Communications system providing automatic text-to-speech conversion features and related methods

• US 7,650,170 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: May, Darrell Reginald, Gagne, Alain R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/790,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/563, 4554121- 2, 455/414.1, 4555691- 2, 4555751- 2, 455/41.2, 455/556.1, 455/90.3, 379/93.09, 379/420.04, 379/433.05, 704/260, 704/276, 704/270.1, 345/853
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/047 Architecture of speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device, and a wireless communications network for sending text messages thereto. More particularly, the at least one mobile wireless communications device may include a wireless transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages from the wireless communications network. It may further include a headset output connected to the controller. The controller may be for switching between a normal message mode and an audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset. Moreover, when in the audio message mode, the controller may output at least one audio message including speech generated from at least one of the received text messages via the headset output.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising:

a wireless cellular transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages from a wireless communications network; and

a headset output connected to said controller;

said controller for

switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between said headset output and a headset, and

when in the audio message mode, outputting via said headset output an audio message comprising speech generated from a received text message;

said controller being settable to an override mode in which said controller remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between said headset output and the headset;

said controller also for generating a conversion request for converting the received text message to the audio message, and cooperating with the wireless cellular transceiver to forward the conversion request to the wireless communications network and receive the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said headset output comprises a wireless headset output for establishing a wireless connection with the headset.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said headset output comprises a headset jack for a wired headset.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a user interface device connected to said controller, and wherein said controller switches to the audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided by a user via said user interface device.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 4 wherein said user interface device comprises a keypad connected to said controller.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a display connected to said controller for displaying the received text messages.

7. A cellular communications system comprising:

mobile wireless communications device comprising

a wireless cellular transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages, and

a headset output connected to said controller, said controller for

switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between said headset output and a headset, and

when in the audio message mode, outputting via said headset output an audio message comprising speech generated from a received text message; and

a wireless cellular communications network for sending the text messages to said at least one mobile wireless communications device;

said controller being settable to an override mode in which said controller remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between said headset output and the headset;

said controller also for generating a conversion request for converting the received text message to the audio message and cooperating with the wireless cellular transceiver to forward the conversion request to said wireless communications network;

said wireless cellular communications network receiving the conversion request and further comprising a text-to-speech module for converting the received text message to the at least one audio message, and wherein said wireless communications network sends the audio message to said at least one wireless communications device.

8. The communications system of claim 7 wherein said headset output comprises a wireless headset output for establishing a wireless connection with the headset.

9. The communications system of claim 7 wherein said at least one wireless communications device further comprises a user interface device, and wherein said controller switches to the audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided by a user via said user interface device.

10. The communications system of claim 7 wherein said at least one mobile wireless communications device further comprises a display connected to said controller for displaying the received text messages.

11. A method for using a mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising a headset output, the method comprising:

receiving text messages from a wireless cellular communications network;

switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset;

generating a conversion request for converting a received text message to an audio message comprising speech generated from the received text message;

forwarding the conversion request to the wireless cellular communications network and receiving the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon;

when in the audio message mode, outputting the audio message via the headset output; and

selectively setting the mobile wireless communications device to an override mode in which the mobile wireless communications device remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between the headset output and the headset.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the headset output comprises a wireless headset output for establishing a wireless connection with the headset.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile wireless cellular communications device further comprises a user interface device connected to the controller;

and further comprising switching to the audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided by a user via the user interface device.

14. A computer-readable medium for use with a mobile wireless cellular communications device comprising a headset output, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile wireless communications cellular device to perform steps comprising:

receiving text messages from a wireless cellular communications network;

switching between a normal message mode and a hands-free audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset;

generating a conversion request for converting a received text message to an audio message comprising speech generated from the received text message;

forwarding the conversion request to the wireless cellular communications network and receiving the audio message from the wireless communications network based thereon;

when in the audio message mode, outputting via the headset output the audio message via the headset output; and

selectively setting the mobile wireless communications device to an override mode in which the mobile wireless communications device remains in the audio message mode irrespective of a connection between the headset output and the headset.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the headset output comprises a wireless headset output for establishing a wireless connection with the headset.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the mobile wireless cellular communications device further comprises a user interface device connected to the controller;

and further having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile wireless communications device to perform a step comprising switching to the audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided by a user via the user interface device.