Abstract:
The method converts visual Internet information to sound by activating a computer ( 11 ) with a program stored on a storage media ( 13 ). The program ( 9 ) provides commands for connecting the computer ( 11 ) to an on-line oral web address ( 12 ). The program ( 9 ) sends a connect signal ( 25 ) to the on-line oral web address ( 12 ). The on-line oral web address ( 12 ) sends a file ( 23 ) to a speech synthesizer software ( 15 ) of the computer ( 11 ). The speech synthesizer software ( 15 ) converts the file ( 23 ) to sound information.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an on-line oral text reader system that orally reads text information on Internet addresses for the user, such as a blind user.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The Internet is becoming a very important communication media in everyday life. However, the Internet is still focused on visual messages and blind and other handicapped persons cannot conveniently use the Internet. Many conversion devices have been tried in the past but most systems are either too cumbersome or too expensive to use. There is a need for a reliable and easy system that enables blind and other visually impaired to use the Internet.  
           [0003]    The present invention is a method that converts visual Internet information to sound by activating a computer with a program stored on a storage media. The program provides commands for connecting the computer to an on-line oral web address. The program sends a connect signal to the on-line oral web address. The on-line oral web address sends a text file to a speech synthesizer of the computer. The speech synthesizer converts the text file to sound information.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the information flow between the user and Internet addresses. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0005]    With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is an on-line oral text reader system that enables blind and other handicapped people to use and have access to the Internet in a convenient manner. The system  10  has a program  9  stored on a CD-rom  13  that has preprogrammed commands that may be activated by inserting the CD-rom  13  into a computer  11  and the user is automatically connected to an on-line oral web address  12 . The CD-rom  13  may include program commands so that the computer  11  is automatically connected to the address  12  on the Internet without requiring any input from the blind person. It is important to note that there is no need for the blind user to rely on assistance from others when connecting to the address  12  and that there is no need to instal plug-ins prior to connecting to the address  12 . For example, all the necessary plug-ins for the conventional browser on the computer  11  have already been installed on the CD-rom  13  so that the user does not have to instal the plug-ins between the browser and the speech synthesizer of the computer  11  and/or the address  12 . The address  12  may also include a speech synthesizer, if desired.  
         [0006]    If the connection to the address  12  is not successful, the CD-rom  13  triggers a signal that generates an oral failure message so that the user knows that the user is not properly connected. The CD-rom  13  may include a browser program, such as Netscape Navigator, and a bundled plug-in for a speech synthesizer software  15 , such as an Xpress speech synthesizer program, that receives the file  23  before the software ( 15 ) converts the text file to sound. Of course, the CD-rom  13  may include any suitable web browser or speech synthesizer program. In the alternative, the user may rely on a speech synthesizer program that is included in the computer  11  itself. However, there is no requirement that the computer  11  has any programs that are especially designed for blind persons so that any computer may be used. In other words, all the necessary information to reach the address  12  is, preferably, on the CD-rom  13  so that the user may use any computer to access the address  12 .  
         [0007]    The address  12  may be accessed from any suitable browser, such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, and any platform may be used such as Mac and PC. The address  12  may contain a browser program  22  that is updated continuously so the user will have access to the latest versions of the programs at the address  12  when connected to the address  12  to automatically download the necessary programs such as a navigational program  18 . In order to receive oral commands the address  12 , the computer  11  must have a loudspeaker  14 . If so desired, the address  12  may also contain a speech synthesizer program if the user does not have access to the CD-rom  13 .  
         [0008]    When the user is connected to the address  12 , an automatic command in the CD-rom  13  may send a connection signal  25  to trigger an information link of the address  12  so that the web browser  22  sends a text signal  24  back to the speech synthesizer software  15  confirming that the address  12  has been properly connected to, such as by transmitting sound instructions through the loud speakers  14 . The text signal  24  may be used by the synthesizer software  15  to convert the information of the signal  24  to sound. The web browser  22  may be programmed to operate in a wide variety of languages such as English, French, German, Swedish, etc. The text signal may also include some instructions. For example, the user may be asked to type in a desired web page address  16 , or any other suitable address as desired by the user, which the user would like to visit and read. The web browser  22  of the address  12  may be any suitable web reader, such as a Macromedia Shockwave program, that may convert web information, such as HTML files, from other sites to a file  23  that may then be converted to sound by using the speech synthesizer software  15 . For example, the web browser  22  may decode or parse the HTML file to text information from other sites by removing HTML tags so the synthesizer software  15  can convert the text to sound. The web browser  22  may be navigated by a key board  20  of the computer  11 . For example, volume, speed, fast-forward, rewind, pitch, pause, resume, stop and exit are commands that the user may use after the navigational program  18  have been downloaded from the address  12  to the computer  11  and the computer  11  is, via the address  12 , properly connected to the address  16 . For example, the user may scroll between the different commands by pressing the right arrow on the keyboard  20 . The user may also scroll up and down the text file by using the arrow keys on the key board  20 . If necessary, the user of the computer  11  may also enlarge or reduce the size of the letters of the text in the text file in case the user has some vision and is able to see very large letters.  
         [0009]    Another important feature of the present invention is that the web browser  22  may send a retrieval signal  30  to the desired web page address  16 . Preferably, the address  16  responds by sending back a response signal  32  that is received by the address  12  and the web browser  22  then converts the information in the response signal  32  to the file  23 . In the alternative, the response signal  32  contains a text version of the information on the page address  16  so that no conversion by the web browser  22  is necessary. The information in the file  23  may be sent to the speech synthesizer software  15  by text information signal  24  from the address  12  to the computer  11 . The speech synthesizer software  15  of the CD-rom  13  of the computer  11  then converts the signal  24  to speech and the sound may be transmitted via the speakers  14 . All information displayed on a screen  26 , should the user have some vision, is, preferably, in black and white to increase the contrast between the letters and the background.  
         [0010]    While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.