Abstract: A wearable multifunction device or earpiece or a pair of earpieces includes one or more processors, at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors, a biometric sensor coupled to the one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions causing the one or more processors to perform the operations of sensing a remaining battery life and based on the sensing, prioritizing one or more of the functions of always on recording, biometric measuring, biometric recording, sound pressure level measuring, voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, personal audio assistant functions, transmission of data to a tethered phone, transmission of data to a server, transmission of data to a cloud device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for designing an earpiece device are provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of images for a respective plurality of individuals. Each image includes at least one ear anatomy. For each image, a three-dimensional (3D) surface representing the at least one ear anatomy is extracted, to form a plurality of extracted surfaces corresponding to the plurality of images. At least one statistical measurement representative of at least a portion of the plurality of individuals is determined from among the plurality of extracted surfaces. At least one design parameter for the earpiece device is optimized based on the at least one statistical measurement, The earpiece device is formed using the optimized at least one design parameter.

Abstract: A method, system or device includes one or more sensors for measuring a multimodal metric, a memory having computer instructions, and one or more processors operatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the memory. The one or more processors when executing computer instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations such as analyzing the multimodal metric to provide an analysis and determine a receptivity to a message, and delivering or receiving or presenting the message at a period of time when the receptivity is over a predetermined threshold based on the analysis. Receptivity to a message can be measured in many different ways including the use of the one or more sensors such one or more microphones used for determining a cognitive load of a recipient.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an acoustic device including an ear canal microphone configured to detect a first acoustic signal, an ambient microphone configured to detect a second acoustic signal, and a processor operatively coupled to the ear canal microphone and the ambient microphone. The processor is configured to detect a predetermined speech pattern based on an analysis of the first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal and upon detection of the predetermined speech pattern, subsequently process acoustic signals from the ear canal microphone for a predetermined time or until the ear canal microphone detects a lack of an acoustic signal for a second predetermined time. After the predetermined time or after a second predetermined time, the processor processes acoustic signals from the ear canal microphone and the ambient microphone.

Abstract: An aural iris includes a lumen and an actuator coupled on or in or to the lumen for at least partially attenuating sound traversing through the lumen by selectively actuating the actuator on and off. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece or a pair of earpieces, or a pair of earpieces in a headphone, each earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein, including circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker, and a processor operatively coupled to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and where the processor is configure to generate a visual or audio message identifying whether at least one earpiece is properly sealed based on the seal quality measurements.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an electronic device configured to collect acoustic information or a method including the steps of collecting acoustic data by a microphone communicatively coupled to a mobile device, analyzing the acoustic data for a sound signature, tagging the sound signature with metadata, sending the sound signature with metadata to an acoustic database, associating sounds within the acoustic data with information, presenting the information on a map on the mobile device, and accessing at least audio from the acoustic database when a cursor is placed over a specific location on the map corresponding to captured ambient sounds from a geographic location and wherein acoustic information can be retrieved corresponding to the geographic location and for different selected periods of time.

Abstract: A communication device and method can include one or more processors operatively coupled to memory and an audible output device, where the one or more processors receive a call from a calling party that includes a voice or video message associated, presenting the voice message or video message as an alias of or to a ring tone or interleaved with the ring tone before the call from the calling party is answered or rejected. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a system configured to occlude an ear canal. The system comprises a support structure, an expandable device, a housing, a resilient reservoir, and a threaded device. Resilient reservoir resides within housing and is filled with a medium. The threaded device couples to a threaded region of support structure. Threaded device fits in an opening of housing. Rotating threaded device reduces an interior volume of housing thereby transferring the medium from resilient reservoir to expandable device. Threaded device is rotated to displace sufficient medium within resilient reservoir to expand expandable device to occlude the ear canal. Resilient reservoir is passively filled when expandable device is in an un-expanded state.

Abstract: Earphone systems and methods for automatically directing ambient sound to an earphone device are provided. An ambient microphone signal from an ambient microphone proximate a sound isolating earphone or headset device is directed to a receiver within an earphone device according to mixing circuitry. The mixing circuitry is controlled by voice activity of the earphone device wearer. This enables hands-free operation of an earphone system to allow the earphone device wearer to maintain situation awareness with the surrounding environment. During detected voice activity, incoming audio content is attenuated while ambient sound is increased and provided to the earphone device. User voice activity is detected by analysis of at least one of an ear canal microphone signal or an ambient sound microphone signal.

Abstract: An earpiece, headphone, or other headset audio delivery device can include an a transceiver, an illumination element, and a processor to provide visual operational mode indication via the illumination element. The operational mode can correspond to an active phone call, an incoming phone call, a terminated phone call, a caller-on-hold condition, a recording mode, a voice mail mode, a mute mode, an audible transparency mode, a do not disturb mode, listening to audio content mode, a sound signature detection mode, a voicing activity level detecting mode, a voicing level detecting mode, a speaking rate detecting mode, a background noise condition detection mode or an ear-plug mode. The intensity, frequency, amplitude, color or duration of the lighting can be adjusted according to the operational mode. Other embodiments disclosed.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) configured to measure a background noise signal, an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) configured to deliver audio to an ear canal, and an optional Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) configured to convert an internal sound within an ear canal of a user to an internal sound signal, and a processor operatively coupled to the ASM, the ECR and optionally the ECM. Note, internal sounds can also include residual background noise related to ambient sounds in the environment. The processor is configured to maintain a natural audio level based on a combined measurement of the background noise signal and the internal sound signal.

Abstract: An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece or a pair of earpieces, or a pair of earpieces in a headphone, each earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein, including circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker, and a processor operatively coupled to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and where the processor is configure to generate a visual or audio message identifying whether at least one earpiece is properly sealed based on the seal quality measurements.

Abstract: A system for monitoring sound pressure levels at the ear includes an ambient sound microphone (ASM) for receiving ambient sounds and an ear canal microphone (ECM) for producing audio signals as a function of ambient sound received at the ambient sound microphone and a sound signal received from an associated personal audio device. A logic circuit is operatively associated with the ASM and ECM calculates a total SPL_Dose experienced by the ear at a time t. The total SPL_Dose is calculated by determining SPL_Dose for periods ?t as measured at the ECM. The logic circuit may select an action parameter in response to the Total SPL_Dose.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an electronic device configured to collect acoustic information or a method including the steps of collecting acoustic data by a microphone communicatively coupled to a mobile device, analyzing the acoustic data for a sound signature, tagging the sound signature with metadata, sending the sound signature with metadata to an acoustic database, associating sounds within the acoustic data with information, presenting the information on a map on the mobile device, and accessing at least audio from the acoustic database when a cursor is placed over a specific location on the map corresponding to captured ambient sounds from a geographic location and wherein acoustic information can be retrieved corresponding to the geographic location and for different selected periods of time.

Abstract: An electronic device or method for adjusting a gain on a voice operated control system can include one or more processors and a memory having computer instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the operations of receiving a first microphone signal, receiving a second microphone signal, updating a slow time weighted ratio of the filtered first and second signals, and updating a fast time weighted ratio of the filtered first and second signals. The one or more processors can further perform the operations of calculating an absolute difference between the fast time weighted ratio and the slow time weighted ratio, comparing the absolute difference with a threshold, and increasing the gain when the absolute difference is greater than the threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for multiplexing audio signals into a single channel uses frequency division multiplexing. The frequency division multiplexing method herein is based on a frequency transform algorithm using FFT shifting that does not require a carrier signal for the modulation. In one embodiment, two input microphone audio signals are frequency shifted and the resulting single audio channel is directed over a standard input connection to a computing device, for instance, a smart phone using a wired TRRS connection. The TRRS analog input of the computing devices exhibits a high-pass characteristic, and the frequency shifting method enables the low frequency audio components of input audio signals to be received and processed by a software application on the smart phone. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An acquisition system includes a processor and one or more sensors coupled to the processor, where the one or more sensors monitor within an ear canal one or more of acceleration, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure or heart-rate configured to monitor a biological state or a physical motion or both. The processor can be configured to analyze a portion of the biological state or the physical motion. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and devices for processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include performing a non-difference comparison between a first received sound and a second received sound, determining if speech exists based on the comparison, and transmitting or providing a decision that the speech is present to at least one among the device, a cell phone, a media player, or a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece, the earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein includes circuitry coupled to the microphone and speaker and a processor to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and then to adjust the circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker according to the evaluated seal quality. Other embodiments are disclosed.