Phonetic searching
View Patent ↗An improved method and apparatus is disclosed which uses probabilistic techniques to map an input search string with a prestored audio file, and recognize certain portions of a search string phonetically. An improved interface is disclosed which permits users to input search strings, linguistics, phonetics, or a combination of both, and also allows logic functions to be specified by indicating how far separated specific phonemes are in time.
1. A method of inputting and processing a search string comprising:
entering the search string, including entering terms in said string using a first term that is linguistically specified and a second term that is entered using one or both of a term specified phonetically using delimited terms from a phonetic alphabet and a term specified by a voice command; and
searching an audio source to determine scores for said search string at locations in the audio source, including for each of multiple location of the string determining a match score characterizing the likelihood that the search string is present at that location.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said search string is entered using Boolean logic.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said search string is entered using a separation distance between the terms.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of converting said search string into a phonetic string, and searching said source phonetically.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said audio source comprises a phonetic file.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising designating that particular terms in said search string are designated by terms from a phonetic alphabet by appending a predetermined character or delimiter to such terms.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second term is entered using a term specified phonetically using delimited terms from a phonetic alphabet.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second term is specified using a voice command.