Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Synthesis
Patent
1996-04-30
1999-06-15
Hudspeth, David R.
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Synthesis
704256, G10L 502, G10L 900
Patent
active
059131934
ABSTRACT:
The present invention pertains to a concatenative speech synthesis system and method which produces a more natural sounding speech. The system provides for multiple instances of each acoustic unit which can be used to generate a speech waveform representing an linguistic expression. The multiple instances are formed during an analysis or training phase of the synthesis process and are limited to a robust representation of the highest probability instances. The provision of multiple instances enables the synthesizer to select the instance which closely resembles the desired instance thereby eliminating the need to alter the stored instance to match the desired instance. This in essence minimizes the spectral distortion between the boundaries of adjacent instances thereby producing more natural sounding speech.
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Acero Alejandro
Adcock James L.
Huang Xuedong D.
Plumpe Michael D.
Edouard Patrick N.
Hudspeth David R.
Microsoft Corporation
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