Patents Assigned to QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.
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Patent number: 7680652Abstract: A signal enhancement system improves the understandability of speech or other audio signals. The system reinforces selected parts of the signal, may attenuate selected parts of the signal, and may increase SNR. The system includes delay logic, an adaptive filter, and signal reinforcement logic. The adaptive filter may track one or more fundamental frequencies in the input signal and outputs a filtered signal. The filtered signal may approximately reproduce the input signal approximately delayed by an integer multiple of the signal's fundamental frequencies. The reinforcement logic combines the input signal and the filtered signal output to produce an enhanced signal output.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2004Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: David Giesbrecht, Phillip Hetherington
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Patent number: 7657668Abstract: A system synchronizes data flow between a first device and a second device. The system includes a data link that connects two or more devices that are capable of sending and receiving data through a bus. A capture device senses and transfer information through the bus. A ring buffer temporarily stores data transmitted through the bus. A read controller copies or reconstructs data in a length that is different from the length of the data received. A monitor detects underflow or overflow conditions into or out of the ring buffer and compensates for clock drift.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventor: Alex Escott
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Patent number: 7624260Abstract: A processing system is set forth that includes a processor, read only memory storing an operating system image file accessible by the processor, and random access memory that is also accessible by the processor. The processing system also includes a boot program that is executable by the processor to initialize the processing system in response, for example, to a power-on event, reset event, or a wake-up event. A power-on event occurs when power is initially provided to the processing system while a wake-up event occurs when the processing system is to exit a low-power mode of operation. A reset event occurs when, for example, a fault is detected that causes the system to restart. The boot program selectively performs a full boot copy of the operating system image file from the read only memory to the random access memory or a fast boot copy of only predetermined portions of the operating system image file from the read only memory to the random access memory.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Sheridan Ethier, Randy Martin, Colin Burgess, Brian Stecher
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Patent number: 7620546Abstract: A speech signal isolation system configured to isolate and reconstruct a speech signal transmitted in an environment in which frequency components of the speech signal are masked by background noise. The speech signal isolation system obtains a noisy speech signal from an audio source. The noisy speech signal may then be fed through a neural network that has been trained to isolate and reconstruct a clean speech signal from against background noise. Once the noisy speech signal has been fed through the neural network, the speech signal isolation system generates an estimated speech signal with substantially reduced noise.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2005Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Phillip Hetherington, Pierre Zakarauskas, Shahla Parveen
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Patent number: 7610196Abstract: A signal enhancement system improves the understandability of speech or other audio signals. The system reinforces selected parts of the signal, may attenuate selected parts of the signal, and may increase SNR. The system includes delay logic, a partitioned adaptive filter, and signal reinforcement logic. The partitioned adaptive filter may track and enhance the fundamental frequency and harmonics in the input signal. The partitioned filter output signals may approximately reproduce the input signal, delayed by an integer multiple of the period of the fundamental frequency of the input signal. The reinforcement logic combines the input signal and the filtered signals to produce an enhanced output signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Rajeev Nongpiur, David Giesbrecht, Phillip Hetherington
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Patent number: 7599972Abstract: A system is set forth that includes a processor, a data storage device that accessible by the processor, and filesystem software that executable by the processor to organize files on the data storage device. The filesystem software is executable to organize files on the data storage device in storage areas having different logical storage block sizes that are dependent on file type. In one implementation, the filesystem software is executable to generate a hole map associated with the data storage device. The hole map comprises data indicative of a logical storage block size for each of a plurality of storage areas of the data storage device and, optionally, data indicative of a degree of usage for each of the plurality of storage areas. The filesystem may identify the file type using a filename of the file and/or embedded file information.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Dan Dodge, Peter Van Der Veen
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Patent number: 7590839Abstract: A fast booting system decreases the boot time of a computer system, and allows the fast launching of applications on a subsequent reboot. The fast booting system stores data associated with fast boot applications in a non-volatile memory. On a subsequent reboot, the fast booting system reads the data and launches the fast boot applications to decrease boot time.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter van der Veen, Colin Burgess
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Publication number: 20090216530Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers). Inc.Inventors: Mark Fallat, Derek Sahota
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Patent number: 7571104Abstract: A system and method are provided for creating shorter more natural sounding voice messages and prompts from a plurality of pre-recorded sound segments, the prerecorded sound segments are dynamically cross faded in order to produce a more natural blended sound, various cross fade parameters such as the fade length and the shape of the cross fade amplitude envelopes are determined based on characteristics of the various sound segments being combined.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Alex Escott, Norrie K. Taylor
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Patent number: 7549151Abstract: An asynchronous message passing mechanism that allows for multiple messages to be batched for delivery between processes, while allowing for full memory protection during data transfers and a lockless mechanism for speeding up queue operation and queuing and delivering messages simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: QNX Software SystemsInventors: Hao Zhou, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Peter van der Veen, Pradeep Kathail, Steve Belair
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Patent number: 7546237Abstract: A system extends the bandwidth of a narrowband speech signal into a wideband spectrum. The system includes a high-band generator that generates a high frequency spectrum based on a narrowband spectrum. A background noise generator generates a high frequency background noise spectrum based on a background noise within the narrowband spectrum. A summing circuit linked to the high-band generator and the background noise generator combines the high frequency spectrum and narrowband spectrum and the high frequency background noise spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Rajeev Nongpiur, Xueman Li, Phillip A. Hetherington
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Publication number: 20090116661Abstract: A noise reduction system includes multiple transducers that generate time domain signals. A transforming device transforms the time domain signals into frequency domain signals. A signal mixing device mixes the frequency domain signals according to a mixing ratio. Frequency domain signals are rotated in phase to generate phase rotated signals. A post-processing device attenuates portions of the output based on coherence levels of the signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventor: Phillip A. Hetherington
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Patent number: 7461098Abstract: Computer systems with multiple users will typically store various versions of the same software; different versions being required for different platforms and to maintain compatibility with other software applications. These computer files are generally organized in a hierarchical structure to make their location and access easier, but this still results in a very complicated and inefficient system. The invention provides a custom file system which allows each user, node or system, to identify and manage only the files that are pertinent to it. This custom filesystem provides a custom hierarchical structure of files and folders, and links back to the real file locations in the main file system. The custom file system has priority over the main file system, in that a process manager will attempt to address requests on the custom filesystem before trying to place them on the main filesystem.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2006Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas O. P. Fletcher, Peter H. Van Der Veen, Dan Dodge
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Patent number: 7461247Abstract: A system for meeting demanding boot time requirements, such as those timing requirement mandated by vehicle telematics systems, is described. Current computer systems use expensive hardware like coprocessors to service requests, such as input/output requests, that have timing requirements which are less than the time required to load the operating system into memory. Instead, a mini-driver may be initialized early in the boot process before the operating system is loaded, to service these requests. For example, the mini-driver may buffer incoming data, and/or reply to incoming messages. After the operating system has loaded, a second device driver may be initialized, and the mini-driver may be transitioned to the second driver.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter van der Veen, Sheridan Ethier, Brian Stecher, Brian Edmond
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Patent number: 7440980Abstract: A file management system for use with a computer system is disclosed. The file management system comprises a real filesystem for accessing files stored on a storage medium and a custom filesystem. The custom filesystem comprises a hierarchical arrangement of links to a subset of files of the real filesystem. In operation, the custom filesystem has processing priority over the real filesystem. As such, the custom filesystem processes requests relating to files of the file subset prior to processing, if any, of the requests by the real filesystem.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas O. P. Fletcher, Peter H. Van Der Veen, Dan Dodge
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Patent number: 7433900Abstract: A computer system having a computer, a custom filesystem, and a real filesystem is disclosed. The custom filesystem is comprised of virtual files that may be mapped to a subset of real files of the real filesystem. The custom filesystem may provide an arrangement of the virtual files to a user through the user interface. This limited arrangement may present the virtual files in a hierarchical arrangement that may be easily navigated and customized for a particular computer, group of computers, computer user, or group of computer users. The custom filesystem may maintain its own metafile information for the virtual files.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas O. P. Fletcher, Peter H. Van Der Veen, Dan Dodge
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Publication number: 20080226110Abstract: A microphone shield system captures sound in adverse conditions. The system includes a microphone positioned within a membrane. The membrane is inflated around the microphone to form an enclosure. The inflated membrane passes signals within a selected frequency range. The membrane may block or attenuate signals above and/or below the frequency range to pass a desired sound with little surrounding interference.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Ian Soutar, Dennis Watkins, William Copeland
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Publication number: 20080228478Abstract: A system detects a speech segment that may include unvoiced, fully voiced, or mixed voice content. The system includes a digital converter that converts a time-varying input signal into a digital-domain signal. A window function passes 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 converts the signals passing within the programmed aural frequency range into a plurality of frequency bins. A background voice detector estimates the strength of a background speech segment relative to the noise of selected portions of the aural spectrum. A noise estimator estimates a maximum distribution of noise to an average of an acoustic noise power of some of the plurality of frequency bins.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
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Patent number: 7415122Abstract: A microphone shield system captures sound in adverse conditions. The system includes a microphone positioned within an enclosure. A membrane stretched across a portion of the enclosure passes signals within a selected frequency range. The membrane may block or attenuate signals above and/or below the frequency range to pass a desired sound with little surrounding interference.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventors: Ian Soutar, Dennis Watkins, William Copeland
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Patent number: 7231347Abstract: A signal enhancement system improves the quality of a noisy input signal. The system finds a low noise signal model which best matches the noisy input signal. Noisy portions of the input signal are replaced with portions of the low noise signal models. As the input signal increases in noise content, the output signal includes an increasing amount of the low noise signal model. The system thereby produces an output signal with very low noise which corresponds to the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2005Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.Inventor: Pierre Zakarauskas