Statistical audibility prediction(SAP) of an arbitrary sound in the presence of another sound

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded instructions for predicting audibility over time (t), at a listening location, of a signal from a signal source in the presence of a masker from a masking source, wherein execution of the recorded instructions by a processor of a statistical audibility prediction device causes the processor to:

• receive, over a plurality (p) of auditory channels, where i represents each respective one of the auditory channels, a specific loudness of the signal at the listening location and a specific loudness of the masker at the listening location, wherein the signal and the masker are concurrent signals;
• calculate, via the processor for each respective of the auditory channels, a standard deviation of a distribution of the specific loudness of the signal, and a standard deviation of a distribution of the specific loudness of the masker;
• calculate, via the processor, corresponding channel-specific detectability indices (d′t,i) for each respective one of the auditory channels as a function of the standard deviation of the distribution of the signal and the standard deviation of the distribution of the masker;
• aggregate the corresponding channel-specific detectability indices (d′t,i) to produce a total detectability index (d′t);
• and
• output the total detectability index (d′t) as an electronic signal indicative of the predicted audibility over time of the signal.

A statistical audibility prediction method for predicting audibility over time (t), at a listening location, of a signal from a signal source in the presence of a masker from a masking source, comprising:

• concurrently recording the signal and the masker at the listening location as recorded input signals;
• calculating using the recorded input signals, for a plurality of auditory channels (p), a specific loudness of the signal and a specific loudness of the masker;
• calculating, via the processor for each respective one of the auditory channels (i), a standard deviation of a distribution of the specific loudness of the signal, and a standard deviation of a distribution of the specific loudness of the masker;
• calculating, via the processor, corresponding channel-specific detectability indices (d′t,i) for each respective one of the auditory channels as a function of the standard deviation of the distribution of the signal and the standard deviation of the distribution of the masker;
• aggregating the corresponding channel-specific detectability indices (d′t,i) to produce a total detectability index (d′t), using a Root of Sum of Square (RSS) relation;
• and
• outputting the total detectability index (d′t) as an electronic signal indicative of the predicted audibility over time of the signal, wherein the RSS relation includes solving the following equation via the processor:
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