IP Library Granted Patent US 11,817,113
Granted Patent B2
US 11,817,113 · App. 17/015,830 · Granted Nov 14, 2023

Systems and methods for filtering unwanted sounds from a conference call

Inventors: Rajendran Pichaimurthy (Karnataka, IN); Madhusudhan Seetharam (Karnataka, IN)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
G10L21/0232G10L15/26G10L21/028G10L25/84H04M3/2236H04M3/568G10L2021/02087H04M2203/5072
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,817,113
App. No.
17/015,830
Granted
Nov 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

To filter unwanted sounds from a conference call, a voice profile of a first user is generated based on a first voice signal captured by a media device during a first conference call. The voice profile may be generated by identifying a base frequency of the first voice signal and determining a plurality of voice characteristics, such as pitch, intonation, accent, loudness, and speech rate. These data may be stored in association with the first user. During a second conference call, a second voice signal captured by the media device is analyzed to determine, based on the voice profile of the first user, whether the second voice signal includes the voice of a second user. If so, the second voice signal is prevented from being transmitted into the conference call. A voice profile of the second user may be generated from the second voice signal for future use.

Claims (93)

1. A method for filtering unwanted sounds from a conference call, the method comprising:

generating a first voice profile of a first user of a media device based on a first voice signal captured by the media device during a first conference call; and

during a second conference call:

analyzing a second voice signal captured by the media device during the second conference call;

determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, that the second voice signal includes a voice of a second user different from the first user by determining that one or more portions of the second voice signal do not match the first voice profile of the first user;

in response to determining that the second voice signal includes the voice of the second user:

determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, portions of the second voice signal spoken by the second user by determining the one or more portions of the second voice signal that do not match the first voice profile of the first user;

separating the second voice signal into: (a) only portions spoken by the first user, and (b) only the portions spoken by the second user;

modifying a second voice profile of the second user based on the portions of the second voice signal captured by the media device spoken by the second user;

identifying a subject of the second conference call; and

in response to determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, that the first user is familiar with the subject of the second conference call:

allowing the portions of the second voice signal spoken by the first user to be transmitted into the second conference call; and

in response to determining, using the modified second voice profile of the second user, that the second user is not familiar with the subject of the conference call:

preventing the portions of the second voice signal spoken by the second user from being transmitted into the second conference call.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second voice signal is captured using a microphone, and wherein preventing the second voice signal from being transmitted into the second conference call comprises muting the microphone for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing a third voice signal captured by the media device during the second conference call;

determining whether the third voice signal no longer includes the voice of the second user; and

in response to determining that the third voice signal no longer includes the voice of the second user, allowing the third voice signal to be transmitted into the second conference call.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first voice profile of the first user of the media device comprises:

identifying a base frequency of the first voice signal;

determining a plurality of voice characteristics of the first voice signal; and

storing, in association with the first user, the base frequency and the plurality of voice characteristics.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of voice characteristics includes at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of pitch, intonation, accent, loudness, and rate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first voice profile of the first user of the media device comprises:

transcribing the first voice signal into corresponding text;

identifying a subject matter of the text;

comparing the identified subject matter with a user profile associated with the first user, wherein the user profile of the first user comprises a list of subjects with which the first user is familiar;

determining, based on the comparing, whether the identified subject matter matches a subject of the list of subjects; and

in response to determining that the identified subject matter matches the subject of the list of subjects, identifying the first voice signal as corresponding to the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first voice profile of the first user of the media device comprises:

transcribing the first voice signal into corresponding text;

processing the text to determine a language usage level;

comparing the language usage level with an age of the first user;

determining, based on the comparing, whether the language usage level matches the age of the first user; and

in response to determining that the language usage level matches the age of the first user, identifying the first voice signal as corresponding to the first user.

8. A system for filtering unwanted sounds from a conference call, the system comprising:

audio input circuitry configured to capture voice signals; and

control circuitry configured to:

generate a first voice profile of a first user of a media device based on a first voice signal captured by the audio input circuitry during a first conference call; and

during a second conference call:

analyze a second voice signal captured by the media device during the second conference call;

determine, using the first voice profile of the first user, that the second voice signal includes a voice of a second user different from the first user by determining that one or more portions of the second voice signal do not match the first voice profile of the first user;

in response to determining that the second voice signal includes the voice of the second user:

determine, using the first voice profile of the first user, portions of the second voice signal spoken by the second user by determining the one or more portions of the second voice signal that do not match the first voice profile of the first user;

separate the second voice signal into: (a) only portions spoken by the first user, and (b) only the portions spoken by the second user;

modify a second voice profile of the second user based on the portions of the second voice signal captured by the media device spoken by the second user;

identify a subject of the second conference call; and

in response to determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, that the first user is familiar with the subject of the second conference call:

allow the portions of the second voice signal spoken by the first user to be transmitted into the second conference call; and

in response to determining, using the modified second voice profile of the second user, that the second user is not familiar with the subject of the conference call:

prevent the portions of the second voice signal spoken by the second user from being transmitted into the second conference call.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the audio input circuitry comprises a microphone, and wherein the control circuitry configured to prevent the second voice signal from being transmitted into the second conference call is further configured to mute the microphone for a predetermined period of time.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

analyze a third voice signal captured by the media device during the second conference call;

determine whether the third voice signal no longer includes the voice of the second user; and

in response to determining that the third voice signal no longer includes the voice of the second user, allow the third voice signal to be transmitted into the second conference call.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry configured to generate the first voice profile of the first user of the media device is further configured to:

identify a base frequency of the first voice signal;

determine a plurality of voice characteristics of the first voice signal; and

store, in association with the first user, the base frequency and the plurality of voice characteristics.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of voice characteristics includes at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of pitch, intonation, accent, loudness, and rate.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry configured to generate the first voice profile of the first user of the media device is further configured to:

transcribe the first voice signal into corresponding text;

identify a subject matter of the text;

compare the identified subject matter with a user profile associated with the first user, wherein the user profile of the first user comprises a list of subjects with which the first user is familiar;

determine, based on the comparing, whether the identified subject matter matches a subject of the list of subjects; and

in response to determining that the identified subject matter matches the subject of the list of subjects, identify the first voice signal as corresponding to the first user.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry configured to generate the first voice profile of the first user of the media device is further configured to:

transcribe the first voice signal into corresponding text;

process the text to determine a language usage level;

compare the language usage level with an age of the first user;

determine, based on the comparing, whether the language usage level matches the age of the first user; and

in response to determining that the language usage level matches the age of the first user, identify the first voice signal as corresponding to the first user.

15. A system for filtering unwanted sounds from a conference call, the system comprising:

means for generating a first voice profile of a first user of a media device based on a first voice signal captured by the media device during a first conference call; and

means for, during a second conference call:

analyzing a second voice signal captured by the media device during the second conference call;

determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, that the second voice signal includes a voice of a second user different from the first user by determining that one or more portions of the second voice signal do not match the first voice profile of the first user;

in response to determining that the second voice signal includes the voice of the second user:

determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, portions of the second voice signal spoken by the second user by determining the one or more portions of the second voice signal that do not match the first voice profile of the first user;

separating the second voice signal into: (a) only portions spoken by the first user, and (b) only the portions spoken by the second user;

modifying a second voice profile of the second user based on the portions of the second voice signal captured by the media device spoken by the second user;

identifying a subject of the second conference call; and

in response to determining, using the first voice profile of the first user, that the first user is familiar with the subject of the second conference call:

allowing the portions of the second voice signal spoken by the first user to be transmitted into the second conference call; and

in response to determining, using the modified second voice profile of the second user, that the second user is not familiar with the subject of the conference call:

preventing the portions of the second voice signal spoken by the second user from being transmitted into the second conference call.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second voice signal is captured using a microphone, and wherein the means for preventing the second voice signal from being transmitted into the second conference call comprises means for muting the microphone for a predetermined period of time.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

means for analyzing a third voice signal captured by the media device during the second conference call;

means for determining whether the third voice signal no longer includes the voice of the second user; and

means for, in response to determining that the third voice signal no longer includes the voice of the second user, allowing the third voice signal to be transmitted into the second conference call.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069113/0392 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2023
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.; ADEIA IMAGING LLC; ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC; ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ADEIA SOLUTIONS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063529/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2020
From: PICHAIMURTHY, RAJENDRAN; SEETHARAM, MADHUSUDHAN
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054518/0092 →
Continuity (1)
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