System and method of detecting speech intelligibility of audio announcement systems in noisy and reverberant spaces
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a plurality of voice output units and a plurality of microphones in a region;
sensing the ambient sound via the plurality of microphones in the region for a predetermined time interval;
analyzing the sensed ambient sound;
overlaying the ambient sound with a plurality of test audio signals injected into the region having predetermined characteristics via the voice output units;
sensing the overlaid ambient sound via the plurality of microphones;
determining if speech intelligibility in the region has been degraded beyond an acceptable standard; and
upon determining that the speech intelligibility has degraded beyond an acceptable level based upon maximum attainable remediation values for at least one of frequency spectral and sound pressure level adjusting at least some of pace, pitch, frequency spectra and sound pressure level of audio from at least some of the plurality of voice output units.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to detect and remediate unacceptable levels of speech intelligibility evaluates received test audio transmitted across and received in a space or region of interest. Intelligibility is improved by altering the rate, pitch, amplitude and frequency bands energy during presentation of the speech signal.
16 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of voice output units and a plurality of microphones in a region; sensing the ambient sound via the plurality of microphones in the region for a predetermined time interval; analyzing the sensed ambient sound; overlaying the ambient sound with a plurality of test audio signals injected into the region having predetermined characteristics via the voice output units; sensing the overlaid ambient sound via the plurality of microphones; determining if speech intelligibility in the region has been degraded beyond an acceptable standard; and upon determining that the speech intelligibility has degraded beyond an acceptable level based upon maximum attainable remediation values for at least one of frequency spectral and sound pressure level adjusting at least some of pace, pitch, frequency spectra and sound pressure level of audio from at least some of the plurality of voice output units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for remediation comprising:
-
providing a plurality of voice output units and a plurality of microphones in a region; determining optimum remediation for the region via audible signals detected by the microphones based upon a maximum attainable value for at least one of frequency spectra and sound pressure level of audio from at least some of the plurality of voice output units; determining current remediation applied to at least some of the voice output units within the region based upon test signals injected into the region and upon measured values of at least some of frequency spectra and sound pressure level of audio from at least some of the plurality of voice output units; comparing the maximum attainable and current remediation values;
determining if current and maximum attainable remediation differ, and if so, carrying out at least a determined amplitude remediation in at least some of the plurality of voice output units by adjusting at least some of pace, pitch, frequency spectra and sound pressure level of audio from at least some of the plurality of voice output units. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification