Audio playback system

Abstract

We provide sound sources, particularly departure melody playback systems, for railway vehicles that are increasingly being operated by a single driver. [Solution] The departure melody playback system 10 includes a camera 50 that captures images of the scenery around the vehicle, a sound source storage means 12 that stores different melodies at each point along the route, a scenery feature storage means 14 that stores feature parts of the scenery images in front of the vehicle at each point along the route, a point identification means 16 that identifies a point in light of the feature parts of the scenery images at that point, a sound source reading means 13 that reads a sound source from the sound source storage means 12 based on the point identification means 16, and a speaker operating means 20 that plays the sound source read from the sound source reading means 13 using a right speaker 60 or a left speaker 62.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound source reproduction system, more particularly to a sound source reproduction system for reproducing melodies in railway vehicles, and even more particularly to a sound source reproduction system for reproducing different departure melodies depending on factors such as the station.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, one-man operation, in which train operation is performed only by a driver, has been expanding in railways in the Tokyo metropolitan area (East Japan Railway Company). In this system, it is difficult for the driver to exit the train when stopped at a station, so unlike the conventional two-man operation in which a driver and a conductor are on board, the station-specific departure melody that was reproduced by the conductor operating a switch on the station platform has been abolished. Although departure melodies were originally broadcast to notify passengers of an impending train departure, they also have effects such as regional revitalization, as songs rooted in the station or local area are often used. In the one-man operation system, the driver operates a switch inside the driver's cab, and a fixed melody, one for each up and down direction, is reproduced from an external speaker installed on the vehicle, serving as a departure notice signal to passengers.

[0003] Incidentally, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-245144), the following station platform broadcasting system has been proposed to eliminate the need for station staff to monitor the boarding and alighting of passengers on the platform, ring a departure bell, confirm the safe departure of the train, and also eliminate the need for station staff to make announcements such as guidance.

[0004] In other words, the station platform broadcasting system described in Patent Document 1 is characterized by including a portable transmitter that emits infrared light of a predetermined pulse when a first switch is turned on, and emits infrared light modulated with a minute-time guide signal followed by an audio signal from a microphone when a second switch is turned on, and a receiver that is located near the conductor's compartment when a train is stopped on the station platform and generates a bell tone signal when it receives the infrared light of the predetermined pulse, and switches a switch circuit to demodulate and amplify the received signal into an audio signal when it receives the minute-time guide signal, and outputs the bell tone signal or the demodulated audio signal as audio through a speaker.

[0005] According to this invention, the conductor can operate a portable transmitter to ring the departure bell or make voice announcements on the platform according to the situation at the time. This eliminates the need for station staff to make announcements and other announcements at stations, as well as station staff to monitor passenger boarding and alighting and ring the departure bell, thus further reducing the workload of station operations. Moreover, these operations can be performed by the conductor without leaving the train, while monitoring passenger boarding and alighting. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-245144 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a sound source playback system that can be introduced without requiring large-scale modifications, even on railway lines where one-man operation is progressing and departure melodies have been abolished. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above objectives of the present invention are achieved by a sound source playback system according to the present invention having the configurations (1) to (6) described below. (1) A sound source playback system for playing different specific sound sources in a train car at various points along a railway line, A speaker mounted at a first specific location on the exterior of the vehicle, A landscape image capturing means is mounted at a second specific location on the vehicle and captures images of the surrounding landscape and emits a landscape image signal. A sound source storage method that stores different sound sources at each point along the route, linked to the ID of each point, A landscape feature memory means that stores the feature parts of landscape images around the vehicle at each point along the route, linked to the ID of each point, A location identification means identifies a location by comparing the landscape image signal from the landscape image acquisition means with the feature portion of the landscape image at each location stored in the landscape feature portion storage means, and reads the ID of that location. A sound source reading means receives an ID from this location identification means and, based on this ID, reads the sound source associated with that ID from the sound source storage means, A speaker operating means that plays back the sound source read out from this sound source reading means using the speaker. A sound source playback system equipped with [specific features / features]. (2) The sound source playback system of (1), characterized in that each point along a railway line is a station, and a different specific sound source is a characteristic melody at each of the said stations. (3) The sound source playback system according to (1), characterized in that the first specific location outside the vehicle is above the side of the vehicle. (4) The sound source playback system according to (1), characterized in that the second specific position of the vehicle is the driver's cab and the landscape image acquisition means is a camera. (5) The sound source playback system according to (1), characterized in that the scenery images around the vehicle are the scenery in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped at a designated platform and track at a designated station. (6) The sound source playback system according to (1), further comprising an operating device provided in the driver's cab for operating the melody of the speaker operating means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In the system described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-245144), the station platform announcements are controlled by emitting infrared light to a receiving unit on the station platform. However, in the present invention, the departure melody is played back by a speaker installed in the train car, so communication with the station platform is not required, and the system is self-contained within the train car. By using the railway vehicle departure melody playback system of the present invention, which has the above configuration, it becomes possible to play departure melodies for each station, as in conventional systems, even on trains operated by a single driver. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a sound source playback system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the driver's seat showing the camera installation locations inside the driver's seat. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows a side view of one vehicle, illustrating the speaker installation locations for each vehicle. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sound source playback system. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of how the system displays images after they have been identified using an image recognition algorithm. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, a sound source reproduction system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following example, the sound source reproduction system will be specifically described by taking a departure melody reproduction system 10 for a railway vehicle as an example. In the following example, a departure melody is taken as the sound source, but the sound source may be a characteristic sound source at each point such as the station, for example, the cry of a bird inhabiting the area. First, in this example, as shown in FIG. 2, a camera 50 serving as landscape image imaging means is installed on the front surface of a console 104 of a driver's seat 102 of a vehicle 100. This camera captures a landscape image around the vehicle, generates a landscape image signal S1, and outputs the same. The camera 50 is preferably installed on the front surface of the instrument of the driver's console. The camera can be moved to any installation location as long as the location has no obstacles and can capture the front view. Although this example shows a case where the camera 50 is installed inside the driver's seat, it is of course possible to install it outside the vehicle if safety measures such as waterproofing are provided. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a right speaker 60 and a left speaker 62 are respectively installed above both side surfaces of the vehicle 100 (only one side is shown in the drawing). If these speakers are already installed in the vehicle, they can be used without newly installing additional speakers.

[0012] <Overall Configuration of Departure Melody Reproduction System 10> Next, the overall configuration of the departure melody reproduction system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The present departure melody reproduction system 10 comprises: sound source storage means 12 that stores different melodies (sound sources) at each point (each station) on a route in association with the ID of each point (station); and landscape feature portion storage means 14 that stores feature portions of landscape images in front of the vehicle (around the vehicle) at each station (point) on the route in association with the ID of each point (station).

[0013] The station number (station numbering) can be used as the ID for the aforementioned location (station). For example, the station number (station numbering) for Takao Station on the Chuo Line (JR East) is "JC24," and this can be used as the ID. In the following explanation, we will use Takao Station as the location and "JC24" as the ID for that station.

[0014] As a feature of the scenery image around the vehicle, a front view video was filmed in advance from the time the train entered the station until it stopped. Based on the image classification model stored in the scenery feature memory 14 after training with this image, the station name, the platform number, and the direction (up or down) are identified, and output with an ID representing the station, platform number, and direction. Identification is performed at all times. When using the GUI in this system, the identification results are displayed in the application as shown in Figure 5. In this figure, Higashi-Akiru Station is displayed as "akiru". For example, a large statue of a tengu mask is installed on the platform of Takao Station, and the landscape image of the area around this train will be used as a characteristic feature of the landscape image of Takao Station. Therefore, the landscape feature memory means 14 stores an image of a statue with a tengu mask associated with the ID "JC24" for Takao Station.

[0015] Furthermore, the departure melody is the children's song "Yuyake Koyake" (Sunset Glow), which is associated with Mount Takao, and this melody is stored in the sound source memory device 12, linked to the Takao Station ID "JC24". Information about the speaker direction (left or right) from which the melody will be played is also stored, linked to the ID.

[0016] The departure melody playback system 10 further includes a location identification means 16 that receives a landscape image signal S1 from the camera 50, compares it with the landscape feature memory means 14, and uses an image recognition algorithm to read out the station (track number) ID associated with the landscape feature that matches the landscape image signal S1 from among the many landscape feature units stored in the landscape feature memory means 14.

[0017] A sound source reading means 18 is connected to this location identification means 16. This sound source reading means 18 receives a signal of the station (track number) ID from the location identification means 16, compares this ID with the sound source storage means 12, and reads out the melody (sound source) associated with that ID.

[0018] The sound source reading means 18 is connected to a speaker operating device 20 that controls the operation of the right speaker 60 and the left speaker 62. The speaker operating device 20 is provided with a temporary memory circuit, in which the melody (sound source) read by the sound source reading means 18 is stored. The speaker operating device 20 is turned on and off by an ON switch 70 and an OFF switch 72 (not shown) installed in the driver's cab 104. When the ON switch 70 is turned on, the melody (sound source) stored in the temporary memory circuit is played back by either the right speaker 60 or the left speaker 62.

[0019] Next, the operation of the departure melody playback system 10 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 4. In the following explanation, we will consider Takao Station as the location and will not consider the platform number where the train stops.

[0020] Step S1: From just before the train stops at Takao Station until it stops, the camera 50 of the scenery image acquisition means installed in front of the driver's cab is used to continuously capture images of the scenery around the train.

[0021] Step S2: The landscape image signal S1 of the image captured in step S1 is transmitted to the location identification means 16. Assume that this image signal includes an image signal of a Tengu mask, which is a characteristic feature of the landscape image of Takao Station.

[0022] Step S3: The location identification means 16 identifies the station as Takao Station by comparing the landscape image signal received from the camera 50 with a number of landscape feature elements stored in the landscape feature element storage means 14, using an image recognition algorithm. At this time, the stopping platform may also be identified.

[0023] Step S4: Based on the results identified in Step S3, the ID of Takao Station, "JC24", is transmitted to the sound source reading means 18.

[0024] Step S5: The sound source reading means 18 uses the received ID "JC24" to read the Takao Station melody (sound source) "Yuyake Koyake" and speaker information for the direction of playback (left or right) from the sound source storage means 12. In order to determine whether to activate the left or right speaker, a special means may be provided, or this may be performed by the location identification means 16.

[0025] Step S6: The sound source signal of the melody and speaker information read in step S5 are transmitted to the speaker actuator 20. The speaker actuator 20 temporarily stores the sound source signal of the melody.

[0026] Step S7: The speaker actuator 20 is operated by pressing the ON switch 70 (or the play button in the application) of the control device 22, and the melody (sound source) is actually played from the speaker specified in the speaker information. This playback is repeated until the sound source playback is stopped.

[0027] Step S8: The playback of the melody sound source is stopped by pressing the OFF switch 72 (or the application stop button) on the control device 22. After playback stops, a door closing announcement that indicates the door is closing may be played.

[0028] Step S9: Finally, determine if the above steps, i.e., the playback of the departure melody, are complete. If the determination is YES, terminate the playback operation, i.e., shut down the system. If the determination is NO, repeat the process from step S1.

[0029] As described above, according to this system, the camera 50 of the landscape image acquisition means sends the landscape image of the area around the vehicle that it has captured to the location identification means 16. The ID of the station and platform information from the image of the camera 50, identified by the image recognition algorithm of the location identification means 16, is sent to the sound source reading means 14. Based on the playback and stop operation signals from the ON switch 70 and OFF switch 72 of the operation device 22, the sound source reading means 14 acquires the sound source signal of the departure melody associated with the ID received from the location identification means 16, as well as speaker information that specifies the direction in which the vehicle door is open and the direction of playback, and transmits it to the speaker operating means 20 to play the departure melody.

[0030] Figure 5 shows an example of how the system displays images after they have been identified using an image recognition algorithm. The UI on the left side of Figure 5 shows the system display when a GUI is used in this system. The ID of the identification result by the image recognition algorithm is always displayed in the UI, and the sound source file name obtained from the sound source storage means 12 and the speaker to play are displayed. In the example in Figure 6, the identification result by the image recognition algorithm is "akiru_2_1", which represents "akiru (Higashi-Akiru) Station, Platform 2, Downbound", the sound source file name is "akiru_2_1.wav", and the playback speaker is displayed as the right side of "plughw:3,0". The ID of the identification result represents the station name, platform number, and direction (upbound / downbound), and the speaker IDs "plughw:3,0" represent the right speaker and "plughw:4,0" represent the left speaker.

[0031] As described above, by using the device and system of the present invention, it becomes possible to play the unique departure melody for each station even during one-man operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10. Departure Melody Playback System 12 Sound source storage means 14. Landscape feature memory means 16 Point identification means 18. Sound source reading means 20 Speaker operating device 22 Control device 50 Cameras 60 Right speaker 62 Left speaker 70 ON switch 72 OFF switch 100 vehicles 102 Driver's seat 104 Driver's cab

Claims

1. A sound source playback system for playing different specific sound sources in a train car at various points along a railway line, A speaker mounted at a first specific location on the exterior of the vehicle, A landscape image capturing means is mounted at a second specific location on the vehicle and captures images of the surrounding landscape and emits a landscape image signal. A sound source storage method that stores different sound sources at each point along the route, linked to the ID of each point, A landscape feature memory means that stores the feature parts of landscape images around the vehicle at each point along the route, linked to the ID of each point, A location identification means identifies a location by comparing the landscape image signal from the landscape image acquisition means with the feature portion of the landscape image at each location stored in the landscape feature portion storage means, and reads the ID of that location. A sound source reading means receives an ID from this location identification means and, based on this ID, reads the sound source associated with that ID from the sound source storage means, A speaker operating means that plays back the sound source read out from this sound source reading means using the speaker. A sound source playback system equipped with [specific features / features].

2. The sound source playback system according to claim 1, characterized in that each point along a railway line is a station, and a different specific sound source is a characteristic melody at each of the aforementioned stations.

3. The sound source playback system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first specific location outside the vehicle is above the side of the vehicle.

4. The sound source playback system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second specific position of the vehicle is the driver's cab and the landscape image capturing means is a camera.

5. The sound source playback system according to claim 1, characterized in that the scenery image around the vehicle is the scenery in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined platform and track at a predetermined station.

6. The sound source playback system according to claim 1, further comprising an operating device provided in the driver's cab for operating the melody playback and stopping of the speaker operating means.

Images