Patents Assigned to QNX Software Systems Limited
  • Patent number: 8606566
    Abstract: A system improves speech intelligibility by reconstructing speech segments. The system includes a low-frequency reconstruction controller programmed to select a predetermined portion of a time domain signal. The low-frequency reconstruction controller substantially blocks signals above and below the selected predetermined portion. A harmonic generator generates low-frequency harmonics in the time domain that lie within a frequency range controlled by a background noise modeler. A gain controller adjusts the low-frequency harmonics to substantially match the signal strength to the time domain original input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Xueman Li, Rajeev Nongpiur, Frank Linseisen, Phillip A. Hetherington
  • Publication number: 20130326479
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking compliance information for a build-system product are described. The compliance information is associated with one or more source code files used to build the build-system product. Tracking information is created for the build-system product including a source code identifier for each source code file that contributes to the build-system product. The tracking information can be utilized to identify the source codes files that contributed to the build-system product and identify the associated compliance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Keith Roderick RUSSELL, Eric Anthony JOHNSON, Michael Paul MICHALYSHYN
  • Patent number: 8595733
    Abstract: A system includes a processor, one or more memory storage units, and software code stored in the one or more memory storage units. The software code is executable by the processor to generate a plurality of adaptive partitions that are each associated with one or more process threads. The software code further includes a scheduling system that is executable by the processor for selectively allocating the processor to run the process threads based on a comparison between ordering function values for each adaptive partition. The ordering function value for each adaptive partition is calculated using one or more weighted variables for each adaptive partition. The variables include, for example, 1) the process budget, such as a guaranteed time budget, of the adaptive partition, 2) the critical budget, if any, of the adaptive partition, 3) the rate at which the process threads of an adaptive partition consume processor time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Dan Dodge, Attilla Danko, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Peter van der Veen, Colin Burgess, Thomas Fletcher, Brian Stecher
  • Publication number: 20130297306
    Abstract: An adaptive equalization system that adjusts the spectral shape of a speech signal based on an intelligibility measurement of the speech signal may improve the intelligibility of the output speech signal. Such an adaptive equalization system may include a speech intelligibility measurement module, a spectral shape adjustment module, and an adaptive equalization module. The speech intelligibility measurement module is configured to calculate a speech intelligibility measurement of a speech signal. The spectral shape adjustment module is configured to generate a weighted long-term speech curve based on a first predetermined long-term average speech curve, a second predetermined long-term average speech curve, and the speech intelligibility measurement. The adaptive equalization module is configured to adapt equalization coefficients for the speech signal based on the weighted long-term speech curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Phillip Alan Hetherington, Xueman Li
  • Publication number: 20130289996
    Abstract: A multipass processing system includes a first grammar-based speech recognition system that compares a spoken utterance to a sub-grammar. The sub-grammar includes keywords or key phrases from active grammars that each uniquely identifies one of many application engines. The first grammar-based speech recognition system generates a first grammar-based speech recognition result and a first grammar-based confidence score. A demultiplexer receives the spoken utterance through an input. The demultiplexer transmits the spoken utterance to one of many other grammar-based speech recognition systems based on the first grammar-based speech recognition-result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Darrin Kenneth Fry
  • Publication number: 20130289988
    Abstract: A post-processing speech system includes a natural language-based speech recognition system that compares a spoken utterance to a natural language vocabulary that includes words used to generate a natural language speech recognition result. A master conversation module engine compares the natural language speech recognition result to domain specific words and phrases. A voting engine selects a word or a phrase from the domain specific words and phrases that is transmitted to an application control system. The application control system transmits one or more control signals that are used to control an internal or an external device or an internal or an external process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Darrin Kenneth Fry
  • Patent number: 8572626
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to computer operating systems, and more specifically, to operating system calls in a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) environment. Existing SMP strategies either use a single lock or multiple locks to limit access to critical areas of the operating system to one thread at a time. These strategies suffer from a number of performance problems including slow execution, large software and execution overheads and deadlocking problems. The invention applies a single lock strategy to a micro kernel operating system design which delegates functionality to external processes. The micro kernel has a single critical area, the micro kernel itself, which executes very quickly, while the external processes are protected by proper thread management. As a result, a single lock may be used, overcoming the performance problems of the existing strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventor: Peter Van Der Veen
  • Publication number: 20130279877
    Abstract: A shared decoder resource is assigned to an input buffer providing an input data stream to generate a decoded output data stream. An event is detected that switches a preferred allocation of the video decoding resource relative to the application. The application using the video decoder is instructed to release the video decoder resource. The video decoding resource is then re-allocated to another input buffer to provide an input data stream of an other application to the video decoder to generate the output data stream. The input buffer of the input data streams associated with the application prior to receiving the event is maintained in a suspended state while the respective application is still active but is not associated with the video decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Adrian BOAK
  • Publication number: 20130279714
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and a method for transmitting continuous audio data configured to mitigate data discontinuities in a receiving device. The method may mitigate data discontinuities by transmitting a continuous stream of audio data that has reduced changes to the audio data characteristics. The method may transmit filler audio data when no application audio data is available. The application audio data and the filler audio data are processed to reduce changes to the audio data characteristics in each stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEM LIMITED
    Inventors: Joe Mammone, Michael Mead Truman
  • Publication number: 20130278619
    Abstract: A system improves the performance of buffering frames. After a buffer flip occurs when double buffering the frames, the system may update some portions of dirty buffer regions in a back buffer with changes between a source frame and an intermediate frame. The system may update other portions of the dirty buffer regions with changes between the intermediate frame and a target frame. An application may write to an application buffer or a display buffer depending on whether the application controls a region of the display buffer that corresponds to the application buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventor: Etienne BELANGER
  • Patent number: 8566503
    Abstract: A multimedia system comprising at least two multimedia devices having differing filesystems and/or no filesystem(s), one or more applications, and a media filesystem adapted to communicate with the at least two multimedia devices and the one or more applications is disclosed. The one or more applications are adapted to issue filesystem commands and/or receive filesystem responses in a common filesystem representation with respect to files of the at least two multimedia devices. The media filesystem may accept the filesystem commands from the one or more applications and may provide responses to filesystem commands to the one or more applications using the common filesystem representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Dan Dodge, Peter van der Veen
  • Patent number: 8566086
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the frequency response of speech signals are provided. An average speech spectral shape estimate is calculated over time based on the input speech signal. The average speech spectral shape estimate may be calculated in the frequency domain using a first order IIR filtering or “leaky integrators.” Thus, the average speech spectral shape estimate adapts over time to changes in the acoustic characteristics of the voice path or any changes in the electrical audio path that may affect the frequency response of the system. A spectral correction factor may be determined by comparing the average speech spectral shape estimate to a desired target spectral shape. The spectral correction factor may be added (in units of dB) to the spectrum of the input speech signal in order to enhance or adjust the spectrum of the input speech signal toward the desired spectral shape, and an enhanced speech signal re-synthesized from the corrected spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: David Giesbrecht, Phillip Hetherington
  • Patent number: 8558867
    Abstract: A system allocates channel bandwidth based on the data received from a plurality of remote sources. A de-multiplexer/priority circuit separates two or more different data streams into their components parts. A stream modification driver modifies one or more characteristics of the data received from the de-multiplexer/priority circuit based on a priority assigned to the data by the de-multiplexer/priority circuit. The de-multiplexer/priority circuit determines the data transfer rates for each of the different data streams based on the assigned priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mario Vaira, Alex Escott
  • Patent number: 8554564
    Abstract: A rule-based end-pointer isolates spoken utterances contained within an audio stream from background noise and non-speech transients. The rule-based end-pointer includes a plurality of rules to determine the beginning and/or end of a spoken utterance based on various speech characteristics. The rules may analyze an audio stream or a portion of an audio stream based upon an event, a combination of events, the duration of an event, or a duration relative to an event. The rules may be manually or dynamically customized depending upon factors that may include characteristics of the audio stream itself, an expected response contained within the audio stream, or environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Phil Hetherington, Alex Escott
  • Patent number: 8554557
    Abstract: A voice activity detection process is robust to a low and high signal-to-noise ratio speech and signal loss. A process divides an aural signal into one or more bands. Signal magnitudes of frequency components and the respective noise components are estimated. A noise adaptation rate modifies estimates of noise components based on differences between the signal to the estimated noise and signal variability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventor: Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Publication number: 20130257482
    Abstract: A sub-band processing system that reduces computational complexity and memory requirements includes a processor and a local or distributed memory. Logic stored in the memory partitions a frequency spectrum of bins into a smaller number of sub-bands. The logic enables a lossy compression by designating a magnitude and a designated or derived phase of each bin in the frequency spectrum as representative. The logic renders a lossless compression by decompressing the lossy compressed data and providing lost data based on original spectral relationships contained within the frequency spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventor: Shreyas Paranjpe
  • Publication number: 20130250825
    Abstract: An electronic device has a communication subsystem with a power saving mode and an active mode. The communication subsystem is set to switch between the power saving mode and the active mode depending on thresholds of communication traffic. The settings for the thresholds depend on the activity detected on the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED, RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Manpreet Kaur Gosal, Nils Patrik Lahti
  • Patent number: 8543390
    Abstract: A multi-channel signal enhancement system reinforces signal content and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of a multi-channel signal. The system detects, tracks, and reinforces non-stationary periodic signal components of a multi-channel signal. The periodic signal components of the signal may represent vowel sounds or other voiced sounds. The system may detect, track, or attenuate quasi-stationary signal components in the multi-channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Rajeev Nongpiur, Phillip Hetherington
  • Patent number: 8544013
    Abstract: A system is set forth that includes a processor, one or more memory storage units, and software code stored in the one or more memory storage units. The software code is executable by the processor to generate a plurality of adaptive partitions that are each associated with one or more process threads. Each of the plurality of adaptive partitions has a corresponding processor budget that is assigned to it. The process threads include a mutex holding thread and a mutex waiting thread. The mutex holding thread is associated with a first adaptive partition and may gain exclusive access to a mutex object. The mutex waiting thread is associated with a second adaptive partition and must wait for access to the mutex object while the mutex object is held by the mutex holding thread. The software code further includes a scheduling system that selectively allocates the processor to run the process threads based, at least in part, on the processor budget of the associated adaptive partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Dan Dodge, Attilla Danko, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Peter van der Veen, Colin Burgess, Thomas Fletcher, Brian Stecher
  • Publication number: 20130247066
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and memory storage units storing software code. The software code comprises code for a scheduling system and for generating a plurality of adaptive partitions that are each associated with one or more process threads and that each have a corresponding processor budget. The code also is executable to, when the system is under a normal load, allocate the processor to one of the threads that is in a ready state and has the highest priority among the process threads that are in a ready state. The code is also executable to, when the system is in overload, allocate the processor to one of the process threads that is in a ready state and has the highest priority among the process threads that are in a ready state and for which the adaptive partition that the process thread is associated with has available guaranteed processor budget.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Dan Dodge, Attila Danko, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Peter van der Veen, Colin Burgess, Thomas Fletcher, Brian Stecher