Abstract: Disclosed is a speech synthesizing apparatus including a segment selection unit that selects a segment suited to a target segment environment from candidate segments, includes a prosody change amount calculation unit that calculates prosody change amount of each candidate segment based on prosody information of candidate segments and the target segment environment, a selection criterion calculation unit that calculates a selection criterion based on the prosody change amount, a candidate selection unit that narrows down selection candidates based on the prosody change amount and the selection criterion, and an optimum segment search unit than searches for an optimum segment from among the narrowed-down candidate segments.

Abstract: There is provided a prosody generator that generates prosody information for implementing highly natural speech synthesis without unnecessarily collecting large quantities of learning data. A data dividing means 81 divides into subspaces the data space of a learning database as an assembly of learning data indicative of the feature quantities of speech waveforms. A density information extracting means 82 extracts density information indicative of the density state in terms of information quantity of the learning data in each of the subspaces divided by the data dividing means 81. A prosody information generating method selecting means 83 selects either a first method or a second method as a prosody information generating method based on the density information, the first method involving generating the prosody information using a statistical technique, the second method involving generating the prosody information using rules based on heuristics.

Abstract: A speech synthesis system includes a server device and a client device. The server device stores speech element information and speech element identification information in association with each other so that, in a case that speech element information representing respective speech elements included in speech uttered by a speech registering user are arranged in the order of arrangement of the speech elements in the speech, at least one of speech element identification information identifying the respective speech element information has different information from information arranged in accordance with a predetermined rule. The client device transmits speech element identification information to the server device based on accepted text information. The client device executes a speech synthesis process based on the speech element information received from the server device.

Abstract: This speech synthesis system includes a server device and a client device. The client device accepts text information representing text, and transmits a speech element request to the server device. The server device stores speech element information. The server device receives the speech element request transmitted by the client device and, in response to the received speech element request, transmits speech element information to the client device so that the speech element information is received by the client device in a different order from an order of arrangement of speech elements in speech corresponding to the text. The client device executes a speech synthesis process by rearranging the speech element information so that speech elements represented by the received speech element information are arranged in the same order as the order of arrangement of the speech elements in the speech corresponding to the text.

Abstract: A speech synthesis system includes: a training database storing training data which is set of features extracted from speech waveform data; a feature space division unit which divides a feature space which is a space concerning to the training data into partial spaces; a sparse or dense state detection unit which detects a sparse or dense state to each partial space which is the divided feature space, generates sparse or dense information which is information indicating the sparse or dense state and outputs the sparse or dense information; and a pronunciation information correcting unit which corrects pronunciation information which is used for speech synthesis based on the outputted sparse or dense information.

Abstract: A speech synthesis device is provided with: a central segment selection unit for selecting a central segment from among a plurality of speech segments; a prosody generation unit for generating prosody information based on the central segment; a non-central segment selection unit for selecting a non-central segment, which is a segment outside of a central segment section, based on the central segment and the prosody information; and a waveform generation unit for generating a synthesized speech waveform based on the prosody information, the central segment, and the non-central segment. The speech synthesis device first selects a central segment that forms a basis for prosody generation and generates prosody information based on the central segment so that it is possible to sufficiently reduce both concatenation distortion and sound quality degradation accompanying prosody control in the section of the central segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information display system provided with: a signal analyzing unit which analyzes the audio signals obtained from a predetermined location and which generates ambient sound information regarding the sound generated at the predetermined location; and an ambient expression selection unit which selects an ambient expression which expresses the content of what a person is feeling from the sound generated at the predetermined location on the basis of the ambient sound information.

Abstract: A speech synthesis system includes a server device and a client device. The server device stores speech element information and speech element identification information in association with each other so that, in a case that speech element information representing respective speech elements included in speech uttered by a speech registering user are arranged in the order of arrangement of the speech elements in the speech, at least one of speech element identification information identifying the respective speech element information has different information from information arranged in accordance with a predetermined rule. The client device transmits speech element identification information to the server device based on accepted text information. The client device executes a speech synthesis process based on the speech element information received from the server device.

Abstract: This speech synthesis system includes a server device and a client device. The client device accepts text information representing text, and transmits a speech element request to the server device. The server device stores speech element information. The server device receives the speech element request transmitted by the client device and, in response to the received speech element request, transmits speech element information to the client device so that the speech element information is received by the client device in a different order from an order of arrangement of speech elements in speech corresponding to the text. The client device executes a speech synthesis process by rearranging the speech element information so that speech elements represented by the received speech element information are arranged in the same order as the order of arrangement of the speech elements in the speech corresponding to the text.

Abstract: An air conditioning register includes a retainer having an elongated opening, a first fin, and a plurality of second fins. The first fin is arranged along long sides of the opening at a downstream position in the retainer. The second fins are arranged along short sides at an upstream position in the retainer. The retainer includes a pair of facing inner wall surfaces corresponding to the long sides of the opening. First inclined surfaces that are continuous with the long sides of the opening and second inclined surfaces that are continuous with the first inclined surfaces through ridges are each formed in the corresponding inner wall surface of the retainer.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a speech synthesis device, speech synthesis method, and speech synthesis program which can improve a speech quality and reduce a calculation amount with a preferable balance between them. The speech synthesis device includes: a sub-score calculation unit (60/65) which calculates a segment selection sub-score for selecting an optimal segment; and a candidate narrowing unit (70/73) for narrowing the candidates according to the number of the candidate segments and the segment selection sub score. The speech synthesis device performs candidate narrowing by the sub score calculation unit (60/65) and the candidate narrowing unit (70/73) in the candidate selection process when generating a synthesized speech from an input text.

Abstract: A speech synthesis device includes a pitch pattern generation unit (104) which generates a pitch pattern by combining, based on pitch pattern target data including phonemic information formed from at least syllables, phonemes, and words, a standard pattern which approximately expresses the rough shape of the pitch pattern and an original utterance pattern which expresses the pitch pattern of a recorded speech, a unit waveform selection unit (106) which selects unit waveform data based on the generated pitch pattern and upon selection, selects original utterance unit waveform data corresponding to the original utterance pattern in a section where the original utterance pattern is used, and a speech waveform generation unit (107) which generates a synthetic speech by editing the selected unit waveform data so as to reproduce prosody represented by the generated pitch pattern.

Abstract: A speech synthesis device is provided with: a central segment selection unit for selecting a central segment from among a plurality of speech segments; a prosody generation unit for generating prosody information based on the central segment; a non-central segment selection unit for selecting a non-central segment, which is a segment outside of a central segment section, based on the central segment and the prosody information; and a waveform generation unit for generating a synthesized speech waveform based on the prosody information, the central segment, and the non-central segment. The speech synthesis device first selects a central segment that forms a basis for prosody generation and generates prosody information based on the central segment so that it is possible to sufficiently reduce both concatenation distortion and sound quality degradation accompanying prosody control in the section of the central segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a speech synthesizing apparatus including a segment selection unit that selects a segment suited to a target segment environment from candidate segments, includes a prosody change amount calculation unit that calculates prosody change amount of each candidate segment based on prosody information of candidate segments and the target segment environment, a selection criterion calculation unit that calculates a selection criterion based on the prosody change amount, a candidate selection unit that narrows down selection candidates based on the prosody change amount and the selection criterion, and an optimum segment search unit than searches for an optimum segment from among the narrowed-down candidate segments.

Abstract: An audio content generation system is a system for generating audio contents including a voice synthesis unit 102 which generates synthesized voice from text; and is provided with an audio content generation unit 103 which is connected to a multimedia database 101 in which contents mainly composed of audio article data V1 to V3 or text article data T1 and T2 are registered respectively, generates synthesized voice SYT1 and SYT2 for the text article data T1 and T2 registered in the multimedia database 101 by using the voice synthesis unit 102, and generates audio contents in which the synthesized voice SYT1 and SYT2 and the audio article data V1 to V3 are organized in accordance with a predetermined order.

Abstract: A register includes a retainer, and a fin assembly. The retainer has an outlet opening. The fin assembly includes a plurality of fin members. The fin members are disposed in the retainer in a manner neighboring one after another. One of the neighboring paired fin members has a first end. The other one of the neighboring paired fin members has a second end facing the first end when the fin members swing to the close position. The register further includes an air deflector disposed between the first end and the second end, whereby deflecting the blowing direction of air flowing out from the outlet opening of the retainer outward when the fin members swing to the close position.

Abstract: A register includes a retainer, and a fin assembly. The retainer has an outlet opening. The fin assembly includes a plurality of fin members. The fin members are disposed in the retainer in a manner neighboring one after another. One of the neighboring paired fin members has a first end. The other one of the neighboring paired fin members has a second end facing the first end when the fin members swing to the close position. The register further includes an air deflector disposed between the first end and the second end, whereby deflecting the blowing direction of air flowing out from the outlet opening of the retainer outward when the fin members swing to the close position.