Proofreading with text to speech feedback

• US 6,490,563 B2
• Filed: 08/17/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ju, Yun-Chen, Zhang, Xianghui Sean, Li, Dong, Huang, Xuedong, Hon, Hsiao-Wuen
• Primary Examiner(s): {haeck over (S)}mits, T{overscore (a)}livaldis Ivars
• Application Number:
  US09/135,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 704/260, 704/235, 382/187
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/216 using statistical methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232

Abstract

A computer implemented system and method of proofreading text in a computer system includes receiving text from a user into a text editing module. At least a portion of the text is converted to an audio signal upon the detection of an indicator, the indicator defining a boundary in the text by either being embodied therein or comprising delays in receiving text. The audio signal is played through a speaker to the user to provide feedback.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of proofreading text in a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving text comprising multiple words from a user and an indicator into a text editing module and detecting the indicator, the indicator being embodied in the text and defining a boundary in the text received;

converting the text to an audio signal; and

playing the audio signal through a speaker to the user when the indicator is detected while receiving further text.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving includes receiving input speech from the user with a microphone, and the method further comprises converting the input speech to said text.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a selected number of words.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a selected punctuation mark.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a selected audio utterance.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator is provided as a function of operation of an input device, and wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting operation of the input device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the input device comprises a handwriting device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving text includes receiving phonetic symbols related to the text, and the method further comprises converting the phonetic symbols to the text.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the phonetic symbols represent a language from the group consisting of Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Korean.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving text includes Wu-Bi symbols.

12. A proofreading system operable on a computer for processing text, the computer having an input device and a speaker, the proofreading system comprising:

a text editing module receiving an input signal from the input device indicative of selected text comprising multiple words bounded by indicators, the indicators being embodied in the text and defining boundaries in the selected text; and

a text to speech module receiving the selected text and converting the selected text to an output signal providable to the speaker when at least one of said indicators is detected while receiving further text.

13. The proofreading system of claim 12 wherein the text editing module comprises a word processor.

14. The proofreading system of claim 12 wherein the input device comprises a microphone and the text editing module comprises a dictation system.

15. The proofreading system of claim 14 wherein at least one indicator is a selected number of words.

16. The proofreading system of claim 15 wherein at least one indicator is a selected punctuation mark.

17. The proofreading system of claim 12 wherein the indicators are a function of a selected audio utterance.

18. The proofreading system of claim 12 wherein the input device comprises a handwriting device and the text editing module comprises a handwriting recognition module.

19. A dictation system operable on a computer, the computer having a microphone and a speaker, the dictation system comprising:

a speech recognition module receiving an input signal from the microphone indicative of text bounded by indicators and converting the input signal to text comprising multiple words, wherein the indicators are embodied in the text and define boundaries in the text; and

a text-to-speech module receiving the text and indicators and converting the text to an output signal providable to the speaker when at least one of said indicators is detected and while the speech recognition module receives further input signals.

20. The dictation system of claim 19 wherein the indicators are a function of audio indicators provided by the user.

21. The dictation system of claim 20 wherein at least one indicator is a selected number of words.

22. The dictation system of claim 20 wherein the indicators are a function of a selected audio utterance.

23. The dictation system of claim 20 wherein at least one indicator is a selected punctuation mark.

24. A proofreading system operable on a computer for processing text, the computer having an input device and a speaker, the proofreading system comprising:

a dictionary of symbols and corresponding text;

a text converter coupled to the dictionary and adapted to receive symbols from the input device and to convert the symbols to multiple word text using the dictionary; and

a text to speech module receiving the multiple word text and converting the multiple word text to an output signal providable to the speaker when an indicator is detected, wherein the indicator is embodied in the text and defines a boundary in the multiple word text, while the text converter receives further symbols.

25. The proofreading system of claim 24 wherein the symbols comprise phonetic symbols represent a language from the group consisting of Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Korean.

26. The proofreading system of claim 24 wherein the symbols comprise Wu-Bi symbols.

27. A handwriting recognition system operable on a computer, the computer having a handwriting device and a speaker, the handwriting recognition system comprising:

a handwriting recognition module receiving an input signal from the handwriting device and converting the input signal to text comprising multiple words; and

a text-to-speech module receiving the text and converting the text to an output providable to the speaker when an indicator is detected, wherein the indicator is embodied in the text and defines a boundary in the text, while the handwriting recognition system receives further input signals.

28. A computer implemented method of proofreading text in a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving text comprising multiple words from a user into a text editing module wherein the text is bounded by indicators comprising delays in receipt of further text;

converting the text to an audio signal; and

playing the audio signal through a speaker to the user when the indicator is detected.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of receiving includes receiving input speech from the user with a microphone, and the method comprises converting the input speech to the text.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the delay is provided as a function of operation of an input device.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the input device comprises a handwriting device.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of receiving text includes receiving phonetic symbols related to the text, and a method further comprises converting the phonetic symbols to the text.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the phonetic symbols represent language from the group consisting of Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Korean.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of receiving text includes receiving Wu-Bi symbols, and a method further comprises converting the Wu-Bi symbols to the text.

36. A proofreading system operable on a computer for processing text, the computer having an input device and a speaker, the proofreading system comprising;

a text editing module receiving an input signal from the input device indicative of selected text, wherein the selected text is bounded by indicators comprising delays in receiving text; and

a text to speech module receiving the selected text and converting the selected text to an output signal providable to the speaker when detecting one of said indicators.

37. The proofreading system of claim 36 wherein the input device comprises a handwriting recognition device.

38. The proofreading system of claim 36 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard.

39. The proofreading system of claim 36 wherein the input device comprises a microphone.