SEGMENT INFORMATION GENERATION DEVICE, SPEECH SYNTHESIS DEVICE, SPEECH SYNTHESIS METHOD, AND SPEECH SYNTHESIS PROGRAM

• US 20140067396A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 9,401,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/258
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/06 Elementary speech units used in speech synthesisers; Concatenation rules

Abstract

A segment information generation device includes a waveform cutout unit cuts out a speech waveform from natural speech at a time period not depending on a pitch frequency of the natural speech. A feature parameter extraction unit extracts a feature parameter of a speech waveform from the speech waveform cut out by the waveform cutout unit. A time domain waveform generation unit generates a time domain waveform based on the feature parameter.

Claims

1. A segment information generation device comprising:

a waveform cutout unit that cuts out a speech waveform from natural speech at a time period not depending on a pitch frequency of the natural speech;

a feature parameter extraction unit that extracts a feature parameter of a speech waveform from the speech waveform cut out by the waveform cutout unit; and

a time domain waveform generation unit that generates a time domain waveform based on the feature parameter.

2. The segment information generation device according to claim 1, comprising:

a period control unit that determines a time period to cut out a speech waveform from natural speech based on attribute information of the natural speech.

3. The segment information generation device according to claim 1, comprising:

a spectrum shape change degree estimation unit that estimates a degree of change in spectrum shape indicating a degree of change in spectrum shape of natural speech; and

a period control unit that determines a time period to cut out a speech waveform from the natural speech based on the degree of change in spectrum shape.

4. The segment information generation device according to claim 3, wherein when a degree of change in spectrum shape is determined to be small, the period control unit sets a time period to cut out a speech waveform from natural speech to be longer than a time period during normal time.

5. The segment information generation device according to claim 3, wherein when a degree of change in spectrum shape is determined to be large, the period control unit sets a time period to cut out a speech waveform from natural speech to be shorter than a time period during normal time.

6. A speech synthesis device comprising:

a waveform cutout unit that cuts out a speech waveform from natural speech at a time period not depending on a pitch frequency of the natural speech;

a feature parameter extraction unit that extracts a feature parameter of a speech waveform from the speech waveform cut out by the waveform cutout unit;

a time domain waveform generation unit that generates a time domain waveform based on the feature parameter;

a segment information storage unit that stores segment information indicating a segment and containing the time domain waveform;

a segment information selection unit that selects segment information corresponding to an input character string; and

a waveform generation unit that generates a speech synthesis waveform by use of the segment information selected by the segment information selection unit.

7. A segment information generating method comprising:

cutting out a speech waveform from natural speech at a time period not depending on a pitch frequency of the natural speech;

extracting a feature parameter of the speech waveform from the speech waveform; and

generating a time domain waveform based on the feature parameter.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)