Masking sound generating apparatus, the masking sound generating method and a program

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for generating a masking sound having sound characteristics most suitable for masking sound characteristic of a sound to be masked. SOLUTION: In a masking sound generation apparatus according to the present invention, a storage means thereof stores a scramble sound signal having been processed in advance so that a meaning as a language can not be decided. In operation mode 1, a CPU analyzes sound characteristics of a noise generated in a sound space, reads a scramble sound signal similar to the analysis result out of the storage means, and outputs it as a masking sound. In operation mode 2, when a user specifies a scramble sound signal directly or when information associated with properties of a person using the sound space etc., is received, the CPU selects and reads a scramble sound signal out of the storage means according to the input contents and outputs it as a masking sound. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT