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: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling noise in a compartment. The audio system includes an error microphone configured to receive sounds and generate an error signal corresponding to the received sounds. A processor in communication with the error microphone is configured receive the error signal from the error microphone and generate a noise-canceling signal based at least in part on the error signal and an acoustic transfer function. The audio system also includes a loudspeaker in communication with the processor to receive the noise-canceling signal and produce a noise-canceling sound wave based on the noise-canceling signal. The processor is also configured to receive at least one audio signal different from the error signal and to modify the acoustic transfer function utilizing the at least one audio signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for filtering sound in a vehicle. The methods includes generating a microphone signal corresponding to sounds in the passenger compartment. The methods also include receiving an audio-based service being utilized by at least one occupant. A sound separation mode is selected from the plurality of sound separation modes. Each sound separation mode corresponds to a different audio filtering scheme. The method also includes filtering the input received by the microphone in accordance with the selected sound separation mode to generate at least one filtered signal.

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: An audio signal may be received, in a processor associated with a vehicle. Sound related vehicle information representing one or more sounds may be received by the processor. The sound related vehicle information may or may not include an audio signal. A speech recognition process or system may be modified based on the sound related vehicle information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing driver distraction and situation non-awareness related to a dialog of an automated dialog system in a vehicle. For a dialog policy learning session, driver distraction is introduced as an input into a penalty assigner that assesses dialog quality, and dialog acts are extended to include dialogs and dialog act presentation styles which reduce driver workload related to dialogs. The automated dialog system policy is developed during the learning process by optimizing the penalties, so that automated dialog workload is reduced in response to increased workload or anticipated workload on the driver. Methods and systems are presented for responding to both actual workload in regular vehicles as well as anticipated workload in autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for active noise control in a vehicle. The system includes a position sensor for sensing an occupant position. A microphone receives audible noise and generates an error signal corresponding to the audible noise. A first controller is configured to receive the error signal from the microphone and generate a modified error signal by modifying the error signal based on the occupant position with respect to the microphone. A second controller is in communication with the first controller and configured to generate an anti-noise signal based at least in part on the modified error signal. The system also includes a loudspeaker in communication with the second controller for receiving the anti-noise signal from the second controller and producing sound corresponding to the anti-noise signal to negate at least some of the audible noise.

Abstract: A vehicle apparatus includes a seat and a transducer configured to vibrate such that a vibration is felt by a person sitting in the seat. A transducer control signal that is transmitted to the transducer is based on output from a sensor of the apparatus configured to measure data including parameters indicative of at least one of a vehicle system function, a vehicle environment, and driver state, or on output from the vehicle system indicating parameters related to the vehicle system, vehicle environment, or driver state.

Abstract: A method for producing sounds corresponding to an exterior of a source vehicle through an audio system corresponding to an interior of the source vehicle includes receiving an input audio signal corresponding to an undefined sound originating from a source within an external environment of the source vehicle and determining the undefined sound to be indicative of a specific external sound to be produced at a desired loudness by one or more output sound devices located within an internal cabin of the source vehicle. An output audio signal is generated based upon the input audio signal and a desired loudness for the specific external sound to be produced. The output audio signal is transmitted to the one or more output sound devices located within an internal cabin of the source vehicle to produce the specific external sound mixed in combination with internal sound that originates from one or more infotainment sources.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing speech dialog of a speech system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a first utterance from a user of the speech system; determining a first list of possible results from the first utterance, wherein the first list includes at least two elements that each represent a possible result; analyzing the at least two elements of the first list to determine an ambiguity of the elements; and generating a speech prompt to the user based on partial orthography and the ambiguity.

Abstract: A system and method of regulating automatic speech recognition (ASR) playback of audible prompts includes: generating an audible prompt via a speaker; detecting ambient sound during the audible prompt via a microphone; obtaining a speech recognition confidence value for speech recognition performed on the ambient sound; and reducing a volume level of the audible prompt based on the speech recognition confidence value while continuing to generate the audible prompt.

Abstract: A unified microphone pre-processing system includes a plurality of microphones arranged within a vehicle passenger compartment, a processing circuit or system configured to receive signals from one or more of the plurality of microphones, and the processing circuit configured to enhance the received signals for use by at least two of a telephony processing application, an automatic speech recognition processing application, and a noise cancellation processing application. The method includes receiving signals from one or more of a plurality of microphones arranged within a vehicle passenger compartment, and enhancing the received signals for use by at least two of a telephony processing application, an automatic speech recognition processing application, and a noise cancellation processing application. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for filtering sound. A position sensor determines positions of a plurality of occupants in a defined space. Multiple microphones receive sound and generate corresponding audio signals. A processor in communication with the microphones and the position sensor receives the positions of the occupants and the audio signals. The processor determines which of the occupants are engaging in speech and applies a temporal-spatial filter to the audio signals to generate a plurality of output signals corresponding respectively to each occupant of the defined space.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing speech dialog of a speech system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving information determined from a non-speech related sensor; using the information in a turn-taking function to confirm at least one of if and when a user is speaking; and generating a command to at least one of a speech recognition module and a speech generation module based on the confirmation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing spoken dialog within a speech system. The method includes establishing a spoken dialog session having a first dialog context, and receiving a context trigger associated with an action performed by a user. In response to the context trigger, the system changes to a second dialog context. In response to a context completion condition, the system then returns to the first dialog context.

Abstract: A method for providing audible signals (such as speech) to a driver of a vehicle which appear to originate from a virtual sound source in front of the driver, so that it will feel normal for the driver to respond interactively by speaking without turning the head to the source of the audible signal. The driver's head position is estimated according to data provided by sensors in the driver's seat, and this position data, together with acoustical characteristics of the vehicle interior, is used to derive a transfer function for filtering electrical audible signals to the loudspeakers to simulate a virtual sound source in front of the driver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arbitrating spoken dialog services include determining a capability catalog associated with a plurality of devices accessible within an environment. The capability catalog includes a list of the plurality of devices mapped to a list of spoken dialog services provided by each of the plurality of devices. The system arbitrates between the plurality of devices and the spoken dialog services in the capability catalog to determine a selected device and a selected dialog service.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for receiving desired sounds. The system includes a position sensor configured to determine an occupant position of an occupant engaging in speech within a defined space and transmit the speaking occupant position. A plurality of microphones are configured to receive sound from within the defined space and transmit audio signals corresponding to the received sound. A processor, in communication with the position sensor and the microphones, is configured to receive the speaking occupant position and the audio signals, apply a beamformer to the audio signals to direct a microphone beam toward the occupant position, and generate a beamformer output signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for shaping speech dialog of a speech system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving data related to a first utterance from a user of the speech system; processing the data based on at least one attribute processing technique that determines at least one attribute of the first utterance; determining a shaping pattern based on the at least one attribute; and generating a speech prompt based on the shaping pattern.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing speech dialog of a speech system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a first utterance from a user of the speech system; determining a first list of possible results from the first utterance, wherein the first list includes at least two elements that each represent a possible result; analyzing the at least two elements of the first list to determine an ambiguity of the elements; and generating a speech prompt to the user based on partial orthography and the ambiguity.