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

• US 9,596,339 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US14/960,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/575.2
• 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 method for using a wireless communications device comprising a headset output, the method comprising:

determining at least one filtered received text message based upon a sender'"'"'s identity;

switching the wireless communications device to a hands-free audio message mode based upon determining establishment of a headset connection; and

when in the hands-free audio message mode, outputting at least one audio message comprising speech generated from the at least one filtered received text message via said headset output; and

displaying the at least one filtered received text message on a display of the wireless communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said headset output comprises a wireless headset output.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said headset output comprises a wired headset output.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching to a normal mode based upon determining disconnection of the headset connection.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising switching to the hands-free audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided via a user interface device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the at least one filtered received text message to the at least one audio message.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a controller of a wireless communications device having a headset output, cause the wireless communications device to perform a method comprising:

determining at least one filtered received text message based upon a sender'"'"'s identity;

switching the wireless communications device to a hands-free audio message mode based upon determining establishment of a headset connection; and

when in the hands-free audio message mode, outputting at least one audio message comprising speech generated from the at least one filtered received text message via said headset output; and

displaying the at least one filtered received text message on a display of the wireless communications device.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein said headset output comprises a wireless headset output.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein said headset output comprises a wired headset output.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, further comprising computer instructions for switching to a normal mode based upon determining disconnection of the headset connection.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising computer instructions for switching to the hands-free audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided via a user interface device.

12. The computer instructions of claim 7, further comprising computer instructions for converting the at least one filtered received text message to the at least one audio message.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a controller of a wireless communications device having a headset output, cause the wireless communications device to perform a method comprising:

determining at least one filtered received text message based upon at least one audio message filter parameter;

switching the wireless communications device to a hands-free audio message mode based upon determining establishment of a connection with the headset output; and

when the wireless communications device is in the hands-free audio message mode, outputting at least one audio message comprising speech generated from the at least one filtered received text message via the headset output.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one audio message filter parameter is based upon a sender'"'"'s identity.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one audio message filter parameter comprises at least one of a sender'"'"'s name, a sender'"'"'s address, a keyword, a message priority, a time or date, or a copied person'"'"'s identity.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the headset output comprises a wireless headset output.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the headset output comprises a wired headset output.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising computer instructions for switching to a normal mode based upon determining disconnection of the headset connection.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising computer instructions for switching to the hands-free audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided via a user interface device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising computer instructions for converting the at least one filtered received text message to the at least one audio message prior to outputting.