INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT THEREOF

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a counting mechanism configured to count a number of prescribed parts of a content of speech, a speech time measuring mechanism for measuring time of the speech and a calculating mechanism for calculating speed of the speech based on the number of the prescribed parts counted by the counting mechanism and time of the speech measured by the speech time measuring mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a function configuration example of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of speech speed calculation process;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the process of calculating speech speed in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another function configuration example of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a chart showing an example of information included in caption data and an example of calculated results of speech speed calculated based on the included information;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the process of calculating speech speed in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing further another functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of an image with displayed text according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart explaining the process of calculating speech speed in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a function configuration example of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart explaining the process of calculating speech speed in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing examples of speech times obtained by analyzing audio data and speech times obtained from time during which the character string is displayed;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of an information processing apparatus; and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart explaining the process of generating attribute information in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 15.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a counter configured to count a number of prescribed parts of a contents of a speech;a speech time measurer configured to measure a time duration of the speech; anda calculator configured to calculate a speed of the speech based on the number of the prescribed parts counted by the counter and time duration of the speech measured by the speech time measurer, said speech being recorded speech, and said calculator calculating the speed with at least one of hardware and software without human intervention.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed parts of the contents of the speech are a number of words corresponding to a character string representing the contents of the speech.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed parts of the contents of the speech are a number of characters included in a character string representing the contents of the speech.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed parts of the contents of the speech are a number of syllables corresponding to a character string representing the contents of the speech.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed parts of the contents of the speech are a number of phonemes corresponding to a character string representing the contents of the speech.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculator is configured to calculate a value represented by a number of words per unit time as the speed of the speech.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contents includes a character string that is displayed on a picture or video when a visual content is played, and the speech is recorded audio output so as to correspond to the character string when displayed.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a detector configured to detect a section of the content where a speech speed calculated by the calculator is higher than a prescribed speed as a vigorous section of a subject.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an extraction mechanism configured to extract information of character strings and audio information included in the contents; anda controller configured to control respective character string to be a target for counting the number of words of the speech to be a target for measuring the speech time, and the speech speed, in plural character strings whose information is extracted by the extraction means and plural speeches output based on the extracted audio information.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the speech time measurer measures time of the speeches based on information of display time instants of the respective character strings included in a content.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an area extraction mechanism configured to extract a display area of the character string displayed on a picture when the contents is played, andwherein the counter counts the number of words based on an image of the area extracted by the area extraction mechanism.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the speech time measurer measures time during which the character string is displayed at the area extracted by the area extraction means as the speech time.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recognition mechanism configured to recognize characters included in the character string displayed on a picture when a content is played by character recognition, andwherein the counter counts a number of syllables corresponding to characters recognized by the recognition mechanism.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recognition mechanism configured to recognize characters included in the character string displayed on a picture when a content is played by character recognition, andwherein the counter counts a number of phonemes corresponding to characters recognized by the recognition mechanism.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an attribute information generation unit configured to add attribute information to portions of the contents corresponding to respective prescribed parts of the speech that are above a predetermined speed.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said attribute information includes at least one of a start time instant and an end time instant for a prescribed part of the speech that is above the predetermined speed.

17. A computer-implemented information processing method, comprising the steps of: counting a number of prescribed parts of a contents of a speech;measuring a time duration of the speech; andcalculating speed of the speech based on the number of the prescribed parts counted in the counting step and the time duration of the speech measured in the measuring step, wherein said calculator calculating the speed with at least one of hardware and software without human intervention.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: adding attribute information to portions of the contents corresponding to respective prescribed parts of the speech that are above a predetermined speed, whereinsaid attribute information includes at least one of a start time instant and an end time instant for a prescribed part of the speech that is above the predetermined speed.

19. A computer program product having instructions that when executed by a processor perform which allows a computer to execute steps comprising: a counter configured to count a number of prescribed parts of a contents of a speech;a speech time measurer configured to measure time duration of the speech; anda calculator configured to calculate a speed of the speech based on the counted number of the prescribed parts counted by the counter and time duration of the speech measured by the speech time.

20. The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising: an attribute information generation unit configured to add attribute information to portions of the contents corresponding to respective prescribed parts of the speech that are above a predetermined speed, whereinsaid attribute information includes at least one of a start time instant and an end time instant for a prescribed part of the speech that is above the predetermined speed.

21. An information processing apparatus, comprising: means for counting the number of prescribed parts of the contents of a speech;means for measuring time of the speech; andmeans for calculating a speed of the speech based on the number of the prescribed parts counted by means for counting and time of the speech measured by the means for measuring.

22. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, further comprising: means for adding attribute information to portions of the contents corresponding to respective prescribed parts of the speech that are above a predetermined speed, whereinsaid attribute information includes at least one of a start time instant and an end time instant for a prescribed part of the speech that is above the predetermined speed.