Audio Feature Detection via Hidden Markov Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems and methods fail to effectively identify and visualize musical features in audio content, such as parts, phrases, beats, and hooks, limiting users' ability to comprehend and interact with digitized audio at a deeper level.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing physical computer processors configured with computer-readable instructions to analyze digital audio files, identify musical features through Hidden Markov Models, and display these features visually, using object definitions that reflect the type, duration, and timing of musical elements, enabling users to pinpoint and understand their occurrence within the audio content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional systems and methods are used for audio playback, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the system cannot effectively identify and visualize musical features in audio content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemusical feature detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising processors and analysis software that acts as a mediator between the audio content and the user. This intermediary performs spectral analysis, beat detection, and musical feature identification, converting raw audio data into visual representations without requiring complexity in the basic playback system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis of audio content with automated computational methods. Digital signal processing algorithms substitute for human auditory analysis, enabling automatic identification of beats, tempo, key, and other musical features through mathematical transformation of audio data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If no musical feature identification is implemented, then the system operates quickly with minimal processing, but users cannot comprehend or interact with audio content at a deeper level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemusical structure informationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of audio content by pre-processing the signal to extract spectral characteristics, detect beats, and identify musical features before full playback or detailed analysis. This preliminary action prepares the data structure for faster subsequent queries and visualizations during user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the audio analysis into distinct processing stages: spectral analysis, beat detection, tempo identification, key detection, and feature visualization. Each segment processes specific aspects of the audio content independently, allowing parallel processing and reducing overall computation time while preserving complete musical structure information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10546566B2Systems and methods for detecting musical features in audio content
Publication Date: 2020.01.28 GOPRO INC
  • US10546566B2 patent drawing
  • US10546566B2 patent drawing
  • US10546566B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for identifying musical features in audio content are presented. Audio content information may be obtained from a digital audio file, the information providing a duration for playback of the audio content and a representation of sound frequencies associated with various moments throughout the duration of the audio content. Sound frequencies associated with one or more of the moments throughout the duration of the audio content may be identified, and characteristics or patterns of the identified sound frequencies may be recognized as being indicative of one or more musical features (e.g., parts, phrases, hits, bars, onbeats, beats, quavers, semiquavers, etc.). Some implementations of the present technology define display objects for display on a digital display, the display objects provided with visual features in an arrangement that distinguishes one musical feature from another across the duration of the audio content.