Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing and audio devices for monitoring health and wellness. More specifically, disclosed are an apparatus and a method for processing signals representing physiological characteristics sensed from tissue at or adjacent an ear of an organism. In one or more embodiments, a wearable device includes a sensor terminal and a physiological sensor coupled to the sensor terminal to sense one or more signals originating at the sensor terminal. The wearable device may also include a radio frequency (“RF”) communications interface. Also, the wearable device can include a processor configured to cause generation of data representing a physiological characteristic of the organism.

Abstract: Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter.

Abstract: Mobile device speaker control may include: monitoring one or more devices coupled (e.g., wired or wirelessly) with a data network, receiving one or more data packets from each of the one or more devices, filtering received data packets by evaluating a received signal strength (e.g., RSSI) of the received packets. The received packets may be ordered in a priority based on a value, and comparing the received signal strength of each of the received packets to a threshold to determine whether the one or more devices are to perform an action; and/or detecting a device within a proximity of a speaker box coupled with a data network, filtering a data packet received from the device to determine a received signal strength associated with the device, comparing the received signal strength to a threshold, and determining whether an action is to be performed based on a result of the comparing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for facilitating health and wellness-related information. More specifically, disclosed are systems, methods, devices, computer readable medium, and apparatuses configured to determine activity and activity types, including gestures, from sensed motion signals using, for example, a wearable device (or carried device) and one or more motion sensors. In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a wearable housing and a motion sensor. The apparatus can also include a signal preprocessor, which may include a sample rate controller configured to modify a sample rate of a motion sensor signal to form an adjusted sample rate with which to sample the motion sensor signal. Further, the apparatus can include an intermediate motion signal generator and an activity processor configured to identify an activity based on the intermediate motion signals.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a network of speaker lights and wearable devices using intelligent connection managers are described. Disclosed are techniques for receiving data representing a distance between a wearable device and a speaker light, the speaker light associated with an identifier, and generating an audio control signal and a light control signal as a function of the distance. The audio control signal may include data representing an audio parameter and data representing the identifier, and the light control signal may include data representing a light parameter and data representing the identifier. Presentation of an audio signal using the audio parameter and a light using the light parameter may be caused at the speaker light. The audio signal and the light may be substantially directed towards the wearable device or a user.

Abstract: Techniques associated with a combination speaker and light source powered using a light socket are described, including a housing comprising a plate coupled to a substantially hemispherical enclosure, a platform configured to couple a light source to a terminal configured to receive a light control signal, the light control signal configured to modify a light characteristic, a speaker coupled to the housing and configured to project audio in a direction, a light socket connector coupled to the housing and configured to provide power to the speaker and the light source when the light socket connector is coupled with a light socket, an acoustic sensor disposed on a surface of the housing, and a light sensor located within the housing, the light sensor facing away from the light source.

Abstract: An audio system that may be used in multiple modes or use scenarios, while still providing a user with a desirable level of audio quality and comfort. The inventive system may include multiple components or elements, with the components or elements capable of being used in different configurations depending upon the mode of use. The different configurations provide an optimized user audio experience for multiple modes of use without requiring a user to carry multiple devices or sacrifice the audio quality or features desired for a particular situation. The inventive audio system includes a use mode detection element that enables the system to detect the mode of use, and in response, to be automatically configured for optimal performance for a specific use scenario. This may include, for example, the use of one or more audio processing elements that perform signal processing on the audio signals to implement a variety of desired functions (e.g., noise reduction, echo cancellation, etc.).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing and audio devices for communication audio. More specifically, disclosed are an apparatus and a method for processing audio signals to include spatially modulated message audio signals as a portion of a monaural signal. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a message for a loudspeaker. The method can determine whether an audio signal is in communication with the loudspeaker and a type of a message of the message. Message audio for the message can be spatially modulated as a function of the type of message. A mono-spatial audio signal can be formed based the audio signal and the spatially-modulated message. Thus, a monaural audio signal can be modulated to generate mono-spatial effects for presenting the messages.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical/electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, portable, wearable, and stationary media devices. RF transceivers and/or audio system in each media device may be used to wirelessly communicate between media devices and allow configuration and other data to be wirelessly transmitted from one media device to another media device. The proximity detection system may be configured to detect a presence of a user or multiple users and upon detecting presence, access content on a user device, and record the content while also playing back the content on the media device. One or more user devices in proximity of the media device post detection may wirelessly communicate with the media device and the media device may orchestrate handling of content from those devices or from a wirelessly accessible location such as the Cloud or Internet.

Abstract: Techniques associated with intelligent connection management in a wireless device are described, including receiving, at an output device, initiation data from a mobile device, the initiation data configured to initiate an operation associated with remote data, the mobile device configured to access a data plane packet and a control plane packet associated with the remote data using a cellular network, detecting a connection path available to the output device using an intelligent connection device coupled to the output device, determining, using connection profile data, whether the connection path is operable to access the data plane packet from a remote source, determining, using the connection profile data, whether the connection path is operable to access the control plane packet from the remote source, and accessing, using the output device, at least one of the data plane packet and the control plane packet.

Abstract: Techniques associated with intelligent device connection for wireless media ecosystem are described, including receiving, by a media device, a first control signal from another media device implementing a connection awareness device, the first control signal configured to cause the media device to access data associated with playing a media content being played by the other media device, obtaining marker data from the other media device, the marker data representing a marker associated with the media content, retrieving content data from using the marker data, the content data configured to play the media content starting at a point indicated by the marker data, and sending a second control signal to the other media device, the second control signal configured to indicate a completion of synchronization with the other media device.

Abstract: Electronic hardware, software, wired and/or wireless network communications, Bluetooth systems, RF systems, self-powered wireless devices, signal processing, audio transducers, accelerometers, and consumer electronic (CE) devices for a wireless portable headset and a portable wireless speaker phone that the wireless portable headset docks with and communicates with are disclosed. The headset and speaker phone may wirelessly communicate with each other (e.g., Bluetooth radios or other) when docked, un-docked, or both. When docked, an internal rechargeable power source in the speaker phone may recharge another internal rechargeable power source in the headset (e.g., rechargeable Lithium-Ion type batteries). A USB connector or the like may be used to electrically communicate power between the internal rechargeable power sources and may communicate other signals, such as signals from one or more microphones to form a microphone array (e.g., when docked).

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and portable and wearable media devices. Media devices may include a plurality of RF transceivers and an audio system. The RF transceivers and/or audio system may be used to wirelessly communicate between media devices and allow configuration and other data to be wirelessly transmitted from one media device to another media device. A user device may be used to Bluetooth® (BT) pair with a media device and to install a configuration on the media device. Other media devices may be configured using the configuration without breaking the BT pairing and without the other media device having to BT pair with the user device. Each media device may include at least one antenna and may include an antenna that is de-tunable.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical/electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, portable, wearable, and stationary media devices. Media devices may include a plurality of RF transceivers, an audio system, and a proximity detection system. The RF transceivers and/or audio system may be used to wirelessly communicate between media devices and allow configuration and other data to be wirelessly transmitted from one media device to another media device. The proximity detection system may be configured to detect a presence of a user or multiple users and upon detecting presence, take some action defined by a user preference and/or environmental conditions around the media device. One or more user devices in proximity of the media device post detection may wirelessly communicate with the media device and the media device may orchestrate handling of content from those devices or from a wirelessly accessible location such as the Cloud or Internet.

Abstract: Techniques associated with intelligent device connection for wireless media ecosystem are described, including a device having an antenna configured to detect a broad spectrum of radio signals, a media configuration module configured to generate media preferences, and an intelligent communication facility configured to determine a proximity of a wireless device using data associated with a radio signal received by the antenna from the wireless device, to determine whether the wireless device is a compatible device, and to communicate with the wireless device after determining compatibility.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and audio and speaker systems. More specifically, disclosed are an apparatus and a method for processing signals for optimizing audio, such as 3D audio, by adjusting the filtering for cross-talk cancellation based on listener position and/or orientation. In one embodiment, an apparatus is configured to include a plurality of transducers, a memory, and a processor configured to execute instructions to determine a physical characteristic of a listener relative to the origination of the multiple channels of audio, to cancel crosstalk in a spatial region coincident with the listener at a first location, to detect a change in the physical characteristic of the listener, and to adjust the cancellation of crosstalk responsive to detecting the change in the physical characteristic to establish another spatial region at a second location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for facilitating health and wellness-related information. More specifically, disclosed are systems, methods, devices, computer readable medium, and apparatuses configured to determine activity and activity types, including gestures, from sensed motion signals using, for example, a wearable device (or carried device) and one or more motion sensors. In at least some embodiments, an apparatus can include a wearable housing, and a motion sensor configured to generate a motion sensor signal. The apparatus also may include a motion processor configured to generate intermediate motion signals from the motion sensor signal, and an activity processor configured to identify an activity based on the intermediate motion signals.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices, audio devices, and communication devices for facilitating the presentation of personal audio. More specifically, disclosed are an apparatus and method to form directional audio personal to a user in a non-occluded manner. In one embodiment, a personal audio and communication devices can include a first directional speaker disposed at a first mounting region of a first support member. The first support member is configured to position the first directional speaker adjacent a first ear in substantial alignment with the first ear. Also included is a second directional speaker disposed at a second mounting region of a second support member. The second support member is configured to position the second directional speaker adjacent a second ear in substantial alignment with the second ear.

Abstract: An all-in-one consumer electronics (CE) media device may include a single IR/RF/Microphone handheld remote control for controlling and/or displaying information for all CE devices of a user(s) in concert with the all-in-one CE media device operative for playback of one or more media formats including but not limited to optical discs, audio and/or video, images, music, files, streaming media content, stored media content, and other content. The remote may be docked in the all-in-one CE media device and may have its power source recharged while docked. The remote may communicate with CE devices and/or Legacy devices using bi-directional RF and/or uni-directional IR signals. The all-in-one CE media device may wirelessly communicate RF signals to one or more speakers/transducers that are coupled with their own dedicated amplifiers (e.g., internal and/or external), and may wirelessly communicate with one or more microphones and/or speakers and apply algorithms for optimizing audio quality.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical/electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, portable, wearable, and stationary media devices. RF transceivers and/or audio system in each media device may be used to wirelessly communicate between media devices and allow configuration and other data to be wirelessly transmitted from one media device to another media device. The proximity detection system may be configured to detect a presence of a user or multiple users and upon detecting presence, access content on a user device, and record the content while also playing back the content on the media device. One or more user devices in proximity of the media device post detection may wirelessly communicate with the media device and the media device may orchestrate handling of content from those devices or from a wirelessly accessible location such as the Cloud or Internet.