Abstract: An agent coordination device that controls sound output according to an instruction from a plurality of agents that are capable of being instructed to perform a predetermined service by speech interaction; and controls so that, in a case in which a first agent among the plurality of agents is performing one of audiobook playback or music playback as the predetermined service while a second agent among the plurality of agents is performing another of audiobook playback or music playback as the predetermined service, audiobook playback is performed with a music playback volume reduced.

Abstract: An agent control device that acquires a request signal requesting establishment of communication between a mobile terminal and an onboard device; responds to the request signal so as to present, on a display device, a display screen showing procedure information used to set up and establish communication between the mobile terminal and the onboard device; and performs control to continue operation of an agent that is operational inside a vehicle while the display screen is being presented.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide active material particles excellent in ion uptake ability. The silicon-based active material particles according to the present invention comprise a layer structure. Here, the “silicon-based active material particles” are, for example, active material particles for forming a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery. Examples of the active material particles for forming the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery include so-called Si-based active materials such as silicon (Si), silicon oxide (SiOx), metal element-containing silicon oxide containing alkaline metal elements such as lithium (Li) and alkaline earth metal elements such as magnesium (Mg), silicon alloys. The thickness of the layer in the active material particles is preferably 1 ?m or less. Here, the thickness of the layer is preferably 0.01 ?m or more.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide active material particles excellent in ion uptake ability. The silicon-based active material particles according to the present invention comprise a layer structure. Here, the “silicon-based active material particles” are, for example, active material particles for forming a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery. Examples of the active material particles for forming the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery include so-called Si-based active materials such as silicon (Si), silicon oxide (SiOx), metal element-containing silicon oxide containing alkaline metal elements such as lithium (Li) and alkaline earth metal elements such as magnesium (Mg), silicon alloys. The thickness of the layer in the active material particles is preferably 1 ?m or less. Here, the thickness of the layer is preferably 0.01 ?m or more.

Abstract: An agent control device that acquires a request signal requesting establishment of communication between a mobile terminal and an onboard device; responds to the request signal so as to present, on a display device, a display screen showing procedure information used to set up and establish communication between the mobile terminal and the onboard device; and performs control to continue operation of an agent that is operational inside a vehicle while the display screen is being presented.

Abstract: An agent control device that acquires agent utilization history information for a user, selects one agent from among a plurality of agents that are utilizable inside a vehicle based on the acquired utilization history information, and activates the selected agent.

Abstract: An agent control device that acquires identification information for a plurality of agents utilizable inside a vehicle; and controls a display device so as to display a list of selection information for the plurality of agents according to the acquired identification information for the plurality of agents, and performs control to activate an agent corresponding to selection information selected by a user.

Abstract: An agent control device that presents, on a display device, a display screen showing procedure information to set up and establish communication between a mobile terminal and an onboard device; and in a case in which information to reject establishment of communication between the mobile terminal and the onboard device has been input, or in a case in which input of a procedure has not been received after a predetermined time period has elapsed since presentation of the display screen on the display device, outputs to the display device a display screen recommending activation of a specific agent from among a plurality of agents that are utilizable inside a vehicle.

Abstract: An agent control device acquires configuration information relating to a communication mode between a communications device in a vehicle and a plurality of agent servers. The agent control device, on the basis of the acquired configuration information, select one agent server from the plurality of agent servers. The agent control device perform control such that voice message information of an agent corresponding to the selected agent server is output.

Abstract: An agent coordination device that controls sound output according to an instruction from a plurality of agents that are capable of being instructed to perform a predetermined service by speech interaction; and controls so that, in a case in which a first agent among the plurality of agents is performing one of audiobook playback or music playback as the predetermined service while a second agent among the plurality of agents is performing another of audiobook playback or music playback as the predetermined service, audiobook playback is performed with a music playback volume reduced.

Abstract: An agent cooperation device includes: a sound output section that controls sound output in accordance with instructions from plural agents that are configured to receive an instruction regarding a predetermined service by voice dialogue; and a control section that, in a case in which a voice dialogue is provided with respect to one of the plural agents while another agent is playing music or an audiobook as a service, controls the sound output section so as to lower a volume of or stop playback that is being carried out by the other agent.

Abstract: [Problem to be solved] To produce an SiO powder having a rounded spherical particulate shape and a small particle diameter; and further having a low degree of impurity contamination, efficiently and economically. [Solution] A mixture of Si and SiO2 as an SiO gas generation raw material 9 is loaded into a crucible 2. The mixture in the crucible 2 is heated under a reduced pressure so as to generate SiO gas. The generated SiO gas is accumulated on a deposition base 5 rotating on the crucible 2. When SiO deposit 10 accumulated on the deposition base 5 is scraped off with a blade 7, a tip of the blade 7 is separated from a surface of the deposition base 5, and in a state in which a portion of the SiO deposit 10 accumulated on the deposition base 5 is left on the deposition base 5, the remaining SiO deposit 10 is scraped off by the blade 7 and collected as an SiO powder 11.

Abstract: An agent system includes: a terminal device including a first processor including hardware, the first processor being configured to recognize spoken voice of a user, determine to which speech interaction agent among a plurality of speech interaction agents an instruction included in the spoken voice of the user is directed, and transfer the spoken voice of the user to an agent server configured to realize a function of the determined speech interaction agent; and an agent server including a second processor including hardware, the second processor being configured to recognize the spoken voice of the user which voice is transferred from the terminal device, and output a result of the recognition to the terminal device.

Abstract: An agent system includes: a terminal device including a first processor including hardware, the first processor being configured to transfer user's uttered voice to a server configured to actualize a function of one voice interaction agent out of a plurality of the voice interaction agents; and a server including a second processor including hardware, the second processor being configured to recognize the user's uttered voice transferred from the terminal device, and determine to which voice interaction agent out of the plurality of voice interaction agents an instruction included in the user's uttered voice is directed.

Abstract: There is produced a Li-containing silicon oxide powder containing a crystallized lithium silicate that is mostly water-insoluble Li2Si2O5 and containing little crystalline Si. This object is attained through the mixing of a lower silicon oxide powder represented by a compositional formula SiOx (0.5<x<1.5) with a powdered lithium source that involves grinding of the powdered lithium source; controlling a median diameter D1 of the lower silicon oxide powder and a median diameter D2 of the powdered lithium source so as to fulfill 0.05?D2/D1?2; and calcining the mixed powder at 300° C. or higher and 800° C. or lower.

Abstract: There is produced a Li-containing silicon oxide powder containing a crystallized lithium silicate that is mostly water-insoluble Li2Si2O5 and containing little crystalline Si. This object is attained through the mixing of a lower silicon oxide powder represented by a compositional formula SiOx (0.5<x<1.5) with a powdered lithium source that involves grinding of the powdered lithium source; controlling a median diameter D1 of the lower silicon oxide powder and a median diameter D2 of the powdered lithium source so as to fulfill 0.05?D2/D1?2; and calcining the mixed powder at 300° C. or higher and 800° C. or lower.

Abstract: There is produced a Li-containing silicon oxide powder containing a crystallized lithium silicate that is mostly water-insoluble Li2Si2O5 and containing little crystalline Si. This object is attained through the mixing of a lower silicon oxide powder represented by a compositional formula SiOx (0.5<x<1.5) with a powdered lithium source that involves grinding of the powdered lithium source; controlling a median diameter D1 of the lower silicon oxide powder and a median diameter D2 of the powdered lithium source so as to fulfill 0.05?D2/D1?2; and calcining the mixed powder at 300° C. or higher and 800° C. or lower.

Abstract: This invention provides a powder for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery, which is a powder that includes a silicon oxide powder containing Li. When a molar ratio between Li, Si and O is taken as y:1:x, the average composition of the powder overall satisfies the relation 0.5<x<1.5 and the relation 0.1<y/x<0.8. The volume median diameter of the powder for a negative electrode is within a range from 0.5 to 30 ?m. When X-ray diffraction measurement of the powder is performed using a Cu K? ray, a relation P2/P1?1.0 and a relation P3/P1?1.0 are satisfied, where P1 represents a height of a peak attributed to Li2SiO3, P2 represents a height of a peak attributed to crystalline Si, and P3 represents a height of a peak attributed to Li4SiO4.

Abstract: This invention provides a powder for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery, which is a powder that includes a silicon oxide powder containing Li. When a molar ratio between Li, Si and O is taken as y:1:x, the average composition of the powder overall satisfies the relation 0.5<x<1.5 and the relation 0.1<y/x<0.8. The volume median diameter of the powder for a negative electrode is within a range from 0.5 to 30 ?m. When X-ray diffraction measurement of the powder is performed using a Cu K? ray, a relation P2/P1?1.0 and a relation P3/P1?1.0 are satisfied, where P1 represents a height of a peak attributed to Li2SiO3, P2 represents a height of a peak attributed to crystalline Si, and P3 represents a height of a peak attributed to Li4SiO4.

Abstract: There is produced a Li-containing silicon oxide powder containing a crystallized lithium silicate that is mostly water-insoluble Li2Si2O5 and containing little crystalline Si. This object is attained through the mixing of a lower silicon oxide powder represented by a compositional formula SiOx (0.5<x<1.5) with a powdered lithium source that involves grinding of the powdered lithium source; controlling a median diameter D1 of the lower silicon oxide powder and a median diameter D2 of the powdered lithium source so as to fulfill 0.05?D2/D1?2; and calcining the mixed powder at 300° C. or higher and 800° C. or lower.