Abstract: Signal processing methods for predicting the intelligibility of speech, e.g., in the form of an index that correlate highly with the fraction of words that an average listener (amongst a group of listeners with similar hearing profiles) would be able to understand from some speech material are proposed. Specifically, solutions to the problem of predicting the intelligibility of speech signals, which are distorted, e.g., by noise or reverberation, and which might have been passed through some signal processing device, e.g., a hearing aid are described. In summary, the disclosure present solutions to the following problems: 1. Monaural, non-intrusive intelligibility prediction of noisy/processed speech signals 2. Binaural, non-intrusive intelligibility prediction of noisy/processed speech signals 3. Monaural and binaural intelligibility enhancement of noisy speech signals.

Abstract: The application relates to an audio processing system and a method of processing a noisy (e.g. reverberant) signal comprising first (v) and optionally second (w) noise signal components and a target signal component (x), the method comprising a) Providing or receiving a time-frequency representation Yi(k,m) of a noisy audio signal yi at an ith input unit, i=1, 2, . . . , M, where M?2; b) Providing (e.g.

Abstract: The application relates to a binaural hearing assistance system comprising first and second hearing assistance devices adapted for being located at or in left and right ears of a user. The application further relates to a method of operating a binaural hearing assistance system. The object of the present application is to provide an improved binaural hearing assistance system.

Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising a beamformer of the generalized sidelobe canceler (GSC) type. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing device. The disclosure addresses a problem which occurs when using a GSC structure in a hearing device application. The problem arises due to a non-ideal target-cancelling beamformer. As a consequence, a target signal impinging from the look direction can—unintentionally—be attenuated by as much as 30 dB. To resolve this problem, it is proposed to monitor the difference between the output signals from the all-pass beamformer and the target-cancelling beamformer to control a time-varying regularization parameter in the GSC update. This has the advantage of providing a computationally simple solution to the non-ideality of the GSC beamformer. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for collaborative online gaming, including at least one of providing a central repository master browser system; providing an experience calibrated match-making service; providing a dynamic multiplayer server component auto deployment and aggregation system; providing a lobby centric simultaneous and collaborative client game play launching feature; and providing a video game screen over-layer technology giving users access to a control interface while inside a video game being played.

Abstract: The problem of estimating the direction to one or more sound sources of interest relative to a user wearing a pair of hearing devices, e.g. hearing aids, is dealt with. A target signal is generated by a target signal source and transmitted through an acoustic channel to a microphone of a hearing system. Due to additive environmental noise, a noisy acoustic signal is received at the microphones of the hearing system. An essentially noise-free version of the target signal is transmitted to the hearing devices of the hearing system via a wireless connection. Each of the hearing devices comprises a signal processing unit comprising a sound propagation model of the acoustic propagation channel from the target sound source to the hearing device when worn by the user. The sound propagation model is configured to be used for estimating a direction-of-arrival of the target sound signal relative to the user.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system calibrates a noise reduction system of a hearing assistance device. The system comprises a hearing assistance device, and an auxiliary device. The hearing assistance device comprises a multitude of input units, and a multi-channel beamformer filtering unit configured to determine filter weights for a beamformed signal. The system further comprises a user interface for activating a calibration mode. The auxiliary device comprises an output transducer for converting an electric calibration signal to an acoustic calibration sound signal. The system is configured to estimate a look vector for a target signal originating from a target signal source located at a specific location relative to the user based on the acoustic calibration sound signal.

Abstract: The application relates to a binaural hearing assistance system comprising left and right hearing assistance devices, and a user interface, to its use and to a method. The left and right hearing assistance devices comprises a) at least two input units for providing a time-frequency representation of an input signal in a number of frequency bands and a number of time instances; and b) a multi-input unit noise reduction system comprising a multi-channel beamformer filtering unit operationally coupled to said at least two input units and configured to provide a beamformed signal. The binaural hearing assistance system is configured to allow a user to indicate a direction to or location of a target signal source relative to the user via said user interface. This has the advantage that interaural cues of the target signals can be maintained, while the ambient noise is reduced.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to binaural hearing instruments and more particularly to reduction of processing time required in a binaural hearing aid system. According to the disclosure, there is provided a method comprising mono-directional transmission of data blocks comprising audio and/or information frames from one hearing instrument to the other hearing instrument or vice versa in a binaural hearing aid. According to the disclosure, the direction of transmission is determined by a quantity characterizing the presence of usable information content in the sound signal picked up by the hearing instruments of the binaural hearing aid. It is proposed to use one or more of local SNR, local voice activity detection indication, local level, local speech intelligibility estimate to determine the direction of transmission, although other quantities may be used.

Abstract: A system for enhancement of noisy speech comprises an input unit is configured to subdivide the spectrum of the input signal into a plurality of frequency sub-bands and to provide time-frequency coefficients X(k,m) for a sequence [X(k, m??D+1) . . . X(k,m?)] of observable noisy signal samples for each of said frequency sub-bands, where k and m are frequency and time indices, respectively, and D is larger than 1. The system further comprises enhancement processing unit configured to receive X(k,m) and to provide enhanced time-frequency coefficients ?(k, m), a storage for statistical model(s) of speech and for statistical model(s) of noise, and an optimizing unit configured to provide said enhanced time-frequency coefficients ?(k,m) using said statistical model of speech and said statistical model of noise, while considering said sequence [X(k, m??D+1) . . . X(k, m?)] of observable noisy signal samples.

Abstract: The application relates to: A hearing system comprising first and second hearing aid systems, each being configured to be worn by first and second persons and adapted to exchange audio data between them. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing system. The object of the present application is to provide improved perception of a (target) sound source for a wearer of a hearing device (e.g. a hearing aid or a headset) in a difficult listening situation.

Abstract: A binaural hearing assistance system includes left and right hearing assistance devices, and a user interface. The left and right hearing assistance devices comprises a) at least two input units for providing a time-frequency representation of an input signal in a number of frequency bands and a number of time instances; and b) a multi-input unit noise reduction system comprising a multi-channel beamformer filtering unit operationally coupled to said at least two input units and configured to provide a beamformed signal. The binaural hearing assistance system is configured to allow a user to indicate a direction to or location of a target signal source relative to the user via said user interface.

Abstract: The present invention regards a hearing system configured to be worn by a user comprising an environment sound input unit, an output transducer, and electric circuitry. The environment sound input unit is configured to receive sound from the environment of the environment sound input unit and to generate sound signals representing sound of the environment. The output transducer is configured to stimulate hearing of a user. The electric circuitry comprises a spatial filterbank. The spatial filterbank is configured to use the sound signals to generate spatial sound signals dividing a total space of the environment sound in subspaces. Each spatial sound signal represents sound coming from a subspace. The subspaces may (in particular modes of operation) be either fixed, or dynamically determined, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: An improved scheme for identifying and removing musical noise in an audio processing device can be achieved in an audio processing device that includes an analysis path with a perceptive model of the human auditory system and provides an audibility measure. The device may also identify an artifact introduced into the processed signal by the processing algorithm and provide an artifact identification measure, and control a gain applied to a signal of the forward path by the processing algorithm based on the perceptive model. An advantage is to dynamically optimize noise reduction with a view to audibility of artifacts and is applicable to hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, hands-free telephone systems, mobile telephones, teleconferencing systems, public address systems, karaoke systems, and classroom amplification systems.

Abstract: The application relates to a hearing system comprising a hearing device and a separate microphone unit adapted for picking up a voice of a user. The microphone unit comprises a) a multitude M of input units for picking up or receiving a signal representative of a sound from the environment, M being ?2; b) an adaptive multi-input unit noise reduction system for providing an estimate ? of a target signal s comprising the user's voice, the multi-input unit noise reduction system comprises a multi-input beamformer filtering unit configured to determine filter weights w(k,m) for providing a beamformed signal, wherein signal components from other directions than a direction of a target signal source are attenuated, whereas signal components from the direction of the target signal source are left un-attenuated; and c) antenna and transceiver circuitry for transmitting said estimate ? of the user's voice to another device.

Abstract: The application relates to a partner microphone unit comprising a) a multitude microphones for picking up a sound from the environment providing corresponding electric input signals, each comprising a target signal component and a noise signal component; b) a multi-input unit noise reduction system for providing an estimate ? of the target sound s comprising the person's voice and comprising a multi-input beamformer filtering unit coupled to said input units and configured to determine filter weights for providing a beamformed signal, wherein signal components from other directions than a direction of the target signal source are attenuated, whereas signal components from the direction of the target signal source are left un-attenuated; c) antenna and transceiver circuitry for establishing an audio link to another device; and wherein the multi-input beamformer filtering unit comprises an adaptive beamformer. An improved quality of a target signal from a speaker or communication partner is provided.

Abstract: The application relates to a binaural hearing system comprising left and right hearing devices, e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hearing devices including an image capture device. Features of sound processing may be based on analysis of images from the image capture device.

Abstract: The present disclosure regards a hearing device configured to receive acoustical sound signals and to generate output sound signals comprising spatial cues.

Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising a beamformer of the generalized sidelobe canceler (GSC) type. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing device. The disclosure addresses a problem which occurs when using a GSC structure in a hearing device application. The problem arises due to a non-ideal target-cancelling beamformer. As a consequence, a target signal impinging from the look direction can—unintentionally—be attenuated by as much as 30 dB. To resolve this problem, it is proposed to monitor the difference between the output signals from the all-pass beamformer and the target-cancelling beamformer to control a time-varying regularization parameter in the GSC update. This has the advantage of providing a computationally simple solution to the non-ideality of the GSC beamformer. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, or combinations thereof.