IP Library Granted Patent US 8,320,575
Granted Patent B2
US 8,320,575 · App. 12/241,788 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Efficient audio signal processing in the sub-band regime

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,320,575
App. No.
12/241,788
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A signal processing system enhances an audio signal. The audio signal is divided into audio sub-band signals. Some audio sub-band signals are excised. Other audio sub-band signals are processed to obtain enhanced audio sub-band signals. At least a portion of the excised audio sub-band signals are reconstructed. The reconstructed audio sub-band signals are synthesized with the enhanced audio sub-band signals to form an enhanced audio signal.

Claims (32)

1. A method for audio signal processing, comprising:

dividing an audio signal into audio sub-band signals;

excising a subset of the audio sub-band signals;

processing a remaining subset of the audio sub-band signals to obtain enhanced audio sub-band signals;

reconstructing at least a portion of the subset of the audio sub-band signals that were excised; and

synthesizing the enhanced audio sub-band signals with the reconstructed audio sub-band signals to form an enhanced audio signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the act of reconstructing comprises reconstructing an excised audio sub-band signal from one or more of the enhanced audio sub-band signals.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the act of reconstructing comprises averaging a first sub-band signal of the enhanced audio sub-band signals and a second sub-band signal of the enhanced audio sub-band signals to generate an audio sub-band signal to replace one of the excised audio sub-band signals.

4. The method of claim 3 , where the act of averaging comprises applying a first weighting factor to the first sub-band signal and a second weighting factor to the second sub-band signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the act of reconstructing comprises reconstructing an excised audio sub-band signal by averaging remaining audio sub-band signals that are adjacent in time to the excised audio sub-band signal.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the act of reconstructing comprises reconstructing excised audio sub-band signals from a particular time by interpolation of remaining audio sub-band signals from the particular time and remaining audio sub-band signals that are adjacent in time.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the act of excising comprises excising a first percentage of audio sub-band signals in a first frequency range and excising a second percentage of audio sub-band signals in a second frequency range, where the first percentage is different than the second percentage.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the act of synthesizing comprises:

up-sampling the enhanced audio sub-band signals;

up-sampling the reconstructed audio sub-band signals; and

combining the up-sampled enhanced audio sub-band signals and the up-sampled reconstructed audio sub-band signals to form the enhanced audio signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , where the act of processing comprises:

dividing a reference signal into reference sub-band signals;

excising a subset of the reference sub-band signals that is equal in number to the excised subset of the audio sub-band signals;

adapting filter coefficients of an echo compensation filter based on a remaining subset of the reference sub-band signals; and

using the adapted filter coefficients to remove echo components from at least a portion of the remaining subset of the audio sub-band signals.

10. A method for audio signal processing, comprising:

dividing an audio signal into audio sub-band signals;

excising a subset of the audio sub-band signals;

processing a remaining subset of the audio sub-band signals to obtain enhanced audio sub-band signals;

reconstructing at least a portion of the subset of the audio sub-band signals that were excised; and

synthesizing the enhanced audio sub-band signals with the reconstructed audio sub-band signals to form an enhanced audio signal;

wherein here the act of processing comprises:

dividing a reference signal into reference sub-band signals;

excising a subset of the reference sub-band signals that is equal in number to the excised subset of the audio sub-band signals;

adapting filter coefficients of an echo compensation filter based on a remaining subset of the reference sub-band signals; and

using the adapted filter coefficients to remove echo components from at least a portion of the remaining subset of the audio sub-band signals.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 052935 / FRAME 0584) Recorded Jan 2, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069797/0818 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE THE CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT WITH THE NEW ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050836 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 19, 2022
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059804/0186 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 15, 2020
From: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052935/0584 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2020
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052927/0335 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 050953/0133 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050836 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 29, 2019
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 050871/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2019
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE INC.
Reel/Frame 050836/0191 →
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 19, 2010
From: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023810/0001 →