Patents by Inventor RICHARD DALE FERGUSON

RICHARD DALE FERGUSON 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).

  • Publication number: 20230308820
    Abstract: A system for automatically dynamically forming a virtual microphone coverage map using a combined microphone array in a shared 3D space is provided. The system includes a combined microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones and a system processor communicating with the combined microphone array. The microphones in the combined microphone array are arranged along various microphone arrangements. The system processor is configured to perform operations including obtaining locations of the microphones within the combined microphone array throughout the shared 3D space, generating coverage zone dimensions based on the locations of the microphones, and populating the coverage zone dimensions with virtual microphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: KAEL BLAIS, RICHARD DALE FERGUSON, ALEKSANDER RADISAVLJEVIC, DAVID POPOVICH, LINSHAN LI
  • Patent number: 11689849
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media to manage undesired sound sources in microphone pickup/focus zones preferably mitigates one or more of the undesired sound source(s) in a space having a plurality of microphones and at least one desired sound source. Preferably, at least one microphone input receives plural microphone input signals from the plurality of microphones in the space. Preferably, the least one processor is coupled to the at least one microphone input and receives the plural microphone input signals. Preferably, the at least one processor determines plural micro-zones in the space. Preferably, the at least one processor determines a threshold sound field level for each micro-zone based on received plural microphone input signals that correspond to the one or more undesired sound source(s). Preferably, the at least one processor recognizes a desired sound source when received plural microphone input signals exceed one or more threshold sound field level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Dale Ferguson, Linshan Li, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Alexander Norrie
  • Publication number: 20220415299
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for dynamic sound mask adjustment. A sound mask is used for obtaining an impulse response measurement that adjusts a generated sound mask dynamically based on real-time ambient noise parameters, while maintaining echo canceller calibration performance. The system includes a dynamic sound mask generator that includes a noise accumulator and monitor that includes a processor and memory including instructions executed by the processor for performing the dynamic sound mask adjustment. If the sound mask is not in the hysteresis range, the current sound mask level and iteration update rate are adjusted. if the sound mask is in the hysteresis range, the current sound mask level and iteration update rate are maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Dale Ferguson, Linshan Li
  • Publication number: 20220116702
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media focusing sound signals from plural microphones in a 3D space, to determine audio signal processing profiles to optimize sound source(s) in the space. At least one processor determines plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space, and defines one or more bubble object profiles which comprise(s) specific attributes and functions of audio processing functions for each bubble, each bubble object profile including: (a) an individual bubble object profile when the bubble has been configured for an individual bubble; (b) a region object profile when the bubble has been configured for a region of one or more bubbles; and (c) a group object profile when the bubble has been configured for a group having one or more bubbles. The audio signal processing functions are used for the at least one bubble, for any combination of (a), (b), and (c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: ERICA PATRICIA YORGA, RICHARD DALE FERGUSON, KAEL BLAIS, MAHDI JAVER, NICHOLAS NORRIE
  • Patent number: 11297178
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program code embodied in computer-readable media, for providing enhanced echo suppression in a conferencing system having at least one microphone and at least one speaker. At least one microphone input signal is received, and at least one speaker input signal is provided. At least one processor has at least one primary echo-suppressor and at least one secondary echo-suppressor. The at least one primary echo-suppressor receives (i) the microphone input signal(s) and (ii) the speaker input signal(s). The at least one primary echo-suppressor provides at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal. The at least one secondary echo-suppressor receives the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal and provides an output signal. The at least one processor provides the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor without providing the at least one speaker input signal directly to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Dale Ferguson, Linshan Li, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Alexander Norrie
  • Patent number: 11190871
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media focusing sound signals from plural microphones in a 3D space, to determine audio signal processing profiles to optimize sound source(s) in the space. At least one processor determines plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space, and defines one or more bubble object profiles which comprise(s) specific attributes and functions of audio processing functions for each bubble, each bubble object profile including: (a) an individual bubble object profile when the bubble has been configured for an individual bubble; (b) a region object profile when the bubble has been configured for a region of one or more bubbles; and (c) a group object profile when the bubble has been configured for a group having one or more bubbles. The audio signal processing functions are used for the at least one bubble, for any combination of (a), (b), and (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Erica Patricia Yorga, Richard Dale Ferguson, Kael Blais, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Norrie
  • Publication number: 20210112157
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program code embodied in computer-readable media, for providing enhanced echo suppression in a conferencing system having at least one microphone and at least one speaker. At least one microphone input signal is received, and at least one speaker input signal is provided. At least one processor has at least one primary echo-suppressor and at least one secondary echo-suppressor. The at least one primary echo-suppressor receives (i) the microphone input signal(s) and (ii) the speaker input signal(s). The at least one primary echo-suppressor provides at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal. The at least one secondary echo-suppressor receives the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal and provides an output signal. The at least one processor provides the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor without providing the at least one speaker input signal directly to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: RICHARD DALE FERGUSON, LINSHAN LI, MAHDI JAVER, NICHOLAS ALEXANDER NORRIE
  • Patent number: 10880427
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program code embodied in computer-readable media, for providing enhanced echo suppression in a conferencing system having at least one microphone and at least one speaker. At least one microphone input signal is received, and at least one speaker input signal is provided. At least one processor has at least one primary echo-suppressor and at least one secondary echo-suppressor. The at least one primary echo-suppressor receives (i) the microphone input signal(s) and (ii) the speaker input signal(s). The at least one primary echo-suppressor provides at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal. The at least one secondary echo-suppressor receives the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal and provides an output signal. The at least one processor provides the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor without providing the at least one speaker input signal directly to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Dale Ferguson, Linshan Li, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Alexander Norrie
  • Publication number: 20200245065
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media focusing sound signals from plural microphones in a 3D space, to determine audio signal processing profiles to optimize sound source(s) in the space. At least one processor determines plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space, and defines one or more bubble object profiles which comprise(s) specific attributes and functions of audio processing functions for each bubble, each bubble object profile including: (a) an individual bubble object profile when the bubble has been configured for an individual bubble; (b) a region object profile when the bubble has been configured for a region of one or more bubbles; and (c) a group object profile when the bubble has been configured for a group having one or more bubbles. The audio signal processing functions are used for the at least one bubble, for any combination of (a), (b), and (c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Erica Patricia Yorga, Richard Dale Ferguson, Kael Blais, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Morrie
  • Publication number: 20190364359
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media to manage undesired sound sources in microphone pickup/focus zones preferably mitigates one or more of the undesired sound source(s) in a space having a plurality of microphones and at least one desired sound source. Preferably, at least one microphone input receives plural microphone input signals from the plurality of microphones in the space. Preferably, the least one processor is coupled to the at least one microphone input and receives the plural microphone input signals. Preferably, the at least one processor determines plural micro-zones in the space. Preferably, the at least one processor determines a threshold sound field level for each micro-zone based on received plural microphone input signals that correspond to the one or more undesired sound source(s). Preferably, the at least one processor recognizes a desired sound source when received plural microphone input signals exceed one or more threshold sound field level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Dale Ferguson, Linshan Li, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Alexander Norrie
  • Publication number: 20190349471
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program code embodied in computer-readable media, for providing enhanced echo suppression in a conferencing system having at least one microphone and at least one speaker. At least one microphone input signal is received, and at least one speaker input signal is provided. At least one processor has at least one primary echo-suppressor and at least one secondary echo-suppressor. The at least one primary echo-suppressor receives (i) the microphone input signal(s) and (ii) the speaker input signal(s). The at least one primary echo-suppressor provides at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal. The at least one secondary echo-suppressor receives the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal and provides an output signal. The at least one processor provides the at least one echo-suppressed microphone signal to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor without providing the at least one speaker input signal directly to the at least one secondary echo-suppressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: RICHARD DALE FERGUSON, LISHAN LI, MAHDI JAVER, NICHOLAS ALEXANDER NORRIE