Automated sound segment selection method and system
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a segment of a sound sample of a subject'"'"'s voice that has been digitized by an analog to digital converter, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving the sound sample comprising a time series of digital samples;
(b) determining a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a pre-defined number of consecutive digital samples;
(c) for each segment, calculating the value of a quality measure, the quality measure being a real-valued function of at least one parameter of the segment, the parameter reflecting the suitability of the segment for use in computing clinical metrics;
(d) selecting the segment that has the greatest value of the quality measure, the quality measure being greater for segments that are more suitable for use in computing clinical metrics; and
(e) storing the selected segment, or a pointer to the selected segment, in a memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computerized method and system is provided for automatically selecting from a digitized sound sample a segment of the sample that is optimal for the purpose of measuring clinical metrics for voice and speech assessment. A quality measure based on quality parameters of segments of the sound sample is applied to candidate segments to identify the highest quality segment within the sound sample. The invention can optionally provide feedback to the speaker to help the speaker increase the quality of the sound sample provided. The invention also can optionally perform sound pressure level calibration and noise calibration. The invention may optionally compute clinical metrics on the selected segment and may further include a normative database method or system for storing and analyzing clinical measurements.
31 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a segment of a sound sample of a subject'"'"'s voice that has been digitized by an analog to digital converter, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving the sound sample comprising a time series of digital samples; (b) determining a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a pre-defined number of consecutive digital samples; (c) for each segment, calculating the value of a quality measure, the quality measure being a real-valued function of at least one parameter of the segment, the parameter reflecting the suitability of the segment for use in computing clinical metrics; (d) selecting the segment that has the greatest value of the quality measure, the quality measure being greater for segments that are more suitable for use in computing clinical metrics; and (e) storing the selected segment, or a pointer to the selected segment, in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable memory having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a processor for selecting a segment of a sound sample of a subject'"'"'s voice that has been digitized by an analog to digital converter, said statements and instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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(a) receiving the sound sample comprising a time series of digital samples; (b) determining a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a pre-defined number of consecutive digital samples; (c) for each segment, calculating the value of a quality measure, the quality measure being a real-valued function of at least one parameter of the segment, the parameter reflecting the suitability of the segment for use in computing clinical metrics; (d) selecting the segment that has the greatest value of the quality measure, the quality measure being greater for segments that are more suitable for use in computing clinical metrics; and (e) storing the selected segment, or a pointer to the selected segment, in a memory.
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15. A method comprising transmitting over a communications medium instructions for execution by a processor for selecting a segment of a sound sample of a subject'"'"'s voice that has been digitized by an analog to digital converter, said instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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(a) receiving the sound sample comprising a time series of digital samples; (b) determining a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a pre-defined number of consecutive digital samples; (c) for each segment, calculating the value of a quality measure, the quality measure being a real-valued function of at least one parameter of the segment, the parameter reflecting the suitability of the segment for use in computing clinical metrics; (d) selecting the segment that has the greatest value of the quality measure, the quality measure being greater for segments that are more suitable for use in computing clinical metrics; and (e) storing the selected segment, or a pointer to the selected segment, in a memory.
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16. A method comprising storing on a computer-readable memory instructions for execution by a processor for selecting a segment of a sound sample of a subject'"'"'s voice that has been digitized by an analog to digital converter, said instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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(a) receiving the sound sample comprising a time series of digital samples; (b) determining a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a pre-defined number of consecutive digital samples; (c) for each segment, calculating the value of a quality measure, the quality measure being a real-valued function of at least one parameter of the segment, the parameter reflecting the suitability of the segment for use in computing clinical metrics; (d) selecting the segment that has the greatest value of the quality measure, the quality measure being greater for segments that are more suitable for use in computing clinical metrics; and (e) storing the selected segment, or a pointer to the selected segment, in a memory.
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17. A voice segment selection system for selecting a segment of a sound sample of a subject'"'"'s voice that has been digitized by an analog to digital converter into a time series of digital samples, the system comprising:
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(a) a segmentation module for determining a plurality of segments from the sound sample, each segment comprising a pre-defined number of consecutive digital samples; (b) a quality module for calculating the value of a quality measure for each segment, the quality measure being a real-valued function of at least one parameter of the segment, the parameter reflecting the suitability of the segment for use in computing clinical metrics; and (c) a selection module for selecting the segment that has the greatest value of the quality measure and storing the selected segment, or a pointer to the selected segment, in a memory, the quality measure being greater for segments that are more suitable for use in computing clinical metrics. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification