Interactive speech synthesizer for enabling people who cannot talk but who are familiar with use of anonym moveable picture communication to autonomously communicate using verbal language

• US 20100262426A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxtalker.com LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxtalker.com LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Kevin, Dobbs, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 9,111,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 3/123 incorporating sound producing or light emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/009 Teaching or communicating with deaf persons G09B21/04 takes precedence; deaf and dumb persons G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/0575 Aids for the handicapped in speaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A method for enabling a person, who cannot talk but who is familiar with use of anonym moveable picture communication, to autonomously communicate speech sound automatically in a sequence. The method includes the steps of choosing a plurality of selected encoded tags—each having apparatus for it to be identified by the person, providing an interactive speech synthesizer, arranging each of the plurality of the selected encoded tags to be movable between a ready mode wherein it is proximate to an associated tag reader and a go mode wherein it is in operative association with the associated tag reader, providing in the go mode for each of the plurality of the tag reader to read data from its associated one of the selected plurality of the encoded tags in the sequence to provide a series of coded signals, transmitting the series of coded signals to a microcontroller, causing the microcontroller to organize a sound file corresponding to the series of coded signals, and transmitting the sound file to an audio output device to convert the sound file automatically into the speech sound.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a person, who cannot talk but who is familiar with use of anonym moveable picture communication, to autonomously communicate speech sound automatically in a sequence, said method comprising the steps of:

a) choosing a plurality of selected encoded tags each having means for it to be identified by the person;

b) providing an interactive speech synthesizer which comprises a housing, a microcontroller, the plurality of the selected encoded tags, a plurality of tag reader means each adapted to read an associated one of the selected plurality of the encoded tags, an audio output device, and memory;

c) positioning the microcontroller, the plurality of the tag reader means, and the audio output device all at the housing;

d) arranging each of the plurality of the selected encoded tags to be movable between a ready mode wherein it is proximate to its associated tag reader means, and a go mode wherein it is in operative association with its associated tag reader means;

e) providing means for the person to move one, some, or all of the plurality of the encoded tags from their ready mode to their go mode according to the sequence;

f) providing in the go mode for each of the plurality of the tag reader means to read data from its associated one of the selected plurality of the encoded tags in the sequence to provide a series of coded signals;

g) transmitting the series of coded signals to the microcontroller;

h) causing the microcontroller to organize a sound file corresponding to the series of coded signals; and

i) transmitting the sound file to the audio output device to convert the sound file automatically into the speech sound.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

a) providing for each of the plurality of the selected encoded tags in its go mode to be replaceably attachable to its associated reader means at the housing;

b) positioning the memory at the housing;

c) storing the sound file in the memory to be looked up by the microcontroller; and

d) arranging the sound file in the memory by addresses.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising step of providing each of the tag reader means as a coil.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising step of providing a speaker as the audio output device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

a) providing activation means, with the activation means positioned at the housing; and

b) arranging the activation means when activated to activate the microcontroller and each of the tag reader means to read the data in the sequence from associated selected encoded tag, thereby triggering the speech sounds.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising step of providing at least one switch as the activation means.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

a) providing power management means;

b) disposing the power management means at the housing;

c) interfacing the power management means with a power supply; and

d) arranging the power management means to conserve power by allowing the interactive speech synthesizer to remain in its ready mode until activated.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

a) providing an interface port;

b) disposing the interface port at the housing; and

c) organizing the interface port for flashing new firmware and downloading new sound files into the interactive speech synthesizer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising step of providing a USB port to serve as the interface port.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

a) providing a microphone/amplifier means;

b) disposing the microphone/amplifier means at the housing; and

c) organizing the microphone/amplifier means for recording new sound files into the interactive speech synthesizer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

a) providing a binder; and

b) organizing the binder to replaceably contain the plurality of the encoded tags.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising steps of:

a) furnishing the binder with a first portion of hook and loop fasteners thereon; and

b) furnishing a second portion of hook and loop fasteners to replaceably hold the plurality of the encoded tags on the binder so as to form a plurality of indicia-bearing-units organized in a book-like holder.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising step of providing each of the plurality of the encoded tags with a symbolic picture on one side thereof;

with the symbolic picture corresponding to a unique identifier encoded into an associated one of the encoded tags, which can be read by the tag reader means so as to allow the sound of the symbolic picture to be produced.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising step of providing at least some of the tags with a mating portion of the hook and loop fasteners on the other side thereof;

with some of the mating portions of the hook and loop fasteners replaceably attached respectively to at least some of the portion of the hook and loop fasteners in the binder.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising step of providing each of the encoded tags with an individual radio frequency transmitter;

with each of the individual ratio frequency transmitter of each of the encoded tags sending a dedicated radio frequency signal to its associated tag reader so as to form a wireless, batteryless ID tag readable from and/or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol, thereby providing wireless communication of stored information.

16. The method of claim 1, and providing dip switches;

disposing the dip switches at the housing; and

allowing the dip switches to configure different settings.

17. The method of claim 16, and providing a plurality of settings each of which includes one of multiple voices to be associated with the unique identifier of each of the encoded tags allowing selection of gender and age, thereby making the interactive speech synthesizer more realistic to use by the person of that gender and age.

18. The method of claim 12, and providing the housing with a console;

and

arranging the console to selectively receive the plurality of the selected encoded tags.

19. The method of claim 18, and providing the console with the portion of hook and loop fasteners thereon;

and

mating the portion of hook and loop fasteners with the mating portion of the hook and loop fasteners of an associated encoded tag.

20. The method of claim 18, and providing the console with a plurality of recessed areas therein;

and

organizing at least some of the recessed areas in the console to have the portions of the hook and loop fasteners therein.