Method and apparatus for playing recordings of spoken alphanumeric characters
First Claim
1. A method of playing recordings of spoken alphanumeric characters in sequences, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) receiving a sequence of alphanumeric characters to be played;
(ii) accessing a template comprising a sequence of fields, each field representing part of a sequence of alphanumeric characters and said template comprising information about the manner in which a sequence of alphanumeric characters is to be played;
(iii) accessing a database of fragments, each of a plurality of said fragments being a recording of a spoken alphanumeric character as spoken at a particular location within an utterance;
(iv) for each character in said received sequence of alphanumeric characters, selecting a fragment on the basis of the accessed template; and
(v) passing said selected fragments to a player and playing the fragments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Automated systems for “speaking” telephone numbers, zip codes and the like typically produce unrealistic results that do not sound like an actual human speaking the telephone number or zip code. By using templates together with four or more types of fragment for each alphanumeric character this problem is addressed. A fragment is a recording of a spoken alphanumeric character as spoken at a particular location within an utterance. A template is a sequence of fields, each field representing part of a sequence of alphanumeric characters. Templates comprise information about the manner in which a sequence of alphanumeric characters is to be played, such as which fragments to use and when to use pauses. Using this method alphanumeric character sequences such as telephone numbers, zip codes and the like are played with human-like intonation in real time.
174 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of playing recordings of spoken alphanumeric characters in sequences, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving a sequence of alphanumeric characters to be played;
(ii) accessing a template comprising a sequence of fields, each field representing part of a sequence of alphanumeric characters and said template comprising information about the manner in which a sequence of alphanumeric characters is to be played;
(iii) accessing a database of fragments, each of a plurality of said fragments being a recording of a spoken alphanumeric character as spoken at a particular location within an utterance;
(iv) for each character in said received sequence of alphanumeric characters, selecting a fragment on the basis of the accessed template; and
(v) passing said selected fragments to a player and playing the fragments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for playing recordings of spoken alphanumeric characters in sequences, said apparatus comprising:
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(i) an input arranged to receive a sequence of alphanumeric characters to be played;
(ii) a processor arranged to access a template comprising a sequence of fields, each field representing part of a sequence of alphanumeric characters and said template comprising information about the manner in which a sequence of alphanumeric characters is to be played;
(iii) said processor being further arranged to access information about fragments, each of a plurality of said fragments being a recording of a spoken alphanumeric character as spoken at a particular location within an utterance;
(iv) said processor being further arranged, for each character in said received sequence of alphanumeric characters, to select a fragment on the basis of the accessed template; and
(v) an output arranged to pass information about said selected fragments to a player which is arranged to play the fragments. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23)
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21. A computer program arranged to control a processor and player in order to play recordings of spoken alphanumeric characters in sequences, said computer program being arranged to control said process and player such that:
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(i) a sequence of alphanumeric characters to be played is received;
(ii) a template is accessed comprising a sequence of fields, each field representing part of a sequence of alphanumeric characters and said template comprising information about the manner in which a sequence of alphanumeric characters is to be played;
(iii) a database of fragments is accessed, each of a plurality of said fragments being a recording of a spoken alphanumeric character as spoken at a particular location within an utterance;
(iv) a fragment is selected for each character in said received sequence of alphanumeric characters, said fragment being selected on the basis of the accessed template; and
(v) said selected fragments are passed to the player which plays the fragments.
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Specification