Abstract: A method of processing received data representing speech comprises monitoring the received data to detect the presence of data representing a first portion of a trigger phrase in said received data. On detection of the data representing the first portion of the trigger phrase, a control signal is sent to activate a speech processing block. The received data is monitored to detect the presence of data representing a second portion of the trigger phrase in said received data. If the control signal to activate the speech processing block has previously been sent, then, on detection of the data representing the second portion of the trigger phrase, the activation of the speech processing block is maintained.

Abstract: A multi-position rotary control provides authentication for a battery operated portable communication device. The rotary control provides a rotary switch pin code which is combined with voice authentication as part of an authentication process. Upon completion of authentication, the rotary control reverts back to a default radio control.

Abstract: A device includes an input for receiving an audio signal, a speaker to convert the audio signal into an audible sound, and a memory for storing remediation instructions and detection instructions. The device further includes a processor coupled to the input, the speaker, and the memory. The processor is configured to process the audio signal according to the detection instructions and the remediation instructions to modulate amplitude of the audio signal based on the remediation instructions.

Abstract: A method of sending information between first and second modules connected by a signal bus comprises generating a clock signal in the first module, and imposing the clock signal on a first line of the bus. A first pattern of bit values is transmitted from the second module to the first module on a second line of the bus, during first half-periods of each period of said clock signal. A second pattern of bit values is transmitted from the first module to the second module on the second line of the bus, during second half-periods of each period of said clock signal, wherein the second half-periods of each period of said clock signal are different from the first half-periods of each period of said clock signal. Information can then be transmitted from the first module to the second module by altering the second pattern of bit values; and information can be transmitted from the second module to the first module by altering the first pattern of bit values.

Abstract: A method of operation of a speaker recognition system comprises: performing a speaker recognition process on a received signal; disabling the speaker recognition process when a first speaker has been identified; performing a speech start recognition process on the received signal when the speaker recognition process is disabled; and enabling the speaker recognition process in response to the speech start recognition process detecting a speech start event in the received signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and apparatus in which a biometric authentication score generated as the result of a biometric authentication algorithm is compared to a threshold value that can be dynamically varied as required to provide a variable level of security. For example, the threshold value may be varied in dependence on the semantic content of a voice signal, and/or the context in which the voice signal was acquired. Authentication of the signal may be initiated in parallel with speech recognition, such that the appropriate threshold value is only determined after authentication has already begun.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for monitoring the routing configuration within an electronic device such that a biometric authentication process can be carried out without interference from other components of the device, such as may occur when the device has become infected with malware for example. The invention may provide a codec or speaker recognition processor, coupled to receive biometric input data, comprising a security module that determines whether a routing configuration complies with one or more rules. The security module may be implemented to prevent genuine biometric data from being output from the speaker recognition processor, and/or to prevent spoof biometric data from being inserted into the authentication module.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.

Abstract: A method of sending information between first and second modules connected by a signal bus comprises generating a clock signal in the first module, and imposing the clock signal on a first line of the bus. A first pattern of bit values is transmitted from the second module to the first module on a second line of the bus, during first half-periods of each period of said clock signal. A second pattern of bit values is transmitted from the first module to the second module on the second line of the bus, during second half-periods of each period of said clock signal, wherein the second half-periods of each period of said clock signal are different from the first half-periods of each period of said clock signal. Information can then be transmitted from the first module to the second module by altering the second pattern of bit values; and information can be transmitted from the second module to the first module by altering the first pattern of bit values.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides activatable and detectable membrane-interacting peptides that, following activation, can interact with phospholipid bilayers, such as cell membranes. The present disclosure also provides methods of use of such compounds. The compounds of the present disclosure are of the general structure X1a-A-X2-Z-X1b, where A is a membrane-interacting peptide region having a plurality of nonpolar hydrophobic amino acid residues that, following separation from portions Z, is capable of interaction with a phospholipid bilayer; Z is an inhibitory peptide region that can inhibit the activity of portion A; X2 is a cleavable linker that can be cleaved to release cleavage products from the compound; and X1a and X1b are optionally-present chemical handles that facilitate conjugation of various cargo moieties to the compound. Prior to cleavage of the composition at X2, the composition acts as a promolecule that does not associate with cellular membranes to a significant or detectable level.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.

Abstract: A device includes a network interface to communicate with a communication network and a microphone to convert sounds into an electrical signal. The device further includes a processor coupled to the microphone and the network interface. The processor is configured to process the electrical signal to generate acoustic data based on the electrical signal and to provide the acoustic data to the network interface for transmission to a data storage device.

Abstract: A device includes an input for receiving an audio signal, a speaker to convert the audio signal into an audible sound, and a memory for storing remediation instructions and detection instructions. The device further includes a processor coupled to the input, the speaker, and the memory. The processor is configured to process the audio signal according to the detection instructions and the remediation instructions to modulate amplitude of the audio signal based on the remediation instructions.

Abstract: An authentication system, comprising: one or more inputs, for receiving biometric input signals from a user; a routing module, configured to selectively route the biometric input signals from the one or more inputs to one or more of a plurality of components, the plurality of components including a biometric authentication module, for processing the biometric input signals and generating an authentication result; and a security module, for receiving a control instruction for the routing module, determining whether or not the control instruction complies with one or more rules, and controlling the routing module based on the control instruction responsive to a determination that the control instruction complies with the one or more rules.

Abstract: Received data representing speech is stored, and a trigger detection block detects a presence of data representing a trigger phrase in the received data. In response, a first part of the stored data representing at least a part of the trigger phrase is supplied to an adaptive speech enhancement block, which is trained on the first part of the stored data to derive adapted parameters for the speech enhancement block. A second part of the stored data, overlapping with the first part of the stored data, is supplied to the adaptive speech enhancement block operating with said adapted parameters, to form enhanced stored data. A second trigger phrase detection block detects the presence of data representing the trigger phrase in the enhanced stored data. In response, enhanced speech data are output from the speech enhancement block for further processing, such as speech recognition.

Abstract: A device includes an input for receiving an audio signal, a speaker to convert the audio signal into an audible sound, and a memory for storing remediation instructions and detection instructions. The device further includes a processor coupled to the input, the speaker, and the memory. The processor is configured to process the audio signal according to the detection instructions and the remediation instructions to modulate amplitude of the audio signal based on the remediation instructions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides activatable and detectable membrane-interacting peptides that, following activation, can interact with phospholipid bilayers, such as cell membranes. The present disclosure also provides methods of use of such compounds. The compounds of the present disclosure are of the general structure X1a-A-X2-Z-X1b, where A is a membrane-interacting peptide region having a plurality of nonpolar hydrophobic amino acid residues that, following separation from portions Z, is capable of interaction with a phospholipid bilayer; Z is an inhibitory peptide region that can inhibit the activity of portion A; X2 is a cleavable linker that can be cleaved to release cleavage products from the compound; and X1a and X1b are optionally-present chemical handles that facilitate conjugation of various cargo moieties to the compound. Prior to cleavage of the composition at X2, the composition acts as a promolecule that does not associate with cellular membranes to a significant or detectable level.

Abstract: Received data representing speech is stored, and a trigger detection block detects a presence of data representing a trigger phrase in the received data. In response, a first part of the stored data representing at least a part of the trigger phrase is supplied to an adaptive speech enhancement block, which is trained on the first part of the stored data to derive adapted parameters for the speech enhancement block. A second part of the stored data, overlapping with the first part of the stored data, is supplied to the adaptive speech enhancement block operating with said adapted parameters, to form enhanced stored data. A second trigger phrase detection block detects the presence of data representing the trigger phrase in the enhanced stored data. In response, enhanced speech data are output from the speech enhancement block for further processing, such as speech recognition.

Abstract: A device includes a network interface to communicate with a communication network and a microphone to convert sounds into an electrical signal. The device further includes a processor coupled to the microphone and the network interface. The processor is configured to process the electrical signal to generate acoustic data based on the electrical signal and to provide the acoustic data to the network interface for transmission to a data storage device.