Abstract: Methods and arrangements involving electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, wearable devices, etc., are disclosed. One arrangement involves a low-power processing technique for discerning cues from audio input. Another involves a technique for detecting audio activity based on the Kullback-Liebler divergence (KLD) (or a modified version thereof) of the audio input. Still other arrangements concern techniques for managing the manner in which policies are embodied on an electronic device. Others relate to distributed computing techniques. A great variety of other features are also detailed.

Abstract: An audio processing system (100) includes a server complex (102) in communication with a network (103). The server complex (102) receives a digital audio file (104) and one or more analog domain control settings (111) from a client device (101) across the network. A digital-to-analog converter (118) converts the digital audio file (104) to an analog signal (119). One or more analog signal processors (105,106) apply at least one analog modification (181) to the analog signal in accordance with the one or more analog domain control settings. An analog-to-digital converter (124) converts the modified analog signal to a modified digital audio file (125). The server complex can then deliver the modified digital audio file to the client device across the network.

Abstract: Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.

Abstract: A system and method for automated reconstruction of previously released media content, without requiring detailed information from content owners. An embodiment of the system and method accesses content repositories of one or more digital service providers and retrieves metadata corresponding to the media content. Some embodiments include transforming the retrieved metadata to a standardized format. Audio fingerprinting can be used to match metadata to audio files and reconstruct the media content.

Abstract: An audio processing method includes determining an audio data source, registering an audio block service for the audio data source to obtain registration information of the audio block service, where the registration information of the audio block service includes identification information used for performing the audio block service on the audio data source, performing software decoding on the audio data source to obtain audio track data when it is determined, based on the identification information, that the audio data source needs to be blocked, and performing behavior analysis based on the audio track data. Hence, audio track data can be collected in a targeted manner, the collected audio track data is converted into text through speech recognition, and the text can be used for semantic analysis or internally-recorded audio recognition.

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 second electronic device is to perform the playback operation based on the remaining time offset to determine a corrected future time, and may transmit information to the second electronic device specifying the corrected future time.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved techniques to process and identify segments of media content and associated intellectual property rights associated with the media content. Intellectual property rights associated with media content may include copyright, trademarks, licenses to composition, synchronization, performance, recordings, etc. In particular, various embodiments provide improved techniques to identify segments of media content using fingerprinting and/or other heuristic rules to identify the original source of the segments of media content, the rights holders, and/or rights associated with the segments of media content.

Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a system connected to a casket to play an audio file selected by a user. The system includes an above-ground unit arranged to lead down into the casket. The above-ground unit includes a wireless module, controller, first speakers, light-emitting devices (LEDs), solar panel, and second speakers. The wireless module establishes a wireless connection with a computing device of the user. The controller facilitates the user to initiate the wireless connection on receiving a push gesture through buttons. The first speakers are configured within an amplifier chassis to generate audio data corresponding to the audio file through the computing device. The LEDs indicate the power status of the system and the connection status of the wireless module. The solar panel generates direct current (DC) electricity. The second speakers generate the audio data corresponding to the audio file selected by the user through the computing device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including an estimation section that, when it is determined that a user is able to receive vocal information presentation, estimates a duration for which it is possible to receive the information presentation and an adjustment section that adjusts an amount of information to be presented to the user in accordance with the estimated duration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for prioritizing audio announcements are provided. In one embodiment, a method can include obtaining, by one or more processors associated with a computing device, an audio notification that comprises a message and a preferred priority associated with the message. The method can include determining, by the one or more processors, an assigned priority associated with the message based at least in part on a content of the message and the preferred priority associated with the message. The method can include generating, by the one or more processors, an output indicative of the message and the assigned priority associated with the message. The method can include providing, by the one or more processors, the output to an audio device to audibly produce the output based at least in part on the priority associated with the message.

Abstract: A method includes displaying a first media information affordance representing a first media item in response to detecting an indication that a physical proximity between an electronic device and an external device satisfies a proximity condition. The electronic device receives a first input representing selection of the first media information affordance. In response to receiving the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input is a first type of input, a process to playback the first media item is initiated; and in accordance with a determination that the first input is a second type of input different from the first type of input, a second media information affordance representing the first media item is displayed.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing a sensory experience to simulate a live event are provided. One includes providing an audible signal representing sound information; generating a vibration signal based on the audible signal and enhanced information that would be present at the live event; and providing the vibration signal to at least one vibration device for stimulating nerve receptors in a foot area, the vibration signal synchronized with the audible signal to produce a perception in the brain of being present at the live event. Another method includes generating a vibration signal representing vibrations including tactile vibrations for stimulating nerve receptors in a foot to simulate being present at a live event, and vibrations based on reproduced sound information; and providing the signal to at least one vibration device for delivering the vibrations to the feet, the tactile vibrations based on enhanced information different from the sound information and including non-audible elements.

Abstract: An apparatus may be designed to enable a user to receive, record, display, edit, arrange, re-arrange, play, loop, extend, export and import audio and video data. The audio and video data to be organized as, for example, but not limited to, a song comprised of song parts. The song parts may be comprised of tracks, and each track may be comprised of one or more layers. The various methods and systems disclosed herein incorporate such data segmentation to enable the user to intuitively and hands-free record, arrange, and perform songs comprised of both sequential and parallel tracks. In this way, the looper may enable a musician to record and loop tracks for a song, arrange the tracks into song parts, and during the same session, transition the playback from one song part to another, all the while recording a track on top of the transitioning song parts.

Abstract: Example techniques may involve managing playback of media content by a playback device. In an example implementation, a playback device receives, via the network interface from a control device of the media playback system, an instruction to queue a container of audio tracks into a queue for playback by the playback device, wherein the container of audio tracks and consists of: (a) an album, (b) a playlist, or (c) an internet radio station. While the playback device is playing back the queue and before each audio track of the playlist is played back, the playback device determines whether the respective audio track is associated with a negative preference. If the respective audio track is associated with the negative preference, the playback device advances playback over the respective audio track to the next audio track within the queue.

Abstract: A system and method for automated reconstruction of previously released media content, without requiring detailed information from content owners. An embodiment of the system and method accesses content repositories of one or more digital service providers and retrieves metadata corresponding to the media content. Some embodiments include transforming the retrieved metadata to a standardized format. Audio fingerprinting can then be used to match metadata to audio files and reconstruct the media content.

Abstract: An acoustic characteristic measurement device includes a speaker configured to output an acoustic signal in which a watermark signal is embedded; a microphone configured to perform sound collection with respect to the acoustic signal output from the speaker in a predetermined listening position; and an acoustic characteristic measurement unit configured to determine an acoustic characteristic of an acoustic space from the speaker to the listening position, on the basis of the watermark signal embedded in the acoustic signal which is subjected to the sound collection by the microphone.

Abstract: A device includes: an information acquisition unit configured to obtain music piece information containing at least information on a beat position in music piece data; a lighting control unit configured to control a lighting fixture with reference to a change point of a lighting effect, whose minimum unit is defined by the beat position; and an operation interlock control unit configured to apply, in response to an operation performed on a music piece reproduction apparatus configured to reproduce the music piece data or a music piece reproduction controller configured to control the music piece reproduction apparatus, the lighting effect corresponding to the operation to the control of the lighting fixture.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for signal identification using a low power watermark. Example apparatus for media identification based on watermarks includes a first processor to determine, in response to receiving a signal, if a first watermark is present in the signal using a first processing technique. The example first processor is further to provoke, in response to the first watermark being present in the signal, a second processing technique on a signal processor. The signal processor is to extract a second watermark in the signal using the second processing technique.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for generating podcast files. In one embodiment, a method includes storing, in a template database, a podcast template, wherein the podcast template includes a sentence definition including one or more data tags and a sentence order for a plurality of sentences; storing, in a user database, user information for a plurality of users; generating, by a processor, a podcast text file by selectively populating the podcast template with user information associated with a first user of the plurality of users based on the data tags; converting, by the processor, the podcast text file to a podcast audio file; and storing, by the processor, the podcast text file and the podcast audio file in a podcast database for podcast playback by the first user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improved processing audio in a video stream. A system may split audio in a frame of video content into multiple bands based on their audio levels. The system may then dynamically compress and dynamically normalize the audio level in each band. When dynamically compressing the bands, the system may determine, based on stored information, what audio level range is acceptable for an end user and may smooth and maintain the ranges of the audio to be within the acceptable range. The system may include the dynamically normalized and dynamically compressed frames as a second audio track in the video content. A computing device receiving the video content may select the second audio track during playback. If an end user selects the second audio track, the video is delivered with the modified sound of the second audio track.