Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Synthesis
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2001-03-06
Hudspeth, David R. (Department: 2741)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Synthesis
C704S278000, C434S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199042
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to reading machines that read aloud electronic representations of displayed documents.
Reading machines have been used to improve the educational attainment of individuals with learning disabilities. In general, reading machines are computer-based having specialized software that processes an input source document and generates synthetic speech. This enables the user to hear the computer read the document a word, line, sentence, etc. at a time. Often these reading machines include a scanner to provide one technique to input source documents to the reader.
The scanner provides an image file representation of a scanned document. The personal computer using optical character recognition software produces an OCR file including generated text information. The OCR file is used by the display system software to display a text-based representation of the scanned document on the monitor. The OCR file text is also used by speech synthesis software to synthesize speech. Techniques are known for applying highlighting to displayed text of a document synchronized with synthesized speech corresponding to the highlighted text.
SUMMARY
In one aspect of the invention, a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium includes instructions for causing a computer to display a representation of a document on a computer monitor. The product also causes the computer to read the displayed representation of the document by using a recorded human voice. Optionally the recorded human voice is synchronized with highlighting applied to the displayed representation. The computer program product uses information associated with a text file to synchronize the recorded human voice and the highlighting to the displayed representation of the document.
With a further aspect of the invention, a computer program residing on a computer readable medium includes instructions for causing a computer to record the voice of an operator of the reading machine as a series of voice samples in synchronization with a highlighting indicia applied to a displayed document and store the series of voice samples in a data structure in a manner that associates the series of voice samples with displayed positions of words in the document.
According to a further aspect, a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium includes instructions for causing a computer to playback recorded voice samples corresponding to words in a document displayed by a monitor of the computer and highlight words in the displayed document in synchronization with the recorded voice samples.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, a reading system includes a computer which includes a processor and a computer monitor for displaying an image representation of a scanned document. The computer also includes a scanner for scanning documents, speakers for providing an audio output and a mass storage device storing a computer program product including instructions for causing the computer to display a representation of a document on the computer monitor and apply digitized, voice samples of the document to an audio system to cause the computer to output a human voice pronunciation of the document.
According to a still further aspect, a method of operating a reading machine includes displaying a representation of a document and using positional information from a text file associated with the document to apply digitized, voice samples of the document to an audio system causing the reading machine to read the document aloud with a recorded human voice pronunciation of the document.
In this manner, a more pleasing pronunciation of the words in the document is provided. The computer program product can operate in conjunction with a text or image-based representation of the document.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4698625 (1987-10-01), McCaskill et al.
patent: 5538430 (1996-07-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5617507 (1997-04-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5623679 (1997-04-01), Rivette et al.
patent: 5663748 (1997-09-01), Huffman et al.
patent: 5875428 (1999-02-01), Kurzweil et al.
Holmes, “Speech Synthesis and Recognition”, 1995, Chapman And Hill, 72-75.
Bromberg & Sunstein LLP
Hudspeth David R.
L&H Applications USA, Inc.
Zintel Harold
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