Patents by Inventor Holly Francois

Holly Francois 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: 11830473
    Abstract: A system for synthesising expressive speech includes: an interface configured to receive an input text for conversion to speech; a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to generate, using an expressivity characterisation module, a plurality of expression vectors, wherein each expression vector is a representation of prosodic information in a reference audio style file, and synthesise expressive speech from the input text, using an expressive acoustic model comprising a deep convolutional neural network that is conditioned by at least one of the plurality of expression vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jesus Monge Alvarez, Holly Francois, Hosang Sung, Seungdo Choi, Kihyun Choo, Sangjun Park
  • Patent number: 11380338
    Abstract: Provided are a signal processing method and apparatus for enhancing sound quality. The signal processing method performed by a signal transmitting apparatus includes determining, based on a plurality of parameters, a valid bandwidth so as to encode an input signal; performing pre-processing on the input signal, based on the valid bandwidth; and encoding the pre-processed input signal, based on the valid bandwidth, and the signal processing method performed by a signal receiving apparatus includes decoding a bitstream or a packet received via a transmission channel; determining a valid bandwidth, based on a plurality of parameters used in the decoding; and performing post-processing on a decoded signal, based on the valid bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-sang Sung, Holly Francois, Ki-hyun Choo, Eun-mi Oh, Kyung-hun Jung, Yaodu Wei
  • Publication number: 20210225358
    Abstract: A system for synthesising expressive speech includes: an interface configured to receive an input text for conversion to speech; a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to generate, using an expressivity characterisation module, a plurality of expression vectors, wherein each expression vector is a representation of prosodic information in a reference audio style file, and synthesise expressive speech from the input text, using an expressive acoustic model comprising a deep convolutional neural network that is conditioned by at least one of the plurality of expression vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jesus MONGE ALVAREZ, Holly Francois, Hosang Sung, Seungdo Choi, Kihyun Choo, Sangjun Park
  • Patent number: 11037581
    Abstract: Provided is a method for processing a signal adaptively to a noisy environment, the method including: determining a class related to enhancement of intelligibility, based on a noise spectrum of a reception side or a near-end device and a received voice spectrum; generating guide information for the enhancement of intelligibility based on the noise spectrum, the voice spectrum, and the determined class; and generating a changed voice spectrum by applying the guide information to the voice spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-hyun Choo, Holly Francois, Eun-mi Oh, Chang-yeong Kim, Ho-sang Sung, Kyung-hun Jung
  • Patent number: 10957340
    Abstract: A voice signal processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for overcoming the problem includes: acquiring a real-time near-end noise signal; acquiring a far-end voice signal according to an incoming call; measuring subjective speech quality and perceptual-objective speech quality of test signals generated based on a reference signal and the real-time near-end noise signal; selecting at least one speech quality enhancement method based on the subjective speech quality and the perceptual-objective speech quality, and determining parameters that are to be applied to the selected at least one speech quality enhancement method; and enhancing speech quality of the far-end voice signal by using the selected at least one speech quality enhancement method, based on the determined parameters, wherein the test signals are generated by mixing the acquired real-time near-end noise signal with the reference signal whose speech quality is enhanced by applying a combination of parameter values to s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-sang Sung, Eun-mi Oh, Holly Francois
  • Publication number: 20210012786
    Abstract: Provided are a signal processing method and apparatus for enhancing sound quality. The signal processing method performed by a signal transmitting apparatus includes determining, based on a plurality of parameters, a valid bandwidth so as to encode an input signal; performing pre-processing on the input signal, based on the valid bandwidth; and encoding the pre-processed input signal, based on the valid bandwidth, and the signal processing method performed by a signal receiving apparatus includes decoding a bitstream or a packet received via a transmission channel; determining a valid bandwidth, based on a plurality of parameters used in the decoding; and performing post-processing on a decoded signal, based on the valid bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-sang SUNG, Holly FRANCOIS, Ki-hyun CHOO, Eun-mi OH, Kyung-hun JUNG, Yaodu WEI
  • Patent number: 10803877
    Abstract: Provided are a signal processing method and apparatus for enhancing sound quality. The signal processing method performed by a signal transmitting apparatus includes determining, based on a plurality of parameters, a valid bandwidth so as to encode an input signal; performing pre-processing on the input signal, based on the valid bandwidth; and encoding the pre-processed input signal, based on the valid bandwidth, and the signal processing method performed by a signal receiving apparatus includes decoding a bitstream or a packet received via a transmission channel; determining a valid bandwidth, based on a plurality of parameters used in the decoding; and performing post-processing on a decoded signal, based on the valid bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-sang Sung, Holly Francois, Ki-hyun Choo, Eun-mi Oh, Kyung-hun Jung, Yaodu Wei
  • Publication number: 20200075038
    Abstract: A voice signal processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for overcoming the problem includes: acquiring a real-time near-end noise signal; acquiring a far-end voice signal according to an incoming call; measuring subjective speech quality and perceptual-objective speech quality of test signals generated based on a reference signal and the real-time near-end noise signal; selecting at least one speech quality enhancement method based on the subjective speech quality and the perceptual-objective speech quality, and determining parameters that are to be applied to the selected at least one speech quality enhancement method; and enhancing speech quality of the far-end voice signal by using the selected at least one speech quality enhancement method, based on the determined parameters, :herein the test signals are generated by mixing the acquired real-time near-end noise signal with the reference signal whose speech quality is enhanced by applying a combination of parameter values to s
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Ho-sang SUNG, Eun-mi OH, Holly FRANCOIS
  • Publication number: 20190348058
    Abstract: Provided is a method for processing a signal adaptively to a noisy environment, the method including: determining a class related to enhancement of intelligibility, based on a noise spectrum of a reception side or a near-end device and a received voice spectrum; generating guide information for the enhancement of intelligibility based on the noise spectrum, the voice spectrum, and the determined class; and generating a changed voice spectrum by applying the guide information to the voice spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-hyun CHOO, Holly FRANCOIS, Eun-mi OH, Chang-Yeong KIM, Ho-sang SUNG, Kyung-hun JUNG
  • Publication number: 20190156850
    Abstract: There is provided a noise suppressor 2 comprising a receiver 4 operable to receive an input audio signal 14 and to produce from the input audio signal 14 a first signal 16 and a second signal 18, the input audio signal 14 comprising desired audio and transmission end noise. The noise suppressor 2 further comprises a first processor 6 operable to perform a first process on the first signal 16, the first process comprising noise suppression to remove at least a portion of the transmission end noise from the first signal 16 before outputting the first signal 16 to a first audio channel 10. The noise suppressor further comprises a second processor 8 operable to perform a second process on the second signal 18, the second process comprising outputting the second signal 18 to a second audio channel 12. The first process comprises more aggressive noise suppression than the second process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Holly FRANCOIS, Ki-hyun CHOO
  • Publication number: 20190027156
    Abstract: Provided are a signal processing method and apparatus for enhancing sound quality. The signal processing method performed by a signal transmitting apparatus includes determining, based on a plurality of parameters, a valid bandwidth so as to encode an input signal; performing pre-processing on the input signal, based on the valid bandwidth; and encoding the pre-processed input signal, based on the valid bandwidth, and the signal processing method performed by a signal receiving apparatus includes decoding a bitstream or a packet received via a transmission channel; determining a valid bandwidth, based on a plurality of parameters used in the decoding; and performing post-processing on a decoded signal, based on the valid bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-sang SUNG, Holly FRANCOIS, Ki-hyun CHOO, Eun-mi OH, Kyung-hun JUNG, Yaodu WEI
  • Patent number: 9230555
    Abstract: An apparatus receives an input encoded audio data signal comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. A reference unit (103) generates reference audio data corresponding to audio data of a reference set of layers. A layer unit (105) divides the layers of the input signal into a first subset and a second subset. A sample unit (107) generates sample audio data corresponding to the audio data of the first subset. A comparison unit (109) generates a difference measure by comparing the sample audio data to the reference audio data based on a perceptual model. An output unit (111) then determines if the difference measure meets a similarity criterion and generates an output signal without audio data from a layer of the second subset if the similarity criterion is met and including the audio data of the layer otherwise. The invention may provide reduced data rates without an unacceptable degradation of quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Holly Francois, Jonathan A. Gibbs
  • Publication number: 20120116560
    Abstract: An apparatus receives an input encoded audio data signal comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. A reference unit (103) generates reference audio data corresponding to audio data of a reference set of layers. A layer unit (105) divides the layers of the input signal into a first subset and a second subset. A sample unit (107) generates sample audio data corresponding to the audio data of the first subset. A comparison unit (109) generates a difference measure by comparing the sample audio data to the reference audio data based on a perceptual model. An output unit (111) then determines if the difference measure meets a similarity criterion and generates an output signal without audio data from a layer of the second subset if the similarity criterion is met and including the audio data of the layer otherwise. The invention may provide reduced data rates without an unacceptable degradation of quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly Francois, Jon. Gibbs