Abstract

A method for speech synthesis using prosody capture and transfer includes receiving a first speech in a target prosody and receiving a second speech in a target voice; extracting prosodic features from a first speech segment in the target prosody; generating a synthetic speech segment in the target voice with the target prosody based on transferring the prosodic features from the first speech segment per phoneme to a second speech segment.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 13/10 - Prosody rules derived from textStress or intonation
• G10L 21/10 - Transforming into visible information

Abstract

A method for speech synthesis using prosody capture and transfer includes receiving a first speech in a target prosody and receiving a second speech in a target voice; extracting prosodic features from a first speech segment in the target prosody; generating a synthetic speech segment in the target voice with the target prosody based on transferring the prosodic features from the first speech segment per phoneme to a second speech segment.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 13/033 - Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• G10L 21/013 - Adapting to target pitch
• G10L 21/14 - Transforming into visible information by displaying frequency domain information
• G10L 25/90 - Pitch determination of speech signals

Abstract

A method for synthesizing cross-lingual speech includes receiving a request for synthesizing speech, the request for synthesizing speech including a target text document and a target language. Phonetic transcriptions are generated for the target text document. Prosodic annotations for the target text document are generated based on the target text document and the target language. Phone durations and acoustic features are generated based on the phonetic transcriptions and the prosodic annotations using a neural network. A speech corresponding to the target text document in the target language is synthesized based on the generated phone durations and acoustic features.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 13/02 - Methods for producing synthetic speechSpeech synthesisers
• G10L 13/10 - Prosody rules derived from textStress or intonation

Abstract

Method and apparatus for segmenting speech by detecting the pauses between the words and/or phrases, and to determine whether a particular time interval contains speech or nonspeech, such as a pause.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 15/04 - SegmentationWord boundary detection
• G10L 15/183 - Speech classification or search using natural language modelling using context dependencies, e.g. language models
• G10L 25/93 - Discriminating between voiced and unvoiced parts of speech signals

Abstract

A method for determining the prosody of a tag question in human speech and preserving said prosody as the human speech is translated into a different language.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 15/18 - Speech classification or search using natural language modelling
• G10L 25/03 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the type of extracted parameters
• G10L 25/90 - Pitch determination of speech signals
• G06F 17/27 - Automatic analysis, e.g. parsing, orthograph correction
• G06F 17/28 - Processing or translating of natural language

Abstract

A soundalike system to improve speech synthesis by training a text to speech engine on a voice like the target speakers voice.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 17/00 - Speaker identification or verification techniques
• G10L 17/12 - Score normalisation
• G10L 13/00 - Speech synthesisText to speech systems
• G10L 13/10 - Prosody rules derived from textStress or intonation
• G10L 13/033 - Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• G10L 13/047 - Architecture of speech synthesisers
• G10L 25/51 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups specially adapted for particular use for comparison or discrimination
• G10L 25/27 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the analysis technique
• G10L 25/24 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the type of extracted parameters the extracted parameters being the cepstrum

Abstract

Method and apparatus for reducing a size of databases required for recorded speech data.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 25/51 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups specially adapted for particular use for comparison or discrimination
• G10L 21/013 - Adapting to target pitch
• G10L 15/02 - Feature extraction for speech recognitionSelection of recognition unit
• G10L 25/90 - Pitch determination of speech signals

Abstract

Method and apparatus for diphone or concatenative synthesis to compensate for insufficient or missing diphones.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 13/06 - Elementary speech units used in speech synthesisersConcatenation rules
• G10L 13/07 - Concatenation rules
• G10L 13/033 - Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• G10L 25/90 - Pitch determination of speech signals
• G10L 13/04 - Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management

Abstract

Method and apparatus for segmenting speech by detecting the pauses between the words and/or phrases, and to determine whether a particular time interval contains speech or non-speech, such as a pause.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 15/05 - Word boundary detection
• G10L 25/78 - Detection of presence or absence of voice signals
• G10L 25/09 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the type of extracted parameters the extracted parameters being zero crossing rates
• G10L 25/21 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the type of extracted parameters the extracted parameters being power information
• G10L 25/81 - Detection of presence or absence of voice signals for discriminating voice from music
• G10L 25/84 - Detection of presence or absence of voice signals for discriminating voice from noise
• G10L 25/87 - Detection of discrete points within a voice signal

Abstract

A method for determining the prosody of a tag question in human speech and preserving said prosody as the human speech is translated into a different language.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 17/27 - Automatic analysis, e.g. parsing, orthograph correction
• G06F 17/28 - Processing or translating of natural language
• G10L 13/033 - Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• G10L 21/013 - Adapting to target pitch
• G10L 25/90 - Pitch determination of speech signals

Abstract

Method and apparatus for segmenting speech by detecting the pauses between the words and/or phrases, and to determine whether a particular time interval contains speech or non-speech, such as a pause.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 25/87 - Detection of discrete points within a voice signal
• G10L 25/21 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the type of extracted parameters the extracted parameters being power information
• G10L 15/26 - Speech to text systems
• G10L 25/78 - Detection of presence or absence of voice signals

Abstract

A method of transferring the prosody of tag questions across languages includes extracting prosodic parameters of speech in a first language having a tag question and mapping the prosodic parameters to speech segments in a second language corresponding to the tag question. Accordingly, semantic and pragmatic intent of the tag question in the first language may be correctly conveyed in the second language.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 15/18 - Speech classification or search using natural language modelling
• G10L 13/00 - Speech synthesisText to speech systems
• G06F 17/28 - Processing or translating of natural language
• G10L 25/90 - Pitch determination of speech signals
• G10L 13/10 - Prosody rules derived from textStress or intonation

Abstract

A method of morphing speech from an original speaker into the speech of a second, target speaker with decomposing either speech into source and filter, and without the need to determine the formant positions by warping spectral envelops.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 13/033 - Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• G10L 21/013 - Adapting to target pitch

Abstract

In one embodiment, a reconfigurable keyboard having electronically writable keys receives input signals from a configurer that, for a first setting, results in a first displayed key layout, and in a second setting, results in a second displayed key layout. Each setting is associated with a specific functionality of the keyboard, for example a particular language. A configurer operates to execute the particular layouts and functionalities, and can be disposed on a portable device such as a memory stick for use with different computers and keyboards.

IPC Classes  ?

• H01H 13/70 - Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

In one embodiment, a solar powered street lamp includes a solar panel configured to generate electric power from sunlight, a power storage device for storing the generated electric power, a light source powered by the stored electric power, and a washing system including a nozzle for directing fluid from a fluid supply at the solar panel. Optionally, a wiping system is provided and includes a wiper along with a wiper motor configured to motivate the wiper across at least a portion of the solar panel. Detergent may be provided to aid in chemical cleaning of the panel.

IPC Classes  ?

• B08B 3/02 - Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays

Abstract

A communication system is described. The communication system including an automatic speech recognizer configured to receive a speech signal and to convert the speech signal into a text sequence. The communication also including a speech analyzer configured to receive the speech signal. The speech analyzer configured to extract paralinguistic characteristics from the speech signal. In addition, the communication system includes a speech output device coupled with the automatic speech recognizer and the speech analyzer. The speech output device configured to convert the text sequence into an output speech signal based on the extracted paralinguistic characteristics.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 15/28 - Constructional details of speech recognition systems

Abstract

A communication system is described. The communication system including an automatic speech recognizer configured to receive a speech signal and to convert the speech signal into a text sequence. The communication also including a speech analyzer configured to receive the speech signal. The speech analyzer configured to extract paralinguistic characteristics from the speech signal. The communication system further includes a translator coupled with the automatic speech recognizer. The translator configured to convert the text sequence from a first language to a second language. In addition, the communication system includes a speech output device coupled with the automatic speech recognizer and the speech analyzer. The speech output device configured to convert the text sequence into an output speech signal based on the extracted paralinguistic characteristics.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 17/28 - Processing or translating of natural language
• G06F 40/58 - Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• G10L 13/00 - Speech synthesisText to speech systems
• G10L 15/26 - Speech to text systems
• G06F 40/51 - Translation evaluation