EP0725382B1 - Method and device providing digitally coded traffic information by synthetically generated speech - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a method of the generic type of the main claim.

With the radio data system (RDS) an additional and inaudible transmission of digital data parallel to Broadcast programs in a data channel. Specifications of the radio data system for FM radio are among others in the publication Tech. 3244-E, March 1984 of the European Runfunk Union (EBU). Radio receivers with suitable RDS decoders can transmitted data in addition to radio reception with the Record and decode the same receiver. The Data transmission takes place in 32 groups of 108 bits each, each group is assigned a specific service. Group 8a is for the transmission of digitally coded Traffic announcements provided.

The structure and coding of these traffic reports are in the proposed standard ALERT C, November 1990 specified by the RDS ATT ALERT Consortium. The The essential elements of a traffic report are Place of occurrence (location) and the event. This information is cataloged, which means that everyone traffic-relevant location and every traffic-related event a unique code is assigned. The concatenation of places in the place table along existing streets gives the Course again. Except for the usual facilities one Receivers with an RDS decoder are required to use the Traffic Message Channel (TMC) Devices for decoding, storage, Further processing and output of traffic reports required.

For voice output it is necessary to use the Traffic announcements received and in the receiver stored information to form sentences that the Users are immediately understandable and largely sound natural.

From "Transmission of coded, digitized traffic information using RDS ", microelectronics for information technology, Lectures of the NTG conference, Berlin 1986, pages 135 to 143 it is known to encode digitized traffic information transfer. For this, the traffic information contained in a standardized form, transmitted by means of code words. Around evaluate the information in the radio receiver here suggested the digital traffic news too received, evaluated and by means of an LPC speech synthesis play. US Patent 4,872,202 proposes ASCII text by converting it into language by determining whether a word is written in English as it is was spoken or not. If this is not the case, then is based on the information in a table appropriate correction performed, a conversion made and then the word in a speech signal reshaped so that after the completion of the process as spoken word can be reproduced.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for Output of digitally coded traffic reports using specify synthetically generated language, this with with the least possible amount of memory should. Furthermore, the inventive method should also Peculiarities of different languages are taken into account can, a possibly necessary implementation of the for example, in place and place shown in common script Event-related words in phonetic transcription can be omitted.

This object is achieved by the features of Claim 1 solved.

Through many different location and event codes as well as one large number of different language formulations to describe the respective content of the traffic announcement there is a very large number of possible sentences spoken speech. With the invention It only requires a sufficiently large procedure Number of carrier sets, the respective location codes and Event codes including the associated words to save. The fact that the carrier sets in the form of The phonetic transcription is saved, the further results Advantage that an otherwise necessary implementation of the for example, in local script and local Event-related words in phonetic transcription can be omitted.

The location-related words are usually in those Filed language spoken in the respective area becomes. However, these words are combined with the event-related words and / or sentences in the carrier sentences used, the emphasis is in the language of Event related words and the carrier sentences too consider. In another training of the The inventive method is therefore provided that together with the carrier rates and with the event-related Words and / or sentences each have an associated ... Stress history is saved when reading the Lute from the phonetic catalog is taken into account and that for the location-related words an emphasis after the Implemented in sounds.

This training takes into account that it is logistical It is mostly advantageous to use location-based information in a removable memory, for example one Smart card to file while that of the respective language dependent information, such as the carrier sets and the event-related words and / or sentences, in one other memories are stored.

An adaptation of existing in another language location-related words to the sound of the language of the According to another further development, carrier rates are Invention possible in that the location-related words before the insertion into the carrier sets of a prosody conversion undergo if they are in a language other than that Carrier sets are stored.

With the prosody conversion, for example, can be achieved become a motorist who is traveling in France and its car radio the traffic reports in German Language outputs the place name Paris (with spoken s am End) hears. However, names are also available for a number of locations common in other languages, for example for Aachen in the French language Aix la Chapelle. So with the These special features are also taken into account is according to another training provided that under the location codes in addition to the location-related Words in the language of the respective area too Common location-related words in at least one other language that are stored in the language of Carrier phrases stored location-related words in the Carrier sets are used and that the location codes for which no location-related words in the language of the carrier sentences are stored, the location-related words in the language of the respective area.

Should also have a visual display of traffic reports can also take place in the method according to the invention be provided that the location and the event-related words and the carrier sentences also as Characters for representation on an optical Playback device are stored. Here, in in most use cases, storage in the language of the respective area, since these place names anyway Traffic signs can be seen and therefore a comparison with the visual representation is facilitated.

Despite constant advances in storage density the storage capacity of removable storage in for the foreseeable future be limited or relatively expensive. To the required storage capacity of a removable Data carrier and possibly also an internal one Another is to keep the memory as low as possible Further development of the method according to the invention is provided, that frequently occurring components of local and / or event-related words as additional phonetic characters are stored and that under the additional Phonetic characters in the phonetic catalog the components as Allophones are stored.

In an advantageous device for performing the inventive method for a radio receiver a radio data signal decoder and a device for Decoding the digitally encoded traffic announcements is provided that a speech synthesis facility with Save for vehicle sentences, for event words or sentences and for location-related words it is connected that the Speech synthesis device the decoded traffic reports are feedable and that an output of Speech synthesis device at an input of a Audio amplifier is connected, the one Speaker arrangement controls. With this facility you can a lot of different traffic reports are issued, the space required for this is relatively small is.

An advantageous use of a location list with at least partially multilingual location-related words is with a device according to the invention possible in that between the memory for the location-related words and the Speech synthesis device a selection device is arranged, which the location-related words in of that language to the speech synthesis facility forwards in the carrier sets from memory are taken, provided the respective location-related words are stored in this language.

An adaptation of foreign language words to the sound of the Carrier rates can be the subject of further training device according to the invention take place in that the Speech synthesis device supplied location-related words prosody convert if they don't are available in the language in which the carrier sentences be removed from the memory. The Prosody conversion according to predetermined rules or via Catalogs are made.

Another development of the device according to the invention is that the carrier sentences and the event words or sentences are stored in multiple languages. This can a radio receiver with a multilingual voice output will be realized.

The fact that the memory for the location-based words on an exchangeable data carrier is created a particularly inexpensive system in the device classes different sound quality are possible, the same Can use chip card. This is why it is special cheap, because then for the chip card Broadcast receiver independent distribution channel can be selected can.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung der Erzeugung von Sprachsignalen, welche vollständige Sätze umfassen, aus einzelnen empfangenen oder im Empfänger generierten Codes,

Fig. 2

ein Blockschaltbild eines Empfängers, der für die Ausgabe von Verkehrsmeldungen in einer Sprache ausgelegt ist,

Fig. 3

ein Blockschaltbild eines Empfängers, der für die Ausgabe von Verkehrsmeldungen einer Sprache ausgelegt ist, bei dem jedoch fremdsprachige Ortsbezeichnungen bezüglich der Sprachmelodie an die Sprache des Empfängers angepaßt werden und

Fig. 4

eine Blockschaltbild eines Empfängers, bei dem verschiedene Sprachen für die Ausgabe gewählt werden können.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing using several figures and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

Fig. 1

1 shows a schematic representation of the generation of speech signals, which comprise complete sentences, from individual codes received or generated in the receiver,

Fig. 2

2 shows a block diagram of a receiver which is designed for outputting traffic reports in one language,

Fig. 3

a block diagram of a receiver, which is designed for the output of traffic reports of a language, but in which foreign language place names are adapted to the language of the receiver with respect to the speech melody and

Fig. 4

a block diagram of a receiver in which different languages can be selected for the output.

Identical parts are given the same reference symbols in the figures Mistake. The exemplary embodiments and parts thereof are shown as block diagrams. This means however, not that the circuit arrangement according to the invention on a realization with the help of individual blocks corresponding circuits is limited. The Circuit arrangement according to the invention is rather in particularly advantageously with the help of highly integrated Circuits possible. Digital Signal processors are used, which with suitable Programming the shown in the block diagrams Carry out processing steps. The working examples can together with other circuit arrangements within parts of an integrated circuit Form radio receiver.

A7, Kassel, Richtung Hannover, zwischen Derneburg und Hildesheim, Stau, 2 km.

Bevor dieser Satz für die Sprachausgabe generiert wird, wird als Funktion der verschiedenen in der übertragenen codierten Verkehrsmeldung enthaltenen Codes folgender Trägersatz aus einer Vielzahl von gespeicherten Trägersätzen ausgewählt:

A<1>, <2a> Richtung <2b>, zwischen <2c> und <2d>, <3>.

Die zunächst offenen Positionen sind mit Platzhaltern besetzt, wobei Worttyp 1 eine Autobahnnummer, Worttyp 2 eine Ortsbeschreibung und Worttyp 3 eine Ereignisbeschreibung ist.A traffic report to be output using the method according to the invention has the form, for example:

A7, Kassel, direction Hanover, between Derneburg and Hildesheim, traffic jam, 2 km.

Before this set is generated for the voice output, the following carrier set is selected from a multiplicity of stored carrier sets as a function of the various codes contained in the coded traffic announcement transmitted:

A <1>, <2a> direction <2b>, between <2c> and <2d>, <3>.

The initially open positions are filled with placeholders, where word type 1 is a motorway number, word type 2 is a location description and word type 3 is an event description.

Stau <4> km.

Dabei ist der Worttyp 4 ein Zahlenwert. Der Einfachheit halber werden sämtliche Ereignisse wie Trägersätze behandelt, auch Ereignisse ohne variablen Parameter, beispielsweise "Vorsicht, Ihnen kommt ein Geisterfahrer entgegen". Die Trägersätze werden im Rundfunkempfänger gespeichert und numeriert. Zur Satzbildung werden gemäß der obengenannten ALERT-Spezifikation und den Parametern ein oder mehrere Trägersätze ausgewählt, zusammengestellt und durch die spezifischen Worte anstelle der Platzhalter ergänzt.The event description is in turn carried out using a carrier set - also called an event set in the following - for example:

Traffic jam <4> km.

Word type 4 is a numerical value. For the sake of simplicity, all events are treated like carrier sets, even events without variable parameters, for example "Caution, a ghost driver is coming towards you". The carrier sets are stored and numbered in the radio receiver. For sentence formation, one or more carrier sentences are selected, compiled and supplemented by the specific words instead of the placeholders in accordance with the above-mentioned ALERT specification and the parameters.

In the schematically shown in Fig. 1 Exemplary embodiments are a location list 1, one Event record list 2 and a carrier record list 3 available, in which the carrier sentences and words to be spoken in Phonetic transcriptions are filed. A suitable one Phonetic alphabet is known under the name SAMPA and suitable for several European languages. A word can using SAMPA in its typical prosody (word melody) be written, for example in German or French. For coding the words in SAMPA is none human speaker required, so the coding is speaker independent.

All segments required for the words to be spoken are in a segment library 4 - also called phonetic catalog - stored and as a function of the from lists 1, 2, 3 read phonetic transcriptions are retrieved, which means that at 5, 6, 7 the replacement of the respective phonetic transcription by phonemes, Diphone and Allophone is done. The segments become Production of the segment library from a human Speakers spoken, recorded, numbered and known encoded, quantized, stored and with digital form an address. Coding methods are among the Designations RELP, CELP and LPC.

The sonic quality of the segments depends on the type of Coding and quantization. There is a difference between parameterized and non-parameterized Method. With parameterized processes, Time of playback within the limited scope modifications be performed, e.g. B. the tonal height, the Segementdauer. At 6 and 7, one in lists 2 and 3 in addition to every event or carrier set saved stress curve taken into account.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 assumed that the location list 1 on an interchangeable data media valid for an area is stored, which can be used regardless of the language in which the Traffic reports should be issued. That is why in List 1 has no stress history. The Emphasis is therefore placed on the place names subsequently in a process step 8 depending of the respective language.

At 9, 10, 11 the coded speech signals, which are the Locations that represent event sets and the carrier sets, undergo a transitional formation within the words, after which the components of the Traffic announcement a transitional formation between the words done at 12. After decoding the as Lute parameter values stored at 13 occurs at 13 ' voice generation, for example, by suitable Control of a digital filter that human Replicates the pharynx. At 14 one Digital / analog conversion carried out, whereupon the signals from an audio amplifier 15 amplifies a loudspeaker 16 be fed.

2, 3 and 4 of the radio receivers only parts and functions shown for explanation the speech output according to the invention are required. one Traffic message processing device 21 are at 22 from an RDS decoder, not shown, the signals of the group 8a fed. According to the above ALERT specification this data essentially contains information about the location, the type, the expected duration, the size and the Direction of an event. These details are in the Means 21, preferably in the form of a Microcomputers or a digital signal processor is realized, decoded and selected. A selection takes place according to the via an input unit 23rd supplied selection criteria instead, so that for example only those traffic reports are played that the entered road section in an entered Direction.

Already for decoding the traffic reports are in one Part 25 of location list 1 requires data to be stored, for example, the location specified in the traffic report nearest places along a street and the Belonging to an area. This and other information are stored in a location list on a chip card 24 and can use like other information described later Read with the help of a reading device present in the receiver become. In the example shown it can be seen that the Place No. 4711 belongs to an area in 2009 and that the neighboring locations 4710 and 4712.

The traffic reports decoded in this way become one Device 26 supplied for speech synthesis, the Output signals via the digital / analog converter 14 and Audio amplifier 15 are supplied to the speaker 16. The device 26 can also advantageously with Using a digital signal processor, a program 27 is available. The for Speech synthesis necessary data are made as in Fig. 1 a location list 1, which is stored on the chip card 24, an event set list 2, a carrier set list 3 and one Segment library 4 fed. The synthesis then takes place according to the method described in connection with FIG. 1 in the language in which the event record list 2, the carrier set list 3 and the segment library 4 created are. The place names are then in the in the language used in the respective area.

In the list of places 1 there are in addition to the verbal Place names also numbers, such as in Connection with junction 15. Since it is natural important is the number of a junction in the language to hear the rest of the edition is in the place list 1 the number 15 filed as a number. In the Speech synthesis is based on a special part of the Segment library 4, in which the Pronunciation of the numbers in the respective language of the Are stored. There are also in the list 1 the place names in the usual font, so with the help of Chip card 24 can also be an optical voice output, and in phonetic transcription in one or more foreign languages. The However, foreign languages are used by the recipient according to FIG. 2 not evaluated.

3 is opposite to the receiver Fig. 2 expanded to the extent that in the carrier sets Place names to be used linguistically to the language of the recipient. There are two different ones Measures in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 intended. On the one hand there are on the chip card besides the Place names in the language of the respective area (Endonyms) also place names from other languages (Exonyms) filed, if such are in use. in the Case of Cologne, for example in the French Language Cologne. 3 can with the help a selection device 28 in these cases in the Select the language of the recipient's existing place name. In the case shown, for example from the languages English, Dutch, German and French. Is not Place name under the language of the recipient saved what at the majority of places in a country the case will be, so in the place list 1 existing place name used for speech synthesis.

Another measure to improve speech quality consists in that in a different language than the Language of the recipient supplied place names Prosody conversion 29 are supplied. Such Conversion is known per se and changes that Speech melody towards the language of the recipient.

After switching on the receiver, through special Operation or when replacing the location list (e.g. change the chip card) the configuration of the Speech synthesis. A German speaking recipient includes for example a chip card with a location list for France. After switching on, the receiver recognizes that it is a chip card with a list of places for France deals, which also contains German-speaking place names. The receiver then selects the on the prosody converter Conversion of French prosody into German Prosody. Furthermore, each time the location list is accessed generally checked whether a German language for a place Designation exists or not. There is none German-language designation, the "source prosody" (here French) into the "target prosody" (here German) transferred.

4 are the event record list and the carrier set list is available in several languages, namely in German, English and French as Event record lists 2de, 2en, 2fr and carrier record lists 3de, 3s and 3fr. In addition, the segment library is 4 'around special segments of the added languages expanded, with all languages spoken by the same speaker are. As a result, the traffic reports can be in several Languages are output. With the selection device 28 and the prosody conversion 29 can be found in the location list contained place names to the selected language be adjusted.

Claims (11)

1. Method for outputting digitally coded traffic information by means of synthetically generated speech, the traffic information containing location codes and event codes, a carrier record being selected as a function of the respectively received traffic information item from a plurality of stored carrier records, and location-related and event-related words being inserted into open positions of the carrier record, said words being derived from the location codes and event codes, characterized in that the carrier records, the location-related words and the event-related words are stored in the form of phonetic transcriptions, in that sounds are respectively read out for the carrier records, for the location-dependent words and for the event-dependent words from a sound catalogue as a function of the phonetic transcription, in that the sounds which respectively form a word are subjected to a transformation, in that the carrier record with the inserted words is subsequently subjected to a transformation between the words and digital filtering, and fed to an acoustic reproduction means.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that in each case an associated intonation profile is stored together with the carrier records and with the event-related words and is taken into account in the reading out of the sounds from the sound catalogue, and in that an intonation specification is made for the location-related words after the conversion into sounds.
3. Method according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the location-related words are subjected to a Prosodie conversion before the insertion into the carrier records if they are stored in a language other than that of the carrier records.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that among the location codes, customary location-related words are also stored in at least one other language in addition to the location-related words in the language of the respective region, in that the location-related words stored in the language of the carrier records are inserted into the carrier records, and in that [lacuna] the location codes for which no location-related words are stored in the language of the carrier records the location-related words in the language of the respective region are inserted.
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the location-related and the event-related words and the carrier records are also stored as script for representation on a visual display device.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that frequently occurring components of location-related and/or event-related words are stored as additional phonetic transcription characters, and in that the components among the additional phonetic transcription characters in the sound catalogue are stored as allophones.
7. Device which is adapted for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims for a radio receiver having a radio data signal decoder and a device for decoding the digitally coded traffic information, characterized in that a speech synthesis device (26) is connected to memories (3, 2, 1) for carrier records, for event words or event records and for location-related words, in that the decoded traffic information can be fed to the speech synthesis device (26), and in that an output of the speech synthesis device (26) is connected to an input of an audio amplifier (15) which controls a loudspeaker arrangement (16).
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that a selector device (28) is arranged between the memory (1) for the location-related words and the speech synthesis device (26), said selector device (28) forwarding to the speech synthesis device (26) the location-related words which are in the language in which the carrier records are removed from the memory (3) if the respective location-related words are stored in this language.
9. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the location-related words which are fed to the speech synthesis device (26) are subjected to a Prosodie conversion (29) if they are not present in the language in which the carrier records are removed from the memory (3).
10. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the carrier records and the event words or event records are stored in a plurality of languages.
11. Device according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the memory (1) for the location-related words is arranged on an exchangeable data carrier (24).

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