Abstract: An audio device including a housing having a side facing outwardly of the housing, the housing further having a first mounting position disposed on the side. The side has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion opposite the second portion relative to the first mounting position. The audio device also includes a first omnidirectional microphone disposed on the first portion. The audio device also includes a second microphone disposed on the first mounting position. The second microphone may be a second-order microphone. The second-order microphone has a first-order microphone disposed within a first platform mounted a distance from the first mounting position. The audio device also includes a first speaker disposed on the second portion. The first speaker is further disposed such that an audio output of the first speaker falls within a null of the second microphone.

Abstract: A method for hybrid noise suppression. The method involves obtaining a noisy audio input signal, generating a noise-suppressed audio output signal by performing a combination of a noise spectrum estimate-based noise suppression and a machine learning-based noise suppression, and outputting the noise-suppressed audio output signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for carrier selection are described. In one example, a method of carrier selection for a frequency-hopping wireless communication device includes using a fixed set of available carriers to hop over during communications. The method includes allocating a subset of the available carriers to a long-range carrier class. In one example, the subset of available carriers consists of at least two carrier clusters spaced widely in the frequency spectrum. The method further includes monitoring a transmit power level in the wireless communication device. The method further includes using the long-range carrier class to hop over during communications if the wireless communication device transmit power is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method for secure call endpoint pairing is disclosed. The method includes starting, at a call endpoint, a pairing procedure with a wireless headset. Also, the method includes receiving a headset identifier from the wireless headset. Further, the method includes sending the headset identifier in a request to a headset registry server, and receiving, from the headset registry server, a response to the request. Additionally, the method includes terminating the pairing procedure based on the response from the headset registry server.

Abstract: A machine component is formed of a coalesced metal body of multiple zones of material having at least one high hardness surface, along with high yield strength and good thermal conductivity. The coalesced metal body can have a zone of steel and a zone of copper, and have a transition zone in which the zones of steel and copper coalesce. The coalesced metal body has a machined surface on the zone of steel on a first side of the coalesced metal body. The zone of copper has a proximal boundary disposed proximal to, and separated by, the zone of steel, from the machined surface. Also the zone of copper has a distal boundary distal to the machined surface and proximal to a second surface of the coalesced metal body.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forking call audio channels. The method includes, during an active call, receiving a first audio stream of first call audio that originates from a far-end telephony device, and receiving a second audio stream of second call audio that originates from a microphone of a near-end headset. Further, the method includes generating, during the active call, a third audio stream containing the first call audio by processing the first audio stream, and generating a fourth audio stream containing the second call audio by processing the second audio stream. Still yet, the method includes, during the active call, generating a fifth audio stream containing the first call audio, and generating a sixth audio stream containing the second call audio. In addition, the method includes, during the active call, concurrently transmitting: the third audio stream, the fourth audio stream, the fifth audio stream, and the sixth audio stream.

Abstract: A method for interrupt based pairing for wireless audio devices includes determining a colocation of a wireless audio device with a subsequent wireless audio device with one or more sensors. An interrupt is generated in response to determining the colocation. A pairing mode of the wireless audio device is enabled in response to the interrupt. The wireless audio device is paired with the subsequent wireless audio device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for environmental control systems are described. In one example, a method includes monitoring a voice communications call between a local call participant located in a building space and a remote call participant. The method includes detecting a change in a user state of the local call participant from the voice communications call. The method further includes adjusting an environmental parameter in the building space responsive to detecting the change in the user state of the local call participant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headbands and head-worn devices are described. In one example, a headband includes a lace. The headband includes a tightenable apparatus disposed along a length of an inner side of the headband, the tightenable apparatus coupled to the lace and arranged to tighten or relax responsive to control of the lace. The headband further includes a cushion arranged to contact a wearer head.

Abstract: A communication headset includes a neckband with a horseshoe-shaped footprint and two microphone tips disposed at two ends of the neckband, the two ends establishing an aperture of the horseshoe-shaped footprint. Each of the two microphone tips includes a slanted base. The communication headset further includes a microphone array including two sets of microphones in a spatial configuration in which the two sets of microphones are disposed on the slanted bases of the two microphone tips. An effective acoustic spacing between the microphones in the microphone array is at least 15 mm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headbands and head-worn devices are described. In one example, a headband includes a lace. The headband includes a tightenable apparatus disposed along a length of an inner side of the headband, the tightenable apparatus coupled to the lace and arranged to tighten or relax responsive to control of the lace. The headband further includes a cushion arranged to contact a wearer head.

Abstract: A system for managing a battery removal from an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a battery interface including multiple battery coupling contacts that engage with battery contacts of the battery in an installed position of the battery. A battery removal detector is configured to detect, based on signals received via the battery interface, an ongoing battery removal process during which first battery contact(s) are disconnected from corresponding first interface contact(s) while second battery contact(s) remain connected with second battery coupling contact(s), and in response, to output a battery removal signal. The system also includes a controller that receives the battery removal signal and, still during the battery removal process, controls a memory device of the electronic device to prevent or complete a defined operation (e.g., writing of persistent storage keys) prior to completion of the battery removal process, to thereby prevent a corruption of the memory device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for addressing open space noise are disclosed. In one example, a method for masking open space noise includes optimizing a recorded naturally occurring sound signal. The method also includes outputting the optimized recorded naturally occurring sound signal from a plurality of speakers distributed in the open space. Further, the method includes displaying a natural system complementing the optimized recorded naturally occurring sound signal.

Abstract: A stand includes a neck, a base coupled to a first end of the neck, and a receiving interface located at a second end of the neck. The receiving interface is configured to receive a short stand of a desktop phone device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for carrier selection are described. In one example, a method of carrier selection for a frequency-hopping wireless communication device includes using a fixed set of available carriers to hop over during communications. The method includes allocating a subset of the available carriers to a long-range carrier class. In one example, the subset of available carriers consists of at least two carrier clusters spaced widely in the frequency spectrum. The method further includes monitoring a transmit power level in the wireless communication device. The method further includes using the long-range carrier class to hop over during communications if the wireless communication device transmit power is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A communication headset includes a neckband with a horseshoe-shaped footprint and two microphone tips disposed at two ends of the neckband, the two ends establishing an aperture of the horseshoe-shaped footprint. Each of the two microphone tips includes a slanted base. The communication headset further includes a microphone array including two sets of microphones in a spatial configuration in which the two sets of microphones are disposed on the slanted bases of the two microphone tips.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for managing user density in wireless communications are described. In one example, a method includes receiving at a central controller device a plurality of link data associated with a plurality of wireless links between a plurality of first communication devices and a plurality of second communication devices. The method includes identifying a global system performance from the plurality of link data utilizing a link quality parameter. The method further includes, responsive to the global system performance, generating one or more modified link settings for a first wireless link between a first communication device and a second communication device. The method further includes transmitting from the central controller device to the first communication device or the second communication device the one or more modified link settings for the first wireless link for implementation at the first communication device and/or the second communication device.