SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONALIZED TEXT-TO-VOICE SYNTHESIS

• US 20100159968A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ng, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,974,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis speech synthesis per se G10L13/00

Abstract

A communication device and method are provided for audibly outputting a received text message to a user, the text message being received from a sender. A text message to present audibly is received. An output voice to present the text message is retrieved, wherein the output voice is synthesized using predefined voice characteristic information to represent the sender'"'"'s voice. The output voice is used to audibly present the text message to the user.

Claims

1. A communication device for sending a text message, the communication device comprising:

a memory to store voice characteristic information associated with a user;

a processor to monitor speech of the user and adjust the voice characteristic information stored in memory; and

a transmitter to transmit the text message and adjusted voice characteristic information to a recipient device to audibly output the text message utilizing the adjusted voice characteristic information.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the speech is monitored during use of the communication device and the processor dynamically adjusts the voice characteristic information.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the processor monitors speech during a cellular telephone call utilizing the communication device.

4. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the processor monitors speech during voice recording utilizing the communication device.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusted voice characteristic information includes a set of voice deltas, each of the voice deltas representing a difference between a voice characteristic of the user and a corresponding voice characteristic of a standard voice.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein the standard voice is a reference voice for use by a plurality of communication devices.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the text message comprises an electronic mail message.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the text message comprises an instant message.

9. A method of transmitting a text message from a communication device, the method comprising:

storing voice characteristic information associated with a user;

monitoring speech of the user and adjusting the voice characteristic information; and

transmitting the text message and adjusted voice characteristic information to a recipient device to audibly output the text message utilizing the adjusted voice characteristic information.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring speech when the communication device is in use and dynamically adjusting based on the speech.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring during a cellular telephone conversation utilizing the communication device.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring during use of the communication device as a voice recorder.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the voice adjusted characteristic information includes a set of voice deltas, each of the voice deltas representing a difference between a voice characteristic of the user and a corresponding voice characteristic of a standard voice.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the standard voice is a reference voice for use by a plurality of communication devices.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the text message comprises an electronic mail message.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the text message comprises an instant message.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions executed by a processor of communication device to implement the method according to claim 9.