Patents by Inventor Mehrez Souden
Mehrez Souden 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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Patent number: 12283289Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonathan D. Sheaffer, Joshua D. Atkins, Mehrez Souden, Symeon Delikaris Manias, Sean A. Ramprashad
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Patent number: 12272370Abstract: Implementations of the subject technology provide systems and methods for providing audio source separation for audio input, such as for audio devices having limited power and/or computing resources. The subject technology may allow an audio device to leverage processing and/or power resources of a companion device that is communicatively coupled to the audio device. The companion device may identify a noise condition of the audio device, select a source separation model based on the noise condition, and provide the source separation model to the audio device. In this way, the audio device can provide audio source separation functionality using a relatively small footprint source separation model that is specific to the noise condition in which the audio device is operated.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlos M. Avendano, John Woodruff, Jonathan Huang, Mehrez Souden, Andreas Koutrouvelis
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Patent number: 12141347Abstract: An audio processing device may generate a plurality of microphone signals from a plurality of microphones of the audio processing device. The audio processing device may determine a gaze of a user who is wearing a playback device that is separate from the audio processing device, the gaze of the user being determined relative to the audio processing device. The audio processing device may extract speech that correlates to the gaze of the user, from the plurality of microphone signals of the audio processing device by applying the plurality of microphone signals of the audio processing device and the gaze of the user to a machine learning model. The extracted speech may be played to the user through the playback device.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mehrez Souden, Symeon Delikaris Manias, Ante Jukic, John Woodruff, Joshua D. Atkins
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Publication number: 20240314509Abstract: A sound scene is represented as first order Ambisonics (FOA) audio. A processor formats each signal of the FOA audio to a stream of audio frames, provides the formatted FOA audio to a machine learning model that reformats the formatted FOA audio in a target or desired higher order Ambisonics (HOA) format, and obtains output audio of the sound scene in the desired HOA format from the machine learning model. The output audio in the desired HOA format may then be rendered according to a playback audio format of choice. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2024Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Ismael H. Nawfal, Mehrez Souden, Juha O. Merimaa
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Publication number: 20240312468Abstract: A sound scene is represented as first order Ambisonics (FOA) audio. A processor formats each signal of the FOA audio to a stream of audio frames, provides the formatted FOA audio to a machine learning model that reformats the formatted FOA audio in a target or desired higher order Ambisonics (HOA) format, and obtains output audio of the sound scene in the desired HOA format from the machine learning model. The output audio in the desired HOA format may then be rendered according to a playback audio format of choice. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2024Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Ismael H. Nawfal, Symeon Delikaris Manias, Mehrez Souden, Joshua D. Atkins
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Publication number: 20240267674Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to providing device-independent audio for electronic devices. In one or more implementations, microphone data captured by multiple microphones at an electronic device may be provided to a device-specific audio generalizer at the electronic device. The device-specific audio generalizer may utilize device specific information to generalize the microphone data to form device-independent audio data. The device-independent audio data may then be provided to a device-independent machine learning model at the electronic device or another electronic device for further processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2023Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventors: Mehrez SOUDEN, Jason WUNG, Jonathan D. SHEAFFER, Joshua D. ATKINS, Siyuan YUAN
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Patent number: 12010490Abstract: An audio renderer can have a machine learning model that jointly processes audio and visual information of an audiovisual recording. The audio renderer can generate output audio channels. Sounds captured in the audiovisual recording and present in the output audio channels are spatially mapped based on the joint processing of the audio and visual information by the machine learning model. Other aspects are described.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Symeon Delikaris Manias, Mehrez Souden, Ante Jukic, Matthew S. Connolly, Sabine Webel, Ronald J. Guglielmone, Jr.
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Patent number: 11996114Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-task machine learning model such as a time-domain deep neural network (DNN) that jointly generate an enhanced target speech signal and target audio parameters from a mixed signal of target speech and interference signal. The DNN may encode the mixed signal, determine masks used to jointly estimate the target signal and the target audio parameters based on the encoded mixed signal, apply the mask to separate the target speech from the interference signal to jointly estimate the target signal and the target audio parameters, and decode the masked features to enhance the target speech signal and to estimate the target audio parameters. The target audio parameters may include a voice activity detection (VAD) flag of the target speech. The DNN may leverage multi-channel audio signal and multi-modal signals such as video signals of the target speaker to improve the robustness of the enhanced target speech signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ramin Pishehvar, Ante Jukic, Mehrez Souden, Jason Wung, Feipeng Li, Joshua D. Atkins
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Publication number: 20240029754Abstract: Implementations of the subject technology provide systems and methods for providing audio source separation for audio input, such as for audio devices having limited power and/or computing resources. The subject technology may allow an audio device to leverage processing and/or power resources of a companion device that is communicatively coupled to the audio device. The companion device may identify a noise condition of the audio device, select a source separation model based on the noise condition, and provide the source separation model to the audio device. In this way, the audio device can provide audio source separation functionality using a relatively small footprint source separation model that is specific to the noise condition in which the audio device is operated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Carlos M. AVENDANO, John WOODRUFF, Jonathan HUANG, Mehrez SOUDEN, Andreas KOUTROUVELIS
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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: 11849291Abstract: A plurality of microphone signals can be captured with a plurality of microphones of the device. One or more echo dominant audio signals can be determined based on a pick-up beam directed towards one or more speakers of a playback device. Sound that is emitted from the one or more speakers and sensed by the plurality of microphones can be removed from plurality of microphone signals, by using the one or more echo dominant audio signals as a reference, resulting in clean audio.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mehrez Souden, Jason Wung, Ante Jukic, Ramin Pishehvar, Joshua D. Atkins
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Patent number: 11810588Abstract: Implementations of the subject technology provide systems and methods for providing audio source separation for audio input, such as for audio devices having limited power and/or computing resources. The subject technology may allow an audio device to leverage processing and/or power resources of a companion device that is communicatively coupled to the audio device. The companion device may identify a noise condition of the audio device, select a source separation model based on the noise condition, and provide the source separation model to the audio device. In this way, the audio device can provide audio source separation functionality using a relatively small footprint source separation model that is specific to the noise condition in which the audio device is operated.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlos M. Avendano, John Woodruff, Jonathan Huang, Mehrez Souden, Andreas Koutrouvelis
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Publication number: 20230111509Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of microphones, sampling, at each of the plurality of microphones of the electronic device, an audio signal to obtain a plurality of audio signals; processing the plurality of audio signals to obtain a plurality of audio streams; and determining, based on the plurality of audio streams, whether any of the plurality of audio signals corresponds to a spoken trigger. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the plurality of audio signals corresponds to the spoken trigger, initiating a session of the digital assistant; and in accordance with a determination that the plurality of audio signals does not correspond to the spoken trigger, foregoing initiating a session of the digital assistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Yoon KIM, John BRIDLE, Joshua D. ATKINS, Feipeng LI, Mehrez SOUDEN
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Patent number: 11546692Abstract: An audio renderer can have a machine learning model that jointly processes audio and visual information of an audiovisual recording. The audio renderer can generate output audio channels. Sounds captured in the audiovisual recording and present in the output audio channels are spatially mapped based on the joint processing of the audio and visual information by the machine learning model. Other aspects are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Symeon Delikaris Manias, Mehrez Souden, Ante Jukic, Matthew S. Connolly, Sabine Webel, Ronald J. Guglielmone, Jr.
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Patent number: 11532306Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of microphones, sampling, at each of the plurality of microphones of the electronic device, an audio signal to obtain a plurality of audio signals; processing the plurality of audio signals to obtain a plurality of audio streams; and determining, based on the plurality of audio streams, whether any of the plurality of audio signals corresponds to a spoken trigger. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the plurality of audio signals corresponds to the spoken trigger, initiating a session of the digital assistant; and in accordance with a determination that the plurality of audio signals does not correspond to the spoken trigger, foregoing initiating a session of the digital assistant.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Yoon Kim, John Bridle, Joshua D. Atkins, Feipeng Li, Mehrez Souden
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Patent number: 11514928Abstract: A device implementing a system for processing speech in an audio signal includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal corresponding to at least one microphone of a device, and to determine, using a first model, a first probability that a speech source is present in the audio signal. The at least one processor is further configured to determine, using a second model, a second probability that an estimated location of a source of the audio signal corresponds to an expected position of a user of the device, and to determine a likelihood that the audio signal corresponds to the user of the device based on the first and second probabilities.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mehrez Souden, Ante Jukic, Jason Wung, Ashrith Deshpande, Joshua D. Atkins
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Patent number: 11508388Abstract: A device for processing audio signals in a time-domain includes a processor configured to receive multiple audio signals corresponding to respective microphones of at least two or more microphones of the device, at least one of the multiple audio signals comprising speech of a user of the device. The processor is configured to provide the multiple audio signals to a machine learning model, the machine learning model having been trained based at least in part on an expected position of the user of the device and expected positions of the respective microphones on the device. The processor is configured to provide an audio signal that is enhanced with respect to the speech of the user relative to the multiple audio signals, wherein the audio signal is a waveform output from the machine learning model.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mehrez Souden, Symeon Delikaris Manias, Joshua D. Atkins, Ante Jukic, Ramin Pishehvar
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Publication number: 20220369030Abstract: A plurality of microphone signals can be captured with a plurality of microphones of the device. One or more echo dominant audio signals can be determined based on a pick-up beam directed towards one or more speakers of a playback device. Sound that is emitted from the one or more speakers and sensed by the plurality of microphones can be removed from plurality of microphone signals, by using the one or more echo dominant audio signals as a reference, resulting in clean audio.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2021Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Mehrez Souden, Jason Wung, Ante Jukic, Ramin Pishehvar, Joshua D. Atkins
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Publication number: 20220366927Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-task machine learning model such as a time-domain deep neural network (DNN) that jointly generate an enhanced target speech signal and target audio parameters from a mixed signal of target speech and interference signal. The DNN may encode the mixed signal, determine masks used to jointly estimate the target signal and the target audio parameters based on the encoded mixed signal, apply the mask to separate the target speech from the interference signal to jointly estimate the target signal and the target audio parameters, and decode the masked features to enhance the target speech signal and to estimate the target audio parameters. The target audio parameters may include a voice activity detection (VAD) flag of the target speech. The DNN may leverage multi-channel audio signal and multi-modal signals such as video signals of the target speaker to improve the robustness of the enhanced target speech signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2021Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Ramin Pishehvar, Ante Jukic, Mehrez Souden, Jason Wung, Feipeng Li, Joshua D. Atkins
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Patent number: 11490218Abstract: A device for reproducing spatial audio using a machine learning model may include at least one processor configured to receive multiple audio signals corresponding to a sound scene captured by respective microphones of a device. The at least one processor may be further configured to provide the multiple audio signals to a machine learning model, the machine learning model having been trained based at least in part on a target rendering configuration. The at least one processor may be further configured to provide, responsive to providing the multiple audio signals to the machine learning model, multichannel audio signals that comprise a spatial reproduction of the sound scene in accordance with the target rendering configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Symeon Delikaris Manias, Mehrez Souden