Abstract: A headset comprises an ear cup, at least one speaker, an adjustable ear cup shaper, and circuitry. The ear cup shaper is adjustable into at least two configurations, wherein a first of the configurations creates no depression or a first amount of depression in the ear cup and a second of the configurations creates a second amount of depression in the ear cup, where the second amount is greater than the first amount. The circuitry is operable to determine which one of the configurations the ear cup shaper is configured into, and set an audio setting applied to an audio signal output to the speaker based on the determined one of the configurations.

Abstract: An electronic device may receive audio during play of a game on a game console over a network. The electronic device may detect one or more sounds during the monitoring of the audio. The electronic device may control, based on the detected one or more sounds, operation of a game controller that interacts with the game during play. The controlling of the operation of the game controller may comprise adjusting sensitivity of the game controller. The electronic device may determine directionality of the detected one or more sounds and adjust the sensitivity of the game controller based on the determined directionality of the detected one or more sounds. The electronic device may increase and/or decrease the sensitivity of the game controller in response to changes in the determined directionality of the detected one or more sounds.

Abstract: An electronic device may be configured to present a user interface via which a user can select from a plurality of commands associated with a particular video game. In response to a selection of one of the plurality of commands, the electronic device may transmit the selected one of the plurality of commands to a user interface device. The selected command may cause said user interface device to transmit a corresponding one or more simulated user inputs to a game console. The selection of the command may occur automatically in response to detection, by audio processing circuitry, of an occurrence of the particular audio clip in an audio signal output by the game console.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using networked gaming headsets. In an audio setup that includes a headset configurable to process audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game, a headset preset may be requested from a central headset preset depository, where the headset preset includes values for one or more configurable parameter settings relating to operation or functions of the headset, where the headset preset is uploaded into the central headset preset depository by someone other than the first user, where the headset preset is associated with an identification information for uniquely identifying the headset preset, and where requesting the head present includes providing the identification information to the central headset preset depository. In response to acceptance of the request, the headset preset may be downloaded from the central headset preset depository into the headset, and the headset may be configured based on the headset preset.

Abstract: Analysis and control of drilling mud and additives is disclosed using a mud analysis system and a mud additive system that may automatically monitor and control the drilling mud during drilling of a well. The mud analysis system may acquire measurements on a sample of the drilling mud during drilling, and may send signals indicative of the drilling mud to a steering control system enabled to control the drilling. The steering control system may receive user input or may make decisions regarding additives to be added to the drilling mud and the timing thereof. The mud additive system may be enabled to receive commands from the steering control system and mix and add additives to the drilling mud.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively controlling audio associated with users. In an audio system configured to output audio to a user of the system, reference data may be obtained and processed, and one or more audio control settings may be determined, based on the processing of the reference data, for adjusting audio in the system, with at least one of the one or more audio control settings configured to adjust or modify a voice associated with the user. The reference data may be obtained from a database associated with operation of the system by the user. The reference data may include a reference audio, with the reference audio being processed to determine at least one of the one or more audio control settings based on characteristics and/or parameters of the reference audio.

Abstract: An electronic device may receive audio during play of a game on a game console over a network. The electronic device may detect one or more sounds during the monitoring of the audio. The electronic device may control, based on the detected one or more sounds, operation of a game controller that interacts with the game during play. The controlling of the operation of the game controller may comprise adjusting sensitivity of the game controller. The electronic device may determine directionality of the detected one or more sounds and adjust the sensitivity of the game controller based on the determined directionality of the detected one or more sounds. The electronic device may increase and/or decrease the sensitivity of the game controller in response to changes in the determined directionality of the detected one or more sounds.

Abstract: An electronic device may be configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game. While operating in the non-scrambling mode, the electronic device may be configured to transmit the microphone audio without scrambling the microphone audio. While operating in the scrambling mode, the electronic device may be configured to scramble the microphone audio and transmit the scrambled microphone audio. The electronic device may be operable to select a scrambling key used to scramble the microphone audio based on a signal received by the electronic device that indicates a role of the player in the online multiplayer game. The role of the player may correspond to which of two or more opposing teams the first player is a member of in the online multiplayer game.

Abstract: An audio headset may receive a plurality of audio signals corresponding to plurality of surround sound channels. The headset may determine, via its audio processing circuitry, context and/or content of the audio signals. The audio processing circuitry may process the audio signals to generate stereo signals carrying one or more virtual surround channels, wherein the processing comprises automatically controlling, based on the context and the content of the audio signals, a simulated acoustic environment of the virtual surround channels.

Abstract: A headset including speakers, a transmitter, and audio processing circuitry, where the audio processing circuitry is operable to: process a received audio signal for output via said one or more speakers; detect, in said audio signal, an occurrence of a particular video game audio clip; and in response to said detection, trigger a transmission, via said transmitter, of a command associated with said particular video game audio clip. Parameter settings for the headset are associated, in memory, with the particular video game audio clip. The parameter settings may be automatically sent to the headset in response to detection, by the audio processing circuitry, of an occurrence of the particular audio clip in an audio signal output by a game console. The parameter settings may determine a manner in which the headset processes game audio received by the headset and/or a manner in which the headset processes chat audio.

Abstract: A gaming headset receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio. The gaming headset includes a modem that modulates data for communication over the chat audio channel, and transmits the modulated data on the chat audio channel that conveys the chat audio. The modulated data may be communicated, via the chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game. The modulated data includes one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones. The gaming headset may also receive data, via the chat audio channel, from one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game.

Abstract: In an audio setup including at least one audio device configurable to process audio for a first user of a plurality of user, an identifier may be assigned to a control dataset associated with the audio device, the control dataset including one or more control parameters relating to operation or functions of the audio device. At least a portion of the control dataset may be uploaded to a central depository that is accessible by a plurality of users; and access to the at least a portion of the control dataset in the central depository, by one or more of the plurality of users, may be managed. Access to the central depository may be managed via web-accessed service. Managing access to the at least a portion of the control dataset may include requiring validating any user requesting access to the at least a portion of the control dataset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support. An example headset may comprise an ear cup with two or more distinct sections that differ in one or more characteristics. A first section is adaptively configured to accommodate a temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses of a wearer of the headset, and a second section is configured to maintain contact with a temple of the wearer of the headset. The different sections may comprise different foams (or different parts of foam, each with different characteristics). The characteristics may comprise hardness and/or density. Another example headset may comprise an ear cup with a divot that accommodates the temple piece of the eyeglasses.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively modifying audio associated with a user. In an audio system configured to output audio to a user, one or more audio control settings, for adjusting audio in the audio system, may be determined, with at least one of the one or more audio control settings being configured to adjust or modify a voice associated with a user. Audio generated or handled in the audio system during operation of the audio system by the user may then be processed, with the processing including applying the one or more audio control settings. At least one of the audio control settings may be determined based on information obtained from a database associated with the operation of the audio system by the user. At least one of the audio control settings may be determined based on reference data.

Abstract: An electronic device may be configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game. While operating in the non-scrambling mode, the electronic device may be configured to transmit the microphone audio without scrambling the microphone audio. While operating in the scrambling mode, the electronic device may be configured to scramble the microphone audio and transmit the scrambled microphone audio. The electronic device may be operable to select a scrambling key used to scramble the microphone audio based on a signal received by the electronic device that indicates a role of the player in the online multiplayer game. The role of the player may correspond to which of two or more opposing teams the first player is a member of in the online multiplayer game.

Abstract: An audio headset may receive a plurality of audio signals corresponding to plurality of surround sound channels. The headset may determine, via its audio processing circuitry, context and/or content of the audio signals. The audio processing circuitry may process the audio signals to generate stereo signals carrying one or more virtual surround channels, wherein the processing comprises automatically controlling, based on the context and the content of the audio signals, a simulated acoustic environment of the virtual surround channels.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for independent audio volume control. User input may be received in an audio setup configured for combined-audio, with the user input including one or both of a selection of a desired volume of a first type audio component of the combined-audio signal, and a selection of a desired volume of a second type audio component of the combined-audio signal. Based on the user input, a corresponding mix setting may be determined, with the mix setting including one or more control parameters for adaptively controlling mixing of the first type audio component and the second type audio component to generate the combined-audio signal. The mix setting may be determined based on a data set characterizing an audio device where at least portion of the mixing is performed. The data set may be pre-programmed and/or determined based on testing of the audio device.

Abstract: A gaming headset receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio. The gaming headset includes a modem that modulates data for communication over the chat audio channel, and transmits the modulated data on the chat audio channel that conveys the chat audio. The modulated data may be communicated, via the chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game. The modulated data includes one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones. The gaming headset may also receive data, via the chat audio channel, from one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for gaming headset with enhanced off-screen awareness. An audio system that is used for outputting audio signals to a user may be configured for identifying in audio signals, based on parameters or criteria associated with a user of the system, one or more components in the audio signals; determining characteristics of the one or more components based on perception of the audio signals by the user; and adjusting based on the characteristics of the one or more components, the one or more components and/or one or more other components in the audio signals. The audio system may include circuits for handling the required functions. The circuits may include a detection circuit configured for identify the one or more components, one or more adjustment circuits for applying the adjustments, and a controller circuit for controlling applying the adjustments.

Abstract: A game headset receives a game audio during play of a particular game, monitors the game audio and detects an occurrence of one or more particular sounds in the game audio during the monitoring of the one or more of the plurality of audio channels. In response to the detecting, the game headset triggers playback of one or more of a plurality of voice commands that corresponds to the one or more particular sounds. The voice commands may be predefined and associated with the one or more particular sounds in a data structure. The voice commands may instruct the listener of the game headset to perform an action in the particular game. The characteristics of the one or more sounds may include direction, intensity, and/or frequency of the particular one or more sounds.