Electronic book with voice emulation features

Abstract

A method and system for providing text-to-audio conversion of an electronic book displayed on a viewer. A user selects a portion of displayed text and converts it into audio. The text-to-audio conversion may be performed via a header file and pre-recorded audio for each electronic book, via text-to-speech conversion, or other available means. The user may select manual or automatic text-to audio conversion. The automatic text-to-audio conversion may be performed by automatically turning the pages of the electronic book or by the user manually turning the pages. The user may also select to convert the entire electronic book, or portions of it, into audio. The user may also select an option to receive an audio definition of a particular word in the electronic book. The present invention allows a user to control the system by selecting options from a screen or by entering voice commands.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for inserting text into an electronic book displayed on a viewer comprising:
 displaying a page of an electronic book on a screen of a viewer;   displaying a first section on the screen for permitting a user to request a speech-to-text conversion;   receiving a first indication, based on a user interaction with the first section of the screen, the first indication requesting a speech-to-text conversion;   in response to receiving the first indication, receiving speech from the user;   converting the received speech into corresponding electronic text; and   determining whether the user has provided a second indication designating a text insertion point; and   displaying the electronic text on a second section of the screen based on the determination.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving the second indication designating a text insertion point within the electronic book; and   inserting the electronic text within the electronic book at a location corresponding to the text insertion point.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises displaying a text insertion cursor for designating the text insertion point. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the text insertion point comprises a location of the text insertion cursor within the electronic book. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining whether the user has provided the second indication comprises determining that the user has not provided the second indication and wherein the second section of the screen comprises a section separate from the displayed page of the electronic book. 
     
     
         7 . A viewer apparatus for displaying an electronic book comprising:
 a display screen configured to display a page of an electronic book;   a first interface configured to receive a first indication requesting a speech-to-text conversion;   a second interface configured to receive speech from the user in response to the first interface receiving the first indication; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the first interface, and the second interface, the processor being configured to convert speech received by the second interface into corresponding electronic text, to make a determination as to whether the user has provided a second indication via the first interface designating a text insertion point, and to cause the display screen to display the electronic text based on the determination.   
     
     
         8 . The viewer apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second indication designates a text insertion point within an electronic book, and wherein the text insertion point comprises a location within the electronic book. 
     
     
         9 . The viewer apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the display screen is further configured to display a text insertion cursor for designating the text insertion point within the electronic book. 
     
     
         10 . The viewer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the text insertion point comprises a location of the text insertion cursor within the electronic book. 
     
     
         11 . The viewer apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first interface comprises a touch interface associated with the display screen and the first indication is received in response to a user touching a portion of the display screen.