Abstract: A system comprises automatic noise cancellation circuitry and interface circuitry operable to provide an interface via which a user can configure which sounds said automatic noise cancelling circuitry attempts to cancel and which sounds said automatic noise cancelling circuitry does not attempt to cancel. The interface circuitry may be operable to provide an interface via which a user can select a sound to whitelist or blacklist. The interface circuitry may be operable to provide an interface via which a user can increase or decrease an amount of noise cancellation that is desired. The interface circuitry may be operable to provide an interface via which a user can select from among three or more levels of noise cancellation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are providing for auto-pairing of audio output devices. An audio device having at least an audio output component, which is configurable to process audio for a player participating in an online game, may be configured to communicate signals with an audio basestation based on the audio device coming within a determined distance of the audio basestation, determine based on the communicated signals whether to pair with the audio basestation, in response to a determination to proceed with the pairing, pair with the audio basestation, and communicate audio via the audio basestation. The pairing may include configuring a communication link based on one or more communication related parameters obtained from or based on the communicated signals, such as a frequency of a channel, a time slot in a time division multiple access channel, and/or a spreading code for a code division multiple access channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using networked gaming headsets. In an audio setup that includes an audio output device configurable to output audio for a first user and at least one circuit for controlling operation of the audio output device, a preset may be requested from a preset depository, and in response to acceptance of the request, the preset may be downloaded from the preset depository into the audio output device. The preset may include values for one or more configurable settings relating to operation or functions of the audio output device. Further, the preset may be associated with identification information, and requesting the preset may include providing the identification information to the preset depository. Access information, for facilitating access to the preset in a central preset depository, may be obtained from a second user. The identification information may be a token associated with the preset.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively controlling audio associated with users. In an audio system configured to output audio to a user of the system, reference data may be obtained and processed, and one or more audio control settings may be determined, based on the processing of the reference data, for adjusting audio in the system, with at least one of the one or more audio control settings configured to adjust or modify a voice associated with the user. The reference data may be obtained from a database associated with operation of the system by the user. The reference data may include a reference audio, with the reference audio being processed to determine at least one of the one or more audio control settings based on characteristics and/or parameters of the reference audio.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for gaming headset with enhanced off-screen awareness. An audio system that is used for outputting audio signals to a user may be configured for identifying in audio signals, based on parameters or criteria associated with a user of the system, one or more components in the audio signals; determining characteristics of the one or more components based on perception of the audio signals by the user; and adjusting based on the characteristics of the one or more components, the one or more components and/or one or more other components in the audio signals. The audio system may include circuits for handling the required functions. The circuits may include a detection circuit configured for identify the one or more components, one or more adjustment circuits for applying the adjustments, and a controller circuit for controlling applying the adjustments.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for gaming headset with enhanced off-screen awareness. An audio system that is used for outputting audio signals to a user may be configured for identifying in audio signals, based on parameters or criteria associated with a user of the system, one or more components in the audio signals; determining characteristics of the one or more components based on perception of the audio signals by the user; and adjusting based on the characteristics of the one or more components, the one or more components and/or one or more other components in the audio signals. The audio system may include circuits for handling the required functions. The circuits may include a detection circuit configured for identify the one or more components, one or more adjustment circuits for applying the adjustments, and a controller circuit for controlling applying the adjustments.

Abstract: A headset comprises an ear cup, at least one speaker, an adjustable ear cup shaper, and circuitry. The ear cup shaper is adjustable into at least two configurations, wherein a first of the configurations creates no depression or a first amount of depression in the ear cup and a second of the configurations creates a second amount of depression in the ear cup, where the second amount is greater than the first amount. The circuitry is operable to determine which one of the configurations the ear cup shaper is configured into, and set an audio setting applied to an audio signal output to the speaker based on the determined one of the configurations.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for gaming headset with enhanced off-screen awareness. An audio system that is used for outputting audio signals to a user may be configured for identifying in audio signals, based on parameters or criteria associated with a user of the system, one or more components in the audio signals; determining characteristics of the one or more components based on perception of the audio signals by the user; and adjusting based on the characteristics of the one or more components, the one or more components and/or one or more other components in the audio signals. The audio system may include circuits for handling the required functions. The circuits may include a detection circuit configured for identify the one or more components, one or more adjustment circuits for applying the adjustments, and a controller circuit for controlling applying the adjustments.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for earphones with motion sensitive inflation. Information may be obtained relating to a user of an audio output element that outputs audio signals, with at least portion of the audio output element being in contact with the user. One or both of outputting of the audio signals and the contact between the audio output element and the user may be assessed based on the obtained information. Based on the assessing, one or more adjustments applicable to the audio output element may be determined, with at least one adjustment applying to positioning of the at least portion of the audio output element. The determining includes configuring the at least one adjustment to account for and/or counteract effects of the positioning on one or both of outputting of the audio signals and the contact between the audio output element and the user.

Abstract: A game headset receives a plurality of channels of game and/or chat audio during game play, monitors the plurality of channels, and detect one or more sounds on the channels during the monitoring. The game headset determines characteristics of the detected one or more sound and outputs one or more signals for generating a visual representation of the detected one or more sounds based on the determined characteristics. The game headset output the signals to a game console that provides the game play. The game console displays the visual representation during the game play based on the communicated visualization information. The one or more signals is a video stream of an in-game visualization. The game headset outputs the one or more signals to a second screen communication device that generates the visual representation during the game play based on the signals.

Abstract: An electronic device may comprise audio processing circuitry and a universal serial bus (USB) connector having a first contact and a second contact. In a first mode of operation, the audio processing circuitry is configured to output one or more audio signals carrying music and/or voice via the first contact and the second contact. In a second mode of operation, the audio processing circuitry is configured to output a signal for delivering supply current via the first contact and the second contact. While the electronic device is in the first mode of operation, a gain and/or volume limit of the audio processing circuitry may be set to a first level, and while the electronic device is in the second mode of operation, the gain and/or volume limit of the audio processing circuitry may be set to a second level that is higher than the first level.

Abstract: A gaming headset receives a plurality of audio channels comprising game audio channels and a chat audio channel during play of a particular game. The gaming headset monitors the received audio channels for predefined words that are associated with particular sounds in a data structure, and in response to detecting predefined words, filters out at least a portion of the detected predefined words from the received plurality of audio channels. The monitoring compares sounds on the received audio channels with the particular sounds in the data structure and also performs signal analysis on the audio channels during game play to detect the occurrence of the predefined words. The filtering mutes one or more of the plurality of audio channels so that the detected occurrence of the one of the predefined words is not output via speakers of the gaming headset.

Abstract: An audio headset receives one or more audio signals carrying one or more audio channels and processes the audio channels to generate stereo signals for output to a left and a right speaker of the audio headset. The processing determines a number of the audio channels carried in the received audio signal(s), adjusts level(s) of the audio channels based on the determined number of audio channels and/or adjusts gain and/or phase of the audio channels to control a perceived location of a listener wearing the headset relative to a source of sounds carried in the stereo signals.

Abstract: A headset, during play of a particular game, receives a plurality of audio channels carrying game sounds and determines whether a first of the game sounds overwhelms a second of the game sounds. In response to the determination, the headset adjusts a level of one or more of the audio channels such that perceptibility of the second game sound is improved relative to perceptibility of the first game sound prior to the adjustment, wherein for the adjustment, a level of one or more of the audio channels carrying the first game sound is decreased while a level of one or more of the audio channels carrying the second game sound is maintained or increased. The audio channels include three or more audio channels and the adjustment of the level of the audio channels is performed while the three or more audio channels are combined into two stereo channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support. An example headset may comprise an ear cup with two or more distinct sections that differ in one or more characteristics. A first section is adaptively configured to accommodate a temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses of a wearer of the headset, and a second section is configured to maintain contact with a temple of the wearer of the headset. The different sections may comprise different foams (or different parts of foam, each with different characteristics). The characteristics may comprise hardness and/or density. Another example headset may comprise an ear cup with a divot that accommodates the temple piece of the eyeglasses.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for independent audio volume control. User input may be received in an audio setup configured for combined-audio, with the user input including one or both of a selection of a desired volume of a first type audio component of the combined-audio signal, and a selection of a desired volume of a second type audio component of the combined-audio signal. Based on the user input, a corresponding mix setting may be determined, with the mix setting including one or more control parameters for adaptively controlling mixing of the first type audio component and the second type audio component to generate the combined-audio signal. The mix setting may be determined based on a data set characterizing an audio device where at least portion of the mixing is performed. The data set may be pre-programmed and/or determined based on testing of the audio device.

Abstract: An electronic device receives audio from an audio source and outputs the audio via speakers of the device. While outputting the audio via the speakers, the device senses its surrounding environment, and adjusts its operation, based on the sensed environment, to alert a listener wearing the device. The adjustment may comprise generation of one or more audio, visual, and/or vibration notifications to the listener using the device. A volume of the audio output via the speakers may be adjusted based on the sensed surrounding environment. The device may detect whether a first condition is present in the surrounding environment, decrease the volume when the first condition is detected in the surrounding environment, and increase the volume when the first condition is not detected in the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A system comprises automatic noise cancellation circuitry and interface circuitry operable to provide an interface via which a user can configure which sounds said automatic noise cancelling circuitry attempts to cancel and which sounds said automatic noise cancelling circuitry does not attempt to cancel. The interface circuitry may be operable to provide an interface via which a user can select a sound to whitelist or blacklist. The interface circuitry may be operable to provide an interface via which a user can increase or decrease an amount of noise cancellation that is desired. The interface circuitry may be operable to provide an interface via which a user can select from among three or more levels of noise cancellation.

Abstract: An electronic device may comprise audio processing circuitry, pace tracking circuitry, and positioning circuitry. The pace tracking circuitry may be operable to selects a tempo of songs for playback, by the audio processing circuitry based on position data generated by the positioning circuitry, a desired tempo, and whether the songs are stored locally or network-accessible. The position data may indicate the pace of a runner during a preceding, determined time interval. The pace tracking circuitry may control the song selection and/or time stretching based on a runner profile data stored in memory of the music device. The profile data may include runner's distance-per-stride data. The electronic device may include sensors operable to function as a pedometer. The pace tracking circuitry may update the distance-per-stride data based on the position data and based on data output by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A method and system for a headset with programmable modes, where the headset comprises a beamforming microphone: sensing an ambient sound level near the headset, and configuring the headset in one of a plurality of modes by configuring a beam pattern of the beamforming microphone based on at least the sensed ambient noise level. A user of the headset may configure the headset in the one of the plurality of modes or it may be automatically configured. The beamforming microphone may comprise an array of sound sensing elements. The headset may be configured in a quiet mode when the sensed ambient sound level is below that of a desired sound source and may be configured with a wide beam pattern. The headset may be configured in a loud mode when the sensed ambient sound level is above that of a desired sound source.