Determining the position of the source of an utterance

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of information input units that input observation information of a real space;
• an event detection unit that generates event information including estimated position information and estimated identification information of users present in the real space based on analysis of the information input from the information input unit;
• and
• an information integration processing unit that inputs the event information, and generates target information including a position of each user and user identification information on the basis of the input event information, and signal information representing a probability value of the event generation source,
• wherein the information integration processing unit includes an utterance source probability calculation unit,
• wherein the utterance source probability calculation unit performs a process of calculating an utterance source score as an index value representing an utterance source probability of each target by multiplying weights based on utterance situations by a plurality of different information items input from the event detection unit, and
• wherein the utterance source probability calculation unit applies sound source direction information D, utterer identification information S, and lip movement information L, and performs a process of calculating the utterance source score according to the following formula for calculating the utterance source score P:
• P=Dα·Sβ·Lγ
• where α is a weight coefficient of sound source direction information, β is a weight coefficient of utterer identification information, γ is a weight coefficient of lip movement information, and α+β+γ=1.

An information processing method of performing an information analysis process in an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a plurality of information input units, an input of observation information of a real space;
• generating, by an event detection unit, event information including estimated position information and estimated identification information of users present in the real space based on analysis of the information input from the information input unit;
• and
• receiving, by an information integration processing unit, an input of the event, and generating target information including a position of each user and user identification information on the basis of the input event information, and signal information representing a probability value of the event generation source,
• wherein in the generating of the target information, a process of calculating an utterance source score as an index value representing an utterance source probability of each target by multiplying weights by a plurality of different information items input in the generating of the event information is performed, wherein the weights are adjusted based on whether positions of two targets are close to each other or positions of the two targets are far.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section executable by a computer, thereby causing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

• receiving, by a plurality of information input units, an input of observation information of a real space;
• generating, by an event detection unit, event information including estimated position information and estimated identification information of users present in the real space based on analysis of the information input from the information input unit;
• and
• receiving, by an information integration processing unit, an input of the event, and generating target information including a position of each user and user identification information on the basis of the input event information, and signal information representing a probability value of the event generation source,
• wherein in the generating of the target information, a process of calculating an utterance source score as an index value representing an utterance source probability of each target by multiplying weights by a plurality of different information items input in the generating of the event information is performed, wherein the weights are adjusted based on whether positions of two targets are close to each other or positions of the two targets are far.