Abstract: Systems and methods for performing phonemic synthesis which operate to generate an output data set of acoustic B parameters from a received textual data set wherein the output data set represents patterns of transition from one speech excitation state to another. The textual data set is converted to a plurality of phonetic data sets, at least one phone descriptor is assigned to each of the phonemic data sets, and the output data set is generated by processing the phonetic data sets as a non-linear function of a speech excitation control variable whereby the collective contributions of the phonetic data sets are determined for each pattern of transition from one speech excitation state to another. The speech excitation control variable represents selected portions of a human vocal system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for natural language processing using morphology and rhyming. The method and apparatus employ a hybrid of dictionary and rule-based approaches for both speech and speech recognition. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention the pronunciation of a word is determined by rhyming the word, or components of the word, with a reference word, or components of the reference word. In another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the spelling of a word is determined by rhyming the word, or components of the word, with a reference word, or components of the reference word.

Abstract: A system insensitive to nonspeech sounds utilizes a pair of spatially separated microphones to obtain the direction of origin of speech signals from a common sound source. The speech signal from each microphone is transformed into a pulse representative signal having a rapid increase responsive to pitch peaks of energy from the sound source. The cross correlation of these pulses accurately reflects the phase relationship between the speech signals arriving at the microphones. The cross correlation is implemented as time interval histograms which are periodically read to identify the direction of the common sound source.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing reverberative interference utilizes a pair of spatially separated microphones to obtain speech signals from a common sound source. Each speech signal is transformed into an envelope representative signal having rapid increases responsive to direct path and echo energy bursts from the sound source and exponential decaying portions between energy bursts. A first pulse corresponding to a sound source direct path energy burst is generated responsive to the first speech signal exceeding its envelope representative signal, and further first pulses corresponding to echo bursts are inhibited for a predetermined time. A second pulse corresponding to said sound source direct path energy burst is generated responsive to the second speech signal exceeding its envelope representative signal, and further second pulses corresponding to echo bursts are inhibited for a predetermined time.