Patent Publication Number: US-8538386-B2

Title: Communications system providing text-to-speech message conversion features using audio filter parameters and related methods

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of communications systems, and, more particularly, to wireless communications networks and related methods. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cellular telephone systems continue to grow in popularity and have become an integral part of both personal and business communications. Cellular phones allow users to place and receive telephone calls most anywhere they travel. Moreover, as cellular telephone technology has increased, so too has the functionality of cellular devices. For example, many cellular devices now incorporate personal digital assistant (PDA) features such as calendars, address books, task lists, etc. Moreover, such multi-function devices may also allow users to wirelessly access electronic mail (email) messages and the Internet via a cellular network. 
     Of course, cellular telephone usage can be problematic in some situations. In particular, many accidents have occurred because of drivers who become distracted while using their cellular phones. As a result, many drivers use hands-free headsets while driving, which allows the driver to maintain a normal driving posture and both hands on the wheel. Such headsets also allow users to more readily use their phones to place or receive calls while engaging in outdoor activities, such as jogging or bicycle riding, for example. 
     While headsets work well for telephone calls, they are typically of no value when it comes to accessing email messages on multi-function cellular telephone devices. That is, if a user needs to monitor his email messages while driving or jogging, for example, he still has to look at the display screen of his device to read email message text. 
     Various approaches have been developed for allowing users to more easily access email messages during such situations. For example, Copytalk, LLC provides a service called Listen and Reply, which uses a text-to-speech converter to convert emails to an audio format so that users can receive their email via telephone, much like a voice mail. Moreover, users may dictate replies over their phones, which are then converted to text email messages and sent to desired recipients. Audio notifications can be filtered by time or sender, and also can be turned on and off from the subscriber&#39;s phone. 
     Despite the advantages of such systems, users may desire greater functionality in some circumstances. Users with multi-function devices that receive text email messages may find it cumbersome to call a service provider whenever they wish to turn audio message delivery on or off. Moreover, users may wish to change their filter parameters fairly regularly or while they are away from their office. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a communications network that provides enhanced text-to-speech conversion and delivery features for text (i.e., email) messages and related methods. 
     This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a communications system which may include at least one mobile wireless communications device, and a wireless communications network for sending text messages thereto. More particularly, the at least one mobile wireless communications device may include a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for receiving text messages. The controller may be switchable between a normal message mode and an audio message mode. Also, the at least one mobile wireless communications device may further include a user interface device connected to the controller for receiving at least one audio mode filter parameter from a user, and an audio output connected to the controller. The controller, when in the audio message mode, may select received text messages based upon the at least one audio mode filter parameter, and output audio messages including speech generated from the selected text messages via the audio output. 
     Accordingly, rather than having to change filter parameters before leaving the office, a user may conveniently set and change such parameters via the user input device. Thus, the system is particularly advantageous for users who need to change filter parameters while traveling, for example. 
     By way of example, the audio output may be a headset output. As such, the controller may switch between the normal message mode and the audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset. That is, the controller may automatically recognize when a headset is connected (such as when the user is about to operate a vehicle or begin jogging) and advantageously enter the audio message mode, providing added convenience for the user. To provide additional user convenience, the headset output may be a wireless headset output (e.g., a Bluetooth enabled output) for establishing a wireless connection with the headset, although it may be a headset jack for a wired headset as well. 
     Additionally, the controller may switch between the normal message mode and the audio message mode based upon an audio message mode command provided by a user via the user interface device. Thus, for example, the audio message mode command may be provided by a user to place the controller in the audio message mode, whether or not the headset is connected to the headset connector. This feature may be advantageous when a user is not carrying a headset, but still wishes to have text messages converted to speech. 
     To this end, the mobile wireless communications device may further include a text-to-speech module for cooperating with the controller to convert the selected text messages to audio messages. Alternately, the controller may also be for generating conversion requests for the selected text messages, and cooperating with the wireless transceiver to forward the conversion requests to the wireless communications network. In such case, the wireless communications network may include a text-to-speech module for converting the selected text messages to audio messages, and the wireless communications network may send the audio messages to the at least one wireless communications device. 
     By way of example, the at least one audio message filter parameter may be a sender identifier. The at least one audio message filter parameter may also be one or more keywords, which may be included in the subject or body fields of a text message, for example. Additionally, the user interface device may be a keypad connected to the controller, and the at least one mobile wireless communications device may further include a display connected to the controller for displaying the text messages. Further, the wireless transceiver may be a cellular transceiver, and the wireless communications network may be a cellular communications network, for example. 
     A method aspect of the invention is for using a mobile wireless communications device including a user interface device and an audio output. The mobile wireless communications device may be switchable between a normal message mode and an audio message mode. The method may include receiving text messages from a wireless communications network, and receiving at least one audio mode filter parameter from a user via the user interface device. Furthermore, when in the audio message mode, the mobile wireless communications device may select received text messages based upon the at least one audio mode filter parameter, and output audio messages including speech generated from the selected text messages via the audio output. 
     A mobile wireless communications device, such as the one described briefly above, as well as a related computer-readable medium, are also provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram generally illustrating a communications system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the communications system of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the communications system of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the display screen of the mobile wireless communications device illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating audio message mode and filter parameter selection features of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are flow diagrams illustrating communications method aspects of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary mobile wireless communications device suitable for use with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a communications system  20  in accordance with the present invention illustratively includes a wireless communications network  21  and one or more mobile wireless communications devices  22  for communicating therewith. In the illustrated example, the mobile wireless communications device  22  is a Blackberry device. However, it will be appreciated that numerous other types of wireless (e.g., cellular) devices may be used in accordance with the present invention as well. Moreover, while only a single device  22  is shown for clarity of illustration, it will further be appreciated that numerous mobile wireless communications devices may be used. 
     In particular, the mobile wireless communications device  22  illustratively includes a wireless transceiver  23  and associated antenna  24 , and a controller  25  connected to the wireless transceiver. By way of example, the controller  25  may be a microprocessor or other suitable control circuitry with associated memory, as will be discussed further with reference to Example 1, below. 
     The mobile wireless communications device  22  further illustratively includes a user interface device  39  connected to the controller  25 . Among other functions, the user interface device  39  allows a user to enter one or more audio message filter parameters, as will be described further below. In the case of the illustrated Blackberry device, the user interface device  39  includes a keypad  26  and/or a trackwheel  27 . Of course, other user interface devices  39  may be used as well, such as touch screens, etc., as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The mobile wireless communications device  22  also illustratively includes a display  28  and an audio output  29 , such as a headset output for a headset  30 , for example, both of which are connected to the controller  25 . 
     In the present example, the wireless communications network  21  is a cellular communications network which illustratively includes a server  35 , such as an electronic mail (email) server for receiving text messages for the user of the mobile wireless communications device  22 . Furthermore, a base station  36 , which is illustratively represented as a cellular tower, is connected to the server  35  and has an associated antenna  37  and transceiver (not shown), as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In the case of a cellular network, the wireless transceiver  23  of the mobile wireless communications device will correspondingly be a cellular transceiver. Various cellular formats and or protocols may be used in accordance with the present invention, as will be discussed further below. 
     The wireless communications network  21  may further include the appropriate switching and control circuitry for routing telephone calls to and from the mobile wireless communications device  22 , as will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art. However, this circuitry is not shown for clarity of illustration. 
     During normal operations, the server  35  receives text messages (e.g., email messages) for delivery to the mobile wireless communications device  22  via the Internet, for example, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The server  35  then cooperates with the base station  36  to send the text messages to the mobile wireless communications device  22 , as will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The controller  25  similarly cooperates with the wireless transceiver  23  to receive the text messages from the wireless communications network  21 . Moreover, the controller  25  may then cause the display  28  to display an indication that new text messages have arrived, and/or display the messages themselves. 
     If the user is not otherwise preoccupied, he can turn his attention to the display  28  and use the keypad  26  and/or other input devices (e.g., trackwheel  27 , touch screen, etc.) to scroll through the message, forward the message, prepare a reply thereto, etc. On the other hand, if the user is engaged in an activity such as driving, jogging, etc., where it is inconvenient or impractical to focus attention on the display  28  and use the keypad  26 , the user may prefer that certain text messages be converted to speech and played for the user, similar to a voice mail message. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the user may provide one or more audio message filter parameters for filtering the text messages via the user interface device (i.e., the keypad  26  and/or trackwheel  27 ). That is, the filter parameters are used by the controller  25  for “filtering” out the text messages that are to be converted to audio (i.e., speech) messages. By using the user interface device  39 , the user may quickly and easily set and change the audio message filter parameters, and may advantageously do so while away from his home or office computer. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , various audio message filter parameters may be used. For example, one such parameter may be the name (e.g., “John Smith” or “David Jones”) or other identifier (e.g., an email address or portions thereof) of the message sender. Another example would be one or more keywords (e.g., “urgent” or “important”) in the subject or body of the message. Various other filter parameters may be used as well, such as recipient information in a “cc” field, time/date, a message priority setting, etc., as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Of course, while the user could provide no filter parameters and thus allow all text messages to be converted to speech, this will typically be undesirable. This is because a user will most likely not want to have “junk” email messages read to them, especially when they are driving or jogging, for example. Indeed, users will likely only want to receive important (e.g., from their boss, a client, etc.) or otherwise urgent messages while driving, exercising, etc., and leave more routine messages for a later time. 
     Another reason filter parameters are likely to be used relates to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  (discussed further below) where audio message conversion is performed by the wireless communications network  21 ′. In such case, a significant amount of airtime minutes could be used up by transmitting an audio file for each text message a user receives, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Once the controller  25  receives the audio message filter parameter(s) from the user, the parameter(s) is stored in a memory (see  FIG. 7 ) for later use when the controller is placed in the audio message mode. The controller  25  may be placed in the audio message mode in various ways. For example, the controller  25  may enter the audio message mode based upon a connection to the audio output  29 , such as if the audio output is a headset output and is connected to a headset  30 . 
     More specifically, the controller  25  may automatically detect this connection and enter the audio message mode, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. It should be noted that this connection may be a physical connection (i.e., in the case of wired headphones), or a wireless connection (i.e., in the case of wireless headphones), as will be discussed further below. Further, this automatic audio mode may be selectively turned on or off by the user via the user interface device  39  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Because the controller  25  may advantageously enter the audio message mode whenever the user connects his headset  30  to the output  29 , the user does not have to remember to enable the audio message mode when leaving his office, or place a call to an audio message delivery system to disable or resume the audio message mode. 
     Additionally, a manual or override setting may also be used to place the controller  25  in the audio message mode indefinitely, whether a connection to the headset  30  is present or not. The override mode may be advantageous when the user is not carrying the headset  30 , but still wishes to have selected text messages converted to speech and read like a voice message, even if the user has to hold the mobile wireless communications device  22  to his ear. The user may quickly and conveniently turn the override and/or automatic audio modes on and off using the user interface  26 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Various approaches may also be used for converting the selected text messages to audio messages. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the mobile wireless communications device  22  illustratively includes a text-to-speech module  38  for cooperating with the controller  25  to convert the selected text messages to the audio messages. By way of example, the text-to-speech module  38  may be a software module that is run by the controller  25  when needed. Various text-to-speech conversion modules, which are known to those skilled in the art, may be used in accordance with the present invention. 
     Turning more specifically to  FIG. 3 , an alternate approach for performing text-to-speech conversion is now described. In this exemplary embodiment, the text-to-speech module resides in the wireless communications network  21 ′. Thus, instead of converting the text messages to speech at the mobile wireless communications device  22 ′, the controller  25 ′ instead generates conversion requests for the selected text messages, and cooperates with the wireless transceiver  23 ′ to forward the conversion requests to the wireless communications network  21 ′. 
     In the illustrated example, the text-to-speech conversion module  38 ′ is implemented on a dedicated text-to-speech conversion server  40 ′. This approach may advantageously help prevent the workload of the email server  35 ′ from becoming unmanageable, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. However, it will also be appreciated that the email and speech conversion functions could be consolidated on a single server, or spread to more than two severs, depending upon the given implementation. 
     Generally speaking, the text-to-speech server  40 ′ may include the requisite text-to speech conversion software module  38 ′, the appropriate telephony circuitry (not shown) for calling users and playing the audio messages, and an interface software module for interfacing the conversion software, telephony circuitry, and the email server  35 ′, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. That is, once the email server  35 ′ learns that a particular text message is to be converted to speech, it may instruct the text-to-speech conversion server  40 ′ accordingly and hand the process over thereto, as the text-to-speech conversion server can perform the appropriate telephone connection operations to send the speech message to the user without further intervention or supervision. 
     Typically, the server  35 ′ will host a mailbox for storing a user&#39;s text (i.e., email) messages, which are retained for a certain period of time. For purposes of identifying the message stored in the mailbox that is to be converted to an audio format, the server  35 ′ may generate a unique identification thereof which is transmitted with the text message to the mobile wireless communications device  22 ′. The controller  25  may then include the unique identification in the conversion request for the respective text message. Of course, various identifiers may be used for this purpose, such as the date and time the message is first received by the server  35  or sent to the mobile wireless communications device  22 , etc. 
     Once the selected text message has been converted to a speech message in an audio format, such as a .wav file, for example, the server  40 ′ cooperates with the base station  36 ′ to send the audio message to the mobile wireless communications device  22 ′. The controller  25 ′ once again cooperates with the wireless transceiver  23 ′ for receiving the audio messages, and it outputs the audio messages via the output  29 ′. 
     It should be noted that mobile wireless communications devices often include a subscriber identity modules (SIMs), which store the cellular telephone number assigned to the user, as well as other information (e.g., personal phone numbers, text messages, information used to support other services, etc.). As such, since SIMs may be interchanged between different devices, it may be desirable for the controller  25 ′ to provide the user&#39;s phone number stored in the SIM (if present) when establishing communications with the wireless communications network  21 ′. This allows the server  40 ′ to maintain the correct phone number for the device at all times. 
     In the illustrated example, the output  29 ′ is a wireless headset output for communicating with a wireless headset and has an antenna  41 ′ associated therewith. By way of example, such a wireless headset output may be a Bluetooth enabled output, for example, although other wireless communication formats may also be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of course, the output  29  may be a headset jack for a wired headset as well. 
     A first method aspect of the invention for using a mobile wireless communications device  22  including a user interface device  39  and an audio output  29  is now described with reference to  FIG. 5 . As noted above, the mobile wireless communications device  22  (i.e., the controller  25 ) is switchable between a normal message mode and an audio message mode. The method begins, at Block  50 , with the mobile wireless communications device  22  receiving text messages from a wireless communications network  21 , at Block  51 , and receiving at least one audio mode filter parameter from a user via the user interface device  39 , at Block  52 . Furthermore, when in the audio message mode (Block  53 ), the mobile wireless communications device  22  selects received text messages based upon the at least one audio mode filter parameter, at Block  54 . Audio messages including speech generated from the selected text messages are then output via the audio output  29 , at Block  55 , as discussed further above, thus concluding the illustrated method (Block  56 ). 
     Another method aspect of the invention for using a mobile wireless communications device  22 ′ including a headset output  29 ′ is now described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The method begins (Block  60 ) with receiving text messages from a wireless communications network  21 ′, at Block  61 . The mobile wireless communications device  22 ′ switches between a normal message mode and an audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output  29 ′ and a headset  30 ′, at Block  62  and  63 , as described above. As also noted above, when in the audio message mode, the mobile wireless communications device outputs  22 ′ audio messages including speech generated from the received text messages via the headset output  29 ′, at Block  64 , thus concluding the illustrated method. 
     The present invention will be further understood with reference to an exemplary implementation thereof using a Blackberry device, which is set forth in Example 1 below, as well as with reference to an exemplary Blackberry device, which is described further in Example 2 below. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     An executive is awaiting an email regarding an important issue from the CEO of his company. He sets an audio message filter parameter indicating that all emails from the CEO joe@somecompany.com will need to be provided via audio (i.e., speech). He commutes one hour to work everyday. Before he starts his commute he sets the device to be in the audio message mode, or the device automatically switches to this mode when he connects a headset (e.g., a Bluetooth enabled headset). Thirty minutes into the commute he receives an email from the CEO. The Blackberry Enterprise Server checks the device filters and sees that this email is subject to audio (i.e., speech) conversion and sends the request to a text-to-speech server. 
     This server looks up the phone number for the device, and converts the text of the email to speech in a .wav file. It then places a call to the device and plays the .wav file. The device can be set to have unique ring tones when an incoming call is from the text-to-speech server, for example. The user can configure the Blackberry to either have the device auto answer or use the headset to answer and listen to the email. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Turning now additionally to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary hand-held mobile wireless communications device  1000  (i.e., a Blackberry device) that can be used in accordance with the present invention is now described. The device  1000  illustratively includes a housing  1200 , a keyboard  1400  and an output device  1600 . The output device shown is a display  1600 , which is preferably a full graphic LCD. Other types of output devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device  1800  is contained within the housing  1200  and is coupled between the keyboard  1400  and the display  1600 . The processing device  1800  controls the operation of the display  1600 , as well as the overall operation of the mobile device  1000 , in response to actuation of keys on the keyboard  1400  by the user. 
     The housing  1200  may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizes and shapes (including clamshell housing structures). The keyboard may include a mode selection key, or other hardware or software for switching between text entry and telephony entry. 
     In addition to the processing device  1800 , other parts of the mobile device  1000  include a communications subsystem  1001 ; a short-range communications subsystem  1020 ; the keyboard  1400  and the display  1600 , along with other input/output devices  1060 ,  1080 ,  1100  and  1120 ; as well as memory devices  1160 ,  1180  and various other device subsystems  1201 . The mobile device  1000  is preferably a two-way RF communications device having voice and data communications capabilities. In addition, the mobile device  1000  preferably has the capability to communicate with other computer systems via the Internet. 
     Operating system software executed by the processing device  1800  is preferably stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory  1160 , but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read only memory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store, such as the random access memory (RAM)  1180 . Communications signals received by the mobile device may also be stored in the RAM  1180 . 
     The processing device  1800 , in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications  1300 A- 1300 N on the device  1000 . A predetermined set of applications that control basic device operations, such as data and voice communications  1300 A and  1300 B, may be installed on the device  1000  during manufacture. In addition, a personal information manager (PIM) application may be installed during manufacture. The PIM is preferably capable of organizing and managing data items, such as e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. The PIM application is also preferably capable of sending and receiving data items via a wireless network  1401 . Preferably, the PIM data items are seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated via the wireless network  1401  with the device user&#39;s corresponding data items stored or associated with a host computer system. 
     Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through the communications subsystem  1001 , and possibly through the short-range communications subsystem. The communications subsystem  1001  includes a receiver  1500 , a transmitter  1520 , and one or more antennas  1540  and  1560 . In addition, the communications subsystem  1001  also includes a processing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP)  1580 , and local oscillators (LOs)  1601 . The specific design and implementation of the communications subsystem  1001  is dependent upon the communications network in which the mobile device  1000  is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device  1000  may include a communications subsystem  1001  designed to operate with the Mobitex™, Data TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communications networks, and also designed to operate with any of a variety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, PCS, GSM, etc. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate and integrated, may also be utilized with the mobile device  1000 . 
     Network access requirements vary depending upon the type of communication system. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using a unique personal identification number or PIN associated with each device. In GPRS networks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber or user of a device. A GPRS device therefore requires a subscriber identity module, commonly referred to as a SIM card, in order to operate on a GPRS network. 
     When required network registration or activation procedures have been completed, the mobile device  1000  may send and receive communications signals over the communication network  1401 . Signals received from the communications network  1401  by the antenna  1540  are routed to the receiver  1500 , which provides for signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provide analog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allows the DSP  1580  to perform more complex communications functions, such as demodulation and decoding. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted to the network  1401  are processed (e.g. modulated and encoded) by the DSP  1580  and are then provided to the transmitter  1520  for digital to analog conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission to the communication network  1401  (or networks) via the antenna  1560 . 
     In addition to processing communications signals, the DSP  1580  provides for control of the receiver  1500  and the transmitter  1520 . For example, gains applied to communications signals in the receiver  1500  and transmitter  1520  may be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in the DSP  1580 . 
     In a data communications mode, a received signal, such as a text message or web page download, is processed by the communications subsystem  1001  and is input to the processing device  1800 . The received signal is then further processed by the processing device  1800  for an output to the display  1600 , or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device  1060 . A device user may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, using the keyboard  1400  and/or some other auxiliary I/O device  1060 , such as a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other type of input device. The composed data items may then be transmitted over the communications network  1401  via the communications subsystem  1001 . 
     In a voice communications mode, overall operation of the device is substantially similar to the data communications mode, except that received signals are output to a speaker  1100 , and signals for transmission are generated by a microphone  1120 . Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on the device  1000 . In addition, the display  1600  may also be utilized in voice communications mode, for example to display the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information. 
     The short-range communications subsystem enables communication between the mobile device  1000  and other proximate systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, the short-range communications subsystem may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communications module to provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.