Patents by Inventor Mark Fallat

Mark Fallat 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: 9843880
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in which spatial information about sound sources at an originating location is represented in an audio signal. The system applies a phase difference analysis to the signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices or microphones to derive spatial or directional information about the relative directions of one or more satellite input devices or microphones. The signals from the satellite input devices or microphones are mixed by a function of their respective directions to generate a multichannel output signal. When processed by a remote or local system, the output signal provides a representation of the relative directions of the sound sources at the originating location at a receiving location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Patent number: 9736611
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in an audio signal at a receiving location. The system applies a phase difference analysis to signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices that convert sound into electrical signals. The system derives spatial or directional information about the relative locations of the sound sources. The converted signals may be mixed using weights derived from the spatial information to generate a multichannel output signal that, when processed by a remote or local audio system, generates a representation of the relative locations of the sound sources at the originating location at the receiving location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20150223003
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in an audio signal at a receiving location. The system applies a phase difference analysis to signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices that convert sound into electrical signals. The system derives spatial or directional information about the relative locations of the sound sources. The converted signals may be mixed using weights derived from the spatial information to generate a multichannel output signal that, when processed by a remote or local audio system, generates a representation of the relative locations of the sound sources at the originating location at the receiving location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Philip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Patent number: 9036843
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in an audio signal at a receiving location. The system applies a phase difference analysis to signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices that convert sound into electrical signals. The system derives spatial or directional information about the relative locations of the sound sources. The converted signals may be mixed using weights derived from the spatial information to generate a multichannel output signal that, when processed by a remote or local audio system, generates a representation of the relative locations of the sound sources at the originating location at the receiving location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20150098573
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in which spatial information about sound sources at an originating location is represented in an audio signal. The system applies a phase difference analysis to the signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices or microphones to derive spatial or directional information about the relative directions of one or more satellite input devices or microphones. The signals from the satellite input devices or microphones are mixed by a function of their respective directions to generate a multichannel output signal. When processed by a remote or local system, the output signal provides a representation of the relative directions of the sound sources at the originating location at a receiving location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Philip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Patent number: 8913757
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in which spatial information about sound sources at an originating location is represented in an audio signal. The system applies a phase difference analysis to the signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices or microphones to derive spatial or directional information about the relative directions of one or more satellite input devices or microphones. The signals from the satellite input devices or microphones are mixed by a function of their respective directions to generate a multichannel output signal. When processed by a remote or local system, the output signal provides a representation of the relative directions of the sound sources at the originating location at a receiving location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Patent number: 8438022
    Abstract: A system improves speech detection or processing by identifying registration signals. The system encodes a limited frequency band by varying the amplitude of a pulse width modulated signal between predefined values. The signal is separated into frequency bins that identify amplitude and phase. The registration signal is measured by comparing a difference in average acoustic power in a plurality of adjacent bins over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Mark Fallat, Derek Sahota
  • Patent number: 8311819
    Abstract: A system detects a speech segment that may include unvoiced, fully voiced, or mixed voice content. The system includes a digital converter that converts a time-varying input signal into a digital-domain signal. A window function passes signals within a programmed aural frequency range while substantially blocking signals above and below the programmed aural frequency range when multiplied by an output of the digital converter. A frequency converter converts the signals passing within the programmed aural frequency range into a plurality of frequency bins. A background voice detector estimates the strength of a background speech segment relative to the noise of selected portions of the aural spectrum. A noise estimator estimates a maximum distribution of noise to an average of an acoustic noise power of some of the plurality of frequency bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Patent number: 8244538
    Abstract: A system evaluates a hands free communication system. The system automatically selects a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC), vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV), or other combination of sounds from an intelligent database. The selection is transmitted with another communication stream that temporally overlaps the selection. The quality of the communication system is evaluated through an automatic speech recognition engine. The evaluation occurs at a location remote from the transmitted selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Shreyas Paranjpe, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20120197639
    Abstract: A system improves speech detection or processing by identifying registration signals. The system encodes a limited frequency band by varying the amplitude of a pulse width modulated signal between predefined values. The signal is separated into frequency bins that identify amplitude and phase. The registration signal is measured by comparing a difference in average acoustic power in a plurality of adjacent bins over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Fallat, Derek Sahota
  • Patent number: 8180634
    Abstract: A system improves speech detection or processing by identifying registration signals. The system encodes a limited frequency band by varying the amplitude of a pulse width modulated signal between predefined values. The signal is separated into frequency bins that identify amplitude and phase. The registration signal is measured by comparing a difference in average acoustic power in a plurality of adjacent bins over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems, Limited
    Inventors: Mark Fallat, Derek Sahota
  • Patent number: 8165880
    Abstract: An end-pointer determines a beginning and an end of a speech segment. The end-pointer includes a voice triggering module that identifies a portion of an audio stream that has an audio speech segment. A rule module communicates with the voice triggering module. The rule module includes a plurality of rules used to analyze a part of the audio stream to detect a beginning and an end of the audio speech segment. A consonant detector detects occurrences of a high frequency consonant in the portion of the audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20110194704
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in which spatial information about sound sources at an originating location is represented in an audio signal. The system applies a phase difference analysis to the signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices or microphones to derive spatial or directional information about the relative directions of one or more satellite input devices or microphones. The signals from the satellite input devices or microphones are mixed by a function of their respective directions to generate a multichannel output signal. When processed by a remote or local system, the output signal provides a representation of the relative directions of the sound sources at the originating location at a receiving location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20110194700
    Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in an audio signal at a receiving location. The system applies a phase difference analysis to signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices that convert sound into electrical signals. The system derives spatial or directional information about the relative locations of the sound sources. The converted signals may be mixed using weights derived from the spatial information to generate a multichannel output signal that, when processed by a remote or local audio system, generates a representation of the relative locations of the sound sources at the originating location at the receiving location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20090276220
    Abstract: A system evaluates a hands free communication system. The system automatically selects a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC), vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV), or other combination of sounds from an intelligent database. The selection is transmitted with another communication stream that temporally overlaps the selection. The quality of the communication system is evaluated through an automatic speech recognition engine. The evaluation occurs at a location remote from the transmitted selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shreyas Paranjpe, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20090216530
    Abstract: A system improves speech detection or processing by identifying registration signals. The system encodes a limited frequency band by varying the amplitude of a pulse width modulated signal between predefined values. The signal is separated into frequency bins that identify amplitude and phase. The registration signal is measured by comparing a difference in average acoustic power in a plurality of adjacent bins over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers). Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Fallat, Derek Sahota
  • Publication number: 20080228478
    Abstract: A system detects a speech segment that may include unvoiced, fully voiced, or mixed voice content. The system includes a digital converter that converts a time-varying input signal into a digital-domain signal. A window function passes signals within a programmed aural frequency range while substantially blocking signals above and below the programmed aural frequency range when multiplied by an output of the digital converter. A frequency converter converts the signals passing within the programmed aural frequency range into a plurality of frequency bins. A background voice detector estimates the strength of a background speech segment relative to the noise of selected portions of the aural spectrum. A noise estimator estimates a maximum distribution of noise to an average of an acoustic noise power of some of the plurality of frequency bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Hetherington, Mark Fallat
  • Publication number: 20070288238
    Abstract: An end-pointer determines a beginning and an end of a speech segment. The end-pointer includes a voice triggering module that identifies a portion of an audio stream that has an audio speech segment. A rule module communicates with the voice triggering module. The rule module includes a plurality of rules used to analyze a part of the audio stream to detect a beginning and an end of the audio speech segment. A consonant detector detects occurrences of a high frequency consonant in the portion of the audio stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Phillip Hetherington, Mark Fallat