公开(公告)号：US5915238A

公开(公告)日：1999-06-22

申请号：US680899

申请日：1996-07-16

Applicant: Gary S. Tjaden

Inventor： Gary S. Tjaden

IPC: G10H1/00 ,  G10L13/04 ,  G10L5/02

CPC classification number: G10H1/0058 ,  G10H1/0033 ,  G10L13/00 ,  G10H2240/105 ,  G10H2240/211 ,  G10H2240/241 ,  G10H2240/311

Abstract: An information delivery system for delivery of audible information to a plurality of end-users comprising, in accordance with the preferred embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention, a master controller connected to a plurality of remotely-located information sources and to a plurality of remotely-located end-user information devices. The master controller connects to a plurality of distant local controllers via a data transport network, including a public switched telecommunications network and a broadcast data transport network. Each local controller includes a sound synthesizer which connects to an end-user audio device, such as a loudspeaker system, a tape recorder, or earphone. In accordance with the preferred embodiments of a method of the present invention, the master controller collects textual information items from the plurality of information sources and enables editing of the items' text to replace words which may be improperly converted to speech with phonetic equivalents, to remove references to illustrations, and to insert punctuation where necessary to improve the understandability of speech produced from the items' text. The master controller also enables assignment of categories to each text item based, in part, upon keywords contained in the item. Upon receipt of an information item by a local controller, the text of the item is converted into audio signals for output to an end-user audio device. Because information items are end-user selectable and because audible delivery of an information item is end-user schedulable, the system enables hands-free and eyes-free receipt of desired information items at a time and place determinable by an end-user.

公开(公告)号：US6122617A

公开(公告)日：2000-09-19

申请号：US322421

申请日：1999-05-27

Applicant: Gary S. Tjaden

Inventor： Gary S. Tjaden

IPC: G10H1/00 ,  G10L13/04 ,  G10L13/08

CPC classification number: G10H1/0058 ,  G10H1/0033 ,  G10L13/00 ,  G10H2240/105 ,  G10H2240/211 ,  G10H2240/241 ,  G10H2240/311

Abstract: An information delivery system for delivery of audible information to a plurality of end-users comprising, in accordance with the preferred embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention, a master controller connected to a plurality of remotely-located information sources and to a plurality of remotely-located end-user information devices. The master controller connects to a plurality of distant local controllers via a data transport network, including a public switched telecommunications network and a broadcast data transport network. Each local controller includes a sound synthesizer which connects to an end-user audio device, such as a loudspeaker system, a tape recorder, or earphone. In accordance with the preferred embodiments of a method of the present invention, the master controller collects textual information items from the plurality of information sources and enables editing of the items' text to replace words which may be improperly converted to speech with phonetic equivalents, to remove references to illustrations, and to insert punctuation where necessary to improve the understandability of speech produced from the items' text. The master controller also enables assignment of categories to each text item based, in part, upon keywords contained in the item. Upon receipt of an information item by a local controller, the text of the item is converted into audio signals for output to an end-user audio device. Because information items are end-user selectable and because audible delivery of an information item is end-user schedulable, the system enables hands-free and eyes-free receipt of desired information items at a time and place determinable by an end-user.

Abstract translation: 一种用于向多个最终用户传送可听信息的信息传递系统，包括根据本发明的装置的优选实施例，连接到多个远程位置的信息源和多个 位于远程位置的最终用户信息设备。 主控制器经由包括公共交换电信网络和广播数据传输网络的数据传输网络连接到多个远程本地控制器。 每个本地控制器包括连接到最终用户音频设备（诸如扬声器系统，磁带录音机或耳机）的声音合成器。 根据本发明的方法的优选实施例，主控制器从多个信息源收集文本信息项，并且使得能够编辑项目的文本以将可能用语音等效物不正确地转换为语音的字替换为 删除对插图的引用，并在必要时插入标点符号，以提高从项目文本产生的语音的可理解性。 主控制器还可以部分地基于项目中包含的关键字为每个文本项分配类别。 当通过本地控制器接收到信息项目时，该项目的文本被转换成音频信号以输出到最终用户音频设备。 由于信息项目是最终用户可选择的，并且由于信息项目的可听传送是最终用户可调度的，所以系统能够在最终用户可确定的时间和地点实现对所需信息项的免提和眼睛的接收。