Dolby Laboratories has filed a patent for an audio processing method that aims to improve the speech to echo ratio in audio environments. The method involves receiving output signals from multiple microphones, determining context information about the speaker, selecting appropriate loudspeaker-equipped audio devices, and applying audio processing changes to increase the speech to echo ratio. The patent claims an audio session management method that includes these steps. GlobalData’s report on Dolby Laboratories gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Dolby Laboratories, Cloud gaming was a key innovation area identified from patents. Dolby Laboratories's grant share as of September 2023 was 65%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Audio processing method for enhancing speech to echo ratio
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230319190A1) describes an audio session management method that aims to improve the audio experience in a multi-microphone and multi-loudspeaker environment. The method involves receiving output signals from multiple microphones in an audio environment, determining context information about the person speaking based on these signals, and selecting two or more audio devices based on the context information. The selected audio devices include the closest loudspeaker-equipped device to the estimated location of the person.
Once the audio devices are selected, the method determines specific audio processing changes to be applied to the audio data being rendered to the loudspeakers. These changes are designed to increase the speech to echo ratio at the microphone closest to the person's estimated location, thereby reducing the impact of echo on the audio signal. Importantly, the audio processing changes for the closest audio device may be different from those for other audio devices, and they may involve reducing the loudspeaker reproduction level for the closest device.
The patent also mentions that the audio processing changes can involve spectral modification, such as reducing the level of audio data in a specific frequency band. Additionally, the method may involve inserting gaps into selected frequency bands of the audio playback signal, as well as applying dynamic range compression.
The selection of audio devices is based on factors such as the estimated location of the person relative to microphone and loudspeaker locations, as well as the signal-to-echo ratio estimation for the microphone locations. The method may also involve determining the user zone in which the person is currently located using a classifier trained on previous utterances made by the person.
Overall, this patent presents a method for managing audio sessions in a complex audio environment, aiming to improve the audio experience by reducing echo and optimizing the rendering of audio signals. The method utilizes context information and applies specific audio processing changes tailored to the estimated location of the person and the selected audio devices.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
