IP Library Granted Patent US 8,438,022
Granted Patent B2
US 8,438,022 · App. 13/444,182 · Granted May 7, 2013

System that detects and identifies periodic interference

Inventors: Mark Fallat (Vancouver, CA); Derek Sahota (Hamilton, CA)
Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,438,022
App. No.
13/444,182
Granted
May 7, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system improves speech detection or processing by identifying registration signals. The system encodes a limited frequency band by varying the amplitude of a pulse width modulated signal between predefined values. The signal is separated into frequency bins that identify amplitude and phase. The registration signal is measured by comparing a difference in average acoustic power in a plurality of adjacent bins over time.

Claims (29)

1. A process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals comprising periodic interference by processing a limited frequency band comprising:

converting a limited frequency band of a continuously varying input into a digital-domain signal;

converting the digital-domain signal into a frequency-domain signal;

estimating the differences between a plurality of sets of adjacent frequency bins of the frequency-domain signal automatically;

comparing the estimated differences of the plurality of sets of adjacent frequency bins to a pre-programmed threshold automatically; and

identifying a periodic interference across an aural spectrum based on the comparison automatically in real time where the act of identifying the periodic interference comprises embedding a code in the continuously varying input in a digital domain.

2. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , where the identification stores a code stored in a local memory.

3. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , where the identification indicates when the periodic interference first occurs and its duration across the aural spectrum.

4. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , where the identification comprises setting a flag.

5. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , further comprising modifying the pre-programmed threshold through a user interface.

6. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , where the continuously varying input comprises an unvoiced input.

7. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , where the continuously varying input comprises a fully voiced input.

8. The process that improves speech processing by identifying registration signals of claim 1 , where the continuously varying input comprises a mixed voiced input.

9. A system that detects interference that is received with an unvoiced, a fully voiced, or a mixed voice input comprising:

a digital converter that converts a time-varying input signal into a digital- domain signal;

a window function configured to pass signals within a programmed aural frequency range while substantially blocking signals above and below the programmed aural frequency range when multiplied by an output of the digital converter;

a frequency converter that converts the digital domain signals passing within the programmed aural frequency range into a plurality of frequency bins;

a noise detector configured to compare the covariance of a plurality of the frequency bins to a programmed threshold to determine when a periodic interference is present in the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input automatically.

10. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 9 further comprising a power domain converter configured to convert the output of the frequency converter into a power spectral domain.

11. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 10 , where the power domain converter estimates the amplitude of each of the plurality of frequency bins through a weighted average.

12. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 10 , where the power domain converter estimates the amplitude of each of the plurality of frequency bins through an average.

13. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 10 further comprising a signal extractor configured to identify one or more harmonic signals from the output of the power domain converter by comparing differences in spectral characteristics of the plurality of frequency bins or by comparing spectral characteristics of the plurality of frequency bins to a spectral template.

14. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 13 , where a probability device determines a probability index for the one or more harmonic signals and a flag is communicated that indicates the probability that one or more harmonic signals is detected.

15. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 9 , further comprising a power domain converter that estimates the amplitude of each of the plurality of frequency bins through a weighted average.

16. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 9 , where the noise detector is configured to set a flag that indicates when a registration signal occurs.

17. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 16 , where the flag identifies the frequency of the periodic interference.

18. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 16 , where the flag identifies the pulse width of the periodic interference.

19. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 9 , where the periodic interference comprises a Global System for Mobile Communication interference.

20. The system that detects interference that is received with the unvoiced, the fully voiced, or the mixed voice input of claim 9 , where the programmed threshold comprises a plurality of programmed thresholds.

Assignments (8)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064270/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2020
From: 2236008 ONTARIO INC.
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053313/0315 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2014
From: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
To: 8758271 CANADA INC.
Reel/Frame 032607/0943 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2014
From: 8758271 CANADA INC.
To: 2236008 ONTARIO INC.
Reel/Frame 032607/0674 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: FALLAT, MARK; SAHOTA, DEREK
To: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS (WAVEMAKERS), INC.
Reel/Frame 028106/0803 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS CO.
To: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028106/0984 →
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS (WAVEMAKERS), INC.
To: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS CO.
Reel/Frame 028108/0534 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12070798 · Feb 21, 2008
Related Publication 20120197639A1 · Aug 2, 2012