IP Library Granted Patent US 10,249,319
Granted Patent B1
US 10,249,319 · App. 15/794,870 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Methods and apparatus to reduce noise from harmonic noise sources

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,249,319
App. No.
15/794,870
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to reduce noise from harmonic noise sources. Example methods disclosed herein include determining a first point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in an audio sample. Disclosed example methods also include generating a first contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds from the first point of comparatively large amplitude. Example methods include generating a second contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds of a second point of comparatively large amplitude. Disclosed example methods include calculating a parameter for each of the contour traces and determining if the first or second contour traces represent outliers based on the parameters. Disclosed example methods also include, in response to determining the contour to be an outlier contour trace, removing the outlier contour trace from the audio sample.

Claims (39)

1. An apparatus to reduce harmonic noise, the apparatus comprising:

a contour tracer to:

determine a first point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in an audio sample;

generate a first contour trace of other points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within specified thresholds from the first point, the points of the first contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the first point; and

generate a second contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency, and phase values within thresholds of a second point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in the audio sample, the points of the second contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the second point;

a parameter calculator to calculate a first parameter for the first contour trace and a second parameter for the second contour trace;

a classifier to determine if the first and second contour traces represent outliers based on the first and second parameters; and

a subtractor to, in response to determining the first or second contour to be an outlier contour trace, remove the outlier contour trace from the audio sample.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contour tracer is to generate generates a third contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds of a third point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in the audio sample, the third point being within a frequency range threshold of a harmonic frequency of the frequency represented by the first point, the points of the third contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the third point.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contour tracer is to determine a point of comparatively large amplitude for a representative number of frequencies in the audio sample and to generate contours for a specified percentage of the points of comparatively large amplitude in the audio sample.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the classifier is to determine if the first and second contour traces represent outliers based on a statistical distance from an average of the first and second parameters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein removal of outlier contour traces improves a noise-reduced audio signal that is used to generate an accurate audio signature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a domain converter to perform a short-time Fourier transform with a specified windowing length and window time frame on the audio sample.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the contour tracer is to conclude generating a contour when a specified number of short-time Fourier transform frames have been analyzed without finding a point within the specified thresholds to be part of the first or second contour.

8. A method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in an audio sample;

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first contour trace of other points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within specified thresholds from the first point, the points of the first contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the first point;

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds of a second point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in the audio sample, the points of the second contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the second point;

calculating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first parameter for the first contour trace and a second parameter for the second contour trace;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, if the first or second contour traces represent outliers based on the first and second parameters; and

in response to determining the first or the second contour to be an outlier contour trace, removing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the outlier contour trace from the audio sample.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a third contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds of a third point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in the audio sample, the third point being within a frequency range threshold of a harmonic frequency of the frequency represented by the first point, the points of the third contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the third point.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including determining a point of comparatively large amplitude for a representative number of frequencies in the audio sample and generating contours for a specified percentage of the points of comparatively large amplitude in the audio sample.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining if the first and second contour traces represent outliers is based on a statistical distance from an average of the first and second parameters.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein removal of outlier contour traces improves a noise-reduced audio signal that is used to generate an accurate audio signature.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein a short-time Fourier transform with a specified windowing length and window time frame is performed on the audio sample.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating of the first and second contour concludes when a specified number of short-time Fourier transform frames have been analyzed without finding a point within the specified thresholds to be part of the first or second contour.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

determine, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in an audio sample;

generate, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first contour trace of other points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within specified thresholds from the first point, the points of the first contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the first point;

generate, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds of a second point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in the audio sample, the points of the second contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the second point;

calculate, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first parameter for the first contour trace and a second parameter for the second contour trace;

determine, by executing an instruction with the processor, if the first or second contour traces represent outliers based on the first and second parameters; and

in response to determining the first or the second contour to be an outlier contour trace, remove, by executing an instruction with the processor, the outlier contour trace from the audio sample.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further including generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a third contour trace of points having amplitude, frequency and phase values within thresholds of a third point representing a comparatively large amplitude for a frequency value in the audio sample, the third point being within a frequency range threshold of a harmonic frequency of the frequency represented by the first point, the points of the third contour trace occurring in succession within a specified number of frames from each other or from the third point.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine a point of comparatively large amplitude for a representative number of frequencies in the audio sample and to generate contours for a specified percentage of the points of comparatively large amplitude in the audio sample.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining if the first and second contour traces represent outliers is based on a statistical distance from an average of the first and second parameters.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein removal of outlier contour traces improves a noise-reduced audio signal that is used to generate an accurate audio signature.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein a short-time Fourier transform with a specified windowing length and window time frame is performed on the audio sample.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2018
From: MCCALLUM, MATTHEW
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 045833/0572 →