Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage communication sessions to handover between a direct connection at a secondary wireless device and a relayed connection to the secondary wireless device via a primary wireless device. A connection manager of a secondary wireless device can trigger transfer of a communication session based on measurements of performance metrics for the communication session. Upon detection of performance degradation in a local connection or a backhaul connection or both, the connection manager of the secondary wireless device can determine proximity of and/or capabilities for connections of the primary wireless device and instigate transfer of the communication session between different connection types, such as between a direct connection and a relayed connection. The transfer of the communication session can occur without user intervention or in response to input from the user without interrupting or reestablishing the communication session.

Abstract: The embodiments set forth a technique for enabling a computing device to securely configure a peripheral computing device. According to some embodiments, the method can include the steps of (1) approving a request received from the peripheral computing device to engage in a setup procedure for the peripheral computing device, (2) receiving, from the peripheral computing device: (i) an audio signal that encodes a password and timing information, and (ii) a light signal. Additionally, the method can involve, in response to identifying that the timing information correlates with the light signal: (3) extracting the password from the audio signal, and (4) establishing a communication link with the peripheral computing device based on the password. In turn, the method can involve (5) providing configuration information to the peripheral computing device over the communication link.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to inter radio access technology management for audiovisual calls. Wireless link availability and suitability for an audiovisual call may be evaluated for each of a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology. One or more wireless links on which to establish an audiovisual call may be selected based on the evaluations. The audiovisual call may be established on the selected wireless link(s). Wireless link availability and suitability for an audiovisual call may be monitored during the audiovisual call and decisions on whether to perform handover to a different wireless link and/or media duplication on multiple wireless links may be made based on the suitability for an audiovisual call of available wireless links.

Abstract: An audio encoding device and an audio decoding device are described herein. The audio encoding device may examine a set of audio channels/channel groups representing a piece of sound program content and produce a set of ducking values to associate with one of the channels/channel groups. During playback of the piece of sound program content, the ducking values may be applied to all other channels/channel groups. Application of these ducking values may cause (1) the reduction in dynamic range of ducked channels/channel groups and/or (2) movement of channels/channel groups in the sound field. This ducking may improve intelligibility of audio in the non-ducked channel/channel group. For instance, a narration channel/channel group may be more clearly heard by listeners through the use of selective ducking of other channels/channel groups during playback.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to inter radio access technology management for audiovisual calls. Wireless link availability and suitability for an audiovisual call may be evaluated for each of a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology. One or more wireless links on which to establish an audiovisual call may be selected based on the evaluations. The audiovisual call may be established on the selected wireless link(s). Wireless link availability and suitability for an audiovisual call may be monitored during the audiovisual call and decisions on whether to perform handover to a different wireless link and/or media duplication on multiple wireless links may be made based on the suitability for an audiovisual call of available wireless links.

Abstract: Unwanted audio, such as explicit language, may be removed during audio playback. An audio player may identify and remove unwanted audio while playing an audio stream. Unwanted audio may be replaced with alternate audio, such as non-explicit lyrics, a “beep”, or silence. Metadata may be used to describe the location of unwanted audio within an audio stream to enable the removal or replacement of the unwanted audio with alternate audio. An audio player may switch between clean and explicit versions of a recording based on the locations described in the metadata. The metadata, as well as both the clean and explicit versions of the audio data, may be part of a single audio file, or the metadata may be separate from the audio data. Additionally, real-time recognition analysis may be used to identify unwanted audio during audio playback.

Abstract: An audio normalization gain value is applied to an audio signal to produce a normalized signal. The normalized signal is processed to compute dynamic range control (DRC) gain values in accordance with a selected one of several pre-defined DRC characteristics. The audio signal is encoded, and the DRC gain values are provided as metadata associated with the encoded audio signal. Several other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Method of audio power reduction and thermal mitigation using psychoacoustic techniques starts by receiving a decoded audio signal in a reproduction system. Decoded audio signal is a signal that is decompressed and to be played back by a speaker. A masking curve is generated based on psychoacoustic models and the decoded audio signal. The masking curve is applied to the decoded audio signal to remove unheard frequencies and to generate a power-reduced audio signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An audio encoding device and an audio decoding device are described herein. The audio encoding device may examine a set of audio channels/channel groups representing a piece of sound program content and produce a set of ducking values to associate with one of the channels/channel groups. During playback of the piece of sound program content, the ducking values may be applied to all other channels/channel groups. Application of these ducking values may cause (1) the reduction in dynamic range of ducked channels/channel groups and/or (2) movement of channels/channel groups in the sound field. This ducking may improve intelligibility of audio in the non-ducked channel/channel group. For instance, a narration channel/channel group may be more clearly heard by listeners through the use of selective ducking of other channels/channel groups during playback.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage communication sessions to handover between a direct connection at a secondary wireless device and a relayed connection to the secondary wireless device via a primary wireless device. A connection manager of a secondary wireless device can trigger transfer of a communication session based on measurements of performance metrics for the communication session. Upon detection of performance degradation in a local connection or a backhaul connection or both, the connection manager of the secondary wireless device can determine proximity of and/or capabilities for connections of the primary wireless device and instigate transfer of the communication session between different connection types, such as between a direct connection and a relayed connection. The transfer of the communication session can occur without user intervention or in response to input from the user without interrupting or reestablishing the communication session.

Abstract: An audio normalization gain value is applied to an audio signal to produce a normalized signal. The normalized signal is processed to compute dynamic range control (DRC) gain values in accordance with a selected one of several pre-defined DRC characteristics. The audio signal is encoded, and the DRC gain values are provided as metadata associated with the encoded audio signal. Several other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Method of audio power reduction and thermal mitigation using psychoacoustic techniques starts by receiving a decoded audio signal in a reproduction system. Decoded audio signal is a signal that is decompressed and to be played back by a speaker. A masking curve is generated based on psychoacoustic models and the decoded audio signal. The masking curve is applied to the decoded audio signal to remove unheard frequencies and to generate a power-reduced audio signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Unwanted audio, such as explicit language, may be removed during audio playback. An audio player may identify and remove unwanted audio while playing an audio stream. Unwanted audio may be replaced with alternate audio, such as non-explicit lyrics, a “beep”, or silence. Metadata may be used to describe the location of unwanted audio within an audio stream to enable the removal or replacement of the unwanted audio with alternate audio. An audio player may switch between clean and explicit versions of a recording based on the locations described in the metadata. The metadata, as well as both the clean and explicit versions of the audio data, may be part of a single audio file, or the metadata may be separate from the audio data. Additionally, real-time recognition analysis may be used to identify unwanted audio during audio playback.

Abstract: An audio encoding device and an audio decoding device are described herein. The audio encoding device may examine a set of audio channels/channel groups representing a piece of sound program content and produce a set of ducking values to associate with one of the channels/channel groups. During playback of the piece of sound program content, the ducking values may be applied to all other channels/channel groups. Application of these ducking values may cause (1) the reduction in dynamic range of ducked channels/channel groups and/or (2) movement of channels/channel groups in the sound field. This ducking may improve intelligibility of audio in the non-ducked channel/channel group. For instance, a narration channel/channel group may be more clearly heard by listeners through the use of selective ducking of other channels/channel groups during playback.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining, at an audio processing device, whether to produce high quality or low quality audio output based on one or more factors. The one or more factors may include the type of output device (e.g., headphones, built-in speakers, or USB audio devices) that is connected to the audio processing device and whether certain operations (e.g., mixing and/or scaling) are to be performed on the decoded audio content. Thus, the highest quality audio output is produced based on current conditions of the audio system, which includes the output device. If the current conditions of the audio system indicate that producing high quality audio output does not yield sufficient perceived benefits, then the audio processing device may produce lower quality audio output.

Abstract: An audio normalization gain value is applied to an audio signal to produce a normalized signal. The normalized signal is processed to compute dynamic range control (DRC) gain values in accordance with a selected one of several pre-defined DRC characteristics. The audio signal is encoded, and the DRC gain values are provided as metadata associated with the encoded audio signal. Several other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, C input audio channels are encoded to generate E transmitted audio channel(s), where one or more cue codes are generated for two or more of the C input channels, and the C input channels are downmixed to generate the E transmitted channel(s), where C>E?1. One or more of the C input channels and the E transmitted channel(s) are analyzed to generate a flag indicating whether or not a decoder of the E transmitted channel(s) should perform envelope shaping during decoding of the E transmitted channel(s). In one implementation, envelope shaping adjusts a temporal envelope of a decoded channel generated by the decoder to substantially match a temporal envelope of a corresponding transmitted channel.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining, at an audio processing device, whether to produce high quality or low quality audio output based on one or more factors. The one or more factors may include the type of output device (e.g., headphones, built-in speakers, or USB audio devices) that is connected to the audio processing device and whether certain operations (e.g., mixing and/or scaling) are to be performed on the decoded audio content. Thus, the highest quality audio output is produced based on current conditions of the audio system, which includes the output device. If the current conditions of the audio system indicate that producing high quality audio output does not yield sufficient perceived benefits, then the audio processing device may produce lower quality audio output.

Abstract: An input audio signal having an input temporal envelope is converted into an output audio signal having an output temporal envelope. The input temporal envelope of the input audio signal is characterized. The input audio signal is processed to generate a processed audio signal, wherein the processing de-correlates the input audio signal. The processed audio signal is adjusted based on the characterized input temporal envelope to generate the output audio signal, wherein the output temporal envelope substantially matches the input temporal envelope.

Abstract: Techniques for introducing information into a data stream first obtains the spectral values of the short-term spectrum of the audio signal. Separately, information to be introduced are combined with a spread sequence obtaining a spread information signal, whereupon a spectral representation of the spread information is generated, then weighted with an established psychoacoustic maskable noise energy to generate a weighted information signal, wherein energy of the introduced information is substantially equal to or below the psychoacoustic masking threshold. The weighted information signal and the spectral values of the short-term spectrum of the audio signal are then summed and afterwards processed again to obtain a processed data stream including audio information and information to be introduced.