BS EN IEC 62731:2018

What is BS EN IEC 62731 - Text-to-speech for TV about?  

BS EN IEC 62731 discusses text-to-speech for television with a focus on general requirements. BS EN IEC 62731 specifies the text-to-speech functionality for a (broadcast) receiver with a text-to-speech system. Such a system may be one device, i.e., a receiver with an integrated text-to-speech generator, or maybe two devices, i.e., a receiver interfacing with an external text-to-speech device.  

BS EN IEC 62731 applies only to completely functional stationary (or semi-stationary) digital TV receivers such as set-top boxes, integrated digital TVs, recorders, and other products whose primary function is to receive TV content. Where BS EN IEC 62731 refers to TV, this will be shorthand for all such receivers. BS EN IEC 62731 does not apply to products that are capable of receiving TV as a secondary function (e.g., PCs or game consoles with digital television receivers).  

Note: BS EN IEC 62731 also does not apply to sub-assemblies (e.g., PC tuner cards). 

Who is BS EN IEC 62731 - Text-to-speech for TV for? 

BS EN IEC 62731 on text-to-speech for TV is useful for: 

• Product design engineers 
• Manufacturers, designers, and installers of television 
• Regulatory bodies 

Why should you use BS EN IEC 62731 - Text-to-speech for TV?  

BS EN IEC 62731 describes the required basic behaviour for a TV text-to-speech combination in a basic profile, but also provides for enhanced profiles. BS EN IEC 62731 gives a short introduction to the basic problems of visually impaired people: i.e., what are the problems visually impaired people experience when using and watching TV? 

The main features of BS EN IEC 62731 are: 

• Basic functional description for a TV-TTS device combination or TV with integrated TTS 
• Profiles for different levels of TV-TTS functionality 
• Targeted towards the digital TV application 

In BS EN IEC 62731, mandatory requirements are specified. In BS EN IEC 62731, optional and informative features are also included. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN IEC 62731:2018 supersedes BS EN IEC 62731:2013, which is withdrawn. BS EN IEC 62731:2018 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN IEC 62731:2013. These include: 

• In 6.2, the levels of announcement quality were revised as well as considerations for ways in which device users can provide service providers with feedback on incorrectly announced terms. 
• In 6.3, the following TV functionality was added: the TV can receive updated words, associated conversions, and updated conversion rules for the TTS engine via a network connection.