Speech quality indication
First Claim
1. A voice communications device (4) comprising:
- means for receiving a speech signal generated by a microphone (41) in response to speech (2) input in to the microphone (41) by a user;
means for transmitting the speech signal to an application apparatus;
means for extracting a proportion of the speech signal;
means (43) for evaluating a speech quality value for the extracted speech signal;
means (45) for indicating, to the user, an indication of the quality of the speech signal currently received, based on the speech quality value, whereby a user can improve the indicated quality level by controlling in real time, and during an ongoing conversation, how the said user inputs the speech into the microphone;
the said means (45) for indicating being located within the said voice communications device (4).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voice communications device (4) and speech processing method are described. A speech signal, generated by a microphone (41) in response to speech input (2) in to the microphone (41) by a user (1), has a proportion extracted therefrom. The speech signal is transmitted to an appliction apparatus that may be integral or remote. A speech quality value is evaluated for the extracted speech signal. An indication of the quality of the speech signal, based on the speech quality value, is indicated to the user. Thus a direct indication of the current quality of a received speech signal, in a form that is easily interpreted by a non-expert user of the device, is provided, thereby providing the use with an opportunity to improve the sppech quality. Examples of appliction apparatus include hands-free telephones and automatic speech recognition systems.
48 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A voice communications device (4) comprising:
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means for receiving a speech signal generated by a microphone (41) in response to speech (2) input in to the microphone (41) by a user;
means for transmitting the speech signal to an application apparatus;
means for extracting a proportion of the speech signal;
means (43) for evaluating a speech quality value for the extracted speech signal;
means (45) for indicating, to the user, an indication of the quality of the speech signal currently received, based on the speech quality value, whereby a user can improve the indicated quality level by controlling in real time, and during an ongoing conversation, how the said user inputs the speech into the microphone;
the said means (45) for indicating being located within the said voice communications device (4). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of processing speech, comprising:
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receiving a speech signal generated by a microphone (41) in response to speech input in to the microphone (41) by a user; and
transmitting the speech signal to an application apparatus;
extracting a proportion of the speech signal;
evaluating a speech quality value for the extracted speech signal; and
indicating, to the user, an indication of the quality of the speech signal currently received based on the speech quality value, whereby the user can improve the indicated quality level by controlling in real time, and during an ongoing conversation, how the said user inputs the speech into the microphone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification