IP Library Granted Patent US 8,364,488
Granted Patent B2
US 8,364,488 · App. 12/687,271 · Granted Jan 29, 2013

Voice models for document narration

Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil (Newton, MA); Paul Albrecht (Bedford, MA); Peter Chapman (Bedford, MA)
Assignee: K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,364,488
App. No.
12/687,271
Granted
Jan 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. Further disclosed are techniques and systems for modifying a voice model associated with a selected character based on data received from a user.

Claims (39)

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

providing by a computer, a user interface that displays a plurality of representations of characters, the characters each including the representation as a graphic image of an entity corresponding to the character and at least one associated voice model, the voice model characterized by a set of attributes;

receiving a user selection of one of the representations from the plurality of representations to associate with one or more portions of a sequence of words in an electronic document that is rendered on a user display device;

associating by the computer the selected character corresponding to the representation with the selected one or more portions of the sequence of words; and

modifying by the computer the at least one voice model associated with the selected character, with modifying applying data received from the user through the user interface to change one or more attributes of the set of attributes of the voice model.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying the voice as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying a reading speed as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying a volume as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model further comprises modifying the gender of the character as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying the age of the character of the voice model as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying a language of the voice model as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating an indicium to the representation of the selected character.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying a pitch of the voice model as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying an emotion of the voice model as one of the attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the voice model comprises modifying a pair of attributes in the set of attributes associated with the voice model.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the one or more computers, an audible output corresponding to the one or more portions of a sequence of words using the voice model associated with one or more portions of a sequence of words.

13. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

provide a user interface that displays a plurality of representations of characters, the characters each including the representation as a graphic image of an entity corresponding to the character and at least one associated voice model, the voice model characterized by a set of attributes;

receive a user selection of one of the representations from the plurality of representations to associate with one or more portions of a sequence of words in an electronic document that is rendered on a user display device;

associate the selected character corresponding to the representation with the selected one or more portions of the sequence of words; and

modify the voice model associated with the selected character based on data received from the user through the user interface to change one or more attributes of the set of attributes of the voice model.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the instructions to modify the voice model comprise instructions to:

modify one or more attributes associated with the voice model with the attributes including at least one of the voice associated with the voice model, a reading speed associated with the voice model, a volume associated with the voice model, the gender of the character associated with the voice model, the age of the character associated with the voice model, a pitch of the voice model, an emotion of the voice model and a language of the voice model.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising instructions to associate an indicium to the representation of the selected character.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising instructions to:

generate an audible output corresponding to the one or more portions of a sequence of words using the voice model associated with one or more portions of a sequence of words.

17. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a computing device configured to:

provide a user interface that displays a plurality of representations of characters, the characters each including the representation as a graphic image of an entity corresponding to the character and at least one associated voice model, the voice model characterized by a set of attributes;

receive a user selection of one of the representations from the plurality of representations to associate with one or more portions of a sequence of words in an electronic document that is rendered on a user display device;

associate the selected character corresponding to the representation with the selected one or more portions of the sequence of words; and

modify the voice model associated with the selected character based on data received from the user through the user interface to change one or more attributes of the set of attributes of the voice model.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the configurations to cause the processor to modify the voice model comprise configurations to cause the processor to:

modify one or more attributes associated with the voice model with the attributes including at least one of the voice of the voice model, a volume associated with the voice model, the gender of the character associated with the voice model, the age of the character, a pitch of the voice model, an intensity of the voice model, an emotion of the voice model and a language of the voice model.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to associate an indicium to the representation of the selected character.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate an audible output corresponding to the one or more portions of a sequence of words using the voice model associated with one or more portions of a sequence of words.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: EM ACQUISITION CORP., INC.
To: T PLAY HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 055896/0481 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2015
From: FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
To: DIMENSIONAL STACK ASSETS LLC
Reel/Frame 036629/0762 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2015
From: DIMENSIONAL STACK ASSETS, LLC
To: EM ACQUISITION CORP., INC.
Reel/Frame 036593/0328 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2015
From: K-NFB READING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: DIMENSIONAL STACK ASSETS LLC
Reel/Frame 035546/0205 →
LIEN Recorded Dec 30, 2014
From: K-NFB HOLDING TECHNOLOGY, IMC.
To: FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
Reel/Frame 034599/0860 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 21, 2013
From: K-NFB READING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: K-NFB HOLDING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030058/0669 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2013
From: K-NFB HOLDING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: K-NFB READING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030059/0351 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2010
From: KURZWEIL, RAYMOND C.; ALBRECHT, PAUL; CHAPMAN, PETER
To: K-NFB READING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 024921/0314 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61144947 · Jan 15, 2009
Provisional Application 61165963 · Apr 2, 2009
Related Publication 20100324905A1 · Dec 23, 2010