Synthesized voice production

• US 7,657,289 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack Dann, Mark Levy
• Original Assignee: Jack Dann, Mark Levy
• Inventors: Levy, Mark, Dann, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D
• Application Number:
  US11/003,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 455/563, 455/412.1, 455/578, 455/412.2, 704/270.1, 704/275
• US Class Current: 455/563
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/0135 Voice conversion or morphing

Abstract

A communications system for receiving and transmitting information signals. An electronic processor is adapted to receive information signals from at least one source, operatively connected to the electronic processor. An audible signal generator generates sounds related to the information signals. The source of information signals can be a telephone, cell phone, microphone, PDA, computer, printed document, Internet web site, e-mail or immediate message. The processor has a mechanism for generating an audible signal reminiscent of a celebrity voice, a cartoon voice, or a computer-generated sound.

Claims

1. A method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output, the steps comprising:

a) providing an electronic processor;

b) using said electronic processor to create control information compatible with means for producing a predetermined stylized sound output comprising a synthesized celebrity'"'"'s voice from an input thereto, said producing a predetermined stylized sound comprising processing a voice sample of a prototype voice corresponding to said predetermined stylized sound such that said predetermined stylized sound substantially matches said voice prototype; and

c) providing said control information to a user thereof;

whereby at least a portion of said control information is provided to a user thereof, and said user may create said predetermined stylized sound output from said input in accordance with said control information.

2. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein means for producing a predetermined stylized sound output comprises at least one of the devices:

a text-to-speech converter, and a voice processor.

3. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein said input comprises at least one of:

a text stream, and an audio signal.

4. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein said creating step (b) further comprises modifying said control information so that said predetermined stylized sound varies from said prototype voice in at least one characteristic.

5. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said control information is written to a modular storage device.

6. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 5, wherein said modular storage device comprises at least one of:

a ROM, a PROM, and another non-volatile memory.

7. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein said control information compatible with means for producing a predetermined stylized sound output is collected with similar control information for producing at least one other stylized sound output.

8. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said control information is provided on at least one of the media:

diskette, CD, and DVD.

9. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said control information is provided on-line via a publicly accessible network.

10. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein said control information is created from at least one source of information signals chosen from the group of:

telephone, cell phone, PDA, computer, microphone, printed document, computer file, the Internet, e-mail, and immediate message.

11. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, wherein said output stylized predetermined sound is reminiscent of one chosen from the group:

celebrity voice, cartoon voice, and computer-generated sound.

12. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 1, further comprising a consumer device having a speaker from which said stylized sound emanates.

13. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 12, wherein said consumer device is chosen from the group:

appliances, electronic devices, telephones, cellular phones, computers and peripherals, vehicles, aircraft, kitchen devices, laundry appliances, household appliances, outdoor equipment and commercial building equipment.

14. The method for providing control information for creating a stylized sound output as recited in claim 4, wherein said control information is representative of at least one of the characteristics:

tone, pitch, timbre, inflection, emotion, format, emphasis, and cadence of an emulated voice.