Patents by Inventor Mohamed Krini

Mohamed Krini 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: 9805738
    Abstract: An arrangement is described for speech signal processing. An input microphone signal is received that includes a speech signal component and a noise component. The microphone signal is transformed into a frequency domain set of short-term spectra signals. Then speech formant components within the spectra signals are estimated based on detecting regions of high energy density in the spectra signals. One or more dynamically adjusted gain factors are applied to the spectra signals to enhance the speech formant components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Ingo Schalk-Schupp, Markus Buck
  • Patent number: 9613633
    Abstract: A speech signal processing system is described for use with automatic speech recognition and hands free speech communication. A signal pre-processor module transforms an input microphone signal into corresponding speech component signals. A noise suppression module applies noise reduction to the speech component signals to generate noise reduced speech component signals. A speech reconstruction module produces corresponding synthesized speech component signals for distorted speech component signals. A signal combination block adaptively combines the noise reduced speech component signals and the synthesized speech component signals based on signal to noise conditions to generate enhanced speech component signals for automatic speech recognition and hands free speech communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Ingo Schalk-Schupp, Patrick Hannon
  • Publication number: 20160035370
    Abstract: An arrangement is described for speech signal processing. An input microphone signal is received that includes a speech signal component and a noise component. The microphone signal is transformed into a frequency domain set of short-term spectra signals. Then speech formant components within the spectra signals are estimated based on detecting regions of high energy density in the spectra signals. One or more dynamically adjusted gain factors are applied to the spectra signals to enhance the speech formant components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed KRINI, Ingo SCHALK-SCHUPP, Markus BUCK
  • Publication number: 20150255083
    Abstract: A speech signal processing system is described for use with automatic speech recognition and hands free speech communication. A signal pre-processor module transforms an input microphone signal into corresponding speech component signals. A noise suppression module applies noise reduction to the speech component signals to generate noise reduced speech component signals. A speech reconstruction module produces corresponding synthesized speech component signals for distorted speech component signals. A signal combination block adaptively combines the noise reduced speech component signals and the synthesized speech component signals based on signal to noise conditions to generate enhanced speech component signals for automatic speech recognition and hands free speech communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Naunce Communication ,Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Ingo Schalk-Schupp, Patrick Hannon
  • Patent number: 9129608
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention exploit redundancy of succeeding FFT spectra and use this redundancy for computing interpolated temporal supporting points. An analysis filter bank converts overlapped sequences of an audio (ex. loudspeaker) signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to obtain a time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra. An interpolator temporally interpolates this time series. The interpolation is fed to an echo canceller, which computes an estimated echo spectrum. A microphone analysis filter bank converts overlapped sequences of an audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain to obtain a time series of short-time microphone spectra. The estimated echo spectrum is subtracted from the microphone spectrum. Further signal enhancement (filtration) may be applied. A synthesis filter bank converts the filtered microphone spectra to the time domain to generate an echo compensated audio microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Bernd Iser, Arthur Wolf
  • Patent number: 9076455
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention exploit redundancy of succeeding FFT spectra and use this redundancy for computing interpolated temporal supporting points. An analysis filter bank converts overlapped sequences of an audio (ex. loudspeaker) signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to obtain a time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra. An interpolator temporally interpolates this time series. The interpolation is fed to an echo canceller, which computes an estimated echo spectrum. A microphone analysis filter bank converts overlapped sequences of an audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain to obtain a time series of short-time microphone spectra. The estimated echo spectrum is subtracted from the microphone spectrum. Further signal enhancement (filtration) may be applied. A synthesis filter bank converts the filtered microphone spectra to the time domain to generate an echo compensated audio microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Schmidt, Bernd Iser, Arthur Wolf
  • Patent number: 9026435
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for estimating a fundamental frequency of a speech signal comprising the steps of receiving a signal spectrum of the speech signal, filtering the signal spectrum to obtain a refined signal spectrum, determining a cross-power spectral density using the refined signal spectrum and the signal spectrum, transforming the cross-power spectral density into the time domain to obtain a cross-correlation function, and estimating the fundamental frequency of the speech signal based on the cross-correlation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8849656
    Abstract: A system enhances speech by detecting a speaker's utterance through a first microphone positioned a first distance from a source of interference. A second microphone may detect the speaker's utterance at a different position. A monitoring device may estimate the power level of a first microphone signal. A synthesizer may synthesize part of the first microphone signal by processing the second microphone signal. The synthesis may occur when power level is below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Schmidt, Mohamed Krini
  • Patent number: 8706483
    Abstract: A system enhances the quality of a digital speech signal that may include noise. The system identifies vocal expressions that correspond to the digital speech signal. A signal-to-noise ratio of the digital speech signal is measured before a portion of the digital speech signal is synthesized. The selected portion of the digital speech signal may have a signal-to-noise ratio below a predetermined level and the synthesis of the digital speech signal may be based on speaker identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Franz Gerl, Tobias Herbig, Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Uwe Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8666736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for signal processing comprising the steps of providing a set of prototype spectral envelopes, providing a set of reference noise prototypes, wherein the reference noise prototypes are obtained from at least a sub-set of the provided set of prototype spectral envelopes, detecting a verbal utterance by at least one microphone to obtain a microphone signal, processing the microphone signal for noise reduction based on the provided reference noise prototypes to obtain an enhanced signal and encoding the enhanced signal based on the provided prototype spectral envelopes to obtain an encoded enhanced signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Haulick, Mohamed Krini, Shreyas Paranjpe, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130208905
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention exploit redundancy of succeeding FFT spectra and use this redundancy for computing interpolated temporal supporting points. An analysis filter bank converts overlapped sequences of an audio (ex. loudspeaker) signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to obtain a time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra. An interpolator temporally interpolates this time series. The interpolation is fed to an echo canceller, which computes an estimated echo spectrum. A microphone analysis filter bank converts overlapped sequences of an audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain to obtain a time series of short-time microphone spectra. The estimated echo spectrum is subtracted from the microphone spectrum. Further signal enhancement (filtration) may be applied. A synthesis filter bank converts the filtered microphone spectra to the time domain to generate an echo compensated audio microphone signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Schmidt, Bernd Iser, Arthur Wolf
  • Patent number: 8199928
    Abstract: An apparatus processes an acoustic input signal to provide an output signal with reduced noise. The apparatus weights the input signal based on a frequency-dependent weighting function. A frequency-dependent threshold function bounds the weighting function from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Raymond Brückner, Markus Buck, Ange Tchinda-Pockem, Mohamed Krini
  • Patent number: 8190426
    Abstract: An audio enhancement refines a short-time spectrum. The refinement may reduce overlap between audio sub-bands. The sub-bands are transformed into sub-band short-time spectra. A portion of the spectra are time-delayed. The sub-band short-time spectrum and the time-delayed portion are filtered to obtain a refined sub-band short-time spectrum. The refined spectrum improves audio processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Uwe Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120109647
    Abstract: A system enhances speech by detecting a speaker's utterance through a first microphone positioned a first distance from a source of interference. A second microphone may detect the speaker's utterance at a different position. A monitoring device may estimate the power level of a first microphone signal. A synthesizer may synthesize part of the first microphone signal by processing the second microphone signal. The synthesis may occur when power level is below a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Mohamed Krini
  • Patent number: 8050914
    Abstract: A system enhances speech by detecting a speaker's utterance through a first microphone positioned a first distance from a source of interference. A second microphone may detect the speaker's utterance at a different position. A monitoring device may estimate the power level of a first microphone signal. A synthesizer may synthesize part of the first microphone signal by processing the second microphone signal. The synthesis may occur when power level is below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Mohamed Krini
  • Publication number: 20100286981
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for estimating a fundamental frequency of a speech signal comprising the steps of receiving a signal spectrum of the speech signal, filtering the signal spectrum to obtain a refined signal spectrum, determining a cross-power spectral density using the refined signal spectrum and the signal spectrum, transforming the cross-power spectral density into the time domain to obtain a cross-correlation function, and estimating the fundamental frequency of the speech signal based on the cross-correlation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100036659
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for signal processing comprising the steps of providing a set of prototype spectral envelopes, providing a set of reference noise prototypes, wherein the reference noise prototypes are obtained from at least a sub-set of the provided set of prototype spectral envelopes, detecting a verbal utterance by at least one microphone to obtain a microphone signal, processing the microphone signal for noise reduction based on the provided reference noise prototypes to obtain an enhanced signal and encoding the enhanced signal based on the provided prototype spectral envelopes to obtain an encoded enhanced signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Haulick, Mohamed Krini, Shreyas Paranjpe, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090216526
    Abstract: A system enhances speech by detecting a speaker's utterance through a first microphone positioned a first distance from a source of interference. A second microphone may detect the speaker's utterance at a different position. A monitoring device may estimate the power level of a first microphone signal. A synthesizer may synthesize part of the first microphone signal by processing the second microphone signal. The synthesis may occur when power level is below a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Mohamed Krini
  • Patent number: 7554465
    Abstract: A sampling rate conversion system reduces the signal processing burdens carried by cellular phones, headsets, and other electronic devices. Because the system consumes fewer resources to convert between signal sampling rates, the system may significantly reduce processing time and resource requirements in the device. As a result, the device may instead devote resources to performing other useful tasks, such as interacting with the user through a graphical user interface and performing selected processing tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Mohamed Krini, Martin Röβler
  • Publication number: 20090119096
    Abstract: A system enhances the quality of a digital speech signal that may include noise. The system identifies vocal expressions that correspond to the digital speech signal. A signal-to-noise ratio of the digital speech signal is measured before a portion of the digital speech signal is synthesized. The selected portion of the digital speech signal may have a signal-to-noise ratio below a predetermined level and the synthesis of the digital speech signal may be based on speaker identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Franz Gerl, Tobias Herbig, Mohamed Krini, Gerhard Uwe Schmidt