention is provided.
E-mail storage means for storing an incoming e-mail;
In order to specify the reproduction order of the e-mails stored by the e-mail storage means, a plurality of pieces of attribute information indicating the attributes of the e-mails to be reproduced with priority given to the sound, and the e-mails of the attributes indicated by the respective pieces of attribute information From the electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage means, and from the electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage means, according to the order information according to the attribute of each electronic mail. and e-mail selection means for sequentially selecting the email, according to the order selected by the electronic mail selection means, seen including electronic mail sound reproducing means for audio playback, the at least a portion of each email that is selected, the electronic Me
Rule selection means, when a predetermined fast-forward signal is input
The attribute information corresponding to the e-mail just played back
An e-mail corresponding to attribute information different from the information is selected .

[0012]

[0013] An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to the second invention.
The system is an e-mail audio reproduction system according to the first invention.
, Stored by the electronic mail storage means
Attributes represented by the respective attribute information in the electronic mail
Means for calculating the number of incoming e-mails
And the incoming call calculated by the incoming electronic mail number calculating means.
Attributes represented by each attribute information based on the number of e-mails
E-mail arrival overview sound to play a number of e-mails
Voice reproducing means.

An electronic mail audio reproduction system according to a third invention.
The system is an e-mail audio reproduction system according to the first invention.
, The attribute stored by the priority information storage means.
Audio information that identifies gender information corresponds to those attribute information
A voice information storage means for storing the electronic information;
The incoming mail overview audio reproduction means is the audio information storage means
Information and the number of incoming e-mails
Based on the number of e-mails calculated by the information calculation means.
Then, the number of e-mails of the attribute represented by each attribute information
This is to reproduce sound.

[0015] An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to a fourth invention.
Email storage to store incoming email
Means and an electronic device stored by the electronic mail storage means
Prioritize audio playback to determine the order in which emails are played.
Attribute information indicating the attributes of the e-mail to be performed,
Audio playback of the e-mail of the attribute represented by each attribute information
Priority information that stores order information indicating the order and priority information
Information storage means, stored in the e-mail storage means
From the email, the order according to the attributes of each email
E-mail selection to sequentially select e-mails according to the information
Selecting means and the order selected by the e-mail selecting means
According to at least part of each selected email
E-mail sound reproducing means for reproducing sound;
Out of the emails stored by the file storage means
Calculate the number of e-mails of the attribute indicated by each of the attribute information
Means for calculating the number of incoming e-mails, and the number of incoming e-mails
Based on the number of incoming e-mails calculated by the calculation means
The number of e-mails of the attribute represented by each attribute information
E-mail incoming call overview audio playback means to be played back
It is.

An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to a fifth invention.
The system is an e-mail audio reproduction system according to the fourth invention.
, The attribute stored by the priority information storage means.
Audio information that identifies gender information corresponds to those attribute information
A voice information storage means for storing the electronic information;
The incoming mail overview audio reproduction means is the audio information storage means
Information and the number of incoming e-mails
Based on the number of e-mails calculated by the information calculation means.
Then, the number of e-mails of the attribute represented by each attribute information
This is to reproduce sound.

An electronic mail audio reproduction system according to a sixth invention.
The electronic mail reproduction system according to the third or fifth invention,
In the system, a predetermined attribute information addition signal is input.
The attribute information corresponding to the signal,
Attribute information adding means for additionally storing the information in the storage means.
When the attribute information addition signal is input, the
Utilizes voice information input to identify attribute information corresponding to the issue
Information input guidance means for prompting the user, and the audio information input guidance
Supports voice information input by the user according to the means
Associated with the attribute information to be added to the voice information storage means.
Voice information adding means for adding and storing.
It is.

An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to a seventh invention.
The electronic mail according to any one of the first to sixth inventions.
In the audio playback system, the priority information storage means
The stored attribute information is the email address of the sender of the email.
Dress or at least one of the names
It is.

An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to the eighth invention.
The system may be any one of the first to fifth or the invention according to claim 7.
In the e-mail audio reproduction system according to
When a sex information addition signal is input, the
Attribute information is additionally stored in the priority information storage means.
Attribute information adding means.

An electronic mail audio reproduction system according to the ninth invention.
The electronic mail according to any one of the first to eighth inventions.
In the audio playback system, a predetermined attribute information deletion signal
Is input by the priority information storage means.
Attribute information that deletes at least part of the attribute information stored
Deletion means.

[0021] An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention.
The stem is an electronic mail according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.
The priority information storage means.
Information sound for playing back the priority information stored by
A voice reproducing means is further included.

[0022] An electronic mail voice reproduction system according to the eleventh invention.
The stem is an electronic device according to any one of the first to tenth aspects.
In a voice mail playback system, voice playback should be suppressed.
Stores audio playback suppression information that specifies the range of e-mail
Further comprising a sound reproduction suppression information storage means for performing
The mail selection means is provided by the voice reproduction suppression information storage means.
Belongs to the range specified by the audio playback suppression information
It is intended to suppress the selection of an e-mail.

[0023]

E-mail voice reproduction method according to the twelfth invention
Law stores incoming e-mails and stores the stored e-mails.
Audio playback to determine the order in which emails are played.
Multiple attribute information that indicates the attribute of the e-mail to be given priority
Information and the e-mail of the attribute represented by each attribute information
Order information indicating the order of generation is stored as priority information
Then, from the stored e-mails, the attribute of each e-mail
E-mails are sequentially selected according to the order information according to
Each selected electronic device according to the selected order.
Plays back at least part of the mail by voice and
Number is input, the last played email
Telephony corresponding to attribute information different from the attribute information corresponding to the
Select a child email and move forward from the selected email
Play back at least part of the audio in the order given.
It is said that.

[0025]

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic mail audio reproduction system according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the e-mail audio reproduction system according to the present embodiment includes an e-mail storage unit 20, a priority information storage unit 21, an e-mail selection unit 22, and an e-mail audio reproduction unit 23. It is composed of

Here, the e-mail storage section 20 functions as an e-mail storage means for storing an e-mail arriving at the user via a network (not shown).

The priority information storage unit 21 includes information for specifying a range of electronic mails to be reproduced by the e-mail audio reproduction unit 23 with priority given to the audio data among the electronic mails stored in the electronic mail storage unit 20; That is, it functions as priority information storage means for storing priority information. This priority information,
For example, 1) whether the sender's name of the e-mail matches the name registered in advance, 2) whether the sender's e-mail address matches the predetermined e-mail address, or 3) whether the e-mail has arrived at the user (TO :) , Have you only received a copy (cc :),
4) Whether the sender's address contains a predetermined character string (for example, a domain name), 5) whether the subject (e-mail title) contains a predetermined character string, or 6) the date when the e-mail arrived Or the date and time are within a predetermined range, or 7) the content of the property of the email (for example,
Importance, priority, confidentiality, etc.), 8) whether the message body of the e-mail contains a predetermined character string, 9) whether the e-mail is unread or read, etc. Alternatively, they can be defined by using them in combination. According to the priority information, the electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage unit 20 is given a priority in performing the audio reproduction by the electronic mail audio reproduction unit 23,
Can be divided into two ranges.

The e-mail selecting section 22 reads out the priority information having the above-mentioned contents from the priority information storage section 21 and belongs to a range specified by the priority information among the e-mails stored in the e-mail storage section 20. It functions as an e-mail selecting means for sequentially selecting e-mails with priority.

Further, the e-mail sound reproducing section 23 functions as an e-mail sound reproducing means for sound reproducing at least a part of the e-mail selected by the e-mail selecting section 22. The e-mail audio reproduction unit reproduces audio of only the main part of the e-mail selected by the e-mail selection unit 22, for example, by converting text data into waveform data. Similarly, only the subject of the e-mail may be reproduced by voice.

According to the electronic mail audio reproducing system having the above-described configuration, the electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage unit 20 can be reproduced preferentially from the important range for the user.

In the electronic mail sound reproducing system according to the first embodiment, the priority of the electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage unit 20 is given priority to the sound reproduction by the electronic mail sound reproducing unit 23 according to the priority information. For the e-mails in the range in which the sound reproduction by the e-mail sound reproduction unit 23 is preferentially performed, the order of the sound reproduction is further changed. It may be determined. Then, the electronic mail within the range in which the sound reproduction is preferentially performed can be sound reproduced in the order desired by the user.

Embodiment 2 The e-mail audio reproduction system according to the second embodiment is the same as the e-mail audio reproduction system according to the first embodiment, except that the priority information storage unit 2
0 and the e-mail selecting unit 22
Since the operation described above has the feature, and the overall configuration is the same as that of the electronic mail sound reproduction system according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding components, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 20 of the electronic mail audio reproduction system. As shown in the figure, the priority information 21a used in the present electronic mail sound reproduction system includes a plurality of pieces of attribute information 24a to 24e (here, the mail address of the sender, which indicates the attribute of the e-mail to be given priority for sound reproduction). And the order information 25 indicating the order in which electronic mails from the addresses A to D represented by the respective attribute information 24a to 24e are reproduced by voice. That is, according to the order information 25 shown in the figure, it is indicated that the e-mails respectively transmitted from the address C, the address A, the address D, the address B, and the address E should be preferentially played back in this order. . Then, the e-mail selecting section 22 of the e-mail sound reproducing system gives priority to the order information 25 of the e-mails stored in the e-mail storage section 20 which has the address indicating that the sound should be reproduced first. And select.

In this way, by appropriately setting the priority information 25 by the user, it is possible to reproduce the voice in the order desired by the user for the e-mail within the range in which the user recognizes that the voice reproduction should be performed with priority.

The order information 25 included in the above-mentioned priority information does not have to be explicit as shown in FIG.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the attribute information 24a to 24e
By placing them in memory in the order in which they should be played back,
The order information 25 may be stored in the priority information storage unit 21.

In the above description, the attribute information 24a to 24a
Although the sender's e-mail address is used as 24e, other items, such as the sender's name, which are cited as criteria for the priority information in the first embodiment described above are regarded as attributes of the e-mail, and the attribute information representing them is stored in the priority information. You may make it memorize | store in the part 21.

Further, in the above-described e-mail sound reproducing system, the sound reproduction of the e-mail in a desired range of the user is suppressed in the same manner as in the e-mail sound reproducing system according to the fifth embodiment described later. Is also good. Specifically, for example, when a predetermined character string such as "@ xxxx.or.jp" is included in the sender's e-mail address expressed in the domain, the voice reproduction of the e-mail is suppressed. You may do so.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of an electronic mail audio reproduction system according to the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the present e-mail voice reproduction system, a mail server 30, a database 31, an e-mail voice response device 32, and a user setting terminal 33 are communicably connected by a network 34. It is configured. Then, the e-mail voice response device 32
It is communicably connected to a telephone 36 used by the user via a public telephone network 35.

Here, the mail server 30 functions as the above-mentioned electronic mail storage means. Database 3
1 functions first as the above-mentioned priority information storage means. Further, the database 31 functions as a voice information storage unit that stores voice information identifying each piece of attribute information in association with each piece of attribute information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of priority information and audio information stored in the database 31. As shown in the figure, the priority information 31a used in the present e-mail audio reproduction system includes attribute information 37a to 37e, and based on this information, the address C, the address A, the address D, the address B, and the address E are respectively determined. This indicates that the sent e-mails should be preferentially played back in this order. The database 31
Stores audio information 31b for identifying each of the attribute information 37a to 37e. That is, in the example shown in the figure, the attribute information 37c (address C) is identified by the character string "Suzuki". Similarly, attribute information 37
d (address D) is identified by the character string "Tanaka",
The attribute information 37e (address E) is identified by the character string “Yamada”. Further, the audio information 31b includes not only such character strings but also the audio files X, X indirectly accessed by the audio file names starting with a slash (/).
Y is included. That is, the attribute information 37a (address A) is identified by the audio file X accessed by the character string "/ audio file X". Also, attribute information 3
7b (address B) is identified by the audio file Y accessed by the character string "/ audio file Y". Here, it is assumed that the audio file X is a waveform data which is reproduced as "kato" and the audio file Y is a waveform data which is reproduced as "Yamamoto". The above attribute information 31a
The voice information 31b is set and input in advance by the user setting terminal 33 already described.

Next, the electronic mail voice response device 32 first functions as the above-described electronic mail selecting means. Further, the e-mail voice response device 32 also functions as an e-mail voice reproduction unit in cooperation with a telephone 36 that is connected to the telephone via the public telephone network 35. Further, the e-mail voice response device 32 stores the attribute information 3 stored in the database 31 in the e-mail stored in the mail server 30.
7a to 37e, and functions as a means for calculating the number of incoming e-mails that calculates the number of e-mails corresponding to each of the e-mails. Based on the calculated number of e-mails and the voice information 31b stored in the database 31, each attribute Information 3
It also functions as an electronic mail arrival condition audio playback unit that plays back the number of received electronic mails corresponding to 7a to 37e.

Next, the operation of the electronic mail audio reproduction system having the above configuration will be described.

In the present e-mail voice reproduction system, when a user accesses the e-mail voice response device 32 using the telephone 36, a user authentication operation is first performed. And if the call is authenticated by a legitimate user,
Next, the user is instructed about the incoming e-mail.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the sound reproduction operation of the incoming e-mail in the present e-mail sound reproduction system. As shown in the figure, first, the e-mail voice response device 32 accesses the mail server 30 via the network 34 and acquires the e-mail that has reached the user (S201). Then, the acquired e-mail is filed for each message, and is temporarily stored in a disk storage device (not shown) provided in the e-mail voice response device 32 (S202). Further, the e-mail voice response device 32 is connected to the database 3 via the network 34.
1 to obtain priority information 31a and audio information 31b (S203).

Then, the number of electronic mails (messages) having the attributes indicated by the attribute information 37a to 37e included in the priority information 31a is calculated with reference to each file temporarily stored in the disk storage device (S204). . Specifically, the e-mail voice response device 32 stores the attribute information 37 among the files temporarily stored in the disk storage device.
The number of files in which the same mail address as the address (A to E) represented by is stored as the sender mail address is calculated.

Thereafter, the number of arriving e-mails for each attribute (sender's e-mail address) calculated in this way and S2
Based on the voice information already acquired in step 03, the guidance voice of the e-mail arrival status is reproduced (S205).
For example, if the email from the sender at address A is 1
If there are two e-mails from the sender at address C, three e-mails from the sender at address E, and a total of four e-mails from the sender at the other address, a summary of incoming e-mails "From Suzuki, 2
One, one from Kato, three from Yamada, and four from others. The guidance sound is reproduced as shown in "." In the guidance voice, the parts “Suzuki” and “Yamada” representing the sender are those that the e-mail voice response device reproduces the voice based on each character string as the voice information described above. Also, the part “Kato” is one in which the electronic mail voice response device reproduces voice based on the voice file X. As described above, the present electronic mail audio reproduction system uses both character strings (text data) and waveform data as audio information to reproduce the sound of the incoming call.

If the incoming call status is guided as described above, the e-mail voice response device 32 then operates as follows, unless the user specifically designates reading of a specific e-mail.
The voice of the electronic mail is sequentially reproduced while giving priority to the electronic mail in the range specified by the priority information 31a stored in the database 31. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining such an electronic mail audio reproduction operation.

As shown in the figure, first, the electronic mail voice response device 32 sends each file temporarily stored in the disk storage device (see FIG. 5, S202) from the sender of any mail address. It checks whether the stored e-mail is stored, generates a reproduction order table in which pointers (file names, etc.) to the respective files are arranged in the order to be reproduced, and expands the table on a memory (not shown) (S301).
Then, using the reproduction order table and a counter indicating the current position on the table, each file is selected in the order described in the table, and the speech is synthesized (S30).
2). Thus, the contents of the e-mail can be reproduced on the telephone 36 via the public telephone network 35 in an order according to the importance.

Embodiment 4 Various functions can be added to the e-mail audio reproduction system according to each embodiment described above.

First, the user may use the telephone 36 to check the contents of the priority information 31a from outside. Specifically, first, the user accesses the e-mail voice response device 32 from the telephone 36 on the go and performs a specific push button operation. In response to the push button operation, the e-mail voice response device 32 acquires the priority information 31a set in advance by the user from the database 31 and performs voice synthesis to read it out. In this way, the user can grasp the contents of the priority information 31a by voice without going to the user setting terminal 33 while away from home.

Further, if the user performs a push button operation from the telephone 36 while away from home, the attribute information may be newly added. Specifically, first, the user performs a predetermined push button operation on the telephone 36 during the voice reproduction of the e-mail. The signal transmitted by this push button operation is recognized by the electronic mail voice response device 32 as an attribute information addition signal. Then, in the e-mail voice response device 32 to which the attribute information addition signal is input,
The e-mail address of the sender of the e-mail that is playing the audio at that time is extracted from the header information of the e-mail and the attribute information 37a is added to the priority information 31a of the database 31.
To be added. Further, the e-mail voice response device 32
Then, a predetermined guidance voice is output to the telephone 36 so as to prompt the input of the voice information 31b for identifying the newly added attribute information 37. When the user receives this guidance voice and speaks with the mouthpiece of the telephone 36, the e-mail voice response device 32
Stores the content in the database 31 in association with the previously registered attribute information 37 as an additional portion of the voice information 31b. In this way, the voice information 31b corresponding to the attribute information 37 added by the push button operation on the telephone 36 can be registered in the database 31.

When the user performs a push button operation from the telephone 36 at a place where he / she is away, a part of the registered attribute information 37 may be deleted. In this case, first, during voice reproduction of the e-mail, the user
6, a predetermined push button operation is performed. The signal transmitted by this push button operation is recognized by the electronic mail voice response device 32 as an attribute information deletion signal. Then, in the e-mail voice response device 32 to which the attribute information deletion signal has been input, the attribute information 37 corresponding to the e-mail currently being voice-reproduced at that time is deleted from the database 31. By doing so, it is possible to delete a part of the attribute information 37 by operating the push button from the telephone 36 without performing a procedure such as re-inputting the setting of the priority information 31a from the user setting terminal 33.

Further, if the user performs a predetermined push button operation on the telephone 36 during the voice reproduction of the e-mail,
The same attribute information 3 as the e-mail being reproduced at that time
The voice reproduction of the e-mail corresponding to 7 may be canceled. Specifically, first, the user performs a predetermined push button operation while the electronic mail voice response device 32 is playing back the electronic mail. Then, the e-mail voice response device 32 recognizes the signal transmitted by the push button operation as a fast forward signal. In the e-mail voice response device 32 to which the fast-forward signal is input,
At this time, all the voice reproduction of the e-mail having the same attribute as the e-mail being reproduced at the time (here, the e-mail with the same mail address of the sender) is canceled, and the following priority information 31a stored in the database 31 is used. The voice of the e-mail corresponding to the rank attribute information 37 is reproduced. At this time, the counter indicating the current position on the reproduction order table is incremented in accordance with this processing.

Embodiment 5 The e-mail sound reproduction system according to the fifth embodiment suppresses sound reproduction of e-mail in a range desired by the user. In the electronic mail audio reproduction system according to the present embodiment, the database 31 further stores audio reproduction suppression information for specifying a range of the electronic mail in which the audio reproduction is to be suppressed.
Then, the e-mail voice response device 32 suppresses the voice reproduction of the message content of the e-mail within the range specified by the voice reproduction suppression information.

More specifically, for example, when the above-described reproduction order table is generated, a pointer may not be generated for an electronic mail within a range specified by the audio reproduction suppression information. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the content of the message from being reproduced by voice for the e-mail within the range.

Note that, for the audio reproduction suppression information used here, items such as the mail address of the sender and the name of the sender, which are cited as the criteria of the priority information in the first embodiment, can be similarly employed.

Embodiment 6 FIG. Embodiment 6 described next
Relates to a message audio reproduction system. This message voice reproduction system is used for voice reproduction of a delivered message in a system for delivering a message to a user via a public telephone network, such as a voice mail system and an answering machine system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a message audio reproduction system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the present message audio reproduction system includes a message storage unit 40, a priority information storage unit 41, a message selection unit 42, and a message audio reproduction unit 43. The message storage unit 40 is connected to a telephone 46 of a caller 45 via a public telephone network 44. Further, a speaker 48 for notifying the recipient 47 of the message content is connected to the message sound reproducing unit 43.

Here, the message storage unit 40 functions as a message storage unit that stores a message transmitted to a user via a public telephone network (not shown). At this time, in the present system, the telephone number of the telephone which is the source of the message is obtained using a so-called caller telephone number notification service, and the message storage unit 40 associates each message with the sender 45 of those messages. (Telephone number of the telephone 46).

The priority information storage unit 41 stores information for specifying a range of messages to be reproduced by the message voice reproduction unit 43 with priority in the messages stored in the message storage unit 40, ie, priority information, Function as priority information storage means for storing Here, the telephone number of the sender of the message is adopted as the priority information.

The message selecting section 42 reads out the priority information having the above contents from the priority information storage section 41,
Among the messages stored in the message storage unit 40,
It functions as a message selecting means for preferentially sequentially selecting messages belonging to the range specified by the priority information. Further, the message sound reproduction unit 43 functions as a message sound reproduction unit that reproduces at least a part of the message selected by the message selection unit 42 using the speaker 48.

Next, the operation of the message audio reproduction system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, first, a caller makes a call from a telephone to a receiver via a public telephone network (S40).
1). Here, the message storage unit 40 responds instead of the recipient (S402). At this time, the message storage unit 40
Obtains the telephone number (caller ID) of the caller via the public telephone network 44. Further, if the caller speaks a message in accordance with a predetermined voice instruction (S403), the message storage unit 40 stores the voice data together with the telephone number of the caller (S404).

On the other hand, when the receiver confirms a message such as a voice mail that has arrived at his / her own by voice reproduction, it is the same as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

According to the message audio reproduction system having the above configuration, it is possible to reproduce the audio from the message important to the user.

[0067]

As described above, according to the first or twelfth aspect of the present invention, first, the electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage means uses the priority information according to the priority information. Is selected in advance from the incoming e-mails in accordance with the reproduction order indicated in the priority information, and the sound is reproduced. Therefore, the e-mails in a range that the user considers important are read out preferentially. be able to. Also, when a predetermined fast-forward signal is input,
Attribute corresponding to the email that was played back just before
The e-mail corresponding to the attribute information different from the information
Selected from the e-mail storage means and played back
So that it can be used for push-button operation of a telephone on the go
Therefore, the voice of the e-mail corresponding to the specific attribute information
You can cancel the life. As a result, it is possible to reduce the time until a message important for the user is reproduced by voice.

[0068]

According to the second or fourth aspect of the present invention,
The number of incoming emails corresponding to the attribute information of the email
Since the voice is played back as an incoming call overview, the user
To see if you have emails with important attributes
You can know quickly.

According to the third or fifth aspect of the invention, the attribute
Voice information for identifying information is further stored, and
Using voice information to play back the incoming email summary
And how many emails of which attribute have arrived
Or can be played back by voice. As a result,
Sound playback of incoming call overview is more understandable for users
It can be.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the predetermined attribute
By the input of the information addition signal, the priority information storage means
Attribute information is newly added, and the attribute information
Attribute information is newly stored in the priority information storage means.
Identifies the attribute information to be added when added to
The user inputs speech information to
So that it can be stored in important attributes.
Voice information to be input can be surely input. Also,
For example, when the user enters voice information,
If you make it input, it will be performed using such audio information
Easier to hear voice playback of incoming emails
And can be.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, audio reproduction is performed.
Attribute information indicating the attribute of the email to be given priority
At least one of the sender's email address and name
The sender considers the sender to be important.
These emails can be played back with priority.
Quickly send important sender messages to users
Voice playback is possible.

According to the invention of claim 8, the predetermined attribute
By the input of the information addition signal, the priority information storage means
Since attribute information is newly added,
For example, by operating a push button on the phone while away from home,
It is possible to easily update the contents of the priority information.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined attribute
Depending on the input of the information deletion signal, the priority information storage means
Attribute information has been deleted at least
So, for example, push-button operation of a telephone on the go
Allows the priority information to be easily updated.
Wear.

According to the tenth aspect, the priority information
The user is already set to play the sound, so the user has already
Confirm the contents of the specified priority information by voice
Can be. As a result, the user can use
It becomes possible to know the contents of the priority information.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, audio reproduction
The range of e-mails that should be suppressed
And identify the email that this information
And select from email storage
Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the voice playback of e-mail in this range.
Can be. This allows the user to deem it unnecessary
Cancel audio playback of emails, more important
Only e-mail can be played back.

[0077]

[0078]

Further, according to the present invention, utilizes a so-called caller's telephone number notification service, based on the telephone number of the person who originated the message, can determine the order of the voice message playback, the user key A message from a sender who recognizes that the message is played back with priority.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic mail audio reproduction system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents of priority information stored in a priority information storage unit of an electronic mail sound reproduction system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic mail audio reproduction system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of priority information and audio information stored in a database of an electronic mail audio reproduction system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic mail audio reproduction system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the electronic mail sound reproduction system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a message audio reproduction system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the message audio reproduction system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional e-mail audio reproduction system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a conventional e-mail audio reproduction system.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 e-mail storage section, 21, 41 priority information storage section, 22 e-mail selection section, 23 e-mail sound reproduction section, 21a, 21b, 31a priority information, 24a to 2
4e, 37a to 37e attribute information, 25 order information, 3
1b Voice information, 40 message storage unit, 42 message selection unit, 43 message voice playback unit.

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic mail storing means for storing an incoming electronic mail, and an attribute of the electronic mail which should be given priority to voice reproduction in order to specify a reproducing order of the electronic mail stored by the electronic mail storing means. Priority information storage means for storing, as priority information, a plurality of pieces of attribute information indicating the order and the order information indicating the order in which the emails of the attributes represented by the respective attribute information are reproduced as voice, and stored in the email storage means. From the email,
E-mail selecting means for sequentially selecting e-mails in accordance with the order information according to the attribute of each e-mail; and
Look including the an electronic mail sound reproducing means for audio reproduction at least a portion of each email that is selected, the e-mail selection means, the predetermined fast-forward signal is input
Responds to the previously played e-mail
E-mail corresponding to attribute information different from the attribute information
An e-mail audio reproduction system characterized by selecting . 2. The number of incoming e-mails calculating means for calculating the number of e-mails of the attribute represented by the respective attribute information among the e-mails stored by the e-mail storage means, and the number of incoming e-mails calculating means based on the number of incoming e-mail that is calculated by the number of e-mail attribute represented by each attribute information to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic mail reception overview sound reproducing means for audio playback, the The described e-mail audio reproduction system. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voice information storage unit for storing voice information for identifying attribute information stored by said priority information storage unit in association with the attribute information. The voice information stored by the voice information storage means, the number of e-mails calculated by the incoming e-mail number information calculation means,
3. The electronic mail audio reproduction system according to claim 2, wherein the number of electronic mails of the attribute represented by each attribute information is reproduced by voice based on the attribute information. 4. An electronic mail storing an incoming electronic mail.
File storage means, and the electronic mail stored by the electronic mail storage means.
In order to identify the playback order, performed with priority audio reproduction
Attribute information that indicates the attributes of the e-mail
Indicates the order in which e-mails with attributes represented by
Priority information storage for storing order information and priority information
Means, from the email stored in the email storage means,
According to the order information according to the attribute of each e-mail,
E-mail selecting means for sequentially selecting child mails, and in accordance with the order selected by the e-mail selecting means ,
Play at least a portion of each selected email
E-mail sound reproducing means, and e-mail stored by the e-mail storage means
Of the attributes represented by the respective attribute information
Means for calculating the number of incoming e-mails,
Incoming e-mail calculated by e-mail number calculation means
Of the attribute represented by each attribute information based on the number of
E-mail arrival overview audio playback means for audio playback of the number of files
And an e-mail audio reproduction system. 5. The information stored in said priority information storage means.
Audio information that identifies the attribute information
A voice information storage means for storing the voice information in association with each other;
The e-mail incoming general condition voice reproduction means is configured to store the voice information.
Means for storing the incoming electronic mail.
The number of e-mails calculated by the
Of the attribute e-mail represented by each attribute information
5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the number is reproduced by voice.
Email audio playback system. 6. When a predetermined attribute information addition signal is input.
In this case, the attribute information corresponding to the signal is stored in the priority information storage means.
Attribute information adding means for adding and storing the information in the column.
In the case where the attribute information addition signal is input, voice information input guide means for prompting the user to input voice information for identifying attribute information corresponding to the signal, and a user according to the voice information input guide means. 6. The electronic mail voice according to claim 3 , further comprising: voice information adding means for storing input voice information in the voice information storage means in association with corresponding attribute information. Reproduction system. 7. attribute information stored in the priority information storage unit, to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that they correspond to at least one e-mail address or name of the sender of the e-mail The described e-mail audio reproduction system. 8. An attribute information adding unit which, when a predetermined attribute information addition signal is input, adds attribute information corresponding to the signal to the priority information storage unit and stores the attribute information. Claims 1 to 5 or claims
Item 8. An electronic mail sound reproduction system according to item 7 . 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an attribute information deleting unit for deleting at least a part of the attribute information stored by said priority information storage unit when a predetermined attribute information deletion signal is input. Item 9. An electronic mail sound reproduction system according to any one of Items 1 to 8 . 10. The electronic mail sound reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that further comprising a priority information speech reproduction means for voice reproduction priority information stored by the priority information storage unit. 11. An audio reproduction suppression information storage unit for storing audio reproduction suppression information for specifying a range of an electronic mail for which audio reproduction is to be suppressed, wherein said electronic mail selection unit is said audio reproduction suppression information storage unit. e-mail sound reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 audio reproduction inhibition information stored is characterized by inhibiting the selection of e-mail within the scope to identify the. 12. An incoming electronic mail is stored, and in order to specify a reproduction order of the stored electronic mail,
A duplicate representing the attribute of the e-mail that should be prioritized for audio playback
Attribute information and the electronic mail of the attribute represented by each attribute information.
Order information representing the order in which audio files are played back, and priority information.
From the stored e-mail to the attribute of each e-mail
Select e-mails sequentially according to the order information
Each selected email according to the selected order.
Plays back at least a part of the rule , and when a predetermined fast-forward signal is input, plays the sound immediately before
Attribute information different from the attribute information corresponding to the
Select the e-mail corresponding to the
At least a part of it from child mail according to the above order
E-mail sound reproduction method characterized by sound reproduction
Law.