JP2007215024A - Hands-free call device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hands-free call device capable of adjusting a call environment earlier is provided.
According to the hands-free call device of the present invention, the type of an external communication device, the type of an internal communication device, and the connection method between the internal communication device and the device are recognized as call environment factors. Is done. Further, the target value of the call variable is recognized according to the recognized call environment factor. Then, the call variable is controlled to the target value.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention is mounted on a mobile body such as an automobile and connected to an internal communication device such as a mobile phone so that a call can be made via the internal communication device and an external communication device on the other party side. The present invention relates to a free call device.

Conventionally, the echo cancellation function and howling suppression function are automatically adjusted so that optimal calls can be realized regardless of the type of vehicle installed, the shape of the installation space, the type of communication equipment connected to the system, etc. A hands-free communication device having a function has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-051142 A paragraphs 0009 to 0011

  However, according to the prior art, since the initial state of the echo cancellation function or the like is inappropriate, the quality of the call from the start of the call to the completion of the function adjustment may be extremely low. For example, while an outside caller outside the vehicle first speaks, “What if yesterday?”, Echo and howling are not properly suppressed, so an internal caller inside the vehicle is an outside caller. May not be able to hear well. Then, after the echo and howling are resolved, the internal caller confirms the content of the previous talk to the external caller, such as “I'm sorry. Please speak again.”, And the external caller responds accordingly. You may be forced to repeat the same story as before.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free call device that can adjust the call environment earlier.

  The inventor of the present application has clarified that the cause of the low quality of the initial call as described above is as follows. The cause is that the type of communication device differs depending on the other party, so that the initial environment set at the time of the previous call becomes inappropriate at the time of the next call. That is, the inventor of the present application has found that the quality of the initial call is sometimes lowered because the compatibility between the communication device on the other side and the communication device connected to the system is fluid.

  Therefore, the hands-free call device of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a first processing unit that recognizes the type or unique identifier of an external communication device as a call environment factor, and a call environment factor recognized by the first processing unit. And a third processing unit that controls the call variable to the target value recognized by the second processing unit.

  According to the hands-free call device of the present invention, the call variable can be controlled to match the target value according to the type or unique identifier (call environment factor) of the other party's external communication device before the call starts. Here, the “unique identifier” means a telephone number, a manufacturing number, an address on a communication protocol, or the like. The “call variable” is a concept including various variables for specifying the echo cancel function and the noise cancel function, and all variables for adjusting the call environment, such as a transmission volume and a reception volume. Thereby, according to various kinds of external communication devices, the call environment via the external communication device and the internal communication device can be appropriately adjusted from the viewpoint of improving the quality of the call immediately after the start of the call.

  For example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, according to the hands-free call device of the prior art, the type of the external communication device is not taken into account as described above. The call quality may be low enough to require confirmation. On the other hand, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 3, according to the hands-free call device of the present invention, the quality of the call immediately after the start of the call can be made sufficiently high.

  Note that the processing unit that is a component of the present invention “recognizes” information means that the processing unit reads information from a memory, a storage device, or a database, and measures, estimates, calculates, determines, and sets information. It is a concept that includes the like.

  The hands-free call device of the present invention is characterized in that the first processing unit recognizes the type or unique identifier of the internal communication device as a call environment factor.

  According to the hands-free call device of the present invention, the call variable is controlled so as to match the target value corresponding to the type of the internal communication device connected to the system in addition to the type of the external communication device on the partner side. As a result, even if the call environment factors (type of external communication device, etc., type of internal communication device, etc.) change, the call environment between the external communication device and the internal communication device will improve the quality of the call from the beginning of the call. Can be adjusted appropriately from the viewpoint of

  Furthermore, the inventor of the present application has found that the quality of a call varies depending on the connection method between the internal communication device and the system.

  Therefore, the hands-free call device of the present invention is characterized in that the first processing unit recognizes the connection method between the internal communication device and the system as a call environment factor.

  According to the hands-free call device of the present invention, the call variable is controlled so as to match the target value according to the connection method between the system and the internal communication device in addition to the type of the external communication device on the other side. Here, the connection method between the system and the internal communication device is distinguished by wired connection and wireless connection, the type of communication protocol between the system and the internal communication device, the communication speed, the communication frequency band, and the like. As a result, even if the call environment factors (such as the connection method between the system and the internal communication device) change, the call environment between the external communication device and the internal communication device can improve the quality of the call from the early stage of the call. Can be adjusted appropriately.

  In the hands-free communication device of the present invention, the first processing unit may include a part or all of the current position of the mobile object, the speed of the mobile object, and the operating status of other devices mounted on the mobile object. Is recognized as a call environment factor.

  According to the hands-free call device of the present invention, the call variable is controlled so as to coincide with the target value corresponding to the current position of the mobile body in addition to the type of the external communication device on the partner side. As a result, even if the call environment factors (current position of mobile unit, speed, operation status of other devices, etc.) change, the call environment between the external communication device and the internal communication device improves the quality of the call from the beginning of the call. It can be adjusted appropriately from the point of view.

  Furthermore, in the hands-free call device of the present invention, the third processing unit measures the quality of the call between the external and internal communication devices, controls the call variable so that the measured call quality is improved, If the first processing unit recognizes the same call environment factor or combination thereof at the time when it is determined that the quality of the call measured by the processing unit is the best, the second processing unit Is recognized as the target value of the call variable.

  According to the hands-free call device of the present invention, in addition to the high quality of the call from the beginning of the call as described above, the quality of the call can be further improved based on the measurement result of the call quality. Thereafter, when the same call environment factor or combination thereof previously recognized by the first processing unit is recognized, the call variable is the optimum target value from the viewpoint of optimizing the call quality immediately after the start of the call. Can be controlled.

  An embodiment of the hands-free call device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration example diagram of the hands-free call device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a function example diagram of the hands-free call device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the functions of the present invention and the functions of the prior art. FIG.

  A hands-free call device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on an automobile (mobile body) 1 and connected to an internal communication device 22 such as a mobile phone, so that the internal communication device 22 and a mobile phone on the other party side are connected. A person can communicate with each other via an external communication device 21 such as a telephone.

  The hands-free call device 10 includes a microphone 101, a speaker 102, a first processing unit 11, a second processing unit 12, a third processing unit 13, and a storage unit 14. Each of the first processing unit 11, the second processing unit 12, and the third processing unit 13 includes a CPU, a signal input / output circuit, and the like. The storage unit 14 includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, and a storage device such as a hard disk.

  The first processing unit 11 recognizes the type of the external communication device 21 as “first call environment factor”. In addition, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the type of the internal communication device 22 as “second call environment factor”. Furthermore, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the connection method between the hands-free call device 10 and the internal communication device 22 as the “third call environment factor”. In addition, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the current position of the automobile 1 as “fourth call environment factor” by using GPS or the like. Further, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the behavior of the automobile 1 specified by the speed, yaw rate, and the like of the automobile 1 as the “fifth call environment factor”. In addition, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the operation status of devices such as a CD player and an air conditioner mounted on the automobile 1 as the “sixth call environment factor”.

  The second processing unit 12 recognizes the target value of the call variable according to the algorithm (or rule) stored in the storage unit 14 based on various call environment factors recognized by the first processing unit 11.

  The third processing unit 13 controls the call variable to the target value recognized by the second processing unit 12. Moreover, the 3rd process part 13 controls a call variable so that the quality of the call via the external communication apparatus 21 and the internal communication apparatus 22 may improve as needed. Then, the third processing unit 13 is configured so that the value of the call variable at the time when the quality of the call becomes the best is recognized by the second processing unit 12 as a target value corresponding to the call environment factor. An algorithm for determining the target value is newly set, and this algorithm is stored in the storage unit 13 in association with various call environment factors recognized by the first processing unit 11 at that time.

  The storage unit 14 stores and holds various call environment factors and algorithms for determining a target value of a call variable in association with each other.

  Functions of the communication device 10 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the first processing unit 11 executes “first processing” (FIG. 2 / S11).

  Specifically, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the type of the external communication device 21 as “first call environment factor” (FIG. 2 / S111). For example, the external communication device having the telephone number can be obtained by reading the model associated with the outgoing or incoming telephone number of the external communication device 21 or the ID or address on the communication protocol from the storage unit 14 or an external database. Recognize 21 types. Thereby, it is recognized whether the external communication device 21 is a mobile phone, a home phone, a public phone, a mobile phone connected to another hands-free call device 10 or the like. In addition, the model can be recognized in more detail, for example, a model “AOO” manufactured by A company or a model “B ●●” manufactured by B company.

  Further, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the type of the internal communication device 22 as “second call environment factor” (FIG. 2 / S112). As a result, for example, the internal communication device 22 can be recognized in detail, such as a model “AOO” manufactured by A company or a model “B ●●” manufactured by B company.

  Furthermore, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the connection method between the hands-free call device 10 and the internal communication device 22 as the “third call environment factor” (FIG. 2 / S113). As a result, the internal communication device 22 is indirectly connected to the handsfree call device 10 via another device such as a navigation device (not shown) or directly connected to the handsfree call device. Can be recognized. Further, it can be recognized whether the internal communication device 22 is connected to the hands-free call device 10 by wired or wireless (Bluetooth).

  Further, the first processing unit 11 measures the current position of the automobile 1 as a “fourth call environment factor” by using GPS or the like (FIG. 2 / S114). As a result, it is recognized that the automobile 1 is located at a point of north latitude. Further, the travel route of the automobile 1, the up / down of the travel route, the road surface condition, and the like can be recognized by matching with the map information stored in the storage unit 14. Furthermore, by matching with road traffic information such as VICS information, it can be recognized that the vehicle is traveling on a road where a traffic jam has occurred, or is traveling on a road under construction.

  Further, the first processing unit 11 measures the behavior of the automobile 1 specified by the speed, yaw rate, etc. of the automobile 1 as the “fifth call environment factor” (FIG. 2 / S115). As a result, it can be recognized that the automobile 1 is moving at 40 [km / h] or more and less than 60 [km / h], that the automobile 1 is turning on a curve with a radius of curvature [m]. .

  In addition, the first processing unit 11 recognizes the operation status of the vehicle-mounted device or device that can generate sound, such as a CD player or an air conditioner mounted in the automobile 1, as the “sixth call environment factor” (FIG. 2 / S116).

  Note that the first to third call environment factors need only be recognized at the start of the call, but the fourth to sixth call environment factors are regularly recognized during the call.

  Subsequently, the second processing unit 12 executes “second processing” (S12 in FIG. 2).

Specifically, the second processing unit 12 calculates or determines the target value of the call variable according to the algorithm stored in the storage unit 14 based on various call environment factors recognized by the first processing unit 11. . When each of the first to sixth call environment factors is expressed as x ₁ to x ₆ , an algorithm for determining the target value y ₀ of the call variable y is generally as shown in the following equation (1). It is expressed as a multivariable function f having a factor as a variable. Various algorithms such as fuzzy reasoning can correspond to the algorithm.

y ₀ = f (x ₁ , x ₂ , x ₃ , x ₄ , x ₅ , x ₆ ) (1)
Further, the third processing unit 13 executes “third processing” (S13 in FIG. 2).

  Specifically, the third processing unit 13 controls the call variable to the target value recognized by the second processing unit 12 (FIG. 2 / S131). The call variable can include an echo cancellation level, a noise cut level, a reception volume, a transmission volume, and the like. Further, the third processing unit 13 measures the quality of the call in which the quality is defined according to the echo level and the noise level (FIG. 2 / S132). Further, the third processing unit 13 determines whether or not the quality of the call is the best (FIG. 2 / S133). If the determination result is negative (FIG. 2 / S133... NO), the target value is changed. Then, the call variable is controlled to the change target value (FIG. 2 / S131), and the quality of the call is measured (FIG. 2 / S132). On the other hand, when the determination result is affirmative (FIG. 2 / S133... YES), the third processing unit 133 newly sets an algorithm for calculating the target value at this time (see equation (1)) as necessary. Then, it is stored in the storage unit 13 in association with various call environment factors recognized by the first processing unit 11 (S134 in FIG. 2).

  According to the hands-free call device 10 that exhibits the above functions, the type of external communication device 21 (first call environment factor), the type of internal communication device 22 (second call environment factor), the hands-free call device 10 and internal communication. Connection method with the device 22 (third call environment factor), current position of the automobile 1 (fourth call environment factor), vehicle behavior (fifth call environment factor), and other devices and apparatuses mounted on the vehicle 1 The call variable is controlled so as to coincide with the target value corresponding to the operation situation (sixth call environment factor) (FIG. 2 / S11 to S13). Thereby, even if various call environment factors including the type of the external communication device 21 change, the call environment between the external communication device 21 and the internal communication device 22 can improve the quality of the call from the early stage of the call. Can be adjusted appropriately. In particular, by recognizing the fourth to sixth call environment factors, the call environment can be appropriately adjusted in view of the fact that the echo level, noise level, and the like in the vehicle differ depending on the travel environment of the automobile 1.

  For example, while an outside caller initially speaks “What if yesterday?”, It can be ensured that echo, noise and howling are already adequately suppressed. For this reason, it can be avoided that the internal caller confirms the talk of the external caller or the external caller repeats the same thing.

  Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, according to the hands-free call device of the prior art, the type of the external communication device 21 is not taken into account as described above, and therefore, the content spoken immediately after the start of the call. The call quality may be low enough to require confirmation. On the other hand, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, according to the hands-free call device 10 of the present invention, the call quality immediately after the start of the call can be made sufficiently high.

  Furthermore, the call variable can be controlled by the third processing unit 13 so as to improve the quality of the call (FIG. 2 / S131 to S133). Thereby, in addition to the high quality of the call from the beginning of the call as described above, the quality of the subsequent call can be further improved based on the measurement result of the quality of the call.

  In addition, a new algorithm is set so that the value of the call variable at the time when the third processing unit 13 determines that the quality of the call is the best is recognized by the second processing unit 12 as the target value of the call variable. And stored in the storage unit 14 (FIG. 2 / S131 to S134). As a result, when the first processing unit 11 recognizes the same combination of call environment factors as recognized earlier, the optimum target value is set from the viewpoint of optimizing the call quality immediately after the start of the call. 2 can be recognized by the processing unit 12. Then, the call environment of the external and internal callers can be adjusted to an optimum one.

  Although the hands-free communication device 10 is mounted on the automobile 1 in the above-described embodiment, as another embodiment, any mobile body that assists the movement of a person such as a two-wheeled vehicle, a bicycle, or an automobile chair. It may be mounted on.

  In the embodiment, all of the first to sixth call environment factors have been recognized. However, as another embodiment, only the first call environment factor, or the first call environment factor and the second to sixth call environment factors. Some of them may be recognized.

  In the embodiment, the target value of the call variable is determined according to the algorithm stored in the storage unit 14 based on the call environment factor recognized by the first processing unit 11 (FIG. 2 / S12). As an embodiment, a target value corresponding to a call environment factor recognized by the first processing unit 11 or a combination thereof may be read directly from the storage unit 14 by the second processing unit 12.

  A call variable can be set through an operation of a button (not shown) by an internal caller, and a new algorithm for determining the new target value using the set value of the call variable by the internal caller as a new target value Is set, and this algorithm may be stored in the storage unit 14 in association with various call environment factors recognized by the first processing unit 11 when the call variable is set.

  Accordingly, when the first processing unit 11 recognizes the same call environment factor or the combination thereof as the call environment factor or the combination thereof, the call variable can be controlled to the previous set value by the internal caller. The most comfortable call environment for the internal caller can be realized.

  Further, the first processing unit 11 may recognize the position of the internal caller in the automobile 1 as a call environment factor, and the call environment may be adjusted based on the call environment factor. This makes it possible for the internal caller to have an optimal call environment according to the position in the car for each seat position (front and rear seat position and backrest angle) of the driver's seat, front passenger seat, rear seat, etc. Can be realized.

Configuration example diagram of hands-free communication device of the present invention Functional example of the hands-free call device of the present invention Conceptual comparison between the functions of the present invention and the functions of the prior art

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automobile (mobile body), 10 ... Hands-free communication apparatus, 11 ... 1st process part, 12 ... 2nd process part, 13 ... 3rd process part, 14 ... Memory | storage part, 21 ... External communication apparatus, 22 ... Inside Communication equipment

Claims (5)

A hands-free call device that is mounted on a mobile body and is connected to an internal communication device to enable a call through the internal communication device and the external communication device on the other end of the call,
A first processing unit that recognizes the type or unique identifier of the external communication device as a call environment factor;
A second processing unit for recognizing a target value of a call variable according to a call environment factor recognized by the first processing unit;
A hands-free call device comprising: a third processing unit that controls a call variable to a target value recognized by the second processing unit.   The hands-free call device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing unit recognizes the type or unique identifier of the internal communication device as a call environment factor.   The hands-free call device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first processing unit recognizes a connection method between the internal communication device and the system as a call environment factor.   The first processing unit recognizes a part or all of the current position of the mobile body, the speed of the mobile body, and the operation status of other devices mounted on the mobile body as a call environment factor. The hands-free communication device according to claim 1, 2, or 3. A third processing unit that measures call quality between external and internal communication devices and controls call variables so that the measured call quality is improved;
If the first processing unit recognizes the same call environment factor or combination thereof at the time when the call quality measured by the third processing unit is determined to be the best, the second processing unit 5. The hands-free call device according to claim 1, wherein the call variable value is recognized as a target value of the call variable.

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