Abstract: The present principles generally relate to audio apparatus, methods, and computer program products and in particular, to improvements that adjust the sound level or levels of one or more audio outputs of an audio system based on the determined origin and/or direction of propagation of a detected human voice in a location. Such an adjustment may be to decrease, mute, or increase the sound level of an audio output producing sound in the direction of the origin of the voice. A sound level produced by other audio outputs may be unchanged.

Abstract: A method of providing a plurality of versions of a content stream with different bit-rates is suggested. According to the method a set of versions of a content stream with different bit-rates is offered to a client. A manifest part describing the offered set of versions of the content stream is submitted to the client. The client requests one version of the content stream having a specific bit-rate. The bit-rate of the versions offered to the client is dynamically selected such that the difference between bit-rates of neighbouring versions is dynamically adapted. The suggested method improves adaptive transcoding so that it uses a small manifest part based on a small set of bit-rate values distributed around the currently delivered bit-rate. In addition to that a system is suggested for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method of streaming an output content stream adaptively transcoded from a corresponding input content stream includes offering, to a client device, a number of alternative versions of the output content stream, for selection by the client device, and dividing the input content stream into two or more segments. Prior to the offering step at least a first segment of the input content stream is transcoded into at least one corresponding segment of an output content stream corresponding to at least one version from the number of alternative versions offered to the client device. Upon receiving a request from the client device for a selected version of the output content stream, streaming is begun with using a first one of the at least one corresponding segments of an output content stream corresponding to at least one version from the number of alternative versions offered to the client device that had been transcoded and stored prior to offering.

Abstract: The invention allows a user, wanting to receive, on the one hand, a digital television offer broadcast in a conventional manner, and, on the other hand, an offer of video services on an IP network, to have a conventional receiving device capable of redistributing on the local network the services that he receives. This receiver will therefore be seen on the network as an additional source of IP services. The conventional service offer will be incorporated into the IP services offer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for implementing an update mechanism between an HTTP gateway and a web client, both connected to a non-IP based network, characterized by, said non IP based network having event management capabilities, the steps of: by the web client, subscribing with a local event manager for notification of events comprising information of an update of a data object of the HTTP gateway; by the HTTP gateway, sending said event on the non-IP based network when the update occurs; by the web client, receiving said event and requesting transmission of the updated data object from the HTTP gateway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a voice recognition device (1) comprising an audio processor (2) for the acquisition of an audio signal and a linguistic decoder (6) for determining a sequence of words corresponding to the audio signal.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a speech recognition device including an audio processor (2) for the acquisition of an audio signal and a linguistic decoder (6) for determining a sequence of words corresponding to the audio signal.

Abstract: Tantalum-based and niobium-based alloys made up entirely of a crystalline medium exhibiting a substantially continuous centered cubic structure, comprising an intermetallic compound of formula Ti.sub.2 AlMo, and having the following compositions on an atomic basis:______________________________________ Ta + Cr 20 to 35% Cr 0 to 5% Ti 20 to 40% Al 8 to 20% Mo 8 to 20%, ______________________________________wherein the concentration of Ta is less than 30%; and ______________________________________ Nb + Cr 20 to 60% Cr 0 to 5% Ti 20 to 40% Al 8 to 20% Mo 8 to 20%. ______________________________________ .

Abstract: A niobium and titanium based alloy having a density less than 6.5 and possessing a high resistance to oxidation at high temperatures in the region of 900.degree. C. has a chemical composition comprising, in atomic percentages:more than 24% Nbfrom 30 to 48% Tifrom 21 to 38% Aland possibly up to 8% of at least one of Cr, Mo, V and Zr.

Abstract: An element is disclosed for filtering and/or purifying hot gases, comprising a fibrous structure with a predetermined degree of porosity and formed of metal alloy fibrils of the MCrAlX type, in which M is a matrix chosen from iron and/or nickel and/or cobalt, and X is an element reinforcing the adhesion of the oxide layer which is formed on the fibrils in contact with the hot gases, chosen from zirconium, yttrium, cerium, lanthanum and misch metal.