Patent ID: 7321855
Filing Date: 2008-01-22
Classification: G10L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of assigning a numeric score to a voice pattern sample of a human subject wherein the score is indicative of the psychological stress level of the human subject, comprising the steps of: converting the verbal utterance of a human subject into electrical signals plotted on a Cartesian coordinate system to provide a subject wave pattern having x and y axes; filtering the subject wave pattern to remove extraneous values at the leading and trailing edges of the wave pattern to provide a Relevant Pattern Location for analysis; providing a consecutive series of known voice pattern characteristics, wherein the consecutive series exhibits a sequential progression in the degree of blocking in the pattern; assigning a numerical value range to each of the consecutive series of known voice pattern characteristics based on the degree of blocking in the pattern; analyzing the subject wave pattern within the Relevant Pattern Location to provide quantified data defining a set of characteristics for the subject wave pattern; providing quantified data defining a set of characteristics for the consecutive series of known voice pattern characteristics; and comparing the quantified data of subject wave pattern within the Relevant Pattern Location to quantified data for each of the known voice pattern characteristics to ascertain a match between the subject wave pattern and one or more of the known voice pattern characteristics; and returning a numerical value for the subject wave pattern based on the one or more matching known voice pattern characteristics.