Communications system providing automatic text-to-speech conversion features and related methods

• US 8,731,531 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: May, Darrell Reginald, Gagne, Alain R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/047,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140038574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/550.1, 4555691-5692, 4555751-5759, 4554121-4122, 4554141-4144, 455/563
• US Class Current: 455/414.4
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/047 Architecture of speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

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.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a long-range wireless transceiver;

a short-range wireless transceiver having a shorter range than the long-range wireless transceiver; and

a controller coupled to the long-range wireless transceiver and the short-range wireless transceiver and configured to;

receive a plurality of text messages via the long-range wireless transceiver,

switch to an audio message mode based upon a short-range wireless connection being established with another device via the short-range wireless transceiver,

select a text message, and

when in the audio message mode, output via the short-range wireless connection an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the selected text message.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the controller'"'"'s being configured to select a text message comprises being configured to select a text message based upon at least one user parameter.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 2, wherein the at least one user parameter comprises one or more of:

a name or identifier of a message sender of the at least one received text message, a keyword in the subject or body of the at least one received text message, a message priority setting of the at least one received text message, a recipient of the at least one received text message, a time of the at least one received text message, and a date of the at least one received text message.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to establish the short-range wireless connection with the other device.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 5, wherein the other device comprises a headset.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a text-to-speech module coupled to the controller;

and wherein the controller is further configured to convert the text message to the audio message.

8. A wireless communications device comprising:

a long-range wireless transceiver;

a short-range wireless transceiver having a shorter range than the long-range wireless transceiver; and

a controller coupled to the long-range wireless transceiver and the short-range wireless transceiver and configured to;

receive a plurality of text messages via the long-range wireless transceiver,

select a text message, and

when a short-range wireless connection is established with another device via the short-range wireless transceiver, output via the short-range wireless connection to the other device an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the selected text message.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the controller'"'"'s being configured to select a text message comprises being configured to select a text message based upon at least one user parameter.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 9, wherein the at least one user parameter comprises one or more of:

a name or identifier of a message sender of the at least one received text message, a keyword in the subject or body of the at least one received text message, a message priority setting of the at least one received text message, a recipient of the at least one received text message, a time of the at least one received text message, and a date of the at least one received text message.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 8 wherein the other device comprises a headset.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising a text-to-speech module coupled to the controller;

and wherein the controller is further configured to convert the text message to the audio message.

14. A method for using a wireless communications device comprising a long-range wireless transceiver and a short-range wireless transceiver having a range less than the long-range wireless transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages via the long-range wireless transceiver;

selecting a text message, and

when a short-range wireless connection is established via the short-range wireless transceiver, outputting via the short-range wireless connection an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the selected text message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selecting is based upon at least one user parameter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one user parameter comprises one or more of:

a name or identifier of a message sender of the at least one received text message, a keyword in the subject or body of the at least one received text message, a message priority setting of the at least one received text message, a recipient of the at least one received text message, a time of the at least one received text message, and a date of the at least one received text message.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising establishing the short-range wireless connection.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the short-range wireless connection is established with another device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the other device comprises a headset.