IP Library Granted Patent US 9,754,604
Granted Patent B2
US 9,754,604 · App. 14/784,510 · Granted Sep 5, 2017

System and method for addressing acoustic signal reverberation

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,754,604
App. No.
14/784,510
Granted
Sep 5, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for addressing acoustic signal reverberation is provided. Embodiments may include receiving, at one or more microphones, a first audio signal and a reverberation audio signal. Embodiments may further include processing at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal. Embodiments may also include limiting a model based reverberation equalizer using a temporal constraint for direct sound distortions, the model based reverberation equalizer configured to generate one or more outputs, based upon, at least in part, at signal least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal.

Claims (34)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at one or more microphones, a first audio signal;

receiving, at the one or more microphones, a reverberation audio signal;

processing at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal;

limiting a model based reverberation equalizer using a temporal constraint for direct sound distortions, the model based reverberation equalizer configured to generate one or more outputs, based upon, at least in part, at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal; and

receiving a beamformer output at a postfilter, wherein the postfilter and beamformer are matched if a blocking matrix constraint is equivalent to a beamformer constraint.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the one or more outputs from the model based reverberation equalizer at a postfilter.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting the model based reverberation equalizer to obtain a particular direct-to-noise ratio.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

measuring the direct-to-noise ratio using, at least in part, at least one temporal criteria.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

using the model based reverberation equalizer for the particular direct-to-noise ratio as a constraint equalizer configured to limit the direct sound distortion introduced by a postfilter.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the model based reverberation equalizer is configured to increase a level of suppression of reverberation by a spatial postfilter.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the model based reverberation equalizer is configured to limit distortion of the direct sound and enable spatial filtering at the postfilter.

8. A system for addressing acoustic signal reverberation comprising:

one or more microphones having one or more processors configured to receive a first audio signal and a reverberation audio signal, the one or more processors further configured to process at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal, the one or more processors further configured to limit a model based reverberation equalizer using a temporal constraint for direct sound distortions, the model based reverberation equalizer configured to generate one or more outputs, based upon, at least in part, at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal, the one or more processors further configured to receive a beamformer output at a postfilter, wherein the postfilter and beamformer are matched if a blocking matrix constraint is equivalent to a beamformer constraint.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive the one or more outputs from the model based reverberation equalizer at a postfilter.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to adjust the model based reverberation equalizer to obtain a particular direct-to-noise ratio.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to measure the direct-to-noise ratio using, at least in part, at least one temporal criteria.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to utilize the model based reverberation equalizer for the particular direct-to-noise ratio as a constraint equalizer configured to limit the direct sound distortion introduced by a postfilter.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the model based reverberation equalizer is configured to increase a level of suppression of reverberation by a spatial postfilter.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the model based reverberation equalizer is configured to limit distortion of the direct sound and enable spatial filtering at the postfilter.

15. A computer-implemented method for addressing acoustic signal reverberation comprising:

receiving, at one or more microphones, a first audio signal from a first audio signal source;

receiving, at the one or more microphones, a reverberation audio signal from a reverberation audio signal source;

processing at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal at a beamformer;

limiting a model based reverberation equalizer using a temporal constraint for direct sound distortions, the model based reverberation equalizer configured to generate one or more outputs, based upon, at least in part, at least one of the first audio signal and the reverberation audio signal;

receiving the one or more outputs from the model based reverberation equalizer at a postfilter; and

receiving a beamformer output at the postfilter, wherein the postfilter and beamformer are matched if a blocking matrix constraint is equivalent to a beamformer constraint.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the model based reverberation equalizer includes a plurality of equalizers.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of equalizers include a noise equalizer, a model equalizer, and a constraint equalizer.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the model based reverberation equalizer includes a coherence model.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2015
From: WOLFF, TOBIAS; TEBELMANN, LARS
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036793/0086 →