SPEECH-SYNTHESIS DEVICE

Abstract

In a speech-synthesis device, it is possible to determine whether or not a user dictionary that supports processing for reading aloud a specific phrase associated with specific reading should be used. The speech-synthesis device includes a speech-synthesis unit configured to perform read-aloud processing, a user dictionary provided to support processing for reading aloud a specific phrase associated with specific reading, and a control unit that includes a plurality of functions achieved by using information about the read-aloud processing, that determines whether or not the user dictionary should be used according to which of the functions is used so as to perform the read-aloud processing, and that makes the speech-synthesis unit perform the read-aloud processing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a facsimile device with a cordless telephone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing exemplary processing performed when data on sentences is input during speech-synthesis processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing exemplary operations performed, so as to achieve the processing shown in FIG. 2, except processing performed by a language-analysis unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing exemplary processing performed according to contents of a user dictionary when the data on sentences is input during the speech-synthesis processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart briefly showing operations performed, so as to determine whether or not the speech-synthesis processing shown in FIG. 4 is performed according to the details on user-dictionary data for each of operations performed in the facsimile device.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary processing procedures performed according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A speech-synthesis device comprising: a speech-synthesis unit configured to perform read-aloud processing;a user dictionary provided so as to support read aloud processing of a specific phrase associated with a specific reading; anda control unit that includes a plurality of functions achieved by using information about the read-aloud processing,wherein the control unit determines whether or not the user dictionary should be used according to which of the functions is used, so as to perform the read-aloud processing, and controls the speech-synthesis unit to perform the read-aloud processing.

2. The speech-synthesis device according to claim 1, wherein the speech-synthesis unit has a mode of operating by using a combination of at least two dictionaries, and wherein the mode can be selected from at least one speech-synthesis function of calling up speech-synthesis processing.

3. The speech-synthesis device according to claim 1, wherein the speech-synthesis unit has two modes including a mode of performing the read-aloud processing by using the user dictionary and a mode of performing the read-aloud processing without using the user dictionary, and wherein each of the two modes can be selected from the plurality of functions.

4. The speech-synthesis device according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of functions includes a mail function, the control unit makes the speech-synthesis unit perform the read-aloud processing so that mail distributed from a mail address registered with the speech-synthesis device in advance is read aloud by using the user dictionary and mail distributed from a mail address that is not registered with the speech-synthesis device is read aloud without using the user dictionary.

5. The speech-synthesis device according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of functions includes at least one of a phone-call-reception function and a phone-directory function, the control unit makes the speech-synthesis unit perform the read-aloud processing for a phone call by using the user dictionary when a phone number of the phone call is registered with the speech-synthesis device in advance, and makes the speech-synthesis unit perform the read-aloud processing for the phone call without using the user dictionary when the phone number of the phone call is not registered with the speech-synthesis device in advance.

6. A method of controlling a speech-synthesis device using a user dictionary provided so as to support read aloud processing of a specific phrase associated with a specific reading, the control method comprising: synthesizing speech so as to be able to perform read-aloud processing;determining whether or not the user dictionary should be used according to which of a plurality of functions achieved by using information about the read-aloud processing is used; andperforming control so as to perform the read-aloud processing.

7. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for controlling a speech-synthesis device configured to synthesize speech by using a user dictionary provided so as to support read aloud processing of a specific phrase associated with specific reading, the computer readable medium comprising: computer-executable instructions for synthesizing speech so as to perform read-aloud processing;computer-executable instructions for determining whether or not the user dictionary should be used according to which of a plurality of functions achieved by using information about the read-aloud processing is used; andcomputer-executable instructions for performing control so as to perform the read-aloud processing.