Method and apparatus for a differentiated voice output

• US 7,698,139 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Obert, Georg, Bengler, Klaus-Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Han; Qi
• Application Number:
  US10/465,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 704258-278
• US Class Current: 704/258
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for a differentiated voice output, systems existing in a vehicle, such as the on-board computer, the navigation system, and others, can be connected with a voice output device. The voice outputs of different systems can be differentiated by way of voice characteristics.

Claims

1. A vehicle information system comprising:

a plurality of systems, each of which outputs information to be transformed into audible speech, said plurality of systems including at least two systems selected from among a navigation system, a traffic information system, an email system and an onboard vehicle computer system; and

a device for generating differentiated audible speech;

wherein;

the device is connectable for selective communication with at least first and second systems of said plurality of systems, for generating audible speech as a function of information output by each of said systems, said audible speech having voice characteristics that are a function of data contained in respective parameter blocks which are stored in a memory and are assigned to said systems;

a first parameter block for producing a first voice characteristic is assigned to an output of the first system;

a second parameter block for producing a second voice characteristic is assigned to an output of the second system;

the second voice characteristic audibly differs from the first voice characteristic;

the device for generating differentiated audible speech comprises a voice synthesis device coupled in data communication to a memory containing said parameter blocks, including dynamic parameters and static parameters;

the dynamic parameters control articulation, corresponding to movement of a voice tract, and the static parameters control voice-characteristic features;

the static parameters have a fundamental frequency of a generator and/or fixed characteristic frequencies which correspond to the different geometrical dimensions of the voice tract of different speakers;

at least one of generator and characteristic frequency parameters for the voice output from a particular system can be dynamically changed; and

dynamic change of said at least one of generator and characteristic frequency parameters causes audible differences in prosody, including at least one of duration and emphasis of syllable segments, and sentence melody in said audible speech; and

said differences in prosody are implemented as a function of vehicle operating conditions.

2. The vehicle information system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle operating conditions include at least traffic conditions.

3. The vehicle information system according to claim 1, wherein said differences in prosody are implemented as a function of significance of information which is communicated.

4. The vehicle information system according to claim 3, wherein said differences in prosody provide an emotional expression of the voice.

5. The vehicle information system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle operating conditions comprise at least one of a traffic condition and a traffic situation.

6. A vehicle information system comprising:

a plurality of systems each of which outputs information that is to be transformed into audible speech, said plurality of systems including at least two systems selected from among a navigation system, a traffic information system, an email system and an onboard vehicle computer system;

a voice synthesizer;

a memory coupled to said voice synthesizer, said memory having stored therein a plurality of parameter blocks;

wherein

each parameter block is associated with a respective one of said systems;

each parameter block includes voice synthesis information for causing said voice synthesizer to generate audible voice signals having voice characteristics that are a function of information output from the respective system with which it is associated;

said voice characteristics differ audibly as between the respective systems;

control parameters stored in said voice synthesizer include dynamic parameters and static parameters;

the dynamic parameters control articulation, corresponding to movement of a voice tract, and the static parameters control voice-characteristic features;

the static parameters have a fundamental frequency of a generator and/or fixed characteristic frequencies which correspond to the different geometrical dimension of the voice tract of different speakers;

at least one of generator and characteristic frequency parameters for the voice output from a particular system can be dynamically changed; and

dynamic change of said at least one of generator and characteristic frequency parameters causes audible differences in prosody, including at least one of duration and emphasis of syllable segments, and sentence melody in said audible speech; and

said differences in prosody are implemented as a function of vehicle operating conditions.

7. The vehicle information system according to claim 6, wherein said vehicle operating conditions include at least traffic conditions.

8. The vehicle information system according to claim 6, wherein said differences in prosody are implemented as a function of significance of information which is communicated.

9. The vehicle information system according to claim 8, wherein said differences in prosody provide an emotional expression of the voice.

10. The vehicle information system according to claim 6, wherein said vehicle operating conditions comprise at least one of a traffic condition and a traffic situation.

11. A method for generating differentiated voice signals from a plurality of systems each of which systems outputs information that is to be transformed into audible speech, said plurality of systems including at least two systems selected from among a navigation system, a traffic information system, an email system and an onboard vehicle computer system, said method comprising:

for each particular system, storing in a memory a parameter block containing voice synthesis information for causing a speech synthesizer to generate audible voice signals which communicate speech corresponding to said information output from that particular system, said voice signals having voice characteristics determined by said voice synthesis information contained in said parameter block, which voice characteristics vary audibly as between said systems;

for each particular system said speech synthesizer using said voice synthesis information contained in the parameter block stored for that particular system, to generate said audible voice; and

dynamically changing said voice characteristics as a function of operating conditions of said vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle operating conditions comprise at least one of a traffic condition and a traffic situation.

13. An information interface system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a voice synthesis module; and

a plurality of information systems which communicate by audible voice communication with an operator of said vehicle, via said voice synthesis module;

wherein,

each particular information system has a voice associated therewith which voice differs from voices of the other information systems, and by which a voice communication via said voice synthesis module can be recognized and identified by said operator, as emanating from said particular information system;

each of said voices is characterized by voice characteristics that are a function of data contained in a separate parameter block;

said parameter blocks are stored in a memory that is accessible by said voice synthesis module; and

said voice characteristics are dynamically changed as a function of operating conditions of said vehicle.

14. The information interface system according to claim 13, wherein said vehicle operating conditions comprise at least one of a traffic condition and a traffic situation.