Abstract: The perceived quality of a speech signal is improved by estimating the average power of first and second signal components and applying a first gain factor to the second signal components to generate adjusted second signal components. The first gain factor is selected such that on application of the first gain factor to the second signal components, the ratio of the average power of the first signal components to the average power of the adjusted second signal components would be a first predetermined value, the first predetermined value being such as to inhibit perceptual distortion of the improved speech signal.

Abstract: The perceived quality of a narrowband speech signal truncated from a wideband speech signal is improved by generating in a third frequency band third speech components matching first speech components in a first frequency band of the narrowband signal, and generating in a fourth frequency band fourth speech components matching second speech components in a second frequency band of the narrowband signal. A first gain factor is applied to the third speech components to generate adjusted third speech components, and a second gain factor is applied to the fourth speech components to generate adjusted fourth speech components, the gain factors being selected such that the ratios of the average powers of the adjusted third and fourth speech components to the average power of the first speech components are predetermined values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding portions of a data stream, wherein each portion comprises a plurality of samples. The method comprises storing portions of the data stream, decoding portions of the data stream to form decoded portions, and storing the decoded portions. The method further comprises identifying that a portion of the data stream is degraded. Following identifying that a portion of the data stream is degraded, the method generates a decoded portion for the degraded portion of the data stream using the stored decoded portions. The method also updates a state of a decoder by: estimating a pitch period of the degraded portion; selecting a group of successive samples of the stored portions of the data stream, the group of successive samples offset from the degraded portion in the data stream by a multiple of the estimated pitch period; and decoding the selected samples at the decoder.

Abstract: Improved vocal signals are obtained in headsets and similar devices by including a microphone inside a chamber formed at least in part by the wearer's ear. This second microphone provides a reduced noise input signal. The reduced noise signal is corrected by input from another microphone, located outside the chamber. This correction can include echo cancellation, spectral shaping, frequency extension, and the like.

Abstract: A method of updating a state of a decoder that decodes successive portions of a data stream representing an encoded voice signal in dependence on its state, the method comprising: at the decoder, decoding portions of the data stream to form decoded portions; storing the decoded portions; storing respective decoder states held by the decoder after forming each decoded portion; identifying that a portion of the data stream is degraded; estimating a pitch period of a stored decoded portion formed by decoding a portion of the data stream that precedes the degraded portion of the data stream; selecting a stored decoder state held by the decoder after decoding a portion of the data stream that precedes the degraded portion by a multiple of the estimated pitch period; and updating the state of the decoder with the selected decoder state.

Abstract: An audio handling device comprising: a source of audio data; a microphone; a loudspeaker; a transmitter for transmitting audio data; modification means for modifying the audio data; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the device, the control unit being capable of receiving signals from the microphone and configuring the conveying of audio data from the source to one or both of the loudspeaker and the transmitter; the control unit being capable of configuring the device such that during at least a probing period the modification means modifies audio data from the source and the modified audio data is transmitted by the transmitter, and being arranged to select in dependence on data dependent on signals received from the microphone whether to apply audio data from the source to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A two microphone noise reduction system is described. In an embodiment, input signals from each of the microphones are divided into subbands and each subband is then filtered independently to separate noise and desired signals and to suppress non-stationary and stationary noise. Filtering methods used include adaptive decorrelation filtering. A post-processing module using adaptive noise cancellation like filtering algorithms may be used to further suppress stationary and non-stationary noise in the output signals from the adaptive decorrelation filtering and a single microphone noise reduction algorithm may be used to further provide optimal stationary noise reduction performance of the system.

Abstract: A signal processor for estimating noise power in an audio signal includes a filter unit for generating a series of power values, each power value representing the power in the audio signal at a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands; a signal classification unit for analysing successive portions of the audio signal to assess whether each portion contains features characteristic of speech, and for classifying each portion in dependence on that analysis; a correction unit for estimating a minimum power value in a time-limited part of the audio signal, estimating the total noise power in that part of the audio signal and forming a correction factor dependent on the ratio of the minimum power value to the estimated total noise power, the correction unit being configured to estimate the minimum power value and the total noise power over only those portions of the time-limited part of the signal that are classified by the signal classification unit as being less characteristic of speech; and a noise estim

Abstract: An audio processing device for reducing the effect on a first signal of echo from a second signal, the device comprising: an echo reduction processor for processing the first signal to reduce echo in it, the echo reduction unit having: a first mode of operation for reducing echo of a first function from the first signal; and a second mode of operation for reducing echo of a second function from the first signal, the second function being more complex than the first function and the echo reduction processor being such as to consume more power in the second mode of operation than in the first mode of operation; and an echo reduction controller for controlling the echo reduction processor to operate in a selected one of the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem.

Abstract: Improved vocal signals are obtained in headsets and similar devices by including a microphone inside a chamber formed at least in part by the wearer's ear. This second microphone provides a reduced noise input signal. The reduced noise signal is corrected by input from another microphone, located outside the chamber. This correction can include echo cancellation, spectral shaping, frequency extension, and the like.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem.

Abstract: A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control.