Hyper text mark up language document to speech converter

Abstract

A system for converting a hyper text markup language (HTML) document to speech includes an HTML parser, an HTML to speech (HTS) control parser, a tag converter, a text normalizer and a TTS converter. The HTML parser receives data of an HTML formatted document and parses out content text, HTML text tags that structure the content text and control rules used only for translating the received data into sound. The HTS control parser parses control rules for converting the received data into sound. The HTS control parser modifies entries in one or more of a tag mapping table, an audio data table, a parameter set table, an enunciation modification table and a terminology translation table depending on each of the parsed control rules. The text normalizer modifies enunciation of each text string of the content text of the HTML document for which the enunciation modification table has an entry, according to an enunciation modification indicated in the respective enunciation table entry. The text normalizer also translates each text string of the content text of the HTML document for which the terminology translation table has an entry, according to a translation indicated in the respective terminology translation table entry. The tag converter modifies an intonation and a speed of audio generated from the content text of the HTML document encapsulated by each text tag for which the tag mapping table has an entry, as specified in corresponding entries of the parameter set table pointed to by pointers in the tag mapping table. The tag converter also inserts audio for each text tag for which the tag mapping table has an entry, as specified in corresponding entries of the audio data table pointed to by entries of the tag mapping table. The TTS converter converts the content text of the HTML document, as modified, translated and appended by the text normalizer and the tag converter, to speech audio.