Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to interfaces and techniques for media playback on one or more devices. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device receives user input and, in response to receiving the user input, displays, on the display, a multi-device interface that includes: one or more indicators associated with a plurality of available playback devices that are connected to the device and available to initiate playback of media from the device, and a media playback status of the plurality of available playback devices.

Abstract: A directivity adjustment device that maintains a constant direct-to-reverberant ratio based on the detected location of a listener in relation to the speaker array is described. The directivity adjustment device may include a distance estimator, a directivity compensator, and an array processor. The distance estimator detects the distance between the speaker array and the listener. Based on this detected distance, the directivity compensator calculates a directivity index form a beam produced by the speaker array that maintains a predefined direct-to-reverberant sound energy ratio. The array processor receives the calculated directivity index and processes each channel of a piece of sound program content to produce a set of audio signals that drive one or more of the transducers in the speaker array to generate a beam pattern with the calculated directivity index.

Abstract: A directivity adjustment device that maintains a constant direct-to-reverberant ratio based on the detected location of a listener in relation to the speaker array is described. The directivity adjustment device may include a distance estimator, a directivity compensator, and an array processor. The distance estimator detects the distance between the speaker array and the listener. Based on this detected distance, the directivity compensator calculates a directivity index form a beam produced by the speaker array that maintains a predefined direct-to-reverberant sound energy ratio. The array processor receives the calculated directivity index and processes each channel of a piece of sound program content to produce a set of audio signals that drive one or more of the transducers in the speaker array to generate a beam pattern with the calculated directivity index.

Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.

Abstract: A method for adjusting audio being outputted through a beam forming loudspeaker array. Program audio is rendered to drive the loudspeaker array to produce sound beams having i) a main content pattern that is aimed at a listener, superimposed with ii) several diffuse content patterns that are aimed away from the listener. In response to receiving an alert message that refers to alert audio, the portion of the program audio in the main pattern is moved into the diffuse patterns, and the alert audio is rendered to drive the loudspeaker array so that the portion of the program audio in the main pattern is replaced with the alert audio. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory, and in communication with a display and an audio system presents, under control of the electronic device, via the audio system, a first audio output, the first audio output having a volume and an audio property other than volume (e.g., a reverberation time, a low-pass filter cutoff, or a stereo balance). While the audio system presents a first audio output, the device receives an input that corresponds to a request to present a second audio output, and in response, the device concurrently presents, via the audio system, an adjusted version of the first audio output in which the audio property other than volume of the first audio output has been adjusted and the second audio output.

Abstract: A binaural sound reproduction system, and methods of using the binaural sound reproduction system to dynamically re-center a frame of reference for a virtual sound source, are described. The binaural sound reproduction system may include a reference device, e.g., a mobile device, having a reference sensor to provide reference orientation data corresponding to a direction of the reference device, and a head-mounted device, e.g., headphones, having a device sensor to provide device orientation data corresponding to a direction of the head-mounted device. The system may use the reference orientation data to determine whether the head-mounted device is being used in a static or dynamic use case, and may adjust an audio output to render the virtual sound source in an adjusted source direction based on the determined use case. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An audio system is described that includes one or more speaker arrays that emit sound corresponding to one or more pieces of sound program content into associated zones within a listening area. Using parameters of the audio system (e.g., locations of the speaker arrays and the audio sources), the zones, the users, the pieces of sound program content, and the listening area, one or more beam pattern attributes may be generated. The beam pattern attributes define a set of beams that are used to generate audio beams for channels of sound program content to be played in each zone. The beam pattern attributes may be updated as changes are detected within the listening environment. By adapting to these changing conditions, the audio system is capable of reproducing sound that accurately represents each piece of sound program content in various zones.

Abstract: An electronic device receives an incoming communication and determines that the device is in a first use context. In response to receiving the incoming communication, the device provides first feedback that includes a first ongoing audio output that corresponds to the first use context and a first ongoing tactile output with a first tactile output profile that corresponds to the first use context. While providing the first ongoing audio output and the first ongoing tactile output, the device detects that the electronic device is in a second use context, different from the first use context. In response to detecting that the electronic device is in the second use context, the device provides second feedback that includes a second ongoing tactile output that has a second tactile output profile that corresponds to the second use context.

Abstract: A binaural sound reproduction system, and methods of using the binaural sound reproduction system to dynamically re-center a frame of reference for a virtual sound source, are described. The binaural sound reproduction system may include a reference device, e.g., a mobile device, having a reference sensor to provide reference orientation data corresponding to a direction of the reference device, and a head-mounted device, e.g., headphones, having a device sensor to provide device orientation data corresponding to a direction of the head-mounted device. The system may use the reference orientation data to determine whether the head-mounted device is being used in a static or dynamic use case, and may adjust an audio output to render the virtual sound source in an adjusted source direction based on the determined use case. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to interfaces and techniques for media playback on one or more devices. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device receives user input and, in response to receiving the user input, displays, on the display, a multi-device interface that includes: one or more indicators associated with a plurality of available playback devices that are connected to the device and available to initiate playback of media from the device, and a media playback status of the plurality of available playback devices.

Abstract: A method for adjusting audio being outputted through a beam forming loudspeaker array. Program audio is rendered to drive the loudspeaker array to produce sound beams having i) a main content pattern that is aimed at a listener, superimposed with ii) several diffuse content patterns that are aimed away from the listener. In response to receiving an alert message that refers to alert audio, the portion of the program audio in the main pattern is moved into the diffuse patterns, and the alert audio is rendered to drive the loudspeaker array so that the portion of the program audio in the main pattern is replaced with the alert audio. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An audio system is described that includes one or more speaker arrays that emit sound corresponding to one or more pieces of sound program content into associated zones within a listening area. Using parameters of the audio system (e.g., locations of the speaker arrays and the audio sources), the zones, the users, the pieces of sound program content, and the listening area, one or more beam pattern attributes may be generated. The beam pattern attributes define a set of beams that are used to generate audio beams for channels of sound program content to be played in each zone. The beam pattern attributes may be updated as changes are detected within the listening environment. By adapting to these changing conditions, the audio system is capable of reproducing sound that accurately represents each piece of sound program content in various zones.

Abstract: An audio system is provided that efficiently detects speaker arrays and configures the speaker arrays to output sound. In this system, a computing device may record the addresses and/or types of speaker arrays on a shared network while a camera captures video of a listening area, including the speaker arrays. The captured video may be analyzed to determine the location of the speaker arrays, one or more users, and/or the audio source in the listening area. While capturing the video, the speaker arrays may be driven to sequentially emit a series of test sounds into the listening area and a user may be prompted to select which speaker arrays in the captured video emitted each of the test sounds. Based on these inputs from the user, the computing device may determine an association between the speaker arrays on the shared network and the speaker arrays in the captured video.

Abstract: A method for adjusting audio being outputted through a beam forming loudspeaker array. Program audio is rendered to drive the loudspeaker array to produce sound beams having i) a main content pattern that is aimed at a listener, superimposed with ii) several diffuse content patterns that are aimed away from the listener. In response to receiving an alert message that refers to alert audio, the portion of the program audio in the main pattern is moved into the diffuse patterns, and the alert audio is rendered to drive the loudspeaker array so that the portion of the program audio in the main pattern is replaced with the alert audio. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An audio system having a variable reset volume, and a method of conditionally resetting a volume parameter, are described. The audio system can include a processor to generate an audio signal for a speaker to convert into a sound. A volume parameter of the audio signal can be set before a user pauses playback of the audio signal. The processor can determine that the volume parameter is outside of a resting volume range, and that the user resumes playback of the audio signal at least a selected interval after pausing playback. The processor can responsively reset the volume parameter when playback is resumed to a different level based on one or more acoustic factors, such as an audio decay time of a surrounding environment. The different level can be within the resting volume range. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A microphone equalization system determines an equalization filter which is used to spectrally shape a signal from a microphone. A loudspeaker has an enclosure, a back volume, a driver diaphragm, and a sensor located inside the back volume. An external microphone is located outside the loudspeaker. A processor determines the equalization filter based on comparison of a first signal from an output of the sensor and a second signal from an output of the external microphone both of which are produced while the driver diaphragm produces acoustic pressure waves produced by the driver diaphragm. The processor is to then spectrally shape a third signal from the output of the external microphone that is responsive to further acoustic pressure waves from a source other than the loudspeaker. Other aspects are also described and claimed.