Device control apparatus and device control method

A device control apparatus controlling an operation device, a plurality of persons being engaged in operations of the operation device, the device control apparatus comprising:

• a control circuit configured to:
• 1) obtain voice instructions or voice responses from the plurality of persons, the voice instructions or voice responses relating to operations of the operation device including modalities of operations of the operation device,
• 2) classify the modalities included in the voice instructions or voice responses, and
• 3) determine a preferential operation of the operation device according to consistency between a first modalities classified from the voice instructions or a second modalities classified from the voice responses and priorities predefined for each person of the plurality of persons,
• wherein the plurality of persons includes at least one instructor indirectly operating the operation device and an operator directly operating the operation device, and
• the control circuit is configured to determine that instructions by the instructor relating to operations of the operation device shall be instructions relating to the preferential operation of the operation device when there has been a repetition by the operator subsequent to voice instructions by the instructor relating to operations of the operation device.

A device control method for controlling an operation device, a plurality of persons being engaged in operations of the operation device, the device control method comprising:

• 1) obtaining, at a control circuit, instructions or voice responses from the plurality of persons, the voice instructions for the voice responses relating to operations of the operation device including modalities of operations of the operation device,
• 2) classify, at the control circuit, the modalities included in the voice instructions or voice responses, and
• 3) determining, at the control circuit, a preferential operation of the operation device according to consistency between a first modalities classified from the voice instructions or a second modalities classified from the voice responses and priorities predefined for each person of the plurality of persons,
• wherein the plurality of persons includes at least one instructor indirectly operating the operation device and an operator directly operating the operation device, and
• the control circuit is configured to determine that instructions by the instructor relating to operations of the operation device shall be instructions relating to the preferential operation of the operation device when there has been a repetition by the operator subsequent to voice instructions by the instructor relating to operations of the operation device.

A device control method for controlling an operation device, a plurality of persons being engaged in operations of the operation device, the device control method comprising:

• 1) obtaining, at a control circuit, instructions or voice responses from the plurality of persons, the voice instructions for the voice responses including modalities of operations of the operation device,
• 2) classify, at the control circuit, the modalities included in the voice instructions or voice responses, and
• 3) determining, at the control circuit, a preferential operation of the operation device according to consistency between a first modalities classified from the voice instructions or a second modalities classified from the voice responses and priorities predefined for each person of the plurality of persons, wherein the plurality of persons includes an operator indirectly operating the operation device and at least one instructor directly operating the operation device, and
• 4) disabling operations of the operation device by the operator when operations of the operation device by the operator contradict contents of instructions by the instructor relating to operations of the operation device, and the instructor has a higher priority than the operator, and
• 5) granting operations of the operation device by the operator when operations of the operation device by the operator do not contradict contents of instructions by the instructor relating to operations of the operation device, or the operator has a higher priority than the instructor.