IP Library Granted Patent US 7,363,232
Granted Patent B2
US 7,363,232 · App. 10/343,615 · Granted Apr 22, 2008

Method and system for enabling audio speed conversion

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,363,232
App. No.
10/343,615
Granted
Apr 22, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for processing an audio signal. According to an exemplary method, an audio signal such as a digital voice signal is received and divided into one or more individual unit cycles. An audio speed conversion operation is enabled by repeating or removing one or more of the individual unit cycles. In particular, repeating one or more of the individual unit cycles decreases audio speed, and removing one or more of the individual unit cycles increases audio speed.

Claims (39)

1. A system for processing an audio signal, comprising:

means for receiving said audio signal and dividing said received audio signal into one or more individual unit cycles;

means for enabling an audio speed conversion operation by one of repeating and removing one or more of said individual unit cycles;

means for detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal, wherein each of said one or more pitch periods includes one or more of said individual unit cycle;

means for generating an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles; and

wherein said detecting means detects said one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said receiving means divides said received audio signal into said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon a reference value such that an individual unit cycle starts at a first sample of said received audio signal that is equal to or greater than said reference value and ends at a last sample of said received audio signal that is less than said reference value.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein repeating one or more of said individual unit cycles decreases audio speed.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein removing one or more of said individual unit cycles increases audio speed.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said received audio signal is a digital voice signal.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said generating means generates said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

8. An audio speed conversion system, comprising:

a signal detector for receiving an audio signal and dividing said received audio signal into one or more individual unit cycles;

circuitry for enabling an audio speed conversion operation by one of repeating and removing one or more of said individual unit cycles;

a pitch period detector for detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal, wherein each of said one or more pitch periods includes one or more of said individual unit cycles;

an average power value generator for generating an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles; and

wherein said pitch period detector detects said one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

9. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , wherein said signal detector divides said received audio signal into said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon a reference value such that an individual unit cycle starts at a first sample of said received audio signal that is equal to or greater than said reference value and ends at a last sample of said received audio signal that is less than said reference value.

10. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , wherein repeating one or more of said individual unit cycles decreases audio speed.

11. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , wherein removing one or more of said individual unit cycles increases audio speed.

12. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , wherein said received audio signal is a digital voice signal.

13. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , further comprising a silence detector for determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

14. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , wherein said average power value generator generates said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

15. The audio speed conversion system of claim 8 , wherein said average power value generator generates said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

16. A method for processing an audio signal, comprising steps of:

receiving said audio signal;

dividing said received audio signal into one or more individual unit cycles;

enabling an audio speed conversion operation by one of repeating and removing one or more of said individual unit cycles;

of detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal, wherein each of said one or more pitch periods includes one or more of said individual unit cycles; and

wherein said step of detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal is performed in dependence upon an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said received audio signal is divided into said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon a reference value such that an individual unit cycle starts at a first sample of said received audio signal that is equal to or greater than said reference value and ends at a last sample of said received audio signal that is less than said reference value.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein repeating one or more of said individual unit cycles decreases audio speed.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein removing one or more of said individual unit cycles increases audio speed.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein said received audio signal is a digital voice signal.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval is performed in dependence upon an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles is determined in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles is determined in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2020
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.S.
To: MAGNOLIA LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 053570/0237 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2007
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 020332/0954 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2004
From: MEGEID, MAGDY; INKAMP, MARKUS
To: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Reel/Frame 015142/0750 →