Electronic book with voice emulation features

• US 8,548,813 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adrea LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adrea LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hendricks, John S., Asmussen, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abebe, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US13/298,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20120166191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/260, 379/88.01
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for providing text-to-audio conversion of an electronic book displayed on a viewer. A user selects a portion of displayed text and converts it into audio. The text-to-audio conversion may be performed via a header file and pre-recorded audio for each electronic book, via text-to-speech conversion, or other available means. The user may select manual or automatic text-to audio conversion. The automatic text-to-audio conversion may be performed by automatically turning the pages of the electronic book or by the user manually turning the pages. The user may also select to convert the entire electronic book, or portions of it, into audio. The user may also select an option to receive an audio definition of a particular word in the electronic book. The present invention allows a user to control the system by selecting options from a screen or by entering voice commands.

Claims

1. A method for performing dictation into an electronic book displayed on a viewer, comprising:

displaying a page of an electronic book within a screen on a viewer;

providing a section within the screen for permitting a user to request a speech-to-text conversion;

providing a text insertion cursor for designating a text insertion point;

receiving speech from the user;

converting the speech into corresponding electronic text;

displaying the text on the viewer; and

inserting the text into the electronic book.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting step includes inserting the text into the electronic book at a location identified by the user using the cursor.

3. An apparatus for performing dictation into an electronic book displayed on a viewer, comprising:

a display that displays a page of an electronic book within a screen on a viewer;

a section within the screen for permitting a user to request a speech-to-text conversion;

a receive module that receives speech from the user;

a commands module that converts the speech into corresponding electronic text; and

an insertion module that inserts the text into the electronic book.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the insertion module includes an insertion point module that inserts the text into the electronic book at a location identified by the user.

5. A method for electronically displaying a page of an electronic book on a viewer and permitting a user to request a speech-to-text function, comprising:

displaying a screen on a viewer;

displaying within the screen a page of an electronic book; and

displaying a section within the screen for permitting a user to request a speech-to-text conversion for insertion of text into the displayed page of the electronic book.

6. The method of claim 5, further including displaying a section within the screen for the user to request an end to the speech-to-text conversion.

7. A screen for use in electronically displaying a page of an electronic book on a viewer and permitting a user to request a speech-to-text function, comprising:

a screen for display on a viewer;

a section within the screen for displaying a page of an electronic book; and

a begin dictation section within the screen for permitting a user to request a speech-to-text conversion for insertion of text into the displayed page of the electronic book.

8. The screen of claim 7, further including an end dictation section within the screen for the user to request an end to the speech-to-text conversion.