User-Specific Noise Suppression for Voice Quality Improvements

• US 20140142935A1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lindahl, Aram, Paquier, Baptiste Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 10,446,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/226
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0208 Noise filtering

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for user-specific noise suppression are provided. For example, when a voice-related feature of an electronic device is in use, the electronic device may receive an audio signal that includes a user voice. Since noise, such as ambient sounds, also may be received by the electronic device at this time, the electronic device may suppress such noise in the audio signal. In particular, the electronic device may suppress the noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice via user-specific noise suppression parameters. These user-specific noise suppression parameters may be based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory;

receiving an audio signal that includes a user voice of the electronic device when a voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use; and

suppressing noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice based at least in part on user-specific noise suppression parameters using the electronic device, wherein the user-specific noise suppression parameters are based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user noise suppression preference is based at least in part on a user noise suppression training sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user noise suppression training sequence comprises receiving in the electronic device a user selection of preferred noise parameters after noise suppression parameters have been tested on a test audio signal and played back to the user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user noise suppression training sequence comprises testing noise suppression parameters as applied to a test audio signal that includes a user voice sample and at least one distractor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user noise suppression preference is based at least in part on a user-selected noise suppression setting.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user-selected noise suppression setting comprises a noise suppression strength setting.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user-selected noise suppression setting is user-selectable in real time while the voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-specific noise suppression parameters suppress noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice at least in part by amplifying frequencies associated with the user voice profile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-specific noise suppression parameters suppress noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice at least in part by suppressing frequencies not associated with the user voice profile.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more microphones; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the at least one processor, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving an audio signal that includes a user voice of the electronic device when a voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use; and

suppressing noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice based at least in part on user-specific noise suppression parameters using the electronic device, wherein the user-specific noise suppression parameters are based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:

receiving an audio signal that includes a user voice of the electronic device when a voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use; and

suppressing noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice based at least in part on user-specific noise suppression parameters using the electronic device, wherein the user-specific noise suppression parameters are based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more microphones; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the at least one processor, the one or more programs including instructions for;

obtaining an audio signal that includes a user voice and ambient sounds;

noise suppression circuitry configured to apply noise suppression to the audio signal based at least in part on user-specific noise suppression parameters to suppress the ambient sounds of the audio signal; and

data processing circuitry configured to provide the user-specific noise suppression parameters, wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to determine the user-specific noise suppression parameters based at least in part on a user voice profile associated with the user voice.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

determining the user voice profile based at least in part on a user voice sample, wherein the microphone is configured to obtain the user voice sample during an activation period of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

determining the user voice profile based at least in part on a user voice sample; and

wherein the one or more microphones are configured to;

obtain the user voice sample by monitoring a signal-to-noise ratio of another audio signal obtained while a voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use; and

record the other audio signal when the signal-to-noise ratio of the other audio signal exceeds a threshold.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

determining whether the user voice corresponds to a known user and, when the user voice corresponds to the known user, recalling the user voice profile associated with the user voice.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

determining whether the user voice corresponds to a known user and, when the user voice does not correspond to the known user, determining the user voice profile associated with the user voice by obtaining a user voice sample and determining the user voice profile based at least in part on the user voice sample.