Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment so directed to an earpiece (100). The earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (111) configured to capture ambient sound, an Ear Canal Microphone (123) configured to capture internal sound in the ear canal, a memory (208) configured to record at least a portion of the history of the ambient sound and the internal sound, and a processor (121) configured to save a recent portion of the history responsive to an event.

Abstract: A method for acute sound detection and reproduction is provided that can include measuring an ambient sound level external to an ear canal at least partially occluded by the earpiece, monitoring a change in the ambient sound level for detecting an acute sound, estimating a proximity of the acute sound, and reproducing the acute sound within the ear canal responsive to detecting the acute sound and the proximity. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for increasing the audio perceptual loudness includes shifting at least one frequency of a first audio signal to create a second audio signal so as to increase the audio perceptual loudness. The power level of the second audio signal is not more than a power level of the first audio signal. The method also includes generating high-audio perceptual loudness tone alert sequences based on psychoacoustic and audiometric data. It further includes acquiring a listener's threshold audio profile; adding the listener's audio profile to the loudness sensitivity curve for producing the listener's tonal sensitivity curve; determining a required dB scaling for critical band tones from the listener's tonal sensitivity curve; normalizing the tonal sensitivity curve for creating a decibel curve; selecting a frequency range of the tones by using the tonal sensitivity curve; and spacing the sequence of tones along a critical band scale.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for adjusting volume levels of a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) sound file for optimizing play on a sound device. The method on an information processing system includes calculating a first set of loudness levels for each instrument in a MIDI sound file and calculating a second set of loudness levels corresponding to an audio output range of a sound device. The method further includes generating a mapping between the first set of loudness levels and the second set of loudness levels corresponding to the audio output range of the sound device. The method further includes generating a gain term for each note in the MIDI sound file and modifying the MIDI sound file using the second set of loudness levels and the gain term for each note in the MIDI sound file.

Abstract: The present invention (110) permits a user to speed up and slow down speech without changing the speakers pitch (102, 110, 112, 128, 402–416). It is a user adjustable feature to change the spoken rate to the listeners' preferred listening rate or comfort. It can be included on the phone as a customer convenience feature without changing any characteristics of the speakers voice besides the speaking rate with soft key button (202) combinations (in interconnect or normal). From the users perspective, it would seem only that the talker changed his speaking rate, and not that the speech was digitally altered in any way. The pitch and general prosody of the speaker are preserved. The following uses of the time expansion/compression feature are listed to compliment already existing technologies or applications in progress including messaging services, messaging applications and games, real-time feature to slow down the listening rate.

Abstract: The use of SOLA speech time compression/expansion in the present invention method as a means to alter a speaker's talking rate by adjusting the speech rate at which people hear their own voice. A person speaks at a certain comfort rate, which is established and maintained by their own auditory system's capability to hear their own voice as they speak i.e., it is a self-auditory feedback mechanism. Changing the rate (112) at which a talker hears their own voice (130, 2012, 2024) will accordingly change their talking rate. This effect is achieved in this invention by employing a real time processing method (110, 402- 416, FIG. 10) that temporarily adjusts the speech rate in an effort to impose this psychoacoustic condition which coerces the speaker into changing their talking rate. This invention permits users to adjust the comfort rate at which they normally speak (124) or to adjust the rate at which others speak to them through the use of a speech processing device or system.

Abstract: The present invention (110) permits a user to speed up and slow down speech without changing the speakers pitch (102, 110, 112, 128, 402-416). It is a user adjustable feature to change the spoken rate to the listeners' preferred listening rate or comfort. It can be included on the phone as a customer convenience feature without changing any characteristics of the speakers voice besides the speaking rate with soft key button (202) combinations (in interconnect or normal). From the users perspective, it would seem only that the talker changed his speaking rate, and not that the speech was digitally altered in any way. The pitch and general prosody of the speaker are preserved. The following uses of the time expansion/compression feature are listed to compliment already existing technologies or applications in progress including messaging services, messaging applications and games, real-time feature to slow down the listening rate.