Method and device for speech analysis
AssigneeForskarpatent I Syd AB
InventorBorje Clavbo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and a method for speech analysis are provided, comprising measuring fundamental notes of a speech sequence to be analysed and identifying frequency intervals between at least some of said fundamental notes. An assessment is then made as to the frequency at which at least some of these thus identified intervals occur in the speech sequence to be analysed. Among other applications are speech training and diagnosis of pathological conditions.
Claims40
A method for analysing the human speech, comprising:
- measuring sounding fundamental notes of a speech sequence to be analysed;
- identifying the frequency intervals between at least two of these fundamental notes in succession;
- assessing the frequency at which at least one of the frequency intervals thus identified occurs in the speech sequence to be analysed.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein identifying the frequency intervals also comprises identification of whether the frequency interval is ascending or descending.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least minor thirds (L3) and major thirds (S3) are identified.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising identification of at least one frequency interval from the group:
- unison (R1), minor second (L2), major second (S2), minor third (L3), major third (S3), minor sixth (L6) and major sixth (S6);
- and at least one frequency interval from the group perfect fourth (R4), augmented fourth/diminished fifth (tritone), perfect fifth (R5), minor seventh (L7) and major seventh (S7).
A method as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the identified frequency intervals are divided into at least the following sub-groups:
- unison (R1), minor second (L2), major second (S2), minor third (L3), major third (S3), minor sixth (L6) and major sixth (S6);
- respectively:
- perfect fourth (R4), augmented fourth/diminished fifth (tritone), perfect fifth (R5), minor seventh (L7), major seventh (S7) and perfect octave (R8).
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising identifying frequency interval sequences between the notes of at least one group comprising at least three of said fundamental notes in succession.
A device for analysing the human speech, comprising
- measurement means for measuring sounding fundamental notes in a speech sequence to be analysed;
- means for identifying frequency intervals between at least two of these fundamental notes in succession;
- means for estimating the frequency at which at least one of the frequency intervals thus identified occurs in the speech sequence to the analysed.
A method for automated speech training, comprising
- uttering a speech sequence by a user;
- measuring sounding fundamental notes of the speech sequence to be analysed;
- identifying the frequency intervals between at least two of these fundamental notes in succession;
- assessing the frequency at which at least one of the frequency intervals thus identified occurs in the speech sequence to the analysed,
- comparing the estimated frequency interval frequency with a preferred frequency determined in advance for the user concerned.
A device for speech training, comprising
- means for registering a spoken speech sequence;
- means for measuring sounding fundamental notes of the speech sequence to be analysed;
- means for identifying the frequency intervals between at least two of these fundamental notes in succession;
- means for assessing the frequency at which at least one of the frequency intervals thus identified occurs in the speech sequence to be analysed,
- means for comparing the assessed frequency interval frequency with a preferred frequency determined in advance for the user concerned.
A method for diagnosing pathological conditions on the basis of a speech analysis, comprising
- uttering a speech sequence by a patient;
- measuring sounding fundamental notes of the speech sequence to be analysed;
- identifying the frequency intervals between at least two of these fundamental notes in succession;
- assessing the frequency at which at least one of the frequency intervals thus identified appears in the speech sequence to the analysed,
- evaluating at least one such assessed frequency interval frequency by comparing it with a frequency determined in advance for diagnostic purposes.
A device for diagnosing pathological conditions on the basis of a speech analysis, comprising
- means for registration of an uttered speech sequence;
- measurement means for measuring sounding fundamental notes of the speech sequence to be analysed;
- identification means for identifying the frequency intervals between at least two of these fundamental notes in succession;
- assessment means for assessing the frequency at which at least one of the frequency intervals thus identified appears in the speech sequence to be analysed,
- means for evaluating at least one such assessed frequency interval frequency by comparing it with a frequency determined in advance for diagnostic purposes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.