Abstract: A protective face mask implemented with a pocket located on a front surface of the mask. A removable amplifier unit configured to be placed into the pocket, the removable amplifier unit comprising: a micro-processor configured to process voice data; a rechargeable battery coupled to the micro-processor; a Bluetooth device coupled to the micro-processor; a microphone coupled to the micro-processor and configured to provide the voice data to the micro-processor; and a speaker unit configured to output the voice data processed by the micro-processor.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method for determining whether to perform mute/unmute functions to secure voice communication on multiple devices to allow for safeguarding of sensitive information of a user. The method includes one or more processors identifying one or more audio communications from a first user to a second user, wherein the one or more audio communications is transmitted utilizing a first computing device. The method further includes determining an objective of the first user based at least in part on the audio communication of the first user. The method further includes determining a set of conditions corresponding to the one or more audio communications and the objective, wherein the set of conditions indicate a vulnerability of personal data of the first user. The method further includes prohibiting the first computing device from transmitting audio data that includes the personal data of the first user.

Abstract: Example techniques relate to prioritizing media content requests. An example implementation involves a computing system receives an explicit request to play back a playlist on one or more playback devices of a media playback system. The computing system causes the playback devices to play back a given audio track of the playlist. While the playback devices are playing back first tracks of the playlist, the computing system receives one or more implicit requests for second audio tracks in the playlist. While the playback devices are playing back the second audio tracks of the playlist, the computing system receives an explicit request to play back audio content on a mobile device. The computing system determines that the request to play back the audio content on the mobile device is a higher priority than the requests for second audio tracks and switches playback from the playback devices to the mobile device.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system, including a sound capture device configured to capture a sound and generate a signal based on the captured sound, and a vibratory portion configured to vibrate in response to the signal to evoke a hearing percept via bone conduction, wherein the system is configured to capture the sound on a first side of a recipient where the sound capture device is located and transfer the signal to a second side of the recipient where the vibratory portion is located.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing uninterrupted media content by reordering playlists during vehicle navigation. The disclosed techniques herein determine directions from route data and navigation announcements for each of the directions. For each direction, a corresponding media asset from media assets in a playlist having a media asset duration that matches a direction duration is determined. The direction duration is the time difference between the navigation announcement and a subsequent navigation announcement.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the playback of audio content, e.g. in the form of music. More particularly, the disclosure concerns the playback of streamed audio. In one example embodiment, there is a method of operating an electronic device for dynamically controlling a playlist including one or several audio items. A request to adjust an energy level (e.g. a tempo) associated with the playlist is received. In response to receiving this request, the playlist is adjusted in accordance with the requested energy level (e.g., the tempo).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and apparatuses, including computer programs stored on computer-readable media, for storing and managing audio data. One of the methods includes: receiving a request to store audio data; associating the audio data with a spectrogram generated based on the audio data; storing the audio data and the spectrogram on a blockchain; and providing access to the audio data based on the spectrogram.

Abstract: A method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes acquiring verbal data representing a verbal expression corresponding to a sound reproduced by an acoustic device, and displaying, on a display device, motion graphics including the verbal expression corresponding to the sound reproduced by the acoustic device in a form of a text in accordance with the verbal data. The displaying the motion graphics on the display device includes selecting a type of motion graphics that relates to the verbal expression corresponding to the reproduced sound from among various types of motion graphics and displaying the selected type of motion graphics on the display device.

Abstract: Example techniques involve playback of curated playlists based on media preferences. In an example implementation, a playback device receives data representing one or more instructions to play back a particular curated playlist of a streaming audio service and, in response, plays back audio tracks of the particular curated playlist. During playback, when a preference database includes a negative preference for a given audio track, the playback device skips that audio track.

Abstract: An exemplary voice monitoring system includes a wearable voice monitor and an auxiliary device such as a smart phone. The wearable monitor incorporates a wake-on-sound microphone, a vibration motor, and a microcontroller within a small, discreet enclosure. The enclosure can be hung from a necklace chain or affixed to clothing, like a piece of jewelry. The jewelry appearance is enhanced by a removable decorative piece. The microcontroller wakes up in response to a wake signal from the microphone when a voice sound of a wearer is detected. The microcontroller initiates measurements to determine if the voice sound meets preconfigured criteria and activates the vibration motor to alert the wearer. Sound criteria resulting in vibratory alerts are contained in a user-specific schedule tailored according to time of day and day of week. The smart phone can remotely create customized schedules and transmit them to the monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus can include an audio playback device configured to provide an audio output to a user, and a controller configured to: receive an initial playback position within the audio output; determine that an off-ear event has occurred; identify a time corresponding to the off-ear event; instruct the audio playback device to pause the audio output at the identified time; and calculate a new playback position within the audio output based at least in part on the identified time.

Abstract: An electronic device may comprise audio processing circuitry and a universal serial bus (USB) connector having a first contact and a second contact. In a first mode of operation, the audio processing circuitry is configured to output one or more audio signals carrying music and/or voice via the first contact and the second contact. In a second mode of operation, the audio processing circuitry is configured to output a signal for delivering supply current via the first contact and the second contact. While the electronic device is in the first mode of operation, a gain and/or volume limit of the audio processing circuitry may be set to a first level, and while the electronic device is in the second mode of operation, the gain and/or volume limit of the audio processing circuitry may be set to a second level that is higher than the first level.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to audio object clustering. A method for metadata-preserved audio object clustering is disclosed. The method comprises classifying a plurality of audio objects into a number of categories based on information to be preserved in metadata associated with the plurality of audio objects. The method further comprises assigning a predetermined number of clusters to the categories and allocating an audio object in each of the categories to at least one of the clusters according to the assigning. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example method involves monitoring, by a computing device, a communications feed for an indication of media and detecting, in the communications feed, the indication of the media. The method may further involve identifying at least one media item corresponding to the indication of the media and causing a playback queue of a media playback system to include one or more of the identified at least one media item.

Abstract: An audio scene encoder for encoding an audio scene, the audio scene having at least two component signals, has: a core encoder for core encoding the at least two component signals, wherein the core encoder is configured to generate a first encoded representation for a first portion of the at least two component signals, and to generate a second encoded representation for a second portion of the at least two component signals, a spatial analyzer for analyzing the audio scene to derive one or more spatial parameters or one or more spatial parameter sets for the second portion; and an output interface for forming the encoded audio scene signal, the encoded audio scene signal having the first encoded representation, the second encoded representation, and the one or more spatial parameters or one or more spatial parameter sets for the second portion.

Abstract: Example devices and methods are disclosed. An example device includes a memory configured to store a plurality of audio streams and an associated level of authorization for each of the plurality of audio streams. The device also includes one or more processors implemented in circuitry and communicatively coupled to the memory. The one or more processors are configured to select, based on the associated levels of authorization, a subset of the plurality of audio streams, the subset of the plurality of audio streams excluding at least one of the plurality of audio streams.

Abstract: A sound volume operation device configured to amplify and output an inputted acoustic signal includes: at least one sound volume adjuster configured to adjustably amplify an inputted acoustic signal; an output level detector configured to detect an output sound volume level of the acoustic signal amplified by the at least one sound volume adjuster; and an illuminator provided at or adjacent to the at least one sound volume adjuster and configured to provide a different illumination state according to the output sound volume level detected by the output level detector.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of Capturing the Moment in audio discussions and recordings. A user utilizes an electronic device to record audio, or to participate in an audio conversation or an audio/video conversation. During the conversation, the user clicks on presses a button to create an audio bookmark at desired time-points. Later, the system generates separate a short audio-clip for a few sentences that were spoken before and after each such audio bookmarks. The system further generates an aggregated clip or summary of the bookmarked segments, as well as textual transcription of the bookmarked content.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, wherein, in a mode determination unit, an information-providing method in response to an information providing request from a user is determined on the basis of a result of comparing a communication signal or communication signals from one or a plurality of external devices with one or a plurality of registration signals registered in advance.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to orientation-aware surround sound playback. A method for processing audio on an electronic device that includes a plurality of loudspeakers is disclosed, the loudspeakers arranged in more than one dimension of the electronic device. The method includes, responsive to receipt of a plurality of received audio streams, generating a rendering component associated with the plurality of received audio streams, determining an orientation dependent component of the rendering component, processing the rendering component by updating the orientation dependent component according to an orientation of the loudspeakers and dispatching the received audio streams to the plurality of loudspeakers for playback based on the processed rendering component. Corresponding system and computer program products are also disclosed.