Method and system for enabling audio speed conversion

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for processing an audio signal. According to an exemplary method, an audio signal such as a digital voice signal is received and divided into one or more individual unit cycles. An audio speed conversion operation is enabled by repeating or removing one or more of the individual unit cycles. In particular, repeating one or more of the individual unit cycles decreases audio speed, and removing one or more of the individual unit cycles increases audio speed.

1 . A system for processing an audio signal, comprising:
 means for receiving said audio signal and dividing said received audio signal into one or more individual unit cycles;
 means for enabling an audio speed conversion operation by one of repeating and removing one or more of said individual unit cycles; 
   means for detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal, wherein each of said one or more pitch periods includes one or more of said individual unit cycle;
 means for generating an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles; and 
 wherein said detecting means detects said one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving means divides said received audio signal into said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon a reference value such that an individual unit cycle starts at a first sample of said received audio signal that is equal to or greater than said reference value and ends at a last sample of said received audio signal that is less than said reference value. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein repeating one or more of said individual unit cycles decreases audio speed. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein removing one or more of said individual unit cycles increases audio speed. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said received audio signal is a digital voice signal. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said generating means generates said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       8 . An audio speed conversion system, comprising:
 a signal detector for receiving an audio signal and dividing said received audio signal into one or more individual unit cycles;   circuitry for enabling an audio speed conversion operation by one of repeating and removing one or more of said individual unit cycles;   a pitch period detector for detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal, wherein each of said one or more pitch periods includes one or more of said individual unit cycles;   an average power value generator for generating an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles; and   wherein said pitch period detector detects said one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.   
   
   
       9 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , wherein said signal detector divides said received audio signal into said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon a reference value such that an individual unit cycle starts at a first sample of said received audio signal that is equal to or greater than said reference value and ends at a last sample of said received audio signal that is less than said reference value. 
   
   
       10 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , wherein repeating one or more of said individual unit cycles decreases audio speed. 
   
   
       11 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , wherein removing one or more of said individual unit cycles increases audio speed. 
   
   
       12 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , wherein said received audio signal is a digital voice signal. 
   
   
       13 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , further comprising a silence detector for determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval in dependence upon said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       14 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , wherein said average power value generator generates said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       15 . The audio speed conversion system of  claim 8 , wherein said average power value generator generates said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       16 . A method for processing an audio signal, comprising steps of:
 receiving said audio signal;   dividing said received audio signal into one or more individual unit cycles;   enabling an audio speed conversion operation by one of repeating and removing one or more of said individual unit cycles;   detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal, wherein each of said one or more pitch periods includes one or more of said individual unit cycles; and   wherein said step of detecting one or more pitch periods in said received audio signal is performed in dependence upon an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said received audio signal is divided into said one or more individual unit cycles in dependence upon a reference value such that an individual unit cycle starts at a first sample of said received audio signal that is equal to or greater than said reference value and ends at a last sample of said received audio signal that is less than said reference value. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein repeating one or more of said individual unit cycles decreases audio speed. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein removing one or more of said individual unit cycles increases audio speed. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said received audio signal is a digital voice signal. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of determining whether each of said one or more individual unit cycles corresponds to a silence interval is performed in dependence upon an average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles is determined in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said average power value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles is determined in dependence upon an average amplitude value for each of said one or more individual unit cycles.