| Method of producing voice data method of playing back voice data, method of playing back speeded-up voice data, storage medium, method of assisting memorization, method of assisting learning a language, and computer program -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Method of producing voice data method of playing back voice data, method of playing back speeded-up voice data, storage medium, method of assisting memorization, method of assisting learning a language, and computer programUSPTO Application #: 20080065384Title: Method of producing voice data method of playing back voice data, method of playing back speeded-up voice data, storage medium, method of assisting memorization, method of assisting learning a language, and computer program Abstract: A computer-assisted method of assisting a user of a computer to memorize includes steps of displaying an image indicating a content to be memorized, on a left-hand side of a computer screen for a particular period; displaying text data indicating language information related to the image displayed in this displaying step, on a right-hand side of the computer screen for a particular period; and playing back a voice pronouncing the text data displayed in the text data displaying step. The image displaying step, the text displaying step, and the voice playing back step are performed repeatedly, thereby assisting the user of the computer to memorize. (end of abstract) Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Akio Kikuchi USPTO Applicaton #: 20080065384 - Class: 704260000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation, And Audio Compression/decompression, Speech Signal Processing, Synthesis, Image To Speech The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080065384. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method of, by using a computer, producing speeded-up voice data or slowed-down data, a method of playing back such voice data, a method of assisting a user of a computer to memorize or learn a language, and a computer program for executing such a method. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] It is known in the art to play back voice data at a high speed (2, 3, or 4 times higher than the normal speed) using a dedicated tape recorder. A flash card is also known as a tool of learning a language. For example, a teacher of English shows an English word written on a thick. paper card with a size of about 10 cm in height and 25 cm in width to pupils for a very short time, and pupils pronounces the English word shown. It is also known to employ a card game in teaching English to little children. In this teaching technique, pictures and corresponding English words are drawn on respective cards, and children look for a particular card. [0005] However, in the conventional quick playback system, voice data recorded on a tape is processed, and thus this technique is not suitable for use with a multimedia system such as that using the Internet. [0006] The inventor of the present invention has read a scientific newspaper article entitled "Eyes cheat Ears" (Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Sunday, Jun. 23, 2002, p. 28). In this article, various examples of cheating between an image and a sound are described. For example, if a sound is generated twice each time light is emitted once, human eyes misperceive that light is emitted twice. In another example, after seeing a rectangular image moving away repeatedly, a sound with a constant volume is misperceived as increasing in volume. In a moving picture in which two balls move toward each other and pass each other, if a collision sound is generated, human eyes misperceive that the two balls are repelled from each other. From this article, the inventor of the present invention has gotten an excellent idea that effects of quick playback can be enhanced by displaying an image when a voice is being played back at an increased speed. [0007] The inventor also has got idea of realizing flash cards on a computer thereby realizing an improved method of assisting memorization. Furthermore, the inventor has got an idea of improving a manner of displaying an image in a computer-assisted memorization system, by applying cerebric physiological effects, such as those described for example in "Brain System" (edited by Makoto Iwata and published by Natsume-sha Publishing Co.). [0008] The description on pages 74 to page 81 of "Brain System" published by Natsume-sha can be summarized as follows. A right-hand portion of a brain is associated with left-hand portions of a human body, while a light-hand portion of the brain is associated with right-hand portions of the human body. Information from a left eye is treated by the right-hand portion of the brain, while information from a right eye is treated by the left-hand portion of the brain. Processing associated with languages is performed by the left-hand portion of the brain, while processing associated with images is performed by the right-hand portion of the brain. Many examples of experiments of manners in which brains work are also described. Of those, a description of effects of showing an image to an examinee for a very short time such as 0.1 sec or shorter is instructive. [0009] The inventor of the present invention has got an idea of realizing a method of assisting a user to memorize a great amount of information in a short time, on the basis of the quick playback technique and the cerebric physiological effects. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a quick playback method including a digital process using a computer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of enhancing effects of quick playback by using an image. Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer-assisted method. of assisting a user to memorize a large amount of information. [0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, to achieve the above objects, there is provided a method of producing speeded-up voice data by digitally processing original voice data on a computer, the method comprising: a block sampling step of producing a plurality of blocks with an equal length by sampling the original voice data at a predetermined sampling frequency; a fading-in/out step of fading in or out end portions of the respective blocks produced in the block sampling step; and a block-edge superimposing step of superimposing end portions of respective adjacent blocks subjected to fading-in/out in the fading-in/out step. [0012] In the fading-in/out step, the fading-in/out of end portions of blocks may be performed by multiplying the end portions of the blocks by a function. [0013] Preferably, in the fading-in/out step, each end portion of blocks is faded in or out over a length equal to the length of each end portion to be superimposed in the block-edge superimposing step. [0014] The length of each of end portions of respective adjacent blocks superimposed in the block-edge superimposing step may be set to be equal to (n-1)/n times the block length thereby producing voice data speeded up by a factor n times the normal speed (wherein n is a rational number equal to or greater than 1). [0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing voice data for use in slow playback, the method comprising a block sampling step of producing a plurality of blocks with an equal length by sampling the original voice data at a predetermined sampling frequency; and a block insertion step of inserting a new block between adjacent blocks produced in the block sampling step. [0016] The method may further comprise the steps of fading in or out each end portion of blocks to be inserted in the block insertion step; and superimposing faded-in/out end portions of respective blocks with adjacent blocks thereby producing slowed-down voice data. [0017] The fading-in/out of end portions of blocks may be performed by multiplying the end portions of the blocks by a function. [0018] Preferably, the length of each block inserted in the block insertion step is equal to the length of each faded-in/out end portion of adjacent blocks. [0019] The length of each block inserted in the block insertion step may be set to be equal to m times the length of each block sampled in the block sampling step thereby producing voice data for use in slow playback at a speed equal to 1/(1+m) times the normal speed (wherein m is a rational number equal to or smaller than 1). [0020] In playing back the produced speeded-up voice data, it is preferable to first playing back voice data speeded up by a smaller factor, and then playing back voice data speeded up by a greater factor, and it is also preferable to first playing back voice data speeded up by a greater factor, and then playing back voice data speeded up by a smaller factor. [0021] Furthermore, when the speeded-up voice data is played back, it is also preferable to play back a natural sound at a normal speed such that the natural sound is superimposed on the speeded-up voice data. [0022] When slowed-down voice data is played back, it is preferable to first play back voice data slowed down by a greater slowdown factor and then play back voice data slowed down by a smaller slowdown factor. Alternatively, it is also preferable to first play back voice data slowed down by a smaller slowdown factor and then play back voice data slowed down by a greater slowdown factor. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of producing voice data method of playing back voice data, method of playing back speeded-up voice data, storage medium, method of assisting memorization, method of assisting learning a language, and computer program Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of producing voice data method of playing back voice data, method of playing back speeded-up voice data, storage medium, method of assisting memorization, method of assisting learning a language, and computer program patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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