Patent ID: 6029132
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G10L

Abstract:
An apparatus for generating at least one phonetic pronunciation for an input sequence of letters selected from a predetermined alphabet, said sequence of letters forming words which substantially adhere to a predetermined syntax, said apparatus comprising:an input device for receiving syntax data indicative of the syntax of said words in said input sequence;a computer storage device for storing a plurality of text-based decision trees having questions indicative of predetermined characteristics of said input sequence; said predetermined characteristics including letter-related questions about said input sequence, said predetermined characteristics also including characteristics selected from the group consisting of syntax-related questions, context-related questions, dialect-related questions or combinations thereof,said text-based decision trees having internal nodes representing questions about predetermined characteristics of said input sequence;said text-based decision trees further having leaf nodes representing probability data that associates each of said letters with a plurality of phoneme pronunciations; anda text-based pronunciation generator connected to said text-based decision trees for processing said input sequence of letters and generating a first set of phonetic pronunciations corresponding to said input sequence of letters based upon said text-based decision trees.