Signal Processing Noise Suppression with User-Adjustable Audio Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional noise suppressors in communication systems, such as those used in cell phones, often result in high residual noise due to inadequate noise suppression functions and cannot be user-adjusted, leading to low-quality voice reproduction and objectionable noise from comfort noise generation.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing method and apparatus that includes a noise suppressor capable of receiving audio quality adjustment information, allowing users to adjust the audio quality by suppressing noise in the received signal based on predetermined settings, thereby improving the quality of the voice signal and reducing unwanted noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional noise suppressors are used in communication systems, then noise suppression processing is performed, but high residual noise remains and audio quality cannot be adjusted by users
Solution Approach 1:
The noise suppressor is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing users to change suppression characteristics in real-time. The system includes user interfaces and control mechanisms that enable dynamic modification of noise suppression parameters, transforming a static noise suppression function into an adaptable system that responds to user preferences and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements multiple adjustable parameters for noise suppression including suppression strength, frequency ranges, and threshold levels. By providing controllable parameters, the system allows users to fine-tune the noise suppression behavior to achieve optimal audio quality for different scenarios, directly addressing the lack of user adjustability in conventional systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noise suppression processing is applied to reduce residual noise, then audio quality improves, but output distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The noise suppressor applies different suppression strategies to different frequency components and signal segments. By analyzing the local characteristics of the input signal and applying targeted suppression only where needed, the system reduces residual noise while preserving voice quality and minimizing distortion in important frequency ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements adaptive suppression coefficients that apply partial suppression rather than complete noise removal. By using suppression factors between 0 and 1, the system achieves a balance where enough noise is reduced to improve quality, but not so much that voice distortion becomes objectionable, accepting some residual noise to maintain natural speech characteristics.
3Productivity
If comfort noise generation is used in discontinuous transmission, then encoding efficiency improves, but objectionable noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The noise suppressor processes the decoded comfort noise by analyzing its spectral characteristics and applying suppression algorithms to reduce objectionable artifacts. The system uses feedback from the decoded signal to adjust suppression parameters, ensuring that comfort noise generation maintains encoding efficiency while minimizing the generation of unnatural or objectionable noise patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transforms the potentially harmful effect of comfort noise generation into a benefit by applying post-processing noise suppression. The system recognizes that while DTX with comfort noise improves encoding efficiency, it introduces objectionable noise, and by applying targeted suppression to the comfort noise portion, it converts this harmful side effect into an opportunity to maintain both efficiency and audio quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing method for converting a signal received via a transmission path or read from a storage medium into a first audible signal, and suppressing a noise other than a desired signal contained in the first audible signal based on predetermined audio quality adjustment information, comprising steps of: in suppressing a noise other than a desired signal contained in the first audible signal to generate an enhanced signal, receiving audio quality adjustment information for adjusting audio quality; and adjusting audio quality of the enhanced signal using the audio quality adjustment information.