Method for producing acoustic vocal output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating acoustic voice output in household appliances, such as food processors, are technically complex and expensive, requiring significant hardware and data storage resources that are often not feasible in these devices, making it difficult for visually impaired users and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that pre-stores language segments in a persistent information object using position information for identification and retrieval, allowing for efficient generation and output of voice output, even with limited hardware performance, by utilizing a file system or database for data management and storage, and optionally leveraging remote processing units for additional resources when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modern text-to-speech systems are used for speech synthesis, then high-quality and flexible voice output is achieved, but hardware performance requirements and production costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voice output system into two parts: a powerful remote server that performs complex speech synthesis using modern TTS systems, and a simple household appliance that only needs to store pre-generated audio files and play them back. This segmentation allows the appliance to have minimal hardware requirements while still delivering high-quality voice output through the remote server's processing power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the user and the speech synthesis process. The server acts as a mediator that receives text from the appliance, performs the computationally intensive TTS processing, and returns the generated speech audio. This intermediary approach allows the appliance to bypass the need for complex local hardware while maintaining access to advanced voice synthesis capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive audio data is processed using complex speech synthesis methods, then flexible and high-quality voice output is generated, but data storage requirements and processing resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating speech audio files on the remote server before they are needed by the appliance. The server processes the text-to-speech conversion in advance, stores the generated audio files, and transfers them to the appliance's storage. This allows the appliance to have minimal local storage requirements while still providing flexible voice output, as the heavy data processing occurs beforehand on the server.
3Ease of operation
If speech synthesis is implemented in household appliances, then operation is simplified and ease of use is improved, but production outlay and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the remote server automatically perform all speech synthesis processing without requiring the appliance to have complex local processing capabilities. The server independently handles text-to-speech conversion, audio generation, and file management, allowing the appliance to remain simple and inexpensive to manufacture while still providing sophisticated voice output functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method (100) for generating an acoustic voice output, in particular in a household appliance (10), preferably in an electric motor-operated food processor (10) with a mixing vessel (24) and an agitator in the mixing vessel (24).