EP0776097A2

Mobile data terminals with text-to-speech capability

Abstract

A mobile data terminal mountable on a mobile platform for transmitting, receiving and converting text data strings into an audible signals. The mobile data terminal comprises a radio modem (7) for receiving text data strings through a communication network and a memory (9) for storing the received data strings. The text data strings are associated with pre-stored speech segments for generating audible signals representative of the speech segments.

EP0776097A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 13

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 21 November 2016, 9.8 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Published
  4. Projected expiry
  5. Today

26 claims: 9 independent, 17 dependent

  1. 1
    A mobile data terminal for receiving and converting transmission data indicative of text data strings into an audible signal comprising:a receiver for receiving said transmission data through a communication network;a first memory for storing said received transmission data;a processor for obtaining from said stored transmission data speech segments corresponding to said text data strings;andan audio generator for generating audible signals representative of said speech segments.
  2. 4
    The mobile data terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transmission data includes data indicative of text segments and wherein said data indicative of text segments are associated with at least one of syllables and words.
  3. 5
    The mobile data terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said communication network is associated with at least one of Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), satellite, Mobitex data, Ardis data, Specialized Mobile Radio, GSM, PCS.
  4. 6
    The mobile data terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transmission data is coded, and wherein said mobile data terminal further includes a decoder, and wherein said coded transmission data is decoded in said mobile data terminal.
  5. 10
    The mobile data terminal according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said audible signals are associated with at least one of synthesized speech signals, speech signals.
  6. 11
    The mobile data terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transmission data is compressed and wherein said mobile data terminal further comprises a decompressor for decompressing said compressed transmission data.
  7. 12
    The mobile data terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mobile data terminal further comprises:a transmitter for transmitting transmission data;a coder for coding transmission data;anda compressor for compressing transmission data.
  8. 13
    A method for transmitting, receiving and converting transmission data indicative of text data strings originated by or received from a first device, into audible signals indicative of said data text strings in at least one second device; either or both of said first device and the at least one second device being a mobile data terminal mountable on a mobile platform; at least one of said first device and said second device includes a table of speech segments corresponding each to a word or a portion thereof; the method comprising the following steps:(i) reducing said text data strings to words;(ii) associating with said words corresponding speech segments;(iii)transmitting through a communication network from said first device to the at least one second device said transmission data;(iv) receivin, through said communication network, in the or each one of said second devices said transmission data;(v) generating in said at least one second device audio signals representative of said speech segments.
  9. 20
    The method according to any one of Claims 13, 18 and 19, wherein said transmission data includes data indicative of text segments and wherein said data indicative of text segments are associated with at least one of syllables and words.