Spatial Audio Signal Filtering

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: an analyser configured to analyse at least one input to determine one or more expression within the at least one input; and a controller configured to control at least one audio signal associated with the at least one input dependent on the determination of the one or more expression.

1 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive at least one speech input using a microphone configured to generate a signal based on a sound field surrounding the apparatus;   analyse the at least one speech input to determine one or more expressions within the at least one speech input: and   control at least one audio output signal dependent upon the one or more expression,   wherein the at least one speech input is independent of the at least one audio output signal and wherein the controlling of the at least one audio output signal is dependent upon determining the expression within the at least one speech input.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein controlling the at least one audio output signal comprises controlling the volume of the at least one audio output signal. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein controlling the at least one audio output signal comprises pausing the at least one audio output signal. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the speech input is detected using one or more microphones. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to identify new expressions which are to be stored in an expression database. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to store the new expressions in the expression database. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the new expressions stored in the expression database are capable of being used as the one or more expressions for controlling the at least one audio output signal. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to analyse at least one speech input using at least one of:
 hidden Markov model analysing;   pattern detection analysing;   dynamic time warping speech recognition analysing;   neural network pattern recognition analysing;   maximum entropy Markov model analysing;   Bayesian network analysing;   tonal analysing; or   beat pattern analysing.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expression comprises at least one of:
 at least one phoneme;   a defined musical note sequence;   a defined silence period;   a defined click;   a defined noise burst; or   a defined hand clap.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to receive audio signals from an external apparatus and convert the received audio signals into the at least one audio output signal to be output via one or more acoustic transducers. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the audio output signal comprises at least one: a music audio stream or a recorded speech broadcast. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one microphone and at least one acoustic transducer. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one microphone is configured to enable the at least one speech input and the at least one acoustic transducer is configured to provide the audio output signal as an analogue audio signal. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving at least one speech input using a microphone configured to generate a signal based on a sound field surrounding an apparatus;   analysing the at least one speech input to determine one or more expressions within the at least one speech input: and   controlling at least one audio output signal dependent upon the one or more expression,   wherein the at least one speech input is independent of the at least one audio output signal and wherein the controlling of the at least one audio output signal is dependent upon determining the expression within the at least one speech input.   
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein controlling the at least one audio output signal comprises controlling the volume of the at least one audio output signal. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein controlling the at least one audio output signal comprises pausing the at least one audio output signal. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the speech input is detected using one or more microphones. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising identifying new expressions which are to be stored in an expression database. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising storing the new expressions in the expression database. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer code stored thereon, the computer code, upon execution, causing:
 receiving at least one speech input using a microphone configured to generate a signal based on a sound field surrounding an apparatus;   analysing the at least one speech input to determine one or more expressions within the at least one speech input: and   controlling at least one audio output signal dependent upon the one or more expression,   wherein the at least one speech input is independent of the at least one audio output signal and wherein the controlling of the at least one audio output signal is dependent upon determining the expression within the at least one speech input.