Topological mapping of control parameters

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include methods, systems and computer program products for generating at least one control parameter for controlling a signal processor that processes audio signals. A point set is defined, wherein the point set may assume a plurality of topological configurations. Each topological configuration comprises at least one region, each of the at least one region associated with at least one or more topological attributes. A mapping is defined from each of the plurality of topological configurations to a respective plurality of parameters, wherein the mapping is performed based upon the topological attributes of said topological configuration. A user input is received wherein the user input expresses a transformation of the point set from a first topological configuration a second topological configuration. An updated set of topological attributes is determined based upon the second topological configuration. The one or more control parameters are updated based upon the second topological configuration using the mapping.

1 . A method for generating at least one control parameter for processing audio signals, comprising:
 (a) defining a point set, wherein the point set may assume a plurality of topological configurations, wherein each topological configuration comprises at least one region, each of the at least one region associated with at least one or more topological attributes;   (b) defining a mapping from each of the plurality of topological configurations to a respective plurality of parameters for processing audio signals, wherein the mapping is performed based upon the topological attributes of said topological configuration;   (b) receiving a user input, said user input expressing a transformation of the point set from a first topological configuration a second topological configuration;   (c) determining an updated set of topological attributes based upon the second topological configuration; and,   (c) updating the parameters for processing audio signals based upon the second topological configuration using the mapping.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control parameters are utilized to control a digital signal processor (“DSP”) that processes audio signals. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling a plurality of signal processing parameters with a device having a graphical user interface that is associated with a signal processor for processing audio signals, comprising:
 for each of a plurality of words within a first audio signal, each word comprising at least one of a phoneme and letter, the device associating a respective frequency with each of the at least one of the phoneme and letter;   displaying a selected word on the graphical user interface wherein the individual at least one of phoneme and letter comprising said word exhibits one of a size and height that is a function of an input parameter;   receiving an input on the graphical user interface, said input indicating a desired one of size and height of the at least one of phoneme and letter;   redisplaying the word on the graphical user interface to indicate the desired one of size and height of the at least one of phoneme and letter in the word;   determining a compression threshold based upon the desired one of size and height of the at least one of phoneme and letter; and   providing the compression to the signal processor,   wherein the adjusting of the size and height of the at least one of phoneme and letter enables a user to hear the phonemes and words.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the signal processor processes audio signals that are output by a sound emitting device, and wherein the device having the graphical user interface is from a group consisting of: a cellphone and computer tablet. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , including repeating spoken language for the displayed word so further adjustments to the one of size and height of the at least one of phoneme and letter are provided in an iterative process, to discover the size and the height of the at least one of phoneme and letter that provides adequate speech discrimination. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the repeating of the spoken language is provided as a recording. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the recording is recorded spoken words or electronically created words. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling a plurality of signal processing parameters associated with a signal processor for processing audio signals, comprising:
 for each of a plurality of words within a first audio signal, each word comprising at least one phoneme, associating a respective frequency with each of the at least one phoneme;   displaying a coordinate system graph associated with a selected phoneme wherein the input volume of said phoneme is measured along the x-axis of said graph and the output volume is measured along the y-axis of said graph;   displaying a curve on said graph wherein for each of a plurality of points on said curve the x-position of a point on the graph represents the input volume of the phoneme and the y-position of the same point on the graph represents the output volume of said phoneme;   further display a bender which extends beyond the x-y position of the kneepoint of the curve, extending the curve itself in the form of a line;   receiving an input, said input indicating the desired angle or slope of the bender;   redisplaying the components of the graph, including the curve and the bender, to indicate the desired angle or slope of the bender;   determining the ratio parameter based upon the desired angle or slope of the bender; and   providing the ratio parameter to the signal processor for processing audio signals.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the signal processor processes audio signals that are output by a sound emitting device, and wherein the device having the graphical user interface is from a group consisting of: a cellphone and computer tablet. 
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling a signal processing parameters associated with a signal processor for processing audio signals using controls to adjust a position and a shape of a curve displayed on a user interface, comprising:
 providing a regional control, wherein a user adjusts a region of the curve displayed on the user interface; and   providing a local control, wherein a user adjusts a point on the curve to move a narrow area of the curve that is less than a region of the curve,   wherein the curve represents gain levels at individual frequencies or frequency bands.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the local control is adjusted by a user touching the point on the curve using a digit on a hand to initiate an ability to move the narrow area of the curve. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the regional control is adjusted by a user touching the curve with digits to move the region of the curve. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , including providing a global control, wherein a user moves the curve in its entirety. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , including iteratively moving the curve repeated while listening to re-processed sound during each of iteration. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the curve is mapped with frequency in hertz provided along a horizontal axis and gain in decibels provided on a vertical axis. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the signal processor processes audio signals that are output by a sound emitting device, and wherein the device having the graphical user interface is from a group consisting of: a cellphone and computer tablet. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a user moves the curve in its entirety with an anchorpoint.