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Abbreviation and acronym/initialism expansion procedures for a text to speech reader

  • US 5,634,084 A
  • Filed: 01/20/1995
  • Issued: 05/27/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computer system for converting a text message into audio signals, including:

  • a text to speech converter that translates text into audio signals;

    a text reader control procedure for receiving said text message, said text message having a sequence of words;

    a classifier procedure, coupled to said text reader control procedure, that classifies specified words in said text message with regard to syntax, punctuation and membership in predefined classes of words, said predefined classes of words including numbers, measurement units, geographic designations, and date/time values;

    said classifier procedure generating classification values for said words in said text message; and

    an abbreviation expanding procedure that receives said classification values and said text message, identifies abbreviation words in said text message that match predefined abbreviations and identifying a set of potential expansion values for each said identified abbreviation word, evaluates based on said classification values for words neighboring said identified words and in accordance with a predefined set of rules which, if any, of said potential expansion values is applicable, and substituting said potential expansion value for said identified abbreviation word when said evaluation yields a success value;

    wherein said text reader control procedure includes instructions for receiving expansion values from said abbreviation expanding procedure, and passing to said text to speech converter for each word in said text message said expansion value, if any, generated by said abbreviation expanding procedure for said word.

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