Method and system of dynamically changing a sentence structure of a message

• US 20060036433A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Polkosky, Melanie D., Michelini, Vanessa V., Davis, Brent L., Hanley, Stephen W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/223
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/027 Concept to speech synthesisers; Generation of natural phrases from machine-based concepts generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text G10L13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser

Abstract

A method (50) of dynamically changing a sentence structure of a message can include the step of receiving (51) a user request for information, retrieving (52) data based on the information requested, and altering (53) among an intonation and/or the language conveying the information based on the context of the information to be presented. The intonation can optionally be altered by altering (54) a volume, a speed, and/or a pitch based on the information to be presented. The language can be altered by selecting (55) among a finite set of synonyms based on the information to be presented to the user or by selecting (56) among key verbs, adjectives or adverbs that vary along a continuum.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically changing a sentence structure of a message, comprising the steps of:

receiving a user request for information;

retrieving data based on the information requested; and

altering at least one among the intonation and the language conveying the information based on a context of the information to be presented.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of altering the intonation comprises altering at least one among a volume, a speed, and a pitch based on the information to be presented.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of altering the language comprises the step of selecting among a finite set of synonyms based on the information to be presented to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of altering the language comprises the step of selecting among a set of words selected from the group consisting of key verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the altering of the language selects words from among a continuum that varies from a standard outcome to an extreme outcome.

6. A interactive voice response system, comprising:

a database containing a plurality of substantially synonymous words and syntactic rules to be used in a user output dialog; and

a processor that accesses the database, wherein the processor is programmed to;

receive a user request for information;

retrieve data based on the information requested; and

alter at least one among the intonation or the language conveying the information based on the context of the information to be presented.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further programmed to alter the intonation by altering at least one among a volume, a speed, and a pitch based on the information to be presented.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further programmed to alter the language by selecting among the plurality of substantially synonymous words based on the information to be presented.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further programmed to alter the language by selecting among a set of words selected from the group consisting of key verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the altering of the language selects words from among a continuum that varies from a standard outcome to an extreme outcome.

11. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of

receiving a user request for information;

retrieving data based on the information requested; and

altering at least one among the intonation and the language conveying the information based on a context of the information to be presented.

12. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, wherein the machine-readable storage further comprises code sections for causing the machine to alter at least one among a volume, a speed, and a pitch based on the information to be presented during the step of altering the intonation.

13. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, wherein the machine-readable storage further comprises code sections for causing the machine to select among a finite set of synonyms based on the information to be presented during the step of altering the language.

14. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, wherein the machine-readable storage further comprises code sections for causing the machine to select among a set of words from the group consisting of key verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

15. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, wherein the selection of words by the machine from among a continuum that varies from a standard outcome to a extreme outcome during the step of altering the language.