Information processing apparatus and method

An information processing apparatus for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• input means for inputting speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• storage means for storing a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech;
• first extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to the input speech data;
• generating means for generating speech data using the dictionaries;
• second extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• calculation means for calculating a differential feature quantity between the feature quantity relating to the input speech data and the feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• and
• selection means for selecting speech data that prevails when a predetermined differential feature quantity has been calculated.

An information processing apparatus for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• input means for inputting speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• storage means for storing a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech;
• extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to the input speech data;
• and
• calculation means for calculating, from said feature quantity, a maximum speaker-to-speaker distance feature quantity for which an average speaker-to-speaker distance is maximum;
• parameter generating means for generating a sound-quality conversion parameter based upon a feature quantity relating to speech data, which has been generated using the dictionaries, and the maximum speaker-to-speaker distance feature quantity;
• and
• generating means for generating speech data using the sound-quality conversion parameter.

An information processing apparatus for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• feature quantity input means for inputting a feature quantity of speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• storage means for storing a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech;
• generating means for generating speech data using the dictionaries;
• extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• calculation means for calculating an average feature quantity-to-feature quantity distance between the feature quantity of the input speech data and a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• and
• selection means for selecting speech data that prevails when a maximum average feature quantity-to-feature quantity distance has been calculated.

An information processing method for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• an acquisition step of acquiring speech data;
• an extraction step of extracting a feature quantity relating to the acquired speech data;
• and
• a generating step of generating speech data having a feature quantity different from the extracted feature quantity.

An information processing method for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• an acquisition step of acquiring speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• a first extraction step of extracting a feature quantity relating to the acquired speech data;
• a generating step of generating speech data using a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech;
• a second extraction step of extracting a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• a calculation step of calculating a differential feature quantity between the feature quantity relating to the acquired speech data and the feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• and
• a selection step of selecting speech data that prevails when a predetermined differential feature quantity has been calculated.

An information processing method for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• an acquisition step of acquiring speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• an extraction step of extracting a feature quantity relating to the acquired speech data;
• a calculation step of calculating, from said feature quantity, a maximum speaker-to-speaker distance feature quantity for which an average speaker-to-speaker distance is maximum;
• a parameter generating step of generating a sound-quality conversion parameter based upon a feature quantity relating to speech data, which has been generated using a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech, and the maximum speaker-to-speaker distance feature quantity;
• and
• a generating step of generating speech data using the sound-quality conversion parameter.

An information processing method for controlling a speech output unit, comprising:

• a feature quantity acquisition step of acquiring a feature quantity of speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• a generating step of generating speech data using a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech;
• an extraction step of extracting a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• a calculation step of calculating an average feature quantity-to-feature quantity distance between the feature quantity of the acquired speech data and a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• and
• a selection step of selecting speech data that prevails when a maximum average feature quantity-to-feature quantity distance has been calculated.

A computer program for controlling a speech output unit, said program functioning as:

• first extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to speech data that is output from another speech output unit;
• generating means for generating speech data using a plurality of dictionaries for generating speech;
• second extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• calculation means for calculating a differential feature quantity between the feature quantity relating to the speech data that is output from said other speech output unit and the feature quantity relating to the generated speech data;
• and
• a selection step of selecting speech data that prevails when a predetermined differential feature quantity has been calculated.