Abstract: A parameter determination device includes: a spectral envelope estimating portion performing estimation of a spectral envelope using a parameter ?0 specified in a predetermined method, regarding the ?0-th power of absolute values of a frequency domain sample sequence corresponding to a time-series signal as a power spectrum on the assumption that the parameter ?0 and a parameter ? are positive numbers; a whitened spectral sequence generating portion obtaining a whitened spectral sequence which is a sequence obtained by dividing the frequency domain sample sequence by the spectral envelope; and a parameter acquiring portion determining such a parameter ? that generalized Gaussian distribution with the parameter ? as a shape parameter approximates a histogram of the whitened spectral sequence.

Abstract: A protective helmet includes a microphone and an electronic device for improving communication with the environment. The microphone is arranged on a supporting cage below a shell of the helmet and captures the sound waves that are generated by an organ of speech of the wearer of the helmet and propagate the sound waves in the area of the supporting cage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using audio watermarks with key phrases. One of the methods includes receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream; determining, before the audio data stream is output by the playback device, whether a portion of the audio data stream encodes a particular key phrase by analyzing the portion using an automated speech recognizer; in response to determining that the portion of the audio data stream encodes the particular key phrase, modifying the audio data stream to include an audio watermark; and providing the modified audio data stream for output.

Abstract: A retractable storage system for a handheld electronic device has a protective housing member operative shaped and sized to bound the handheld electronic device and enable wrapping around the handheld electronic device. A charging station structured on the housing member has an aperture to arrest, dispense, charge and store an accessory item of the handheld electronic device. One or more storage chambers structured on the protective housing member to store the accessory item. An electric power transfer component provides an electrical power and is electrically connected to the charging station.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid includes a first functional unit and a second functional unit. The second functional unit is configured to removably couple with the first functional unit. The coupling provides at least a mechanical connection between the first functional unit and the second functional unit. The first functional unit includes a moveable element that is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable element is contained entirely within the first functional unit. In the second position, a part of the moveable element is configured to protrude out of the first functional unit. The second functional unit includes a recess configured to receive the part of the moveable element that protrudes out of the first functional unit such that the first functional unit and the second functional unit are immovably locked with respect to each other in response to the moveable element is received in the recess.

Abstract: The invention regards a communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear. The communication device comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output N transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy. According to the invention an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery.

Abstract: An electronic device that coordinates a playback operation is described. In particular, an interface circuit in the electronic device may calculate, based on differences between transmit times when packets were transmitted by a second electronic device and receive times of the packets, relative drift as a function of time between a clock in the interface circuit and a second clock in the second electronic device. Then, the interface circuit may adjust, based on the relative drift, a clock circuit that provides the clock to eliminate the relative drift, and may determine a remaining time offset between the clock and the second clock. Next, the interface circuit may modify a future time when the electronic device is to perform the playback operation based on the remaining time offset to determine a corrected future time, and the electronic device may perform the playback operation at the corrected future time.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) hub that coordinates playback of audio content is described. In particular, the A/V hub may calculate current time offsets between clocks in electronic devices and a clock in the A/V hub based on differences between transmit times of frames from the electronic devices and receive times when the frames were received. For example, the current time offsets may be calculated using wireless ranging by ignoring distances between the A/V hub and the electronic devices. Then, the A/V hub may transmit, to the electronic devices, one or more frames that include audio content and playback timing information, which may specify playback times when the electronic devices are to playback the audio content based on the current time offsets. Furthermore, the playback times of the electronic devices may have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.

Abstract: A process at an electronic computing device (device) for automatic and selective context-based gating of an electronic digital assistant speech-output function includes detecting, via a sensor communicatively coupled to the device or via a notification received at the device, an event associated with a need to reduce a cognitive load on the user. Responsively, temporarily gating a portion of an electronic digital assistant speech-output function to prevent reproduction to the user of one or more first speech-output events generated during a first period of time associated with the event. Subsequently, and after detecting that the event has ended, ending the temporary gating to allow reproduction of one or more second speech-output events generated during a second period of time after the event has ended.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) hub that coordinates playback of audio content is described. In particular, the A/V hub may calculate current time offsets between clocks in electronic devices and a clock in the A/V hub based on differences between receive times when frames are received from electronic devices and expected transmit times of the frames. For example, the expected transmit times may be based on coordination of clocks in the electronic devices and a clock in the A/V hub at a previous time and a predefined transmit schedule of the frames. Then, the A/V hub may transmit, to the electronic devices, one or more frames that include audio content and playback timing information, which may specify playback times when the electronic devices are to playback the audio content based on the current time offsets.

Abstract: Pre-processing modules are configured to compensate for time and pitch scaling and shifting and provide compensated audio frames to a watermark detector. Audio frames are adjusted for time stretching and shrinking and for pitch shifting. Detection metrics are evaluated to identify candidates to a watermark detector. Various schemes are also detailed for tracking modifications made to audio stems mixed into audio tracks, and for accessing a history of modifications for facilitating identification of audio stems and audio tracks comprised of stems. Various approaches address interference from audio overlays added to channels of audio after embedding. One approach applies informed embedding based on phase differences between corresponding components of the channels. A detector extracts the watermark payload effectively from either additive or subtractive combination of the channels because the informed embedding ensures that the watermark survives both types of processing.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires information about designation of a position of a virtual viewpoint related to a virtual viewpoint image generated based on image capturing by a plurality of cameras, and decides, based on the information, a virtual listening point for generating an audio signal based on sound pickup at a plurality of sound pickup points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hearing device (1) for being worn at least partly within an ear canal of a user of the hearing device (1), the hearing device (1) comprising a shell (2) with a wall and an opening (4), wherein the wall has a rim (11) at the opening (4), and wherein the wall is thickened along at least part of the rim (11). Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a hearing device (1) is specified, especially comprising determining an area of a bonding surface (12) at the rim (11) for bonding a face plate (3) to the shell at the opening (4).

Abstract: An electronic device may contain an input-output device such as a speaker, vibrator, or near field communications antenna. The input-output device may include an inductor. The inductor in the input-output device may be shared by wireless charging circuitry in the electronic device so that wireless charging signals can be converted into power to charge a battery in the electronic device. A separate inductor may also be provided within an input-output device to support wireless charging. A drive circuit may supply drive signals to the input-output device such as audio signals, vibrator control signals, or near field communications output signals for external near field communications equipment. An input amplifier that is coupled across the inductor in the input-output device may be used in receiving near field communications signals.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing interactive media content is provided. Interactive media content is received for communication to a user through at least wireless earpieces. User biometrics are measured utilizing the wireless earpieces. A user condition associated with the user biometrics is determined. Branching patterns of the interactive media content are modified in response to the user condition. The interactive content may be a game or story.

Abstract: A microphone having a housing including a bottom part and an upper part, and a transducer element which is arranged in the housing and is electrically and mechanically connected to the bottom part. For stress-free mounting of the transducer element, a flexible connecting element is proposed, which is pliable and/or compressible, is arranged between the transducer element and the upper part, and connects the transducer element to the upper part. The connecting element comprises a plastic, in which gas bubbles are distributed, the gas bubbles having a volume fraction of between 50 and 98% in the connecting element.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to an audio production system which is more portable, less expensive, faster to set up, and simpler and easier to use than conventional audio production tools. An audio production system implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the invention may therefore be more accessible to the typical user, and easier and more enjoyable to use, than conventional audio production tools.

Abstract: Disclosed are a magnetic circuit system for a loudspeaker, and a loudspeaker. The magnetic circuit system for a loudspeaker comprises a magnetically conductive plate (11), a central magnet (12), a central washer (14), a side magnet (13), and a side washer (15). The side washer (15) comprises a washer body (151) and a bent portion (152) continuing from the washer body (151). The washer body (151) is arranged on the surface, away from the magnetically conductive plate (11), of the corresponding side magnet (13). The bent portion (152) is bent towards the magnetically conductive plate (11) from top to bottom via a side face (15a) of the washer body (151). The bent portion (152) and the magnetically conductive plate (11) are fixedly welded together.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to source separation in audio content. A method for separating sources from audio content is disclosed, the audio content being of a multi-channel format based on a plurality of channels. The method comprises performing a component analysis on the audio content for each of the plurality of channels to generate a plurality of components, each of the plurality of components comprising a plurality of time-frequency tiles in full frequency band; generating at least one dominant source with at least one of the time-frequency tiles from the plurality of the components and separating the sources from the audio content by estimating spatial parameters and spectral parameters based on the dominant source. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are an audio signal processing method and apparatus for adjusting a location of an audio object in correspondence to a location of a visual object. The audio signal processing apparatus includes a matching unit configured to select an audio object corresponding to a visual object extracted from a video signal among at least one audio object extracted from an audio signal, a location adjusting unit configured to adjust a location of a sound image of the audio signal based on a location of the selected audio object and a location of a visual object corresponding to the selected audio, and an output unit configured to output an audio signal whose the location of the sound image is adjusted.