Mobile station with audio signal adaptation to hearing characteristics of the user
First Claim
1. A method of operating a mobile communications system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a voice signal at a communication network element, said voice signal destined for a mobile station;
retrieving a plurality of user hearing profiles associated with said mobile station, wherein at least one of said user profiles is different than that of a user with normal hearing;
presenting the user with a menu of the plurality of user profiles, permitting the user to select a profile from the plurality of profiles;
modifying said voice signal in accordance with said the selected user hearing profile comprising the steps of;
shifting said voice signal to a frequency range that can be more easily understood by said user, as indicated in said selected hearing profile;
maintaining a relative frequency separation between a plurality of formats after said shifting step; and
transmitting, in response to said modifying step, said voice signal to said mobile station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for increasing the intelligibility of speech signals received by mobile stations via adapting some of the acoustic parameters of speech in the frequency domain. The mobile station may have the capability to modify speech signal parameters to conform the speech signal to a listener'"'"'s hearing profile. In an alternative embodiment, mobile station processing and battery power are conserved by the communication network having the capability to modify speech signal parameters to conform the speech signal to a listener'"'"'s hearing profile. To conserve mobile station memory, the user'"'"'s hearing profile may be stored on the network.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operating a mobile communications system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a voice signal at a communication network element, said voice signal destined for a mobile station;
retrieving a plurality of user hearing profiles associated with said mobile station, wherein at least one of said user profiles is different than that of a user with normal hearing;
presenting the user with a menu of the plurality of user profiles, permitting the user to select a profile from the plurality of profiles;
modifying said voice signal in accordance with said the selected user hearing profile comprising the steps of;
shifting said voice signal to a frequency range that can be more easily understood by said user, as indicated in said selected hearing profile;
maintaining a relative frequency separation between a plurality of formats after said shifting step; and
transmitting, in response to said modifying step, said voice signal to said mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A mobile station comprising:
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an antenna having an output;
a speaker having an input;
a memory for storing a plurality of user-adjustable hearing profiles different than that of a user with normal hearing;
a display for displaying a menu of hearing profiles from which the user may select;
a controller coupled between said output of said antenna and said input of said speaker, said controller configured to perform the steps of;
receiving a voice signal; and
shifting said voice signal by a predetermined frequency while maintaining the relative frequency separation between a plurality of voice-signal formants based on a selected user-adjustable hearing profile. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A mobile station for communicating with a communications network, said mobile station comprising:
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an antenna having an output;
a speaking having an input;
a keypad;
a microphone;
a memory for storing a plurality of user-adjustable hearing profile profiles different than that of a user with normal hearing;
display for displaying a menu of hearing profiles from which the user may select;
a controller coupled between said output of said antenna and said input of said speaker, said controller configured to perform the steps of shifting a voice signal by a predetermined frequency while maintaining a relative frequency separation between a plurality of voice-signal formants based on a selected user-adjustable hearing profile. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A communications systems, comprising:
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a mobile station; and
a communications network, said network comprising at least a base station and a mobile switching center;
wherein said communications network is configured to perform the steps of;
receiving a voice signal, said voice signal destined for a mobile station;
retrieving a plurality of user hearing profiles different than that of a user with normal hearing, the user being associated with said mobile station;
allowing the user to select one on the plurality of hearing profiles;
modifying said voice signal in accordance with the selected user hearing profile by shifting said voice signal by a predetermined frequency and maintaining, in response to said shifting step, a relative frequency separation between a plurality of formants in said voice signal; and
transmitting said voice signal to said mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a mobile station, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining in said mobile station a plurality of user-changeable user profiles different than that of a user with normal hearing;
permitting the user to select a profile from a menu of profiles;
receiving a voice signal at a mobile station;
shifting said voice signal, based on the selected user profile to a frequency range that can be heard by said user; and
maintaining, in response to said shifting step, the relative frequency separation between a plurality of formats in said voice signal.
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Specification