System and method for automated voice inflection for numbers

• US 7,734,463 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Inventors: McKay, Forrest
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil; Richemond
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT CYR, LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US10/964,046
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 704/207
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/027 Concept to speech synthesisers; Generation of natural phrases from machine-based concepts generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text G10L13/08

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods in which a speaker records strings of numbers in different string lengths. Advantage is taken of the fact that speakers typically break numbers into group sizes of two, three, or four. Thus, by way of example, a recorder records two 0'"'"'s, two 2s, two 3s, etc. Then the recorder records three 1s, three 2s, three 3s, etc., followed by four 1s, four 2s, four 3s, etc. The spoken number values for each string are broken apart and stored as individual numbers corresponding to the string length of the recording. When a number string is to be spoken (for example, the number 782), the system retrieves from the three digit string a first 7, a middle 8, and an end 2. When these retrieved values are communicated to a recipient, proper inflections are achieved for each digit.

Claims

1. A method of providing automated numeric voice inflections, said method comprising:

determining, by a processor, the values of each number to be communicated as a first string of numbers;

determining the length L of said first number string;

retrieving from a database a prerecording of the first value of said string, said first value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said first value being the first value of a string of numbers having length L;

retrieving from a database a prerecording of the second value of said string, said second value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said second value being the second value of a string of numbers having length L;

if L equals 2;

assembling said selected first and second prerecorded values; and

communicating said first and second prerecorded values as retrieved;

if L equals 3;

retrieving from a database a prerecording of said third value of said string, said third value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said third value being the third number of a string of numbers having length L;

assembling said selected first, second, and third prerecorded values; and

communicating said first, second, and third numbers as retrieved;

if L equals 4;

retrieving from a database a prerecording of said fourth value of said string, said fourth value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said fourth value being the fourth number of a string of numbers having length L;

assembling said retrieved first, second, and third prerecorded values; and

communicating said first, second, third, and fourth prerecorded values as retrieved, wherein said inflections are without regard to the syntax of a sentence.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing each possible value, from 0 though 9, in said database as a string of numbers having a length S, where S is any number between 1 and 4.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembling is in ascending numeric order in accordance to the order said value was recorded in said string.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the values of each number to be communicated as a second string of numbers;

determining the length L of said second number string;

retrieving from a database the first value of said string, said first value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said first value being the first value of a string of numbers having length L;

retrieving from a database the second value of said string, said second value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said second value being the second value of a string of numbers having length L

if L equals 2;

assembling said retrieved first and second values; and

communicating said first and second values as retrieved;

if L equals 3;

retrieving from a database said third value of said string, said third value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said third value being the third value of a string of numbers having length L;

assembling said retrieved first, second and third values; and

communicating said first, second and third values as retrieved;

if L equals 4;

retrieving from a database said fourth value of said string, said fourth value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said fourth value being the fourth value of a string of numbers having length L;

assembling said retrieved first, second and third values; and

communicating said first, second, third and fourth values as retrieved.

5. A method for providing intonation in a string of spoken numbers, said method comprising:

for a length L of a desired number string, selecting a particular ordinate position N of said string and determining its value V;

retrieving, by a processor, from storage the prerecorded sound of value V, said sound of V having been prerecorded with an intonation that is a function of value being in the Nth position of a string of numbers having length L, wherein said intonation is without regard to the syntax of a sentence;

repeating said selecting and retrieving until all positions of said string have been retrieved;

assembling said retrieved prerecorded sounds in ascending string position;

assembling all retrieved prerecorded sounds for all strings;

inserting proper verbal separators between each said string; and

communicating said prerecorded sounds to a listener, said communicating including communicating said assembled verbal separators.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

communicating said assembled sounds to a listener.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

for each additional number string repeating said selecting, retrieving, and repeating until prerecorded values for all strings have been retrieved.

8. A system for interacting with a user, said system comprising:

an interactive voice device;

a database having stored therein recorded sounds of number values, each said recorded sound value being part of a string of values having length L and each said value being recorded for each position in each said string, with an inflection that is a function of each said position in each said string, wherein said inflections are without regard to the syntax of a sentence;

a processor for retrieving from said database individual ones of said recorded sound values so as to assemble said retrieved sound values into a string of sound values for communication to said user;

assembling all retrieved recorded sounds for all strings;

inserting proper verbal separators between each said string; and

communicating said recorded sounds to a listener, said communicating including communicating said assembled verbal separators.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said processor is further operable for retrieving from said database individual ones of said recorded sound values for additional strings of sound values so as to assemble all of said retrieved sound values into said strings of sound values for communication of said sound values to said user as a plurality of stings of sound values.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said database is located at a user location remote from said interactive voice device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said remote device is a mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said mobile device is a cell phone.

13. A method for providing intonation in a string of prerecorded spoken numbers, said method comprising:

recording, by a processor, the sound of each number from 0 through 9 in a plurality of number strings each string having a different length such that the sound of each number is recorded for each position of said string as a function of each said position in each said string, wherein said intonation is without regard to the syntax of a sentence;

storing said recording for retrieving at a later time in order to provide audible reproduction of the values of number strings, wherein the values of the numbers in said number string being selected at the time of said audible reproduction;

assembling all retrieved prerecorded sounds for all strings;

inserting proper verbal separators between each said string; and

communicating said prerecorded sounds to a listener, said communicating including communicating said assembled verbal separators.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said storing comprises:

separating each said recorded number sound into individual numbers; and

storing each said individual number from each string in association with the other numbers of said string.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said storing is in conjunction with a communication system.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said storing is in conjunction with a mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said audible reproduction originates from said mobile device.

18. A device for verbally communicating numbers that have been prerecorded, said device comprising:

a memory;

data stored in said memory, said data comprising the recorded sound of each number from 0 through 9 in a plurality of number strings, each number string having a different length such that the sound of each number from 0 through 9 is recorded with an intonation for each position in each string as a function of each said position, and wherein each said recorded number sound is separated into individual numbers; and

said intonation is without regard to the syntax of a sentence;

a processor for retrieving from said memory at least one string of numbers in order to provide audible reproduction of the values of said at least one number string, wherein the values of the numbers in said number string are selected at the time of said audible reproduction, and wherein the intonation of each said reproduced number value bears the natural intonation for both said string length and the positional location within said string of said number;

assembling all retrieved prerecorded sounds for all strings;

inserting proper verbal separators between each said string; and

communicating said prerecorded sounds to a listener, said communicating including communicating said assembled verbal separators.

19. The device of claim 18 designed for use remote from a central communication system.

20. A system for providing automated numeric voice response, said system comprising:

means for determining the length L of each number string desired to be provided;

means for retrieving from a database a prerecording of a first value of a first said string, said first value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said first value being the first value of a string of numbers having length L of said first string;

means for retrieving from said database a prerecording of a second value of said first string, said second value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said second value being the second value of a string of numbers having length L of said first string;

if length L of said first string equals 2;

said system further comprising;

means for assembling said selected first and second prerecorded values; and

means for communicating said first and second prerecorded values as retrieved;

if length L of said first string equals 3;

said system further comprising;

means for retrieving from said database a prerecording of a third value of said first string, said third value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said third value being the third number of a string of numbers having length L of said first string;

means for assembling said selected first, second, and third prerecorded values; and

means for communicating said first, second, and third numbers as retrieved;

if length L of said first string equals 4;

said system further comprising;

means for retrieving from said database a prerecording of said fourth value of said first string, said fourth value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said fourth value being the fourth number of a string of numbers having length L of said first string;

means for assembling said retrieved first, second, and third prerecorded values; and

means for communicating said first, second, third, and fourth prerecorded values as retrieved, wherein said inflections are without regard to the syntax of a sentence.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

means for storing each possible value, from 0 though 9, in said database as a string of numbers having a length S, where S is any number between 1 and 4.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said assembling is in ascending numeric order in accordance with the order said value was recorded in said string.

23. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

for each additional number string N, said system comprises;

means for determining the length LN of said additional number string N;

means for retrieving from said database a first value of said Nth string, said first value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said first value being the first value of a string of numbers having length LN;

means for retrieving from said database a second value of said Nth string, said second value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said second value being the second value of a string of numbers having length LN;

if L equals 2;

said system further comprising;

means for assembling said retrieved first and second values; and

means for communicating said first and second values as retrieved;

if L equals 3;

said system further comprising;

means for retrieving from a database a third number of said Nth string, said third value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said third value being the third value of a string of numbers having length LN;

means for assembling said retrieved first, second, and third values; and

means for communicating said first, second, and third values as retrieved;

if L equals 4;

said system further comprising;

means for retrieving from a database a fourth number of said Nth string, said fourth value having been prerecorded with an inflection that is a function of said fourth value being the fourth value of a string of numbers having length LN;

means for assembling said retrieved first, second and third values; and

means for communicating said first, second, third and fourth values as retrieved.

24. A system for providing intonation in a string of spoken numbers, said system comprising:

for a length L of a desired number string, means for selecting a particular ordinate position N of said string and for determining its value V;

means for retrieving from storage the prerecorded sound of value V, said sound of V having been prerecorded with an intonation that is a function of value V being in the Nth position of a string of numbers having length L, wherein said intonation is without regard to the syntax of a sentence;

means for repeating said selecting and retrieving until all positions of said string have been retrieved; and

means for assembling said retrieved prerecorded sounds in ascending string position.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

means for communicating said assembled sounds to a listener.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

means for assembling all retrieved prerecorded sounds for plurality of strings;

means for inserting proper verbal separators between each said string; and

means for communicating said prerecorded sounds to a listener, said communicating including communicating said assembled verbal separators.