Method and system for masking speech
First Claim
1. A method of masking a speech stream, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a speech signal representing said speech stream;
modifying said speech signal to create an obfuscated speech signal, wherein said obfuscated speech signal is speech-like; and
combining said speech signal and said obfuscated speech signal to produce a combined speech signal, wherein said combined speech signal is realized electronically; and
wherein said combined speech signal represents a combined speech stream that is speech-like yet substantially unintelligible;
said modifying step further comprising the steps of;
temporally partitioning said speech signal into a plurality of variable length segments, each of said segments having a length determined by features of said speech signal, said segments occurring in an initial order within said speech signal;
selecting a plurality of selected segments from among said segments; and
assembling said selected segments, in an order different than said initial order, to produce said obfuscated speech signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simple and efficient method for producing an obfuscated speech signal which may be used to mask a stream of speech, is disclosed. A speech signal representing the speech stream to be masked is obtained. The speech signal is then temporally partitioned into segments, preferably corresponding to phonemes within the speech stream. The segments are then stored in a memory, and some or all of the segments are subsequently selected, retrieved, and assembled into an obfuscated speech signal representing an unintelligible speech stream that, when combined with the speech signal or reproduced and combined with the speech stream, provides a masking effect. While the presently preferred embodiment finds application most readily in an open plan office, embodiments suitable for use in restaurants, classrooms, and in telecommunications systems are also disclosed.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of masking a speech stream, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a speech signal representing said speech stream; modifying said speech signal to create an obfuscated speech signal, wherein said obfuscated speech signal is speech-like; and combining said speech signal and said obfuscated speech signal to produce a combined speech signal, wherein said combined speech signal is realized electronically; and wherein said combined speech signal represents a combined speech stream that is speech-like yet substantially unintelligible; said modifying step further comprising the steps of; temporally partitioning said speech signal into a plurality of variable length segments, each of said segments having a length determined by features of said speech signal, said segments occurring in an initial order within said speech signal; selecting a plurality of selected segments from among said segments; and assembling said selected segments, in an order different than said initial order, to produce said obfuscated speech signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for masking a speech stream, comprising:
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a module for obtaining a speech signal representing said speech stream; a module for modifying said speech signal to create an obfuscated speech signal, wherein said obfuscated speech signal is speech-like; a module for combining said speech signal and said obfuscated speech signal to produce a combined speech signal, wherein said combined speech signal is realized electronically; wherein said combined speech signal represents a combined speech stream that is speech-like yet substantially unintelligible; means for temporally partitioning said speech signal into a plurality of variable length segments, each of said segments having a length determined by features of said speech signal, said segments occurring in an initial order within said speech signal; means for selecting a plurality of selected segments from among said segments; and means for assembling said selected segments, in an order different than said initial order, to produce said obfuscated speech signal, wherein said obfuscated speech signal is speech-like. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification