Abstract: A method of ambience extraction includes analyzing an input signal to determine the time-dependent and frequency-dependent amount of ambience in the input signal, wherein the amount of ambience is determined based on a signal model and correlation quantities computed from the input signals and wherein the ambience is extracted using a multiplicative time-frequency mask. Another method of ambience extraction includes compensating a bias in the estimation of a short-term cross-correlation coefficient. In addition, systems having various modules for implementing the above methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for enhancing audio signals by nonlinear spectral operations. Successive portions of the audio signal are processed using a subband filter bank. A nonlinear modification is applied to the output of the subband filter bank for each successive portion of the audio signal to generate a modified subband filter bank output for each successive portion. The modified subband filter bank output for each successive portion is processed using an appropriate synthesis subband filter bank to construct a modified time-domain audio signal. High modulation frequency portions of the audio signal may be emphasized or de-emphasized, as desired. The modification may be applied within one or more frequency bands.

Abstract: There is provided a case for containing a portable media player, the case including: a frame for placement of the media player; and a speaker driver mounted in a cabinet, the speaker driver connectable to an audio output of the media player. The media player may be either permanently located within the case or removable from the case. The speaker driver may be connected to the audio output of the media player using either a wired connection or a wireless connection, the speaker driver being exposed when the case is in an open mode and the speaker driver being concealed when the case is in a closed mode. The case alternates between the open mode and the closed mode using fasteners such as, for example, adhesive strips, Velcro strips, magnetic strips, or a zipper.

Abstract: An audio signal is processed to derive primary and ambient components of the signal. The signal is first transformed to generate frequency-domain subband signals. Primary and ambient components are separated by comparing frequency subband content using a complex-valued similarity metric, wherein one of the primary and ambient components is determined to be the residual after the other is identified using the similarity metric.

Abstract: A processing apparatus which is suitable for signal communication with a system having at least one of an input module and an output module. The processing apparatus can be configured to receive input signals from the input module of the system. The processing apparatus includes a first channel processing portion to which the input signals are communicable. The first channel processing portion can be configurable to receive and process the input signals in a manner such that bass frequency audio signals are extracted from the input signals. The bass frequency audio signals can be further processed via at least one of linear dynamic range processing, manipulation of dynamic range via compression and manipulation of dynamic range via expansion.

Abstract: Processing an audio signal associated with a sound recording made available to be rendered to an end user is disclosed. The audio signal is received. A high-order perceptual attribute of the audio signal as rendered is changed by modifying the audio signal. The modification may be based on real-time analysis of the audio signal.

Abstract: A method, performed by software executing on the processor of a portable music playback device, that automatically files tracks according to hierarchical structure of categories to organize tracks in a logical order. A user interface is utilized to change the hierarchy, view track names, and select tracks for playback or other operations. The user interface uses an overlapping hierarchy of categories. A song title can be accessed in multiple different ways by starting with different categories. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses the top-level categories “Albums”, “Artists”, “Genres” (or styles), and “Play Lists”. Within the Albums category are names of different albums of songs stored in the device. Within each album are the album tracks, or songs, associated with that album. Navigation is performed by presenting a sequence of display screens for each level of the hierarchy.

Abstract: A noise reduction circuit 200 for a headphone 100 is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the headphone 100 includes a speaker driver 110 and the circuit 200 comprises a microphone 112 configured to convert ambient sound into a corresponding electrical ambient signal and which is disposed adjacent to the speaker driver's diaphragm. The circuit 200 further includes an active noise reduction path configured to provide active noise reduction of the ambient sound based on the corresponding electrical ambient signal and a vocal signal compensation path configured to restore attenuated signals within the vocal range of the corresponding electrical ambient signal to increase audibility of vocal signals of the ambient sound. The circuit 200 also includes a switching device 204,210 arranged to selectively deliver the corresponding electrical ambient signal to the active noise reduction path or to the vocal signal compensation path.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for processing a video instant message. The method and system may include receiving at least one image; generating the at least one image into a composite image; and communicating the composite image to a receiver as the instant message. Preferably, the at least one image from the sender may be obtained from, for example, a screen capture of a display at the sender, or an image capture device at the sender. It may be advantageous to generate a graphical user interface for a video instant messaging application to allow either the sender or receiver to select the at least one image making up the composite image. The graphical user interface may be either online or locally installed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a signal processing system, a method, and fractionally modulated digital delay lines are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a fractional address is generated by adding a delay value to a fractional offset value, and input sample values are interpolated based on a fractional portion of the fractional address. A write operation may be performed to the integer portion of the fractional address for each sample period using the interpolated input sample values. Adjusted addresses may be generated when addresses are either skipped of duplicated.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for managing electronic messages in a closed network. Both the method and system include determining a quantity of credits to be expended for a transmission of each electronic message from a device in the closed network; and deducting the quantity of credits from a sender's account at a central credit repository. Preferably, the quantity of credits to be expended is dependent on an identity of a recipient of the electronic message. The identity of the recipient of the electronic message may preferably be associated with the recipient's position in an organizational hierarchy.

Abstract: A portable speaker having at least one driver mounted in a first enclosure and a second enclosure separate from the first enclosure and having pivotally mounted to it the first enclosure. The second enclosure has all electronics, controls and a battery compartment. The first enclosure is moveable relative to the second enclosure between a first configuration and a second configuration, the at least one driver being protected by the second enclosure when the first enclosure is in the first configuration.

Abstract: Mapping a plurality of external control signals to values for one or more internal parameters is disclosed. Each external control signal is mapped to a control signal-specific set of internal parameter values corresponding to the level of the signal. The resulting signal-specific sets of internal parameter values are combined to generate a combined set of internal parameter values. The combined set of internal parameter values includes a single value for each internal parameter for which a value was included in at least one signal-specific set of internal parameter values. For each internal parameter for which a value is included in more than one of the signal-specific sets of internal parameter values, the combined set of internal parameter values includes a combined value based at least in part on the values included in the signal-specific sets of internal parameter values.

Abstract: MIDI-generated audio streams or other input streams of audio events are perceptually associated with specific locations in 3D space with respect to the listener. A conventional pan parameter is redefined so that it no longer specifies the relative balance between the audio being fed to two fixed speaker locations. Instead, the new MIDI pan parameter extension specifies a virtual position of an audio stream in 3D space. Preferably, the relative position of a single audio stream is set along a predefined arc in 3D space.

Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus and method for controlling a sound reproduction apparatus. The control apparatus and method enables control of at least one parameter of audio reproduction depending on contact with a touch sensitive panel. The parameters which may be controlled include, for example, volume, bass, treble, equalizer settings and the like. The functions of the sound reproduction apparatus which may be controlled include, for example, radio channel selection, track selection, album selection and the like.

Abstract: There is provided a method for accessing at least one audio file from a collection comprising more than one audio file stored within or accessible with an electronic device. The method includes generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one audio file in the collection, with each audio file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry; receiving an input during an input reception mode; converting the input into a digital signal using an analog-digital converter; analysing the digital signal using either frequency spectrum analysis or melody contour analysis into discrete portions; and comparing the discrete portions with the entries in the index. It is advantageous that the audio file is accessed when the discrete portions substantially coincide with at least one of the information entries in the index. The discrete portions may be musical notes, melody contours or waveforms.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for video frame marking. It is preferable that a tagged video frame is visually perceptible in the set of chronologically ordered video frames shown in the display. The selection of each video frame preferably causes playback of an excerpt of the video with a duration of the common predetermined interval. The video frame may denote a scene from a portion of the excerpt of the video, such as, for example, start, middle and end. It is advantageous that the excerpts of the video of each tagged video frame is combined using the user interface to generate a concise representation of the video. The concise representation of the video may be in a form where excerpts of the video of each of the tagged video frames are played back at a normal rate while excerpts of the video of each of other video frames are played back at an accelerated rate.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a device to modify playback of digital musical content. The digital musical content may be either stored on the handheld device or transmitted to the handheld device. The method may include playing back the digital musical content using the handheld device, the digital musical content being played back using pre-determined levels of at least one parameter of the digital musical content; detecting at least one motion the handheld device is undergoing; modifying the digital musical content in accordance with the at least one motion being detected; and playing back the modified digital musical content using the handheld device.