METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TEXT TO SPEECH CONVERSION

• US 20120065979A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wong, Ling Jun, Xiong, True
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/04 Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management

Abstract

A system and method for text to speech conversion. The method of performing text to speech conversion on a portable device includes: identifying a portion of text for conversion to speech format, wherein the identifying includes performing a prediction based on information associated with a user. While the portable device is connected to a power source, a text to speech conversion is performed on the portion of text to produce converted speech. The converted speech is stored into a memory device of the portable device. A reader application is executed, wherein a user request is received for narration of the portion of text. During the executing, the converted speech is accessed from the memory device and rendered to the user, responsive to the user request

Claims

1. A method of performing text to speech conversion on a portable device, said method comprising:

identifying a portion of text for conversion to speech format, wherein said identifying comprises performing a prediction based on information associated with a user;

while said portable device is connected to a power source, performing a text to speech conversion on said portion of text to produce converted speech;

storing said converted speech into a memory device of said portable device;

executing a reader application wherein a user request is received for narration of said portion of text; and

during said executing, accessing said converted speech from said memory device and rendering said converted speech on said portable device responsive to said user request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of text comprises an audio-converted book.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises identifications of newly added books and wherein said portion of text is taken from said newly added books.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said text comprises an audio-converted book, and said performing a prediction comprises anticipating a succeeding book based on features of said audio-converted book.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a playlist of books.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said playlist of books is user created.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said playlist of books is created by other users with similar attributes to said user.

8. A method comprising:

identifying a book for conversion to an audio version of said book, wherein said identifying comprises performing a prediction based on information associated with said book;

while a digital reader is connected to a power source, accessing said audio version of said book;

storing said audio version into a memory device of said digital reader;

executing a reader application wherein said book is requested for narration by a user; and

during said executing, producing an acoustic signal imitating natural speech from said audio version in said memory device of said digital reader.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said information comprises a list of books stored on a server and wherein said list of books comprises an identification of said book.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said accessing comprises receiving a streaming communication over the internet from a server.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said accessing comprises downloading said audio version over the internet from a server.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said accessing comprises downloading said audio version over the internet from another digital reader.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said accessing comprises downloading said audio version directly from another digital reader.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said information comprises one of theme, genre, title, author, and date of said book.

15. A system comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to said processor;

an input device coupled to said processor;

an audio output device coupled to said processor;

memory coupled to said processor, wherein said memory comprises instructions that when executed cause said system to perform text to speech conversion on a portable device, said method comprising;

identifying a portion of text for conversion to speech format, wherein said identifying comprises performing a prediction based on information associated with a user;

while said portable device is connected to a power source, performing a text to speech conversion on said portion of text to produce converted speech;

storing said converted speech into a memory device of said portable device;

executing a reader application wherein a user request is received for narration of said portion of text; and

during said executing, accessing said converted speech from said memory device and rendering said converted speech on said audio output device responsive to said user request.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said portion of text comprises an audio-converted book.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said information comprises identifications of newly added books and wherein said portion of text is taken from said newly added books.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said text comprises an audio-converted book, and said performing a prediction comprises anticipating a succeeding book based on features of said audio-converted book.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said information comprises a user created playlist of books.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said information comprises a playlist of books that is created by other users with similar attributes to said user.