User interface for text to speech conversion

• US 20010014860A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (Conversant Intellectual Property Management, Inc. (f/k/a MOSAID Technologies))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kivimaki, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 6,708,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/04 Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

An electronic device (2) is disclosed which comprises a speech synthesizer (6; 16) including a loudspeaker (6), arranged to convert an input dependent upon punctuated text, to an audio output representative of a human vocally reproducing the text. It also comprises a user input device (4) for inputting instructions to navigate through text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the text, to a desired position, and a controller (14) arranged to control navigation to the desired position and provide the speech synthesizer with an input corresponding to a portion of the text from the desired position, in response to input navigation instructions.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a speech synthesizer including a loudspeaker, arranged to convert an input dependent upon punctuated text, to an audio output representative of a human vocally reproducing the text;

a user input device for inputting instructions to navigate through text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the text, to a desired position; and

a controller arranged to control navigation to the desired position and provide the speech synthesizer with an input corresponding to a portion of the text from the desired position, in response to input navigation instructions.

2. A device as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising a display for displaying text.

3. A device as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, arranged to navigate backwards through the text.

4. A device as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate backwards to a position defined by a predetermined punctuation identifier in response to an input to the user input device.

5. A device as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate backwards to a position defined by the first punctuation identifier in the backwards sequence.

6. A device as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate backwards to a position defined by the second punctuation identifier in the backwards sequence.

7. A device as claimed in any of

claims 4

to

6

, further comprising means for determining the length of text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the text between the current position and the position defined by the first punctuation identifier in the backwards sequence and, if the length is below a threshold, the controller is arranged to navigate backwards to a position defined by a second punctuation identifier in the backwards sequence.

8. A device as claimed in any of

claims 3

to

7

, wherein the controller controls the speech synthesizer to provide an audio output of the text between the current position and the position defined by the predetermined punctuation identifier at a slower speed than a default speed.

9. A device as claimed in

claim 8

, when dependent upon

claim 2

, wherein the default speed is that of the display of text on the display.

10. A device as claimed in

claim 8

, wherein the default speed is the default speed of the audio output of text by the speech synchroniser.

11. A device as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, arranged to navigate forwards through the text.

12. A device as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate forwards to a position defined by a predetermined punctuation identifier in response to an input to the user input device.

13. A device as claimed in

claim 12

, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate forwards to a position defined by the first punctuation identifier in the forwards sequence.

14. A device as claimed in

claim 12

, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate forwards to a position defined by the second punctuation identifier in the forwards sequence.

15. A device as claimed in any of

claims 12

to

14

, further comprising means for determining the length of text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the text between the current position and the position defined by the first punctuation identifier in the forwards sequence and, if the length is below a threshold, the controller is arranged to navigate forwards to a position defined by a second punctuation identifier in the forwards sequence.

16. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to navigate forwards through the text in response to a first instruction and backwards through the text in response to a second instruction.

17. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user input device comprises a key means.

18. A device as claimed in

claim 17

, wherein the key means is a dedicated navigation instruction key.

19. A device as claimed in

claim 18

, wherein the control means is arranged to determine the number of key actuations, and determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number of key presses.

20. A device as claimed in

claim 17

, wherein the key means comprises a multifunction key, and the controller controls the functionality of the multifunction key.

21. A device as claimed in

claim 20

, wherein one function of the multifunction key is selecting a navigation instruction.

22. A device as claimed in

claim 21

, wherein the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with the navigation instruction selected by the multifunction key.

23. A device as claimed in

claim 21

or

22

, arranged to provide the user with a navigation instruction options menu and for the user to select from the menu using the multifunction key.

24. A device as claimed in

claim 21

or

22

, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction via the user input device.

25. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user input device comprises a voice recognition device.

26. A device as claimed in

claim 21

or

22

, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction by way of a voice command.

27. A device as claimed in any of

claims 20

to

26

, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

28. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the punctuation identifiers are one or more selected from punctuation marks, capital letters, spaces, a header of a group of words.

29. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic device is a document reader or a portable and/or hand-held communications device.

34. A car having a device as claimed in any of

claims 1

to

32

, or a document reader as claimed in

claim 33

.

35. A car as claimed in

claim 34

, wherein the user input device comprises key means on the steering wheel.

30. A portable radio communications device comprising:

a speech synthesizer including a loudspeaker, arranged to convert an input dependent upon punctuated text, to an audio output representative of a human vocally reproducing the text;

a user input device for inputting instructions to navigate through text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the text, to a desired position; and

a controller arranged to control navigation to the desired position and provide the speech synthesizer with an input corresponding to a portion of the text from the desired position, in response to input navigation instructions.

31. A device as claimed in

claim 30

, which is a hand-held device.

32. A device as claimed in

claim 30

or

31

, comprising means for mounting in a vehicle.

33. A document reader comprising:

a speech synthesizer including a loudspeaker, arranged to convert an input dependent upon punctuated text, to an audio output representative of a human vocally reproducing the text;

a user input device for inputting instructions to navigate through text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the text, to a desired position; and

a controller arranged to control navigation to the desired position and provide the speech synthesizer with an input corresponding to a portion of the text from the desired position, in response to input navigation instructions.

36. A device substantially hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

37. A method of navigating through text to a desired position for audio output by a speech synthesizer, the method comprising:

detecting instructions input by a user to navigate through text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the text, to a desired position;

controlling navigation to the desired position; and

providing the speech synthesizer with an input corresponding to a portion of the text from the desired position.

38. A method for providing speech synthesis of a desired portion of text, the method comprising:

determining a desired start position from a selection defined by punctuation identifiers, from an instruction input by a user;

moving to the desired start position;

outputting speech synthesized text from that position.

39. A method of navigating through text to a desired position for audio output by a speech synthesizer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in any one, or any combination of FIGS. 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.