Voice transformation with encoded information

1. A method for voice transformation, comprising:

transforming a source speech of a person using transformation parameters, wherein the transforming comprises modifying the source speech to sound as if the source speech were spoken by a different person; and

encoding information on the transformation parameters in an output speech using steganography,

wherein the source speech can be reconstructed using the output speech and the information on the transformation parameters, and

wherein at least one of the transforming and the encoding is performed by a processor.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein encoding information on the transformation parameters includes:

encoding the information into the transformed speech after the transforming step by combining a steganographic signal including the information on the transformation parameters and the transformed speech to generate the output speech.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein encoding information on the transformation parameters includes:

encoding the information during transformation of the input speech by combining the information on the transformation parameters with the transformed speech parameters.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information on the transformation parameters is usable to reconstruct the output speech to a close approximation to the source speech.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information on the transformation parameters includes one of the group of: the transformation parameters, the inverse transformation parameters, compressed or encrypted transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters, an approximation of the transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters, a trained set of inverse transformation parameters from a source speech and the transformed speech, an index to remotely stored transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

compiling the information on the transformation parameters including:

quantizing the transformation parameters; and

converting the quantized transformation parameters to a binary stream.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

compiling the information on the transformation parameters by training inverse parameters to convert a transformed speech into a source speech.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

storing the transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters at a remote location; and

compiling the information on the transformation parameters including providing an index to the remote storage.

9. A method for reconstructing a voice transformation, comprising:

receiving an output speech of a voice transformation system wherein the output speech is a source speech of a person which was transformed to sound as if the source speech were spoken by a different person, wherein the output speech comprises encoded information on the transformation parameters using steganography;

extracting the information on the transformation parameters; and

carrying out an inverse transformation of the output speech to obtain an approximation of the source speech,

wherein at least one of the receiving, the extracting and the carrying out is performed by a processor.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , including:

detecting the encoded information in the received output speech; and

issuing an alert that the received output speech is transformed speech.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein extracting the information on the transformation parameters extracts encrypted information, and the method including:

using a decipher key to decipher the encrypted information on the transformation parameters.

12. A system for voice transformation comprising:

a processor;

a voice transformation component for transforming a source speech of a person using transformation parameters, wherein the transforming comprises modifying the source speech to sound as if the source speech were spoken by a different person; and

a steganography component for encoding information on the transformation parameters in an output speech using steganography;

wherein the source speech can be reconstructed using the output speech and the information on the transformation parameters.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the steganography component encodes the information into the output of the voice transformation component by combining a steganographic signal including the information on the transformation parameters and the transformed speech to generate the output speech.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the steganography component is integrated in the voice transformation component and encodes the information during transformation of the input speech by combining the information on the transformation parameters with the transformed speech parameters.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the voice transformation component includes a transformation parameter component which provides transformation parameters to a parameter modification component and the steganography component.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12 , including a compiling component for compiling the information on the transformation parameters including:

a quantizing component for quantizing the transformation parameters; and

a binary stream component for converting the quantized transformation parameters to a binary stream.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12 , including:

a compiling component for compiling the information on the transformation parameters by training inverse parameters to convert a transformed speech into a source speech.

18. The system as claimed in claim 12 , including:

a compiling component for compiling the information on the transformation parameters by a storing the transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters at a remote location and providing an index to the remote storage.

19. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the information on the transformation parameters includes one of the group of: the transformation parameters, the inverse transformation parameters, encoded or encrypted transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters, an approximation of the transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters, a trained set of inverse transformation parameters from a source speech and the transformed speech, an index to remotely stored transformation parameters or inverse transformation parameters.

20. A system for reconstructing a voice transformation, comprising:

a processor;

a speech receiver for receiving an input speech, wherein the input speech a source speech of a person which was transformed to sound as if the source speech were spoken by a different person, wherein the output speech comprises encoded information on the transformation parameters using steganography;

a steganography decoder component for decoding the information on the transformation parameters from the input speech; and

a voice reconstruction component for carrying out an inverse transformation of the input speech to obtain an approximation of the source speech.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20 , including:

a detection component for detecting the encoded information in the received output speech; and

an alert component for issuing an alert that the received input speech is transformed speech.

22. The system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the steganography decoder component includes a deciphering component for using a decipher key to decipher the encrypted information on the transformation parameters.

23. A computer program product for voice transformation, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code configured to cause a processor to:

transform a source speech of a person using transformation parameters, wherein the transform comprises modifying the source speech to sound as if the source speech were spoken by a different person; and

encode information on the transformation parameters in an output speech using steganography,

wherein the source speech can be reconstructed using the information on the output speech and the transformation parameters.