Text-to-speech (TTS) for hand-held devices

• US 7,299,182 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Xie, Jianlei
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner; Martin
• Application Number:
  US10/142,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20030212559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 704/258, 704/260, 704/261, 704/267, 704/268, 704/269, 704/270, 704/271, 704/274, 368/244, 368/245, 340/575
• US Class Current: 704/258
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/04 Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management

Abstract

There is provided an Ebook. The Ebook includes a memory device, a text-to-speech (TTS) module, and at least one speaker. The memory device stores files. The files include text. The TTS module synthesizes speech corresponding to the text. The at least one speaker outputs the speech.

Claims

1. An Ebook, comprising:

a memory device for storing files, the files including text;

a text-to-speech (TTS) module for synthesizing speech corresponding to the text; and

at least one speaker for outputting the speech,

a processor, and

wherein said Ebook is employed as a bedtime story teller such that said TTS module reduces over time a speed at which the speech is output from said TTS module.

2. The Ebook of claim 1, wherein said TTS module has a capability of switching between any one of a plurality of voices in synthesizing the speech, based on at least one of a random basis) user-specified selections, and parameters of a current one of the files.

3. The Ebook of claim 2, wherein the plurality of voices include at least one of a male voice, a female voice, an adolescent voice, and an intentionally funny sounding voice.

4. The Ebook of claim 1, wherein said TTS module lies a capability of synthesizing the speech in accordance with at least one of a pre-designated start time and a predesignated end time.

5. The Ebook of claim 1, wherein said Ebook commences operations as the bedtime reader based on a pre-designated start time or a receipt of a start input.

6. The Ebook of claim 1, wherein said Ebook terminates operations as the bedtime reader based on a pit-designated end time or a receipt of an end input.

7. The Ebook of claim 1, wherein said Ebook is employed as the bedtime story teller such that said processor reduces over time a volume of the speech output from the speaker.

8. A method for using an Ebook, comprising the steps of:

storing least one file in the Ebook, the at least one file including text;

synthesizing speech corresponding to the text; and

outputting the speech,

wherein said Ebook is employed as a wake-up alarm such that said synthesizing step synthesizes the speech at a pre-designated start time and said method further comprises the step of adjusting a volume of the speech to increase over an open-ended period of time until a stop input has been received, and

wherein the method further comprises the step of adjusting the speed at which the speech is output, based on a random basis.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the Ebook comprises a display and a speaker, and said method further comprises the steps of:

providing to a user of the Ebook a choice between a strictly visual mode where the text is displayed on the display, a strictly audio mode where the text is synthesized and output by the speaker, and a combined visual-audio mode where the text is displayed on the display and simultaneously synthesized and output by the speaker; and

operating the Ebook in accordance with the choice of the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said Ebook has a calendar function capability, and said synthesizing step synthesizes the speech to include information corresponding to a daily reminder schedule.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the stop input comprises a contemporaneous stop input for effecting a contemporaneous termination of the outputting of the speech from the at least one speaker.

12. A method for using an Ebook, comprising the steps of:

storing at least one file in the Ebook, the at least one file including text;

synthesizing speech corresponding to the text; and

outputting the speech,

wherein said Ebook is employed as a bedtime story teller such that said synthesizing step reduces over time a speed at which the speech is output.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of switching between any one of a plurality of voices in synthesizing the speech, based on at least one of a random basis, user-specified selections, and parameters of a current one of the files.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of voices include at least one of a male voice, a female voice, an adolescent voice, and an intentionally funny sounding voice.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said synthesizing step is performed in accordance with at least one of a pre-designated start time and a pre-designated end time.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said Ebook commences operations as the bedtime reader based on a pit-designated start time or a receipt of a start input.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said Ebook terminates operations as the bedtime reader based on a pre-designated end time or a receipt of an end input.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said Ebook is employed as the bedtime story teller such that said method further comprises the step of reducing over time a volume of the speech.

19. A hand-held device, comprising:

a memory device for storing files, the files including text;

a text-to-speech (TTS) module for synthesizing speech corresponding to the text; and

at least one speaker for outputting the speech,

a processor, and

wherein said Ebook is employed as a bedtime story teller such that said TTS module reduces over time a speed at which the speech is output from said TTS module.

20. The hand-held device of claim 19, further comprising a display for displaying the text, and wherein a choice is provided to a user of the hand-held device to select between a strictly visual mode where the text is displayed on the display, a strictly audio mode where the text is synthesized by said TTS module and output by said speaker, and a combined visual-audio mode where the text is displayed on the display and simultaneously synthesized by said TTS module and output by said speaker.

21. The hand-held device of claim 19, wherein said TTS module has a capability of switching between any one of a plurality of voices in synthesizing the speech, based on at least one of a random basis, user-specified selections, and parameters of a current one of the files.

22. The hand-held device of claim 19, wherein said TTS module has a capability of adjusting a speed at which the speech is output there from, based on at least one of a random basis, user-specified selections, and parameters of a current one of the files.

23. The hand-held device of claim 19, wherein said hand-held device has a calendar function capability, and said TTS module synthesizes the speech to include information corresponding to a daily reminder schedule.