Method and system for text-to-speech conversion of caller information

Abstract

A system ( 10 ) and method ( 40 ) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system ( 10 ) includes a pre-processor ( 28 ) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor ( 28 ) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) ( 24 ) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor ( 28 ) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized ( 30 ) included in the SN/IP ( 24 ). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) ( 20 ), the pre-processor ( 28 ) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.

1 . A method for providing audible caller information, the method comprising: 
 receiving a call from a caller to a called party;    searching a caller information database for caller information of the caller;    receiving the caller information of the caller from the caller information database, wherein the caller information is in a form unsuitable for text-to-speech synthesis;    converting the caller information to a form that is suitable for text-to-speech synthesis;    establishing the call between the caller and the called party; and    performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted caller information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the caller information is converted in accordance with a set of rules comprising a first subset of rules for business listings and a second subset of rules for residential listings.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising determining whether the caller information contains a residential or business listing.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising comparing the caller information to an exceptions table and, if the caller information corresponds to an entry in the exceptions table, generating a predetermined output.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising comparing the caller information to a state name table.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the caller information is converted to a form that is suitable for text-to-speech synthesis by removing at least one irregular character from the caller information.  
     
     
         7 . A telecommunication system comprising: 
 a caller information database comprising caller information of a plurality of parties;    a service node operative to: 
 retrieve, from the caller information database, caller information of a caller making a call to a called party and convert the caller information to a form that is suitable for text-to-speech synthesis; and  
   at least one component operative to establish the call between the caller and the called party.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node comprises an intelligent peripheral.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node comprises a pre-processor and a text-to-speech synthesizer.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node converts the caller information in accordance with a set of rules comprising a first subset of rules for business listings and a second subset of rules for residential listings.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the service node is operative to determine whether the caller information contains a residential or business listing.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node is operative to compare the caller information to an exceptions table and, if the caller information corresponds to an entry in the exceptions table, generate a predetermined output.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node is operative to compare the caller information to a state name table.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node converts the caller information by removing at least one irregular character from the caller information.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the service node is further operative to perform text-to-speech synthesis of the converted caller information.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-usable memory storing at least one computer program, the at least one computer program operative to retrieve, from a caller information database, caller information of a caller making a call to a called party, convert the caller information to a form that is suitable for text-to-speech synthesis, and establish the call between the caller and the called party.  
     
     
         17 . The computer-usable memory of  claim 16 , wherein the computer-usable memory is part of a service node.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-usable memory of  claim 17 , wherein the service node comprises an intelligent peripheral.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-usable memory of  claim 16 , wherein the caller information is converted by removing at least one irregular character from the caller information.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-usable memory  claim 16 , wherein the at least one computer program is operative to communicate with a service switching point.