Sony Patent | Information Processing Apparatus And Information Processing Method

Patent: Information Processing Apparatus And Information Processing Method

Publication Number: 20200111505

Publication Date: 20200409

Applicants: Sony

Abstract

[Object] To more flexibly control the affinity of a spoken utterance for a background sound in accordance with the importance degree of an information notification. [Solution] There is provided an information processing apparatus including an utterance control unit that controls an output of a spoken utterance corresponding to notification information. The utterance control unit controls an output mode of the spoken utterance on the basis of an importance degree of the notification information and affinity for a background sound. In addition, there is provided an information processing method including controlling, by a processor, an output of a spoken utterance corresponding to notification information. The controlling further includes controlling an output mode of the spoken utterance on the basis of an importance degree of the notification information and affinity for a background sound.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In recent years, various devices have been gaining widespread use that issue information notifications or the like to users by using voices. In addition, many technologies have been developed for performing control according to the situation in which an information notification issued by an agent device as described above is outputted. For example, PTL 1 discloses technology for selecting, in a case where an information notification is issued while music is reproduced, a speech format that matches the genre of the music being reproduced.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[0003] PTL 1: International Publication No. WO 2007/091475

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the technology disclosed in PTL 1 selects a speech format that matches music being reproduced even in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is high. In this case, the music drowns out a spoken utterance, and a user may fail to notice an important information notification.

[0005] Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes a novel and improved information processing apparatus and information processing method that make it possible to more flexibly control the affinity of a spoken utterance for a background sound in accordance with the importance degree of an information notification.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing apparatus including an utterance control unit that controls an output of a spoken utterance corresponding to notification information. The utterance control unit controls an output mode of the spoken utterance on the basis of an importance degree of the notification information and affinity for a background sound.

[0007] In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method including controlling, by a processor, an output of a spoken utterance corresponding to notification information. The controlling further includes controlling an output mode of the spoken utterance on the basis of an importance degree of the notification information and affinity for a background sound.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to more flexibly control the affinity of a spoken utterance for a background sound in accordance with the importance degree of an information notification.

[0009] Note that the effects described above are not necessarily limitative. With or in the place of the above effects, there may be achieved any one of the effects described in this specification or other effects that may be grasped from this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing an outline of a technical idea according to the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 3 is an example of a functional block diagram of a reproduction apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 4 is an example of a functional block diagram of an information processing terminal according to the embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an example of a functional block diagram of an information processing server according to the embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a determination made by a determination unit according to the embodiment about an importance degree of notification information.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output mode controlled by an utterance control unit according to the embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing simultaneous control performed by the utterance control unit according to the embodiment over a plurality of spoken utterances.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing control of a relevant notification that matches a background sound according to the embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing control of an output mode for affinity for an environmental sound according to the embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing control of an output mode for affinity for a background sound in a game according to the embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing control of an output mode accompanied by cancellation processing on a singing voice, an utterance, or the like according to the embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of control performed by an information processing server according to the embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, (a) preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. It is to be noted that, in this specification and the appended drawings, components that have substantially the same function and configuration are denoted with the same reference numerals, thereby refraining from repeatedly describing these components.

[0025] Note that the description proceeds in the following order. [0026] 1. Embodiment [0027] 1.1. Outline [0028] 1.2. System Configuration Example [0029] 1.3. Functional Configuration Example of Reproduction Apparatus 10 [0030] 1.4. Functional Configuration Example of Information Processing Terminal 20 [0031] 1.5. Functional Configuration Example of Information Processing Server 30 [0032] 1.6. Specific Example of Control [0033] 1.7. Flow of Control [0034] 2. Example of Hardware Configuration [0035] 3. Summary [0036] <1. Embodiment> [0037] <<1.1. Outline>>

[0038] As described above, various devices that issue information notifications or the like through spoken utterances have been gaining widespread use in recent years. Devices as described above perform information notifications in various situations. For example, information notifications are issued through spoken utterances in a situation with a background sound such as music in many cases.

[0039] However, for example, in a case where a spoken utterance is outputted while music is reproduced, a case is also assumed where the spoken utterance seriously spoils the mood of the music, or where the user fails to grasp the contents of an information notification because the spoken utterance and the singing voice compete with each other.

[0040] For this reason, in issuing an information notification through a spoken utterance, it is necessary to output, at appropriate timing, a voice that matches the background sound.

[0041] However, in a case where control as described above is performed at all times, the convenience is impaired in some cases to the contrary. For example, in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is high, the use of a voice that matches the background sound causes the information notification to be drowned out in the background sound, and arouses the concern that a user fails to notice an important information notification. It is thus desirable that the information notification issued through a spoken utterance be controlled by taking into consideration both the importance degree of the information notification and the affinity for the background sound.

[0042] The technical idea according to the present disclosure has been conceived by focusing on the points described above, and makes it possible to more flexibly control the affinity of a spoken utterance for a background sound in accordance with the importance degree of an information notification. To this end, one of the characteristics of the information processing apparatus and information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is to control an output mode of a spoken utterance on the basis of the importance degree of notification information and the affinity for a background sound.

[0043] FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing the outline of the technical idea according to the present disclosure. A reproduction apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that reproduces content such as music or video, and an information processing terminal 20 is an apparatus that issues an information notification through a spoken utterance on the basis of the control performed by an information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment.

[0044] The upper portion of FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the output control of a spoken utterance in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively low. In a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively low, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is able to cause the information processing terminal 20 to output a spoken utterance SO1 in an output mode of high affinity for a background sound BS. In other words, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment causes the information processing terminal 20 to output the spoken utterance SO1 in an output mode that matches the background sound BS outputted from the reproduction apparatus 10.

[0045] Here, the output mode described above includes the output timing, voice quality, prosody, effects, and the like of a spoken utterance. In a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively low, the information processing server 30 may set voice quality, prosody, and effects similar to the vocal included in the background sound BS that is, for example, music, and control the output of the spoken utterance SO1 made by the information processing terminal 20.

[0046] Here, the voice quality described above includes the sex and height of a speaker, the pitch of a voice, and the like. In addition, the prosody described above includes speech rhythm, stress, length, and the like. In addition, the effects described above include, for example, the sound quality of a voice or various processing states brought about by signal processing.

[0047] Note that character decorations for background sounds and utterance voices in the drawings of the present disclosure indicate the voice quality, prosody, effects, and the like described above. For example, the upper portion of FIG. 1 illustrates that the spoken utterance SO1 is outputted with voice quality, prosody, or effects similar to those of the background sound BS because the character decorations for the background sound BS and the spoken utterance SO1 are the same.

[0048] In addition, in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively low, the information processing server 30 is able to set output timing at which the main portion included in the background sound BS is not disturbed, and cause the information processing terminal 20 to output the spoken utterance SO1 at the output timing. Here, the main portion described above refers, for example, to the vocal portion, chorus, theme, or the like of a musical composition, or an utterance portion or an exciting portion such as the climax of a video or a game. In the case of the example illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 1, the information processing server 30 outputs the spoken utterance SO1 not to overlap with the vocal of the background sound BS.

[0049] In this way, with respect to an information notification of a relatively low importance degree, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is able to control the output mode of the spoken utterance SO1 for higher affinity for the background sound BS. In other words, the spoken utterance SO1 matches the background sound BS. The above-described function of the information processing server 30 makes it possible to issue a more natural information notification without spoiling the mood of the background sound BS such as music.

[0050] Meanwhile, the lower portion of FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the output control of a spoken utterance in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively high. In a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively high, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment may cause the information processing terminal 20 to output a spoken utterance SO2 in an output mode of low affinity for the background sound BS. In other words, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is able to set the output mode in which the spoken utterance SO2 is emphasized as compared with the background sound BS outputted from the reproduction apparatus 10, and cause the information processing terminal 20 to output the spoken utterance SO2.

[0051] The lower portion of FIG. 1 illustrates that the spoken utterance SO2 is outputted with voice quality, prosody, or effects that are not similar to those of the background sound BS because the character decorations for the background sound BS and the spoken utterance SO2 are different.

[0052] In addition, in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively high, the information processing server 30 is able to set output timing at which the spoken utterance SO2 is emphasized as compared with the background sound BS, and cause the information processing terminal 20 to output the spoken utterance SO2 at the output timing. For example, the information processing server 30 may emphasize the spoken utterance SO2 by causing the spoken utterance SO2 to be outputted overlapping with the vocal included in the background sound BS, as illustrated in the diagram. Meanwhile, the information processing server 30 assumes that the attention of a user is not directed to the information notification, for example, in a highly exciting portion such as the main portion of the background sound BS. The information processing server 30 causes an output to be made while avoiding the main portion, thereby allowing the spoken utterance SO2 to be emphasized.

[0053] In this way, with respect to an information notification of a relatively high importance degree, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is able to control the output mode for lower affinity for the background sound BS. In other words, the spoken utterance SO2 is emphasized as compared with the background sound BS. According to the above-described function of the information processing server 30, emphasizing the spoken utterance SO2 as compared with the background sound BS in the presence of the background sound BS such as music makes it possible to effectively reduce risks that a user fails to notice an important information notification.

[0054] The outline of the technical idea according to the present disclosure has been described above. Note that the above describes, as an example, the case where the background sound is content such as music reproduced by the reproduction apparatus 10, but the background sound according to the present embodiment includes various sounds such as music, an utterance, and an environmental sound. In addition, the background sound according to the present embodiment is not limited to a sound outputted from the reproduction apparatus 10, but may include various sounds that may be collected by the information processing terminal 20. A specific example of the background sound according to the present embodiment is separately described in detail.

<<1.2. System Configuration Example>>

[0055] Next, a system configuration example according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates that information processing system according to the present embodiment may include the reproduction apparatus 10, the information processing terminal 20, and the information processing server 30. In addition, the reproduction apparatus 10 and the information processing server 30 are coupled to each other via a network 40, and the information processing terminal 20 and the information processing server 30 are coupled to each other via the network 40, which allows the reproduction apparatus 10 and the information processing server 30 to communicate with each other and allows the information processing terminal 20 and the information processing server 30 to communicate with each other.

(Reproduction Apparatus 10)

[0056] The reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that reproduces music, a voice, and another sound corresponding to the background sound. The reproduction apparatus 10 may include various apparatuses that reproduce music content, video content, and the like. The reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment may be, for example, an audio apparatus, a television receiver, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable apparatus, a computer, an agent apparatus, a telephone, or the like.

(Information Processing Terminal 20)

[0057] The information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that outputs a spoken utterance on the basis of the control performed by the information processing server 30. In addition, the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment has a function of collecting, as the background sounds, sounds outputted by the reproduction apparatus 10 and various sounds generated in the surroundings. The information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable apparatus, a computer, an agent apparatus, or the like.

(Information Processing Server 30)

[0058] The information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is an information processing apparatus that controls the output mode of a spoken utterance by the information processing terminal 20 on the basis of the background sound collected by the information processing terminal 20 and the importance degree of an information notification. As described above, in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively low, the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is able to set an output mode of high affinity for the background sound, and cause the information processing terminal 20 to make a spoken utterance. In contrast, in a case where the importance degree of an information notification is relatively high, it is possible to set an output mode of low affinity for the background sound, and cause the information processing terminal 20 to make a spoken utterance.

(Network 40)

[0059] The network 40 has functions of coupling the reproduction apparatus 10 and the information processing server 30 to each other, and coupling the information processing terminal 20 and the information processing server 30 to each other. The network 40 may include public networks such as the Internet, a telephone network, and a satellite communication network, and various LAN (Local Area Networks), WAN (Wide Area Networks), and the like including Ethernet (registered trademark). In addition, the network 40 may include leased line networks such as IP-VPN (Internet Protocol-Virtual Private Network). In addition, the network 40 may include wireless communication networks of Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like.

[0060] The configuration example of the information processing system according to the present embodiment has been described above. Note that the functional configuration described above with reference to FIG. 2 is merely an example. The functional configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment is not limited to the example. For example, the background sound according to the present embodiment is not limited to a sound outputted from the reproduction apparatus 10. Therefore, the information processing system according to the present embodiment does not necessarily have to include the reproduction apparatus 10. In addition, the functions of the reproduction apparatus 10 and the information processing terminal 20 may be implemented by a single apparatus. Similarly, the functions of the information processing terminal 20 and the information processing server 30 may be implemented by a single apparatus. It is possible to flexibly modify the functional configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment in accordance with the specifications and operations.

<<1.3. Functional Configuration Example of Reproduction Apparatus 10>>

[0061] Next, a functional configuration example of the reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is described in detail. FIG. 3 is an example of a functional block diagram of the reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates that the reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a reproduction unit 110, a processing unit 120, and a communication unit 130.

(Reproduction Unit 110)

[0062] The reproduction unit 110 according to the present embodiment has a function of reproducing music content, video content, and the like. To this end, the reproduction unit 110 according to the present embodiment includes various display devices, amplifiers, speakers, and the like.

(Processing Unit 120)

[0063] The processing unit 120 according to the present embodiment executes various kinds of processing for the reproduction unit 110 to reproduce content. The processing unit 120 according to the present embodiment is able to execute, for example, cancellation processing on a singing voice, an utterance, or the like. The cancellation processing is described below. In addition, the processing unit 120 according to the present embodiment may perform various kinds of control according to the characteristics of the reproduction apparatus 10, in addition to the processing of reproducing content.

(Communication Unit 130)

[0064] The communication unit 130 according to the present embodiment has a function of performing information communication with the information processing server 30 via the network 40. Specifically, the communication unit 130 may transmit, to the information processing server 30, information relating to content reproduced by the reproduction unit 110. In addition, the communication unit 130 may receive, from the information processing server 30, a control signal for the cancellation processing on a singing voice, an utterance, or the like.

[0065] The functional configuration example of the reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above in detail. Note that the functional configuration described above with reference to FIG. 3 is merely an example. The functional configuration of the reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the example. The reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment may further include a component other than those illustrated in FIG. 3. The reproduction apparatus 10 may further include, for example, an input unit or the like that receives an input made by a user. In addition, the functions of the reproduction unit 110 and the processing unit 120 may be implemented by the information processing terminal 20. It is possible to flexibly modify the functional configuration of the reproduction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment in accordance with the specifications and operations.

<<1.4. Functional Configuration Example of Information Processing Terminal 20>>

[0066] Next, a functional configuration example of the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment is described in detail. FIG. 4 is an example of a functional block diagram of the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 illustrates that the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment includes an audio input unit 210, a sensor unit 220, an audio output unit 230, and a communication unit 240.

(Audio Input Unit 210)

[0067] The audio input unit 210 according to the present embodiment has a function of collecting a background sound and an utterance made by a user. As described above, the background sound according to the present embodiment includes various sounds generated around the information processing terminal 20 in addition to a sound reproduced by the reproduction apparatus 10. The audio input unit 210 according to the present embodiment includes a microphone for collecting a background sound.

(Sensor Unit 220)

[0068] The sensor unit 220 according to the present embodiment has a function of collecting various kinds of information relating to a user and a surrounding environment. The sensor unit 220 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signal receiver, various biological sensors, and the like. The biological sensors described above include, for example, a sensor that collects information regarding a user’s pulse, blood pressure, brain wave, respiration, body temperature, and the like. The sensor information collected by the sensor unit 220 according to the present embodiment may be used for the information processing server 30 to determine the importance degree of an information notification.

(Audio Output Unit 230)

[0069] The audio output unit 230 according to the present embodiment has a function of outputting a spoken utterance on the basis of the control performed by the information processing server 30. In this case, one of the characteristics of the audio output unit 230 according to the present embodiment is to output a spoken utterance corresponding to the output mode set by the information processing server 30. The audio output unit 230 includes an amplifier and a speaker for outputting a spoken utterance.

(Communication Unit 240)

[0070] The communication unit 240 according to the present embodiment has a function of performing information communication with the information processing server 30 via the network 40. Specifically, the communication unit 240 transmits the background sound collected by the audio input unit 210 and the sensor information collected by the sensor unit 220 to the information processing server 30. In addition, the communication unit 240 receives an artificial voice used for a spoken utterance from the information processing server 30.

[0071] The functional configuration example of the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment has been described above in detail. Note that the functional configuration described above with reference to FIG. 4 is merely an example. The functional configuration of the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the example. The information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment may further include a component other than those illustrated in FIG. 4. The information processing terminal 20 may further include, for example, a component corresponding to the reproduction unit 110 of the reproduction apparatus 10. In addition, as described above, the function of the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment may be implemented as the function of the information processing server 30. It is possible to flexibly modify the functional configuration of the information processing terminal 20 according to the present embodiment in accordance with the specifications and operations.

<<1.5. Functional Configuration Example of Information Processing Server 30>>

[0072] Next, a functional configuration example of the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment is described in detail. FIG. 5 is an example of a functional block diagram of the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates that the information processing server 30 according to the present embodiment includes an analyzer 310, a determination unit 320, a property DB 330, an utterance control unit 340, a voice synthesizer 350, a signal processing unit 360, and a communication unit 370.

(Analyzer 310)

[0073] The analyzer 310 according to the present embodiment has a function of performing a background sound analysis on the basis of the background sound collected by the information processing terminal 20 and the information of content transmitted from the reproduction apparatus 10. Specifically, the analyzer 310 according to the present embodiment is able to analyze the voice quality, prosody, sound quality, main portion, and the like of the background sound. The analyzer 310 may then perform the analysis described above on the basis of a technique that is widely used in the field of sound analyzers.

(Determination Unit 320)

[0074] The determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment has a function of determining the importance degree of notification information. Note that the importance degree of notification information according to the present embodiment includes the urgency degree of a notification. FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a determination made by the determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment about an importance degree of notification information. As illustrated in the diagram, the determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment is able to determine the importance degree of notification information on the basis of various kinds of inputted information.

[0075] Specifically, the determination unit 320 may determine the importance degree of notification information on the basis of utterance text indicating the contents of a spoken utterance, the characteristics of the notification information, context data for the notification information, the user property of a user to whom the notification information is presented, and the like.

[0076] Here, the above-described characteristics of notification information may include the contents and the class of the notification information. For example, in a case where the notification information is information that is distributed to a large number of unspecified users, for example, for reading aloud news, weather, advertisement, relevant information regarding content, or web information including SNS (social networking service), the determination unit 320 may determine that the importance degree of the notification information is relatively low. The notification information whose importance degree is determined by the determination unit 320 to be relatively low includes, in addition to the examples described above, various kinds of information that cause less damage even in a case where a user fails to hear the information, but bring benefits if the user selectively listens to the information.

[0077] In contrast, for example, in a case where notification information is information of which an individual user is notified such as schedule, a message, a response to an inquiry made by the user, and a navigation, the determination unit 320 may determine that the importance degree of the notification information is relatively high. The notification information whose importance degree is determined by the determination unit 320 to be relatively high includes, in addition to the examples described above, various kinds of information that may disadvantage a user in a case where the user fails to hear the information.

[0078] As described above, the determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment is able to determine the importance degree of notification information on the basis of the characteristics of the notification information. Note that the determination unit 320 may acquire the characteristics of notification information as exemplified above as metadata, or may acquire the metadata by analyzing utterance text.

[0079] In addition, even in a case where pieces of notification information have the same characteristics, it is assumed that some situations in which the pieces of notification information are outputted change the importance degrees of the pieces of notification information for a user. The determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment may therefore determine the importance degree of notification information on the basis of the context data for the information notification. Here, the context data described above refers to various kinds of information each indicating a situation in which notification information is outputted. The context data according to the present embodiment includes, for example, sensor information, utterance information, user schedule, and the like collected by the information processing terminal 20.

[0080] For example, in a case where notification information is information regarding the weather forecast of a spot A, the notification information normally has a relatively low importance degree. However, in a case where a user is scheduled to go to the spot A, the notification information is considered to temporarily have a high importance degree. In this case, the determination unit 320 is able to determine the importance degree of the notification information for the weather forecast of the spot A on the basis of context data such as the collected utterance information and schedule, and destination information inputted by the user.

[0081] In addition, it is assumed that some situations also change the importance degree of notification information for warning or alerting a user. For example, in a situation in which the vehicle approaches from behind, a situation in which a rapid increase in the user’s temperature or blood pressure is detected, or the like in a case where the user is jogging while listening to music, the determination unit 320 may determine that the importance degree of notification information regarding the situation is high. The determination unit 320 is then able to make the determination described above on the basis of sensor information or the like collected by the information processing terminal 20 or another external apparatus. The above-described function of the determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment makes it possible to appropriately determine the importance degree of notification information in accordance with the situation, and perform the output control of the spoken utterance according to the importance degree.

[0082] In addition, it is assumed that the importance degree of notification information is not the same for all users, but is different for each user. The determination unit 320 according to the present embodiment may thus determine the importance degree of notification information on the basis of the user property regarding a user to whom the notification information is presented. Here, the user property described above includes the characteristics and tendencies of a user.

[0083] For example, in a case where notification information pertains to the delivery of news, but the news belongs to a category that a user frequently views, the determination unit 320 may determine that the importance degree of the notification information is high. In contrast, in a case where notification information pertains to the reception of a message, but a past tendency demonstrates that a user makes no reply or the message comes from a sender who replies late, the determination unit 320 may determine that the importance degree of the notification information is low.