Patent US5704007A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5704007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Utilization of multiple voice sources in a speech synthesizer
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-04
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Granted: 1997-12-30
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Expires: 2016-10-04
Abstract
Abstract Utilization of one or more voice sources in a speech synthesizer to provide improved synthetic speech. Having a speech synthesizer with the capability to select among and between a multiplicity of voice sources provides a higher quality and greater variety of possible synthetic speech sounds. This is particularly true when the multiplicity of voice sources are predetermined to have particular speech qualities and spectral content such as may be desired to convey emotional vocal content in synthetic speech.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark L. Cecys
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:16
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L13/00; G10L13/02; G10L13/04; G10L13/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A synthetic text-to-speech generating method comprising: generating a set of speech synthesizer control parameters representative of text to be spoken; and converting the speech synthesizer control parameters into output wave forms representative of the synthetic speech to be spoken by selecting and combining at least two voice sources from a multiplicity of voice sources in a speech synthesizer to generate a combined voice source and by passing the combined voice sottree through an acoustic model of a human vocal tract.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A synthetic text-to-speech generating method comprising: generating a set of speech synthesizer control parameters representative of text to be spoken; and converting the speech synthesizer control parameters into output wave forms representative of the synthetic speech to be spoken by selecting and combining at least two voice sources from a multiplicity of voice sources in a speech synthesizer to generate a combined voice source and by passing the combined voice sottree through an acoustic model of a human vocal tract.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of selecting is based upon which of the multiplicity of voice sources has spectral content which most closely matches that of the generated set of speech synthesizer control parameters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said multiplicity of voice sources includes a normal voice source and a bright voice source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said multiplicity of voice sources includes a glottal voice source.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for generating synthetic text-to-speech, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a set of speech synthesizer control parameters representative of text to be spoken; and means for converting the speech synthesizer control parameters into output wave forms representative of the synthetic speech to be spoken by means for selecting and combining at least two voice sources from a multiplicity of voice sources in a speech synthesizer to generate a combined voice source and means for passing the combined voice source through an acoustic model of a human vocal tract.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for generating synthetic text-to-speech, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a set of speech synthesizer control parameters representative of text to be spoken; and means for converting the speech synthesizer control parameters into output wave forms representative of the synthetic speech to be spoken by means for selecting and combining at least two voice sources from a multiplicity of voice sources in a speech synthesizer to generate a combined voice source and means for passing the combined voice source through an acoustic model of a human vocal tract.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for selecting is based upon which of the multiplicity of voice sources has spectral content which most closely matches that of the generated set of speech synthesizer control parameters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said multiplicity of voice sources includes a normal voice source and a bright voice source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said multiplicity of voice sources includes a glottal voice source.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of generating synthetic speech in a synthetic speech system comprising a speech synthesizer, said synthetic speech generating method comprising the steps of: a) providing a multiplicity of synthetic voice sources to said speech synthesizer; b) providing a set of speech synthesizer control parameters to said speech synthesizer; c) said speech synthesizer selecting at least two of said multiplicity of voice sources based upon said set of speech synthesizer control parameters; d) said speech synthesizer combining the Selected voice sources to generate a combined voice source; and e) generating said synthetic speech based upon said set of speech synthesizer control parameters and using said combined voice source.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of generating synthetic speech in a synthetic speech system comprising a speech synthesizer, said synthetic speech generating method comprising the steps of: a) providing a multiplicity of synthetic voice sources to said speech synthesizer; b) providing a set of speech synthesizer control parameters to said speech synthesizer; c) said speech synthesizer selecting at least two of said multiplicity of voice sources based upon said set of speech synthesizer control parameters; d) said speech synthesizer combining the Selected voice sources to generate a combined voice source; and e) generating said synthetic speech based upon said set of speech synthesizer control parameters and using said combined voice source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The synthetic speech generating method of claim 9 wherein said multiplicity of voice sources are predetermined to have desired spectral content.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The synthetic speech generating method of claim 10 wherein said step of selecting at least two of said multiplicity of voice sources comprises selecting at least one voice source having spectral content which most closely matches that of the provided set of speech synthesizer control parameters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said multiplicity of voice sources includes a normal voice source and a bright voice source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said multiplicity of voice sources includes a glottal voice source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
106 words
A text-to-speech synthesizer system for generating a synthetic speech signal, the synthesizer system comprising: a phonetic translation of text to be spoken by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; a multiplicity of audio signals to be used as voice sources by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; and an acoustic model of a human vocal tract, the acoustic model selectively receiving as input at least two of the multiplicity of audio signals and the phonetic translation, the acoustic model acoustically modifying the received audio signals based upon the phonetic translation to generate a modified voice source, and the acoustic model outputting the modified voice source as the synthetic speech signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A text-to-speech synthesizer system for generating a synthetic speech signal, the synthesizer system comprising: a phonetic translation of text to be spoken by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; a multiplicity of audio signals to be used as voice sources by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; and an acoustic model of a human vocal tract, the acoustic model selectively receiving as input at least two of the multiplicity of audio signals and the phonetic translation, the acoustic model acoustically modifying the received audio signals based upon the phonetic translation to generate a modified voice source, and the acoustic model outputting the modified voice source as the synthetic speech signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
A parametric synthetic text-to-speech system comprising: a memory containing a multiplicity of digitally sampled voice sources and a set of text-to-speech parameters indicative of text to be spoken by the synthetic text-to-speech system; a filter network for modulating two or more of the multiplicity of voice sources in accordance with the set of text-to-speech parameters to generate a modulated voice source, the filter network modeling the acoustic aspects of the human vocal tract; a loudspeaker for generating a waveform of the synthetic speech utilizing the modulated voice source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
A parametric synthetic text-to-speech system comprising: a memory containing a multiplicity of digitally sampled voice sources and a set of text-to-speech parameters indicative of text to be spoken by the synthetic text-to-speech system; a filter network for modulating two or more of the multiplicity of voice sources in accordance with the set of text-to-speech parameters to generate a modulated voice source, the filter network modeling the acoustic aspects of the human vocal tract; a loudspeaker for generating a waveform of the synthetic speech utilizing the modulated voice source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A text-to-speech synthesizer system for generating a synthetic speech signal, the synthesizer system comprising: a phonetic translation of text to be spoken by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; two audio signals to be used as voice sources by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; an acoustic model of a human vocal tract for receiving the two audio signals and the phonetic translation, combining and modifying the two audio signals based upon the phonetic translation, and outputting the combined and modified two audio signals as the synthetic speech signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
A text-to-speech synthesizer system for generating a synthetic speech signal, the synthesizer system comprising: a phonetic translation of text to be spoken by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; two audio signals to be used as voice sources by the text-to-speech synthesizer system; an acoustic model of a human vocal tract for receiving the two audio signals and the phonetic translation, combining and modifying the two audio signals based upon the phonetic translation, and outputting the combined and modified two audio signals as the synthetic speech signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the two audio signals each has different spectral qualities.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the acoustic model uses proportionately more of one of the two audio signals than another of the two audio signals when combining the two audio signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the proportionate usage of the two audio signals by the acoustic model is variable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 17, wherein a first of said audio signals has spectral qualities of a normal voice and a second of said audio signals has spectral qualities of a bright voice.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further including a third audio signal to be used as a voice source by the text-to-speech synthesizer system, said third audio signal having spectral qualities of a glottal voice.
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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) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |