Patents by Inventor Sean Ramprashad
Sean Ramprashad 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).
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Publication number: 20240292149Abstract: Implementations of the subject technology provide systems and methods for providing environment-based audio processing for audio devices. Environment-based audio processing may include identifying an environmental condition in a physical environment of an audio device, and deactivating one or more digital signal processors and/or neural networks based on the environmental condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2023Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Prateek MURGAI, Fatos MYFTARI, Sarthak KHANAL, Sean A. RAMPRASHAD, Steven J. VAN KUYK
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Publication number: 20230410828Abstract: Disclosed is a reference-less echo mitigation or cancellation technique. The technique enables suppression of echoes from an interference signal when a reference version of the interference signal conventionally used for echo mitigation may not be available. A first stage of the technique may use a machine learning model to model a target audio area surrounding a device so that a target audio signal estimated as originating from within the target audio area may be accepted. In contrast, audio signals such as playback of media content on a TV or other interfering signals estimated as originating from outside the target audio area may be suppressed. A second stage of the technique may be a level-based suppressor that further attenuates the residual echo from the output of the first stage based on an audio level threshold. Side information may be provided to adjust the target audio area or the audio level threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Ramin Pishehvar, Mehrez Souden, Sean A. Ramprashad, Jason Wung, Ante Jukic, Joshua D. Atkins
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Patent number: 11832077Abstract: A method performed a local device that is communicatively coupled with several remote devices, the method includes: receiving, from each remote device with which the local device is engaged in a communication session, an input audio stream; receiving, for each remote device, a set parameters; determining, for each input audio stream, whether the input audio stream is to be 1) rendered individually or 2) rendered as a mix of input audio streams based on the set of parameters; for each input audio stream that is determined to be rendered individually, spatial rendering the input audio stream as an individual virtual sound source that contains only that input audio stream; and for input audio streams that are determined to be rendered as the mix of input audio streams, spatial rendering the mix of input audio streams as a single virtual sound source that contains the mix of input audio streams.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sean A. Ramprashad, Peter D. Callaway, Jae Woo Chang, Martin E. Johnson, Daniel K. Boothe, Kostyantyn Komarov, Patrick Miauton, Christopher M. Garrido, Austin W. Shyu, Karthick Santhanam
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Patent number: 11812194Abstract: A method performed by a processor of an electronic device. The method presents a computer-generated reality (CGR) setting including a first user and several other users. The method obtains, from a microphone, an audio signal that contains speech of the first user. The method obtains, from a sensor, sensor data that represents a physical characteristic of the first user. The method determines, based on the sensor data, whether to initiate a private conversation between the first user and a second user of the other users, and in accordance with a determination to initiate the private conversation, initiates the private conversation by providing the audio signal to the second user.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James W. Vandyke, Nikolas T. Vitt, Sean A. Ramprashad, Neal D. Evans, Jonathan D. Sheaffer
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Patent number: 11721355Abstract: A first device obtains, from the array, several audio signals and processes the audio signals to produce a speech signal and one or more ambient signals. The first device processes the ambient signals to produce a sound-object sonic descriptor that has metadata describing a sound object within an acoustic environment. The first device transmits, over a communication data link, the speech signal and the descriptor to a second electronic device that is configured to spatially reproduce the sound object using the descriptor mixed with the speech signal, to produce several mixed signals to drive several speakers.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Lance Jabr, Matthew S. Connolly, Robert D. Silfvast, Sean A. Ramprashad, Carlos Avendano, Miquel Espi Marques
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Publication number: 20230020542Abstract: A computer system outputs audio content via one or more audio output devices. If the audio content includes information that enables spatialization of the audio content, the system outputs the audio content in a simulated three-dimensional environment, including, if the audio content corresponds to a first category of content, causing the one or more audio output devices to simulate production of the audio content in a first virtual space, and if the audio content corresponds to a second category of content, causing the one or more audio output devices to simulate production of the audio content in a second virtual space that has different simulated acoustic properties than simulated acoustic properties of the first virtual space.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Darius A. Satongar, Per HÃ¥kan Linus Persson, Sean B. Kelly, Martin E. Johnson, Tony S. Verma, Peter D. Callaway, Jae Woo Chang, Daniel K. Boothe, Sean A. Ramprashad, Patrick Miauton, Christopher M. Garrido, Mitchell R. Lerner, Charles C. Hoyt
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Publication number: 20220394407Abstract: A method performed a local device that is communicatively coupled with several remote devices, the method includes: receiving, from each remote device with which the local device is engaged in a communication session, an input audio stream; receiving, for each remote device, a set parameters; determining, for each input audio stream, whether the input audio stream is to be 1) rendered individually or 2) rendered as a mix of input audio streams based on the set of parameters; for each input audio stream that is determined to be rendered individually, spatial rendering the input audio stream as an individual virtual sound source that contains only that input audio stream; and for input audio streams that are determined to be rendered as the mix of input audio streams, spatial rendering the mix of input audio streams as a single virtual sound source that contains the mix of input audio streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Sean A. Ramprashad, Peter D. Callaway, Jae Woo Chang, Martin E. Johnson, Daniel K. Boothe, Kostyantyn Komarov, Patrick Miauton, Christopher M. Garrido, Austin W. Shyu, Karthick Santhanam
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Patent number: 11456006Abstract: A method performed by a processor of an audio source device. The method drives an audio output device of the audio source device to output a sound with an audio output signal. The method obtains a microphone signal from a microphone of the audio source device, the microphone signal capturing the outputted sound. The method determines whether the audio output device is a headset or a loudspeaker based on the microphone signal and configures an acoustic dosimetry process based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Joseph M. Williams, Sean A. Ramprashad, Nathan de Vries, Nicholas Felton
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Publication number: 20220180889Abstract: A first device obtains, from the array, several audio signals and processes the audio signals to produce a speech signal and one or more ambient signals. The first device processes the ambient signals to produce a sound-object sonic descriptor that has metadata describing a sound object within an acoustic environment. The first device transmits, over a communication data link, the speech signal and the descriptor to a second electronic device that is configured to spatially reproduce the sound object using the descriptor mixed with the speech signal, to produce several mixed signals to drive several speakers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Lance Jabr, Matthew S. Connolly, Robert D. Silfvast, Sean A. Ramprashad, Carlos Avendano, Miquel Espi Marques
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Patent number: 11295754Abstract: A first device obtains, from the array, several audio signals and processes the audio signals to produce a speech signal and one or more ambient signals. The first device processes the ambient signals to produce a sound-object sonic descriptor that has metadata describing a sound object within an acoustic environment. The first device transmits, over a communication data link, the speech signal and the descriptor to a second electronic device that is configured to spatially reproduce the sound object using the descriptor mixed with the speech signal, to produce several mixed signals to drive several speakers.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Lance Jabr, Matthew S. Connolly, Robert D. Silfvast, Sean A. Ramprashad, Carlos Avendano, Miquel Espi Marques
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Publication number: 20220059123Abstract: Processing of ambience and speech can include extracting from audio signals, ambience and speech signals. One or more spatial parameters can be generated that define spatial characteristics of ambience sound in the one or more ambience audio signals. The primary speech signal, the one or more ambience audio signals, and the spatial parameters can be encoded into one or more encoded data streams. Other aspects are described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Jonathan D. Sheaffer, Joshua D. Atkins, Mehrez Souden, Symeon Delikaris Manias, Sean A. Ramprashad
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Publication number: 20210358515Abstract: A method performed by a processor of an audio source device. The method drives an audio output device of the audio source device to output a sound with an audio output signal. The method obtains a microphone signal from a microphone of the audio source device, the microphone signal capturing the outputted sound. The method determines whether the audio output device is a headset or a loudspeaker based on the microphone signal and configures an acoustic dosimetry process based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Joseph M. Williams, Sean A. Ramprashad, Nathan de Vries, Nicholas Felton
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Publication number: 20210035597Abstract: A first device obtains, from the array, several audio signals and processes the audio signals to produce a speech signal and one or more ambient signals. The first device processes the ambient signals to produce a sound-object sonic descriptor that has metadata describing a sound object within an acoustic environment. The first device transmits, over a communication data link, the speech signal and the descriptor to a second electronic device that is configured to spatially reproduce the sound object using the descriptor mixed with the speech signal, to produce several mixed signals to drive several speakers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Lance Jabr, Matthew S. Connolly, Robert D. Silfvast, Sean A. Ramprashad, Carlos Avendano, Miquel Espi Marques
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Patent number: 10861210Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for providing audio and/or video effects based at least in part on facial features and/or voice feature characteristics of the user. For example, video and/or an audio signal of the user may be recorded by a device. Voice audio features and facial feature characteristics may be extracted from the voice audio signal and the video, respectively. The facial features of the user may be used to modify features of a virtual avatar to emulate the facial feature characteristics of the user. The extracted voice audio features may modified to generate an adjusted audio signal or an audio signal may be composed from the voice audio features. The adjusted/composed audio signal may simulate the voice of the virtual avatar. A preview of the modified video/audio may be provided at the user's device.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlos M. Avendano, Sean A. Ramprashad
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Patent number: 10833994Abstract: A hybrid user equipment and advanced user equipment data offloading architecture is provided. In this hybrid architecture, the advanced user equipment includes a backhaul link to a telecommunication network and/or the Internet. The user equipment can send and receive data through the advanced user equipment using the backhaul link.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishii, Sean A. Ramprashad, Sayandev Mukherjee
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Patent number: 10636434Abstract: An aspect of this disclosure relates to noise and/or echo suppression for a device in which noise and echo suppression are adaptively determined as noise and echo change in an environment that surrounds the device. An aspect can use a skewed maximal ratio combining technique or a spatial filter with coefficients that are adaptively determined based on a perceptually selected target ratio that is compared to a ratio of sound energies/levels based on a pair of the coefficients. Another aspect relates to the use of information in one frequency band to perform additional noise and/or echo suppression in one or more adjacent frequency bands.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Sean A. Ramprashad
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Patent number: 10614812Abstract: A speech recognition system for resolving impaired utterances can have a speech recognition engine configured to receive a plurality of representations of an utterance and concurrently to determine a plurality of highest-likelihood transcription candidates corresponding to each respective representation of the utterance. The recognition system can also have a selector configured to determine a most-likely accurate transcription from among the transcription candidates. As but one example, the plurality of representations of the utterance can be acquired by a microphone array, and beamforming techniques can generate independent streams of the utterance across various look directions using output from the microphone array.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sean A. Ramprashad, Harvey D. Thornburg, Arvindh Krishnaswamy, Aram M. Lindahl
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Patent number: 10614857Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can calibrate media playback channels for presenting media content through a media system by determining the media propagation latency through the media system. For example, the computing device can send calibration content (e.g., audio data, video data, etc.) to various playback devices (e.g., playback channels) of the media system and record a timestamp indicating when the calibration content was sent. When the playback devices present the calibration content, a sensor device (e.g., remote control device, smartphone, etc.) can detect the presentation of the calibration content. The sensor device can send calibration data (e.g., media samples that may include the calibration content and/or a timestamp indicating when the media sample was detected by the sensor device) to the computing device. The computing device can determine the propagation latency (e.g., presentation delay) based on the calibration data received from the sensor device.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Langford M Wasada, Vijay Sundaram, William M Bumgarner, Daniel H Lloyd, Christopher J Sanders, Sean A Ramprashad, Sriram Hariharan, Jarrad A Stallone, Johannes P Schmidt, David P Saracino, Gregory R Chapman
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Publication number: 20200005830Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can calibrate media playback channels for presenting media content through a media system by determining the media propagation latency through the media system. For example, the computing device can send calibration content (e.g., audio data, video data, etc.) to various playback devices (e.g., playback channels) of the media system and record a timestamp indicating when the calibration content was sent. When the playback devices present the calibration content, a sensor device (e.g., remote control device, smartphone, etc.) can detect the presentation of the calibration content. The sensor device can send calibration data (e.g., media samples that may include the calibration content and/or a timestamp indicating when the media sample was detected by the sensor device) to the computing device. The computing device can determine the propagation latency (e.g., presentation delay) based on the calibration data received from the sensor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2018Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Langford M. Wasada, Vijay Sundaram, William M. Bumgarner, Daniel H. Lloyd, Christopher J. Sanders, Sean A. Ramprashad, Sriram Hariharan, Jarrad A. Stallone, Johannes P. Schmidt, David P. Saracino, Gregory R. Chapman
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Patent number: 10482899Abstract: An audio system has a housing in which are integrated a number of microphones. A programmed processor accesses the microphone signals and produces a number of acoustic pick up beams based groups of microphones, an estimation of voice activity and an estimation of noise characteristics on each beam. Two or more beams including a voice beam that is used to pick up a desired voice and a noise beam that is used to provide information to estimate ambient noise are adaptively selected from among the plurality of beams, based on thresholds for voice separation and thresholds for noise-matching. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sean A. Ramprashad, Esge B. Andersen, Joshua D. Atkins, Sorin V. Dusan, Vasu Iyengar, Tarun Pruthi, Lalin S. Theverapperuma