System and method for using a correspondence table to compress a pronunciation guide

A system for using a compressed pronunciation guide and decoder table to decode selected text, comprising:

• memory storing
• (1) a compressed pronunciation guide having a plurality of symbol sets, each symbol set representing a guide word and at least one corresponding guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word,
• (2) a decoder table having a plurality of decoder code sets for translating symbol sets, each decoder code set including a decoder text entry, a decoder phoneme entry and a decoder symbol representing the decoder code set;
• (3) a decoder system for using the decoder table to translate symbol sets to find a guide word which matches the selected text, and upon finding a match using the decoder table
• to retrieve the decoder phonemes from the matching symbol set;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory for controlling the operations of the decoder system.

A computer-based method for compressing a pronunciation guide which includes a plurality of guide entries, each entry having a guide word and at least one associated guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word, comprising the steps of:

• providing a computer memory;
• storing in a first portion of the computer memory a correspondence table which includes a plurality of correspondence sets, each correspondence set including a correspondence text entry, a correspondence phoneme entry representing a pronunciation of the correspondence text entry and a unique correspondence symbol identifying the correspondence set;
• receiving a guide word and at least one guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word;
• comparing the guide word and guide phonemes with correspondence sets;
• and
• storing the correspondence symbols representing matching correspondence sets as compressed pronunciation guide entries in a second portion of the computer memory.

A computer-based method for using a compressed pronunciation guide and a decoder table to retrieve phonemes for selected text, comprising the steps of:

• providing computer memory;
• storing in a first portion of the computer memory a compressed pronunciation guide which includes a plurality of symbol sets, each symbol set representing a guide word and at least one guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word;
• storing in a second portion of the computer memory a decoder table which includes a plurality of decoder sets, each decoder set having a decoder text entry, a decoder phoneme entry representing the pronunciation of the decoder text entry, and a unique decoder set identifying symbol;
• receiving selected text;
• using the decoder table to decode a symbol set in the pronunciation guide to produce a guide word;
• comparing the selected text with the guide word to determine if they match;
• and
• if a match is made, using the decoder table to retrieve the guide phonemes corresponding to a matching symbol set.

A computer storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

• allocating computer memory;
• storing in a first portion of the computer memory a compressed pronunciation guide which includes a plurality of symbol sets, each symbol set representing a guide word and guide phonemes representing the pronunciation of the guide word;
• storing in a second portion of the computer memory a decoder table which includes a plurality of decoder sets, each decoder set having a decoder text entry, a decoder phoneme entry representing the pronunciation of the decoder text entry, and a unique decoder set identifying symbol;
• receiving selected text;
• using the decoder table to decode a symbol set in the pronunciation guide to produce a guide word;
• comparing the selected text with the guide word to determine if they match;
• and
• if a match is made, using the decoder table to retrieve the guide phonemes corresponding to a matching symbol set.

A computer storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

• allocating computer memory;
• storing in a first portion of the computer memory a correspondence table which includes a plurality of correspondence sets, each correspondence set including a correspondence text entry, a correspondence phoneme entry representing the pronunciation of the correspondence text entry and a unique correspondence symbol identifying each correspondence set;
• receiving a guide word and at least one guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word;
• comparing the guide word and guide phonemes with correspondence sets;
• and
• storing the correspondence symbols representing matching correspondence sets as compressed pronunciation guide entries, in a second portion of the computer memory.

A computer-based system for compressing a pronunciation guide, which includes a guide word and at least one guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word, comprising:

• computer memory;
• means for storing in a first portion of the computer memory a correspondence table which includes a plurality of correspondence sets, each correspondence set including a correspondence text entry, a correspondence phoneme entry representing the pronunciation of the correspondence text entry, and a unique correspondence symbol identifying the correspondence set;
• means for receiving a guide word and at least one guide phoneme representing the pronunciation of the guide word;
• means for comparing the guide word and guide phonemes with correspondence sets;
• and
• means for storing the correspondence symbols representing matching correspondence sets as a compressed pronunciation guide entry in a second portion of the computer memory.