Abstract: An improved voice messaging system using LPC baseband speech coding. In standard LPC-based baseband speech coding techniques, LPC parameters plus a residual signal are transmitted. To save band width, the residual signal is filtered so that only a fraction of its full bandwidth (e.g., the bottom 1 KHz) is transmitted. At the decoding station, this fraction of the residual signal (which is known as the baseband signal) is copied up or otherwise expanded to higher frequencies, to provide the excitation signal which is filtered according to the LPC parameters to provide the reconstituted speech output. However, this tends to produce perceptually significant ringing effects and high frequency distortion in the reconstituted signal. The present invention uses a variable baseband width, which is adaptively varied, in accordance with an integral multiple of the frequency of the pitch of the input signal, to provide a more appropriate harmonic match in the reconstituted excitation signal.

Abstract: An audio response terminal for a data processing system which provides an audio output for data that is displayed on a video display unit. The terminal has a control unit that is separate from the display controls, but receives inputs from the display buffer and a separate key pad. The control unit gives the user the ability to specify which rows or columns of a screen of data are to be spoken and also four modes of speech, spell, phonetic spell, speak with punctuation or plain speech.A microprocessor using a translator examines each alphanumeric character and provides a string of digitized phonemes which drive a speech synthesizer. The speech synthesizer provides an audio output signal to a loudspeaker or headphone socket.

Abstract: An interface device includes connections to a printer port of a computer apparatus, and logic circuitry for selecting a particular sensor from among one or more sensors based on data from the computer apparatus. A signal is fed back to the printer port by way of the port connections based on the output of the sensor selected by said logic circuitry.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus comprising an MPU which inputs or outputs an address signal and a data signal on the time sharing basis, a latching means for latching said address signal, a memory which must be refreshed, and changeover means for connecting said memory to said MPU during a data signal period and connecting said memory to a refresh counter during remaining periods.

Abstract: A multiple microcomputer system in which each microcomputer can execute independent programs, transfer data at high speed to or from the memory of any microcomputer in the system, and signal between microcomputers that data has been transferred and the action to be taken on the transferred data.