Speech privacy system and/or associated method
First Claim
1. A method for disrupting speech intelligibility, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a microphone, an original speech signal corresponding to original speech;
subjecting the original speech signal to a filter, output from the filter being indicative of whether consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in an area of interest; and
conditioned on output from the filter indicating that consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest;
generating an intelligibility-disrupting masking signal from the original speech signal, the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal being different from the original speech signal by virtue of being generated to have (a) a time delay relative to the original speech signal, (b) the time delay changing according to an oscillation frequency, and (c) an amplitude that is modulated;
causing the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal to be outputted through a speaker to reduce the level of intelligibility of the original speech signal; and
ceasing generation of the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal responsive to output from the filter indicating that the original speech is no longer likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain example embodiments relate to speech privacy systems and/or associated methods. The techniques described herein disrupt the intelligibility of the perceived speech by, for example, superimposing onto an original speech signal a masking replica of the original speech signal in which portions of it are smeared by a time delay and/or amplitude adjustment, with the time delays and/or amplitude adjustments oscillating over time. In certain example embodiments, smearing of the original signal may be generated in frequency ranges corresponding to formants, consonant sounds, phonemes, and/or other related or non-related information-carrying building blocks of speech. Additionally, or in the alternative, annoying reverberations particular to a room or area in low frequency ranges may be “cut out” of the replica signal, without increasing or substantially increasing perceived loudness.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for disrupting speech intelligibility, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a microphone, an original speech signal corresponding to original speech; subjecting the original speech signal to a filter, output from the filter being indicative of whether consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in an area of interest; and conditioned on output from the filter indicating that consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest; generating an intelligibility-disrupting masking signal from the original speech signal, the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal being different from the original speech signal by virtue of being generated to have (a) a time delay relative to the original speech signal, (b) the time delay changing according to an oscillation frequency, and (c) an amplitude that is modulated; causing the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal to be outputted through a speaker to reduce the level of intelligibility of the original speech signal; and ceasing generation of the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal responsive to output from the filter indicating that the original speech is no longer likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A speech intelligibility disrupting device, comprising:
control circuitry configured to; receive, from a microphone, an original speech signal corresponding to original speech; subject the original speech signal to a filter, output from the filter being indicative of whether consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in an area of interest; and conditioned on output from the filter indicating that consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest; generate an intelligibility-disrupting masking signal from the original speech signal, the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal being different from the original speech signal by virtue of being generated to have (a) a time delay relative to the original speech signal, (b) the time delay changing according to an oscillation frequency, and (c) an amplitude that is modulated; cause the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal to be outputted through a speaker to reduce the level of intelligibility of the original speech signal; and cease generation of the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal responsive to output from the filter indicating that the original speech is no longer likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A speech intelligibility disrupting system, comprising:
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a microphone; a speaker; and control circuitry configured to; receive, from the microphone, an original speech signal corresponding to original speech; subject the original speech signal to a filter, output from the filter being indicative of whether consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in an area of interest; and conditioned on output from the filter indicating that consonants are present in the original speech signal such that the original speech is likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest; generate an intelligibility-disrupting masking signal from the original speech signal, the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal being different from the original speech signal by virtue of being generated to have (a) a time delay relative to the original speech signal, (b) the time delay changing according to an oscillation frequency, and (c) an amplitude that is modulated; cause the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal to be outputted through the speaker to reduce the level of intelligibility of the original speech signal; and cease generation of the intelligibility-disrupting masking signal responsive to output from the filter indicating that the original speech is no longer likely to cause disruption to humans in the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification