Automatically updating an edited section of a voice string

• US 5,684,927 A
• Filed: 02/16/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Mirkowicz, Waldemar J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knepper, David D.
• Application Number:
  US08/602,682
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 395/2, 395/2.44, 395/2.57, 395/2.62, 395/2.69, 395/2.79, 395/2.87, 395/326-335
• US Class Current: 704/278
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

First and second voice signals are labelled with unique corresponding first and second names. The first and second names are concatenated symbolically creating the voice signal string. Editing of the voice signal string is accomplished by modifying an attribute of the first voice signal where the first name continues to label the first voice signal, thereby removing a need to reconcatenate the first and second names subsequent to the editing step. As such the previously concatenated voice signal string remains unchanged apart from modification of the first voice signal.

Claims

1. A method of editing a voice signal string, comprising the steps of:

labeling first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names;

concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said step of concatenating symbolically creating said voice signal string including said first and second voice signals; and

modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said step of modifying.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second names are single alphanumeric characters.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said voice signal string can be played to a listener.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said attribute is a length of said first voice signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said attribute is a beginning time of said first voice signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said attribute is an ending time of said first voice signal.

7. A voice signal string editing apparatus, comprising:

circuitry for labeling first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names;

circuitry for concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said concatenating circuitry symbolically creating said voice signal string including said first and second voice signals; and

circuitry for modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said modifying of said attribute.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said voice signal string can be played to a listener.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said attribute is a length of said first voice signal.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said attribute is a beginning time of said first voice signal.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said attribute is an ending time of said first voice signal.

12. A system for editing a voice signal string, comprising:

means for displaying first and second voice signals on a display device of a general purpose computer;

means for labeling said first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names;

means for concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said concatenating means symbolically creating said voice signal string including said first and second voice signals, said concatenating means including a processing device in said general purpose computer;

means for modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said modifying of said attribute; and

means for playing said voice signal string to a listener on an output device of said general purpose computer, thus enabling the listener to hear immediately the modification to said first voice signal replicated throughout said voice signal string.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said attribute is a length of said first voice signal.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said attribute is a beginning time of said first voice signal.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said attribute is an ending time of said first voice signal.

16. A method of editing a voice signal string, wherein said voice signal string is represented as a waveform on a display device coupled to a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

labeling first and second voice signals displayed as waveforms on said display device with unique corresponding first and second names, wherein said first and second voice signals represent spoken words;

concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said step of concatenating symbolically creating said voice signal string including said first and second voice signals, said concatenating step implemented by input from a user through the use of an input device coupled to said data processing system; and

with assistance from said display device and said input device, modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said step of modifying.

17. A voice signal string editing apparatus, comprising:

circuitry and a device for storing digitized versions of both a first and a second voice signal;

circuitry and an output device for displaying both said first and second voice signals as amplitude versus time waveforms;

circuitry for labeling said first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names, wherein said first and second names are single alphanumeric characters;

circuitry and an input device for concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said concatenating circuitry symbolically creating said voice signal string including said first and second voice signals;

circuitry and said output device for displaying said voice signal string as an amplitude versus time waveform that is a displayed concatenation of said amplitude versus time waveforms representing said first and second voice signals;

circuitry for modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said modifying of said attribute; and

circuitry and said output device for displaying said modification of said attribute of said first voice signal.

18. A voice signal string editing apparatus, comprising:

circuitry adaptable for allowing a user to label first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names, wherein said first and second voice signals represent spoken words that have been digitized and stored within said apparatus;

circuitry for displaying said first and second voice signals;

circuitry adaptable for allowing a user to concatenate a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said concatenating circuitry symbolically creating said voice signal string including said first and second voice signals;

said circuitry for displaying said first and second voice signals also for displaying said voice signal string; and

circuitry coupled to said second circuitry for displaying and adaptable for allowing a user to modify an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following modification of said attribute.

19. A system for editing a voice signal string, comprising:

means for displaying first and second voice signals as amplitude versus time waveforms on a display device of a general purpose computer;

means for labeling said first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names, wherein said first and second names are single alphanumeric characters, said labeling means including an input device coupled to said computer;

means for concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said concatenating means including said input device and a processing device in said general purpose computer, concatenation of said first and second voice signals displayed as an amplitude versus time waveform on said display device;

means for modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said modifying of said attribute; and

means for playing said voice signal string to a listener on an output device of said general purpose computer, thus enabling the listener to hear immediately the modification to said first voice signal replicated throughout said voice signal string.

20. A system for editing a voice signal string, comprising:

means for displaying first and second voice signals on a display device of a general purpose computer, wherein said first and second voice signals represent spoken words;

means for labeling said first and second voice signals with unique corresponding first and second names, wherein said first and second names are single alphanumeric characters;

means for concatenating a plurality of said first names each corresponding to the same said first voice signal with at least one of said second names into a predetermined sequence to thereby symbolically concatenate said first and second voice signals into a matching sequence, said concatenating means including a processing device in said general purpose computer;

means for modifying an attribute of said first voice signal causing all occurrences of said first name to reflect said modification, said first name continuing to label said first voice signal following said modifying of said attribute; and

means for playing said voice signal string to a listener on an output device of said general purpose computer, thus enabling the listener to hear immediately the modification to said first voice signal replicated throughout said voice signal string.