OKI Starts Flexvoice(SM) Service, a Data Generation Service for Speech LSI using TTS Technology

Aims to promote speech LSI to worldwide market by offering content creation service in English, Chinese and Korean

TOKYO -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) today unveiled Flexvoice(SM), a data generation service for speech LSIs using text-to-speech (TTS) technology to convert text data into voice data. OKI offers this service in English, Chinese and Korean to promote its Speech Synthesis LSIs for the use in home appliances, electronic devices and household equipment as they become more sophisticated with added values around the world.

“This service responds to the rising needs of voice guidance embedded in household equipment (water heaters, security alarms), home appliances and electronic automotive devices. We’ve seen this trend in Japan, and now in worldwide markets, such as China,” said Hiroshi Enomoto, President of Silicon Solutions Company at OKI. “Through this service, we aim to expand our Speech LSI business outside of Japan as well as expand our product offerings to respond to customer needs in various regions while committing to high-quality sound products.”

OKI’s total services such as arranging narrators, recording, analyzing voice data and editing has been well received for over 20 years. The new TTS service provides an easy turn-key solution for prototyping and design of products in English, Chinese and Korean by generating high quality speech data on a PC. OKI also plans to provide the service in additional languages.
Service Characteristics

1. Total support to maximize TTS characteristics

OKI provides a website for this service which includes general TTS information such as TTS voice samples, various acoustic sound libraries, speech LSI product lineup, technology information, purchasing of demo board and OKI Speech LSIs. In the Flexvoice(SM) demo board kit, “Speech LSI Utility,” a PC software is enclosed which create voice data format to transport to LSI.
2. Immediate speech data generation

Conventionally, generating speech data took approximately one to two weeks to complete, since studio recording was necessary. However, with this service, users can easily create voice data on a PC, which contributes in shortening the development time. In addition, by flexibly changing expressions and wordings or adding and deleting phrases, users can create various voice data patterns and check them on the demo board. As OKI’s speech LSI is equipped with one time programmable ROM (OTP) or production programmed ROM (P2ROM™), it can respond to production for small lot with various kinds. Users can test the product with the TTS-based voice data for their trial market research and then, shift to using a professional narrators’ voice at the volume production stage.

[Reference] Specifications for Flexvoice(SM)

* Language: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean
* Sampling frequency: 16kHz
* Bit rate: 16bit pulse code modulation (PCM)
* Compliant to pitch speed control

[Reference] Specification of the PC tool “Speech LSI Utility”

* Generates ROM data for OKI’s speech LSI
* Generates TTS voice
* Demo board controller

[Reference] Information for OKI’s speech LSI support website

* URL:http://www.new-ossh.com.cn/sound_channel/sound_channel_english.htm
* Introduction of OKI Speech LSI
* Summary of Flexvoice(SM) service
* Device selection
* How to purchase demo board
* Documents for developers/engineers
* Copyright-free acoustic sound library (under construction)

About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan’s first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. OKI provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business, semiconductor business and printer business. All three businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets. Visit OKI’s global web site at http://www.oki.com/.

* Flexvoice is a service mark of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. in Japan.
* P2ROM is a trademark of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. in Japan.
* Names of companies and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.