Speech reproduction device configured for masking reproduced speech in a masked speech zone

A method for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone, the method comprising:

• receiving the speech signal using an audio processing module;
• reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals using a set of speech loudspeakers;
• producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals using a set of masking sound loudspeakers, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone;
• producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals based on the speech signal using a speech loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module;
• producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal using a speech signal analysis module of the audio processing module;
• producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals using a masking sound generator of the audio processing module;
• and
• producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals based on the one or more masking sound signals using a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone, the method comprising:

• receiving the speech signal using an audio processing module;
• reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals using a set of speech loudspeakers;
• producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals using a set of masking sound loudspeakers, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone;
• producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals based on the speech signal using a speech loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module;
• producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal using a speech signal analysis module of the audio processing module;
• producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals using a masking sound generator of the audio processing module;
• and
• producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals based on the one or more masking sound signals using a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.