Abstract: A robot apparatus that is able to determine whether to ask a user for help, according to robot's situations. The robot apparatus determines based on an external or internal situation of the robot and its serious level whether to ask for help. When the robot apparatus decides to ask for help, it selects an action asking for help, according to the external or internal situation and the serious level, and takes the action.

Abstract: A learning apparatus for learning time series data in a link model including a plurality of input time series pattern storage networks and a plurality of output time series pattern storage networks with nodes of the input time series pattern storage networks linked to nodes of the output time series pattern storage networks, includes a learning unit for updating in a self-organizing manner each of the plurality of input time series pattern storage networks and updating in a self-organizing manner each of the plurality of output time series pattern storage networks and a link relationship updating unit for updating a link relationship between each node of the output time series pattern storage network and an input winner node, and updating a link relationship between each node of the input time series pattern storage network and an output winner node.

Abstract: A data processing device for processing time-sequence data includes a data extracting unit operable to extract time-sequence data for a predetermined time unit from time-sequence data; and a processing unit operable to obtain scores for nodes of an SOM configured from multiple nodes provided with a spatial array configuration, the scores showing applicability to time-sequence data for a predetermined time unit thereof, wherein the node with the best score thereof is determined to be the winning node which is the node most applicable; wherein the processing unit obtains scores as to the time-sequence data for one predetermined time unit, regarding a distance-restricted node wherein distance from the winning node as to the time-sequence for a predetermined time unit immediately preceding the time-sequence data of one predetermined time unit is within a predetermined distance; and wherein the distance-restricted node with the best the score is determined to be the winning node thereof.

Abstract: A learning apparatus for learning time series data, includes a learning unit for updating, in a self-organizing manner based on an observed value of the time series data, a time series pattern storage network including a plurality of nodes, each node having a time series pattern model representing a time series pattern of the time series data.

Abstract: A data processing device for processing time-sequence data includes a learning unit for performing self-organizing learning of a SOM (self-organization map) making up a hierarchical SOM in which a plurality of SOMs are connected so as to construct a hierarchical structure, using, as SOM input data which is input to the SOM, a time-sequence of node information representing a winning node of a lower-order SOM which is at a lower hierarchical level from the SOM.

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 learning apparatus for learning time series data in a link model including a plurality of input time series pattern storage networks and a plurality of output time series pattern storage networks with nodes of the input time series pattern storage networks linked to nodes of the output time series pattern storage networks, includes a learning unit for updating in a self-organizing manner each of the plurality of input time series pattern storage networks and updating in a self-organizing manner each of the plurality of output time series pattern storage networks and a link relationship updating unit for updating a link relationship between each node of the output time series pattern storage network and an input winner node, and updating a link relationship between each node of the input time series pattern storage network and an output winner node.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first learning unit adapted to learn a first SOM (self-organization map), based on a first parameter extracted from an observed value, a winner node determination unit adapted to determine a winner node on the first SOM, a searching unit adapted to search for a generation node on a second SOM having highest connection strength with the winner node, a parameter generation unit adapted to generate a second parameter from the generation node, a modification unit adapted to modify the second parameter generated from the generation node, a first connection weight modification unit adapted to modify the connection weight when end condition is satisfied, a second connection weight modification unit adapted to modify the connection weight depending on evaluation made by a user, and a second learning unit adapted to learn the second SOM based on the second parameter obtained when the end condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A learning apparatus for learning time series data, includes a learning unit for updating, in a self-organizing manner based on an observed value of the time series data, a time series pattern storage network including a plurality of nodes, each node having a time series pattern model representing a time series pattern of the time series data.

Abstract: No robot that can make a dialog customized for the user is known to date. According to the invention, various pieces of information appendant to an object are stored as values of the corresponding items of the object and a topic that is related to the topic used in the immediately preceding conversation is selected. Then, an acquisition conversation for acquiring the value of the item of the selected topic or a utilization conversation for utilizing the value of the item of the topic that is already stored is generated as the next conversation. The value acquired by the acquisition conversation is stored as the value of the corresponding item.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus performing dialogue processing includes acquisition means for acquiring text data described in a natural language; example storage means for storing a plurality of examples each including an example statement and frame information described using a frame format and corresponding to the example statement; similarity calculation means for calculating a similarity between the text data and the example statement; example selection means for selecting an example corresponding to an example statement whose similarity to the text data is the highest from among the plurality of examples in accordance with the calculated similarity; text data processing means for processing the text data to convert the text data into the frame format in accordance with the frame information corresponding to the example selected by the example selection means; and dialogue processing means for performing the dialogue processing in accordance with the text data converted into the frame format.

Abstract: In requesting content, a robot transmits a QA form containing robot information, such as the hardware configuration of the robot, to a server. The server detects the content adapted to the hardware configuration or platform of the robot in the QA form, and provides the detected content to the robot.

Abstract: This invention realizes a speech communication system and method, and a robot apparatus capable of significantly improving entertainment property. A speech communication system with a function to make conversation with a conversation partner is provided with a speech recognition means for recognizing speech of the conversation partner, a conversation control means for controlling conversation with the conversation partner based on the recognition result of the speech recognition means, an image recognition means for recognizing the face of the conversation partner, and a tracking control means for tracing the existence of the conversation partner based on one or both of the recognition result of the image recognition means and the recognition result of the speech recognition means. The conversation control means controls conversation so as to continue depending on tracking of the tracking control means.

Abstract: Conventional robot apparatus etc. can not perform name-learning naturally. Learning the name of an object is performed such a manner that the name of a target object is obtained through dialog with a human being, the name is stored in association with plural items of different characteristic data detected for the target object, and a new object is recognized based on the stored data and associative information, the name and characteristic data of the new person are obtained and this associative information is stored.

Abstract: A robot apparatus that is able to determine whether to ask a user for help, according to robot's situations. The robot apparatus determines based on an external or internal situation of the robot and its serious level whether to ask for help. When the robot apparatus decides to ask for help, it selects an action asking for help, according to the external or internal situation and the serious level, and takes the action.

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 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: The invention provides an optical head which provides between a photosensitive member and a position detector a sufficient distance over which the photosensitive member and the position detector are not brought into contact with each other readily by thermal expansion of the apparatus or a like cause.