US5500919A
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US
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Graphics user interface for controlling text-to-speech conversion
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-18
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Granted: 1996-03-19
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Expires: 2012-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling how text is fed to a text-to-speech converter. Text is controllably fed from a text buffer to a text-to-speech converter, the control being based on operator commands which are effectuated at text boundaries, such as word boundaries or sentence boundaries. Operator commands can include commands to advance through the text in a file, in which case text is fed to the text-to-speech converter on a selectable level of granularity, for example, next word, next sentence, next paragraph, etc. It is also possible to advance through the text file rapidly in which case only a sampling of text segments, for example, three words out of twenty, are fed to the text-to-speech converter. Text segments can be repeated, and text segments can be searched for.
Inventors
- 👤 Willis J. Luther
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G06F3/167; G10; G10L; G10L13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 74
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A text-to-speech controller for controllably feeding a text file from a text buffer to a text-to-speech converter, the text file being comprised by text characters organized into words, including: an interface for inputting user commands which indicate how the text characters in the text file are fed from the text buffer to the text-to-speech converter; and a controller for effectuating the user commands at interword text boundaries such that the text characters are fed at interword text boundaries from the text buffer to the text-to-speech converter in accordance with the user commands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A text-to-speech controller for controllably feeding a text file from a text buffer to a text-to-speech converter, the text file being comprised by text characters organized into words, including: an interface for inputting user commands which indicate how the text characters in the text file are fed from the text buffer to the text-to-speech converter; and a controller for effectuating the user commands at interword text boundaries such that the text characters are fed at interword text boundaries from the text buffer to the text-to-speech converter in accordance with the user commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said interface is comprised by a graphical user interface for inputting the user commands to alter how text is fed from the text buffer to the text-to-speech converter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A controller according to claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface includes means for monitoring the text-to-speech conversion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A controller according to claim 3, wherein said means for monitoring includes a state register display for displaying current status of the controller and a text display for displaying text currently being subjected to text-to-speech processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A controller according to claim 2, wherein said graphical user interface includes a VCR-style control panel having a load button, a rewind button, a play button, a fast-forward button, a stop button and an unload button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A controller according to claim 1, further comprising a voice telephone interface including a DTMF decoder, wherein the user commands are received via the DTMF decoder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A controller according to claim 6, wherein the text-to-speech converter speaks text over the voice telephone interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A controller according to claim 1, further comprising access means for accessing remotely-located text files, wherein text from the remotely-located text files is stored in the text buffer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A controller according to claim 8, further comprising parsing means for parsing text from the remotely-located files for storage in the text buffer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said interface further includes means for accepting parameter commands to alter text-to-speech conversion parameters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A controller according to claim 10, wherein said means for accepting parameter commands is provided by a graphical user interface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
A text-to-speech controller, comprising: a text buffer for storing a text file comprised by text characters organized into words; a controller for controllably feeding text characters in the text file from said text buffer to a text-to-speech converter; and command means including a graphical user interface for accepting input commands to alter how said controller feeds text characters from said text buffer to the text-to-speech converter; wherein said controller sequentially feeds text characters from said text buffer to said text-to-speech converter in the absence of commands from said command means, and wherein said controller alters how text characters are fed from said text buffer to the text-to-speech converter in response to commands from said command means which are effectuated at interword text boundaries.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A text-to-speech controller, comprising: a text buffer for storing a text file comprised by text characters organized into words; a controller for controllably feeding text characters in the text file from said text buffer to a text-to-speech converter; and command means including a graphical user interface for accepting input commands to alter how said controller feeds text characters from said text buffer to the text-to-speech converter; wherein said controller sequentially feeds text characters from said text buffer to said text-to-speech converter in the absence of commands from said command means, and wherein said controller alters how text characters are fed from said text buffer to the text-to-speech converter in response to commands from said command means which are effectuated at interword text boundaries.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said controller effectuates text control at sentence boundaries.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to advance through the text in said text buffer, and wherein said controller effectuates said commands to advance at interword text boundaries.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A controller according to claim 14, wherein said advance command is a fast advance command in which text samples are extracted at interword text boundaries and in which the extracted text samples are fed to the text-to-speech converter for enunciation at normal speed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to repeat text segments, and wherein, said controller repeats text segments beginning at interword text boundaries.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to stop feeding text to the text-to-speech converter, and wherein said controller stops on interword text boundaries.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to search for designatable text strings and wherein said controller searches for an occurrence of the designatable text string in the text in said text buffer and begins feeding text from said text buffer to the text-to-speech converter commencing with an occurrence of the designatable text string.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes means for displaying a state register which displays current status of said controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes a text display for displaying text that is being fed to the text-to-speech converter and for emphasizing the display of text currently being enunciated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes a talking head for mimicking enunciation of text that is fed to the text-to-speech converter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes means to vary text-to-speech conversion parameters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said controller automatically advances through text in said text buffer in accordance with one of at least two selectable modes, wherein in the first mode said controller advances through text continuously, and wherein in said second mode said controller steps through text in the text buffer based on manual commands from the graphical user interface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A controller according to claim 23, wherein in said second mode, selectable levels of granularity may be designated through the graphical user interface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A controller according to claim 24, wherein the selectable level of granularity include sentences, words and paragraphs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A controller according to claim 12, wherein said controller includes a pointer for pointing to text in said text buffer, and wherein said controller controls the position of said pointer in accordance with input commands from said command means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A controller according to claim 26, wherein said controller advances said pointer automatically and alters the position of said pointer in accordance with input commands input from said command means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A controller according to claim 12, further comprising a voice telephone interface for receiving speech generated by the text-to-speech converter and for putting the generated speech on a voice telephone line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
A controller according to claim 28, wherein said voice telephone interface includes a DTMF decoder for decoding DTMF commands, wherein said controller is responsive to DTMF commands to alter how text is provided to the text-to-speech converter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
A controller according to claim 12, further comprising access means for accessing remotely-located files.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A controller according to claim 12, further comprising a parser for parsing text in said text buffer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
A text-to-speech controller according to claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface includes a VCR-style control panel having a load button, a rewind button, a play button, a fast-forward button, a stop button and an unload button.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
166 words
A text-to-speech processor comprising: an input buffer for storing files that include text characters organized into words; an output buffer for storing text characters and embedded speech style commands; a text parser for parsing the text characters in said input files, for generating speech style commands, and for storing parsed text characters and embedded speech style commands in said output buffer; a text-to-speech converter for converting text characters in said output buffer into speech styled in accordance with the speech style commands embedded in said text characters; command means including a graphical user interface for accepting input commands; and a controller including a pointer to text characters in said input buffer for controllably feeding text characters from said input buffer at the position of said pointer to said text parser, said controller automatically advancing the position of said pointer in the absence of input commands and said controller altering the position of said pointer in response to input commands which are effectuated at interword text boundaries.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
166 words
A text-to-speech processor comprising: an input buffer for storing files that include text characters organized into words; an output buffer for storing text characters and embedded speech style commands; a text parser for parsing the text characters in said input files, for generating speech style commands, and for storing parsed text characters and embedded speech style commands in said output buffer; a text-to-speech converter for converting text characters in said output buffer into speech styled in accordance with the speech style commands embedded in said text characters; command means including a graphical user interface for accepting input commands; and a controller including a pointer to text characters in said input buffer for controllably feeding text characters from said input buffer at the position of said pointer to said text parser, said controller automatically advancing the position of said pointer in the absence of input commands and said controller altering the position of said pointer in response to input commands which are effectuated at interword text boundaries.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
A processor according to claim 33, wherein said controller effectuates text control at sentence boundaries.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
A processor according to claim 33, wherein said controller includes a graphical user interface.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to advance through the text in said text buffer, and wherein said controller alters the position of said pointer so as to effectuate said advance commands at interword text boundaries.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
41 words
A processor according to claim 36, wherein said advance command is a fast advance command in which text samples are extracted on interword text boundaries and the extracted text samples are fed to the text-to-speech converter for enunciation at normal speed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to repeat text segments, and wherein said controller alters the position of said pointer so as to repeat text segments beginning at interword text boundaries.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to stop feeding text to the text-to-speech converter, and wherein said controller stops said pointer at interword text boundaries.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
69 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to search for designatable text strings and wherein said controller searches for an occurrence of the designatable text string in the text in said text buffer and alters the position of said pointer so as to begin feeding text from said text buffer to the text-to-speech converter commencing with an occurrence of the designatable text string.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes means for displaying a state register which displays current status of said controller.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes a text display for displaying text that is being fed to the text-to-speech converter and for emphasizing the display of text currently being enunciated.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes a talking head for mimicking enunciation of text that is fed to the text-to-speech converter.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
A processor according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface includes means to vary text-to-speech conversion parameters.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
66 words
A processor according to claim 33, wherein said controller automatically advances through text in said text buffer in accordance of one of at least two selectable modes, wherein in the first mode said controller advances through text continuously, and wherein in said second mode said controller steps through text in the text buffer based on manually input operator commands which are effectuated at interword text boundaries.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
A processor according to claim 45, wherein in said second mode, selectable levels of granularity may be designated.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
A processor according to claim 46, wherein the selectable level of granularity include sentences, words and paragraphs.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
A text-to-speech processor according to claim 33, wherein said graphical user interface includes a VCR-style control panel having a load button, a rewind button, a play button, a fast-forward button, a stop button and an unload button.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
147 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit including a computer for executing stored program process steps; command means by which an operator can issue commands; a memory for storing plural files including at least some files which contain text characters organized into words, and for storing process steps for execution by said processing unit; and a text-to-speech converter for converting text characters into speech styled in accordance with speech style commands; wherein said process steps include steps to select one of the files stored in said memory, to provide text characters from the selected file to said text-to-speech converter, and to alter how text characters are provided from the selected file to said text-to-speech converter in accordance with operator commands from said command means which are effectuated at interword text boundaries, whereby text characters in the selected file are converted to speech in an operator-controllable order.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
147 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit including a computer for executing stored program process steps; command means by which an operator can issue commands; a memory for storing plural files including at least some files which contain text characters organized into words, and for storing process steps for execution by said processing unit; and a text-to-speech converter for converting text characters into speech styled in accordance with speech style commands; wherein said process steps include steps to select one of the files stored in said memory, to provide text characters from the selected file to said text-to-speech converter, and to alter how text characters are provided from the selected file to said text-to-speech converter in accordance with operator commands from said command means which are effectuated at interword text boundaries, whereby text characters in the selected file are converted to speech in an operator-controllable order.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
38 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 49, further comprising access means for accessing remote text files, wherein said process steps include process steps to parse text in said remotely-located files and steps to store the parsed text.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said access means includes a LAN interface for accessing local area network files.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said access means includes a modem for downloading binary data files modulated on a voice telephone line.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
44 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said access means includes a facsimile interface, and wherein said process steps include process steps to perform optical character recognition on received facsimiles and steps to store resulting text into a file in said memory.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
17 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said controller effectuates text control at sentence boundaries.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
40 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 49, further comprising a monitor for displaying a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising said command means, and wherein said process steps include steps to generate the graphical user interface display.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
37 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphics user interface includes commands to advance through the text in said text buffer, and wherein said processing unit effectuates said advance commands at interword text boundaries.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
43 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said advance command is a fast advance command in which text samples are extracted on interword text boundaries and the extracted text samples are fed to the text-to-speech converter for enunciation at normal speed.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
32 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to repeat text segments, and wherein said processing unit repeats text segments beginning at interword text boundaries.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
33 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to stop feeding text to the text-to-speech converter, and wherein said processing unit stops on interword text boundaries.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
59 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes commands to search for designatable text strings and wherein said processing unit searches for an occurrence of the designatable text string in the text in said text buffer and begins feeding text to the text-to-speech converter commencing with an occurrence of the designatable text string.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
28 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes means for displaying a state register which displays current status of said processing unit.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
38 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes a text display for displaying text that is being fed to the text-to-speech converter and for emphasizing the display of text currently being enunciated.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
29 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes a talking head for mimicking enunciation of text that is fed to the text-to-speech converter.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes means to vary text-to-speech conversion parameters.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
38 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said graphical user interface includes a VCR-style control panel having a load button, a rewind button, a play button, a fast-forward button, a stop button and an unload button.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
66 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said process steps include steps whereby text is provided to said text-to-speech converter in accordance of one of at least two selectable modes, wherein in the first mode text is advanced continuously, and wherein in said second mode text is advanced based on manual operator commands from said command means which are effectuated at interword text boundaries.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
20 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 66, wherein in said second mode, selectable levels of granularity may be designated.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
19 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 66, wherein the selectable level of granularity include sentences, words and paragraphs.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
44 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said processing unit maintains a pointer for pointing to text provided to said text-to-speech converter, and wherein said processing unit controls the position of said pointer in accordance with operator commands from said command means.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
33 words
A text-to-speech processing apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said processing unit advances said pointer automatically and alters the position of said pointer in accordance with operator commands input from said command means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-19 | 1999-09-18 | 2000-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-09-18 | 2004-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-19 | 2007-09-18 | 2008-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |