Abstract: An example first playback device includes programming to perform functions including receiving a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system. The functions also include associating with the first playback queue and designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue, entering into the group with the second playback device, associating with the second playback queue, and designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a third request to leave the group, and after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate calibration of an audio playback system with a video presented upon a display. In the context of a method, information about a display from a first location is received. The method also includes determining an angle of the display based upon the received information about the display and the first location. The method further includes causing an audio playback system associated with the display to be calibrated based upon a modified azimuth of a source of audio signals based upon the determined angle. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a signal processing device including a display control unit for causing a display to display an image corresponding to a specified place, a sound-collection-signal input unit for inputting a sound collection signal of a sound collection unit that collects a user sound produced with microphones surrounding the user, an acoustic-signal processing unit for performing a first acoustic-signal process for reproducing a sound field where the user sound is sensed as if the sound were echoing in the place on the signal input by the sound-collection-signal input unit, based on a first transfer function measured in the place to indicate how a sound emitted on a closed surface inside the place echoes in the place and then is transferred to the closed-surface side, and a sound-emission control unit for causing a sound based on the processed signal to be emitted from speakers surrounding the user.

Abstract: A sound source localization position indicating a position where a sound source is localized is set, and a sound signal for localizing the sound source at the set sound source localization position is generated and output. Then, a vibration signal for, in conjunction with the sound source localization position, vibrating a vibrator for imparting a vibration to a user is generated and output.

Abstract: Example techniques relate to playback queue subscriptions. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving, from a first computing device associated with a first user account, an instruction to enable subscription to a first playback queue associated with a first media playback system. In response to the instruction, the computing system enables second user accounts to subscribe to the first playback queue. The second user accounts are registered with respective second media playback systems in respective second household. The computing system receives, from a particular second media playback system, a request to subscribe to the first playback queue; and in response, sends one or more messages that update a control interface of the first control device to display a subscriber indication and (ii) sends one or more messages that populate a second playback queue of the particular second media playback system with audio tracks of the first playback queue.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scenario-based sound effect control method and an electronic device. The method comprises: after being turned on, an electronic device enables a service having an interception function; the electronic device intercepts, by using the service having the interception function, whether there is a newly created audio decoder and/or video decoder in the electronic device; if determining that there is the newly created audio decoder and the video decoder in the electronic device, the electronic device determines that a current scenario is a video playing application scenario; the electronic device obtains a scenario-based sound effect corresponding to the video playing application scenario, and sets a current sound effect of the electronic device as the scenario-based sound effect.

Abstract: Examples provide a system for customizing remote interactions-related real-time assistance for trainees during training exercises. The system analyzes a first set of actions taken by a trainee during a first interaction using a set of recommended action criteria to generate an interaction score indicating a degree of conformity with recommended action criteria. The system analyzes a second set of actions taken by the trainee during a different second interaction. If the second set of actions are conforming or the interaction score is within an acceptable threshold range, the system continues to monitor the second interaction without providing assistance. If the second set of actions are non-conforming and the interaction score is within an unacceptable threshold range, the system provides real-time interaction assistance to the trainee, such as by outputting interaction recommendation instructions and/or assigning a more experience user to assist the trainee.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for audio watermarking and, more particularly, methods and apparatus to inspect characteristics of multichannel audio. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an audio demultiplexer to obtain a first audio subchannel and a second audio subchannel of a multichannel audio signal and a watermark detector to detect watermarks in the first audio subchannel and watermarks in the second audio subchannel. The example apparatus further includes a channel characteristic inspector to compare a number of watermarks detected in the first audio subchannel and a number of watermarks detected in the second audio subchannel to determine whether the first and second audio subchannels were watermarked in accordance with a watermark encoder configuration and a result alerter to distribute an alert in response to a determination that the first and second audio subchannels were not watermarked in accordance with the watermark encoder configuration.

Abstract: An electronic device, with a display device, a communication device, one or more processors and memory, displays a first representation of a first controllable external device, where the first controllable external device is situated at a location. The device detects a first input corresponding to a selection of the first representation of the first controllable external device. In response to detecting the first input, the device transmits instructions, using the communication device, to the first controllable external device to perform a function if the first controllable external device is of a first type or displays, using the display device, a user interface for controlling characteristics of the first controllable external device.

Abstract: Technologies for framework-level audio device virtualization include a computing device that executes multiple application framework instances. The computing device monitors for an application framework instance switch and, in response to an application framework instance switch, determines whether the current application framework instance is in the foreground. If in the foreground, the computing device selects a physical audio output device. The computing device may output audio data associated with the current application framework instance using a kernel audio driver associated with the physical audio output device. If not in the foreground, the computing device selects a null audio output device using a null audio hardware abstraction layer (HAL). The null audio HAL may sleep for the duration of audio data associated with the current application framework instance. The null audio HAL may be an operating-system- and device-independent shared library of the computing device.

Abstract: A dual sound source audio data processing method and apparatus are provided. The method includes obtaining audio data of a song pair including a first song and a second song, the first and second songs having a same accompaniment audio but different voice audio. The audio data is decoded to obtain first mono audio data corresponding to the first song and second mono audio data corresponding to the second song. The first and second mono audio data are combined to one piece of two-channel audio data including a left audio channel and a right audio channel. A play time of the two-channel audio data is divided into play periods, and energy suppression is selectively performed on the left audio channel and the right audio channel in different play periods.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for acoustic signatures in a playback system. As example implementation involves receiving from a microphone of the controller device, an audio signal played by a playback device, the audio signal indicating network information corresponding to the playback device. The example implementation further involves identifying the playback device based on the network information and responsively, modifying a user interface on the controller device based on the identification of the playback device.

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) technology can be used in combination with composable communication goal statements and an ontology to facilitate a user's ability to quickly structure story outlines in a manner usable by an NLG narrative generation system without any need for the user to directly author computer code. This AI technology permits NLG systems to determine the appropriate content for inclusion in a narrative story about a data set in a manner that will satisfy a desired communication goal.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for reducing the audible effect of pre-responses in an audio signal. The pre-responses are effectively delayed by employing a digital non-minimum-phase filter, which includes a zero lying outside the unit circle in its z-transform response. This zero is not paired with another zero at a reciprocal position inside the unit circle, as this would linearise the phase modification. The filtering can introduce a greater group delay at the pre-response frequency than at a low frequency, such as 500 Hz or even 0 Hz. The technique can be used to reduce pre-responses in an existing audio signal and also to pre-empt pre-responses that would be introduced to the audio signal by subsequent processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for accessing broadcast media items and segments from non-broadcast sources. In response to detecting that a user has not finished listening to a broadcast segment (e.g., a radio segment), an electronic device can automatically identify and access an alternate, non-broadcast source for the same broadcast segment (e.g., a corresponding podcast episode). Using the electronic device, a user can play back the segment from the non-broadcast source, starting playback at the last position of the broadcast segment when the user stopped listening to the broadcast. In some embodiments, the electronic device can update library counts (e.g., play counts and new/not new tags) based on media items and segments played back as part of a media broadcast.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to fly along a flight path and capture audio signals produced by animal species or emitted by collars coupled to animals. For example, the unmanned aerial vehicle may include a rail mount to which various attachments can be coupled. One such attachment may be a rail attachment coupled to a support that carries a microphone, a recording device, and/or a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The microphone can capture audio signals and transmit the captured audio signals to the recording device for storage. The RF transceiver can receive signals emitted by collars and forward the signals to a remote receiver. A remote system can compare the captured audio signals with animal species audio signatures or expected data payloads to identify which animal species are present along the flight path and/or the location at which the animal species are present.

Abstract: An audio converter device and a method for using the same. The audio converter device receives the digital audio data from a first device via a local area network. The audio converter device decompresses the digital audio data and converts the digital audio data into analog electrical data. The audio converter device transfers the analog electrical data to an audio playback device.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system for integration with a seat includes a first support arm and a second support arm. The first support arm extends from a first side of the support housing and supports a first loudspeaker driver assembly, and the second support arm extends from a second side of the support housing and supports a second loudspeaker driver assembly. The first loudspeaker driver assembly includes a central housing with a first array of drivers, and the second loudspeaker driver assembly includes a central housing with a second array of drivers. A retraction control mechanism moves the first support arm and the second support arm between the stowed orientation and the deployed orientation.

Abstract: Example systems and methods represent audio using a sequence of two-dimensional (2D) Fourier transforms (2DFTs), and such a sequence may be used by a specially configured machine to perform audio identification, such as for cover song identification. Such systems and methods are robust to timbral changes, time skews, and pitch skews. In particular, a special data structure provides a time-series representation of audio, and this time-series representation is robust to key changes, timbral changes, and small local tempo deviations. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein analyze cross-similarity between these time-series representations. In some example embodiments, such systems and methods extract features from an audio fingerprint and calculate a distance measure that is robust and invariant to changes in musical structure.

Abstract: Configuration information and selectable grouping options associated with the plurality of zones is displayed, for example, on a wearable device. Selection of a first selectable grouping option is received and in response a configuration change is transmitted. The configuration change may comprise information indicating a first zone is to join a zone group with a second zone of the plurality of zones. Updated configuration information is received indicating that a media playback system includes the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone. The updated configuration information is displayed on the wearable device.