Abstract: A system and method for monitoring for a distressed sound is disclosed. The system comprises a noise detection module configured to monitor ambient noise through a microphone on a digital telephony device operating in an idle state and determine an ambient noise level. A sound processing module is configured to process sounds received from the microphone that have an amplitude a selected amount greater than an amplitude of the ambient noise and determine if the processed sounds match a predetermined statistical model of a distressed sound. An assistance request module is configured to send a request for assistance via the digital telephony device for processed sounds that match the predetermined statistical model of the distressed sound.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring for a distressed sound is disclosed. The system comprises a noise detection module configured to monitor ambient noise through a microphone on a digital telephony device operating in an idle state and determine an ambient noise level. A sound processing module is configured to process sounds received from the microphone that have an amplitude a selected amount greater than an amplitude of the ambient noise and determine if the processed sounds match a predetermined statistical model of a distressed sound. An assistance request module is configured to send a request for assistance via the digital telephony device for processed sounds that match the predetermined statistical model of the distressed sound.

Abstract: An array of microphones is provided wherein the microphones are positioned at the ends of cavities within a diffracting structure. The cavity depth, width, and shape are optimised to provide high directivity without grating lobes, at frequencies for which the distance between microphones is greater than half the acoustic wavelength.

Abstract: A beamsteerer for broadband energy source location, comprising an array of sensors, each for generating a signal vector within one of a plurality of sectors in a domain of interest, and a beamformer for receiving and multiplying each signal vector by a set of optimal weight vectors to generate a plurality of beampatterns, each of the beampatterns being characterized by a null having high angular resolution, and detecting the source by selecting a maximum steering index.

Abstract: A universal stand is provided integrating a microphone array for use with a variety of telephone sets. The stand includes an enclosure having a surface for supporting a telephone set, and a cable for transmitting signals detected by the microphone array to the telephone set.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a tilt sensor is used to determine the tilt angle of a speakerphone and the surface on which it rests. This information is used to optimize both the receive and transmit signals for the chosen tilt angle. The information can also be used to adjust performance of any beamformer(s) where the speakerphone incorporates a microphone array or loudspeaker array. In one embodiment, vibrational data is provided by the tilt sensor for enhancing the receive signal and acoustic echo cancellation.

Abstract: Standard telephone handset ports provide a bias voltage for any attached peripheral devices. The present invention provides bi-directional control signaling where telephone sets vary the bias voltage for detection by peripheral devices and where the peripheral devices provide short, load, and no-load conditions for detection by the telephone sets using the bias voltage.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in loudspeaker enclosures characterised by a frequency response having at least one null due to a cavity mode. The improvement comprises introducing an aperture at a high pressure region of said enclosure for provided a pressure leak thereby substantially eliminating said at least one null.

Abstract: A conferencing unit, comprising an array of microphones embedded in a diffracting object configured to provide a desired high frequency directivity response at predetermined microphone positions, and a low frequency beamformer operable to achieve a desired low frequency directivity response, wherein the beamformer is linearly constrained to provide a smooth transition between low and high frequency directivity responses.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic identification and integration of audio/visual devices in a room for multi-media conferencing operation. Each device includes a circuit that periodically emits a signal that is recognized by another device. Upon receiving the signal, the other devices respond with information relating to how they can inter-communicate with each other over one or more networks they are connected to. An ad-hoc conferencing network is established between the integrated devices, such that the quality of multi-media conferencing is improved through the use of all the available devices within a room. The signal is preferably one that is confined to a room, and a specific protocol can be implemented to manage the exchange of information between the devices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a telephony earpiece is provided. The method includes providing a speaker diaphragm and constraining the speaker diaphragm using a cap to provide a thin cavity between the cap and the diaphragm. The first resonance peak of the diaphragm/cavity system is damped by a first slow leak in the cap. The frequency response is built up using a rear resonator in the cap and the high frequency end response is enhanced using a front resonator on an opposite side of said diaphragm as said cap. Positioning of these resonator holes is an important factor. The earpiece is tuned using a second leak to adjust amplitude of low frequency end response.

Abstract: An equalizer for a loudspeaker telephone includes a signal generator for generating a reference signal for broadcast by a loudspeaker of the loudspeaker telephone. A filter alters the frequency response of signals prior to broadcast by the loudspeaker. During set-up, a processor processes the reference signal picked up by a microphone remote from the loudspeaker that has been convolved with the acoustical response of the environment to determine coefficients for the filter that are necessary to compensate for the environment acoustics and applies the coefficients to the filter.

Abstract: An embedded loudspeaker system is set forth incorporating at least two asymmetric enclosures having different but overlapping frequency responses in order to achieve a substantially flat frequency response. At least one of the speaker enclosures is preferably ported (bass-reflex system) to provide as much output as possible in the low-frequency range. By using a plurality of speakers at least one of which has a bass reflex enclosure, a monophonic system is provided with a flat frequency response. The dimensions of the speaker enclosures are chosen such that the anti-resonance of one loudspeaker enclosure is compensated for by the resonance of another speaker enclosure, without making use of damping, so that no “notch” appears in the frequency response of the combined system at the listening position.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing a broad band constant directivity beamformer for a non-linear and non-axi-symmetric sensor array embedded in an obstacle having an odd shape, where the shape is imposed by industrial design constraints. In particular, the method of the present invention provides for collecting the beam pattern and keeping the main lobe reasonably constant by combined variation of the main lobe with the look direction angle and frequency. The invention is particularly useful for microphone arrays embedded in telephone sets but can be extended to other types of sensors.

Abstract: An array of microphones is provided wherein the microphones are positioned at the ends of cavities within a diffracting structure. The cavity depth, width, and shape are optimised to provide high directivity without grating lobes, at frequencies for which the distance between microphones is greater than half the acoustic wavelength.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic identification and integration of audio/visual devices in a room for multi-media conferencing operation. Each device includes a circuit that periodically emits a signal that is recognized by another device. Upon receiving the signal, the other devices respond with information relating to how they can inter-communicate with each other over one or more networks they are connected to. An ad-hoc conferencing network is established between the integrated devices, such that the quality of multi-media conferencing is improved through the use of all the available devices within a room. The signal is preferably one that is confined to a room, and a specific protocol can be implemented to manage the exchange of information between the devices.

Abstract: An acoustically resistive membrane is incorporated into a gasket construction for use with a microphone. Preferably, a molded thermoplastic gasket is provided with an integrated acoustically resistive element in the form of a thin perforated membrane that is molded into the gasket at an appropriate location for optimum acoustic performance.

Abstract: A speakerphone incorporates a portion defining a loudspeaker cavity, the cavity containing a loudspeaker. The speakerphone also includes a handset with an internal microphone in the handset. The speakerphone has a housing adapted to receive the handset, and when it is thus received, the handset microphone is acoustically coupled to the loudspeaker cavity, allowing the handset microphone signal to be used to control feed-back or feed-forward algorithms that enhance the performance of the speakerphone.

Abstract: A system to thwart eavesdropping on microphonic audio signals generated by a powered telecommunications device connected to a communications line, comprising a noise generator for applying low level noise to the line, thereby masking microphonic audio signals, and a disconnect circuit for disconnecting the telecommunications device from the line in the absence of power to the telecommunications device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic proximity detector for a telephone device to detect the proximity of an object thereto includes an ultrasound signal generator generating ultrasound that is broadcast by a speaker of the telephone device. Processing circuitry is coupled to a microphone of the telephone device. The processing circuitry processes broadcast ultrasound that is picked up by the microphone to detect the proximity of an object to the telephone device.