Abstract: A sound state display method includes: acquiring sound data obtained by collecting a sound emitted from an inspection target; and performing analysis processing based on the sound data, the analysis processing relating to plural different indices to indicate presence or absence of an abnormality in the inspection target. The sound state display method also includes: generating a sound state screen based on a result of the analysis processing, the sound state screen indicating a sound state of the sound emitted from the inspection target using the plural different indices; and displaying the generated sound state screen on a display device.

Abstract: A hammering test terminal is mounted by a user gripping a hammer and is communicably connected to an external device. The hammering test terminal includes a sound collection unit, a measuring unit that acquires position information indicating a current position of the hammering test terminal, a processor that generates hammering test data in which hammering signal data collected by the sound collection unit when the hammer is striking an object to be tested is associated with the position information, and a communication unit that transmits the generated hammering test data to the external device.

Abstract: In an unmanned aerial vehicle detection system, an omnidirectional camera images a monitoring area. A microphone array picks up a sound in the monitoring area. A monitoring device detects an unmanned aerial vehicle appearing in the monitoring area using the sound data picked up by the microphone array. When displaying image data of the monitoring area captured by the omnidirectional camera on a monitor, a signal processor in the monitoring device superimposes an identification mark obtained by converting the unmanned aerial vehicle into visual information on the image data of the monitoring area.

Abstract: A sound and video processing system includes: a display, having a rectangular display region, that displays a video image in a circular video-image display region smaller than the rectangular display region; and a sound collector that collects sound. A processor generates emphasized audio data, in which sound is emphasized in at least one direction from a position of the sound collector toward at least one position corresponding to at least one designated location in the video image. In response to receiving designation outside the video-image display region, the processor displays a state display area or an adjustment operation area for the sound to be output from the speaker in a rectangular region which has a diagonal line extending from one of four corners of the rectangular display region to a center of the video-image display region and intersecting with a boundary line of the video-image display region.

Abstract: A sound and video processing system includes: a display that displays a video image captured by the camera; a sound collector that collects sound; an input device that receives designation of at least one designated location in the video image displayed on the display. A processor generates emphasized audio data, in which sound is emphasized in at least one direction from a position of the sound collector toward at least one position corresponding to the at least one designated location. The processor displays at least one identification shape at the at least one designated location. In response to receiving re-designation of one of the at least one designated location by the input device, the processor outputs audio data in which emphasis of sound stops in a direction from the position of the sound collector toward the position corresponding to the re-designated location.

Abstract: A recorder receives designation of a video which is desired to be reproduced from a user. If designation of one or more designated locations where sound is emphasized on a screen of a display which displays the video is received by the recorder from the user via an operation unit during reproduction or temporary stopping of the video, a signal processing unit performs an emphasis process on audio data, that is, the signal processing unit emphasizes audio data in directions directed toward positions corresponding to the designated locations from a microphone array by using audio data recorded in the recorder. A reproducing device reproduces the emphasis-processed audio data and video data in synchronization with each other.

Abstract: A recorder receives designation of a video which is desired to be reproduced from a user. If designation of one or more designated locations where sound is emphasized on a screen of a display which displays the video is received by the recorder from the user via an operation unit during reproduction or temporary stopping of the video, a signal processing unit performs an emphasis process on audio data, that is, the signal processing unit emphasizes audio data in directions directed toward positions corresponding to the designated locations from a microphone array by using audio data recorded in the recorder. A reproducing device reproduces the emphasis-processed audio data and video data in synchronization with each other.

Abstract: A voice conference apparatus includes a sound collecting unit and a loudspeaker, while the sound collecting unit has a directional polar sensitivity characteristic which has a higher sensitivity with respect to sounds which are radiated from at least one direction, as compared with sounds radiated from other directions. The sound collecting unit of the voice conference apparatus has a plurality of omnidirectional microphones, and forms a desirable sensitivity characteristic. Since the omnidirectional microphones are employed, aging changes and fluctuations contained in the sensitivity characteristics of the respective sound collecting units can be reduced, so that the sensitivity characteristics thereof can become stable, and thus, full duplex communications with higher qualities can be carried out.

Abstract: A voice conference apparatus includes a sound collecting unit and a loudspeaker, while the sound collecting unit has a directional polar sensitivity characteristic which has a higher sensitivity with respect to sounds which are radiated from at least one direction, as compared with sounds radiated from other directions. The sound collecting unit of the voice conference apparatus has a plurality of omnidirectional microphones, and forms a desirable sensitivity characteristic. Since the omnidirectional microphones are employed, aging changes and fluctuations contained in the sensitivity characteristics of the respective sound collecting units can be reduced, so that the sensitivity characteristics thereof can become stable, and thus, full duplex communications with higher qualities can be carried out.

Abstract: A system comprising: a copyright owner registration section for registering a copyright owner of phonemes; a phoneme combination section for combining phonemes using a database constructed of phonemes supplied from a phoneme capture section; a royalty calculation section for calculating the royalty for the copyright of the phonemes according to the information on the amount of phonemes used, for each of copyright owners; and a monetary payment section for providing payment of the royalty to the copyright owner based on the information on the charges. This system protects the copyright of the phonemes the speaker has and allows users to readily purchase products or services utilizing phonemes.

Abstract: A document with a plurality of characters is read, a binary document image is produced, and a character rectangle circumscribed about a mass of black pixels connected with each other (called a black-pixel mass) is produced for each black-pixel mass. The character rectangles are classified into a plurality of groups on condition that one or more character rectangles in one group are circumscribed about one or more black-pixel masses having the same character pattern. The character rectangles in each group are circumscribed about images of the same character. Thereafter, a figure feature of a representative character image in each classified group of character rectangles is compared with each of referential character patterns. Therefore, the character images for the character rectangles circumscribing one of non-separating characters are recognized as one non-separating character.