Method for generating audio renderings of digitized works having highly technical content
First Claim
1. A method of auditorially rendering mathematical expressions, formulas, tables, documents and language, comprising the steps of:
- a) formatting mathematical information to be auditorially rendered;
b) transforming the mathematical information of step (a) into a structured representation having the form of a hierarchical tree; and
c) using an audio language and rendering rules for operating on the structured representation of the mathematical information of step (b) to produce an audio output, comprising stereo, multivoice parameters, including parameters for adjusting respective left and right volumes.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for producing auditory renderings of digitized works and, in particular, digitized documents containing complex mathematical expressions. Documents are first entered into a computer system and formatted with a markup language, such as one of the TeX® or LaTeX® family of languages. The formatted documents are parsed to provide a tree-structured, high-level representation. Mathematical expressions are in quasi-prefix form. Lexical analysis and recognition processes are then undertaken. The resulting analyzed documents are provided to an audio output device (such as a voice synthesizer) operating under control of a set of predetermined rendering rules. The resultant audio signal contains not only textual content but also the analogical markings produced by the reading rules. Multichannel audio outputs may be used to allow for spatial placement capability, in addition to the other analogical markings. An audio formatting language (AFL) is provided to allow for manipulation of rendering rules. A browsing capability is also provided to allow a listener to easily locate his or her place in a document.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of auditorially rendering mathematical expressions, formulas, tables, documents and language, comprising the steps of:
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a) formatting mathematical information to be auditorially rendered; b) transforming the mathematical information of step (a) into a structured representation having the form of a hierarchical tree; and c) using an audio language and rendering rules for operating on the structured representation of the mathematical information of step (b) to produce an audio output, comprising stereo, multivoice parameters, including parameters for adjusting respective left and right volumes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of auditorially rendering mathematical expressions, formulas, tables, documents and language, comprising the steps of:
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a) formatting mathematical information to be auditorially rendered, using a mark-up language; b) transforming the mathematical information of step (a) into a structured representation having the form of a hierarchical tree by projecting mathematical expressions into two-dimensional information, and annotating this structure with attributes; and c) using an audio language and rendering rules for operating on the structured representation of the mathematical information of step (b), to produce a stereophonic, audio output. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of auditorially rendering mathematical expressions, formulas, tables, documents and language, comprising the steps of:
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a) formatting mathematical information to be auditorially rendered using a mark-up language; b) transforming the mathematical information of step (a) into a structured representation having the form of a hierarchical tree; c) using an audio language and rendering rules for operating on the structured representation of the mathematical information of step (b), to produce a stereophonic, audio output; d) listening to the stereophonic, audio output of step (c); and e) interactively traversing said stereophonic, audio output.
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Specification