Patents by Inventor Elias Nemer

Elias Nemer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11380340
    Abstract: A frequency domain long-term prediction system and method for estimating and applying an optimum long term predictor. Embodiments of the system and method include determining parameters of a single-tap predictor using a frequency-domain analysis having an optimality criteria based on spectral flatness measure. Embodiments of the system and method also include determining parameters of the long-term predictor by accounting for the performance of the vector quantizer in quantizing the various subbands. In some embodiments other encoder metrics (such as signal tonality) are used as well. Other embodiments of the system and method include determining the optimal parameters of the long-term predictor by accounting for some of the decoder operation. Other embodiments of the system and method include extending a 1-tap predictor to a k-th order predictor by convolving the 1-tap predictor with a pre-set filter and selecting from a table of such pre-set filters based on a minimum energy criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Jacek Stachurski, Zoran Fejzo, Antonius Kalker
  • Patent number: 10950251
    Abstract: Systems and methods include audio encoders having improved coding of harmonic signals. The audio encoders can be implemented as transform-based codecs with frequency coefficients quantized using spectral weights. The frequency coefficients can be quantized by use of the generated spectral weights applied to the frequency coefficients prior to the quantization or by use of the generated spectral weights in computation of error within a vector quantization that performs the quantization. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Zoran Fejzo
  • Publication number: 20190272837
    Abstract: Systems and methods include audio encoders having improved coding of harmonic signals. The audio encoders can be implemented as transform-based codecs with frequency coefficients quantized using spectral weights. The frequency coefficients can be quantized by use of the generated spectral weights applied to the frequency coefficients prior to the quantization or by use of the generated spectral weights in computation of error within a vector quantization that performs the quantization. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Zoran Fejzo
  • Patent number: 10146500
    Abstract: A transform-based codec and method with energy smoothing for mitigating vector quantization errors (such as “birdies”) during the encoding process. Embodiments of the codec and method use an encoder to apply in combination an orthogonal transformation and a vector permutation to frequency transform coefficients. In some embodiments the transformation is performed first followed by the permutation and in other embodiments the order is reversed. The order used is reversed at the decoder. A smoothing parameter containing the level of energy smoothing to be applied is passed from the encoder to the decoder and used by both to compute a transform matrix and an inverse transform matrix. In some embodiments the transform matrix is a fraction Hadamard matrix that is invertible, energy preserving, controllable, and stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Jeffrey K. Thompson, Antonius Kalker
  • Publication number: 20180075855
    Abstract: A frequency domain long-term prediction system and method for estimating and applying an optimum long term predictor. Embodiments of the system and method include determining parameters of a single-tap predictor using a frequency-domain analysis having an optimality criteria based on spectral flatness measure. Embodiments of the system and method also include determining parameters of the long-term predictor by accounting for the performance of the vector quantizer in quantizing the various subbands. In some embodiments other encoder metrics (such as signal tonality) are used as well. Other embodiments of the system and method include determining the optimal parameters of the long-term predictor by accounting for some of the decoder operation. Other embodiments of the system and method include extending a 1-tap predictor to a k-th order predictor by convolving the 1-tap predictor with a pre-set filter and selecting from a table of such pre-set filters based on a minimum energy criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Jacek Stachurski, Zoran Fejzo, Antonius Kalker
  • Publication number: 20180060023
    Abstract: A transform-based codec and method with energy smoothing for mitigating vector quantization errors (such as “birdies”) during the encoding process. Embodiments of the codec and method use an encoder to apply in combination an orthogonal transformation and a vector permutation to frequency transform coefficients. In some embodiments the transformation is performed first followed by the permutation and in other embodiments the order is reversed. The order used is reversed at the decoder. A smoothing parameter containing the level of energy smoothing to be applied is passed from the encoder to the decoder and used by both to compute a transform matrix and an inverse transform matrix. In some embodiments the transform matrix is a fraction Hadamard matrix that is invertible, energy preserving, controllable, and stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Jeffrey K. Thompson, Antonius Kalker
  • Patent number: 9293140
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for performing speaker-identification-assisted speech processing. In accordance with certain embodiments, a communication device includes speaker identification (SID) logic that is configured to identify a user of the communication device and/or the identity of a far-end speaker participating in a voice call with a user of the communication device. Knowledge of the identity of the user and/or far-end speaker is then used to improve the performance of one or more speech processing algorithms implemented on the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Juin-Hwey Chen, Robert W. Zopf, Bengt J. Borgstrom, Elias Nemer, Ashutosh Pandey, Jes Thyssen
  • Patent number: 9269368
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for performing speaker-identification-assisted speech processing in an uplink path of a communication device. In accordance with certain embodiments, a communication device includes speaker identification (SID) logic that is configured to identify the identity of a near-end speaker. Knowledge of the identity of the near-end speaker is then used to improve the performance of one or more uplink speech processing algorithms implemented on the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Juin-Hwey Chen, Jes Thyssen, Elias Nemer, Bengt J. Borgstrom, Ashutosh Pandey, Robert W. Zopf
  • Patent number: 9253568
    Abstract: A technique for suppressing non-stationary noise, such as wind noise, in an audio signal is described. In accordance with the technique, a series of frames of the audio signal is analyzed to detect whether the audio signal comprises non-stationary noise. If it is detected that the audio signal comprises non-stationary noise, a number of steps are performed. In accordance with these steps, a determination is made as to whether a frame of the audio signal comprises non-stationary noise or speech and non-stationary noise. If it is determined that the frame comprises non-stationary noise, a first filter is applied to the frame and if it is determined that the frame comprises speech and non-stationary noise, a second filter is applied to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Wilfrid LeBlanc, Syavosh Zad-Issa, Jes Thyssen
  • Publication number: 20150334215
    Abstract: A sound quality metric may be determined at a near-end telephone system, the sound quality metric associated with far-end sound quality received at a far-end telephone system. A signal adjustment may be determined, based on the sound quality metric. The signal adjustment may thus be provided at an earpiece of the near-end telephone system. In this way, a user of the near-end telephone system may be alerted that the sound quality of a far-end user is unacceptably low, so that the near-end user may take corrective action at the near end to improve the far-end sound quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza ZAD-ISSA, Elias NEMER
  • Patent number: 9124708
    Abstract: A sound quality metric may be determined at a near-end telephone system, the sound quality metric associated with far-end sound quality received at a far-end telephone system. A signal adjustment may be determined, based on the sound quality metric. The signal adjustment may thus be provided at an earpiece of the near-end telephone system. In this way, a user of the near-end telephone system may be alerted that the sound quality of a far-end user is unacceptably low, so that the near-end user may take corrective action at the near end to improve the far-end sound quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Zad-Issa, Elias Nemer
  • Publication number: 20150003606
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for detecting, quantifying, and compensating for non-linear characteristics of audio signals. External audio devices are detected when coupled to electronic or communication devices. Tuning operations are initiated upon detection of external audio devices to estimate non-linear parameters imparted to audio signals by the external audio devices. The non-linear components of audio signals are compensated for based upon the estimations. Compensation is performed using pre-processing filters, distortion circuits, post-processing filters. Estimation and compensation for non-linearities is performed on the basis of models dynamically generated during estimation and the use of higher-order statistics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Elias Nemer
  • Publication number: 20140278397
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for performing speaker-identification-assisted speech processing in an uplink path of a communication device. In accordance with certain embodiments, a communication device includes speaker identification (SID) logic that is configured to identify the identity of a near-end speaker. Knowledge of the identity of the near-end speaker is then used to improve the performance of one or more uplink speech processing algorithms implemented on the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Juin-Hwey Chen, Jes Thyssen, Elias Nemer, Bengt J. Borgstrom, Ashutosh Pandey, Robert W. Zopf
  • Publication number: 20140278417
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for performing speaker-identification-assisted speech processing. In accordance with certain embodiments, a communication device includes speaker identification (SID) logic that is configured to identify a user of the communication device and/or the identity of a far-end speaker participating in a voice call with a user of the communication device. Knowledge of the identity of the user and/or far-end speaker is then used to improve the performance of one or more speech processing algorithms implemented on the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Juin-Hwey Chen, Robert W. Zopf, Bengt J. Borgstrom, Elias Nemer, Ashutosh Pandey, Jes Thyssen
  • Publication number: 20140278418
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for performing speaker-identification-assisted speech processing in a downlink path of a communication device. In accordance with certain embodiments, a communication device includes speaker identification (SID) logic that is configured to identify the identity of a far-end speaker participating in a voice call with a user of the communication device. Knowledge of the identity of the far-end speaker is then used to improve the performance of one or more downlink speech processing algorithms implemented on the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Juin-Hwey Chen, Robert W. Zopf, Bengt J. Borgstrom, Elias Nemer, Ashutosh Pandey, Jes Thyssen
  • Patent number: 8644522
    Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a device, such as an acoustic echo canceller, may reduce the residual echo that may be heard at the far end of a conversation when an external speaker volume is changed. The device may compute a gain based on an echo estimate produced by a filter and on a near-end signal comprising audio information. The gain may be based on a correlation of the echo estimate and the near-end signal that tracks the changes in volume. Once computed, the gain may be validated to ensure that it is being applied when appropriate. The echo estimate may be adjusted by first applying the gain to an output of the filter and subsequently scaling a value of each of the coefficients of the filter based on the gain. The gain may be smoothed out over consecutive frames based on several adaptation schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wilfrid Paul LeBlanc, Elias Nemer
  • Patent number: 8515097
    Abstract: A technique for suppressing non-stationary noise, such as wind noise, in an audio signal is described. In accordance with the technique, a series of frames of the audio signal is analyzed to detect whether the audio signal comprises non-stationary noise. If it is detected that the audio signal comprises non-stationary noise, a number of steps are performed. In accordance with these steps, a determination is made as to whether a frame of the audio signal comprises non-stationary noise or speech and non-stationary noise. If it is determined that the frame comprises non-stationary noise, a first filter is applied to the frame and if it is determined that the frame comprises speech and non-stationary noise, a second filter is applied to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Elias Nemer, Wilfrid LeBlanc, Mohammad Zad-Issa, Jes Thyssen
  • Publication number: 20130163781
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for detecting and suppressing breathing noise in an audio signal. First, systems and methods are described that analyze audio signals generated by two or more microphones to detect breathing noise in one of the audio signals and that leverage the multiple microphones to suppress detected breathing noise in a manner that minimizes signal distortion. Then, systems and methods are described that are capable of analyzing the audio signal generated by a single microphone to detect breathing noise in the audio signal and thereafter suppress it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jes Thyssen, Elias Nemer
  • Publication number: 20120250872
    Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a device, such as an acoustic echo canceller, may reduce the residual echo that may be heard at the far end of a conversation when an external speaker volume is changed. The device may compute a gain based on an echo estimate produced by a filter and on a near-end signal comprising audio information. The gain may be based on a correlation of the echo estimate and the near-end signal that tracks the changes in volume. Once computed, the gain may be validated to ensure that it is being applied when appropriate. The echo estimate may be adjusted by first applying the gain to an output of the filter and subsequently scaling a value of each of the coefficients of the filter based on the gain. The gain may be smoothed out over consecutive frames based on several adaptation schemes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Wilfrid Paul LeBlanc, Elias Nemer
  • Patent number: 8059762
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an input symbol may be received, and a hard symbol may be generated from the input symbol. A probability associated with the hard symbol may be calculated along with a probability associated with a previous hard symbol. An enhanced symbol may then be determined as a function of a comparison between the probability associated the hard symbol and the previous hard symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmed Said, Varadanarayanan Mugundhan, Elias Nemer, Gregory R. Goslin