Compensating for ambient noise levels in text-to-speech applications
View Patent ↗A method of automatically adjusting volume of speech generated by a text-to-speech application can include measuring an ambient noise level of an audio environment. A target volume for speech output generated by a text-to-speech application can be calculated based in part upon the ambient noise level. A volume of speech generated by the text-to-speech application can be automatically adjusted responsive to the performed calculation.
1. A method of automatically adjusting volume of speech generated by a text-to-speech application comprising the steps of:
receiving an audio output signal from a text-to-speech application;
responsive to receiving the signal, a volume control system measuring an ambient noise level of an audio environment, wherein the volume control system is separately implemented from the text-to-speech application;
the volume control system calculating a target volume for speech output generated by a text-to-speech application based in part upon said ambient noise level; and,
the volume control system automatically adjusting volume of speech generated by said text-to-speech application responsive to said calculating step.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting step further comprising the step of:
adjusting audio output of a computing device receiving the audio output signal from the text-to-speech application using sound card drivers associated with the computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting step adjusts volume based in part upon a hearing ability of a listener.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
detecting a sound pressure level for played speech;
comparing said sound pressure level with a sound pressure level associated with said target volume; and,
responsively adjusting said volume of speech generated by said text-to-speech application.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of;
limiting said target volume to a volume range.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said calculating step further comprising the step of:
calculating said target volume based in part upon a signal-to-noise ratio value; and
wherein said method further comprises the step of automatically adjusting at least one controllable component that generates ambient noise to lower the ambient noise.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said measuring step further comprising the step of:
receiving an ambient noise input from a microphone configured to receive a speech input for a voice recognition application, wherein the ambient noise input is used in the measuring step to measure the ambient noise level.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
identifying output characteristics of at least one audio transducer that plays speech, wherein said calculating step utilizes said output characteristics, wherein the at least one audio transducer includes a plug-and-play computer peripheral, and wherein the output characteristics are automatically provided to the volume control system.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said at least one audio transducer comprises a plurality of audio transducers, said method fitter comprising the steps of:
selecting one of said plurality of audio transducers; and
adjusting said target volume based upon said output characteristics of said selected audio transducer.
10. A system for automatically adjusting a volume of speech generated by a text-to-speech application comprising:
a receiving transducer configured to detect an ambient noise level;
a text-to-speech application;
a calculation engine configured to calculate a target volume based in part upon said ambient noise level; and,
an audio transducer configured to play speech generated by said text-to-speech application, wherein an output level of said speech is automatically adjusted based upon said target volume, wherein said automatic adjustments occur responsive to a volume control system receiving an audio output signal from the text-to-speech application wherein the volume control system includes said calculation engine, and wherein said volume control system is separately implemented from the text-to-speech application.
11. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:
receiving an audio output signal from a text-to-speech application;
responsive to receiving the signal, a volume the control system measuring an ambient noise level of an audio environment, wherein the volume control system is separately implemented from the text-to-speech application;
the volume control system calculating a target volume for speech output generated by a text-to-speech application based in part upon said ambient noise level; and,
the volume control system automatically adjusting volume of speech generated by said text-to-speech application responsive to said calculating step.
12. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , wherein said adjusting step further comprising the step of:
adjusting audio output of a computing device receiving the audio output signal from the text-to-speech application using sound card drivers associated with the computing device.
13. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , wherein said adjusting step adjusts volume based in part upon a hearing ability of a listener.
14. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
detecting a sound pressure level for played speech;
comparing said sound pressure level with a sound pressure level associated with said target volume; and,
responsively adjusting said volume of speech generated by said text-to-speech application.
15. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
limiting said target volume to a volume range.
16. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , wherein said calculating step further comprising the step of:
calculating said target volume based in part upon a signal-to-noise ratio value; and
wherein said method further comprises the step of automatically adjusting at least one controllable component that generates ambient noise to lower the ambient noise.
17. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , wherein said measuring step further comprising the step of:
receiving an ambient noise input from a microphone configured to receive a speech input for a voice recognition application, wherein the ambient noise input is used in the measuring step to measure the ambient noise level.
18. The machine-readable storage of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
identifying output characteristics of at least one audio transducer that plays speech, wherein said calculating step utilizes said output characteristics, wherein the at least one audio transducer includes a plug-and-play computer peripheral, and wherein the output characteristics are automatically provided to the volume control system.
19. The machine-readable storage of claim 18 , wherein said at least one audio transducer comprises a plurality of audio transducers, said method further comprising the steps of:
selecting one of said plurality of audio transducers; and
adjusting said target volume based upon said output characteristics of the selected audio transducer.