DEDICATED HARDWARE/SOFTWARE VOICE-TO-TEXT SYSTEM

• US 20100138221A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SoundStarts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SoundStarts, Inc.
• Inventors: Boys, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US12/326,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/235
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/28 Constructional details of speech recognition systems

Abstract

A text preparation system has a first and a second CPU, with the first dedicated to a conventional voice-to-text software and the second to all other functions including a voice-to-text correction software. Voice commands enable the user to initiate the first and the second voice-to-text software and associated lexicons alternately, the second software and lexicon providing a corrections mode for errors made by the first voice-to-text software.

Claims

1. A text preparation system, comprising:

a first and a second CPU, a random access memory (RAM), an audio coder-decoder (CODEC) module, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) module, a persistent memory and a display module interconnected by a bus system;

one or more USB interfaces, a video output interface, a microphone input, a power input connection, and a pointer input device, all implemented on outside surfaces of a physical framework, and all communicating with elements connected to the bus system;

a video display coupled to the display module connected to the bus system;

a first voice-to-text software executed exclusively by the first CPU, which is dedicated to only the first voice-to-text software, selecting from a first lexicon comprising words and phrases in response to voice input by a user and entering the words and phrases in a document as machine-readable text; and

a second voice-to-text software executed by the second CPU and operating as a correction application, selecting characters comprising letters and punctuation marks from a second lexicon;

wherein voice commands enable the user to initiate the first and the second voice-to-text software and associated lexicons alternately, the second software and lexicon providing a corrections mode for errors made by the first voice-to-text software.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pointer device is a touchpad implemented on an upper surface of the framework.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the pointer device is connected through one of the one or more USB interfaces.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the video display is connected through the video output interface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a cursor appears in the display, moveable by the pointer device, when a user causes the system to enter the correction mode.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein, when the cursor intersects the space of a word in the display, that word is selected.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein, when the user enunciates a series of letters with a word selected, the letters replace the word selected in the text displayed.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein, when the user pauses for at least a programmed period of time after enunciating the series of letters, the letters are accepted as a word replacing the word selected, and a space following the word is selected for input, enabling the user to enunciate a punctuation mark for the space.

9. A method for enhancing voice-to-text operation in a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) executing a first voice-to-text software exclusively by a first CPU, selecting from a first lexicon comprising words and phrases in response to voice input by a user and entering the words and phrases in a document as machine-readable text;

(b) executing a second voice-to-text software by a second CPU as a correction application, selecting characters comprising letters and punctuation marks in response to voice input by the user from a second lexicon and entering the letters and or punctuation marks as machine-readable text; and

(c) providing commands for the user to switch from the first voice-to-text software to the corrections mode.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step for using a pointer device to move a cursor to select a word for correction when in the corrections mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein, when the cursor intersects the space of a word in the display, that word is selected for correction.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, when the user enunciates a series of letters with a word selected, the letters replace the word selected in the text displayed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein, when the user pauses for at least a programmed period of time after enunciating the series of letters, the letters are accepted as a word replacing the word selected, and a space following the word is selected for input, enabling the user to enunciate a punctuation mark for the space.