US5893901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Text to voice apparatus accessing multiple gazetteers dependent upon vehicular position
Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-11-08
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Granted: 1999-04-13
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Expires: 2016-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus that changes text data into a voice signal based on the position of a vehicle is disclosed. A main gazetteer is subdivided into multiple area gazetteers, wherein each area gazetteer contains information corresponding to the mapping area that the vehicle is located. When the vehicle's position moves to a different mapping area, an analysis controller detects the change in mapping area and selects the new corresponding area gazetteer. The information of the new area gazetteer is then outputted as speech. This technique of subdividing the main gazetteer into area gazetteers increases the retrieval speed of information to the operator of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiko Maki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3626; G01C21/3629; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0968; G10; G10L; G10L13/00; G10L13/02; G10L13/027; G10L13/04; G10L13/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: a storage medium that stores a main gazetteer divided into a plurality of area gazetteers, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; area gazetteer reading means for reading an area gazetteer among the plurality of area gazetteers, corresponding to the position information about the present position of the vehicle; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to the position information about the present position and analyzing the text data using the read area gazetteer as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: a storage medium that stores a main gazetteer divided into a plurality of area gazetteers, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; area gazetteer reading means for reading an area gazetteer among the plurality of area gazetteers, corresponding to the position information about the present position of the vehicle; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to the position information about the present position and analyzing the text data using the read area gazetteer as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said divided areas are separately defined to exclude homographs from the position information about positions in each of the plurality of divided areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a memory and means for loading at least one corresponding area gazetteer into said memory in response to a change in the present position information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for loading loads a plurality of the area gazetteers into said memory in response to a change in the present position information and includes means for loading area gazetteers for the divided area corresponding to the present position and other divided areas adjacent thereto.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: a receiver for receiving from an area base station at least an area gazetteer selected from among a plurality of area gazetteers of a main gazetteer, the main gazetteer being divided into the plurality of area gazetteers and being under the control of said area base station, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to position information about the present position of the vehicle and analyzing the text data using each area gazetteer received by said receiver as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: a receiver for receiving from an area base station at least an area gazetteer selected from among a plurality of area gazetteers of a main gazetteer, the main gazetteer being divided into the plurality of area gazetteers and being under the control of said area base station, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to position information about the present position of the vehicle and analyzing the text data using each area gazetteer received by said receiver as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each area gazetteer has words, pronunciations of the words, and keywords identifying the area gazetteer and corresponding to the present position information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising route search means for searching a traffic proposed route; and memory means for storing therein an area gazetteer including nodal points on the traffic proposed route.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said each area gazetteer has words, pronunciations of the words, and keywords identifying the area gazetteer and corresponding to the present position information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said each area gazetteer has words, their pronunciation, and keywords identifying the area gazetteer and corresponding to the present position information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said each area gazetteer has words, pronunciations of the words, and keywords identifying the area gazetteer and corresponding to the present position information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receiver receives, from the transmitter, area gazetteers for the divided area corresponding to the present position and other divided areas adjacent thereto.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: a storage medium storing a main gazetteer divided into a plurality of area gazetteers, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; area gazetteer reading means for reading a predetermined number of area gazetteers among the plurality of area gazetteers, corresponding to the position information about the present position of the vehicle; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to the position information about the present position and analyzing the text data using the read predetermined number of area gazetteers as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: a storage medium storing a main gazetteer divided into a plurality of area gazetteers, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; area gazetteer reading means for reading a predetermined number of area gazetteers among the plurality of area gazetteers, corresponding to the position information about the present position of the vehicle; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to the position information about the present position and analyzing the text data using the read predetermined number of area gazetteers as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said divided areas are separately defined to exclude homographs from the position information about positions in each of the plurality of divided areas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the predetermined number is a plural number, and further comprising a memory and means for loading the corresponding plural number of area gazetteers into said memory in response to a change in the present position information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means for loading loads a plurality of the area gazetteers into said memory in response to a change in the present position information and includes means for loading area gazetteers for the divided area corresponding to the present position and other divided areas adjacent thereto.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: an area base station having a transmitter, and a storage medium that stores a main gazetteer, the main gazetteer being divided into a plurality of area gazetteers, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; a receiver for receiving, via the transmitter, at least an area gazetteer selected from among the plurality of area gazetteers of the main gazetteer stored in the storage medium; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to position information about the present position of the vehicle and analyzing the text data using each area gazetteer received by said receiver as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for changing text data into a voice signal based on a present position of a vehicle among positions in a plurality of divided areas, comprising: an area base station having a transmitter, and a storage medium that stores a main gazetteer, the main gazetteer being divided into a plurality of area gazetteers, each area gazetteer corresponding to position information about positions in at least one of the plurality of divided areas; a receiver for receiving, via the transmitter, at least an area gazetteer selected from among the plurality of area gazetteers of the main gazetteer stored in the storage medium; an analysis controller for generating text data corresponding to position information about the present position of the vehicle and analyzing the text data using each area gazetteer received by said receiver as a high-priority temporary dictionary; and a text readup device for producing a voice signal corresponding to the text data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a memory and means for loading the selected area gazetteer into said memory in response to a change in the present position information.
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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) | 2002-04-12 | 2002-10-12 | 2003-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-12 | 2006-10-12 | 2007-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-12 | 2010-10-12 | 2011-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |