Abstract: A method for adapting a characteristic of an audible signal produced by a portable communication device includes obtaining a measure of the normal conditions in the environment surrounding the device. The method also includes obtaining at least one measure from a sensor on the portable communication device as a response to an audible event, where the measure corresponds to the current condition in the environment surrounding the device. The method further includes adapting a characteristic of the audible signal based on the relationship between the current condition and the normal condition and presenting the audible signal to a user of the portable communication device.

Abstract: A multi-party communication enhancer includes an audio data input adapted to receive voice data associated with a plurality of communication participants. A participant identifier included in the multi-party communication enhancer is adapted to distinguish the voice of a number of communication participants as represented within the received voice data. A cue generator, also included in the multi-party communication enhancer, is operable to generate a cue for each distinguished voice, with the generated cue being outputted in association with the corresponding distinguished voice.

Abstract: A method for adapting a characteristic of an audible signal produced by a portable communication device includes obtaining a measure of the normal conditions in the environment surrounding the device. The method also includes obtaining at least one measure from a sensor on the portable communication device as a response to an audible event, where the measure corresponds to the current condition in the environment surrounding the device. The method further includes adapting a characteristic of the audible signal based on the relationship between the current condition and the normal condition and presenting the audible signal to a user of the portable communication device.

Abstract: Earmuff and method for changing the noise attenuation characteristic of an earmuff. The change is obtained by providing foam-filled sealing ring of the earmuff in the annular covering thereof with a large number of ventilation apertures which are uniformly distributed along the sealing ring, thereby affecting the air spring action of the sealing ring. The ventilation apertures communicate with the environment without communicating with interior of the earmuff. By reducing the air spring action to a considerable extent, the low frequency attenuation is improved. The communication with the environment provides "acoustic ducts", particular by using special ventilation ducts which can be dimensioned to give a selective noise transmission, dependent on the duct resonance, into the sealing ring, thereby selectively affecting the noise attenuation characteristic.