TEXT-TO-SPEECH ASSIST FOR PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICES
The present invention provides a text-to-speech assist for portable communication devices. A method for communicating text data using a portable communication device in accordance with the present invention includes: displaying text data on a display of the portable communication device while communicating with a party; selecting at least a portion of the displayed text data; converting the selected text data into synthesized speech; and providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device.
1 . A method for communicating text data using a portable communication device, comprising:
displaying text data on a display of the portable communication device while communicating with a party;
selecting at least a portion of the displayed text data;
converting the selected text data into synthesized speech; and
providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
initiating a conversion of the selected text data into synthesized speech.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device further comprises:
outputting the synthesized speech from the portable communication system through a speaker; and
inputting the synthesized speech output by the speaker into the portable communication system through a microphone.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the text data comprises contact information.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the contact information comprises a telephone number.
6 . A system for communicating text data using a portable communication device, comprising:
a system for displaying text data on a display of the portable communication device while communicating with a party;
a system for selecting at least a portion of the displayed text data;
a text-to-speech system for converting the selected text data into synthesized speech; and
a system for providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device.
7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a system for initiating a conversion of the selected text data into synthesized speech.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the system for providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device further comprises:
a speaker for outputting the synthesized speech from the portable communication system; and
a microphone for inputting the synthesized speech output by the speaker into the portable communication system.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the text data comprises contact information.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the contact information comprises a telephone number.
11 . A program product stored on a computer readable medium for communicating text data using a portable communication device, the computer readable medium comprising program code for:
displaying text data on a display of the portable communication device while communicating with a party;
selecting at least a portion of the displayed text data;
converting the selected text data into synthesized speech; and
providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device.
12 . The program product of claim 11 , further comprising program code for:
initiating a conversion of the selected text data into synthesized speech.
13 . The program product of claim 11 , wherein the program code for providing the synthesized speech to the party using the portable communication device further comprises program code for:
outputting the synthesized speech from the portable communication system through a speaker; and
inputting the synthesized speech output by the speaker into the portable communication system through a microphone.
14 . The program product of claim 11 , wherein the text data comprises contact information.
15 . The program product of claim 14 , wherein the contact information comprises a telephone number.