Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a first signal representative of audio captured using a microphone in communication with an analog communication module. The method also includes determining that a first feedback signal from the analog communication module includes a sidetone associated with the audio captured by the microphone, and responsive to determining that the first feedback signal includes the sidetone, generating, by one or more processing devices, at least one control signal that affects operations of a digital communication module.

Abstract: A first audio device exchanges first control signals with a source device and thereby receives first audio signals from the source device. A second audio device exchanges second control signals with the first audio device including information the second audio device needs to receive the first audio signals from the source device. The first control signals include communications using Bluetooth BR/EDR protocols and establish a first Bluetooth link for audio streaming from the source device to the first audio device. The second control signals include communications using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols and transfer to the second audio device parameters of the first Bluetooth link, such that the second audio device can receive and decode an audio stream transmitted from the source device to the first audio device over the first Bluetooth link.

Abstract: A method of operating an audio system that includes a non-wearable acoustic system and a wearable acoustic device, each having at least one acoustic driver, includes generating, at the at least one acoustic driver of the non-wearable acoustic system, a first acoustic signal having a range of acoustic frequencies. In response to a request of a change of operational mode of the non-wearable acoustic system, a second acoustic signal having a first sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is generated at the at least one acoustic driver of the non-wearable acoustic system and a third acoustic signal having a second sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is generated at the at least one acoustic driver of the wearable acoustic device. The first sub-range of acoustic frequencies is different from the second sub-range of acoustic frequencies and the range of acoustic frequencies is inclusive of the first and second sub-ranges of acoustic frequencies.

Abstract: A software tool includes a plurality of pre-coded API sensor modules for obtaining information from the sensors coupled to a mobile device and a pre-coded API audio module for playing audio content based on the information obtained from at least one of the sensors.

Abstract: A method of operating an audio system that includes a wearable personal acoustic device having an acoustic driver and an auxiliary acoustic driver includes generating a first acoustic signal having a range of acoustic frequencies at the acoustic driver. A first change of operational mode of the wearable personal acoustic device is requested. In response to the request, a second acoustic signal having a first sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is generated at the acoustic driver and a third acoustic signal having a second sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is generated at the auxiliary acoustic driver. The first sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is different from the second sub-range of the acoustic frequencies and the range of acoustic frequencies is inclusive of the first and second sub-ranges of the acoustic frequencies.

Abstract: A first audio device exchanges first control signals with a source device and thereby receives first audio signals from the source device. A second audio device exchanges second control signals with the first audio device including information the second audio device needs to receive the first audio signals from the source device. The first control signals include communications using Bluetooth BR/EDR protocols and establish a first Bluetooth link for audio streaming from the source device to the first audio device. The second control signals include communications using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols and transfer to the second audio device parameters of the first Bluetooth link, such that the second audio device can receive and decode an audio stream transmitted from the source device to the first audio device over the first Bluetooth link.

Abstract: A wearable apparatus has a loudspeaker configured to play sound into free space, an array of microphones, and a first communication interface. An interface to a translation service is in communication with the first communication interface via a second communication interface. The wearable apparatus and interface to the translation service cooperatively obtain an input audio signal containing an utterance from the microphones, determine whether the utterance originated from the wearer or from someone else, and obtain a translation of the utterance from the translation service. The translation response includes an output audio signal including a translated version of the utterance. The wearable apparatus outputs the translation via the loudspeaker. At least one communication between two of the wearable device, the interface to the translation service, and the translation service includes metadata indicating which of the wearer or the other person was the source of the utterance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for distributing audio. An audio system is provided that includes one or more audio interfaces, at least one of which is a wireless audio interface. An audio hub couples to the one or more audio interfaces and detects the presence of one or more headphones coupled to the wireless audio interfaces. The audio hub selectively establishes communication channel(s) to convey audio content between a plurality of devices coupled to the audio interfaces. The plurality of devices may include one or more headphones, an infotainment head unit, a microphone, and a speaker. Accordingly, headphone users may hold conversations with each other and/or other occupants of a vehicle, and various users may share audio content with headphone users and/or other occupants of a vehicle.

Abstract: A method of operating an audio system that includes a wearable personal acoustic device having an acoustic driver and an auxiliary acoustic driver includes generating a first acoustic signal having a range of acoustic frequencies at the acoustic driver. A first change of operational mode of the wearable personal acoustic device is requested. In response to the request, a second acoustic signal having a first sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is generated at the acoustic driver and a third acoustic signal having a second sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is generated at the auxiliary acoustic driver. The first sub-range of the acoustic frequencies is different from the second sub-range of the acoustic frequencies and the range of acoustic frequencies is inclusive of the first and second sub-ranges of the acoustic frequencies.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes establishing a first wireless communication channel between a first device and a second device. The method also includes accessing, by an application executing on the first device, a transmitter of a first device to transmit to a second device one or more signals configured to cause an occurrence of an event on the second device. The one or more signals are transmitted over a second wireless communication channel between the first device and the second device. The method further includes receiving, from the second device over the first wireless communication channel, information representing a media access control (MAC) address of the first device, and storing, on a storage device accessible by the first device, a representation of the MAC address of the first device. The MAC address is associated with the second wireless communication channel.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes presenting a first user-interface that includes a user-selectable menu of multiple virtual personal assistant (VPA) service providers, and receiving a user-selection identifying a particular VPA service provider. The method also includes receiving a first signal representing input speech data, and processing the first signal to generate a first electronic file that includes at least a portion of the input speech data, the first electronic file being generated in accordance with a specification of the particular VPA service provider. The method further includes transmitting the first electronic file to one or more remote computing devices associated with the particular VPA service provider, receiving at least a second electronic file including a response to the input speech data, and causing an acoustic transducer to generate an acoustic output based on the second electronic file.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireless audio playback device that has an electro-acoustic transducer and a microphone, wherein the wireless audio playback device is configured for playback of audio signals received from a plurality of digital audio sources and for synchronized audio playback with one or more other wireless audio playback devices. A particular predefined user action is detected. Based on the detection, wireless communication with another wireless audio playback device is enabled. Then an audio signal received by the device microphone is transmitted to and played by the other wireless audio playback device.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes establishing a first wireless communication channel between a first device and a second device. The method also includes accessing, by an application executing on the first device, a transmitter of a first device to transmit to a second device one or more signals configured to cause an occurrence of an event on the second device. The one or more signals are transmitted over a second wireless communication channel between the first device and the second device. The method further includes receiving, from the second device over the first wireless communication channel, information representing a media access control (MAC) address of the first device, and storing, on a storage device accessible by the first device, a representation of the MAC address of the first device. The MAC address is associated with the second wireless communication channel.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireless audio playback device that has an electro-acoustic transducer and a microphone, wherein the wireless audio playback device is configured for playback of audio signals received from a plurality of digital audio sources and for synchronized audio playback with one or more other wireless audio playback devices. A particular predefined user action is detected. Based on the detection, wireless communication with another wireless audio playback device is enabled. Then an audio signal received by the device microphone is transmitted to and played by the other wireless audio playback device.

Abstract: A system includes a first audio device having a first microphone, first speaker, and first wireless interface, a second audio device having a second speaker and second wireless interface, and a computing device having a user interface. The user interface presents representations of the first and second audio devices. Upon receiving user input indicating a connection between the representations of the first and second audio devices, the computing device inquires whether a first or second mode should be used. Upon receiving user input confirming the first mode should be used, the computing device instructs the first audio device to send audio signals detected by the first microphone to the second audio device, which reproduces the audio signals. The first mode is selected based on whether the first and second audio devices is a loudspeaker or a headset.

Abstract: A connection management system comprises a wireless speaker including first and second connectors for communicating with two selected audio content source devices, respectively, of at least three audio content source devices; a rules engine that establishes a set of conditions under which the at least three audio content source devices share the first and second connectors of the wireless speaker; and a device allocation system that forms a first communication path between one of the two selected audio content source devices and the first connector of the wireless speaker and forms a second communication path between another of the two selected audio content source devices and the second connector of the wireless speaker at a time in accordance with the set of conditions established by the rules engine.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireless audio playback device that has an electro-acoustic transducer and a microphone, wherein the wireless audio playback device is configured for playback of audio signals received from a plurality of digital audio sources and for synchronized audio playback with one or more other wireless audio playback devices. A particular predefined user action is detected. Based on the detection, wireless communication with another wireless audio playback device is enabled. Then an audio signal received by the device microphone is transmitted to and played by the other wireless audio playback device.

Abstract: A connection management system comprises a wireless speaker including first and second connectors for communicating with two selected audio content source devices, respectively, of at least three audio content source devices; a rules engine that establishes a set of conditions under which the at least three audio content source devices share the first and second connectors of the wireless speaker; and a device allocation system that forms a first communication path between one of the two selected audio content source devices and the first connector of the wireless speaker and forms a second communication path between another of the two selected audio content source devices and the second connector of the wireless speaker at a time in accordance with the set of conditions established by the rules engine.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes presenting a first user-interface that includes a user-selectable menu of multiple virtual personal assistant (VPA) service providers, and receiving a user-selection identifying a particular VPA service provider. The method also includes receiving a first signal representing input speech data, and processing the first signal to generate a first electronic file that includes at least a portion of the input speech data, the first electronic file being generated in accordance with a specification of the particular VPA service provider. The method further includes transmitting the first electronic file to one or more remote computing devices associated with the particular VPA service provider, receiving at least a second electronic file including a response to the input speech data, and causing an acoustic transducer to generate an acoustic output based on the second electronic file.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes presenting a first user-interface that includes a user-selectable menu of multiple virtual personal assistant (VPA) service providers, and receiving a user-selection identifying a particular VPA service provider. The method also includes receiving a first signal representing input speech data, and processing the first signal to generate a first electronic file that includes at least a portion of the input speech data, the first electronic file being generated in accordance with a specification of the particular VPA service provider. The method further includes transmitting the first electronic file to one or more remote computing devices associated with the particular VPA service provider, receiving at least a second electronic file including a response to the input speech data, and causing an acoustic transducer to generate an acoustic output based on the second electronic file.