Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
  • H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
  • G10L19/00—Speech or audio signals analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocoders; Coding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis
  • G10L19/04—Speech or audio signals analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocoders; Coding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis using predictive techniques
  • G10L19/26—Pre-filtering or post-filtering
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
  • H04W4/08—User group management
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
  • G10L19/00—Speech or audio signals analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocoders; Coding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
  • G10L25/00—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00
  • G10L25/03—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00 characterised by the type of extracted parameters
  • G10L25/21—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00 characterised by the type of extracted parameters the extracted parameters being power information
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
  • G10L25/00—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00
  • G10L25/78—Detection of presence or absence of voice signals
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
  • G10L25/00—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00
  • G10L25/78—Detection of presence or absence of voice signals
  • G10L25/84—Detection of presence or absence of voice signals for discriminating voice from noise
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/30—Monitoring; Testing of propagation channels
  • H04B17/309—Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
  • H04B17/318—Received signal strength
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
  • G10L25/00—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00
  • G10L25/78—Detection of presence or absence of voice signals
  • G10L2025/783—Detection of presence or absence of voice signals based on threshold decision
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
  • H04M1/6008—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers in the transmitter circuit
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
  • H04M2250/74—Details of telephonic subscriber devices with voice recognition means

Definitions

• the field of the invention relates to the field of radio communication methods. More particularly, the field of the invention relates to the field of radio communication and audio signal filtering methods. In particular, the field of the invention relates to the field of radio communication methods and filtering of audio signals in a group communication context.
• PPE personal protective equipment
• patent FR3076154 describes a telecommunications method in a group consisting of a plurality of devices, via a connection according to IEEE 802.11 standards of a wireless local network.
• this patent describes the implementation of a Wi-Fi protocol requiring the configuration of a centralizing device.
• a problem with this method is that group communication is only permitted through this centralizing device, which receives the signals emitted by one of the terminals to retransmit them to the other terminals. In other words, such a system cannot function if the centralizing device is not present in the communication network, which makes the implementation complex and unsuitable for certain use cases.
• Another problem with such a method is that it does not make it possible to limit poor quality signals, for example signals transmitted at the limit of the communication range.
• Another disadvantage is that the energy consumption of the system is significant due to the electrical consumption of the centralizing device.
• patent FR2988549 which describes a communication terminal which comprises a digital communication circuit using time multiplexing on a radio channel, and implementing wireless communication in “conference” and “hands-free” mode on a network. autonomous, between at least two carriers of homologous devices.
• This patent describes a synchronization technique requiring the definition of clocks and master/slave terminals to implement the “conference” mode.
• a problem with this solution is that it also does not limit poor quality signals during group communication.
• An objective of the invention is to limit at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the invention relates to a method for discovering a radio communication network and filtering an audio signal, said method allowing group communication between a plurality of electronic terminals co-located in a radio zone, each electronic terminal comprising at least one communication interface for transmitting and receiving radio signals, the method comprising:
• ⁇ Transmission of a first radio signal by a first electronic terminal comprising: o Acquisition of the first audio signal by a microphone; o Detection of data characteristic of a voice in the first audio signal by implementing a first signal processing function; o Implementation of a first control law to implement the following steps when the characteristic data of a voice has been detected in the first audio signal; i. Filtering, encoding including a compression and modulation step, by a chain of signal processing of said first audio signal received to obtain the first radio signal capable of being transmitted within a radio channel; ii. Transmission of the first radio signal by means of a radio transmitter and via a wireless link;
• ⁇ Reception of said first radio signal by a plurality of electronic terminals comprising: o Detection of the first radio signal by a radio communication interface of each terminal among the plurality of electronic terminals; o Baseband demodulation comprising the first audio signal filtered from said first radio signal; o Decompression and amplification, by a second signal processing chain, of said first filtered audio signal; o Delivery of the first decompressed and amplified audio signal to an audio output of each terminal among the plurality of electronic terminals;
• the method comprises a pairing step between the first electronic terminal and the plurality of electronic terminals prior to the transmission step, said pairing step comprising:
• One advantage is to reduce the overall power consumption of the system by conditioning the pairing of the terminals to a minimum level of received signal power.
• the encoding implemented by the first control law comprises the encoding of an identifier of the first terminal. This is for example a MAC address of the first terminal.
• group communication between the electronic terminals is implemented using the IPv6 Thread network protocol.
• the pairing step comprises an addressing step comprising the allocation of an IP address to at least one terminal of the plurality of terminals by the first terminal.
• the communication interface of each electronic terminal allows wireless communications broadcast to the other terminals, and allows the transmission and reception, by each electronic terminal, of datagrams following a user datagram protocol.
• the filtering of the first local audio signal in the transmission step is carried out by means of a low pass filter whose cutoff frequency is between 300Hz and 400Hz.
• An advantage is to allow the implementation of a method including or not the implementation of a routing table.
• the communication interface of each electronic terminal allows wireless communications broadcast to the other terminals, and allows the transmission and reception, by each electronic terminal, of datagrams following a transmission control protocol.
• One advantage is to allow group communication in a “conference” mode between several users co-located in the same radio zone.
• the filtering of the first local audio signal in the transmission step is carried out by means of a band-pass filter whose bandwidth is between 300Hz and 3.5kHz.
• the steps of demodulation and decompression of the first radio signal are implemented by the plurality of electronic terminals only when a power value of the first radio signal S r1 received is greater than a predetermined threshold.
• the detection of the characteristic data of a voice in the first audio signal comprises:
• An advantage is to allow the detection of the characteristic data of a voice in the first audio signal according to different parameters.
• At least one electronic terminal among the plurality of electronic terminals is a leader terminal managing a routing table of the radio communication network.
• An advantage is to allow the management of the radio communication of electronic terminals according to the inputs and outputs of the communication bubble delimited by the radio zone G.
• Another advantage is to allow the leader function to be switched to another electronic terminal when the current leader terminal leaves radio zone G.
• the demodulation, decompression and delivery steps are implemented only when a power value of the first radio signal received is greater than a predetermined threshold.
• the invention relates to a communication system comprising a plurality of electronic terminals capable of communicating with each other when said plurality of electronic terminals is co-located in the same radio zone, each electronic terminal comprising:
• a radio transmitter for: o Transmitting a first radio signal within a radio channel
• a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal comprising a data frame encoding an audio signal
• a first calculator for executing a first signal processing chain configured to implement: o A step of processing the first audio signal acquired by the microphone comprising: i. detecting data characteristic of a voice in the first local audio signal by means of a signal processing function; ii. implementation of a first control law when the characteristic data of a voice has been detected in the first local audio signal, comprising filtering the first audio signal to obtain a first filtered audio signal;
• the second calculator is configured to implement a control law comprising:
• the invention relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead it to implement the following steps:
• ⁇ Implementation of a first control law when the characteristic data of a voice is detected in the first audio signal, comprising: o Filtering of the first audio signal; o Encoding comprising the compression of the first audio signal by means of an audio codec; o Modulation of the first audio signal to obtain a first radio signal capable of being transmitted within a radio channel by a radio transmitter.
• the invention relates to a method for discovering a radio communication network and filtering an audio signal, said method allowing group communication between a plurality of electronic terminals co-located in a radio zone, each electronic terminal comprising at least one communication interface for transmitting and receiving radio signals, the method comprising:
• Transmission of a first radio signal by a first electronic terminal comprising: o Acquisition of the first audio signal by a microphone; o Detection of data characteristic of a voice in the first audio signal by implementing a first signal processing function; o Implementation of a first control law to implement the following steps when the characteristic data of a voice has been detected in the first audio signal;
• Reception of said first radio signal by a plurality of electronic terminals comprising: o Detection of the first radio signal by a radio communication interface of each terminal among the plurality of electronic terminals; o Calculation of a received signal power value and comparison of said calculated received signal power value with a first threshold; o Implementation of the following steps when said received signal power value is greater than said first threshold:
• Baseband demodulation comprising the first audio signal filtered from said first radio signal; ⁇ Decompression and amplification, by a second signal processing chain, of said first filtered audio signal,
• the received signal power value comprises a communication quality indicator
• calculating said received signal power value comprises calculating an exponential moving average of power values of a plurality of first radio signals transmitted by the first terminal.
• the signal processing function for detecting the characteristic data of a voice is implemented automatically in response to the acquisition of the first audio signal by the microphone.
• the method comprises:
• the method comprises:
• the average energy level of the second audio signals is recalculated automatically and periodically, the voice detection threshold being recalculated automatically at each new calculation of said average energy level of the second signals.
• the detection of the characteristic data of a voice in the first audio signal comprises the comparison of the first energy level with the voice detection threshold, the characteristic data of a voice being detected when the first energy level is higher than the voice detection threshold.
• the step of transmitting the first radio signal comprises a step of normalizing sound intensity parameters of the first audio signal according to a configurable threshold.
• the step of receiving the first radio signal comprises a step of identifying the first electronic terminal by the receiving terminal, said identification comprising a comparison of a sequence of parameters of the first radio signal with predefined parameters for authorize or not the reception of the first radio signal.
• the step of transmitting the first radio signal comprises a real-time comparison of a number of transmitters within a radio channel with a threshold value, the first control law not being set implemented only when said number of transmitters is less than said threshold value.
• the reception of the first radio signal comprises the implementation of an algorithm to generate an unreceived or degraded portion of said first radio signal from a received portion of said first radio signal.
• the reception of the first radio signal comprises the implementation of an algorithm to generate an unreceived or degraded portion of said first radio signal from a received portion of said first radio signal.
• the invention relates to a communication system comprising a plurality of electronic terminals capable of communicating with each other when said plurality of electronic terminals is co-located in the same radio zone, each electronic terminal comprising:
• a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal comprising a data frame encoding an audio signal
• a first calculator for executing a first signal processing chain configured to implement: o a step of processing the first audio signal acquired by the microphone comprising:
• ⁇ encoding comprising the compression and modulation of the first filtered audio signal to obtain the first radio signal capable of being transmitted within a radio channel
• the second calculator is configured to implement a control law comprising:
• Fig.1 a schematic representation of the method of the invention implemented in the context of group communication between four electronic terminals co-located in the same radio zone.
• Fig.2 a schematic representation of the steps of the method of the invention, represented following the example of radio communication between two electronic terminals.
• Fig.3 a detailed schematic representation of the step of transmitting the first radio signal by the first terminal shown in Figure 2.
• Fig.4 a schematic representation of a radio communication between two electronic terminals according to the method of the invention, in an embodiment where the two electronic terminals each include two computers, and are each both transmitter and at the same time receiver.
• Fig.5 a detailed schematic representation of the step of receiving the first radio signal by a second terminal, shown in Figure 2.
• Fig.6 a schematic representation of a pairing step between two electronic terminals.
• Fig.7 a schematic representation of the transmission and reception steps implemented by the first electronic terminal transmitting the first radio signal, and having received a radio signal transmitted by another electronic terminal.
• the invention relates to a method for discovering a radio communication network and filtering an audio signal S 1 .
• the method of the invention allows the establishment of group communication between several electronic terminals, denoted T 1 ...T x , which are co-located in the same radio zone, denoted G.
• T 1 ...T x illustrates that the number of electronic terminals communicating in the radio zone G is not limited in itself.
• Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment in which four electronic terminals, denoted T 1 ...T 4 , communicate with each other.
• the invention is not limited to the implementation of a predefined number of electronic terminals.
• the radio zone G refers to a “communication bubble” in which the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x can be paired with each other, so as to establish radio communication and to exchange data messages via radio signals, through a radio communication network.
• the radio zone G extends for example so that a maximum distance of 10 meters separates the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x furthest from each other.
• This communication range is interesting because it corresponds to the maximum range allowing natural communication between two individuals in a non-noisy environment.
• the invention is not limited to the communication scope of the aforementioned example. This range may vary depending on the use cases, equipment and their configuration, the number of users, and communication environments. According to another example, the communication range between the two most distant electronic terminals in radio zone G is 40 meters.
• radio communication network we mean a set of radio channels allowing an exchange of information via radio signals. This information is for example exchanged between the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x which are connected to each other via one or more of the radio channels.
• the method comprises several steps making it possible to achieve radio communication between the plurality of electronic terminals T 1 ...T x co-located in the radio zone G.
• radio communication is meant a transfer of data by radio between one or more transmitting terminals and one or more receiving terminals.
• Useful data are for example encoded in a radio signal, and transmitted from the transmitter terminal to the receiver terminals via a radio communication interface making it possible to transmit and receive radio signals.
• the same electronic terminal is for example both a transmitter and a receiver.
• the first terminal T 1 is a transmitter terminal and the terminals T 2 ...T X are receiver terminals.
• each terminal T 1 ...T x is capable of being both a transmitter and a receiver.
• the characteristics of a terminal T 1 ...T x can be applied directly to another terminal T 1 ...T x depending on whether it operates in a transmitter mode or in a receiver mode.
• the method comprises a first step of transmitting, denoted EM, a first radio signal S r1 by a first electronic terminal T 1 .
• the transmission step EM comprises the acquisition A 1 of a first audio signal S 1 by a microphone 10 of the first terminal T 1 .
• audio signal we mean an electrical signal resulting from the reception and conversion of sound waves by the microphone 10. these are for example sound waves coming from the speaking of a user of the first electronic terminal T 1 , or sound waves coming from the environment in which the user operates, it can also be act on a combination of sound waves coming from these two sources ⁇ the user's speech and the surrounding environment.
• the emission step EM comprises the detection DTC 1 of a piece of data characteristic of a voice in the first audio signal S 1 acquired by the microphone 10.
• characteristic data of a voice a piece of data whose detection allows to identify that the first audio signal S 1 results from the speaking of a user of the first electronic terminal T 1 .
• this data makes it possible to distinguish an acquired audio signal resulting from the speaking of the user closest to the microphone 10, from an acquired audio signal resulting from noise coming from the environment in which where this user is located, such as for example the noise of a machine, or the noise of surrounding conversations.
• the characteristic data of a voice is detected by means of a signal processing function.
• the signal processing function includes, for example, a voice detection function.
• the signal processing function is for example implemented by means of a first DSP calculator integrated into the first terminal T 1 .
• This is for example a processor optimized to perform digital signal processing functions, such as a digital signal processor, also designated in the English literature by the terms “Digital Signal Processor” or “DSP”. .
• DSP Digital Signal Processor
• the first DSP calculator comprises two computers. These are, for example, two digital signal processors.
• the first DSP calculator includes for example two memory spaces for each of the two computers.
• One advantage is to optimize the calculations by distributing them over each of the two computers.
• one of the computers supports the filtering of the first audio signal, and another computer supports the calculations allowing the detection of the characteristic data of a voice.
• the step of detecting the characteristic voice data is implemented automatically in response to detection of a sound signal by the microphone. This step is for example implemented automatically each time a sound signal is detected by the microphone, for example the first audio signal S 1 .
• a notable advantage is to avoid the methods of the prior art requiring prior action by the user before implementing voice detection, such as the use of an actuation means by the user , for example a “push to talk” button according to an Anglo-Saxon name.
• the first DSP calculator is for example configured to implement a signal processing chain allowing the detection of voice characteristic data at each new acquisition of the microphone.
• the implementation of the signal processing chain comprises for example the comparison of a parameter of the first audio signal S 1 with a threshold value, for example a comparison of an energy of the first audio signal S 1 with the threshold value.
• the threshold value is for example calculated based on environmental parameters, such as surrounding noise parameters. These parameters include, for example, parameters relating to one or more signals acquired using a microphone.
• the threshold value is for example determined from the implementation of a mathematical function which depends on one or more of these parameters.
• the threshold value is for example determined as a function of the amplitudes of the signals acquired.
• the threshold value is for example determined from the implementation of a mathematical operation, for example a sum of the squares of the amplitudes of the signals acquired over a given time interval.
• the threshold value configured to be equal to the result of this mathematical operation.
• the threshold value is configured to be greater than the result of this mathematical operation.
• the filtering step and the step of detecting data characteristic of a voice are implemented on the first audio signal S 1 following a predefined sequence.
• the predefined sequence includes, for example, the following steps: • reception of the first audio signal S 1 by the first DSP calculator of the first terminal;
• the method comprises the acquisition of at least one second audio signal S 2 by the first terminal T 1 .
• a second audio signal S 2 is called a signal used to configure a voice detection threshold S v .
• the second audio signal S 2 includes, for example, surrounding noise parameters.
• the method comprises acquiring the second signal S 2 by means of a microphone distinct from the microphone configured to acquire the first audio signal S 1 .
• the first audio signal S 1 is acquired by a first microphone and the second audio signal S 2 is acquired by a second microphone.
• An advantage is to allow a more precise calculation of the voice detection threshold.
• the method comprises a step of calculating a first energy level E 1 of the first audio signal S 1 .
• the method comprises a step of calculating a second energy level E 2 of the second audio signal S 2 .
• the method comprises a step of automatically setting a voice detection threshold S v .
• the voice detection threshold S v is for example automatically configured as a function of the second energy level E 2 calculated.
• the method comprises a step of comparing the first energy level E 1 with the voice detection threshold S v , the first control law L C1 being implemented when the first energy level E 1 is greater than the voice detection threshold S v .
• An advantage is to condition the transmission of the first radio signal S 1 to a sufficient energy level of the audio signal picked up by the microphone as a function of the ambient noise, and therefore maximize the chances that the transmitted signal is a signal comprising data of voice.
• the characteristic data of a voice is detected when the first energy level E 1 is greater than the voice detection threshold S v .
• An advantage is to condition the detection of the characteristic voice data in the first audio signal on a sufficient energy level of this signal in relation to the ambient noise.
• the method comprises a step of acquiring a plurality of second audio signals S 2 .
• the second audio signals S 2 are for example acquired for a predetermined duration.
• the method comprises a step of calculating an average energy level of a plurality of second audio signals S 2 , the voice detection threshold S v being automatically parameterized as a function of said energy level AVERAGE.
• the average energy level of the second audio signals S 2 is recalculated automatically and periodically, the voice detection threshold S v being recalculated automatically at each new calculation of said average energy level of the second audio signals S 2 and as a function of said average energy level of the second signals S 2 .
• An advantage is to automatically and continuously configure a voice detection threshold which automatically adjusts according to the ambient noise level.
• the voice detection threshold S v is parameterized by means of the first audio signal S 1 or the second audio signal S 2 . In one embodiment, the voice detection threshold S v is parameterized by means of the first audio signal S 1 and the second audio signal S 2 .
• the method comprises the implementation of an equalizer.
• An advantage is to modify frequencies of the first audio signal S 1 .
• the equalizer allows, for example, to increase or lower certain frequencies to strengthen/lighten low or high frequencies, or to reduce parasitic noises, such as hiss.
• Another advantage of the equalizer is that it helps improve signal quality when using an in-ear microphone. In fact, the use of an in-ear microphone “muffles” the signal at high frequencies, and it is necessary to process this signal to increase its amplitude at high frequencies before its processing by the other elements of the signal processing chain. This advantageously makes it possible to improve intelligibility.
• the method comprises the implementation of a noise reducer, also designated in the English literature by the name “noise reducer”.
• An advantage of the noise reducer is to contribute to the reduction of environmental noise to allow better distinction of the voice signal in the first audio signal S 1 .
• the DTC 1 detection of data characteristic of a voice comprises the detection of a spectrogram characteristic of a voice.
• the DTC 1 detection of data characteristic of a voice comprises the detection of a power or a spectral density characteristic of a voice.
• the DTC 1 detection of data characteristic of a voice comprises the detection of at least one spectral pattern characteristic of a voice.
• the DTC 1 detection of data characteristic of a voice comprises the calculation of a baseband signal-to-noise ratio. Such a calculation is for example implemented by means of the first calculator integrated into the first terminal T 1 .
• the useful signal is called “baseband” when it is not modulated. In other words, we distinguishes the useful signal (for example the first audio signal S 1 ), from the useful signal transported via a modulated carrier wave.
• the transmission step EM comprises the implementation of a first control law L C1 .
• This first control law L C1 includes the filtering, compression and modulation of the first audio signal S 1 .
• An advantage of implementing the first control law L C1 only following voice detection is to reduce the energy consumption of the system. For example, in a diffuse communication mode, the first terminal T 1 will only emit radio signals when the user of the first terminal T 1 speaks.
• Another advantage is to reduce the saturation level of the radio channel by avoiding the transmission of spurious signals, for example when a microphone of the first terminal only picks up the surrounding noise.
• the CTS 1 signal processing chain is for example executed by two separate computers.
• the first DSP calculator and the second MCU calculator are for example integrated into the first terminal T 1 .
• the filtering step is for example implemented by the first DSP calculator.
• the compression and modulation steps are for example implemented by the second MCU computer.
• the second MCU calculator includes for example an integrated circuit comprising a processor, a memory and input-output peripherals. This is for example a microcontroller.
• the first DSP calculator includes the second MCU calculator.
• the implementation of the first control law L C1 includes the implementation of the equalizer.
• the equalizer is for example implemented between the filtering step and the compression step of the first audio signal S 1 in the signal processing chain.
• the implementation of the first control law L C1 includes the implementation of the noise reducer.
• the noise reducer is for example implemented between the filtering step and the step of compressing the first audio signal S 1 in the signal processing chain.
• the first DSP calculator and the second MCU calculator are for example connected via a wired connection which allows an exchange of information between the two DSP calculators, MCU. For example, they communicate with each other via an “Integrated Interchip Sound” connection, also called “I2S”.
• I2S Integrated Interchip Sound
• the filtering comprises for example the implementation of a band-pass filter on the first audio signal S 1 .
• the filtering comprises the implementation of a band-pass filter whose bandwidth is between 300 Hz and 3.5 kHz. According to another example, the filtering comprises the implementation of a bandpass filter whose bandwidth is between 200 Hz and 4 kHz.
• the method comprises the implementation of a band-pass filter whose bandwidth is between 300Hz and 3.5kHz and a function for detecting data characteristic of a voice.
• the function of detecting data characteristic of a voice is for example implemented after the filtering step in the signal processing chain.
• the method also includes the implementation of an equalizer.
• the equalizer is, for example, positioned at the last position in the signal processing chain.
• An advantage is to allow the use of an in-ear microphone by improving the quality of the signal to increase intelligibility.
• the method comprises the implementation of a low pass filter.
• the low pass filter has, for example, a cutoff frequency between 300 Hz and 400 Hz.
• the step of detecting data characteristic of a voice and the filtering step are implemented in parallel in the method.
• the first audio signal S 1 is for example divided into two signals. One of the signals is for example processed to detect the presence or absence of data characteristic of a voice in the signal.
• a multiplication by “1” is for example implemented between the two signals, so that the first filtered audio signal S 1 is either delivered at the output of the first DSP calculator to the second MCU calculator, for example following an I2S protocol, is processed by another function of the signal processing chain, for example a limiter, before sending it to the second MCU computer.
• a multiplication by “0” is for example implemented between the two signals. This advantageously makes it possible to transmit only those signals in which the characteristic data of a voice has been detected by the signal processing chain.
• the method also includes the implementation of a limiter.
• the limiter is for example implemented after the function of detecting data characteristic of a voice in the signal processing chain.
• the method also includes the implementation of a reducer.
• the reducer is for example configured to act as a band pass filter whose bandwidth is between 250 Hz and 2500 Hz.
• An advantage is to filter specific frequencies of the first audio signal S 1 in a targeted manner so as to preserve the voice frequencies and attenuate the other frequencies, to improve the quality of the communication.
• the filtering step comprises the DTC 1 detection step of the characteristic data of a voice.
• the compression of the first audio signal S 1 is for example carried out by means of an audio compression algorithm.
• This algorithm is for example implemented by the second computer MCU.
• the audio compression algorithm includes, for example, the implementation of an audio codec.
• the audio codec includes, for example, an open audio compression format. For example, this is a lossy audio compression format.
• This is for example an OPUS codec.
• the audio codec is for example configured with specific parameters to correspond to the requirements of the second MCU calculator, for example requirements in terms of processing time and/or RAM, also designated by the acronym “RAM” in the literature.
• Anglo-Saxon Specific parameters include for example the implementation of an algorithm to low latency, such as an algorithm designated in the Anglo-Saxon literature by the name “Constrained Energy Lapped Transform”, or by the acronym CELT.
• the first filtered and compressed audio signal S 1 is then modulated to obtain a first radio signal S r1 capable of being transmitted within a radio channel.
• the first radio signal S r1 is transmitted by means of a radio transmitter EMi of the first electronic terminal T 1 , and via a wireless link. This is for example a Bluetooth connection, or even a Wi-Fi connection.
• the first radio signal S r1 is transmitted according to a mesh network protocol.
• a mesh network protocol This is for example a protocol intended for wireless networks of the LR WPAN family ⁇ from the English “Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Network” ⁇ .
• the method comprises the implementation of a routing table.
• the method includes for example the designation of a “leader” electronic terminal.
• the “leader” electronic terminal for example, manages the routing table.
• An advantage is to allow the transition from a protocol not implementing a routing table to a protocol implementing a routing table, such as an 802.15.4 mesh network protocol, for example “Thread”.
• a new “leader” terminal is automatically redesignated.
• An advantage is to ensure that the exit of the “leader” terminal from the radio zone does not affect the continuity of communications.
• This implementation is particularly advantageous compared to the methods of the prior art implementing a centralizing device whose presence is required to allow the operation of communications between the electronic terminals.
• the step of transmitting the first radio signal S r1 comprises a step of comparing a number of transmitters having transmitted within a radio reception channel with a threshold value to authorize or not the transmission of the first radio signal S r1 .
• the comparison step is for example carried out in real time. According to one embodiment, when the number of transmitters is greater than the threshold value at a given time, the first radio signal S r1 is not transmitted.
• the method comprises the implementation of a predetermined delay preceding an authorization to transmit the first radio signal S r1 .
• an electronic terminal T 1 ...T x can authorize the transmission of the first radio signal S r1 when the number of transmitters is less than the threshold value during a given period, for example a pre-configured period.
• One advantage is to avoid too many users speaking together to maintain sufficient intelligibility of the conversation. For example, a user is rendered “mute” when the radio reception channel is overloaded.
• the step of transmitting the first radio signal S r1 includes transmitting an identifier of the transmitting terminal. This is for example a unique physical identifier stored in a network card of the first terminal T 1 .
• reception of the first radio signal S r1 comprises a step of identifying the transmitter of said first radio signal S r1 .
• the identification step comprises for example a step of analyzing parameters of the first radio signal S r1 by means of a calculator. This involves, for example, an analysis of a given sequence of parameters in the signal.
• a radio frame of the first radio signal S r1 is for example analyzed and compared with predefined parameters to authorize or not the communication between the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal.
• the analysis of the sequence of parameters of the first radio signal S r1 makes it possible, for example, to determine the nature of a radio communication protocol of the transmitting terminal.
• An advantage is to check compatibility of the communication protocol of the transmitting terminal with that of the receiving terminal.
• Another advantage is to limit the reception of spurious signals, for example signals coming from a transmitter other than a terminal of the plurality of electronic terminals T 1 ...T x .
• the method comprises a step of calculating a received signal power value R SSI . This is for example the power of the first radio signal S r1 transmitted via the wireless link.
• this is the power of a pairing signal transmitted by the first electronic terminal T 1 .
• the acronym R SSI used in the present description does not limit the received signal power to a power corresponding to an indicator of the received signal strength designated by the acronym RSSI in the English literature.
• the received signal power value R SSI includes a communication quality indicator also designated in the English literature by the term “link quality indicator”, or by the acronym LQI.
• the calculated received signal power R SSI comprises an average of the powers received over a given period.
• This is for example an average of the powers received from several signals transmitted by a given transmitter, for example an average of the powers of a plurality of first radio signals S r1 transmitted by the first electronic terminal T 1 .
• this is an exponential moving average.
• the average of the received powers is for example calculated taking into account an order of reception of the signals.
• the exponential moving average is for example calculated over a given period using a weighting of the powers received which decreases exponentially depending on the order of reception of the signals.
• a larger coefficient is for example assigned to the last signals received for calculating the average, and this coefficient decreases for example exponentially for the signals received previously.
• This calculation is for example implemented by means of a calculator integrated into the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x . This is, for example, the second MCU calculator.
• the method then comprises a step of comparing COMP 1 of the calculated power value with a first threshold.
• the comparison step COMP 1 is for example carried out by means of a comparison function. This function is for example implemented by the calculator which made it possible to calculate said power value.
• the APP pairing step is not implemented when the calculated received signal power value R SSI is less than the threshold value. In this case, if a pairing signal received by an electronic terminal T 1 ...T x is too weak, then the electronic terminals do not pair.
• the steps of calculating the received signal power value R SSI , and comparing COMP 1 of the calculated power value with a threshold value are implemented by an electronic terminal T 1 ...T x upon reception of a radio signal emitted by an electronic terminal with which it has previously been paired.
• the calculation of the received signal power value R SSI is carried out each time a radio signal is received by an electronic terminal of the plurality of electronic terminals T 1 ...T x .
• An advantage is to detect whether a signal is sufficiently energized before its transmission to an audio output of a receiving terminal.
• the method comprises the calculation of a value of a communication quality indicator, also designated in the English literature by the term “link quality indicator”, or by the acronym LQI.
• a communication quality indicator also designated in the English literature by the term “link quality indicator”, or by the acronym LQI.
• LQI link quality indicator
• any of the steps implemented by the method comprising the comparison of a power value R SSI with a threshold value and the conditioning of a step of the method to the result of this comparison is carried out in comparing the value of the communication quality indicator LQI with a threshold value.
• a received signal power value R SSI is calculated and compared with one or more threshold values each time a signal is received by an electronic terminal T 1 ...T x .
• the radio signals received by one or more electronic terminals T 1 ...T x are not processed when the received signal power value R SSI is less than a threshold value.
• radio signals are not processed we mean that the demodulation and decompression steps are not implemented on said radio signals.
• the method comprises a step of reception REC of the first radio signal S r1 by a plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the electronic terminals T 2 ...T X are co-located in the same radio zone G as the first terminal T 1 .
• This radio zone G delimits the maximum range at which the first radio signal S r1 transmitted by the first terminal T 1 can be received by a receiving terminal. More generally, this radio zone G delimits a “communication bubble”, in which the terminals T 1 ...T x can pair to establish group communication.
• Each electronic terminal of the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ... T This is for example a radio antenna.
• the reception step REC comprises the detection DTC 2 of the first radio signal S r1 by a radio communication interface of each electronic terminal of the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the REC reception step includes baseband DEM demodulation of the first radio signal S r1 .
• the baseband resulting from DEM demodulation comprises the first filtered audio signal S 1 .
• This demodulation step is for example implemented by means of a second MCU calculator of the electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the REC reception step includes DECO decompression of the first filtered audio signal. This step is carried out by a second signal processing chain CTS 2 of each of the electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the second signal processing chain CTS 2 is for example implemented by means of the second calculator MCU of the second electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the reception step REC includes the amplification AMP of the first decompressed audio signal S 1 .
• AMP amplification is carried out by the second signal processing chain CTS 2 .
• This amplification step is for example implemented by means of a first DSP calculator of the electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the first DSP computer and the second MCU computer are for example connected via an I2S link.
• the reception step REC comprises delivering the first amplified audio signal S 1 to an audio output 21 of each terminal among the plurality of terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the audio output 21 is for example connected to the first DSP calculator via a wired connection.
• the audio output 21 includes for example one or two earpieces allowing the restitution of the first audio signal S 1 to the ears of a user.
• the DEM demodulation and DECO decompression steps of the first radio signal S r1 are not implemented when the calculated received signal power value R SSI is less than the threshold value.
• One advantage is to limit the power consumption of the system. Indeed, if the power value of the first audio signal S 1 is lower than the predetermined threshold, this means for example that the transmitted radio signals will be too weak for the encoded audio signals to be audible to a user of a receiving terminal. Thus, if the signal processing chain is not activated in this case, this allows the system to save energy over time.
• the reception step REC comprises the automatic transmission EM 2 of a communication establishment indicator (I C2 ... l Cx ) from each terminal, among the plurality of terminals T 2 .. .T X , towards the first terminal T 1 .
• This indicator aims to indicate that communication is well established between each receiving terminal and the first terminal T 1 .
• the first electronic terminal T 1 decodes for example this data frame to identify that the connection is well established.
• the step of transmitting the first radio signal S r1 comprises a step of normalizing intensity parameters sound of the first audio signal S 1 .
• the sound intensity parameters of the first audio signal S 1 are for example normalized as a function of a predefined value, for example to achieve the predetermined sound intensity target value.
• An advantage is to ensure delivery of a constant sound level to a user of the receiving terminal, independently of the ambient noise level at each transmitter and independently of the voice energy level of each user.
• the reception of the first radio signal S r1 by an electronic terminal comprises the implementation of an algorithm to generate an unreceived or degraded portion of said first radio signal from a received portion of said first radio signal .
• This algorithm is for example implemented when the electronic terminals communicate with each other in a broadcast communication mode.
• the first radio signal S r1 is for example transmitted in the form of packets, and a portion of the signal corresponds for example to a number of packets, for example 1.
• the algorithm implemented is for example a PLC algorithm, acronym for “Packet loss concealment” in Anglo-Saxon literature. Thus, lost packets are for example regenerated from received packets.
• One advantage is to avoid degradation of the audio signal transmitted to a user of a receiving terminal.
• the method comprises a step of automatically disconnecting at least one electronic terminal T 1 ...T x as a function of a result of comparing the received signal power value R SSI with a threshold value .
• a threshold value This is for example a second threshold different from the first threshold.
• the electronic terminals are disconnected.
• the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x are for example disconnected so that the signals transmitted by one of the terminals are no longer processed by the other terminal.
• the first terminal T 1 is configured to implement the REC reception step of the method.
• At least one terminal among the plurality of terminals T 2 ...T X is configured to implement the EM transmission step of the method.
• At least one terminal among the plurality of terminals T 2 ...T X is configured to implement the step of calculating a received signal power R SSI and the comparison step COMP of the power calculated with a threshold value.
• the first terminal T 1 is configured to implement the step of calculating a received signal power R SSI and the step of comparing COMP of the calculated power with a threshold value.
• the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x communicate with each other without implementing a prior pairing step.
• the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x communicate for example according to an IEE 802.15.4 communication protocol.
• the method comprises an APP pairing step between the first terminal T 1 and the plurality of terminals T 2 ...T X. This step is prior to the EM emission step of the process.
• This pairing step allows the establishment of a radio connection allowing an exchange of data between the first terminal T 1 and the plurality of terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the pairing step APP comprises the calculation CLC 2 of a second received power value RSSI 2 of a pairing signal S ap by each terminal among the plurality of terminals T 2 ...
• T pairing S ap is for example a radio signal transmitted by an electronic terminal T 1 ...T x , to determine the presence of other electronic terminals in the radio zone G, and to establish radio communication with the electronic terminals detected in the case applicable.
• the pairing step is for example implemented by means of one of the DSP, MCU computers of each terminal T 2 ...T X.
• the pairing step APP includes the comparison COMP 2 of the second received power value RSSI2 calculated with a second threshold Z 2 .
• the second threshold Z 2 is for example different from the first threshold. According to another example, the first threshold and the second threshold Z 2 are of equal values.
• the pairing step APP includes the implementation of a second control law L C2 .
• the second control law LC 2 makes it possible to check whether the calculated second received power value R SSI2 is greater than the second threshold Z 2 . If this criterion is verified, the second control law L C2 authorizes for example the implementation of the emission step EM of the first radio signal S r1 by the first terminal T 1 . According to one case, if this criterion is not verified, the second control law LC 2 blocks the implementation of the emission step EM of the first radio signal S r1 by the first terminal T 1 .
• One advantage is to reduce the energy consumption of the system, by preventing the implementation of the EM transmission step of the method when the communication between the terminals is not optimal, for example when the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminals are too far away, or when the radio signals are disturbed in the radio transmission channel, preventing good radio reception by the receiving terminals.
• the APP pairing step is implemented at the first terminal T 1 .
• the first terminal T 1 transmits for example the pairing signal S ap towards the other terminals T 2 ...T X , which in turn transmit a signal, in response to reception of the pairing signal S ap .
• the pairing step is implemented at one of the receiving electronic terminals T 2 ...T X.
• one of the electronic terminals T 2 ...T x emits the pairing signal S ap , which is received by the first electronic terminal T 1 and/or by an electronic terminal of the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 .. .T _
• the first terminal T 1 and the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ...T X communicate with each other without the prior implementation of the APP pairing step.
• the addressing step comprises for example the allocation of an IP address to at least one terminal among the plurality of terminals T 2 ...T X.
• the communication interfaces of each electronic terminal T 1 ...T x provide broadcast wireless communications.
• communication interfaces we mean the transmitters and receivers of radio signals of each of the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x .
• “Broadcast” wireless communications means the transmission of radio signals by electronic terminals T 1 ... T x without these radio signals being intended to be received by a specific electronic terminal.
• radio signals are transmitted by a transmitting electronic terminal, for example the first electronic terminal T 1 , and are received and decoded by all the electronic terminals sufficiently close to the transmitting electronic terminal. These are, for example, electronic terminals present in radio zone G. Radio signals are for example only received and decoded by electronic terminals paired with the transmitting terminal.
• Broadcast wireless communications allow, for example, the transmission and reception of datagrams following a user datagram protocol.
• a protocol is also known in the Anglo-Saxon literature under the name “User Datagram Protocol”.
• UDP protocol In the field of telecommunications, such a protocol is also referred to as “UDP protocol”.
• datagrams we mean a set of data transmitted with its source addresses and destination addresses by a telecommunications network.
• the invention relates to a system comprising the first electronic terminal T 1 and the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ... T filtering an audio signal.
• the first terminal T 1 comprises for example the first DSP calculator and the second MCU calculator. These two DSP and MCU computers are for example configured to implement the EM transmission step of the first radio signal S r1 of the method.
• Each of the terminals of the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ...T X comprises for example a first DSP calculator and a second MCU calculator. These two DSP and MCU computers are for example configured to implement the steps of REC reception of the first radio signal S r1 .
• At least one electronic terminal among the plurality of electronic terminals T 2 ...T X is configured to implement the step of transmitting EM of the first radio signal S r1 .
• the first electronic terminal T 1 is configured to implement the step of receiving REC of the first radio signal S r1 .
• each of the electronic terminals is for example both a transmitter terminal and a receiver terminal. This advantageously allows group communication via an exchange of radio signals S r1 between the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x .
• the invention relates to a system comprising the first electronic terminal T 1 and a second electronic terminal T 2 , configured to implement the steps of the method for discovering a radio environment and filtering an audio signal .
• the first electronic terminal T 1 is for example configured to implement the EM transmission step of the method and the second electronic terminal T 2 is for example configured to implement the step of REC reception of the process.
• Each of the two electronic terminals T 1 , T 2 comprises for example a first DSP calculator and a second MCU calculator.
• the two electronic terminals T 1 , T 2 are for example both configured to implement the steps of transmitting EM and receiving REC of the first radio signal S r1 . This allows a bidirectional exchange of information between the two electronic terminals T 1 , T 2 , via a wireless radio link.
• the invention relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead it to implement the following steps:
• the computer capable of executing the computer program product comprises the first DSP calculator and the second MCU calculator.
• the electronic terminals T 1 ...T x comprise a housing.
• the housing comprises for example the first DSP computer and the second MCU computer and means for transmitting and receiving radio signals.
• the box is for example connected in a wired or non-wired manner to a user's earpieces to enable the delivery of an audio signal.
• At least one electronic terminal T 1 ...T x comprises a microphone integrated into the housing.
• the computer program product comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead it to implement a calculation of a received power, to compare the received power value with a threshold value and to authorize the implementation of the EM transmission or REC reception step of the method only when said received power value is greater than or equal to the threshold value.
• the invention relates to a method for discovering a radio communication network and filtering an audio signal, an associated system, and an associated computer program product.
• the invention advantageously allows intelligible communication between several interlocutors co-located in the same radio zone.
• the invention advantageously makes it possible to maintain a good level of intelligibility of conversations independently of the surrounding noise level.

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• 2022
  • 2022-05-27 FR FR2205095A patent/FR3136139A1/fr active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-05-26 US US18/865,986 patent/US20250317713A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-05-26 CN CN202380054385.7A patent/CN119586014A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-05-26 KR KR1020247041316A patent/KR20250013181A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-05-26 WO PCT/EP2023/064284 patent/WO2023227791A1/fr not_active Ceased
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