Patent ID: 8239202

Claim:
A communication device for audibly outputting text messages, the communication device in communication with a server over a communication network, the server providing a character speech library, the communication device comprising: a setting module configured for setting a vocalizing function for audibly outputting text messages, and setting separate shortcuts in a function menu of the communication device to respectively invoke and terminate the vocalizing function; a searching module configured for individually searching the character speech library for each character of a text message received by the communication device over the communication network, before acquiring pronunciation data of each character of the received text message; a vocalizing module configured for vocalizing the pronunciation data of each character of the received text message to generate a voice message; a outputting module configured for audibly outputting the generated voice message by using a microphone; and at least one processor that executes the setting module, the searching module, the vocalizing module, and the outputting module.