SPEECH REPRODUCTION DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR MASKING REPRODUCED SPEECH IN A MASKED SPEECH ZONE

Abstract

A speech reproduction device for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone includes an audio processing module configured for receiving the speech signal; a set of speech loudspeakers configured for reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals; and a set of masking sound loudspeakers configured for producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; wherein the audio processing module includes a speech signal analysis module configured for producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal; wherein the audio processing module includes a masking sound generator configured for producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals.

Claims

1. A speech reproduction device for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone, the speech reproduction device comprising: an audio processing module configured for receiving the speech signal; a set of speech loudspeakers configured for reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals; and a set of masking sound loudspeakers configured for producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; wherein the audio processing module comprises a speech loudspeaker signal producer configured for producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals based on the speech signal; wherein the audio processing module comprises a speech signal analysis module configured for producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal; wherein the audio processing module comprises a masking sound generator configured for producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals; and wherein the audio processing module comprises a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer configured for producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals based on the one or more masking sound signals.

2. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the speech loudspeaker signal producer is configured for producing a plurality of speech loudspeaker signals and for controlling characteristics of each speech loudspeaker signal of the plurality of speech loudspeaker signals independently in order to control spatial cues of the speech.

3. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer is configured for producing a plurality of masking sound loudspeaker signals and for controlling characteristics of each masking sound loudspeaker signal of the plurality of masking sound loudspeaker signals independently in order to control spatial cues of the masking sound.

4. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound generator comprises a plurality of masking sound sources configured to provide a raw masking sound signal is and a plurality of raw masking sound signal adaption module, wherein each of the raw masking sound signal adaption modules is assigned to one of the masking sound sources, wherein the assigned masking adaption module is configured to adapt the raw masking sound signal of the respective masking sound sources based on the analysis signal in order to produce one of the one or more masking sound signals.

5. The speech reproduction device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one masking sound source comprise a music source configured to pro- vide a raw music masking sound signal, wherein the assigned masking adaption module is configured to adapt the raw music masking sound signal based on the analysis signal in order to produce one masking sound signal of the one or more masking sound signals.

6. The speech reproduction device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one masking sound source comprise a continuous noise source configured to provide a raw continuous noise masking sound signal, wherein the assigned masking adaption module is configured to adapt the raw continuous noise masking sound signal based on the analysis signal in order to produce one masking sound signal of the one or more masking sound signals.

7. The speech reproduction device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one masking sound source comprise a dynamic noise source configured to provide a raw dynamic noise masking sound signal, wherein the assigned masking adaption module is configured to adapt the raw dynamic noise masking sound signal based on the analysis signal in order to produce one masking sound signal of the one or more masking sound signals.

8. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the audio processing module comprises an adaptive speech processing module configured to provide an adapted speech signal based on the speech signal, wherein the speech loudspeaker signal producer is configured to produce the one or more speech loudspeaker signals based on the adapted speech signal.

9. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the audio processing module is configured to receive a setup signal comprising information regarding a setup of the set of speech loudspeakers and/or the setup of the set of masking sound loudspeakers.

10. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound generator is configured to receive a weather signal comprising information regarding weather conditions and to produce the one or more masking sound signals based on the weather signal.

11. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound generator is configured to receive a light signal comprising information regarding light conditions and to produce the one or more masking sound signals based on the light signal.

12. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound generator is configured to receive a time signal comprising information regarding date and/or time and to produce the one or more masking sound signals based on the time signal.

13. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound generator is configured to receive an engine signal comprising information regarding an operating parameter of an sound producing engine and to produce the one or more masking sound signals based on the engine signal.

14. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the speech reproduction device comprises a tracking device configured for tracking a position and/or orientation of a person in the clear speech zone and/or for tracking a position and/or orientation of a person in the masked speech zone, wherein the tracking device is configured to produce a tracking signal comprising the position and/or orientation of the person in the clear speech zone and/or the position and/or orientation of the person in the masked speech zone, wherein the audio processing module is configured to receive the tracking signal and to produce the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals based on the tracking signal.

15. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer is configured to produce the masking sound loudspeaker signals in such way that the masking sound comprises the same spatial cues as the speech in the masked speech zone.

16. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the speech reproduction device comprises one or more microphones assigned to the masked speech zone, wherein each of the microphones produces a microphone signal.

17. The speech reproduction device according to claim 15, wherein at least two microphone signals of the microphone signals are fed to the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer, and wherein the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer is configured to determine the spatial cues of the speech in the masked speech zone based on the at least two microphone signals.

18. The speech reproduction device according to claim 16, wherein at least one microphone signal of the microphone signals is fed to the masking sound generator, wherein the masking sound generator is configured to produce the one or more masking sound signals based on the at least one microphone signal.

19. The speech reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the masking sound generator is configured to produce the one or more masking sound signals based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set of speech loudspeakers to the clear speech zone, based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set of masking sounds loudspeakers to the clear speech zone, based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set of speech loudspeakers to the masked speech zone and/or based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfers function from the set of masking sound loudspeakers to the masked speech zone.

20. A method for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone, the method comprising: receiving the speech signal using an audio processing module; reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals using a set of speech loudspeakers; producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals using a set of masking sound loudspeakers, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals based on the speech signal using a speech loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module; producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal using a speech signal analysis module of the audio processing module; producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals using a masking sound generator of the audio processing module; and producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals based on the one or more masking sound signals using a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module.

21. A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone, the method comprising: receiving the speech signal using an audio processing module; reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals using a set of speech loudspeakers; producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals using a set of masking sound loudspeakers, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals based on the speech signal using a speech loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module; producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal using a speech signal analysis module of the audio processing module; producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals using a masking sound generator of the audio processing module; and producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals based on the one or more masking sound signals using a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer of the audio processing module, when said computer program is run by a computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0116] Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:

[0117] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view;

[0118] FIG. 2 illustrates a part of a second embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view;

[0119] FIG. 3 illustrates a part of third embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view;

[0120] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0121] With respect to the devices and the methods of the described embodiments the following shall be mentioned:

[0122] Although some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is clear that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, where a block or device corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding apparatus.

[0123] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a speech reproducing device 1 according to the invention in a schematic view. The speech reproduction device 1 is configured for reproducing speech SP based on a received speech signal SPS so that the reproduced speech SP is intelligible in a clear speech zone CSZ and unintelligible in a masked speech zone MSZ. The speech reproduction device 1 comprises:

[0124] an audio processing module 2 configured for receiving the speech signal SPS;

[0125] a set 3 of speech loudspeakers 4 configured for reproducing the speech SP based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals S; and a set 5 of masking sound loudspeakers 6 configured for producing a masking sound MN based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m, wherein the masking sound MN masks the speech SP in the masked speech zone MSZ;

[0126] wherein the audio processing module 2 comprises a speech loudspeaker signal producer 7 configured for producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n based on the speech signal SPS;

[0127] wherein the audio processing module 2 comprises a speech signal analysis module 8 configured for producing one or more analysis signals AS based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal SPS;

[0128] wherein the audio processing module 2 comprises a masking sound generator 9 configured for producing one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the one or more analysis signals AS; and wherein the audio processing module 2 comprises a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10 configured for producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m based on the one or more masking sound signals MS.

[0129] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the speech loudspeaker signal producer 7 is configured for producing a plurality of speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n and for controlling characteristics of each speech loudspeaker signal S.1 . . . S.n of the plurality of speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n independently in order to control spatial cues of the speech SP. The characteristics of the speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n to be controlled may, in particular, comprise a level and/or a time delay of each of the speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n.

[0130] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10 is configured for producing a plurality of masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m and for controlling characteristics of each masking sound loudspeaker signal M.1, M.2 . . . M.m of the plurality of masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m independently in order to control spatial cues of the masking sound MN. The characteristics of the masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m to be controlled may, in particular, comprise a level and/or a time delay of each of the masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m.

[0131] In another aspect the invention provides a method for generating speech SP based on a received speech signal SPS so that the generated speech SP is intelligible in a clear speech zone CSZ and unintelligible in a masked speech zone MSZ, the method comprising the steps of:

[0132] receiving the speech signal SPS using an audio processing module 2;

[0133] generating the speech SP based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n using a set 3 of speech loudspeakers 4.1 . . . 4.n;

[0134] generating a masking sound MN based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals using a set 5 of masking sound loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 . . . 6.m, wherein the masking sound MN masks the speech SP in the masked speech zone MSZ;

[0135] producing the one or more speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n based on the speech signal SPS using a speech loudspeaker signal producer 7 of the audio processing module 2;

[0136] producing one or more analysis signals AS based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal SPS using a speech signal analysis module 8 of the audio processing module 2;

[0137] producing one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the one or more analysis signals AS using a masking sound generator 9 of the audio processing module 2; and

[0138] producing the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m based on the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 using a masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10 of the audio processing module 2.

[0139] In a further aspect the invention provides a computer program for, when running on a processor, executing the method according to the invention.

[0140] FIG. 2 illustrates a part of a second embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view.

[0141] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound generator 9 comprises a plurality of masking sound sources 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 configured to provide a raw masking sound signal RMS.1, RMS.2, RMS.3, RMS.4 is and a plurality of raw masking sound signal adaption module 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, wherein each of the raw masking sound signal adaption modules 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 is assigned to one of the masking sound sources 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, wherein the assigned masking adaption module 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 is configured to adapt the raw masking sound signal RMS.1, RMS.2, RMS.3, RMS.4 of the respective masking sound sources 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 based on the analysis signal AS in order to produce one of the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4.

[0142] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the at least one masking sound source 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 comprise a music source 11.1 configured to provide a raw music masking sound signal RMS.1, wherein the assigned masking adaption module 12.1 is configured to adapt the raw music masking sound signal RMS.1 based on the analysis signal AS in order to produce one masking sound signal MS.1 of the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4.

[0143] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the at least one masking sound source 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 comprise a continuous noise source 11.2 configured to provide a raw continuous noise masking sound signal RMS.2, wherein the assigned masking adaption module 12.2 is configured to adapt the raw continuous noise masking sound signal RMS.2 based on the analysis signal AS in order to produce one masking sound signal MS.2 of the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4.

[0144] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the at least one masking sound source 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 comprise a dynamic noise source 11.3 configured to provide a raw dynamic noise masking sound signal RMS.3, wherein the assigned masking adaption module 12.3 is configured to adapt the raw dynamic noise masking sound signal RMS.3 based on the analysis signal AS in order to produce one masking sound signal MS.3 of the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4.

[0145] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the audio processing module 2 comprises an adaptive speech processing module 13 configured to provide an adapted speech signal ASPS based on the speech signal SPS, wherein the speech loudspeaker signal producer 7 is configured to produce the one or more speech loudspeaker signals S.1 . . . S.n based on the adapted speech signal ASPS.

[0146] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the audio processing module 2 is configured to receive a setup signal SI containing information regarding a setup of the set 3 of speech loudspeakers 4.1 . . . 4.n and/or the setup of the set 5 of masking sound loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 . . . 6.m.

[0147] According to FIG. 2 the speech signal SPS to be reproduced is received, as an example, via a telecommunications link and played back via loudspeakers 4.1 . . . 4.n in or close to the clean speech zone CSZ at a level such that it can be easily understood. At the same time, the masking sound MN is produced in the masked speech zone MSZ, such that the reproduced speech is not comprehensible by persons within the masked speech zone MSZ.

[0148] The processing stage 2 includes a speech signal analysis module 8 for analyzing the incoming speech signal SPS. The analysis result AS is fed to individual adaptive processing blocks 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 for three distinct masking components: music, continuous noise, and dynamic noise. The music and the continuous noise raw masking sounds (e.g. a recording of a sea-shore) may be played back from storage devices 11.1 and 11.2, while the dynamic noise is generated in real-time by a synthesizer 11.3. Depending on the results of the analysis of the present speech section 8, characteristics of the music and noise signals 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 are adapted to provide a good masker MN. The individual processing blocks 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 can output either a mono signal, or to allow for specific multichannel effects, multiple channel signals. The processed music and noise signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3 are subsequently mixed by the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10 to generate sufficient loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.n to feed the available loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 . . . 6.m. The setup information that is known to the adaptive processing, the mixing, and the rendering allows to make best possible use of the given characteristics (e.g. spatial position, frequency characteristic, transducer character, etc.) to achieve the masking effect.

[0149] The analysis calculates an estimate of the perceived loudness (could also be purely energy based) of the speech SP. The music signal MS.1 and the noise signals MS.2 and MS.3 are continuously adapted so that their loudness varies in relation to that of the speech SP (the maskee). The processing may use different adaption-constants for all three components. While the dynamic noise quickly adapts to mask fast changes in the speech SP, the continuous noise and the music signal MS.1 and MS.2 adapt with slow variation over time to keep the overall sound impression pleasant. For music and dynamic noise, minimum levels are set, such that they do not fade to zero during speech pauses (and such the loudness of the masking sound goes to zero). This further increases the pleasant perception.

[0150] FIG. 3 illustrates a part of a third embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view.

[0151] A first modification of the embodiment described before is that an additional adaptive processing of the speech signal SPS is done by the adaptive speech processing module 13, wherein an adapted speech signal ASPS is used to produce the speech SP for the clear speech zone CSZ. Furthermore, in this embodiment, only two distinct masking components MS.1, MS.4 (i.e. music and noise) are used.

[0152] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a speech reproducing device according to the invention in a schematic view.

[0153] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound generator 9 is configured to receive a weather signal WSI containing information regarding weather conditions and to produce the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the weather signal WSI.

[0154] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound generator 9 is configured to receive a light signal LSI containing information regarding light conditions and to produce the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the light signal LSI.

[0155] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound generator 9 is configured to receive a time signal TSI containing information regarding date and/or time and to produce the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the time signal TSI.

[0156] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound generator 9 is configured to receive an engine signal ESI containing information regarding an operating parameter of an sound producing engine EG and to produce the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the engine signal ESI.

[0157] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the speech reproduction device 1 comprises a tracking device 14 configured for tracking a position and/or orientation of a person in the clear speech zone CSZ and/or for tracking a position and/or orientation of a person in the masked speech zone MSZ, wherein the tracking device 14 is configured to produce a tracking signal TRS comprising the position and/or orientation of the person in the clear speech zone CSZ and/or the position and/or orientation of the person in the masked speech zone MSZ, wherein the audio processing module 2 is configured to receive the tracking signal TRS and to produce the one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals M.1, M.2 . . . M.m based on the tracking signal TRS.

[0158] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10 is configured to produce the masking sound loudspeaker signals MSI.1, MSI.2 in such way that the masking sound MN has the same spatial cues as the speech SP in the masked speech zone MSZ.

[0159] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the speech reproduction device 1 comprises one or more microphones 15.1, 15.2 assigned to the masked speech zone MSZ, wherein each of the microphones 15.1, 15.2 produces a microphone signal MSI.1, MSI.2.

[0160] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention at least two microphone signals MSI.1, MSI.2 of the microphone signals MSI.1, MSI.2 are fed to the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10, and wherein the masking sound loudspeaker signal producer 10 is configured to determine the spatial cues of the speech SP in the masked speech zone MSZ based on the at least two microphone signals MSI.1, MSI.2.

[0161] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention at least one microphone signal MSI.2 of the microphone signals MSI.1, MSI.2 is fed to the masking sound generator 9, wherein the masking sound generator 9 is configured to produce the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on the at least one microphone signal MSI.1, MSI.2.

[0162] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the masking sound generator 9 is configured to produce the one or more masking sound signals MS.1, MS.2, MS.3, MS.4 based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set 3 of speech loudspeakers 4.1 . . . 4.n to the clear speech zone CSZ, based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set 5 of masking sounds loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 . . . 6.m to the clear speech zone CSZ, based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set 3 of speech loudspeakers 4.1 . . . 4.n to the masked speech zone MSZ and/or based on one or more room impulse responses and/or one or more transfer functions from the set 5 of masking sound loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 . . . 6.m to the masked speech zone MSZ.

[0163] Depending on certain implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation can be performed using a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disk, a DVD, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, having electronically readable control signals stored thereon, which cooperate (or are capable of cooperating) with a programmable computer system such that the respective method is performed.

[0164] Some embodiments according to the invention comprise a data carrier having electronically readable control signals, which are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system such that one of the methods described herein is performed.

[0165] Generally, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, the program code being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code may for example be stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0166] Other embodiments comprise the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, which is stored on a machine readable carrier or a non-transitory storage medium.

[0167] In other words, an embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a computer program having a program code for performing one of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer.

[0168] A further embodiment of the inventive methods is, therefore, a data carrier (or a digital storage medium, or a computer-readable medium) comprising, recorded thereon, the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0169] A further embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example via the Internet.

[0170] A further embodiment comprises a processing means, for example a computer, or a programmable logic device, configured or adapted to perform one of the methods described herein.

[0171] A further embodiment comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0172] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example a field programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor in order to perform one of the methods described herein. Generally, the methods are advantageously performed by any hardware apparatus.

[0173] While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.