Method and system for producing speech signals

A speech signal storage device for use in generating voice messages containing words in a dictionary having n word entries, said device comprising:

• n first memory portions, each storing a signal segment for generating a beginning portion of a unique word in said dictionary;
• n second memory portions, each storing a signal segment for generating an end portion of a unique word in said dictionary;
• n.times.n third memory portions, each storing a speech signal segment corresponding to a unique word pair in said dictionary and for generating an end portion of an initial word in said pair, a smooth transition to a final word in said pair, and a beginning portion of said final word
• wherein any first and second word in said dictionary may be generated from a signal segment selected from one of said first memory portions;
• a signal segment selected from one of said third memory portions;
• and a signal segment selected from one of said second memory portions.

A system for producing a speech signal for generating a voice message comprising words in a dictionary having n words, said system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory device interconnected to said processor;
• said memory device comprising:
• n first memory portions each storing a signal segment for generating a beginning portion of a unique word in said dictionary;
• n second memory portions each storing a signal segment for generating an end portion of a unique word in said dictionary;
• n.times.n third memory portions, each storing a signal segment corresponding to a unique word pair in said dictionary and for generating an end portion of an initial word in said pair, a smooth transition to a final word in said pair, and a beginning portion of said final word;
• an output device connected to said processor;
• wherein said processor is adapted to select and provide said output device signal segments selected from said first, second and third memory portions to produce said speech signal and wherein any first and second word in said dictionary may be generated from a signal segment selected from one of said first memory portions;
• a signal segment selected from one of said third memory portions;
• and a signal segment selected from one of said second memory portions.

A system for producing a speech signal for generating a voice message containing words and phrases in a dictionary, said dictionary comprising a plurality of system announcement messages and n key words, said system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory device interconnected to said processor;
• said memory device comprising:
• n first memory portions each storing a signal segment for generating a beginning portion of a different word in said dictionary;
• n second memory portions each storing a signal segment for generating an end portion of a different word in said dictionary;
• n.times.n third memory portions, each storing a speech signal segment corresponding to a unique word pair in said dictionary and for generating an end portion of an initial word in said pair, a smooth transition to a final word in said pair, and a beginning portion of said final word;
• a plurality of fourth memory portions, each storing a speech signal segment for generating one of said system announcement messages;
• an output device interconnected with said processor;
• wherein said processor is adapted to select and provide said output device sequential signal segments selected from said first, second and third memory portions, and a speech signal segment selected from said fourth memory portions to produce said speech signal.

A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, said computer program, loadable into memory of a computer having a processor, and an output device interconnected with said processor,

• said program when loaded into said memory forming
• n first memory portions each storing a signal segment for generating a beginning portion of a different word in a dictionary having n word entries;
• n second memory portions each storing a signal segment for generating an end portion of a different word in said dictionary;
• n.times.n third memory portions, each storing a speech signal segment corresponding to a unique word pair in said dictionary and for generating an end portion of an initial word in said pair, a smooth transition to a final word in said pair, and a beginning portion of said final word;
• said program adapting said processor
• to select and provide said output device sequential signal segments selected from said first, second and third memory portions to produce a speech signal containing words in said dictionary, wherein any first and second word in said dictionary may be generated from a signal segment selected from one of said first memory portions a signal segment selected from one of said third memory portions;
• and a signal segment selected from one of said second memory portions.