Anthony P Vitale

US Patent:

6347295, Feb 12, 2002

Filed:

Oct 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/179153

Inventors:

Anthony J. Vitale - Northboro MA
Ginger Chun-Che Lin - Northboro MA
Thomas Kopec - Amherst MA

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G10L 1906

US Classification:

704209, 704265

Abstract:

A computer method and apparatus provide automatic generation of grapheme-to-phoneme rules, used in text-to-speech synthesis systems. The invention method and apparatus are based on a statistical analysis of a subject dictionary. The dictionary preferably contains words and their corresponding phonemic data representations, and is analyzed for subgraph patterns. The phoneme strings for words containing the subgraph patterns are then analyzed for common phoneme substrings (subphones) associated with each subgraph. The subphones associated with each subgraph are then checked for conditions such as the highest occurrence count, the proper length, and for compatibility with both ends of the subgraph to which they are associated. A subphone matching these conditions becomes paired with the subgraph to create a rule for text-to-speech processing. Separate prefix, infix, and suffix rule sets may be generated from the invention dictionary analysis.

US Patent:

6347298, Feb 12, 2002

Filed:

Feb 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/795070

Inventors:

Anthony J. Vitale - Northboro MA
Ginger Chun-Che Lin - Northboro MA
Thomas Kopec - Amherst MA

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01L 1300

US Classification:

704260, 704261, 704 10

Abstract:

A computerized apparatus for reducing the size of a dictionary used in a text-to-speech synthesis system are provided. In an initial phase, the method and apparatus determine if entries in the dictionary, each containing a grapheme string and a corresponding phoneme string, can be fully matched by using at least one rule set used to synthesize words to phonemic data. If the entry can be fully matched using rule processing alone, the entry is indicated to be deleted from the dictionary. In a second phase, the method and apparatus determine if the entry, considered as a root word entry, is required in the dictionary in order to support phoneme synthesis of other entries containing the root word entry, and if so, the root word entry is indicated to be saved in the dictionary. If the other entries containing the root word entry can have correct phonemic data generated from a combination of the root word entries phonemic data and phonemes generated from rule set processing, then the other entries are indicated to be deleted from the dictionary. After all words have been processed by phase one and/or phase two, the entries indicated to be saved are aggregated to form a reduced dictionary.

US Patent:

62089684, Mar 27, 2001

Filed:

Dec 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/212874

Inventors:

Anthony J. Vitale - Northboro MA
Ginger Chun-Che Lin - Northboro MA
Thomas Kopec - Amherst MA

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G10L13/00

US Classification:

704260

Abstract:

A computerized method and apparatus for reducing the size of a dictionary used in a text-to-speech synthesis system are provided. In an initial phase, the method and apparatus determine if entries in the dictionary, each containing a grapheme string and a corresponding phoneme string, can be fully matched by using at least one rule set used to synthesize words to phonemic data. If the entry can be fully matched using rule processing alone, the entry is indicated to be deleted from the dictionary. In a second phase, the method and apparatus determine if the entry, considered as a root word entry, is required in the dictionary in order to support phoneme synthesis of other entries containing the root word entry, and if so, the root word entry is indicated to be saved in the dictionary. If the other entries containing the root word entry can have correct phonemic data generated from a combination of the root word entries phonemic data and phonemes generated from rule set processing, then the other entries are indicated to be deleted from the dictionary. After all words have been processed by phase one and/or phase two, the entries indicated to be saved are aggregated to form a reduced dictionary.

US Patent:

47887176, Nov 29, 1988

Filed:

Mar 17, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/170664

Inventors:

Dennis R. Blanchard - Hampstead NH
Edward A. Bruckert - Maynard MA
David G. Conroy - Maynard MA
Richard D. Ellison - Worcester MA
Anthony J. Vitale - Northboro MA

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

H04M 1100

US Classification:

379 98

Abstract:

36 Telephone interface option module circuit for interfacing an electronic device to a telephone network. Most electronic devices, for example, modems, telephone message systems and text-to-speech systems, when coupled to a telephone network must conform to specific telephone interconnect regulations. These regulations generally vary from country to country, and therefore, the electronic device generally has to be modified to conform to a specific countries telephone regulations. The option module circuit contains the country specific telephone regulations, and when plugged into the electronic device, ensures that the electronic device conforms to those regulations.

US Patent:

50402188, Aug 13, 1991

Filed:

Jul 6, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/551045

Inventors:

Anthony J. Vitale - Northborough MA
Thomas M. Levergood - Bellingham MA
David G. Conroy - Maynard MA

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G01L 500

US Classification:

381 52

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for correctly pronouncing proper names from text using a computer provides a dictionary which performs an initial search for the name. If the name is not in the dictionary, it is sent to a filter which either positively identifies a single language group or eliminates one or more language groups as the language group of origin for that word. When the filter cannot positively identify the language group of origin for the name, a list of possible language groups is sent to a grapheme analyzer which precedes a trigram analyzer. Using grapheme analysis, the most probable language group of origin for the name is determined and sent to a language-sensitive letter-to-sound section. In this section, the name is compared with language-sensitive rules to provide accurate phonemics and stress information for the name. The phonemics (including stress information) are sent to a voice realization unit for audio output of the name.