Voice and text communication system, method and apparatus

Abstract

The disclosure relates to systems, methods and apparatus to convert speech to text and vice versa. One apparatus comprises a vocoder, a speech to text conversion engine, a text to speech conversion engine, and a user interface. The vocoder is operable to convert speech signals into packets and convert packets into speech signals. The speech to text conversion engine is operable to convert speech to text. The text to speech conversion engine is operable to convert text to speech. The user interface is operable to receive a user selection of a mode from among a plurality of modes, wherein a first mode enables the speech to text conversion engine, a second mode enables the text to speech conversion engine, and a third mode enables the speech to text conversion engine and the text to speech conversion engine.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vocoder operable to convert speech signals into packets and convert packets into speech signals;   a speech to text conversion engine operable to convert speech to text;   a text to speech conversion engine operable to convert text to speech; and   a user interface operable to receive a user selection of a mode from among a plurality of modes, wherein a first mode enables the speech to text conversion engine, a second mode enables the text to speech conversion engine, and a third mode enables the speech to text conversion engine and the text to speech conversion engine.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a display to display text from the speech to text conversion engine. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a keypad to receive input text from a user. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is operable to receive a user selection of a mode before the apparatus receives a call from another apparatus. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is operable to receive a user selection of a mode after the apparatus receives a call from another apparatus. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a voice synthesizer to synthesize a user's voice. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit encoded speech packets and text packets to a communication network. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vocoder operable to convert speech signals into packets and convert packets into speech signals;   a speech to text conversion engine operable to convert speech to text;   a user interface operable to receive a user selection of a mode from among a plurality of modes, wherein a first mode enables the vocoder, and a second mode enables the speech to text conversion engine; and   a transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit encoded speech packets and text packets to a communication network.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a display to display text from the speech to text conversion engine. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a keypad to receive input text from a user. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface is operable to receive a user selection of a mode before the apparatus receives a call from another apparatus. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface is operable to receive a user selection of a mode after the apparatus receives a call from another apparatus. 
   
   
       13 . A network apparatus comprising:
 a vocoder operable to convert packets into speech signals;   a speech to text conversion engine operable to convert speech to text;   a selection unit operable to switch between first and second modes, wherein the first mode enables the vocoder, and a second mode enables the vocoder and the speech to text conversion engine; and   a transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit encoded speech packets and text packets to a communication network.   
   
   
       14 . The network apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a text to speech conversion engine operable to convert text to speech, wherein the selection unit is operable to switch to a third mode where the vocoder and both conversion engines are enabled. 
   
   
       15 . The network apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a voice synthesizer operable to synthesize a user's voice from text converted to speech. 
   
   
       16 . The network apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the voice synthesizer is operable to receive and store voice characteristics of a user's voice. 
   
   
       17 . The network apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller operable to receive a request from a communication device to convert speech to text. 
   
   
       18 . The network apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller operable to receive a request from a communication device to convert text to speech. 
   
   
       19 . A method comprising:
 receiving encoded speech packets;   converting the received encoded speech packets into speech signals; and   receiving a user selection of a mode from among a plurality of modes, wherein a first mode enables speech to text conversion, a second mode enables text to speech conversion, and a third mode enables speech to text and text to speech conversion.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising receiving a user selection for a mode before receiving an incoming call. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising receiving a user selection for a mode after receiving an incoming call.