Method for generating audio renderings of digitized works having highly technical content

摘要

The present invention provides a method for producing auditory renderings of digitized works and, in particular, digitized documents containing complex mathematical expressions. Documents are first entered into a computer system and formatted with a markup language, such as one of the TeX® or LaTeX® family of languages. The formatted documents are parsed to provide a tree-structured, high-level representation. Mathematical expressions are in quasi-prefix form. Lexical analysis and recognition processes are then undertaken. The resulting analyzed documents are provided to an audio output device (such as a voice synthesizer) operating under control of a set of predetermined rendering rules. The resultant audio signal contains not only textual content but also the analogical markings produced by the reading rules. Multichannel audio outputs may be used to allow for spatial placement capability, in addition to the other analogical markings. An audio formatting language (AFL) is provided to allow for manipulation of rendering rules. A browsing capability is also provided to allow a listener to easily locate his or her place in a document.