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

• US 9,237,219 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• 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:
  US14/255,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/569.1, 455/575.2, 455/414.4, 455/563
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 non-transitory computer readable medium to cause a controller of a mobile wireless communications device to perform steps comprising:

receiving a text message via a long-range wireless transceiver of the mobile wireless communications device;

switching to an audio message mode based upon a short-range wireless connection being established via a short-range wireless transceiver of the mobile wireless communications device, the short-range wireless transceiver having a shorter range than the long-range wireless transceiver; and

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

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the long-range wireless transceiver comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise establishing the short-range wireless connection with another device.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4, wherein the other device comprises a headset.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4, wherein the other device comprises a wireless headset.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise converting the text message to the audio message using a text-to-speech module of the mobile wireless communications device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium to cause a controller of a wireless communications device to perform steps comprising:

receiving a text message via a long-range wireless transceiver of the wireless communications device; and

when a short-range wireless connection is established via a short-range wireless transceiver of the wireless communications device having a shorter range than the long-range wireless transceiver, outputting via the short-range wireless connection an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the received text message.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise establishing the short-range wireless connection.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the long-range wireless transceiver comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise establishing the short-range wireless connection with another device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the other device comprises a headset.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the other device comprises a wireless headset.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium to cause a controller of a wireless communications device to perform steps comprising:

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

selecting a text message; and

when a short-range wireless connection is established with another device via a short-range wireless transceiver of the wireless communications device having a range less than the long range wireless transceiver, outputting via the short-range wireless connection to an other device an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the selected text message.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein selecting the text message comprises selecting the text message based upon at least one user parameter.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, 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.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the other device comprises a headset.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the other device comprises a wireless headset.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further comprise converting the text message to the audio message using a text-to-speech module of the mobile wireless communications device.