Abstract: In a learning system, a learning method, and a robot apparatus, the name of an object is obtained from the user through a dialog with the user. The object is identified based on the detection results of the predetermined plural different features of the object and the learning results of the respective features of the known object previously stored. If it is determined that the above object is a new object based on thus obtained name of the above object, the recognition results respectively based on the respective features of the above object and relation information in that the name of the known object previously stored is connected with the recognition results of the respective features of the known object respectively, the learning of the needed feature of the above object is performed, and relation information on the above object is newly stored.

Abstract: A robot (1) is provided which includes a situated behaviors layer (SBL) (58). This SBL (58) is formed in the form of a tree structure in which a plurality of schemata (behavior modules) is connected hierarchically in such a matter that the schemata are highly independent of each other for each of them to behave uniquely. A patent schema can define a pattern in which child schemata are connected, such as an OR type pattern in which the child schemata are caused to behave uniquely, AND type pattern in which the plurality of child schemata are caused to behave simultaneously or a SEQUENCE type pattern indicating a sequence in which the plurality of child schemata should behave, thereby permitting to select a behavior pattern of the robot (1). Also, a new child schema can additionally be included in the SBL (58) without having to rewrite the schemata connection in the tree structure, whereby a new behavior or function can be added to the robot (1).

Abstract: A robot is proposed which has a speech recognition unit to detect information supplied simultaneously with or just before or after detection of a touch by a touch sensor, an associative memory/recall memory to store action made correspondingly to the touch and input information (speech signal) detected by the speech recognition unit in association with each other, and an action generator to control the robot to make action recalled by the associative memory/recall memory based on a newly acquired input information (speech signal). The robot has also a sensor data processor to allow the robot to act correspondingly to the touch detection by the touch sensor. Thus, the robot can learn action in association with an input signal such as speech signal.

Abstract: A sentence generating method and apparatus for generating a joke sentence set having a dual meaning. A predetermined word in a selected first idiom is stored in a W list. A word of analogous sound having the pronunciation same as or analogous with the word in the W list and also being of the same word class as the word in the W list is stored in a RW list. It is then checked whether or not the subject word stored in the P list has a semantic relationship with the word of the analogous sound in the RW list. If the result of check is affirmative, a first joke sentence having the subject word in the P list and composed of the subject word of the P list and the first idiom is generated. A second idiom, corresponding to the first idiom, in which the word in the W list is replaced by the word of the analogous sound in the RW list, is generated, and a second joke sentence composed of the subject word of the P list and the second idiom is generated.

Abstract: A robot apparatus causes the emotion in a feeling part (130) to be changed based on the information acquired by a perception part (120) to manifest the behavior of information acquisition as autonomous behavior. The robot apparatus includes a behavior control part for causing the robot apparatus to manifest a language acquisition behavior and a meaning acquisition part. The robot apparatus also includes a control part for performing the behavior control of pointing its object of learning. The robot apparatus causes changes in internal states, which are ascribable to the object, to be stored in a memory part in association with the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a program that allows a conversation to be performed with a user in a natural and human-like manner. Each of response candidate generating modules 54a through 54c generates response candidate data based on its own rule, in response to voice data input from the outside through an input module 51 and a response selecting module 52, and calculates a score of the response candidate data based on the response candidate data, the voice data and internal status data recorded in an internal status recording module 55, and then supplies the score to a response selecting module 52. In response to the supplied score, the response selecting module 52 selects, as response data responsive to the input voice data, one piece of response candidate data, and outputs the one piece of response candidate data through a response output module 53. The present invention is applicable to a voice interactive apparatus mounted on a robot, etc.

Abstract: A dialogue control system, a dialogue control method and a robotic device are capable of remarkably improving the entertainment factor. In the dialogue control system in which a robot and the information processing device are connected via the network, in the case of conducting the conversation by word games between the robot and the user, the history data regarding the word game in said user's speech content is formed and transmitted to the information processing device. Then, said information processing device selectively reads out the contents best suited to the user based on said history data from the memory means and provides to the original robot.

Abstract: A robot apparatus causes the emotion in a feeling part (130) to be changed based on the information acquired by a perception part (120) to manifest the behavior of information acquisition as autonomous behavior. The robot apparatus includes a behavior control part for causing the robot apparatus to manifest a language acquisition behavior and a meaning acquisition part. The robot apparatus also includes a control part for performing the behavior control of pointing its object of learning. The robot apparatus causes changes in internal states, which are ascribable to the object, to be stored in a memory part in association with the object.

Abstract: A robot (1) is proposed which includes a speech recognition unit (101) to detect information supplied simultaneously with or just before or after detection of a touch by a touch sensor, an associative memory/recall memory (104) to store action made correspondingly to the touch and input information (speech signal) detected by the speech recognition unit (101) in association with each other, and an action generator (105) to control the robot (1) to make action recalled by the associative memory/recall memory (104) based on a newly acquired input information (speech signal). The robot (1) includes also a sensor data processor (102) to allow the robot (1) to act correspondingly to the touch detection by the touch sensor. Thus, the robot (1) can learn action in association with an input signal such as speech signal.

Abstract: In a symbol string search method of performing an approximate matching for a target symbol string from a symbol string to be searched by allowing insertion/deletion/replacement of symbols of not more than a designated number of times, the approximate matching is performed by using pieces of transposition information storing appearance positions of symbols in a preformed symbol string to be searched. A symbol string search apparatus and a recording medium recording a symbol string search program are also disclosed.

Abstract: Icons indicating operating conditions of each of nodes (computers) constituting a system are individually displayed in the form of a loop. When the total number of the nodes exceeds a total number B of individual displays, nodes corresponding to B are displayed individually, and the rest are displayed in the form of a node collective icon 11. When a forward button 16 is clicked, a display position of each of the node icons revolves clockwise one by one, a node that has been in the node collective icon 11 is displayed individually at a position of a node icon 12, and an node icon at a position of a node icon 13 is contained in the node collective icon 11. By clicking buttons 15, 18 and 19, a clockwise continuous revolving display, a counterclockwise revolving display and a counterclockwise continuous revolving display are performed. Node icons 3 and 14 are highlighted so as to indicate abnormal conditions of the corresponding nodes.

Abstract: A conversation processing apparatus and method determines whether to change the topic. If the determination is affirmative, the degree of association between a present topic being discussed and a candidate topic stored in a memory is computed with reference to a degree of association table. Based on the computation result, a topic with the highest degree of association is selected as a subsequent topic. The topic is changed from the present topic to the subsequent topic. The degree of association table used to select the subsequent topic is updated.

Abstract: The invention provides an address reading apparatus which can read an address correctly even if a correct address is not registered in habitation records to be compared with address word candidates. A supplementary address composition section compares a result of address word recognition with stored contents of a habitation record storage section to produce a read candidate while a word connection address composition section refers to the result of address word recognition and stored contents of an address rule storage section to produce a candidate, and an output discrimination section outputs that one of the two candidates from the supplementary address composition section and the word connection address composition section which exhibits a higher likelihood.

Abstract: The invention provides an information recognition apparatus for recognition of an address or the like which can recognize recognition object information, which is inputted in the form which does not have punctuations or element designations, at a high speed and with a high degree of accuracy. An element word recognition unit detects element word candidates of each information element of recognition element information and likelihoods of the element word candidates. A record number acquisition unit retrieves a record storage unit to acquire, for each element word candidate detected by the element word recognition unit, a record number of a record including the element word candidate. A likelihood calculation unit calculates likelihoods of the records using corresponding likelihood counters.

Abstract: A process for producing a phase retarder film, which comprises laminating a heat-shrinkable film on at least one side of a uniaxially stretched thermoplastic resin film so that the heat shrinkage axis direction of said heat-shrinkable film becomes perpendicular to the stretching axis direction of said uniaxially stretched thermoplastic resin film, subjecting the resulting laminate to heat shrinkage, and then peeling and removing the heat-shrinkable film. An object of the present invention is to provide a process for providing a phase retarder film having a desired R.sub.40 /R.sub.0 value and a desired retardation value, easily and at a high efficiency.