Voice generator, method for generating voice, and navigation apparatus
First Claim
1. An automated voice generator for generating a voice output in the pronunciation of a second language corresponding to a text item in a different first language, comprising:
- means for automatically translating a spelling of a place name of an original text item in the first language into a new text item in the second language by;
(i) identifying each character in the original text item that is not included in the alphabet of the second language, and(ii) replacing only said each identified character in the original text item with a character or string in the alphabet of the second language having a pronunciation equivalent or similar to the pronunciation of the identified character in the first language; and
a text-to-speech engine that supports the second language and not the first language, for generating voice by pronouncing the new text item according to the pronunciation of the second language.
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Abstract
A main controller feeds a spelling translator with a text item representing a place name stored in a map database. The spelling translator translates the spelling of the text item according to rules described in a translation rule table. The spelling translator translates, e.g., a French character or string included in the text item and not included in the English alphabet into an English alphabet character or string having a pronunciation equivalent or similar to the pronunciation of the French character or string. The translated text item is fed into a TTS engine for English. The TTS engine converts the text item into voice, which is output from a speaker.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automated voice generator for generating a voice output in the pronunciation of a second language corresponding to a text item in a different first language, comprising:
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means for automatically translating a spelling of a place name of an original text item in the first language into a new text item in the second language by; (i) identifying each character in the original text item that is not included in the alphabet of the second language, and (ii) replacing only said each identified character in the original text item with a character or string in the alphabet of the second language having a pronunciation equivalent or similar to the pronunciation of the identified character in the first language; and a text-to-speech engine that supports the second language and not the first language, for generating voice by pronouncing the new text item according to the pronunciation of the second language. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automated voice generator for generating a voice output in the pronunciation of a second language corresponding to a text item in a different first language, comprising:
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means for automatically translating a spelling of a place name of an abbreviated original text item in the first language into a new text item in the second language by; (i) replacing the abbreviated original text item with a full text item in the first language, (ii) identifying each character in the full text item that is not included in the alphabet of the second language, and (iii) replacing only said each identified character in the full text item with a character or string in the alphabet of the second language having a pronunciation equivalent or similar to the pronunciation of the identified character in the first language; and a text-to-speech engine that supports the second language and not the first language, for generating voice by pronouncing the new text item according to the pronunciation of the second language. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated method for generating a voice output in the pronunciation of a second language corresponding to a text item in a different first language, comprising:
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automatically translating a spelling of a place name of an original text item in the first language into a new text item in the second language by; (i) identifying each character in the original text item that is not included in the alphabet of the second language, and (ii) replacing only said each identified character in the original text item with a character or string in the alphabet of the second language having a pronunciation equivalent or similar to the pronunciation of the identified character in the first language; and generating voice by pronouncing the new text item according to the pronunciation of the second language, where the voice is generated by a text-to-speech engine that supports the second language and not the first language. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A navigation apparatus for guiding users, comprising:
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a map database for storing geographic information containing a place name text item representing each place name; means for reading out the place name text item from the map database; means for automatically translating the spelling of the place name text item in a first language into a new text item in the second language by; (i) identifying each character in the place name text item that is not included in the alphabet of the second language, and (ii) replacing only said each identified character in the place name text item with a character or string in the alphabet of the second language having a pronunciation equivalent or similar to the pronunciation of the identified character in the first language; and a text-to-speech engine that supports the second language and not the first language, for generating voice by pronouncing the new text item according to the pronunciation of the second language. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification