Abstract: A method for recognizing speech in a vehicle includes receiving speech at a microphone installed to a vehicle, and determining whether the speech includes a navigation instruction. If the speech includes a navigation instruction, the speech may be sent to a remote facility. After sending the speech to the remote facility, a local speech recognition result is provided in the vehicle to the user. The speech sent to the remote facility may be used to provide corrective action. A system for recognizing speech in a vehicle may include a microphone, and may be configured to determine a local speech recognition result from the speech command and determine when the speech command includes a navigation instruction. The system may further include a remote server in communication with the vehicle that receives a sample of the speech command from the speech recognition system when the speech command includes a navigation instruction.

Abstract: A system and method of changing features of an existing automatic speech recognition (ASR) system includes: monitoring speech received from a vehicle occupant for one or more keywords identifying a feature to remove from or add to the ASR system; detecting the keywords in the monitored speech; and adding the identified feature to or removing the identified feature from from the ASR system.

Abstract: A system and method of adjusting digital audio sampling used with wideband audio includes: performing audio sampling on an analog audio signal at an initial sampling rate and an initial bit rate over a wideband audio frequency range; generating a digital audio signal based on the audio sampling; detecting a qualitative error rate between the analog audio signal and the digital audio signal; and decreasing the initial sampling rate, the initial bit rate, or both for sampling subsequent analog audio when the qualitative error is below a threshold.

Abstract: A method for recognizing speech in a vehicle includes receiving speech at a microphone installed to a vehicle, and determining whether the speech includes a navigation instruction. If the speech includes a navigation instruction, the speech may be sent to a remote facility. After sending the speech to the remote facility, a local speech recognition result is provided in the vehicle to the user. The speech sent to the remote facility may be used to provide corrective action. A system for recognizing speech in a vehicle may include a microphone, and may be configured to determine a local speech recognition result from the speech command and determine when the speech command includes a navigation instruction. The system may further include a remote server in communication with the vehicle that receives a sample of the speech command from the speech recognition system when the speech command includes a navigation instruction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication within vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle includes a passenger cabin, a receiver, and a processor. The receiver is configured to receive signals, within the passenger cabin, from one more electronic device microphones inside the passenger cabin. Each of the electronic device microphones comprises a microphone of an electronic device of a user inside the passenger cabin. The processor is coupled to the receiver, and is configured to at least facilitate generating one or more zones of communication using the received signals from the electronic device microphones inside the passenger cabin.

Abstract: An automatic speech recognition engine and a method of using the engine is described. The method pertains to front-end processing an audio signal and includes the steps of: identifying a plurality of voiced-frames of the audio signal; determining that one or more of the plurality of voiced-frames have a signal-to-noise (SNR) value greater than a first predetermined threshold; and based on the determination, bypassing noise suppression for the one or more of the plurality of voiced-frames.

Abstract: A method of processing audio received at a plurality of microphones in a vehicle includes receiving the audio as a first audio stream and second audio stream at respective first and second microphones that are positioned at different locations within the vehicle; creating a first digital time series and a second digital time series that represent the first audio stream and the second audio stream, respectively; calculating a delay that exists between the first audio stream and the second audio stream based on a cross-correlation of the first digital time series and the second digital time series; and processing the received audio using the calculated delay.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling audio communications between occupants of a vehicle are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to at least facilitate receiving a request for sound transmission from a first occupant inside a vehicle to a second occupant inside the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the interface, and is configured to at least facilitate identifying respective locations of the first occupant and the second occupant, and performing the sound transmission with an adjustment for a phase difference based at least in part on the respective locations of the first occupant and the second occupant.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling audio communications between occupants of a vehicle are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to at least facilitate receiving a request for sound transmission from a first occupant inside a vehicle to a second occupant inside the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the interface, and is configured to at least facilitate identifying respective locations of the first occupant and the second occupant, and performing the sound transmission with an adjustment for a phase difference based at least in part on the respective locations of the first occupant and the second occupant.

Abstract: A system and method of changing features of an existing automatic speech recognition (ASR) system includes: monitoring speech received from a vehicle occupant for one or more keywords identifying a feature to remove from or add to the ASR system; detecting the keywords in the monitored speech; and adding the identified feature to or removing the identified feature from from the ASR system.

Abstract: A hands-free audio system for a vehicle and method of using the system is described. The method includes controlling the directionality of a vehicle microphone. The steps of the method may include: (a) receiving a sensor value from at least one of a vehicle seat position sensor, a vehicle seat orientation sensor, or a vehicle mirror orientation sensor; (b) based on the received sensor value(s) of step (a), determining an origin of a vehicle user's speech; and (c) controlling the microphone sensitivity directionality based on the determined origin.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system includes: detecting changes in ambient noise via a microphone in a vehicle equipped with the ASR system; determining an environmental noise compensation value and a channel bias compensation value based on the detected changes; and applying the environmental noise compensation value and a channel bias compensation value to speech received by the ASR system.

Abstract: Automobiles, automobile diagnostic systems, and methods for generating diagnostic data for automobiles are provided. A method for generating diagnostic data for an automobile includes capturing with a sound sensor an acoustic waveform produced by an automobile component. The method converts the acoustic waveform into an electrical waveform data signal. The method includes identifying a pattern in the electrical waveform data signal. Further, the method classifies the pattern as indicative of a selected performance issue.

Abstract: A system and method of adjusting digital audio sampling used with wideband audio includes: performing audio sampling on an analog audio signal at an initial sampling rate and an initial bit rate over a wideband audio frequency range; generating a digital audio signal based on the audio sampling; detecting a qualitative error rate between the analog audio signal and the digital audio signal; and decreasing the initial sampling rate, the initial bit rate, or both for sampling subsequent analog audio when the qualitative error is below a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving acoustic echo cancellation in a cabin of a vehicle. A source of far end speech is detected using a far end speech control module. A main beam directed at a speaking occupant and based on the far end speech is formed using a beam forming module. An echo cancelation filter is formed based on the far end speech using an acoustic echo cancellation module. An audible communication from the speaking occupant is received with at least one microphone in a microphone array to generate a microphone signal. The microphone signal is filtered using a spatial filter based on the main beam and the echo cancellation filter to generate a cabin output signal which is broadcasted to the source of far end speech.

Abstract: A vehicle audio quality system for suppressing sudden vehicle cabin noise is provided, as well as methods of using the system. The system includes: an arrangement of heterogeneous microphones and a noise cancellation module (NCM). The microphone arrangement includes: a first microphone and a plurality of secondary microphones. The NCM includes a controller and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing application software executable by the controller to improve the quality of desired cabin audio received by the first microphone, the software performing the steps of: receiving a desired audio input from the first microphone; receiving supplemental audio input via the plurality of secondary microphones that includes a sudden cabin noise input; and applying a suppression procedure to the sudden cabin noise input.

Abstract: A vehicle audio quality system for suppressing sudden vehicle cabin noise is provided, as well as methods of using the system. The system includes: an arrangement of heterogeneous microphones and a noise cancelation module (NCM). The microphone arrangement includes: a first microphone and a plurality of secondary microphones. The NCM includes a controller and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing application software executable by the controller to improve the quality of desired cabin audio received by the first microphone, the software performing the steps of: receiving a desired audio input from the first microphone; receiving supplemental audio input via the plurality of secondary microphones that includes a sudden cabin noise input; and applying a suppression procedure to the sudden cabin noise input.

Abstract: An automatic speech recognition engine and a method of using the engine is described. The method pertains to front-end processing an audio signal and includes the steps of: identifying a plurality of voiced-frames of the audio signal; determining that one or more of the plurality of voiced-frames have a signal-to-noise (SNR) value greater than a first predetermined threshold; and based on the determination, bypassing noise suppression for the one or more of the plurality of voiced-frames.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for improving communication between occupants in a cabin of a vehicle. A source location of a speaking occupant and an output location of a loudspeaker is identified using a microphone array. A beam forming module directs a main beam at the source location and a null beam at the output location. An audible communication from the speaking occupant is received with the microphone array, filtered with a spatial filter based on the main beam and the null beam and broadcast over the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A system and method of activating at least some of a plurality of microphones in a vehicle includes: identifying an acoustic zone within the vehicle where a vehicle occupant is located; detecting one or more biometric attributes of the vehicle occupant; determining a location within the acoustic zone where the vehicle occupant utters speech based on the detected biometric attributes; and activating a subset of the plurality of microphones in the vehicle to receive speech within the acoustic zone based on the determined location.