Acoustic characteristic selection method, acoustic characteristic selection device, and program

Abstract

An acoustic characteristic selection device 100 for selecting an acoustic characteristic to apply to an input signal associates a first acoustic characteristic with a parent node, sets a second acoustic characteristic on the basis of at least the first acoustic characteristic, and displays a child node that has been associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position that is separated from the parent node and corresponds to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

Description

Acoustic characteristic selection method, acoustic characteristic selection device, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an acoustic characteristic selection method, an acoustic characteristic selection device, and a program.

[0002] Acoustic adjustment devices such as equalizers that impart acoustic effects are known. This type of acoustic adjustment device realizes the acoustic characteristics desired by the user, for example, by the user adjusting the values of parameters related to acoustic characteristics such as sound quality (hereinafter also referred to as acoustic parameters). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of displaying a one-dimensional psychological category axis based on a sound quality expression word pair expressed in emotional words and specifying a scale value on the psychological category axis using a cursor key or the like to realize the sound quality desired by the listener (user).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-051239

[0004] By the way, in the conventional method of specifying the value of an acoustic parameter by selecting a value on an axis, the acoustic parameter associated with the axis is predetermined. For this reason, for example, when the number of axes displayed on an operation screen or the like is small, the number of acoustic parameters to be adjusted is smaller than when the number of axes is large, so there may be cases where the acoustic characteristics desired by the user cannot be realized. Also, for example, when the number of axes displayed on an operation screen or the like is large, the number of acoustic parameters to be adjusted increases compared to when the number of axes is small, so the operation for realizing the acoustic characteristics desired by the user may become troublesome. In this case, the operation may be interrupted before the acoustic characteristics desired by the user are realized, and there is a risk that the acoustic characteristics desired by the user cannot be realized.

[0005] An acoustic characteristic selection method according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer that selects an acoustic characteristic to be imparted to an input signal to associate a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point, set a second acoustic characteristic based on at least the first acoustic characteristic, and display a second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position separated from the first selection point and at a position corresponding to the similarity between the second acoustic characteristic and the first acoustic characteristic with respect to the first acoustic characteristic.

[0006] An acoustic characteristic selection device according to another aspect of the present disclosure is an acoustic characteristic selection device for selecting an acoustic characteristic to be applied to an input signal, comprising: a correspondence setting unit that associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point and sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

[0007] A program according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a program that causes a computer to select acoustic characteristics to be applied to an input signal to function as a display control unit that associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point and sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic, and displays the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

[0008] This figure shows an example of an operation screen in an acoustic characteristic selection device according to an embodiment. This figure shows an example of operation on the operation screen. This figure shows an example of an operation screen in an acoustic characteristic selection device. This figure is for explaining the position of the display area on the operation screen. This figure shows an acoustic system including an acoustic characteristic selection device. This is a branch diagram showing the configuration of the acoustic characteristic selection device. This is a flowchart showing the operation of the acoustic characteristic selection device.

[0009] Hereinafter, an acoustic characteristic selection device according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred examples and are subject to various technically preferred limitations, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these forms unless otherwise stated in the following description.

[0010] In short, the acoustic characteristic selection device according to this embodiment proposes an acoustic characteristic that is thought to be close to the user's preference from among several acoustic characteristics, and by repeatedly having the user listen to and select the proposed acoustic characteristic, the user ultimately arrives at the desired acoustic characteristic. The following is an overview of the acoustic characteristic selection process.

[0011] Figures 1 and 3 show examples of operation screens 152 displayed by the acoustic characteristic selection device according to this embodiment. Specifically, Figure 1 is an example of the initial screen of the operation screen 152, and Figure 3 is an example of the operation screen 152 following the initial screen of Figure 1.

[0012] The operation screen 152 includes a rectangular display area 154 for displaying various nodes. In the area of ​​the operation screen 152 other than the display area 154, software buttons Sby, Sbp, Sbe, Sbb, and Sbn for specifying various operations are displayed. Multiple nodes are displayed in the display area 154. Each node has a one-to-one correspondence with acoustic characteristics. In this embodiment, the frequency characteristics of an equalizer that emphasizes or attenuates each frequency band of the input sound signal are used as an example of acoustic characteristics, but the invention is not limited to this.

[0013] A parent node is displayed at the center Cen of the display area 154, and multiple child nodes are displayed around the parent node. The center Cen of the display area 154 is, for example, the point where the diagonals of the display area 154 intersect (the centroid), as shown in Figure 4. Figure 1 is an example in which node Mk1 is displayed as the parent node, and nodes Mk2_1, Mk2_2, Mk3_1, Mk3_2, Mk4_1, and Mk4_2 are displayed as child nodes. Figure 3 is an example in which the parent node is changed to node Mk3_1 and nodes Mk2_3, Mk3_3, Mk5_1, Mk5_2, Mk5_3, and Mk5_4 are newly displayed as child nodes.

[0014] Nodes are represented by marks indicating the attributes of the associated acoustic properties. Acoustic property attributes are a type of label assigned when classifying acoustic properties based on their common properties and characteristics. In the example shown in the diagram, they are as follows:

[0015] In Figure 1, node Mk1, represented by an arrow, indicates that it is associated with the initial acoustic characteristics, specifically, the acoustic characteristics of a flat attribute. Also, in Figures 1 and 3, nodes Mk2_1, Mk2_2, and Mk2_3, represented by the same mark, indicate that they are associated with the acoustic characteristics of attributes corresponding to the sound signal, that is, acoustic characteristics that match the sound source information of the sound signal or acoustic characteristics of appropriate attributes. Nodes Mk3_1, Mk3_2, and Mk3_3, represented by the same mark, indicate that they are associated with the acoustic characteristics of attributes corresponding to user information, such as gender, age (age group), and current mood. Note that user information is entered before selecting acoustic characteristics, for example, by the user selecting items presented by a pull-down menu. Nodes Mk4_1 and Mk4_2, represented by the same mark, indicate that they are associated with the user's selection history, for example, the acoustic characteristics of attributes that the user has previously adopted. Nodes Mk5_1, Mk5_2, Mk5_3, and Mk5_4, represented by the same mark, indicate that they are associated with the user's operation history, for example, with the acoustic properties of attributes extracted by the user in the past.

[0016] Although not shown in the diagram, nodes are categorized and displayed in different colors according to their attributes. This is to allow for visual distinction of attribute differences beyond just markers. Furthermore, parent and child nodes are connected by straight lines, and these lines are also displayed in a color determined by the attributes of the child node. However, for convenience, the diagram uses different line types, such as solid and dashed lines, to distinguish between them.

[0017] For a parent node located at the center Cen of the display area 154, child nodes are displayed at positions corresponding to the similarity of their acoustic characteristics to those of the parent node. Specifically, when indicators such as "richness" and "clarity" that characterize acoustic characteristics are associated with them, the difference between the indicators of the child node's acoustic characteristics and those of the parent node is displayed in two dimensions, vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the further a child node is from the parent node, the greater the difference in the child node's acoustic characteristics relative to the parent node's. Also, if two child nodes are located in the same direction relative to the parent node, the acoustic characteristics of the two child nodes will have similar directions relative to the parent node's acoustic characteristics.

[0018] Furthermore, the vertical and horizontal axes with the center Cen as the origin may be displayed, or guidelines corresponding to the axes may be displayed. The guidelines characterizing the acoustic characteristics may be other than those mentioned above, and in the case of a two-dimensional display, two guidelines may be appropriately selected from three or more guidelines. Also, the similarity is not limited to a two-dimensional display; for example, a three-dimensional display based on the difference between three guidelines may also be used.

[0019] In the display state shown in Figure 1, when the user operates the software button Sby, for example, an application program is executed to play an audio signal, and the acoustic characteristics associated with the parent node are assigned to the audio signal before it is emitted. This allows the user to learn what kind of acoustic characteristics are associated with the parent node by actually listening to them.

[0020] On the other hand, while an audio signal is being played, if a child node is selected by the user with a single tap, for example, the acoustic characteristics associated with that child node are added to the audio signal. For example, as shown in Figure 2, when the user selects node Mk3_1 with a single tap, the acoustic characteristics associated with node Mk3_1 are added to the audio signal and it is emitted. Similarly, when node Mk4_2 is selected with a single tap, the acoustic characteristics associated with node Mk4_2 are added to the audio signal and it is emitted. This allows the user to learn what kind of acoustic characteristics are associated with a child node by actually listening to them after single-tapping the child node.

[0021] When a user selects a child or parent node with a single tap and the corresponding acoustic characteristics are assigned to that node, if the user recognizes that the assigned acoustic characteristics are the desired characteristics (i.e., is satisfied with the assigned acoustic characteristics), they perform an operation to confirm the selection of that node. Specifically, the user selects a node with a single tap and, while the corresponding acoustic characteristics are assigned to that node, confirms the selection of that node by operating the software button Sbe. Upon confirmation of this selection, the sound signal will subsequently be assigned the selected acoustic characteristics. If a parent node is selected after a child node has been selected, the sound signal will be assigned the acoustic characteristics assigned to that parent node and will be emitted. Similarly, if another child node is selected after a child node has been selected, the sound signal will be assigned the acoustic characteristics assigned to that other child node and will be emitted.

[0022] On the other hand, if a user selects a displayed child node but does not obtain satisfactory acoustic characteristics, or if they desire different acoustic characteristics from the displayed node, the user performs a specific operation while the child node with the acoustic characteristics closest to their preference is selected. This specific operation is, for example, operating the software button Sbn on the operation screen 152. When the software button Sbn is operated, the display in the display area 154 is updated. Specifically, the child node that is currently selected and associated with the acoustic characteristics attached to the sound signal is changed to a parent node. As a result of this change, the previous child node moves to the center Cen of the display area 154 and is displayed. In addition, child nodes associated with the new acoustic characteristics are displayed around the parent node that was changed from a child node.

[0023] Specifically, in the display state shown in Figure 1, for example, when node Mk3_1 is selected with a single tap and the acoustic characteristics associated with node Mk3_1 are assigned, if the software button Sbn is operated, the display area 154 is updated as shown in Figure 3. That is, node Mk3_1 moves to the center Cen of the display area as the parent node. As shown in Figure 3, after the display area 154 is updated, if the user does not select a new node and does not operate any software buttons, the acoustic characteristics associated with node Mk3_1 will continue to be assigned to the sound signal. Also, if the user selects a new node with a single tap, the acoustic characteristics associated with that node will be assigned to the sound signal.

[0024] In the display state shown in Figure 3, if the user confirms the selection of a child node, the acoustic characteristics associated with that child node will be assigned to the sound signal thereafter.

[0025] On the other hand, if the user desires acoustic characteristics associated with a node other than those displayed in Figure 3, they can select an acoustic characteristic close to their preference and then operate the software button Sbn. This updates the display, and a node associated with a different acoustic characteristic is newly displayed. The display can also be updated by double-tapping a child node. This display update is repeated until the selection of a child node is confirmed. Therefore, in this embodiment, repeated display updates increase the likelihood that the user will eventually arrive at their desired acoustic characteristic.

[0026] The software button Sbp specifies that playback of the audio signal should be stopped. The software button Sbb specifies that the display should return to the previous display state. For example, if the software button Sbb is pressed in the display state shown in Figure 3, the display will return to the previous display state shown in Figure 1. Note that since Figure 1 is the initial screen where no previous display state exists, the software button Sbb is grayed out and cannot be operated.

[0027] The initial operation screen 152 may start from Figure 1, or it may reproduce the screen at the time the software button Sbp is pressed.

[0028] The above is an overview of the selection of acoustic characteristics in this embodiment. How the child nodes placed around the parent node are selected will be described later.

[0029] Figure 5 shows an acoustic system 10 including an acoustic characteristic selection device 100 according to this embodiment. The acoustic system 10 is connected to a server 5 via a network N. The network N is a communication network via wired and / or wireless communication. The server 5 includes a database that registers various types of information, specifically information indicating acoustic characteristics and selection history for each user.

[0030] The acoustic system 10 includes an acoustic characteristic selection device 100, an acoustic characteristic application device 300, and a sound emission device 400. The acoustic characteristic application device 300 and the sound emission device 400 are any devices equipped with signal processing and sound emission functions, and include, for example, various audio equipment, karaoke machines, car stereos, PA equipment, and various systems such as electronic musical instruments. In this embodiment, the acoustic characteristic application device 300 and the sound emission device 400 will be described as in-vehicle audio equipment. The acoustic characteristic selection device 100 according to this embodiment functions as a device that selects the acoustic characteristics applied by the acoustic characteristic application device 300, which is an in-vehicle audio equipment.

[0031] The acoustic characteristic application device 300 applies acoustic characteristics to the sound signal Sin based on the characteristic information ADinf output from the acoustic characteristic selection device 100, and outputs it as the sound signal Sout. The sound signal Sin can be a signal input from an acoustic playback device (not shown) or a signal obtained by playing song data stored in the acoustic characteristic selection device 100. Playback and stopping of the acoustic playback device are instructed by operating the software buttons Sby and Sbp on the operation screen 210. In this embodiment, the frequency characteristics of an equalizer will be used as an example of the acoustic characteristics applied to the sound signal Sin.

[0032] The sound emission device 400 converts the sound signal Sout output from the acoustic characteristic imparting device 300 into sound, which is a physical vibration, and outputs it. The sound emission device 400 is, for example, a speaker.

[0033] The acoustic characteristic selection device 100 selects the acoustic characteristics to be assigned to the sound signal Sin according to the user's operation and outputs characteristic information ADinf indicating the selected acoustic characteristics. The acoustic characteristic selection device 100 can be any information processing device, such as a computer, a smartphone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). When the sound signal Sin is a signal output from an acoustic playback device (not shown), the sound signal Sin is input to the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 in order to acquire the acoustic characteristics. When the sound signal Sin is a signal obtained by playing back song data stored in the acoustic characteristic selection device 100, the sound signal Sin output from the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 is input to the acoustic characteristic assignment device 300.

[0034] In the figure, the acoustic characteristic selection device 100, the acoustic characteristic application device 300, and the sound emission device 400 are shown as separate components, but the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 and the acoustic characteristic application device 300 may be integrated. Also, the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 and the sound emission device 400 may be integrated, or the acoustic characteristic selection device 100, the acoustic characteristic application device 300, and the sound emission device 400 may be integrated.

[0035] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the acoustic characteristic selection device 100. The acoustic characteristic selection device 100 includes a processing device 110 that controls each part, a storage device 140 that stores various information, an input / output device 150, and a microphone 160.

[0036] The input / output device 150 is a touch panel consisting of, for example, an output device that functions as a display unit for showing various information and an input device that functions as an operation unit for receiving user operations. The input / output device 150 has an operation screen 152. The operation screen 152 displays an image based on image information Img. On the other hand, the input / output device 150 outputs operation information Pinf indicating the content of the operation on the operation screen 152.

[0037] The operation screen 152, based on image information (Img), displays nodes associated with acoustic characteristics and software buttons operated by the user, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The operation details indicated by operation information (Pinf) specifically include which node was selected from the nodes displayed on the operation screen 152 and which software button was operated.

[0038] In this embodiment, a configuration in which the output device and input device are a pair is assumed, but a configuration in which the output device (e.g., a display device) and input device (e.g., a key switch) are separate may also be used.

[0039] The microphone 160 converts ambient sound from the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 into an electrical signal. The signal converted by the microphone 160 is analyzed by the processing device 110 to determine whether the vehicle on which the acoustic characteristic imparting device 300 and the sound emission device 400 are installed is stationary or in motion, and if it is in motion, the vehicle's speed range, etc.

[0040] The storage device 140 includes, for example, a volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a working area for the processing unit 110, and a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) that stores various information of the control program 142. The non-volatile memory stores song data that, when played back, becomes an audio signal S. Note that the storage device 140 may also be a storage medium such as a memory card that can be attached to or detached from the acoustic characteristic selection device 100.

[0041] The processing unit 110 is a processor that controls the entire acoustic characteristic selection device 100, and is configured, for example, to include one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units). In this embodiment, the processing unit 110 functions as a display control unit 112, an operation reception unit 113, a determination unit 114, a corresponding setting unit 115, and a communication unit 120 by executing a control program 142 stored in the storage device 140. As a result, the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 functions, for example, as a device for providing the user with preferred acoustic characteristics (or acoustic characteristics close to their preference).

[0042] Furthermore, if the processing unit 110 is configured to include multiple CPUs, some or all of the functions of the processing unit 110 may be realized by these multiple CPUs cooperating in accordance with a control program 142 or the like. Also, the processing unit 110 may be configured to include hardware such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) in addition to one or more CPUs, or in place of some or all of the one or more CPUs. In such a configuration, some or all of the functions of the processing unit 110 may be realized by hardware such as a DSP.

[0043] The display control unit 112 controls the display content of the operation screen 152. Specifically, the display control unit 112 generates image information Img based on instructions from the operation reception unit 113, the determination unit 114, the correspondence setting unit 115, etc., and controls the display content of the operation screen 152. The operation reception unit 113 receives the user's operations on the operation screen 152. Specifically, the operation reception unit 113 receives operation information Pinf indicating the operation content on the operation screen 152, such as the coordinates of the touch point where the user operates on the operation screen 152 and the operations on the software buttons. The determination unit 114 determines the operation content on the operation screen 152 by the user based on the operation information Pinf received by the operation reception unit 113. The correspondence setting unit 115 mainly extracts the acoustic characteristics of the child node from among a plurality of acoustic characteristics with respect to the acoustic characteristics of the parent node displayed in the display area 154.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the acoustic characteristics are configured to be extracted by the correspondence setting unit 115 from those registered in the database in the server 5, but it is not limited thereto, and the acoustic characteristics locally stored in the storage device 140 may be used.

[0045] The communication unit 120 is a functional unit for communicating with the server 5 via the network N. Specifically, the communication unit 120 is a function for accessing the database of the server 5 according to the request of the correspondence setting unit 115. The playback unit 130 plays back the specified music data among the music data stored in the storage device 140 and outputs it as a sound signal Sin.

[0046] The acoustic characteristics of the child node are extracted from the database in the server 5 while considering the user information and the sound source information. As an algorithm for extracting the acoustic characteristics of the child node, Bayesian optimization, DNN (Deep Neural Network), etc. can be used. The user information is information about the user input before the selection of the acoustic characteristics, and the sound source information is information indicating the acoustic feature amount of the sound signal Sin.

[0047] Note that the algorithm for extracting the acoustic characteristics of child nodes arranged around the parent node is not limited to this. For example, the selection history of other users may be registered in the database of the server 5, and the correspondence setting unit 115 may acquire the selection history via the communication unit 120, and extract the acoustic characteristics while considering the history together with the user information and the sound source information. In any case, a configuration in which the acoustic characteristics of the child nodes are proposed as candidates based on the acoustic characteristics of the parent node may be used.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the acoustic characteristic selection device 100 according to the present embodiment. First, the correspondence setting unit 115 acquires user information and sound source information (step S1). Next, the correspondence setting unit 115 extracts a plurality of acoustic characteristics of child nodes using the above algorithm with respect to the acoustic characteristics of the parent node at the current time (step S2). The display control unit 112 generates image information Img in which the parent node is arranged at the center Cen of the display area 154 and the child nodes with the extracted acoustic characteristics are arranged at positions according to the similarity based on the acoustic characteristics of the parent node, and outputs the image information Img to the input / output device 150 (step S3). As a result, the parent node is displayed at the center of the display area 154, and the child nodes are displayed around the parent node at positions according to the similarity of the acoustic characteristics.

[0049] Next, the determination unit 114 determines whether a selection or operation on the operation screen 152 has been received by the operation reception unit 113 (step S4). If no selection or operation has been received (if the determination result in step S4 is "No"), the processing procedure returns to step S4. In other words, it waits until some selection or operation is received.

[0050] If a selection or operation is accepted (if the result of the determination in step S4 is "Yes"), the determination unit 114 determines whether the accepted selection or operation was a tap (selection) on a child node (step S5). If the accepted selection or operation is a tap on a child node (if the result of the determination in step S5 is "Yes"), the corresponding setting unit 115 outputs characteristic information ADinf of the acoustic characteristics associated with that child node (step S6). As a result, the acoustic characteristics associated with the single-tapped child node are added to the sound signal Sin and emitted.

[0051] Next, the determination unit 114 determines whether the tap received in step S4 is the second tap on the same child node (step S7). If the tap is not the second tap on the same child node (if the determination result in step S7 is "No"), it is a single tap on the child node. After processing in step S7, the processing procedure returns to step S4 in preparation for the next selection or operation.

[0052] On the other hand, if the selection or operation received in step S4 is not a tap on a child node (if the determination result in step S5 is "No"), the determination unit 114 further determines whether the selection or operation received was a selection to the software button Sbn (step S8). If it is a selection to the software button Sbn (if the determination result in step S8 is "Yes"), or if it is a second tap on the same child node (if the determination result in step S7 is "Yes"), the next display update process is executed. That is, the corresponding setting unit 115 changes the currently selected child node to the parent node (step S9).

[0053] Furthermore, since the user has actually adopted the child node, the corresponding setting unit 115 acquires information on the selected and unselected child nodes and updates the algorithm for extracting acoustic characteristics (step S10). After the processing in step S10, the processing procedure returns to step S2. As a result, the parent node that was changed from the child node is displayed in the center of the display area 154, and the acoustic characteristics of the child node are newly extracted in relation to the acoustic characteristics of the parent node.

[0054] If the accepted selection or operation is not for a child node and is not an operation on the software button Sbn (if the determination result in step S8 is "No"), the determination unit 114 determines whether or not it is an operation on the software button Sbe (step S11). If it is not an operation on the software button Sbe (if the determination result in step S11 is "No"), processing corresponding to the selection or operation is executed (step S12). For example, if it is an operation on the software button Sbb, the display control unit 112 returns to the previous display screen. If it is an operation on the software button Sby, playback of the sound signal Sin starts, and if it is an operation on the software button Sbp, playback of the sound signal Sin stops. After the processing in step S12, the processing procedure returns to step S2.

[0055] If the operation is performed on the software button Sbe (i.e., the determination result in step S11 is "Yes"), the corresponding setting unit 115 confirms the selection of the node (step S12). As a result, the acoustic characteristics associated with the confirmed node are added to the sound signal Sin and emitted.

[0056] With this acoustic characteristic selection device 100, when a child node is selected, if a specific operation is performed, the child node is changed to a parent node, and new acoustic characteristics are extracted around the changed parent node, and child nodes associated with those acoustic characteristics are placed. Since the extracted acoustic characteristics are of high value to the user due to the update of the acquisition function, repeating this operation increases the likelihood that the user will eventually arrive at the desired acoustic characteristics. In addition, the child nodes are displayed around the parent node at positions corresponding to the similarity of the child node's acoustic characteristics to the parent node's acoustic characteristics, so the user can grasp this as a visual guide when selecting the acoustic characteristics of the child nodes.

[0057] In the embodiment, various modifications or applications are possible as follows. Specific examples of modifications that can be applied to the embodiment are given below. Two or more embodiments arbitrarily selected from the following examples may be combined to the extent that they do not contradict each other.

[0058] When user information and sound source information change, new nodes may be added to match the changed information, or existing nodes may be modified. Also, parent nodes do not necessarily have to be displayed at the center Cen of the display area 154. For example, it is sufficient if all parent and child nodes can be displayed in the display area 154. In this embodiment, the user could learn the acoustic characteristics associated with a node by selecting a node displayed in the display area 154, but the system may also be configured to make new nodes appear by manipulating areas other than nodes, such as the background area or a straight line connecting parent and child nodes. In this configuration, the acoustic characteristics associated with the new node may be unrelated to the acoustic characteristics associated with the previously displayed nodes, or they may be acoustic characteristics extracted by referring to the selection history or user information. Also, when an area other than a node is selected, the nearest node to the selected location may be selected without making a new node appear.

[0059] Furthermore, when a point is tapped on the straight line connecting the parent node and the child node, the resulting acoustic characteristic may be an intermediate value between the acoustic characteristics of the parent node and the child node, or it may be an acoustic characteristic obtained by dividing the signal by the tapped point. For example, the acoustic characteristic obtained by dividing the acoustic characteristics of the parent node and the child node by the tapped point is as follows: In the acoustic characteristics of the parent node, the adjustment amount for a certain frequency band and in the acoustic characteristics of the child node, the adjustment amount for the same frequency band, are values ​​corresponding to the division ratio of the tapped point.

[0060] In this embodiment, when a child node is changed to a parent node, other child nodes disappear due to the display update, but the display may be configured to remain visible. Alternatively, the display area 154 in Figure 1 or Figure 3 may be displayed in a sheet-like manner, with the current selection screen at the top and the old selection screen at the bottom, allowing any sheet to be arbitrarily selected. Furthermore, the previously displayed child nodes may be retained, for example, by making them semi-transparent, so that the previous state can be seen and selected.

[0061] Furthermore, the system may be configured to analyze, for example, what acoustic characteristics a user prefers under what conditions by referring to the history of confirmation operations, and then present the results of that analysis.

[0062] The acoustic characteristics associated with a node are not pre-defined; they may be manually created by the user. User-created acoustic characteristics may be displayed as a parent node, serving as a reference point for similarity with other nodes, or they may be displayed as child nodes at positions corresponding to the similarity relative to the parent node.

[0063] In this embodiment, the nodes were round, but they may also be angular, such as squares or star shapes. Furthermore, the representation is not limited to connecting parent and child nodes with straight lines; wavy lines or curves may also be used, and the lines connecting parent and child nodes may be hidden.

[0064] When selecting nodes repeatedly, depending on the selection method, previously selected nodes may reappear as selection targets. The system could be configured to indicate this, for example, by making the previously selected node blink.

[0065] Furthermore, the operation screen 210 may be configured to be enlarged by pinching out on the operation screen 210, particularly by pinching in on the parent node and child node, or it may be configured to be reduced in size by pinching in on the operation screen 210.

[0066] The system may be configured to propose acoustic characteristics according to the vehicle's driving conditions by analyzing the signal converted by the microphone 160 with the processing unit 110, or it may be configured to correct the acoustic characteristics selected by the user using the acoustic characteristic selection device 100.

[0067] In this embodiment, the application of acoustic characteristics was explained using the application of frequency characteristics in an equalizer as an example, but it is not limited to this. For example, the application of acoustic characteristics may include gain, Q value, Q width, delay, balance of each channel, and characteristics adjusted by combining these.

[0068] From the above description, preferred embodiments of this disclosure can be understood, for example, as follows:

[0069] A method for selecting acoustic characteristics according to one aspect 1 of the present disclosure involves a computer that selects acoustic characteristics to be applied to an input signal, associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point, sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic, and displays the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

[0070] According to the acoustic characteristic selection method of Embodiment 1, the second selection point is displayed at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic, so that the user can visually grasp the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic. In Figure 1, node Mk1 is an example of the "first selection point," and node Mk3_1 is an example of the "second selection point."

[0071] The acoustic characteristic selection method according to specific embodiment 2 of embodiment 1 accepts an operation to select the second selection point, and if the operation to select the second selection point has not yet been performed, the first acoustic characteristic is applied to the input signal and sound is emitted; if the operation to select the second selection point is accepted, the second acoustic characteristic is applied to the input signal and sound is emitted. According to the acoustic characteristic selection method according to embodiment 2, the user can recognize the degree of similarity visually indicated by the position where the second selection point is displayed as an auditory difference between the first acoustic characteristic and the second acoustic characteristic.

[0072] In the acoustic characteristic selection method according to another specific embodiment 3 of embodiment 1, there are multiple second selection points, and an acoustic characteristic based on the first acoustic characteristic is set for each of the multiple second selection points, and each of the multiple second selection points is displayed at a position corresponding to the similarity of the acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic. According to the acoustic characteristic selection method of embodiment 3, since there are multiple acoustic characteristics set based on the first acoustic characteristic, the user can more easily find the desired acoustic characteristic compared to the case where there is only one second selection point. In Figure 1, nodes Mk2_1, Mk2_2, Mk3_1, Mk3_2, Mk4_1, and Mk4_2 are examples of "multiple second selection points".

[0073] In the acoustic characteristic selection method according to specific embodiment 4 of embodiment 3, the plurality of second selection points include a first attribute selection point, a second attribute selection point, and a third attribute selection point. The acoustic characteristics associated with the first attribute selection point are set based on sound source information, the acoustic characteristics associated with the second attribute selection point are set based on user information entered by the user, and the acoustic characteristics associated with the third attribute selection point are set based on the user's operation history. According to the acoustic characteristic selection method of embodiment 4, candidate acoustic characteristics can be presented, reflecting the sound source, the user's instructions and preferences, past history, etc. Note that nodes Mk2_1, Mk2_2, and Mk2_3 are examples of "first attribute selection points", nodes Mk4_1 and Mk4_2 are examples of "second attribute selection points", and nodes Mk5_1, Mk5_2, Mk5_3, and Mk5_4 are examples of "third attribute selection points".

[0074] In the acoustic characteristic selection method according to specific embodiment 5 of embodiment 4, the first selection point is displayed at the center of the display area where the first selection point and the plurality of second selection points are displayed. According to the acoustic characteristic selection method according to embodiment 5, since the first selection point is displayed at the center of the display area, the user can easily grasp the reference position indicating the similarity of the acoustic characteristics associated with the second selection points. The center of the display area is the centroid where the diagonals intersect, if the display area is rectangular in shape.

[0075] The acoustic characteristic selection method according to specific embodiment 6 of embodiment 2 accepts an operation to confirm the selection after the operation to select the second selection point, determines whether the selection of the second selection point has been confirmed by the operation, and if it is determined that the selection of the second selection point has not been confirmed, performs an update process to change the position of the second selection point to the position of the first selection point, and displays the selection point associated with the third acoustic characteristic set based on the second acoustic characteristic as the second selection point at a position separated from the first selection point and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the third acoustic characteristic to the second acoustic characteristic. According to the acoustic characteristic selection method according to embodiment 6, if it is determined that the selection has not been confirmed after the operation to select the second selection point, the selection point of the third acoustic characteristic set based on the second acoustic characteristic is displayed as a new selection point at a position corresponding to the similarity of the third acoustic characteristic to the second acoustic characteristic. For this reason, the user can easily select the desired acoustic characteristic. In Figure 3, node Mk3_1 is an example of a "second selection point," and nodes Mk2_3, Mk3_3, Mk5_1, Mk5_2, Mk5_3, or Mk5_4 are examples of "selection points associated with a third acoustic characteristic."

[0076] In the acoustic characteristic selection method according to specific embodiment 7 of embodiment 6, the update process is repeated until it is determined that the selection of the second selection point has been finalized. According to the acoustic characteristic selection method according to embodiment 7, the update process is repeatedly performed until the selection of the second selection point is finalized. Specifically, the process of displaying the selection point of the third acoustic characteristic, which is set based on the second acoustic characteristic, as a new selection point at a position corresponding to the similarity of the third acoustic characteristic to the second acoustic characteristic is repeatedly executed. As a result, the user can gradually approach the desired acoustic characteristic by repeatedly performing the operation of selecting the acoustic characteristic.

[0077] The acoustic characteristic selection method according to Embodiment 1 can be understood as an acoustic characteristic selection device according to Embodiment 8. That is, the acoustic signal selection device according to Embodiment 8 is an acoustic characteristic selection device that selects an acoustic characteristic to be applied to an input signal, and includes: a correspondence setting unit that associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point and sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic; and a display unit that displays the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic. According to the acoustic characteristic selection device according to Embodiment 8, since the second selection point is displayed at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic, the user can visually grasp the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

[0078] The acoustic characteristic selection method according to Embodiment 1 can be understood as a program according to Embodiment 9. That is, the program according to Embodiment 9 functions as a computer that selects acoustic characteristics to be applied to an input signal, a corresponding setting unit that associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point and sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic, and a display control unit that displays the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic. According to the program according to Embodiment 9, since the second selection point is displayed at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic, the user can visually grasp the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

[0079] 5...Server, 10...Acoustic system, 100...Acoustic characteristic selection device, 110...Processing device, 112...Display control unit, 113...Operation reception unit, 114...Determination unit, 115...Correspondence setting unit, 140...Storage device, 142...Control program, 150...Input / output device, 152...Operation screen, 154...Display area, 400...Sound emission device, Sin, Sout...Sound signal, Cen...Center, Mk1, Mk2_1, Mk2_2, Mk3_1, Mk3_2, Mk3_3, Mk4_1, Mk4_2, Mk5_1, Mk5_2, Mk5_3, Mk5_4...Nodes.

Claims

1. A method for selecting acoustic characteristics, wherein a computer selects acoustic characteristics to be applied to an input signal, associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point, sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic, and displays the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

2. The acoustic characteristic selection method according to claim 1, wherein the operation to select the second selection point is accepted, and if the operation to select the second selection point has not yet been performed, the first acoustic characteristic is applied to the input signal and sound is emitted, and if the operation to select the second selection point is accepted, the second acoustic characteristic is applied to the input signal and sound is emitted.

3. The method for selecting acoustic characteristics according to claim 1, wherein there are multiple second selection points, an acoustic characteristic based on the first acoustic characteristic is set for each of the multiple second selection points, and each of the multiple second selection points is displayed at a position corresponding to the similarity of the acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

4. The method for selecting acoustic characteristics according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of second selection points include a selection point for a first attribute, a selection point for a second attribute, and a selection point for a third attribute, and the acoustic characteristics associated with the selection point for the first attribute are set based on sound source information, the acoustic characteristics associated with the selection point for the second attribute are set based on user information entered by the user, and the acoustic characteristics associated with the selection point for the third attribute are set based on the user's operation history.

5. The acoustic characteristic selection method according to claim 4, wherein the first selection point is displayed in the center of a display area on which the first selection point and the plurality of second selection points are displayed.

6. The acoustic characteristic selection method according to claim 2, wherein the operation to select the second selection point is accepted after the operation to select the second selection point, the operation to determine whether the selection of the second selection point has been confirmed, and if it is determined that the selection of the second selection point has not been confirmed, an update process is performed to change the position of the second selection point to the position of the first selection point, and the selection point associated with the third acoustic characteristic set based on at least the second acoustic characteristic is displayed as the second selection point at a position spaced apart from the first selection point and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the third acoustic characteristic to the second acoustic characteristic.

7. The acoustic characteristic selection method according to claim 6, wherein the update process is repeated until it is determined that the selection of the second selection point has been finalized.

8. An acoustic characteristic selection device for selecting acoustic characteristics to be applied to an input signal, comprising: a correspondence setting unit that associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point and sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

9. A program that causes a computer to select acoustic characteristics to be applied to an input signal to function as: a correspondence setting unit that associates a first acoustic characteristic with a first selection point and sets a second acoustic characteristic based at least on the first acoustic characteristic; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the second selection point associated with the second acoustic characteristic at a position spaced apart from the first selection point, and at a position corresponding to the similarity of the second acoustic characteristic to the first acoustic characteristic.

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