Communications system providing automatic text-to-speech conversion features and related methods
An electronic mail server, computer-readable medium and method of delivering an electronic message to a wireless communication device are provided. The wireless communications device comprises a long-range wireless transceiver, a short-range wireless transceiver having a range less than the long-range wireless transceiver, and a display screen. A new text message is received via the long-range wireless transceiver. Based upon a short-range wireless connection being established with another device via the short-range wireless transceiver, the wireless communication device is switched to an audio message mode. An indication that the new text message has been received is displayed on the display screen. The new message is selected and, when in the audio message mode, an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the new text message is output via the short-range wireless transceiver.
1. A wireless communications device comprising:
a long-range wireless transceiver;
a short-range wireless transceiver having a shorter range than the long-range wireless transceiver;
a display screen; and
a controller coupled to the long-range wireless transceiver, the short-range wireless transceiver and the display screen and configured to:
receive a new text message via the long-range wireless transceiver;
switch to an audio message mode based upon a short-range wireless connection being established with another device via the short-range wireless transceiver;
output an indication that the new text message has been received;
receive selection of the new text message; and
when in the audio message mode, output, via the short-range wireless connection, an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the new text message.
2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 , wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.
3. The wireless communications device of claim 1 , wherein the long-range wireless transceiver comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.
4. The wireless communications device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to establish the short-range wireless connection with another device.
5. The wireless communications device of claim 4 , wherein the other device comprises a headset.
6. The wireless communications device of claim 1 , further comprising a text-to-speech module coupled to the controller; and
wherein the controller is further configured to convert the new text message to the audio message.
7. The wireless communications device of claim 1 , wherein the controller's being configured to select the new text message comprises being configured to select the new text message based upon at least one user parameter.
8. The wireless communications device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one user parameter comprises one or more of:
a name or identifier of a message sender of the new text message,
a keyword in the subject or body of the new text message,
a message priority setting of the new text message,
a recipient of the new text message,
a time of the new text message, and
a date of the new text message.
9. The wireless communications device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller's being configured to select the new text message comprises being configured to receive a selection of the new text message via the user interface.
10. A method for using a wireless communications device comprising a long-range wireless transceiver, a short-range wireless transceiver having a range less than the long-range wireless transceiver, and a display screen, the method comprising:
receiving a new text message via the long-range wireless transceiver;
switching to an audio message mode based upon a short-range wireless connection being established with another device via the short-range wireless transceiver;
outputting an indication that the new text message has been received;
receiving selection of the new text message; and
when in the audio message mode, outputting, via the short-range wireless connection, an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the new text message.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the short-range wireless transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and an infrared wireless transceiver.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the long-range wireless transceiver comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to establish the short-range wireless connection with another device.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the other device comprises a headset.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless communications device further comprise a text-to-speech module coupled to the controller, the method further comprising converting the new text message to the audio message.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting the new text message comprises selecting the new text message based upon at least one user parameter.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one user parameter comprises one or more of:
a name or identifier of a message sender of the new text message,
a keyword in the subject or body of the new text message,
a message priority setting of the new text message,
a recipient of the new text message,
a time of the new text message, and
a date of the new text message.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless communications device further comprises a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, selecting the new text message comprises receiving a selection of the new text message via the user interface.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with a mobile wireless communications device comprising a long-range wireless transceiver, a short-range wireless transceiver having a range less than the long-range wireless transceiver, and a display screen, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile wireless communications device to perform a method comprising:
receiving a new text message via the long-range wireless transceiver;
switching to an audio message mode based upon a short-range wireless connection being established with another device via the short-range wireless transceiver;
outputting an indication that the new text message has been received;
receiving selection of the new text message; and
when in the audio message mode, outputting, via the short-range wireless connection, an audio message comprising speech generated based upon the new text message.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the wireless communications device further comprises a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, selecting the new text message comprises receiving a selection of the new text message via the user interface.