Abstract: A speech synthesizer customization system provides a mechanism for generating a hierarchical customized user database. The customization system has a template management tool for generating the templates based on customization data from a user and associated replicated dynamic synthesis data from a text-to-speech (TTS) synthesizer. The replicated dynamic synthesis data is arranged in a dynamic data structure having hierarchical levels. The customization system further includes a user database that supplements a standard database of the synthesizer. The tool populates the user database with the templates such that the templates enable the user database to uniformly override subsequently generated speech synthesis data at all hierarchical levels of the dynamic data structure.

Abstract: A speech synthesis system for generating voice dialog for a message frame having a fixed and a variable portion. A prosody module selects a prosodic template for each of the fixed and variable portions wherein at least one portion comprises a phrase of multiple words. An acoustic module selects an acoustic template for each of the fixed and variable portions wherein at least one portion comprises a phrase of multiple words. A frame generator concatenates the respective prosodic templates and acoustic templates. A sound module generates the voice dialog in accordance with the concatenated prosodic and acoustic templates.

Abstract: A speech synthesizer customization system provides a mechanism for generating a hierarchical customized user database. The customization system has a template management tool for generating the templates based on customization data from a user and associated replicated dynamic synthesis data from a text-to-speech (TTS) synthesizer. The replicated dynamic synthesis data is arranged in a dynamic data structure having hierarchical levels. The customization system further includes a user database that supplements a standard database of the synthesizer. The tool populates the user database with the templates such that the templates enable the user database to uniformly override subsequently generated speech synthesis data at all hierarchical levels of the dynamic data structure.

Abstract: An editing tool is provided for developing word-pronunciation pairs based on a spelled word input. The editing tool includes a transcription generator that receives the spelled word input from the user and generates a list of suggested phonetic transcriptions. The editor displays the list of suggested phonetic transcriptions to the user and provides a mechanism for selecting the desired pronunciation from the list of suggested phonetic transcriptions. The editing tool further includes a speech recognizer to aid the user in selecting the desired pronunciation from the list of suggested phonetic transcriptions based on speech data input that corresponds to the spelled word input, and a syllable editor that enables the user to manipulate a syllabic part of a selected pronunciation. Lastly, the desired pronunciation can be tested at any point through the use of a text-to-speech synthesizer that generates audible speech data for the selected phonetic transcription.

Abstract: An editing tool is provided for developing word-pronunciation pairs based on a spelled word input. The editing tool includes a transcription generator that receives the spelled word input from the user and generates a list of suggested phonetic transcriptions. The editor displays the list of suggested phonetic transcriptions to the user and provides a mechanism for selecting the desired pronunciation from the list of suggested phonetic transcriptions. The editing tool further includes a speech recognizer to aid the user in selecting the desired pronunciation from the list of suggested phonetic transcriptions based on speech data input that corresponds to the spelled word input, and a syllable editor that enables the user to manipulate a syllabic part of a selected pronunciation. Lastly, the desired pronunciation can be tested at any point through the use of a text-to-speech synthesizer that generates audible speech data for the selected phonetic transcription.

Abstract: Speech signal parameters are extracted from time-series data corresponding to different sound units containing the same vowel. The extracted parameters are used to train a statistical model, such as a Hidden Markov-based Model, that has a data structure for separately modeling the nuclear trajectory region of the vowel and its surrounding transition elements. The model is trained as through embedded re-estimation to automatically determine optimally aligned models that identify the nuclear trajectory region. The boundaries of the nuclear trajectory region serve to delimit the overlap region for subsequent sound unit concatenation.

Abstract: An iterative formant analysis, based on minimizing the arc-length of various curves, and under various filter constraints estimates formant frequencies with desirable properties for text-to-speech applications. A class of arc-length cost functions may be employed. Some of these have analytic solutions and thus lend themselves well to applications requiring speed and reliability. The arc-length inverse filtering techniques are inherently pitch synchronous and are useful in realizing high quality pitch tracking and pitch epoch marking.

Abstract: The concatenative speech synthesizer employs demi-syllable subword units to generate speech. The synthesizer is based on a source-filter model that uses source signals that correspond closely to the human glottal source and that uses filter parameters that correspond closely to the human vocal tract. Concatenation of the demi-syllable units is facilitated by two separate cross fade techniques, one applied in the time domain to the demi-syllable source signal waveforms, and one applied in the frequency domain by interpolating the corresponding filter parameters of the concatenated demi-syllables. The dual cross fade technique results in natural sounding synthesis that avoids time-domain glitches without degrading or smearing characteristic resonances in the filter domain.

Abstract: A system and method for demand-based data recovery operating in a computerized data processing system that includes a computer platform operable under the control of system data, including system programs, catalogs, directories, inventories and the like, and one or more user applications operable in conjunction with user data. The data processing system includes a data backup and recovery system for periodically transferring data between one or more primary data storage resources and one or more secondary data storage resources. The demand-based system and method operate to recover data from the secondary data storage resources to the primary data storage resources following a disaster event resulting in the loss of all or a portion of the data on the primary data storage resources. In accordance therewith, the system data is first recovered from the secondary data storage resources to the primary data storage resources.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a data storage subsystem containing a plurality of data storage devices for reading and writing data on a plurality of data storage volumes. The data processing system is controlled by software to perform a method for recycling the data storage volumes containing a percentage of still valid data and a percentage of invalid data by transferring the still valid data on a plurality of input data storage volumes to one or more output data storage volumes. In accordance with the recycling method, the data processing system assigns a selected number of the data storage devices as input devices and a selected number of the data storage devices as output devices in a predetermined input/output ratio of the form m:k, where m is the number of input devices and k is the number of output devices. The system then commences transferring still valid data from input volumes mounted on the input devices to output volumes mounted on the output devices.

Abstract: An application-independent, text-to-speech control system which employs an easy-to-use transport from which a user can control most text-to-speech conversion functions without prior training. It provides a control means by which user designated areas may be sequentially selected, stored and played. Furthermore, moving back and forward through user-selected text may be controlled by the user, with the synthesized speech output maintaining the proper pauses and inflections.

Abstract: A system for recovering multi-volume data sets that are stored in one or more volumes that have failed with a substantial level of automation and flexibility. Data can be recovered from backup storage when multiple volumes fail, as in a "catastrophic" data loss. For each volume, all data sets partially or completely stored on the selected volume prior to a failure of that volume are identified. Each single-volume data set stored on the selected volume prior to the failure is restored from backup storage. Upon identifying a multi-volume data set whose beginning segment was stored on the selected volume, the entire data set is restored. Data can also be recovered from backup storage when a particular volume fails, such as after a "head crash." All data sets partially or completely stored on the selected volume prior to a failure of that volume are identified. Each single volume data set stored on the selected volume prior to the failure is recovered from backup storage.

Abstract: An environmental wind tunnel for producing air flow over an automotive vehicle includes a source of air under pressure and an elongated housing for receiving an automotive vehicle. The environmental wind tunnel has an upstream end coupled to the downstream end of the source of air under pressure, so that air is blown axially through the housing from its upstream end to its downstream end. The environmental wind tunnel also includes a large area ratio contraction with large area corner sections, large area duct work with a low angle diffuser, a large area fan, and acoustic treatments on the turning vanes, test chamber walls, and corner duct interior surfaces. In addition, in-flow acoustic absorption panels, and one or more flow conditioning screens may also be included in the environmental wind tunnel.

Abstract: The voice source for the synthetic speech system is human generated speech waveforms that are inverse filtered to produce glottal waveforms representing larynx sound. These glottal waveforms are modified in pitch and amplitude, as required, to produce the desired sound. The human quality of the synthetically generated voice is further brought out by adding vocal tract effects, as desired. The pitch control is effected in one of two alternate ways, a loop method, or a concatenation method.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the safe, passive reconstruction of a drug or other beneficial agent, without requiring manual reconstitution steps. The apparatus includes a housing, preferably having a receptacle "in-line" in an administration set and forming part of an intravenous delivery system, and a cartridge adapted for receiving a beneficial agent or beneficial agent and carrier. The cartridge is plugged into the receptacle to initiate reconstitution of the agent. The apparatus creates first and second delivery modes, in which the delivery rate of the agent to a patient is independent from and dependent upon, respectively, the fluid flow rate through the intravenous delivery system.

Abstract: A housing is provided for insertion in an intravenous delivery system including a fluid source and a fluid conduit. The housing is adapted for receiving a beneficial agent to be mixed with fluid flowing through the fluid conduit. The beneficial agent is reconstituted within the housing, eliminating the need for manual reconstitution. The housing may comprise a separate receptacle and cartridge in which the receptacle is manufactured "in-line" in an administration set and the cartridge is adapted for receiving a beneficial agent. In one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge is a standard drug vial.