System and method for client voice building

• US 20090048838A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Third Pillar, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cepstral, LLC
• Inventors: Lenzo, Kevin A., Cox, Alexandre D., Campbell, Craig F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,086,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/254
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for building and managing a customized voice of an end-user, comprising the steps of designing a set of prompts for collection from the user, wherein the prompts are selected from both an analysis tool and by the user'"'"'s own choosing to capture voice characteristics unique to the user. The prompts are delivered to the user over a network to allow the user to save a user recording on a server of a service provider. This recording is then retrieved and stored on the server and then set up on the server to build a voice database using text-to-speech synthesis tools. A graphical interface allows the user to continuously refine the data file to improve the voice and customize parameter and configuration settings, thereby forming a customized voice database which can be deployed or accessed.

Claims

1. A method for building and managing a customized voice of a client for a target, comprising the steps of:

designing a set of prompts for collection from said client, wherein said prompts are selected from both an analysis tool and by the client'"'"'s own choosing to capture voice characteristics unique to said client;

delivering said prompts to said client over a network to allow said client to save a client recording on a server of a service provider;

retrieving and storing said client recording on said server;

setting up said client recording on said server to build a talking voice using text-to-speech synthesis tools, wherein said talking voice is a data file built into a voice database which said client may retrieve over said network and continuously access;

providing a graphical interface to allow said client, as part of said access, to refine said data file to improve said talking voice and customize parameter and configuration settings, thereby forming a customized voice database; and

,

deploying said customized voice database to a target, wherein said target is said service provider, a customer of said service provider, or an alternative platform managed by said client such that said client can apply said talking voice from said customized voice database to any online environment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said client with workshop space on said server such that said client can post blogs and receive comments from other users concerning said talking voice.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of analyzing said talking voice to providing suggestions to said client to improve the quality of said talking voice.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing ratings for said talking voice.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of listing said talking voice for sale on said server of said service provider for purchase by said customer of said service provider.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of providing sale rankings for said talking voice.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of retaining a royalty after a sale of said talking voice.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of distributing a portion of said royalty to said client.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing said customer to perform reverse searches for voices that will perform well on customer-desired text.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein for the step of deploying said customized voice, local access to said customized voice is provided to said client by way of a proxy program.

11. A system for building and managing a customized voice of a client for a target, comprising:

a set of prompts for collection from said client, wherein said prompts are selected from both an analysis tool and by the client'"'"'s own choosing to capture voice characteristics unique to said client;

means for delivering said prompts to said client over a network to allow said client to save a client recording on a server of a service provider;

means for storing said client recording on said server;

means for setting up said client recording on said server to build a talking voice using text-to-speech synthesis tools, wherein said talking voice is a data file built into a voice database which said client may retrieve over said network and continuously access;

means for allowing said client to refine said data file, as part of said access, to improve said talking voice and customize parameter and configuration settings, thereby forming a customized voice; and

,

means for deploying said customized voice to a target, wherein said target is said service provider, a customer of said service provider, or an alternative platform managed by said client such that said client can apply said customized voice from said voice database to any online environment.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising workshop space on said server such that said client can post blogs and receive comments from other users concerning said talking voice.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a forum for providing suggestions to said client to improve the quality of said talking voice.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a reverse search engine for allowing said customer to perform reverse searches for voices that will perform well on customer-desired text.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a proxy program for local access to said customized voice.