Method and apparatus for detecting end points of speech activity

A method of detecting speech activity in a data input stream comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a set of autocorrelation vectors to represent the data input stream, wherein each autocorrelation vector of the set of autocorrelation vectors represents a predetermined portion of the data input stream;
• (b) generating a steady state autocorrelation vector indicative of the state of the data input stream at a first predetermined portion of the data input stream;
• (c) comparing an autocorrelation vector corresponding to the first predetermined portion of the data input stream to the steady state autocorrelation vector;
• and
• (d) determining a first end point of speech activity when the set of autocorrelation vectors diverges from the steady state autocorrelation vector.

A method of detecting speech activity in a data input stream comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a set of Fourier Transform vectors to represent the data input stream, wherein each Fourier Transform vector of the set of Fourier Transform vectors represents a predetermined portion of the data input stream;
• (b) generating a steady state Fourier Transform vector indicative of the state of the data input stream at a first predetermined portion of the data input stream;
• (c) comparing a Fourier Transform vector corresponding to the first predetermined portion of the data input stream to the steady state Fourier Transform vector;
• and
• (d) determining a first end point of speech activity when the set of Fourier Transform vectors diverges from the steady state Fourier Transform vector.

An apparatus for detecting speech activity in a data input stream comprising:

• a memory unit;
• an input device for receiving the data input stream;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory unit and the input device, wherein the processor generates a set of spectral representation vectors to represent the data input stream and stores the set of spectral representation vectors in the memory unit, wherein each spectral representation vector of the set of spectral representation vectors represents a predetermined portion of the data input stream, wherein the processor also generates a steady state spectral representation vector indicative of the state of the data input stream at a first predetermined portion of the data input stream and compares a spectral representation vector corresponding to the first predetermined portion of the data input stream to the steady state spectral representation vector, determines a first end point of speech activity when the set of spectral representation vectors diverges from the steady state spectral representation vector, and determines a second end point of speech activity when a predetermined number of spectral representation vectors of the set of spectral representation vectors are within a predetermined distance of the steady state spectral representation vector for a continuous predetermined period of time.

A method of detecting speech activity in a data input stream comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a set of spectral representation vectors to represent a plurality of portions of the data input stream;
• (b) generating a steady state spectral representation vector indicative of the state of the data input stream at a first portion of the data input stream, wherein the first portion is one of the plurality of portions;
• (c) comparing a first spectral representation vector representing the first portion of the data input stream to the steady state spectral representation vector;
• and
• (d) determining a first end point of speech activity when the set of spectral representation vectors diverges from the steady state spectral representation vector.

An apparatus for detecting speech activity in a data input stream comprising:

• a memory unit
• an input device for receiving the data input stream;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory unit and the input device, wherein the processor generates a set of spectral representation vectors to represent a plurality of portions of the data input stream and stores the set of spectral representation vectors in the memory unit, wherein the processor also generates a steady state spectral representation vector indicative of the state of the data input stream at a first portion of the data input stream, wherein the first portion is one of the plurality of portions, wherein the processor also compares a first spectral representation vector representing the first portion of the data input stream to the steady state spectral representation vector and determines a first end point of speech activity when the set of spectral representation vectors diverges from the steady state spectral representation vector.