Abstract: An encoder comprising an input for inputting frames of an audio signal in a frequency band, at least a first excitation block for performing a first excitation for a speech like audio signal, and a second excitation block for performing a second excitation for a non-speech like audio signal. The encoder further comprises a filter for dividing the frequency band into a plurality of sub bands each having a narrower bandwidth than the frequency band. The encoder also comprises an excitation selection block for selecting one excitation block among the at least first excitation block and the second excitation block for performing the excitation for a frame of the audio signal on the basis of the properties of the audio signal at least at one of the sub bands. The invention also relates to a device, a system, a method and a storage medium for a computer program.

Abstract: Improved performance and user experience for speech recognition application and system by utilizing for example offline adaptation without tedious effort by a user. Interactions with a user may be in the form of a quiz, game, or other scenario wherein the user may implicitly provide vocal input for adaptation data. Queries with a plurality of candidate answers may be designed in an optimal and efficient way, and presented to the user, wherein detected speech from the user is then matched to one of the candidate answers, and may be used to adapt an acoustic model to the particular speaker for speech recognition.

Abstract: A method including detecting a selection of a plurality of erroneous words in text presented on a display of a device, in an automatic speech recognition system, receiving sequentially dictated corrections for the selected erroneous words in a single, continuous operation where each dictated correction corresponds to at least one of the selected erroneous words, and replacing the plurality of erroneous words with one or more corresponding words of the dictated corrections where each erroneous word is matched with the one or more corresponding words of the dictated corrections in an order the erroneous words appear according to a reading direction of the text.

Abstract: A method and corresponding codec for (channel) encoding speech or other data bits for transmission via a wireless communication channel, the method providing unequal error protection (UEP) using only a single encoder, and including: a step of determining how many bits to puncture in each of typically two protection classes (CA CB) so as to achieve either a predetermined or iterated desired level of error protection; and a step of identifying which bits to puncture for each class so as to provide relatively strong and uniform protection for all bits in the first class (CA), but protection that decreases in the same manner as the subjective importance decreases from the beginning to the end of the other classes. The method also accounts for so-called soft puncturing by modulators transmitting multiple bits per symbol with weaker protection for some of the bits of each symbol.

Abstract: A method of encoding speech in a communications system includes the steps of receiving a speech signal including voice signals and background signals, and detecting voice activity and providing an indicator when no voice activity is detected. The speech signal is encoded to generate a plurality of parameters representing the signal. When the indicator is not present, a first parametric representation of the speech signal is output, including the plurality of parameters. When the indicator is present, at least one of the plurality of parameters is modified and a second parametric representation of the speech signal, including the modified parameter is output.

Abstract: A method for use by a speech decoder in handling bad frames received over a communications channel a method in which the effects of bad frames are concealed by replacing the values of the spectral parameters of the bad frames (a bad frame being either a corrupted frame or a lost frame) with values based on an at least partly adaptive mean of recently received good frames, but in case of a corrupted frame (as opposed to a lost frame), using the bad frame itself if the bad frame meets a predetermined criterion. The aim of concealment is to find the most suitable parameters for the bad frame so that subjective quality of the synthesized speech is as high as possible.

Abstract: A speech decoder comprises a decoder (103) for converting a linear prediction encoded speech signal into a first sample stream having a first sampling rate and representing a first frequency band. Additionally it comprises a vocoder (105) for converting an input signal into a second sample stream having a second sampling rate and representing a second frequency band, and combination means (107) for combining the first and second sample streams in processed form. It comprises also means (301) for generating a second linear prediction filter, to be used by the vocoder (105) on the second frequency band, on the basis of a first linear prediction filter used by the decoder (103) on the first frequency band. Extrapolation through an infinite impulse response filter is the preferable method of generating the second linear prediction filter.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system comprises a mobile station (MS) and a network. The mobile station has a multi-rate speech encoder which produces an encoded speech signal which is transmitted to the network. The network has a multi-rate speech decoder which decodes the encoded speech signal to produce a decoded speech signal. The network also comprises a signal analyser which measures speech characteristics of the decoded speech signal to produce speech characteristics information and an up-link mode control unit which receives the speech characteristics information and produces a mode command. The mode command is transmitted by the network to the mobile station where it is used to control the speech encoding bit rate of the multi-rate speech encoder.

Abstract: A method for use by a speech decoder in handling bad frames received over a communications channel a method in which the effects of bad frames are concealed by replacing the values of the spectral parameters of the bad frames (a bad frame being either a corrupted frame or a lost frame) with values based on an at least partly adaptive mean of recently received good frames, but in case of a corrupted frame (as opposed to a lost frame), using the bad frame itself if the bad frame meets a predetermined criterion. The aim of concealment is to find the most suitable parameters for the bad frame so that subjective quality of the synthesized speech is as high as possible.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a preferable playback start location after a winding or rewinding action in an audio playing device. In response to an adjustment of the playing location for audio content to a desired playing position, the system determines whether at least one non-speech or silent period of at least a predetermined duration exists within the vicinity of the desired playing position. If at least one such non-speech or silent period exists within the vicinity of the desired playing position, the system adjusts the playing position to fall within one of the at least one non-speech period or silent period.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method, a device and a software application product for correcting a pronunciation of a speech object. The speech object is synthetically generated from a text object in dependence on a segmented representation of the text object. It is determined if an initial pronunciation of the speech object, which initial pronunciation is associated with an initial segmented representation of the text object, is incorrect. Furthermore, in case it is determined that the initial pronunciation of the speech object is incorrect, a new segmented representation of the text object is determined, which new segmented representation of the text object is associated with a new pronunciation of the speech object.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an enhanced audible feedback solution has been invented for electronic devices using an input device facilitating navigation though a plurality of available user interface input options and confirmation of a selected input option. The electronic device is arranged to define, as a response to detecting a selection of a character on the basis of a detection of a first input to an input device of the electronic device, an audio segment specific to the character. The electronic device is arranged to output the defined audio segment via the audio output means prior to a confirmation by a second input to the input device, the second input being associated with a function adding the character as part of a character sequence entered by the user.

Abstract: A method for use by a speech decoder in handling bad frames received over a communications channel a method in which the effects of bad frames are concealed by replacing the values of the spectral parameters of the bad frames (a bad frame being either a corrupted frame or a lost frame) with values based on an at least partly adaptive mean of recently received good frames, but in case of a corrupted frame (as opposed to a lost frame), using the bad frame itself if the bad frame meets a predetermined criterion. The aim of concealment is to find the most suitable parameters for the bad frame so that subjective quality of the synthesized speech is as high as possible.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus for encoding a sequence of bits for transmission as symbols, some of the bit positions of the symbols having a higher bit error rate than other bit positions. A plurality of sequences of bits is provided using a convolutional encoder, in response to a sequence of input bits, each sequence of bits being defined by a predetermined generator polynomial having a predetermined level of sensitivity to puncturing. Then the bits of each sequence of bits are mapped to symbol positions based on the level of sensitivity of the generator polynomial defining the sequence of bits. With interleaving, the mapping of bits of each sequence of bits to symbol positions can precede a symbol interleaving step, or it can follow a bit interleaving step.

Abstract: A method and system for concealing errors in one or more bad frames in a speech sequence as part of an encoded bit stream received in a decoder. When the speech sequence is voiced, the LTP-parameters in the bad frames are replaced by the corresponding parameters in the last frame. When the speech sequence is unvoiced, the LTP-parameters in the bad frames are replaced by values calculated based on the LTP history along with an adaptively-limited random term.

Abstract: An encoder comprising an input for inputting frames of an audio signal in a frequency band, at least a first excitation block for performing a first excitation for a speech like audio signal, and a second excitation block for performing a second excitation for a non-speech like audio signal. The encoder further comprises a filter for dividing the frequency band into a plurality of sub bands each having a narrower bandwidth than the frequency band. The encoder also comprises an excitation selection block for selecting one excitation block among the at least first excitation block and the second excitation block for performing the excitation for a frame of the audio signal on the basis of the properties of the audio signal at least at one of the sub bands. The invention also relates to a device, a system, a method and a storage medium for a computer program.

Abstract: A method of encoding speech in a communications system includes the steps of receiving a speech signal including voice signals and background signals, and detecting voice activity and providing an indicator when no voice activity is detected. The speech signal is encoded to generate a plurality of parameters representing the signal. When the indicator is not present, a first parametric representation of the speech signal is output, including the plurality of parameters. When the indicator is present, at least one of the plurality of parameters is modified and a second parametric representation of the speech signal, including the modified parameter is output.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are disclosed for digitally encoding and decoding sound—An input signal is split (811) into a primary frequency band and at least one secondary frequency band. The parts of the input signal in the frequency bands are separately encoded. Certain characteristics of the input signal in the primary frequency band and corresponding characteristics of the input signal in at least one secondary frequency band are examined (302, 303, 814) in order to find out, whether there is certain resemblance therebetween. Alternatively certain characteristic features of the process applied to encoding the primary frequency band extracted (305, 813) and used (307) in encoding the secondary frequency band, or such extracted characteristic features are replaced (306, 501, 701, 815) with a locally generated, independent set of corresponding features.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating a channel bit error ratio in a receiver, and to a receiver. In the method, a pseudo bit error ratio of a channel is determined. The receiver (114) comprises detecting means (202, 204, 206, 208) for detecting a data sequence of a received signal; decoding means (302) for decoding a first encoding of the detected data signal; and re-encoding meant (310) for re-encoding with the first encoding the data sequence decoded from the first encoding. The receiver (114) of the invention further comprises quality determining means (304) for providing the detected data sequence with a value for quality, and estimating means (308) for estimating the bit error ratio-provided that the quality of the detected data sequence fulfils a predetermined quality requirement by comparing the detected data sequence with the data sequence re-encoded with first encoding. The first encoding is typically a convolution coding.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a codeword over a transmission channel using a plurality of radio bursts. The codeword comprises a first sequence of time ordered protected bits and a second sequence of time ordered unprotected bits, and the radio bursts together provide a set of time ordered bit positions. Successive bits of said first sequence are allocated to the radio bursts in a cyclical manner so that adjacent protected bits are allocated to different radio bursts, while successive bits of said second sequence are allocated to remaining bit positions of the radio bursts in the time order of those remaining bit positions. The radio bursts are then transmitted sequentially on different frequency bands.