| 摘要 |
In systems for recognizing continuous speech, this invention provides an improved method for dividing an utterance into word-length segments. In the many earlier attempts undertaken by others in this field, the critical step of utterance segmentation has been accomplished by trial-and-error approaches in which individual sounds must first be delimited, identified, and then concatenated into hypothesized words. Because conventional processes are complex, computationally expensive, and error prone, with the computational burden quickly growing as the number of permitted words increases, real-time operation requires expensive high speed computers. In contrast, my invention uses a simple and effective technique to directly segment the utterance. Using a computer mouse, the operator indicates word breaks by sending signals which coincide in time with the boundaries of spoken words. With the words thus delimited, the different segments of an utterance can be processed simultaneously via a low cost general purpose computer, using appropriate processing strategies chosen according to segment length. Unknown utterance segments are matched with templates of words stored in the specially prepared lexicon. In addition to conventional acoustic parameters, prosodic ones are used to increase the precision and efficiency of the matching process. Practical applications of this invention, such as voice-actuated typewriters, can be based on low-cost microcomputers. Such devices will be welcomed by keyboard-shy managers, by the blind, and by the physically handicapped. A voice-actuated typewriter can also facilitate communication with the hearing impaired. |
