Method and system for delivering text-to-speech in a real time telephony environment

• Main Authors: Walker, David L, Mackelprang, Mark G, Sipe, Andrew J, Elsberry, David V
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.08.2004

The present invention is generally related to communication methods and systems employing text-to-speech engines and, more particularly, to a method and system for delivering text-to-speech in a real time telephony environment. A method and system for communicating information to a telephony user in response to a request for the information from the telephony user includes a text data source having text documents and a voice application operable with the text data source for retrieving a text document related to the requested information. A text-to-speech (TTS) manager divides the text document into text document segments. TTS engines convert the text document segments into speech segments. Each text document segment is converted into a speech segment by one TTS engine. A buffer reassembles the speech segments in the proper order and then delivers the speech segments to the user. The TTS manager divides the text document as a function of the rate at which speech segments are delivered to the user such that the speech segments are delivered from the TTS engines to the buffer and from the buffer to the user continuously.