Abstract: A method for producing speech output can include the step of selecting a TTS output device from a plurality of available output devices. The selected output device can be associated with outputting content of an application responsive to a print command. According to the method, the print command can be detected, which results in the content of the application being conveyed to the selected TTS output device. The TTS output device can be associated with at least one text-to-speech engine. Upon content conveyance to the TTS output device, at least a portion of the content can be automatically converted using the text-to-speech engine. The speech converted content can be outputted.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and a computer program product to generate an audible speech word that corresponds to text. The method includes providing a text word and, in response to the text word, processing pre-recorded speech segments that are derived from a plurality of speakers to selectively concatenate together speech segments based on at least one cost function to form audio data for generating an audible speech word that corresponds to the text word. A data structure is also provided for use in a concatenative text-to-speech system that includes a plurality of speech segments derived from a plurality of speakers, where each speech segment includes an associated attribute vector each of which is comprised of at least one attribute vector element that identifies the speaker from which the speech segment was derived.

Abstract: In a text-to-speech system, a method of converting text-to-speech can include receiving a text input and comparing the received text input to at least one entry in a text-to-speech cache memory. Each entry in the text-to-speech cache memory can specify a corresponding spoken output. If the text input matches one of the entries in the text-to-speech cache memory, the cached speech output specified by the matching entry can be provided.

Abstract: In a text-to-speech system, a method of converting text-to-speech can include receiving a text input and comparing the received text input to at least one entry in a text-to-speech cache memory. Each entry in the text-to-speech cache memory can specify a corresponding spoken output. If the text input matches one of the entries in the text-to-speech cache memory, the cached speech output specified by the matching entry can be provided.