Patent ID: 6725199
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: G10L

Abstract:
Speech synthesis apparatus arranged to process an input to produce corresponding speech-form utterances, the apparatus comprising:a plurality of synthesis engines having different characteristics and each comprising a text-to-speech converter arranged to convert text-form utterances into speech form; a synthesis-engine selector arranged to select one of the synthesis engines as the current operative engine, the selected synthesis engine being arranged to receive said input and to produce speech-form utterances for a speech application in response thereto; and an assessment arrangement arranged to assess the overall quality of the speech-form utterances produced by the current operative synthesis engine C1 and to provide an action indicator to the synthesis-engine select, without changing said input, in response to the current speech form is inadequate; the synthesis-engine selector being arranged to be responsive to action indictor provided thereto to select a different synthesis engine from said plurality to serve as the current operative engine.