PERSONAL AND REMOTE ARTICLE-ON-DEMAND SYSTEM

• US 20070250321A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E3 Infosystems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E3 Infosystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Balusu, Prasad
• Application Number:
  US11/379,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/40 terminals with audio html browser
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

A communication system (10) includes a remote personal communication device (14) that has an input device 68, 70, 72) and a data transceiver (62). The input device (68, 70, 72) receives a text article request command from a user. The data transceiver (62) transmits text article request signals in response to the text article request command and receives text article signals from an article source (12) in response to the text article request signals. A text-to-speech converter (46, 66) converts the text article signals into speech signals. An audio system (74) is coupled to the text-to-speech converter (46, 66) and audibly transmits the speech signals to the user.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a remote personal communication device comprising;

an input device receiving a text article request command from a user; and

a data transceiver coupled to said input device, transmitting text article request signals in response to said text article request command, and receiving text article signals from an article source in response to said text article request signals;

a text-to-speech converter converting said text article signals into speech signals; and

an audio system coupled to said text-to-speech converter and audibly transmitting said speech signals to said user.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said text article is received through a subscription service provider.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said remote personal communication device is selected from at least one of a cellular phone, a personal data assistant, a computer, and a vehicle communication system.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said remote personal communication device comprises:

at least one reference identifying input;

at least one article identifying input; and

a controller generating said text article request signals in response to said at least one reference identifying input and said at least one an article identifying input.

5. A system as in claim 4 reference identifying input comprises a reference title input, a topic input, a publisher input, an address of an article source input, a phone number of an article source input, and a geographical location of an article source input.

6. A system as in claim 4 wherein said article identifying input comprises at least one input selected from a title input, an author input, a date input, a publisher input, and a subject input.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said remote personal communication device comprises an article reference selector allowing said user to scan for and select a reference of a desired article.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said remote personal communication device comprises an article selector allowing said user to scan for and select a desired article.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said input device is selected from at least one of a display, a touch screen, a keypad, a keyboard, a mouse, a voice recognition system, a voice operated system, and a touch pad.

10. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a fee calculator in communication with said remote personal communication device and determining a service fee associated with reception of said text article signals.

11. A system as in claim 10 further comprising an electronic fund disbursement system transferring funds from an account of said user to pay said service fee.

12. A system as in claim 10 wherein said electronic fund disbursement system transfers said funds upon transmission of said text article signals.

13. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a user balance notification device in communication with said remote personal communication device and generating a warning signal indicative of service cancellation.

14. A system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one headset coupled to said remote personal communication device and audibly transmitting said speech signals.

15. An information broadcasting system comprising:

a central broadcast station transmitting text article signals for a plurality of articles;

a remote personal communication device comprising;

a data transceiver receiving said text article signals;

an input device receiving a text article request command from a user; and

a controller selecting at least one of said text article signals in response to said text article request command and a user associated service access code;

a text-to-speech converter converting said selected text article signals into speech signals; and

an audio system coupled to said text-to-speech converter and audibly transmitting said speech signals to said user.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein said central station prevents transmission of said text article signals in response to at least one of a user service code, a user unpaid balance, a parental associated parameter, an instructor associated parameter, and a security parameter.

17. A system as in claim 15 wherein said remote personal communication device comprises said text-to-speech converter.

18. A system as in claim 15 wherein said remote personal communication device comprises said audio system.

19. A method of audibly providing written materials to a remote system user comprising:

selecting an article reference;

selecting an article;

remotely generating and transmitting text article request signals in response to said article reference and said article;

acquiring said text article from an article source in response to said text article request signals and transmitting text article signals;

remotely receiving said text article signals;

converting said text article signals into speech signals; and

audibly transmitting said speech signals to said user.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein transmitting said text article signals comprises wirelessly transmitting said text article signals to a personal communication device.