Method of encoding text data to include enhanced speech data for use in a text to speech(tts)system, a method of decoding, a tts system and a mobile phone including said tts system
First Claim
1. A method of encoding text data to include enhanced speech data for use in a text to speech (TTS) system, said method including:
- adding an identifier to the text data to enable said enhanced speech data to be identified;
specifying enhanced speech data; and
adding said enhanced speech data to said text data;
wherein the improvement lies in that said text data comprises text and initial speech data and said enhanced speech data improves the pronunciation of said text.
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Abstract
A text to speech (TTS) system converts text to speech and involves determining the correct pronunciation. In addition to the correct pronunciation, many TTS systems control how the text is spoken by defining a particular speech mode. A speech mode may be defined as to at least the prosody, i.e. the speech rhythms, stresses on various words, changes in pitch, rate of speaking, changes in volume and how the text is spoken in terms of currency values, dates, times etc amongst other features. The present invention relates to a method for encoding enhanced speech data. The enhanced speech data is simple, easy to use, easy to learn, uses keyboard features already on the terminal device in which the TTS system is embedded and is independent of any of the markup languages or modifications applied when designing the TTS system in situ. Thus, the output text is customised to improve the quality of the speech and enables users to personalise their messages. The present invention thus relates to a method of encoding text data, decoding annotated text data, a TTS system and a mobile phone for implementing these.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of encoding text data to include enhanced speech data for use in a text to speech (TTS) system, said method including:
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adding an identifier to the text data to enable said enhanced speech data to be identified;
specifying enhanced speech data; and
adding said enhanced speech data to said text data;
wherein the improvement lies in that said text data comprises text and initial speech data and said enhanced speech data improves the pronunciation of said text. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of decoding annotated text data which includes enhanced speech data and text data for use in a text to speech (TTS) system, said method comprising:
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detecting an identifier in the annotated text data to enable said enhanced speech data to be identified; and
separating said enhanced speech data from said text data;
wherein the improvement lies in that said text data comprises text and initial speech data and said enhanced speech data improves the pronunciation of said text. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A text to speech (TTS) system for implementing to a method of encoding text data to include enhanced speech data, said method including:
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adding an identifier to the text data to enable said enhanced speech data to be identified;
specifying enhanced speech data; and
adding said enhanced speech data to said text data;
wherein the improvement lies in that said text data comprises text and initial speech data and said enhanced speech data improves the pronunciation of said text, anda method of decoding annotated text data which includes enhanced speech data and text data, said method comprising;
detecting an identifier in the annotated text data to enable said enhanced speech data to be identified; and
separating said enhanced speech data from said text data;
wherein the improvement lies in that said text data comprises text and initial speech data and said enhanced speech data improves the pronunciation of said text. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification