A method for generating output data identifying a class of a predetermined plurality of classes. The method comprises receiving data representing an acoustic signal; determining an amplitude of at least a first predetermined frequency component of said acoustic signal; and comparing the or each amplitude with a respective primary threshold; and generating output data identifying one of said classes to which said acoustic signal should be allocated, based upon said comparison.

Method for generating output data

The invention provides a method for automatically identifying cough. The method comprises the following steps of: (1) inputting voice signals in a PCM format; (2) performing endpoint detection on the voice signals in the PCM format, eliminating non-cough signals and taking the rest signals as candidate cough signals; (3) extracting characteristics of the candidate cough signals according to frames, and converting the characteristics into a 39-dimensional characteristic vector sequence; (4) training a hidden Markov model according to the extracted characteristic vector sequence, identifying the candidate cough signals and judging whether the candidate cough signals are cough signals; (5) counting the cough signals in a certain time period. The invention further provides a device for implementing the method, which comprises a voice input device, an identifier, an SD card, a display device and a group of buttons, wherein the voice input device, the SD card, the display device and the buttons are connected with the identifier respectively. The method and the device can realize real-time recording and automatic identification of the cough and analyze dynamic change characteristic of cough frequency and intensity.

Method and device for automatically identifying cough

A speech categorization system includes first and second timers which generate first and second measured durations indicative of duration of selected higher and lower amplitude segments included in a voice message A higher amplitude segment is classified in a first category when the first and second measured durations corresponding to the higher amplitude segment and an adjacent lower amplitude segment satisfy a classification test, and a counter counts the number of the higher amplitude segments classified in the first category Accented syllables in the higher amplitude segment are recognized to aid classification

System for recognizing or counting spoken itemized expressions

A speech categorization system (20) includes first and second timers which generate first and second measured durations indicative of duration of selected higher and lower amplitude segments included in a voice message. A higher amplitude segment is classified in a first category when the first and second measured durations corresponding to the higher amplitude segment and an adjacent lower amplitude segment satisfy a classification test, and a counter (28) counts the number of the higher amplitude segments classified in the first category. To detect spoken itemized words such as numbers or letters, the classification test can include the requirement that the lower amplitude segment be relatively short as compared to the preceding higher amplitude segment.

System for distinguishing or counting spoken itemized expressions

A speech communication apparatus which is used with a microphone being fixed to a predetermined position in the vicinity of the mouth in such a manner as to prevent the transmission of uncomfortable noise such as sneezing, coughing or throat-clearing noise to a partner. There is provided a speech communication apparatus including a speech communication microphone, a speaker and a communication unit for amplifying an output signal from the speech communication microphone, the speech communication apparatus includes the communication unit having an amplifier for amplifying an input signal and outputting the input signal so amplified, and a controller for controlling the gain of the amplifier in response to an excessive input signal, wherein the controller controls the gain of the amplifier such that a reproduced sound of an excessive input signal is reduced to a predetermined level only for a predetermined period of time when the excessive input signal is detected.

Speech communication apparatus

An apparatus that receives ambient sounds and recognizes the occurrence of coughs to the exclusion of other sounds. Means are provided for translating the received sounds into a plurality of spectral component signals. A feature signal generating means is provided for sensing the presence of properties of the spectral component signals that are characteristic of coughs and for generating a feature signal for each property found to be present. An occurrence decision means, responsive to the feature signals, generates an occurrence indication upon receiving a predetermined combination of feature signals. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the occurrence decision means is programmable to the cough of a particular individual.

M Herscher

Papers

Cough monitoring apparatus