Abstract: An audio signal generation device (20) includes: an acquirer (210) configured to acquire biological information of a human subject; an audio signal generator (245) configured to generate an audio signal based on at least one of a plurality of pieces of sound information; and a switching cycle decider (241) configured to decide a switching cycle, such that first sound information switches to second sound information at a cycle that is in accordance with the biological information, the first sound information and the second sound information being included in the plurality of sound information pieces, and the audio signal generator (245) generates an audio signal based on the second sound information, at the switching cycle decided by the switching cycle decider (241).

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an estimator configured to estimate, based on biological information of a human subject, a sleep indicator indicative of a depth of sleep of the human subject; and a volume controller configured to control a volume adjuster that generates a second playback sound signal by adjusting an amplitude of a first playback sound signal, such that the first playback sound signal is adjusted based on the sleep indicator and a volume of an ambient sound in an environment in which the human subject is situated.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.

Abstract: Provided is a sleep guidance device that serves to control a stimulus imparter for imparting stimuli to a human subject. The sleep guidance device acquires a biorhythm of the human subject; estimates sleep depths of the human subject from the acquired biorhythm of the human subject; and controls the stimulus imparter to impart a stimulus to the human subject in accordance with the acquired biorhythm of the human subject, and from among the sleep depths, a current sleep depth estimated for the human subject.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an estimator configured to estimate, based on biological information of a human subject, a sleep indicator indicative of a depth of sleep of the human subject; and a volume controller configured to control a volume adjuster that generates a second playback sound signal by adjusting an amplitude of a first playback sound signal, such that the first playback sound signal is adjusted based on the sleep indicator and a volume of an ambient sound in an environment in which the human subject is situated.

Abstract: An audio signal generation device (20) includes: an acquirer (210) configured to acquire biological information of a human subject; an audio signal generator (245) configured to generate an audio signal based on at least one of a plurality of pieces of sound information; and a switching cycle decider (241) configured to decide a switching cycle, such that first sound information switches to second sound information at a cycle that is in accordance with the biological information, the first sound information and the second sound information being included in the plurality of sound information pieces, and the audio signal generator (245) generates an audio signal based on the second sound information, at the switching cycle decided by the switching cycle decider (241).

Abstract: An audio signal processing device (20) includes: an acquirer (210) configured to acquire biological information of a human subject; a processor (240) configured to identify at least one of a breathing cycle and a heartbeat cycle of the human subject, based on the biological information; and an effect imparter (250) configured to impart to an audio signal (SD) a frequency characteristic that changes at a cycle set in accordance with either the breathing cycle or the heartbeat cycle.

Abstract: For the purpose of improving sleep satisfaction for different human subjects individually, a sound source control device (20) includes: an acquirer (202) configured to acquire a biorhythm of a human subject; an estimator (204) configured to estimate sleep depths of the human subject from the acquired biorhythm of the human subject; a controller (230) configured to control a sound source (240) to play a sound in accordance with the acquired biorhythm of the human subject, the sound being defined using a prescribed parameter set; and an evaluator (220) configured to evaluate a sleep state of the human subject based on the estimated sleep depths of the human subject, and based on the evaluation, instruct the controller (230) to change at least a part of contents of the parameter set.

Abstract: Provided is a sleep guidance device that serves to control a stimulus imparter for imparting stimuli to a human subject. The sleep guidance device acquires a biorhythm of the human subject; estimates sleep depths of the human subject from the acquired biorhythm of the human subject; and controls the stimulus imparter to impart a stimulus to the human subject in accordance with the acquired biorhythm of the human subject, and from among the sleep depths, a current sleep depth estimated for the human subject.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.

Abstract: A method for notifying a motion includes decoding watermark information superimposed on sound or video, outputting timing information obtained as a decoding result, analyzing a motion of a user with reference to a table, determining whether or not a predetermined timing comes based on the timing information, performing determination regarding the motion of the user based on an analysis result if it is determined that the predetermined timing comes, and performing notification based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.

Abstract: In a harmonic adding device, an input/output function part converts a digital sound signal having an input signal level into a digital sound signal having an output signal level determined according to a input/output function and the input signal level. A parameter storage unit stores at least one inflection point. A controller sets the inflection point to the input/output function to enable the input/output function part to add harmonics to the digital sound signal. The input/output function is defined between a positive maximum point and a negative maximum point. The inflection point is set between the positive maximum point and the negative maximum point. The positive maximum point, the inflection point and the negative maximum point are sequentially connected by linear interpolation to formulate the input/output function.

Abstract: A method for notifying a motion includes decoding watermark information superimposed on sound or video, outputting timing information obtained as a decoding result, analyzing a motion of a user with reference to a table, determining whether or not a predetermined timing comes based on the timing information, performing determination regarding the motion of the user based on an analysis result if it is determined that the predetermined timing comes, and performing notification based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: In a voice authentication apparatus, a characteristics analyzer analyzes characteristics of a sample noise which is generated around a subject while the subject generates a sample voice for authentication of the subject. A setting part sets a correction value according to the characteristics of the sample noise analyzed by the characteristics analyzer. A correction part corrects an index value, which indicates a degree of similarity between a feature quantity of a reference voice which has been previously registered and a feature quantity of the sample voice obtained from the subject, based on the set correction value. A determinator determines authenticity of the subject by comparing the corrected index value with a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: In a harmonic adding device, an input/output function part converts a digital sound signal having an input signal level into a digital sound signal having an output signal level determined according to a input/output function and the input signal level. A parameter storage unit stores at least one inflection point. A controller sets the inflection point to the input/output function to enable the input/output function part to add harmonics to the digital sound signal. The input/output function is defined between a positive maximum point and a negative maximum point. The inflection point is set between the positive maximum point and the negative maximum point. The positive maximum point, the inflection point and the negative maximum point are sequentially connected by linear interpolation to formulate the input/output function.

Abstract: A voice processing apparatus has a storage device that stores registration information containing a characteristic parameter of a given voice. The voice processing apparatus is further provided with a judgment unit, a management unit and a notification unit. The judgment unit judges whether an input voice is appropriate or not for creating or updating the registration information based on a degree of a difference between an inter-band correlation matrix of an input voice acquired this time and an inter-band correlation matrix of another input voice that is judged as being appropriate last time. The management unit creates or updates the registration information based on a characteristic parameter of the input voice when the judgment unit judges that the input voice is appropriate. The notification unit notifies a speaker of the input voice when the judgment unit judges that the input voice is inappropriate.

Abstract: A similarity degree estimation method is performed by two processes. In a first process, an inter-band correlation matrix is created from spectral data of an input voice such that the spectral data are divided into a plurality of discrete bands which are separated from each other with spaces therebetween along a frequency axis, a plurality of envelope components of the spectral data are obtained from the plurality of the discrete bands, and elements of the inter-band correlation matrix are correlation values between the respective envelope components of the input voice. In a second process, a degree of similarity is calculated between a pair of input voices to be compared with each other by using respective inter-band correlation matrices obtained for the pair of the input voices through the inter-band correlation matrix creation process.

Abstract: A sound source apparatus has a plurality of tone forming parts for outputting either of desired tones or formants according to designation of a wave table sound source mode or a voice synthesizing mode, such that the tone forming parts generate the tones in the wave table sound source mode, and generate the formants for synthesis of a voice in the voice synthesizing mode. Each tone forming part has an envelope application section that operates in the wave table sound source mode for generating an envelope signal which rises in synchronization with an instruction to start the generating of the tone and decays in synchronization with another instruction to stop the generating of the tone, and applying the generated envelope signal to waveform data read from a wave table.