PBX Audio Recording System Separating Constituent Tracks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for separating audio signals in communication networks often degrade the audio fidelity, impairing post-separation analysis and manipulation, and fail to effectively retain the high-fidelity of the initially recorded data.

Innovation Solution

A method that postpones audio compression until analysis is complete, minimizes distortion, eliminates gain control, and does not require additional filtering, by recording audio signals based on communication protocols and separating them into distinct tracks within a data file, allowing for precise extraction and manipulation of constituent audio data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If audio signals are separated using computational auditory scene analysis or blind source separation, then audio data can be separated into constituent components, but the audio fidelity is degraded and post-separation analysis is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio fidelityVSAvoidseparation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audio signal into multiple distinct tracks during recording, with each track containing a specific audio component (e.g., near end speech, far end speech, noise). This segmentation is performed at the source during recording rather than through post-processing separation, thereby maintaining the original fidelity of each component while enabling easy extraction and analysis of individual tracks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If audio compression is applied during recording, then storage efficiency is improved, but audio quality is degraded for subsequent analysis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidaudio quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs different compression parameters and settings for different audio tracks based on their specific characteristics and intended use. Critical tracks requiring high fidelity for analysis are recorded with minimal or no compression, while less critical tracks can use higher compression ratios. This selective application of compression parameters maintains audio quality where needed while improving overall storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP1889257B1A method and system for recording an electronic communication and extracting constituent audio data therefrom
Publication Date: 2010.07.14 ELOYALTY CORP
  • EP1889257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1889257B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1889257B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A telephonic communication system, such as a distributed private branch exchange (PBX), having a public switched telephone network (PSTN) connected to the PBX through a PBX switch is utilized to receive a signal from the communication system having a communication protocol. The signal carries an audio waveform comprising at least one of first constituent audio data and second constituent audio data. The system records the signal on a first data file based on the identity of the telephonic communication protocol. The system records the first constituent audio data on a first audio track of a first data file based on the communication protocol and records the second constituent audio data on a second audio track of the first data file based on the communication protocol. The system may further extract at least one of the recorded first and second constituent audio data from the first data file.