Speech synthesizer, audio watermarking information detection apparatus, speech synthesizing method, audio watermarking information detection method, and computer program product

According to an embodiment, a speech synthesizer includes a source generator, a phase modulator, and a vocal tract filter unit. The source generator generates a source signal by using a fundamental frequency sequence and a pulse signal. The phase modulator modulates, with respect to the source signal generated by the source generator, a phase of the pulse signal at each pitch mark based on audio watermarking information. The vocal tract filter unit generates a speech signal by using a spectrum parameter sequence with respect to the source signal in which the phase of the pulse signal is modulated by the phase modulator.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a speech synthesizer, an audio watermarking information detection apparatus, a speech synthesizing method, an audio watermarking information detection method, and a computer program product.

BACKGROUND

It is widely known that a speech is synthesized by performing filtering, which indicates a vocal tract characteristic, with respect to a sound source signal indicating a vibration of a vocal cord. Further, quality of a synthesized speech is improved and may be used inappropriately. Thus, it is considered that it is possible to prevent or control inappropriate use by inserting watermark information into a synthesized speech.

However, when an audio watermarking is embedded into a synthesized speech, there is a case where sound quality is deteriorated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment, a speech synthesizer includes a sound source generator, a phase modulator, and a vocal tract filter unit. The sound source generator generates a sound source signal by using a fundamental frequency sequence and a pulse signal. The phase modulator modulates, with respect to the sound source signal generated by the sound source generator, a phase of the pulse signal at each pitch mark based on audio watermarking information. The vocal tract filter unit generates a speech signal by using a spectrum parameter sequence with respect to the sound source signal in which the phase of the pulse signal is modulated by the phase modulator.

Speech Synthesizer

In the following, with reference to the attached drawings, a speech synthesizer according to an embodiment will be described.FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a speech synthesizer1according to an embodiment. Note that the speech synthesizer1is realized, for example, by a general computer. That is, the speech synthesizer1includes, for example, a function as a computer including a CPU, a storage apparatus, an input/output apparatus, and a communication interface.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the speech synthesizer1includes an input unit10, a sound source unit2a, a vocal tract filter unit12, an output unit11, and a first storage unit16. Each of the input unit10, the sound source unit2a, the vocal tract filter unit12, and the output unit14may include a hardware circuit or software executed by a CPU. The first storage unit16includes, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a memory. That is, the speech synthesizer1may realize a function by executing a speech synthesizing program.

The input unit10inputs a sequence (hereinafter, referred to as fundamental frequency sequence) indicating information of a fundamental frequency or a fundamental period, a sequence of a spectrum parameter, and a sequence of a feature parameter at least including audio watermarking information into the sound source unit2a.

For example, the fundamental frequency sequence is a sequence of a value of a fundamental frequency (F0) in a frame of voiced sound and a value indicating a frame of unvoiced sound. Here, the frame of unvoiced sound is a sequence of a predetermined value which is fixed, for example, to zero. Further, the frame of voiced sound may include a value such as a pitch period or a logarithm F0each frame of a period signal.

In the present embodiment, a frame indicates a section of a speech signal. When the speech synthesizer1performs an analysis at a fixed frame rate, a feature parameter is, for example, a value in each 5 ms.

The spectrum parameter is what indicates spectral information of a speech as a parameter. When the speech synthesizer1performs an analysis at a fixed frame rate similarly to a fundamental frequency sequence, the spectrum parameter becomes a value corresponding, for example, to a section in each 5 ms. Further, as a spectrum parameter, various parameters such as a cepstrum, a mel-cepstrum, a linear prediction coefficient, a spectrum envelope, and mel-LSP are used.

By using the fundamental frequency sequence input from the input unit10, a pulse signal which will be described later, or the like, the sound source unit2agenerates a sound source signal (described in detail with reference toFIG. 2) a phase of which is modulated and outputs the signal to the vocal tract filter unit12.

The vocal tract filter unit12generates a speech signal by performing a convolution operation of the sound source signal, a phase of which is modulated by the sound source unit2a, by using a spectrum parameter sequence received through the sound source unit2a, for example. That is, the vocal tract filter unit12generates a speech waveform.

The output unit14outputs the speech signal generated by the vocal tract filter unit12. For example, the output unit14displays a speech signal (speech waveform) as a waveform output as a speech file (such as WAVE file).

The first storage unit16stores a plurality of kinds of pulse signals used for speech synthesizing and outputs any of the pulse signals to the sound source unit2aaccording to an access from the sound source unit2a.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the sound source unit2a. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the sound source unit2aincludes, for example, a sound source generator20and a phase modulator22. The sound source generator20generates a (pulse) sound source signal with respect to a frame of voiced sound by deforming the pulse signal, which is received from the first storage unit16, by using a sequence of a feature parameter received from the input unit10. That is, the sound source generator20creates a pulse train (or pitch mark train). The pitch mark train is information indicating a train of time at which a pitch pulse is arranged.

For example, the sound source generator20determines a reference time and calculates a pitch period in the reference time from a value in a corresponding frame in the fundamental frequency sequence. Further, the sound source generator20creates a pitch mark by repeatedly performing, with reference to the reference time, processing of assigning a mark at time forwarded for a calculated pitch period. Further, the sound source generator20calculates a pitch period by calculating a reciprocal number of the fundamental frequency.

The phase modulator22receives the (pulse) sound source signal generated by the sound source generator20and performs phase modulation. For example, the phase modulator22performs, with respect to the sound source signal generated by the sound source generator20, modulation of a phase of a pulse signal at each pitch mark based on a phase modulation rule in which audio watermarking information included in the feature parameter is used. That is, the phase modulator22modulates a phase of a pulse signal and generates a phase modulation pulse train.

The phase modulation rule may be time-sequence modulation or frequency-sequence modulation. For example, as illustrated in the following equations (1) and (2), the phase modulator22modulates a phase in time series in each frequency bin or performs temporal modulation by using an all-pass filter which randomly modulates at least one of a time sequence and a frequency sequence.

For example, when the phase modulator22modulates a phase in time series, the input unit10may previously input, into the phase modulator22, a table indicating a phase modulation rule group which varies in each time sequence (each predetermined period of time) as key information used for audio watermarking information. In this case, the phase modulator22changes a phase modulation rule in each predetermined period of time based on the key information used for the audio watermarking information. Further, in an audio watermarking information detection apparatus (described later) to detect audio watermarking information, the phase modulator22can increase confidentiality of an audio watermarking by using the table used for changing the phase modulation rule.

Note that a indicates phase modulation intensity (inclination), f indicates a frequency bin or band, t indicates time, ph (t, f) indicates a phase of a frequency f at time t. The phase modulation intensity a is, for example, a value changed in such a manner that a ratio or a difference between two representative phase values, which are calculated from phase values of two bands including a plurality of frequency bins, becomes a predetermined value. Then, the speech synthesizer1uses the phase modulation intensity a as bit information of the audio watermarking information. Further, the speech synthesizer1may increase the number of bits of the bit information of the audio watermarking information by setting the phase modulation intensity a (inclination) as a plurality of values. Further, in the phase modulation rule, a median value, an average value, a weighted average value, or the like of a plurality of predetermined frequency bins may be used.

Next, processing performed by the speech synthesizer1illustrated inFIG. 1will be described.FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the speech synthesizer1. As illustrated inFIG. 3, in step S100, the sound source generator20generates a (pulse) sound source signal with respect to a frame of voiced sound by performing deformation of the pulse signal, which is received from the first storage unit16, by using a sequence of a feature parameter received from the input unit10. That is, the sound source generator20outputs a pulse train.

In step S102, the phase modulator22performs, with respect to the sound source signal generated by the sound source generator20, modulation of a phase of a pulse signal at each pitch mark based on a phase modulation rule using audio watermarking information included in the feature parameter. That is, the phase modulator22outputs a phase modulation pulse train.

In step S104, the vocal tract filter unit12generates a speech signal by performing a convolution operation of the sound source signal, a phase of which is modulated by the sound source unit2a, by using a spectrum parameter sequence which is received through the sound source unit2a. That is, the vocal tract filter unit12outputs a speech waveform.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bare views for comparing a speech waveform without an audio watermarking with a speech waveform to which an audio watermarking is inserted by the speech synthesizer1.FIG. 4Ais a view illustrating an example of a speech waveform of a speech “Donate to the neediest cases today!” without an audio watermarking. Further,FIG. 4Bis a view illustrating an example of a speech waveform of a speech “Donate to the neediest cases today!” into which the speech synthesizer1inserts an audio watermarking by using the above equation 1. Compared to the speech waveform illustrated inFIG. 4A, a phase of the speech waveform illustrated inFIG. 4Bis shifted (modulated) due to insertion of the audio watermarking. For example, even when the audio watermarking is inserted, sound quality deterioration with respect to a hearing sense of a person is not caused in the speech waveform illustrated inFIG. 4A.

First Modification Example of Sound Source Unit2a: Sound Source Unit2b

Next, a first modification example (sound source unit2b) of the sound source unit2awill be described.FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating an example of configurations of the first modification example (sound source unit2b) of the sound source unit2aand a periphery thereof. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the sound source unit2bincludes, for example, a determination unit24, a sound source generator20, a phase modulator22, a noise source generator26, and an adder28. A second storage unit18stores a white or Gaussian noise signal used for speech synthesizing and outputs the noise signal to the sound source unit2baccording to an access from the sound source unit2b. Note that in the sound source unit2billustrated inFIG. 5, the same sign is assigned to a part substantially identical to a part included in the sound source unit2aillustrated inFIG. 2.

The determination unit24determines whether a frame focused by a fundamental frequency sequence included in the feature parameter received from the input unit10is a frame of unvoiced sound or a frame of voiced sound. Further, the determination unit24outputs information related to the frame of unvoiced sound to the noise source generator26and outputs information related to the frame of voiced sound to the sound source generator20. For example, when a value of the frame of unvoiced sound is zero in the fundamental frequency sequence, by determining whether a value of the frame is zero, the determination unit21determines whether the focused frame is a frame of unvoiced sound or a frame of voiced sound.

Here, although the input unit10may input, into the sound source unit2b, a feature parameter identical to a sequence of a feature parameter input into the sound source unit2a(FIGS. 1 and 2). However, it is assumed that a feature parameter to which a sequence of a different parameter is further added is input into the sound source unit2b. For example, the input unit10adds, to a sequence of a feature parameter, a band noise intensity sequence indicating intensity in a case of applying n (n is integer equal or larger than two) bandpass fitters, which corresponds to n pass bands, to a pulse signal stored in a first storage unit16and a noise signal stored in the second storage unit18.

FIGS. 6A to 6Dare views illustrating an example of a speech waveform, a fundamental frequency sequence, a pitch mark, and a band noise intensity sequence.FIG. 6Bindicates a fundamental frequency sequence of a speech waveform illustrated inFIG. 6A. Further, band noise intensity indicated inFIG. 6Dis a parameter indicating, at each pitch mark indicated inFIG. 6C, intensity of a noise component in each of bands (band1to band5) divided, for example, into five by ratio with respect to a spectrum and is a value between zero and one. In the band noise intensity sequence, band noise intensity is arrayed at each pitch mark (or in each analysis frame).

All bands in the frame of unvoiced sound are assumed as noise components. Thus, a value of band noise intensity becomes one. On the other hand, band noise intensity of the frame of voiced sound becomes a value smaller than one. Generally, in a high band, a noise component becomes stronger. Further, in a high-band component of voiced fricative sound, band noise intensity becomes a value close to one. Note that the fundamental frequency sequence may be a logarithmic fundamental frequency and band noise intensity may be in a decibel unit.

Then, the sound source generator20of the sound source unit2bsets a start point from the fundamental frequency sequence and calculates a pitch period from a fundamental frequency at a current position. Further, the sound source generator20creates a pitch mark by repeatedly performing processing of setting, as a next pitch mark, time in the calculated pitch period from a current position.

Further, the sound source generator20may generate a pulse sound source signal divided into n bands by applying n bandpass filters to a pulse signal.

Similarly to the case in the sound source unit2a, the phase modulator22of the sound source unit2bmodulates only a phase of a pulse signal.

By using the white or Gaussian noise signal stored in the second storage unit18and the sequence of the feature parameter received from the input unit10, the noise source generator26generates a noise source signal with respect to a frame including an unvoiced fundamental frequency sequence.

Further, the noise source generator26may generate a noise source signal to which n bandpass filters are applied and which is divided into n bands.

The adder28generates a mixed sound source (sound source signal to which noise source signal is added) by controlling, into a determined ratio, amplitudes of the pulse signal (phase modulation pulse train) phase-modulated by the phase modulator22and the noise source signal generated by the noise source generator26and by performing superimposition.

Further, the adder28may generate a mixed sound source (sound source signal to which noise source signal is added) by adjusting amplitudes of the noise source signal and the pulse sound source signal in each band according to a band noise intensity sequence and by performing superimposition.

Next, processing performed by a speech synthesizer1including the sound source unit2bwill be described.FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the speech synthesizer1including the sound source unit2billustrated inFIG. 5. As illustrated inFIG. 7, in step S200, the sound source generator20generates a (pulse) sound source signal with respect to a frame of voiced sound by performing deformation of the pulse signal received from the first storage unit16by using a sequence of the feature parameter received from the input unit10. That is, the sound source generator20outputs a pulse train.

In step S202, the phase modulator22performs, with respect to the sound source signal generated by the sound source generator20, modulation of a phase of a pulse signal at each pitch mark based on a phase modulation rule using audio watermarking information included in the feature parameter. That is, the phase modulator22outputs a phase modulation pulse train.

In step S204, the adder28generates a sound source signal, to which the noise source signal (noise) is added, by controlling, into a determined ratio, amplitudes of the pulse signal (phase modulation pulse train) phase-modulated by the phase modulator22and the noise source signal generated by the noise source generator26and by performing superimposition.

In step S206, the vocal tract filter unit12generates a speech signal by performing a convolution operation of a sound source signal, in which a phase is modulated (noise is added) by the sound source unit2b, by using a spectrum parameter sequence which is received through the sound source unit2b. That is, the vocal tract filter unit12outputs a speech waveform.

Second Modification Example of Sound Source Unit2a: Sound Source Unit2c

Next, a second modification example (sound source unit2c) of the sound source unit2awill be described.FIG. 8is a block diagram illustrating an example of configurations of the second modification example (sound source unit2c) of the sound source unit2aand a periphery thereof. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the sound source unit2cincludes, for example, a determination unit24, a sound source generator20, a filter unit3a, a phase modulator22, a noise source generator26, a filter unit3b, and an adder28. Note that in the sound source unit2cillustrated inFIG. 8, the same sign is assigned to a part substantially identical to a part included in the sound source unit2billustrated inFIG. 5.

The filter unit3aincludes bandpass filters30and32which pass signals in different bands and control a band and intensity. For example, the filter unit3agenerates a sound source signal divided into two bands by applying the two bandpass filters30and32to a pulse signal of a sound source signal generated by the sound source generator20. Further, the filter unit3bincludes bandpass filters34and36which pass signals in different bands and control a band and intensity. For example, the filter unit3bgenerates a noise source signal divided into two bands by applying the two bandpass filters34and36to a noise source signal generated by the noise source generator26. Accordingly, in the sound source unit2c, the filter unit3ais provided separately from the sound source generator20and the filter unit3bis provided separately from the noise source generator26.

Further, the adder28of the sound source unit2cgenerates a mixed sound source (sound source signal to which noise source signal is added) by adjusting amplitudes of the noise source signal and the pulse sound source signal in each band according to a band noise intensity sequence and by performing super imposition.

Note that each of the above-described sound source unit2band sound source unit2cmay include a hardware circuit or software executed by a CPU. The second storage unit18includes, for example, an HDD or a memory. Further, software (program) executed by the CPU may be distributed by being stored in a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory or distributed through a network.

In such a manner, in the speech synthesizer1, the phase modulator22modulates only a phase of a pulse signal, that is, a voiced part based on audio watermarking information. Thus, it is possible to insert an audio watermarking without deteriorating quality of a synthesized speech.

Audio Watermarking Information Detection Apparatus

Next, an audio watermarking information detection apparatus to detect audio watermarking information from a synthesized speech into which an audio watermarking is inserted will be described.FIG. 9is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4according to the embodiment. Note that the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4is realized, for example, by a general computer. That is the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4includes, for example, a function as a computer including a CPU, a storage apparatus, an input/output apparatus, and a communication interface.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4includes a pitch mark estimator40, a phase extractor42, a representative phase calculator44, and a determination unit46. Each of the pitch mark estimator40, the phase extractor42, the representative phase calculator44, and the determination unit46may include a hardware circuit or software executed by a CPU. That is, a function of the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4may be realized by execution of an audio watermarking information detection program.

The pitch mark estimator40estimates a pitch mark sequence of an input speech signal. More specifically, the pitch mark estimator40estimates a sequence of a pitch mark by estimating a periodic pulse from an input signal or a residual signal (estimated sound source signal) of the input signal, for example, by an LPC analysis and outputs the estimated sequence of the pitch mark to the phase extractor42. That is, the pitch mark estimator40performs residual signal extraction (speech extraction).

For example, at each estimated pitch mark, the phase extractor42extracts, as a window length, a width which is twice as wide as a shorter one of longitudinal pitch widths and extracts a phase at each pitch mark in each frequency bin. The phase extractor42outputs a sequence of the extracted phase to the representative phase calculator44.

Based on the above-described phase modulation rule, the representative phase calculator44calculates a representative phase to be a representative of a plurality of frequency bins or the like from the phase extracted by the phase extractor42and outputs a sequence of the representative phase to the determination unit46.

Based on the representative phase value calculated at each pitch mark, the determination unit16determines whether there is audio watermarking information. Processing performed by the determination unit46will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 10A and 10B.

FIGS. 10A and 10Bare graphs illustrating processing performed by the determination unit46in a case or determining whether there is audio watermarking information based on a representative phase value.FIG. 10Ais a graph indicating a representative phase value at each pitch mark which value varies as time elapses. The determination unit46calculates an inclination of a straight line formed by a representative phase in each analysis frame (frame) which is a predetermined period inFIG. 10A. InFIG. 10A, frequency intensity a appears as an inclination of a straight line.

Then, the determination unit46determines whether there is audio watermarking information according to the inclination. More specifically, the determination unit46first creates a histogram of an inclination and sets the most frequent inclination as a representative inclination (mode inclination value). Next, as illustrated inFIG. 10B, the determination unit46determines whether the mode inclination value is between a first threshold and a second threshold. When the mode inclination value is between the first threshold and the second threshold, the determination unit46determines that there is audio watermarking information. Further, when the mode inclination value is not between the first threshold and the second threshold, the determination unit46determines that there is not audio watermarking information.

Next, an operation of the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4will be described.FIG. 11is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4. As illustrated inFIG. 11, in step S300, the pitch mark estimator40performs residual signal extraction (speech extraction).

In step S302, at each pitch mark, the phase extractor42performs extraction, as a window length, a width which is twice as wide as a shorter one of longitudinal pitch widths and extracts a phase.

In step S304, based on a phase modulation rule, the representative phase calculator44calculates a representative phase to be a representative of a plurality of frequency bins from the phase extracted by the phase extractor42.

In step S306, the CPU determines whether all pitch marks in a frame are processed. When determining that all pitch marks in the frame are processed (S306: Yes), the CPU goes to processing in S308. When determining that not all of the pitch marks in the frame are processed (S306: No), the CPU goes to processing in S302.

In step S308, the determination unit16calculates are inclination of a straight line (inclination of representative phase) which is formed by a representative phase in each frame.

In step310, the CPU determines whether all frames are processed. When determining that all frames are processed (S310: Yes), the CPU goes to processing in S312. Further, when determining that not all of the frames are processed (S310: No), the CPU goes to processing in S302.

In step S312, the determination unit46creates a histogram of the inclination calculated in the processing in S308.

In step S314, the determination unit46calculates a mode value (mode inclination value) of the histogram created in the processing in S312.

In step S316, based on the node inclination value calculated in the processing in S314, the determination unit46determines whether there is audio watermarking information.

In such a manner, the audio watermarking information detection apparatus1extracts a phase at each pitch mark and determines whether there is audio watermarking information based on a frequency of an inclination of a straight line formed by a representative phase. Note that the determination unit46does not necessarily determine whether there is audio watermarking information by performing the processing illustrated inFIGS. 10A and 10Band may determine whether there is audio watermarking information by performing different processing.

Example of Different Processing Performed by Determination Unit46

FIGS. 12A to 12Care graphs illustrating a first example of different processing performed by the determination unit46in a case of determining whether there is audio watermarking information based on a representative phase value.FIG. 12Ais a graph indicating a representative phase value at each pitch mark which value varies as time elapses. InFIG. 12B, a dashed-dotted line indicates a reference straight line assumed as an ideal value of a variation of a representative phase in elapse of time in an analysis frame (frame) which is a predetermined period. Further, inFIG. 12B, a broken line is an estimation straight line indicating an inclination estimated from each of representative phase values (such as four representative phase value) in an analysis frame.

The determination unit46calculates a correlation coefficient with respect to a representative phase by shifting the reference straight line longitudinally in each analysis frame. As illustrated inFIG. 12C, when a frequency of a correlation coefficient in an analysis frame exceeds a predetermined threshold in a histogram, it is determined that there is audio watermarking information. Further, when a frequency of the correlation coefficient in the analysis frame does not exceed the threshold in the histogram, the determination unit46determines that there is not audio watermarking information.

FIG. 13is a view illustrating a second example of different processing performed by the determination unit46in a case of determining whether there is audio watermarking information based on a representative phase value. The determination unit46may determine whether there is audio watermarking information by using a threshold indicated inFIG. 13. Note that the threshold indicated inFIG. 13creates a histogram of an inclination of a straight line formed by a representative phase with respect to synthetic sound including audio watermarking information and synthetic sound (or real voice) not including audio watermarking information and sets the two histograms as points which can be the most separated.

Further, the determination unit46may learn a model statistically with an inclination of a straight line, which is formed by a representative phase of synthetic sound including audio watermarking information, as a feature amount and may determine whether there is audio watermarking information with likelihood as a threshold. Further, the determination unit46may learn a model statistically with an inclination of a straight line, which is formed by a representative phase of each of synthetic sound including audio watermarking information and synthetic sound not including audio watermarking information, as a feature amount. Then, the determination unit46may determine whether there is audio watermarking information by comparing likelihood values.

A program executed in each of the speech synthesizer1and the audio watermarking information detection apparatus4of the present embodiment is provided by being recorded, as a file in a format which can be installed or executed, in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

Further, each program of the present embodiment may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and may be provided by being downloaded through the network.