Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that utilize assistive listening systems, central control of endpoint devices, and a screen are described herein. Some environments, such as a classroom, may include legacy assistive listening systems. Systems may be configured to coordinate assistive listening functions between the legacy assistive listening system and other audio output devices. In such cases, the audio output devices and/or a stationary device may be used in conjunction with a legacy assistive listening system. The audio output devices and/or the stationary device may be configured to communicate one or more settings for one or more control parameters of the audio output devices. The stationary device may provide centralized control of at least some control parameters of the audio output devices. The stationary device may include a screen or display to output visual data in addition to audio data.

Abstract: A system and method for processing and enhancing utility of a sound mask noise signal, including generating, by a signal processor, the sound mask noise signal by modulating a noise signal with embedded additional information, outputting, by a plurality of audio speakers, sound signals comprising the sound mask noise signal with the embedded additional information, and receiving, by one or more microphones, the outputted sound signals comprising the sound mask noise signal, wherein an impulse response between each audio speaker and each microphone is measured in real time based on the embedded additional information.

Abstract: Various implementations include systems for rendering 3D audio signals for a vehicle operator. In particular implementations, a method of spatializing audio for an audio device worn on a head of an operator includes: receiving audio data and location data, the location data indicating where the audio data should be rendered relative to the vehicle; tracking a head position of the operator of the vehicle; calculating a compensated location of where the audio data should be rendered based on the location data and the head position of the operator of the vehicle; and spatially rendering, using the audio device, the audio data at the compensated location.

Abstract: This invention is directed to improving communication among people at remote locations, accomplished at low cost, by communication schemes involving “portal” structures, “channels” and “phonos.” The portal structures are mobile and easily deployed to the remote locations, for quick assembly and use, creating an audio-visual immersive communication experience for its users. A portal network architecture includes a plurality of portals located in different remote locations, configured to provide identical spaces that facilitate audio-video, immersive conferencing among users at the various portal sites. The portal interiors include favorable lighting and camera configurations to facilitate display of life-size, realistic, and planar images of the users while maintaining eye contact between them.

Abstract: An example device configured to obtain image data includes a memory configured to store one or more priority values, each of the one or more priority values being associated with a type of image object associated with the image data. The device includes one or more processors coupled to the memory, and configured to associate image objects in the image data with one or more audio sources represented in one or more audio streams. The one or more processors are also configured to assign a respective priority value to each of the one or more audio sources represented in the one or more streams and code ambisonic coefficients based on the assigned priority value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a playback device include (i) outputting first audio content; (ii) capturing audio data representing reflections of the first audio content within a room in which the playback device is located; (iii) based on the captured audio data, determining an acoustic response of the room; (iv) connecting to a database comprising a plurality of sets of stored audio calibration settings, each set associated with a respective stored acoustic room response of a plurality of stored acoustic room responses; (v) querying the database for a stored acoustic room response that corresponds to the determined acoustic response of the room in which the playback device is located; and (vi) applying to the playback device a particular set of stored audio calibration settings associated with the stored acoustic room response that corresponds to the determined acoustic response of the room in which the playback device is located.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring industrial equipment using audio are described herein. One system includes two computing devices. The first computing device can receive, from an audio sensor, audio sensed during operation of industrial equipment, extract a plurality of features from the audio, determine whether any portion of the audio is anomalous, and send, upon determining a portion of the audio is anomalous, the anomalous portion of the audio to the second, remotely located, computing device. The second computing device can provide the anomalous portion of the audio to a user to determine whether the anomalous portion of the audio corresponds to a fault occurring in the equipment, and receive, from the user upon determining the anomalous portion of the audio corresponds to a fault occurring in the equipment, input indicating the anomalous portion of the audio corresponds to the fault to learn fault patterns in the equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device including a communication interface connecting to an external device, an input interface receiving a user input, a memory storing at least one application, a display displaying an image, and a processor electrically connected to the communication interface, the input interface, the memory, and the display.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a volume modifier value; when the volume modifier value is in a soft sound emphasizer range, modifying a volume control curve by increasing a value of the volume control curve in a range below a reference value, the volume control curve defining how much a sound signal with a specific volume is amplified to a desired volume; when the volume modifier value is in a loud sound limiter range, modifying the volume control curve by increasing a value of the volume control curve in a range above a reference value; and applying the modified volume control curve to a sound processor of a hearing device, such that a sound signal processed by the hearing device and output by the hearing device to the user is amplified according to the modified volume control curve.

Abstract: A method performed by a processing node (10), comprising the steps of: i. obtaining (11), from at least one communication device (100), audio data (12) associated with a sound and storing (13) the audio data (12) in the processing node (10), ii. Obtaining (15) an event designation (16) associated with the sound and storing (17) the event designation (16) in the processing node (10), iii. determining (19) a model (20) which associates the audio data (12) with the event designation (16) and storing the model (21), and iv. Providing (23) the model (20) to the communication device (100). A method performed by the communication device (100), as well as a processing node (10), a communication device (100), a system (1000) and computer programs for performing the methods are also described.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enables a call to be immediately reconnected to the same agent of a contact center after the agent has been disconnected while the caller remains connected to the contact center. A method provides determining that a first agent system, operated by a first agent of the contact center, has been disconnected from a communication session between the first agent system and a first caller system, operated by a first caller, due to a non-recoverable error. The first caller system remains connected to the contact center. The method further provides generating identification information that identifies the communication session and generating a link to join the communication session that includes the identification information. The method also provides transferring the link to a second agent system operated by the first agent. The second agent system is connected to the communication session when the second agent system follows the link.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to a signal processing device for on ear detection for a headset. The device comprises a first microphone input for receiving a microphone signal from a first microphone, the first microphone being configured to be positioned inside an ear of a user when the user is wearing the headset; a second microphone input for receiving a microphone signal from a second microphone, the second microphone being configured to be positioned outside the ear of the user when the user is wearing the headset; and a processor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for optimizing user content consuming experience by recognizing and classifying different sounds while a user views a program. The system may have or may access information related to the program audio being presented, enabling it to distinguish between conversations occurring in the program audio and conversations between users in the viewing environment. The system may turn the program volume down on one or more sound producing devices if it detects a conversation. The system may turn the program volume up if it detects an interrupting noise. The system may also adjust the program content based on locations of various objects within the listening or viewing environment, and types of users in the environment.

Abstract: A method includes: generating a hearing profile for a user; accessing a set of hearing-assistance device options, each hearing-assistance device option defining a form factor of a hearing-assistance device, in a set of hearing-assistance devices; accessing an image of an ear of the user; detecting a set of constraining dimensions in the image of the ear of the user; identifying a subset of hearing-assistance device options, in the set of hearing-assistance device options, defining form factors conforming to the set of constraining dimensions; accessing a set of preferences of the user; ranking the subset of hearing-assistance device options based on the set of preferences; selecting a first hearing-assistance device option, from the subset of hearing-assistance device options, corresponding to a highest rank in the subset of hearing-assistance device options; and configuring a first hearing-assistance device represented by the first hearing-assistance device option with the hearing profile.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A system for measuring sound levels is provided. The system comprises a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that when executed on the processor receives sound levels recorded by each of a plurality of sound sensors located in a coverage area. The application also samples noise levels from the received sound levels at least one location within the coverage area. The application also derives values based at least on the samples and on estimates of sound attenuation at the at least one location. The application also creates a heat map based at least on the derived values, the heat map representing at least noise levels experienced within the coverage area.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and devices are disclosed for identifying and of controlling communications on interfering links in a local area network (20) having user-devices (22, 23, 24, 25) located therein operable to communicate via a local area network (LAN) gateway device (30, 50) with remote devices in a communications network (10,15) outside the LAN (20), communications being carried via one or more LAN links (28) for at least a portion of a path between user-devices (22, 23, 24, 25) and the gateway device (30, 50), and being carried via a digital subscriber (xDSL) line (19) for at least a portion of a path between the gateway device (30, 50) and the remote devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for personalizing the audio signal of an audio or video stream, comprising: sending the audio or video stream from a server to a client over a communications network, processing the audio signal by means of a processing unit to match an optimal hearing profile of a user listening to the audio at the client, characterized in that the processing unit is arranged at the server or in the communications network, between the server and the client.

Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore, compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. The ambient HOA component is represented by a minimum number of HOA coefficient sequences. The remaining channels contain either directional signals or additional coefficient sequences of the ambient HOA component, depending on what will result in optimum perceptual quality. This processing can change on a frame-by-frame basis.

Abstract: Laser-based devices utilizing temperature modulation for improved self-mix sensing. A self-mix laser unit includes: an active region having a first side and a second, opposite, side; a p-type Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) region, which is in direct touch with said first side of the active region; an n-type DBR region, which is in direct touch with the second side of the active region; and an n-type or p-type or other substrate. A heating unit provides modulated heating to the active region, either directly via an electrical resistor within the active region; or indirectly by passing or propagating modulated heat through one of the DBR regions or through the substrate. The modulated heating improves the laser-based self-mix signal.