Method for metadata-based collaborative voice processing for voice communication

• US 9,578,161 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodix Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Milosevski, Vlatko, Zuidema, Edwin, Funken, Ralf Franciscus Magdalena, Brieussel, Benoit, Tirry, Wouter Joos, Goyens, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US14/106,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20150172454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/002 Applications of echo suppressors or cancellers in telephonic connections in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/08, echo suppressors or cancellers per se H04B3/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/18 with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2236 Quality of speech transmission monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/082 using echo cancellers echo cancellers per se H04B3/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

The use of a data link between two or more smart devices for voice communication allows for the enhancement of voice quality in a collaborative way through the exchange of well-defined meta-data between the smart devices. The meta-data may be exchanged on a separate IP data link or as part of the exchanged voice data packets.

Claims

1. A method for metadata-based collaborative voice processing for voice communication comprising:

detecting, by a first smart device, background and/or echo noise on the first smart device coming from a second smart device;

sending, by the first smart device, metadata commands from the first smart device to the second smart device to effect adjustment of the background noise and/or echo cancellation function of the second smart device, wherein the first smart device remotely activates noise suppression or echo cancellation adjustment of the second smart device;

performing, by the second smart device, noise suppression or echo cancellation adjustment based on the metadata commands received; and

receiving a confirmation metadata message on the first smart device from the second smart device that indicates the adjustment has been performed.

2. A method for metadata-based collaborative voice processing for voice communication comprising;

receiving, on a first smart device, a first metadata object sent from a second smart device, wherein the first metadata object comprises sensor data from the second smart device;

analyzing the sensor data in the first smart device to determine what adaptations need to be made to local voice processing performed in the second smart device; and

adjusting processing of voice signals received by the first smart device from the second smart device based on the first metadata object, wherein the first smart device remotely activates noise suppression or echo cancellation adjustment of the second smart device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first metadata object comprises data related to local voice processing types performed by the second smart device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending a second metadata object from the first smart device to the second smart device comprising the adaptations that need to be made to the local voice processing performed in the second smart device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor data comprises GPS and accelerometer data.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first metadata object comprises personal voice preferences of a user of the second smart device and further comprises:

setting a signal equalizer in the first device according to the personal voice preferences of the user of the second smart device.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first metadata object comprises a byte requesting an action.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first metadata object further comprises at least one of a group consisting of a byte indicating a setting, a byte indicating a level or a byte providing sensor data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a byte indicating a setting relates to the signal equalizer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a byte indicating a level relates to a remote setting of a background noise suppression level.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a byte indicating a level relates to a remote setting of an acoustic echo cancellation level.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a byte providing sensor data provides longitude data.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the requested action is remote deactivation of background noise suppression.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether settings on the first smart device permit execution of the requested action; and

either executing the requested action on the first smart device if the requested action is allowed or sending a decline message to the second smart device if the requested action is not allowed.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the first metadata object is received by the first smart device over a separate Internet Protocol data connection.