GENERATING A MASKING SIGNAL ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120316869A1
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Xiang, Pei, Schevciw, Andre Gustavo Pucci, Mauro, Anthony, Visser, Erik, Huang, Joseph Jyh-huei
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/226
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1754 Speech masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/02 by adding a second signal to make the desired signal unintelligible
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/12 for acoustic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/08 Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

An electronic device for generating a masking signal is described. The electronic device includes a plurality of microphones and a speaker. The electronic device also includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device obtains a plurality of audio signals from the plurality of microphones. The electronic device also obtains an ambience signal based on the plurality of audio signals. The electronic device further determines an ambience feature based on the ambience signal. Additionally, the electronic device obtains a voice signal based on the plurality of audio signals. The electronic device also determines a voice feature based on the voice signal. The electronic device additionally generates a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature. The electronic device further outputs the masking signal using the speaker.

Claims

1. An electronic device for generating a masking signal, comprising:

a plurality of microphones;

a speaker;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

obtain a plurality of audio signals from the plurality of microphones;

obtain an ambience signal from the plurality of audio signals;

determine an ambience feature based on the ambience signal;

obtain a voice signal from the plurality of audio signals;

determine a voice feature based on the voice signal;

generate a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature; and

output the masking signal using the speaker.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to obtain a sound signal.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein generating the masking signal is further based on the sound signal.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sound signal comprises music.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in a direct relationship with an envelope signal based on the voice signal.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in an inverse relationship with an amplitude based on the ambience signal.

7. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sound signal is selected based on an input.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the voice feature comprises one selected from a group consisting of amplitude characteristics, spectral characteristics, spatial characteristics and temporal characteristics.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the voice feature comprises a loudness envelope.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the ambience feature comprises one selected from a group consisting of amplitude characteristics, spectral characteristics, spatial characteristics and temporal characteristics.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the ambience feature comprises a loudness characteristic.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein obtaining the voice signal comprises removing the ambience signal from the plurality of audio signals.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein obtaining the voice signal comprises removing one or more echo signals from the plurality of audio signals using an echo canceller.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to transmit the voice signal.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein generating the masking signal comprises amplitude modulating the voice signal based on the voice feature.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wireless communication device.

17. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of speakers.

18. A method for generating a masking signal on an electronic device, comprising:

obtaining a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of microphones;

obtaining an ambience signal from the plurality of audio signals;

determining an ambience feature based on the ambience signal;

obtaining a voice signal from the plurality of audio signals;

determining a voice feature based on the voice signal;

generating a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature; and

outputting the masking signal using a speaker.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising obtaining a sound signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the masking signal is further based on the sound signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the sound signal comprises music.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in a direct relationship with an envelope signal based on the voice signal.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in an inverse relationship with an amplitude based on the ambience signal.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the sound signal is selected based on an input.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the voice feature comprises one selected from a group consisting of amplitude characteristics, spectral characteristics, spatial characteristics and temporal characteristics.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the voice feature comprises a loudness envelope.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the ambience feature comprises one selected from a group consisting of amplitude characteristics, spectral characteristics, spatial characteristics and temporal characteristics.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the ambience feature comprises a loudness characteristic.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein obtaining the voice signal comprises removing the ambience signal from the plurality of audio signals.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein obtaining the voice signal comprises removing one or more echo signals from the plurality of audio signals using an echo canceller.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further executable to transmit the voice signal.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein generating the masking signal comprises amplitude modulating the voice signal based on the voice feature.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic device is a wireless communication device.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of speakers.

35. A computer-program product for generating a masking signal, comprising a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for causing an electronic device to obtain a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of microphones;

code for causing the electronic device to obtain an ambience signal from the plurality of audio signals;

code for causing the electronic device to determine an ambience feature based on the ambience signal;

code for causing the electronic device to obtain a voice signal from the plurality of audio signals;

code for causing the electronic device to determine a voice feature based on the voice signal;

code for causing the electronic device to generate a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature; and

code for causing the electronic device to output the masking signal using a speaker.

36. The computer-program product of claim 35, wherein the instructions further comprise code for causing the electronic device to obtain a sound signal.

37. The computer-program product of claim 36, wherein generating the masking signal is further based on the sound signal.

38. The computer-program product of claim 36, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in a direct relationship with an envelope signal based on the voice signal.

39. The computer-program product of claim 36, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in an inverse relationship with an amplitude based on the ambience signal.

40. The computer-program product of claim 36, wherein the sound signal is selected based on an input.

41. The computer-program product of claim 35, wherein obtaining the voice signal comprises removing one or more echo signals from the plurality of audio signals using an echo canceller.

42. An apparatus for generating a masking signal, comprising:

means for obtaining a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of microphones;

means for obtaining an ambience signal from the plurality of audio signals;

means for determining an ambience feature based on the ambience signal;

means for obtaining a voice signal from the plurality of audio signals;

means for determining a voice feature based on the voice signal;

means for generating a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature; and

means for outputting the masking signal using a speaker.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for obtaining a sound signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein generating the masking signal is further based on the sound signal.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in a direct relationship with an envelope signal based on the voice signal.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein generating the masking signal comprises adjusting the amplitude of the sound signal in an inverse relationship with an amplitude based on the ambience signal.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the sound signal is selected based on an input.

48. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein obtaining the voice signal comprises removing one or more echo signals from the plurality of audio signals using an echo canceller.