Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for receiving by a first electronic device audio content, determining audio quality of the received audio content, which includes measuring and/or estimating quality related parameters associated with the received audio content, and communicating the quality related parameters to a second electronic device, from which the audio content was transmitted. The quality related parameters may be used to control audio related functions in the second electronic device. The audio related functions may comprise noise reduction, noise suppression, cancellation, distortion reduction, equalization, compression, enhancement and/or audio rate conversion. Determining the audio quality of the received audio content may be based on one or more noise related thresholds. The quality related parameters may be communicated to the second electronic device over a dedicated control channel setup between the devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for acoustic echo cancellation in electronic devices. The echo cancellation may comprise applying, as a first step, echo cancellation filtering to an acoustic input obtained via an acoustic input element (e.g., microphone), and applying, as a second step, echo suppression to the acoustic input, wherein the echo suppression comprises suppressing residual echo in the acoustic input. The echo cancellation filtering may comprise identifying and/or filtering out echo components, both linear and nonlinear, in the acoustic input, with the echo components corresponding to an echo signal caused by an acoustic output outputted via the acoustic output element (e.g., speaker). A sensor signal, generated by a vibration sensor that detects vibrations in the electronic device including vibrations caused by the outputting of the acoustic output, may be used as reference signal in the echo cancellation filtering and/or the echo suppression.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for ultra-low-power adaptive, user independent, voice triggering in electronic devices. A voice trigger, which may be configured as ultra-low-power function, may be run in an electronic device, when the electronic device transitions to a power-saving state, and may be used to control the electronic device based on audio inputs. The controlling may comprise capturing an audio input, and processing the audio input to determine when the audio input corresponds to a triggering command, to trigger transitioning of the electronic device from the power-saving state. The processing of audio input, to determine that it corresponds to the triggering command, may be based on use of an adaptively configured state machine. The state machine may be based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM), and may be configured as a two-dimensional state machine that comprises plurality of lines of incantations, each of which corresponding to the triggering command.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling bone conduction, in which a bone conduction element may be used to output acoustic signals when it is in contact with a user. A bone conduction sensor may also be made in contact with the user, and used to obtain feedback relating to the outputting of the acoustic signals via the bone conduction element. The outputting of the acoustic signals may then be adaptively controlled based on processing of the feedback. The adaptive controlling may comprise adjusting components and/or functions related to or used in the outputting of the acoustic signals. For example, the adaptive controlling may comprise adjusting gain, frequency response, and/or equalization associated with a drive amplifier driving the bone conduction element.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively managing a plurality of microphones and speakers in an electronic device. A mode of operation of the electronic device may be determined, and operation of at least one speaker may be managed, based on the determined mode of operation. The managing may comprise adaptively switching or modifying functions of the at least one speaker. For example, the at least one speaker may be configured to act as microphone or as vibration detector. Input obtained using the at least one speaker may be utilized in optimizing audio related functions, such as noise reduction and/or acoustic echo canceling.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhanced stereo audio recordings in electronic devices. Stereophonic recording performance in an electronic device, using a first microphone and a second microphone in the electronic device, may be assessed; and processing of signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone may be configured based on the assessed stereophonic recording performance. The configuring may comprises adaptively modifying the processing to enhance stereophonic recording performance, to match or approximate an ideal performance. The assessing of the stereophonic recording in the electronic device may be based on a type of each of the first microphone and the second microphone, and/or based on a spacing therebetween. The processing may be adaptively modified to simulate directional reception of signals by the first microphone and the second microphone when the microphones are omnidirectional.

Abstract: A system for processing sound, the system including: (a) a processor, configured to process a first input signal that is detected by a first microphone at a detection moment, a second input signal that is detected by a second microphone at the detection moment, and a third input signal that is detected by a bone-conduction microphone at the detection moment, to generate a corrected signal that is responsive to the first, second, and third input signals; and (b) a communication interface, configured to provide the corrected signal to an external system.

Abstract: A method and an optical microphone that may include a transmitter; and a sensor; wherein the transmitter is arranged, when facing an external auditory canal of a user, to direct optical signals towards an area of the external auditory canal; wherein the sensor is arranged to generate sensing signals that are indicative of reflected radiation that reflected from the external auditory canal; wherein the reflected radiation conveys information about body conducted signals that propagate through a body of the user and cause the external auditory canal to vibrate.