Communications system providing automatic text-to-speech conversion features and related methods
First Claim
1. A mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising:
- a wireless cellular transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages from a wireless communications network; and
a headset output connected to said controller;
said controller forswitching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between said headset output and a headset, andwhen in the audio message mode, outputting via said headset output an audio message comprising speech generated from a received text message;
said controller being settable to an override mode in which said controller remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between said headset output and the headset;
said controller also for generating a conversion request for converting the received text message to the audio message, and cooperating with the wireless cellular transceiver to forward the conversion request to the wireless communications network and receive the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device, and a wireless communications network for sending text messages thereto. More particularly, the at least one mobile wireless communications device may include a wireless transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages from the wireless communications network. It may further include a headset output connected to the controller. The controller may be for switching between a normal message mode and an audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset. Moreover, when in the audio message mode, the controller may output at least one audio message including speech generated from at least one of the received text messages via the headset output.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising:
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a wireless cellular transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages from a wireless communications network; and a headset output connected to said controller;
said controller forswitching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between said headset output and a headset, and when in the audio message mode, outputting via said headset output an audio message comprising speech generated from a received text message; said controller being settable to an override mode in which said controller remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between said headset output and the headset; said controller also for generating a conversion request for converting the received text message to the audio message, and cooperating with the wireless cellular transceiver to forward the conversion request to the wireless communications network and receive the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cellular communications system comprising:
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mobile wireless communications device comprising a wireless cellular transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages, and a headset output connected to said controller, said controller for switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between said headset output and a headset, and when in the audio message mode, outputting via said headset output an audio message comprising speech generated from a received text message; and a wireless cellular communications network for sending the text messages to said at least one mobile wireless communications device; said controller being settable to an override mode in which said controller remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between said headset output and the headset; said controller also for generating a conversion request for converting the received text message to the audio message and cooperating with the wireless cellular transceiver to forward the conversion request to said wireless communications network; said wireless cellular communications network receiving the conversion request and further comprising a text-to-speech module for converting the received text message to the at least one audio message, and wherein said wireless communications network sends the audio message to said at least one wireless communications device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for using a mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising a headset output, the method comprising:
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receiving text messages from a wireless cellular communications network;
switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset;generating a conversion request for converting a received text message to an audio message comprising speech generated from the received text message; forwarding the conversion request to the wireless cellular communications network and receiving the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon; when in the audio message mode, outputting the audio message via the headset output; and selectively setting the mobile wireless communications device to an override mode in which the mobile wireless communications device remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between the headset output and the headset. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable medium for use with a mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising a headset output, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile wireless communications cellular device to perform steps comprising:
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receiving text messages from a wireless cellular communications network;
switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset;generating a conversion request for converting a received text message to an audio message comprising speech generated from the received text message; forwarding the conversion request to the wireless cellular communications network and receiving the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon;
when in the audio message mode, outputting via the headset output the audio message via the headset output; andselectively setting the mobile wireless communications device to an override mode in which the mobile wireless communications device remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between the headset output and the headset. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification