SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING SPEECH

• US 20140207444A1
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSP Group Ltd. (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BoneTone Communications Limited (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heiman, Arie, Yehuday, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/210
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/02 Feature extraction for speech recognition; Selection of recognition unit
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10

Abstract

A mobile communication system comprises a mobile communication device provided with a touch screen; and a speech activity analyzer suitable to receive from said touch screen data indicative of pressure applied to an area of said touch screen, and of changes thereto with time.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system comprising:

a mobile communication device provided with a touch screen; and

a speech activity analyzer suitable to receive from said touch screen data indicative of pressure applied to an area of said touch screen, and of changes thereto with time.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said speech activity analyzer comprises:

a cluster processor for identifying clusters;

a feature extractor for extracting parameters from dusters identified by said cluster processor;

a feature analyzer to analyze said parameters; and

a speech activity decision maker element suitable to process said parameters to determine whether the user is speaking.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the speech activity analyzer is integral with the mobile communication device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the speech activity analyzer is located remotely from the mobile communication device and is in communication therewith.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein communication between the speech activity analyzer and the mobile communication device is performed via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or by any wire or wireless means.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the mobile communication device is a cellular phone.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein the mobile communication device is a cordless phone.

8. A method for determining whether the user of a mobile communication device equipped with a touch screen is speaking into said mobile communication on device, comprising:

obtaining from the touch screen signals representing clusters of grid points created from a contact between said touch screen and a user'"'"'s cheek;

analyzing the dynamics of pressure-related parameters of said clusters over time; and

determining, from stud analysis, if speech activity is present.

9. A method according to claim 8, where said clusters comprise pixels or groups of pixels differentiable by their coordinates on said touch screen.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said parameters are selected from the center of gravity, perimeter, area and orientation, or a combination of two or more of said parameters.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising obtaining from sensors provided in the mobile communication device an indication of whether the device has been brought into the vicinity of a user'"'"'s ear.