Modification of Speech Quality in Conversations Over Voice Channels

• US 20120016674A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Basson, Sarah H., Kanevsky, Dimitri, Nahamoo, David, Sainath, Tara N.
• Application Number:
  US12/838,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016674A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/258
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/0018 Speech coding using phonetic or linguistical decoding of the source; Reconstruction using text-to-speech synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/0135 Voice conversion or morphing

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for modifying speech quality in a conversation over a voice channel. For example, a method for modifying a speech quality associated with a spoken utterance transmittable over a voice channel comprises the following steps. The spoken utterance is obtained prior to an intended recipient of the spoken utterance receiving the spoken utterance. An existing speech quality of the spoken utterance is determined. The existing speech quality of the spoken utterance is compared to at least one desired speech quality associated with at least one previously obtained spoken utterance to determine whether the existing speech quality substantially matches the desired speech quality. At least one characteristic of the spoken utterance is modified to change the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to the desired speech quality when the existing speech quality does not substantially match the desired speech quality. The spoken utterance is presented with the desired speech quality to the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a speech quality associated with a spoken utterance transmittable over a voice channel, comprising steps of:

obtaining the spoken utterance prior to an intended recipient of the spoken utterance receiving the spoken utterance;

determining an existing speech quality of the spoken utterance;

comparing the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to at least one desired speech quality associated with at least one previously obtained spoken utterance to determine whether the existing speech quality substantially matches the desired speech quality;

modifying at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance to change the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to the desired speech quality when the existing speech quality does not substantially match the desired speech quality; and

presenting the spoken utterance with the desired speech quality to the intended recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a speech quality of the spoken utterance comprises a perceivable mood or an emotion of the spoken utterance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a speech quality of the spoken utterance comprises a perceivable intention of the spoken utterance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired speech quality is manually selected based on a preference of the speaker of the spoken utterance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired speech quality is automatically selected based on a substantive context associated with the spoken utterance and a determination as to how the spoken utterance should sound to the intended recipient.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the desired speech quality is automatically selected by analyzing the content of the spoken utterance and determining a voice match for how the spoken utterance should sound to achieve an objective.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a voice match is determined based on one or more voice models previously created for the speaker of the spoken utterance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more voice models are created via background data collection.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more voice models are created via explicit data collection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance that is modified in the modifying step comprises a prosody associated with the spoken utterance.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the speaker marking one or more spoken utterances.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the marked spoken utterances are analyzed to determine subsequent desired speech qualities.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of editing the content of the spoken utterance when it is determined to contain undesirable language.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance is modified prior to transmission of the spoken utterance.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance is modified after transmission of the spoken utterance.

16. Apparatus for modifying a speech quality associated with a spoken utterance transmittable over a voice channel, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor device operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

obtain the spoken utterance prior to an intended recipient of the spoken utterance receiving the spoken utterance;

determine an existing speech quality of the spoken utterance;

compare the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to at least one desired speech quality associated with at least one previously obtained spoken utterance to determine whether the existing speech quality substantially matches the desired speech quality;

modify at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance to change the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to the desired speech quality when the existing speech quality does not substantially match the desired speech quality; and

present the spoken utterance with the desired speech quality to the intended recipient.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a speech quality of the spoken utterance comprises a perceivable mood or an emotion of the spoken utterance.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a speech quality of the spoken utterance comprises a perceivable intention of the spoken utterance.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the desired speech quality is manually selected based on a preference of the speaker of the spoken utterance.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the desired speech quality is automatically selected based on a substantive context associated with the spoken utterance and a determination as to how the spoken utterance should sound to the intended recipient.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance that is modified in the modifying step comprises a prosody associated with the spoken utterance.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor device is further configured to permit the speaker to mark one or more spoken utterances.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the marked spoken utterances are analyzed to determine subsequent desired speech qualities.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor device is further configured to edit the content of the spoken utterance when it is determined to contain undesirable language.

25. An article of manufacture for modifying a speech quality associated with a spoken utterance transmittable over a voice channel, the article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium having tangibly embodied thereon computer readable program code which, when executed, causes a computer to:

obtain the spoken utterance prior to an intended recipient of the spoken utterance receiving the spoken utterance;

determine an existing speech quality of the spoken utterance;

compare the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to at least one desired speech quality associated with at least one previously obtained spoken utterance to determine whether the existing speech quality substantially matches the desired speech quality;

modify at least one characteristic of the spoken utterance to change the existing speech quality of the spoken utterance to the desired speech quality when the existing speech quality does not substantially match the desired speech quality; and

present the spoken utterance with the desired speech quality to the intended recipient.