Method and apparatus for translating natural-language speech using multiple output phrases
US6859778B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10L15/26
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multi-lingual translation system that provides multiple output sentences for a given word or phrase. Each output sentence for a given word or phrase reflects, for example, a different emotional emphasis, dialect, accents, loudness or rates of speech. A given output sentence could be selected automatically, or manually as desired, to create a desired effect. For example, the same output sentence for a given word or phrase can be recorded three times, to selectively reflect excitement, sadness or fear. The multi-lingual translation system includes a phrase-spotting mechanism, a translation mechanism, a speech output mechanism and optionally, a language understanding mechanism or an event measuring mechanism or both. The phrase-spotting mechanism identifies a spoken phrase from a restricted domain of phrases. The language understanding mechanism, if present, maps the identified phrase onto a small set of formal phrases. The translation mechanism maps the formal phrase onto a well-formed phrase in one or more target languages. The speech output mechanism produces high-quality output speech. The speech output may be time synchronized to the spoken phrase using the output of the event …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.