Speech training method with alternative proper pronunciation database
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented speech training method utilizing a computerized system, the computerized system being capable of inputting speech from a user, of recognizing the input speech and of outputting to the user information as to the speech recognized and audible words to be heard by the user wherein the computerized system has a data processing capability, optionally has a display screen and has access to a data storage facility and wherein a first proper pronunciation database of properly and individually pronounced words is stored in the data storage facility, the speech training method comprising:
- (a) the user inputting to the computerized system desired words as speech;
(b) the computerized system outputting to the user information as to the speech recognized including information regarding at least one improperly pronounced word and information as to proper pronunciation of the at least one improperly pronounced word to help the user correct the mispronunciation;
(c) employing, stored in the data storage facility, a second proper pronunciation database comprising alternative phonetic sequences for the pronunciation of selected words in the first proper pronunciation database, the selected words being words each having an alternative proper pronunciations in a sequence of words; and
(d) the computerized system referencing said first and second proper pronunciation databases for the speech input by the user to determine the propriety of pronunciation of each desired word according to the context of the input word when each input word is recognized;
wherein the information regarding the at least one improperly pronounced word comprises information as to mispronunciation of the word as an individual word or as a word in one of the sequences of words in the second proper pronunciation database whereby the system can help the user speak the at least one improperly pronounced word correctly according to whether the word is to be pronounced as an individual word or as a word in one of the sequences of words.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with a present invention speech training system is disclosed. It uses a microphone to receive audible sounds input by a user into a first computing device having a program with a database consisting of (i) digital representations of known audible sounds and associated alphanumeric representations of the known audible sounds, and (ii) digital representations of known audible sounds corresponding to mispronunciations resulting from known classes of mispronounced words and phrases. The method is performed by receiving the audible sounds in the form of the electrical output of the microphone. A particular audible sound to be recognized is converted into a digital representation of the audible sound. The digital representation of the particular audible sound is then compared to the digital representations of the known audible sounds to determine which of those known audible sounds is most likely to be the particular audible sound being compared to the sounds in the database. In response to a determination of error corresponding to a known type or instance of mispronunciation, the system presents an interactive training program from the computer to the user to enable the user to correct such mispronunciation.
283 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented speech training method utilizing a computerized system, the computerized system being capable of inputting speech from a user, of recognizing the input speech and of outputting to the user information as to the speech recognized and audible words to be heard by the user wherein the computerized system has a data processing capability, optionally has a display screen and has access to a data storage facility and wherein a first proper pronunciation database of properly and individually pronounced words is stored in the data storage facility, the speech training method comprising:
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(a) the user inputting to the computerized system desired words as speech;
(b) the computerized system outputting to the user information as to the speech recognized including information regarding at least one improperly pronounced word and information as to proper pronunciation of the at least one improperly pronounced word to help the user correct the mispronunciation;
(c) employing, stored in the data storage facility, a second proper pronunciation database comprising alternative phonetic sequences for the pronunciation of selected words in the first proper pronunciation database, the selected words being words each having an alternative proper pronunciations in a sequence of words; and
(d) the computerized system referencing said first and second proper pronunciation databases for the speech input by the user to determine the propriety of pronunciation of each desired word according to the context of the input word when each input word is recognized;
wherein the information regarding the at least one improperly pronounced word comprises information as to mispronunciation of the word as an individual word or as a word in one of the sequences of words in the second proper pronunciation database whereby the system can help the user speak the at least one improperly pronounced word correctly according to whether the word is to be pronounced as an individual word or as a word in one of the sequences of words. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer-implemented speech training method utilizing a computerized system, the computerized system being capable of inputting speech from a user, of recognizing the input speech and of outputting to the user information as to the speech recognized and audible words to be heard by the user wherein the computerized system has a data processing capability, optionally has a display screen, and has access to a data storage facility and wherein a first proper pronunciation database of properly and individually pronounced words is stored in the data storage facility the speech training method comprising:
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(a) the user inputting to the computerized system desired words as speech;
(b) the computerized system outputting to the user information as to the speech recognized including information regarding at least one improperly pronounced word and information as to proper pronunciation of the at least one improperly pronounced word to help the user correct the mispronunciation;
(c) employing stored in the data storage facility, a second proper pronunciation database comprising alternative phonetic sequences for the pronunciation of selected words in the first proper pronunciation database, the selected words being words each having an alternative proper pronunciations in a sequence of words; and
(d) the computerized system referencing said first and second proper pronunciation databases for the speech input by the user to determine the propriety of pronunciation of each desired word according to the context of the input word when each input word is recognized wherein the information regarding the at least one improperly pronounced word comprises information as to mispronunciation of the word as an individual word or as a word in one of the sequences of words in the second proper pronunciation database whereby the system can help the user speak the at least one improperly pronounced word correctly according to whether the word is to be pronounced as an individual word or as a word in one of the sequences of words;
(e) generating the proper pronunciation database by recording specimen samples representative of the phonetic sequences of combinations of words in a language reference dictionary; and
(f) each word in the sample being pronounced by persons who are certified speech practitioners of a common method of voice use and training, optionally the Lessac system, the method of voice use and training having its own phonetics and pronunciation rules. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification