User interface for text to speech conversion

• US 6,708,152 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• 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.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kivimäki, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US09/739,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 704/235, 704/258, 704/260, 704/270, 704/275, 704/270.1, 379/88.01
• 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 which comprises 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. It also comprises 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.

Claims

1. A wireless 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 punctuated text;

a user input device for inputting instructions to navigate through the punctuated text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the punctuated 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 punctuated 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 the punctuated text.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, arranged to navigate backward through the punctuated 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 5, further comprising means for determining the length of Punctuated text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the punctuated 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.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller controls the speech synthesizer to provide an audio output from the punctuated text between the current position and the position defined by the predetermined punctuation identifier at a slower speed than a default speed.

8. 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.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for determining the length of punctuated text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the punctuated 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.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the controller controls the speech synthesizer to provide an audio output from the punctuated text between the current position and the position defined by the predetermined punctuation identifier at a slower speed than a default speed.

11. A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for determining the length of punctuated text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the punctuated 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.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller controls the speech synthesizer to provide an audio output from the punctuated text between the current position and the position defined by the predetermined punctuation identifier at a slower speed than a default speed.

13. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller controls the speech synthesizer to provide an audio output from the punctuated text between the current position and the position defined by the predetermined punctuation identifier at a slower speed than a default speed.

14. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller controls the speech synthesizer to provide an audio output from the punctuated text between the current position and the position defined by the predetermined punctuation identifier at a slower speed than a default speed.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the default speed is that of the display of the punctuated text on the display.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the default speed is the default speed of the audio output of punctuated text by the speech synthesizer.

17. A device as claimed in claim 2, arranged to navigate backward through the punctuated text.

18. A device as claimed in claim 2, arranged to navigate forward through the punctuated text.

19. A device as claimed in claim 1, arranged to navigate forward through the punctuated text.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, 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.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate forwards to a position defined by the first punctuation identifier in the forwards sequence.

22. A device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining the length of punctuated text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the punctuated 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 forward to a position defined by a second punctuation identifier in the forward sequence.

23. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the controller is arranged to navigate forwards to a position defined by the second punctuation identifier in the forwards sequence.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining the length of punctuated text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the punctuated 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 forward to a position defined by a second punctuation identifier in the forward sequence.

25. A device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising means for determining the length of punctuated text and/or length of time for audible reproduction of the punctuated 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 forward to a position defined by a second punctuation identifier in the forward sequence.

26. A device as claimed in claim 1, arranged to navigate forward through the punctuated text in response to a first instruction and backwards through the punctuated text in response to a second instruction.

27. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a key means.

28. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the key means is a dedicated navigation instruction key.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28, 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.

30. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the key means comprises a multifunction key, and the controller controls the functionality of the multifunction key.

31. A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein one function of the multifunction key is selecting a navigation instruction.

32. A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with the navigation instruction selected by the multifunction key.

33. A device as claimed in claim 32, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction via the user input device.

34. A device as claimed in claim 32, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction via the user input device.

35. A device as claimed in claim 32, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction by way of a voice command.

36. A device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

37. A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

38. A device as claimed in claim 31, arranged to provide the user with a navigation instruction options menu and for the user to select from the menu using the multifunction key.

39. A device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

40. A device as claimed in claim 31, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction via the user input device.

41. A device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

42. A device as claimed in claim 31, arranged such that the user inputs the navigation instruction by way of a voice command.

43. A device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

44. A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

45. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a voice recognition device.

46. A device as claimed in claim 45, wherein the instruction is a number, and the control means is arranged to determine the position of the punctuation identifier associated with that number.

47. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the punctuation identifiers are one or more selected from punctuation marks, capital letters, spaces, a header of a group of words.

48. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a document reader or a portable and/or hand-held communications device.

49. A device as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a mobile receiver for wirelessly receiving messages including the punctuated text; and

wherein

the controller is coupled to the receiver.

50. 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 punctuated text;

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

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

51. A device as claimed in claim 50, which is a hand-held device.

52. A device as claimed in claim 51, comprising means for mounting in a vehicle.

53. A device as claimed in claim 50, comprising means for mounting in a vehicle.

54. A device as claimed in claim 50 comprising:

a mobile receiver for wirelessly receiving messages including the punctuated text; and

wherein

the controller is coupled to the receiver.

55. A wireless 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 punctuated text;

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

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

56. A reader as claimed in claim 55 comprising:

a mobile receiver for wirelessly receiving messages including the punctuated text; and

wherein

the controller is coupled to the receiver.

57. A car comprising:

a wireless 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 the punctuated text, between positions defined by punctuation identifiers of the punctuated text, to a desired position, and a controller, arranged to control navigation to the desired position, and to provide the speech synthesizer with an input corresponding to a portion of the punctuated text from the desired position, in response to input navigation instructions.

58. A car as claimed in claim 57, wherein the user input device comprises key means on the steering wheel.

59. A car as claimed in claim 57 wherein:

the wireless electronic device includes a mobile receiver for wirelessly receiving messages including the punctuated text and the controller is coupled to the receiver.

60. A method of navigating through punctuated text to a desired position for audio output by a speech synthesizer which is part of a wireless device, the method comprising:

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

61. A method according to claim 60 comprising:

wirelessly receiving messages with a mobile receiver which include the punctuated text.

62. A method for providing speech synthesis of a desired portion of punctuated text using a wireless device, the method comprising:

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

moving to the desired start position of the punctuated text; and

outputting speech synthesized punctuated text from that position.

63. A method according to claim 62 comprising:

wirelessly receiving messages with a mobile receiver which include the punctuated text.