Presenting information using prestored speech

• US 6,161,092 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tomtom North America Incorporated (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Etak, Inc. (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Sardesai, Monica A., Latshaw, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smits, Talivaldis I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US09/163,118
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/213, 701/117-119, 701/200-220, 340/905, 340/995, 364/436-438, 704/231, 704/260, 704/246, 704/254, 704/255-257, 704/251
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/093 Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output

Abstract

Information (e.g. traffic information) is retrieved from a server. The content of the information is reviewed in order to determine which of a plurality of prestored speech files should be used to report the information. The selected speech files are concatenated to form an audio presentation. The speech files may include phrases identifying incident types, locations, severity and/or timing information, as well as other filler words that improve the audio presentation. In some embodiments, the audio presentation is accompanied by video and/or graphics that can be referenced by the audio presentation.

Claims

1. A method for reporting traffic information using pre-recorded audio, comprising the steps of:

receiving data for a set of traffic incidents, said data including parameters for each of said traffic incidents, one or more of said parameters include at least one code representing a value for said parameter;

identifying groups of files that store speech for describing said traffic incidents, each group of files is associated with at least one of said incidents, said step of identifying groups comprises the steps of;

for each incident of at least a subset of said traffic incidents, accessing parameters for said incident, and

for each parameter of at least a subset of said accessed parameters, identifying one or more files that store speech using a set of information correlating codes for said parameter to references to audio files; and

automatically presenting said stored speech from each group of files.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

concatenating speech stored in said files within each group.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes playing said stored speech in a complete sentence like manner.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said groups of files vary in number of files per group depending on how many parameters are associated with a particular incident and how many audio files are needed to describe each parameter associated with said particular incident.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of receiving includes receiving a first code for a first data value;

said step of identifying groups of files includes identifying a first file storing speech which exactly identifies said first data value, if said set of information directly correlates said first code to said first file; and

said step of identifying groups of files includes identifying a second file storing speech which identifies a less precise audio description of said first data value if said set of information does not directly correlate said first code to said first file.

6. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

building a program, said step of automatically presenting includes a step of presenting said program.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

said program includes said stored speech from each group of files;

said step of presenting said program includes displaying a video of a map of roads, said map includes one or more incident markers; and

said step of presenting said program includes playing speech describing traffic conditions at each incident markers while said map is displayed.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

said program includes said stored speech from each group of files;

said step of presenting said program includes automatically displaying a video of maps of roads, each map includes one or more incident markers; and

said step of presenting said program includes playing speech describing traffic conditions at each incident marker while a corresponding map is displayed.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said files in a particular group include speech describing location, incident type, severity and clear time.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said files in a particular group include speech for filler phrases.

11. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of

storing references for said files in said groups, said step of automatically presenting reads said references.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes concatenating audio data from said files from each group to form an output file for each group; and

said step of automatically presenting includes playing said output file.

13. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

playing an introduction message prior to playing said stored speech from each group of files.

14. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

adding additional files to said groups, said additional files include filler speech.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said files include speech phrases, said speech phrases include filler words.

16. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

concatenating speech stored in said files within each group, said files are in .wav format, said concatenating of files includes copying speech content without copying header content for a subset of files.

39. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes presenting an audio/visual program that includes said stored speech, said audio/visual program does not require user interaction during presentation.

40. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes continuously presenting an audio/visual program that includes said stored speech.

41. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes presenting an audio program that includes said stored speech, said audio program does not require user interaction during presentation.

17. A method for reporting traffic information using pre-recorded audio, comprising the steps of:

receiving data for a set of traffic incidents, said received data including first data for a first traffic incident, said first data including a set of parameters describing said first traffic incident;

identifying, based on said first data, a first group of audio files that describe said first incident, said first group of audio files include speech, said step of identifying comprises the steps of;

accessing a first parameter having a first value,

accessing information directly correlating values of said first parameter to references to audio files,

determining whether said information directly correlates said first value to a first reference to an audio file,

identifying, as part of said first group, a first audio file if said information directly correlates said first value to said first reference to said first audio file, and

identifying as part of said first group, a second audio file if said information does not directly correlate said first value to any reference to an audio file; and

presenting said speech from said first group of audio files in a complete sentence like manner.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein:

said second audio file includes a less precise audio description for said first value than said first audio file.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein:

said first audio file provides an entire description for said first value; and

said second audio file provides a partial description for said first value.

20. A method according to claim 19, further including the steps of:

building a program, said step of automatically presenting includes a step of presenting said program, said program includes said speech from said first group of files, said step of presenting said program includes displaying a video of a map of roads, said map includes one or more incident markers, said step of presenting said program further includes playing said speech from said group of files while said map is displayed.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein:

said audio files in said first group include speech describing location, incident type, severity and clear time.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein:

said files in a particular group include speech for filler phrases.

23. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of:

storing references for said files in said first group, said step of presenting reads said references, said step of presenting includes concatenating audio data from said files from said first group to form an output file, said step of presenting includes playing said output file.

24. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of:

creating an audio program file which includes references to said first group of audio files, said step of presenting includes the steps of reading said references in said audio program file and playing said speech from said first group of audio files.

25. A processor readable storage medium having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving data for a set of traffic incidents, said data including a set of parameters;

identifying groups of files that store speech for describing said incidents, each group of files is associated with at least one of said incidents, said step of identifying comprises the steps of;

accessing a first parameter having a first value,

accessing information directly correlating values of said first parameter to references to audio files,

determining whether said information directly correlates said first value to a first reference to an audio file,

identifying, as part of a first group of files, a first audio file if said information directly correlates said first value to said first reference to said first audio file, and

identifying, as part of said first group of files, a second audio file if said information does not direct correlate said first value to any reference to an audio file; and

automatically presenting said stored speech from each group of files.

26. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 25, wherein;

said first audio file provides an entire description for said first value; and

said second audio file provides a partial description for said first value.

27. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26, wherein said method further includes the steps of:

building a program, said step of automatically presenting includes a step of presenting said program, said program includes said speech from said groups of files, said step of presenting said program includes displaying a map of roads, said map includes one or more incident markers, said step of presenting said program further includes playing said speech from said group of files while said map is displayed.

28. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26, wherein:

said second audio file is a less precise audio description for said first value than said first audio file.

29. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26, wherein said method further includes the step of:

storing references for said groups of files, said step of presenting reads said references, said step of presenting includes concatenating said groups of files to form an output file, said step of presenting includes playing said output file.

30. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes playing said stored speech in a complete sentence like manner.

33. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26, wherein said method further includes the steps of:

building a program, said step of automatically presenting includes a step of presenting said program, said program includes said speech from said first group of files, said step of presenting said program includes displaying a video of a map of roads, said map includes one or more incident markers, said step of presenting said program further includes playing said speech from said group of files while said map is displayed.

42. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes presenting an audio/visual program that includes said stored speech, said audio/visual program does not require user interaction during presentation.

43. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes continuously presenting an audio/visual program that includes said stored speech.

44. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes presenting an audio program that includes said stored speech, said audio program does not require user interaction during presentation.

31. A processor readable storage medium having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving data for a set of traffic incidents, said received data including first data for a first traffic incident, said first data includes parameters for said first traffic incident, at least one of said parameters include at least one code representing a value for said parameter;

identifying, based on said first data, a first group of audio files that describe said first incident, said first group of audio files include speech, said step of identifying includes the step of identifying, for each parameter of at least a subset of said parameters, one or more files that store speech using a set of information correlating codes for said parameter to references to audio files; and

presenting said speech from said first group of audio files in a complete sentence like manner.

32. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 31, wherein:

said first data includes a first code for a first data value;

said step of identifying a first group of audio files includes identifying a first file storing speech which exactly identifies said first data value, if said set of information directly correlates said first code to said first file; and

said step of identifying a first group of files includes identifying a second file storing speech which identifies a less precise audio description of said first data value if said set of information does not directly correlate said first code to said first file.

34. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 31, wherein:

said files in a particular group include speech for filler phrases.

35. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 31, wherein said method further includes the steps of:

storing references for said files in said first group, said step of presenting reads said references, said step of presenting includes concatenating said files for said first group to form an output file, said step of presenting includes playing said output file.

36. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 31, wherein said method further includes the steps of:

creating an audio program file which includes references to said first group of audio files, said step of presenting includes the steps of reading said references in said audio program file and playing said speech from said first group of audio files.

37. An apparatus for reporting traffic information using pre-recorded audio, comprising:

a display;

an input device;

a storage unit; and

a processor in communication with said storage unit, said input device and said display, said storage unit storing code for programming said processor to perform a method comprising the steps of;

receiving data for a set of traffic incidents, said data including parameters for said traffic incidents, one or more of said parameters include codes representing a value for said parameter,

identifying groups of files that store speech for describing said incidents, each group of files is associated with at least one of said incidents, said groups of files vary in number of files per group depending on how many parameters are associated with a particular incident and how many audio files are needed to describe parameters associated with said particular incident, said step of identifying groups comprises the steps of;

for each incident of at least a subset of said traffic incidents, accessing parameters for said incident, and

for each parameter of at least a subset of said accessed parameters, identifying one or more files that store speech using a set of information correlating codes for said parameter to references to audio files, and

automatically presenting said stored speech from each group of files.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes playing said stored speech in a complete sentence like manner.

45. A method according to claim 37, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes presenting an audio/visual program that includes said stored speech, said audio/visual program does not require user interaction during presentation.

46. A method according to claim 37, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes continuously presenting an audio/visual program that includes said stored speech.

47. A method according to claim 37, wherein:

said step of automatically presenting includes presenting an audio program that includes said stored speech, said audio program does not require user interaction during presentation.

48. A method for reporting traffic information using pre-recorded audio, comprising the steps of:

receiving data for a set of traffic incidents, said data including parameters for each of said traffic incidents, one of said parameters has a first data value;

identifying groups of files that store speech for describing said traffic incidents, each group corresponds to one of said incidents, each group has a quantity of files that depends on how many parameters are associated with said corresponding incident and how many audio files are needed to describe said parameters associated with said corresponding incident, said step of identifying groups of files includes the steps of;

accessing a set of information correlating values for said parameters to references to audio files,

identifying a first file storing speech which exactly identifies information represented by said first data value, if said set of information directly correlates said first data value to said first file,

identifying a second file storing speech and a third file storing speech if said set of information correlates said first data value to said second file and said third file, and

identifying a fourth file storing speech which is a less precise audio description for said information represented said first data value, if said set of information does not correlate said first data value to any audio files; and

automatically presenting said stored speech from each group of files.