Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for a digital assistant to generate output data, said method being implemented by a computer. Additionally, the invention also relates to a computer program and an electronic device.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for recalibrating an audio configuration for mobile or moving devices. The system may configure a multi-device output group to generate synchronous output audio using multiple devices. For example, the output group may include a first device generating a first portion of output audio corresponding to a first channel and a second device generating a second portion of the output audio corresponding to a second channel. If the second device detects motion and/or movement indicating a change in its location, the system may recalibrate the output group to continue generating the output audio without the second device. For example, the first device or a new device can generate the second portion of the output audio instead of the second device. When the second device returns, the system can recalibrate the output group to include the second device again.

Abstract: An illustrative method for estimating a direct-to-reverberant ratio of a sound signal is described, wherein the direct-to-reverberant ratio is indicative of a ratio between direct sound received from a sound source and reverberated sound received from reflections in an environment of the sound source. The method includes determining a first energy value of a sound signal for a first time frame; assigning to an onset value of the first time frame a positive value, if the difference of the first energy value of the first time frame and a second energy value of a preceding second time frame is greater than a threshold, and a zero value otherwise; and determining the direct-to-reverberant ratio by providing an onset signal comprising the onset value to a machine learning algorithm, which has been trained to determine the direct-to-reverberant ratio based on the onset signal.

Abstract: Method and devices for testing a headphone with increased sensation are provided. The headphone can filter and amplify low frequency audio signals, which are then sent to a haptic device in the headphone. The haptic device can cause bass sensations at the top of the skull and at both ear cups. The testing system can evaluate the haptic and acoustic sensations produced by the headphone to evaluate if they have been properly assembled and calibrate the headphones if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling audio using an asymmetric channel of an audio conference. An audio control method may include establishing, by a processor included in a computer apparatus, a bi-directional media session having an asymmetric channel structure between a first participant among a plurality of participants participating in an audio conference and a mixer, receiving, by the processor, first audio data from the first participant through a media session of a first channel structure in the bi-directional media session, mixing, by the processor, second audio data of at least two participants excluding the first participant from among the plurality of participants, using a multichannel, and transferring, by the processor, the mixed audio data of the at least two participants mixed using the multichannel to the first participant through a media session of a second channel structure in the bi-directional media session.

Abstract: A nonlinear control system and a speaker protection system are disclosed. In particular, a control system for adapting an audio output from a speaker in the proximity of an object is disclosed. The controller is configured to accept one or more input signals, and one or more estimated states produced by the model to produce one or more control signals. A speaker protection system and a quality control system are disclosed. More particularly, a system for clamping the input to a speaker dependent upon an estimate of the proximity, acoustic volume, and/or acoustic coupling of the speaker to a nearby object is disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a communication interface; a display; an internal speaker; and a processor configured to control the internal speaker to generate a first audio signal and control the communication interface to transmit a signal to control an external audio device to generate a second audio signal that is synchronized with the first audio signal. The processor is configured to: obtain a first processing time regarding the first audio signal and a second processing time regarding the second audio signal; and control the internal speaker and the communication interface based on the first processing time and the second processing time so that a difference between a first output timing of the first audio signal and a second output timing of the second audio signal is less than a predetermined value.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.