Method and apparatus for a differentiated voice output

• US 20030225575A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Obert, Georg, Bengler, Klaus-Josef
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/221
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for a differentiated voice output, systems existing in a vehicle, such as the on-board computer, the navigation system, and others, can be connected with a voice output device. The voice outputs of different systems can be differentiated by way of voice characteristics.

Claims

1. A device for differentiated voice output for a plurality of systems, wherein:

the device is connectable with at least first system and second systems;

a first voice characteristic is assigned to a voice output of the first system;

a second voice characteristic is assigned to the voice output of the second system; and

the second voice characteristic audibly differs from the first voice characteristic.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voice synthesis device containing control parameters, including a first class of dynamic parameters and a second class of static parameters;

wherein the dynamic parameters control articulation, corresponding to movement of a voice tract, and the static parameters control voice-characteristic features.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the static parameters have a fundamental frequency of the generator and/or fixed characteristic frequencies which correspond to the different geometrical dimension of the voice tract in the case of a child, a woman or a male speaker.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein:

at least one of generator and characteristic-frequency parameters for the voice output from different systems can be changed; and

audible differences can be caused in the prosody, such as at least one of duration and emphasis of syllable segments, and sentence melody.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the voice synthesis device is a characteristic-frequency synthesizer, by which voice-characteristic features can be influenced.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the characteristic-frequency synthesizer is adapted for separately generating voiced and unvoiced sounds; and

using further parameters, additional resonators or attenuators can be switched on and/or the dynamic parameters for the articulation can be influenced.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dynamic parameters are stored corresponding to the sequence of words, sentences and sentence sequences in each system.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the static parameters are stored as a parameter block in each system; and

in the event of a required voice output, the parameter block is transmitted to the voice synthesis device.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the static parameters for the systems are stored as assigned parameter blocks in a memory of the voice output device; and

as a function of a selection signal of a system, an assigned parameter block is used by the voice synthesis device for the voice output.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the voice synthesis device is connected with an amplifier; and

a voice output takes place takes place by way of an audio output of the amplifier.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a system having a first output for emission of dynamic parameters and a second output for emitting a selection signal for switching a parameter block in the voice output device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a system having an output for emission of dynamic parameters and static parameters to the voice output device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the static and dynamic parameters comprise a parameter block of said system.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least first and second systems selected from the group consisting of an on-board computer, a navigation system, a traffic information system, an e-mail system, and an information system.

15. Apparatus for generating differentiated voice signals from a plurality of systems, comprising:

a voice synthesizer;

a memory coupled to said voice synthesizer, said memory having stored therein a plurality of parameter blocks;

wherein

each parameter block is associated with a respective one of said systems, and includes voice synthesis information for communication of audible voice signals from the system with which it is associated, via said voice synthesizer.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

each system has assigned thereto a respective voice characteristic; and

said voice characteristics differ from one another.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

control parameters stored in said voice synthesizer, including a first class of dynamic parameters and a second class of static parameters;

wherein the dynamic parameters control articulation, corresponding to movement of a voice tract, and the static parameters control voice-characteristic features.

18. A method for generating differentiated voice signals from a plurality of systems, said method comprising:

for each system, storing in a memory a parameter block containing voice synthesis information for communication of audible voice signals from said system, via a speech synthesizer; and

communicating information from said systems via said synthesizer, using information contained in said parameter blocks.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

each system has assigned thereto a respective voice characteristic; and

said voice characteristics differ from one another.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein:

the voice synthesizer contains control parameters, including a first class of dynamic parameters and a second class of static parameters; and

the dynamic parameters control articulation, corresponding to movement of a voice tract, and the static parameters control voice-characteristic features.