Bathsheba J Malsheen

US Patent:

56340842, May 27, 1997

Filed:

Jan 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/376732

Inventors:

Bathsheba J. Malsheen - San Francisco CA
Gabriel F. Groner - Palo Alto CA
Sandra F. Disner - Los Angeles CA

Assignee:

Centigram Communications Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G10L 500

US Classification:

395 269

Abstract:

An improved text-to-speech synthesizer that employs a text to speech converter, a text reader control procedure, a classifier procedure, an abbreviation expansion procedure, and an acronym/initialism expanding procedure is herein described. A classifier procedure is used to classify generate classification values for each word in the text message with regard to syntax, punctuation and membership in predefined classes of words, the predefined classes of words including number, measurement units, geographic designations, and date/time values. An abbreviation expansion procedure evaluates, based on the classification values for words neighboring the identified words, which, if any, of the potential expansion values is applicable, and substitutes the potential expansion for the identified abbreviation word when evaluation yields a success value. An acronym/initialism expanding procedure identifies words in the text message that are acronyms and initialisms, parses pronounceable syllables within the identified words and generates a substitute string that can consist of any combination of letters, numbers, pronounceable syllables or multiple letter identifiers.