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EP-4738184-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION IN GUIDED TOURS

EP4738184A1EP 4738184 A1EP4738184 A1EP 4738184A1EP-4738184-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an audio signal transmission system (100), comprising a plurality of receiver devices (50), each one associated with a user (2), and a plurality of transmitting devices (40), each on configured to receive a respective audio signal and transmit it to one or more receiver devices (50), an electronic device (10) for the transmission of two or more signals, and an audio mixing unit (30), configured to receive said two or more signals, and to transmit each signal to a respective transmitting device (40).

Inventors

  • PRIMERANO, Fabio

Assignees

  • Vox S.p.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251020

Claims (10)

  1. Audio signal transmission system (100), comprising: a plurality of receiver devices (50), each one associated with a user (2); and a plurality of transmitting devices (40), each on configured to receive a respective audio signal and transmit it to one or more receiver devices (50); characterized in that it comprises an electronic device (10) for the transmission of two or more signals; and in that it comprises an audio mixing unit (30), configured to receive said two or more signals, and to transmit each signal to a respective transmitting device (40).
  2. Transmission system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic device (10) is a smartphone.
  3. Transmission system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two or more signals each transmit an audio track, and in that each audio track is in a different language.
  4. Transmission system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a central control unit (20), bidirectionally connected to said electronic device (10), and configured to: - receiving a respective signal with voice content; - translating said signal with voice content into two or more languages; and - transmitting two or more signals, each having audio content in a respective language.
  5. Transmission system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mixing unit (30) is connected to said electronic device (10) by means of a wired connection, such as a cable with a USB-type connector.
  6. Transmission system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more transmitting devices (40) are connected to respective receiver devices (50) by means of a radio connection configured on specific transmission IDs.
  7. Transmission system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic device (10) comprises a computer program to manage communication with said central control unit (20).
  8. Transmission method (200) by means of a transmission system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the audio mixing device (30) performs the steps of: - receiving (201) two or more audio content signals from an electronic device (10); - demultiplexing (203) said audio content signals into a plurality of distinct transmission channels; and - transmitting (204), via each transmission channel, a respective audio content signal to a respective transmitting device (40).
  9. Transmission method (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that said one or more transmitting devices carry out a step of: - transmitting (205) by means of each transmitting device (40) a respective audio content signal to one or more receiver devices (50).
  10. Transmission method (200) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises the further step of: - translating (202) an audio signal into two or more languages by means of the central control unit (20).

Description

The present invention relates to a system and method for simultaneous translation in guided tours. Field of invention In particular, the present invention relates to audio communication systems, and more specifically to a system, method, and device for the simultaneous transmission and translation of audio signals for guided tours. In the following, the description will focus on translating the words of a guide, but it is clear that it should not be considered limited to this specific use. Prior art Guided tours are an important component of the tourism and cultural sector, allowing groups of visitors to explore places of historical, artistic, or naturalistic interest with the support of an expert guide. Traditionally, tour guides use their voices to communicate information to participants. However, with the rise of international tourism, the need to provide content in multiple languages to meet the needs of multilingual groups has arisen. Other limitations currently present include the difficulty of finding professional guides in certain languages and the difficulty for tour operators in optimizing the groups they organize. In fact, the current impossibility of creating "multilingual" groups often makes it difficult to organize tours with the desired number of people. To address this challenge, radio transmission systems for guided tours have been developed. These systems typically involve a central device connected to the guide that broadcasts pre-recorded content over multiple channels. However, these solutions have some limitations. Specifically, they do not allow direct interaction between the guide and participants, reducing the flexibility and customization of the experience. An alternative approach relies on participants' personal mobile devices, such as smartphones, to provide automatic translations of the guide's content. While this solution offers greater flexibility, many visitors are reluctant to use their own devices during guided tours. In fact, this solution has some disadvantages because it necessarily requires users to use their smartphones during guided tours, consuming battery power and risking their smartphones being dropped, damaged, or stolen. Furthermore, using the systems described, if the user were to find himself in a foreign country, s/he could incur costs due to connecting to foreign internet networks. It has been understood that a simultaneous translation system for guided tours is needed that overcomes one or more of these problems. Purpose of the invention In light of the above, it is therefore the purpose of the present invention to provide a simultaneous translation system for guided tours that overcomes the limitations of traditional systems based on pre-recorded content and allows direct interaction between the guide and the participants. Another aim of the invention is to offer a dedicated solution that does not require the use of participants' personal devices, avoiding visitors having to use their smartphones. The present invention also aims to reduce the latency in transmitting the guide's voice to users, ensuring smoother and more immediate communication. Another purpose of the invention is to offer a solution that simplifies the management of technological tools for tour guides who may not necessarily be familiar with technology. In light of the above, it is therefore the scope of the present invention to integrate hardware and software into a complete solution for simultaneous translation, offering a robust and reliable platform for managing translations in real time. Another purpose of the invention is to support simultaneous translation into multiple languages, for example, into eight different languages, making it possible to meet the needs of multilingual tourist groups. It is also the purpose of the present invention to provide a simultaneous translation system for guided tours that includes devices that can be easily associated and connected to the guide's smartphone. A further object of the present invention is to provide the tools necessary to carry out the method and the apparatus that carries out this method. Object of the invention It is, therefore, specific object of the present invention an audio signal transmission system, comprising: a plurality of receiver devices, each one associated with a user; and a plurality of transmitting devices, each on configured to receive a respective audio signal and transmit it to one or more receiver devices; characterized in that it comprises an electronic device for the transmission of two or more signals; and in that it comprises an audio mixing unit, configured to receive said two or more signals, and to transmit each signal to a respective transmitting device. Always according to the invention, said electronic device may be a smartphone. Still according to the invention, said two or more signals may each transmit an audio track, and each audio track may be in a different language. Advantageously, according to the