System and method for improving message delivery in voice systems utilizing microphone and target signal-to-noise ratio
View Patent ↗A method for delivering a message to a recipient in an environment with ambient noise includes the steps of recording the ambient noise in the environment at a certain time interval, analyzing the recorded ambient noise to obtain an average power P noise or a RMS amplitude A noise of the ambient noise, providing a predetermined desired SNR desired , calculating an average signal power P signal or a RMS amplitude A signal of the message to be delivered based on the P noise or A noise and the desired SNR desired , and adjusting a volume of the message to be delivered according to the P signal or A signal . Alternatively, the actual SNR actual will be computed and the message will be repeated if the SNR actual falls below the SNR min . Systems for delivering a message to a recipient in an environment with ambient noise and computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for carrying out the methods are also provided.
1. A method for delivering a message to a recipient in an environment with ambient noise, the method comprising:
recording the ambient noise in the environment at a certain time interval;
analyzing the recorded ambient noise to obtain an average power P noise or RMS amplitude A noise of the ambient noise;
providing a predetermined desired Signal-to-Noise Ratio SNR desired ;
calculating an average signal power P signal or RMS amplitude A signal of the message to be delivered based on the P noise or A noise and the desired SNR desired ; and
adjusting a volume of the message to be delivered according to the P signal or A signal .
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the time interval is approximately between 10-30 seconds.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the time interval is 20 seconds.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein all the recorded data of the ambient noise is analyzed.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein extremes in the recorded data of the ambient noise are discarded.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the extremes are singular spikes.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein approximately 5% of the extremes are discarded.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a microphone is provided for recording the ambient noise.
9. A method for delivering a message to a recipient in an environment with ambient noise, the method comprising:
delivering the message;
recording audio at or near the recipient;
analyzing the recorded audio to obtain an actual Signal-to-Noise Ratio SNR actual ;
providing a predetermined minimum Signal-to-Noise Ratio SNR min ; and
repeating the message if the actual SNR actual falls below the SNR min , otherwise waiting to deliver a next message.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein a microphone is provided for recording the audio.
11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising indicating the repeated message by prefixing the message with a keyword.
12. A system for delivering a message to a recipient in an environment with ambient noise, the system comprising:
a recording unit for recording the ambient noise in the environment at a certain time interval;
an analyzing unit for analyzing the recorded ambient noise to obtain an average power P noise or RMS amplitude A noise of the ambient noise;
means for providing a predetermined desired Signal-to-Noise Ratio SNR desired ;
a calculating unit for calculating an average signal power P signal or RMS amplitude A signal of the message to be delivered based on the P noise or A noise and the desired SNR desired ; and
an adjusting unit for adjusting a volume of the message to be delivered according to the P signal or A signal .
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the recording unit is a microphone.
14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the system is integrated with a voice system.
15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the system is external to a voice system.
16. A system for delivering a message to a recipient in an environment with ambient noise, the system comprising:
a delivering unit for delivering the message;
a recording unit for recording audio at or near the recipient when the message is delivered;
an analyzing unit for analyzing the recorded audio to obtain an actual SNR actual ;
means for providing a predetermined minimum Signal-to-Noise Ratio SNR min ;
a comparing unit for comparing the actual SNR actual with the SNR min ; and
means for repeating the message if the actual SNR actual falls below the SNR min .
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the recording unit is a microphone.
18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the system is integrated with a voice system.
19. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the system is external to a voice system.
20. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the message is repeated with a prefixed keyword.
21. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the means for repeating the message is the delivering unit.
22. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the means for repeating the message is a different unit at a different location from the delivering unit.