Conversion of number into text and speech

• US 20070027673A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Moberg, Marko
• Application Number:
  US11/193,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027673A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/56 Natural language generation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/08 Text analysis or generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text, e.g. grapheme to phoneme translation, prosody generation or stress or intonation determination

Abstract

A solution for converting a cardinal number into a textual representation or into speech is presented. A converter converts, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation. A combiner adds a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit. A corrector corrects, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit having a textual representation different from a correct expression, and combines the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number. A synthesizer converts the full textual representation of the number into speech.

Claims

1. A method of converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the method comprising:

converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

performing the following operation depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit; and

performing additionally the following operation in the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions;

correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise

forming the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of a single digit.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit according to the language-dependent rules defining correct expressions.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising correcting a textual representation of a combination of successive digits of a number including more than one digit in a place known to result in an incorrect expression.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising correcting a textual representation by replacing a textual representation known to be incorrect by a correct textual representation.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising adding a textual representation of a place value behind a textual representation of a digit.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising selecting a desired language from among a plurality of languages for converting the cardinal number into a textual representation.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising correcting the textual representation of the number to a textual representation corresponding to a zero in the desired language if the number is 0.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising searching for the most significant digit to determine a need for place values.

10. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising converting a time expressed in hours and minutes into textual representation.

11. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising converting an abbreviation into textual representation.

12. A method of converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the method comprising:

converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

performing the following operation depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit;

performing additionally the following operation on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions;

correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression;

combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise forming the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.

13. A device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the device comprising:

a converter configured to convert, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a combiner configured to add a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten; and

a corrector configured to correct, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the corrector is further configured

to combine the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise

to form the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the combiner is configured to add the textual representation of the place value to the textual representation of a digit according to the language-dependent rules defining correct expressions.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the corrector is configured to correct a textual representation of a combination of successive digits of a number including more than one digit in a place known to result in an incorrect expression.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the corrector is configured to correct a textual representation by replacing a textual representation known to be incorrect by a correct textual representation.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the combiner is configured to add a textual representation of a place value behind a textual representation of a digit.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the device comprises a selector configured to select a desired language from among a plurality of languages for converting the cardinal number into a textual representation.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the corrector is configured to correct the textual representation of the number to a textual representation corresponding to a zero in the desired language if the number is 0.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is configured to search for the most significant digit to determine a need for place values.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is configured to convert a time expressed in hours and minutes into textual representation.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is configured to convert an abbreviation into textual representation.

24. A device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the device comprising:

means for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

means for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten; and

means for correcting, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

25. A device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the device comprising:

a converter configured, one by one, to convert each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a combiner configured to add a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

a corrector configured

to correct, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression, and

to combine the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise to form the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

a synthesizer configured to convert the full textual representation of the number into speech.

26. A device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the device comprising:

means for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

means for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

means for

correcting, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression, and

combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise to form the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

means for converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.

27. A subscriber terminal including a device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the device comprising:

a converter configured, one by one, to convert each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a combiner configured to add a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten; and

a corrector configured to correct, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

28. A subscriber terminal including a device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the device comprising:

means for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

means for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten; and

means for correcting, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

29. A subscriber terminal including a device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the device comprising:

a converter configured to convert, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a combiner configured to add a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

a corrector configured

to correct, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression, and

to combine the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise to form the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

a synthesizer configured to convert the full textual representation of the number into speech.

30. A subscriber terminal including a device for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the device comprising:

means for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

means for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

means for

correcting, on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions, any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression, and

combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise to form the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

means for converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.

31. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the process comprising:

converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

performing the following operation depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit; and

performing additionally the following operation on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions;

correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, the computer program product including at least one of the following:

a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, and a computer readable compressed software package.

33. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the process comprising:

converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

performing the following operation depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit;

performing additionally the following operation on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions;

correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression;

combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise forming the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, the computer program product including at least one of the following:

a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, and a computer readable compressed software package.

35. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the process comprising:

converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

performing the following operation depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit; and

performing additionally the following operation on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions;

correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression.

36. The computer program distribution medium of claim 35, the distribution medium including at least one of the following mediums:

a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, and a computer readable compressed software package.

37. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the process comprising:

converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

performing the following operation depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit;

performing additionally the following operation on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions;

correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression;

combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise forming the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit; and

converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.

38. The computer program distribution medium of claim 37, the distribution medium including at least one of the following mediums:

a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, and a computer readable compressed software package.

39. A data structure for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the data structure comprising:

a first data field including information for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a second data field including information for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten; and

a third data field including information for correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions.

40. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer, the computer program distribution medium having data structure for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into a textual representation of a desired language, the data structure comprising:

a first data field including information for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a second data field including information for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten; and

a third data field including information for correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions.

41. A data structure for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the data structure comprising:

a first data field including information for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a second data field including information for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

a third data field including information for correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions,

for combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise forming the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit, and for converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.

42. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer, the computer program distribution medium having data structure for converting a cardinal number of a decimal number system including at least one digit in a sequence of places ordered by powers of ten into speech of a desired language, the data structure comprising:

a first data field including information for converting, one by one, each digit of the cardinal number into a textual representation of a desired language;

a second data field including information for adding a textual representation of a place value to a textual representation of a digit depending on a place of a digit in the sequence of places ordered by powers of ten;

a third data field including information for correcting any formed textual representation relating to at least one digit in a place known to result in a textual representation differing from a correct expression on the basis of language-dependent rules defining correct expressions,

for combining the textual representations for forming a full textual representation of the number if the number has more than one digit, and otherwise forming the full textual representation of the number using the textual representation of the single digit, and for converting the full textual representation of the number into speech.