Patents by Inventor J. Brian Pickering

J. Brian Pickering has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for using computer generated voice
    Patent number: 7778833
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for computer generated voice in an interactive voice response system (IVR). A user will normally be able to identify the pre-recorded segments from the synthesized ones played by the IVR. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing voice prompts in an IVR. The method can include: identifying a set of voice prompts within an application for output in a single voice, the set having a pre-recorded voice prompt and a computer generated voice prompt; providing reference voice characteristics formed from the pre-recorded voice prompt; and playing the computer generated voice prompt using the reference voice characteristics whereby the computer generated voice prompt sounds like the pre-recorded voice prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Marino, J. Brian Pickering
  • Method and apparatus for using computer generated voice
    Publication number: 20040122668
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for computer generated voice in an interactive voice response system (IVR). A user will normally be able to identify the pre-recorded segments from the synthesized ones played by the IVR. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing voice prompts in an IVR. The method can include: identifying a set of voice prompts within an application for output in a single voice, the set having a pre-recorded voice prompt and a computer generated voice prompt; providing reference voice characteristics formed from the pre-recorded voice prompt; and playing the computer generated voice prompt using the reference voice characteristics whereby the computer generated voice prompt sounds like the pre-recorded voice prompt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anna Marino, J. Brian Pickering