Speech to message processing

• US 7,515,903 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cast, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US10/282,909
• Time in Patent Office: 2,353 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.1, 379 8801- 8805
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/07 to the speaker
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Voice message processors are configured to produce text representations of voice messages. The text representations can be compacted based on one or more abbreviation libraries or rule libraries. Abbreviation processing can be applied to produce a compact text representation based on display properties of a destination device or to enhance user perception. Text representation length can be reduced based on abbreviations in a standard abbreviation list, a user specific abbreviation list, or a combination of standard and custom lists. In some examples, text length is shortened based on stored rules. Mobile stations are configured to receive text representations of voice messages and request delivery of the associated voice messages based on message identifiers or message availability indicators that are presented on mobile station display. Network elements comprise a voice message processor and are configured to produce text representations and deliver text representation or voice messages based as requested by message recipients.

Claims

1. A voice message processor, comprising:

an input configured to receive a voice message from a sender;

a speech signal processor configured to produce a text representation associated with the voice message;

a data structure configured to store a plurality of abbreviation libraries associated with one or more senders, the speech signal processor being configured to select at least one of the plurality of abbreviation libraries associated with the sender of the voice message, the selected at least one of the plurality of abbreviation libraries having at least one abbreviation associated with at least a portion of the text representation, the speech signal processor being further configured to produce a compact text representation by replacing the portion of the text representation with the at least one abbreviation associated therewith; and

an output configured to deliver the compact text representation to a mobile station.

2. The voice message processor of claim 1, wherein the text representation comprises a plurality of characters, the voice message processor further comprising a data structure configured to store a rule library having at least one rule instructing the speech signal processor how to abbreviate the text representation by removing at least a portion of the plurality of characters from the text representation, the speech signal processor being configured to produce the compact text representation by using the at least one rule to abbreviate the text representation.

3. The voice message processor of claim 1, wherein the speech signal processor is configured to assign a voice message identifier to the voice message and a compact text identifier to the compact text representation that are delivered to the mobile station.

4. The voice message processor of claim 1, wherein the text representation comprises a plurality of words, the voice message process further comprising a data structure configured to store a rule library having at least one rule instructing the speech signal processor to omit at least one word from the text representation, the speech signal processor being configured to produce the compact text representation by using the at least one rule to abbreviate the text representation.

5. The voice message processor of claim 1, wherein the text representation comprises a plurality of characters including at least one vowel, the voice message processor further comprising a data structure configured to store a rule library having at least one rule instructing the speech signal processor to abbreviate the text representation by removing the at least one vowel from the plurality of characters from the text representation, the speech signal processor being configured to produce the compact text representation by using the at least one rule to abbreviate the text representation.

6. A voice message processor, comprising:

means for receiving a voice message;

means for identifying a sender of the voice message;

means for selecting an abbreviation library associated with the sender of the voice message;

means for processing the voice message to produce an uncompacted text representation comprising a plurality of words;

means for using the selected abbreviation library to replace at least one of the plurality of words of the uncompacted text representation with an abbreviation of the at least one of the plurality of words thereby abbreviating the uncompacted text representation into a compacted text representation; and

means for selectively transmitting the compacted text representation to a mobile station.

7. A voice message processing method, comprising:

receiving a voice message;

identifying a sender of the voice message;

selecting an abbreviation library associated with the sender of the voice message;

producing a text representation of the voice message;

compacting the text representation using the selected abbreviation library to abbreviate the text representation thereby producing a compact text representation, the abbreviation library comprising an abbreviated representation for one or more portions of the text representation; and

delivering the compact text representation to a mobile station.

8. The voice message processing method of claim 7, further comprising storing the voice message and the text representation.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising producing the compact text representation based on a rule library.

10. The voice message processing method of claim 7, further comprising displaying indicators associated with availability for delivery of the voice message and the compact text representation of the voice message.

11. The voice message processing method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a delivery format indication, and delivering the voice message or the compact text message or both to the mobile station based on the delivery format indication.

12. The voice message processing method of claim 11, wherein the delivery format is compacted text.

13. The voice message processing method of claim 11, wherein the delivery format is voice message.

14. A computer readable medium, comprising computer-executable instruction for:

receiving a voice message;

identifying a sender of the voice message;

selecting an abbreviation library associated with the sender of the voice message;

producing a text representation of the voice message;

compacting the text representation using the selected abbreviation library to abbreviate the text representation thereby producing a compact text representation, the abbreviation library comprising an abbreviated representation for one or more portions of the text representation; and

delivering the compact text representation to a mobile station.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising the abbreviation library.

16. A voice message processor comprising:

an input configured to receive a voice message belonging to a message class of a plurality of message classes;

a speech signal processor configured to produce a text representation associated with the voice message;

a data structure configured to store an abbreviation library for each of the plurality of message classes, the speech signal processor being configured to identify the abbreviation library for the message class to which the voice message belongs, the identified abbreviation library having at least one abbreviation associated with at least a portion of the text representation, the speech signal processor being further configured to produce a compact text representation by replacing the portion of the text representation with the at least one abbreviation associated therewith; and

an output configured to deliver the compact text representation to a mobile station.

17. The voice message processor of claim 16, wherein the plurality of message classes comprise personal messages, business messages, family messages, technical messages, or recreational messages.

18. The voice message processor of claim 16, wherein the plurality of message classes comprise messages directed to international destinations, or messages sent to non-English speaking recipients.

19. A voice message processor comprising:

an input configured to receive a voice message associated with a message profile of a plurality of message profiles,

a speech signal processor configured to produce a text representation associated with the voice message;

a data structure configured to store an abbreviation library for each message profile of the plurality of message profiles, the speech signal processor being configured to identify the abbreviation library for the message profile associated with the voice message, the identified abbreviation library having at least one abbreviation associated with at least a portion of the text representation, the speech signal processor being further configured to produce a compact text representation by replacing the portion of the text representation with the at least one abbreviation associated therewith; and

an output configured to deliver the compact text representation to a mobile station.

20. A voice message processor, comprising:

an input configured to receive a voice message associated with a user;

a speech signal processor configured to produce a text representation associated with the voice message;

a memory configured to store a plurality of abbreviation libraries each associated with a different user, the speech signal processor being configured to select one of the plurality of abbreviation libraries associated with the same user associated with the voice message, the selected one of the plurality of abbreviation libraries having at least one abbreviation associated with at least a portion of the text representation, the speech signal processor being further configured to produce a compact text representation by replacing the at least a portion of the text representation with the at least one abbreviation associated therewith; and

an output configured to deliver the compact text representation to a mobile station.

21. The voice message processor of claim 20, wherein the text representation comprises a plurality of characters,

the memory is further configured to store a rule library having at least one rule instructing the speech signal processor how to abbreviate the text representation by removing at least a portion of the plurality of characters from the text representation, and

the speech signal processor is configured to produce the compact text representation by using the at least one rule to abbreviate the text representation.

22. The voice message processor of claim 20, wherein the speech signal processor is configured to produce the compact text representation only if the text representation is longer than a short message service (SMS) message length.