Abstract: A method for generating a comfort noise (CN) parameter is provided. The method includes receiving an audio input; detecting, with a Voice Activity Detector (VAD), a current inactive segment in the audio input; as a result of detecting, with the VAD, the current inactive segment in the audio input, calculating a CN parameter CNused; and providing the CN parameter CNused to a decoder. The CN parameter CNused is calculated based at least in part on the current inactive segment and a previous inactive segment.

Abstract: A drilling component includes a first end portion configured to be arranged to face the a first section of a drill string. The first end portion includes a first interconnecting portion configured to engage a corresponding interconnecting portion of the first section of the drill string. The drilling component further includes a hollow interior configured to extend along a length direction of the drill string and to form a part of a passage through the drill string. The drilling component has a wall defining the hollow interior, wherein an area of a first cross-section of the wall is smaller than an area of a second cross-section of the wall and wherein the first cross-section is arranged between the second cross-section and the first end portion.

Abstract: A method for partitioning of input vectors for coding is presented. The method comprises obtaining of an input vector. The input vector is segmented, in a non-recursive manner, into an integer number, NSEG, of input vector segments. A representation of a respective relative energy difference between parts of the input vector on each side of each boundary between the input vector segments is determined, in a recursive manner. The input vector segments and the representations of the relative energy differences are provided for individual coding. Partitioning units and computer programs for partitioning of input vectors for coding, as well as positional encoders, are presented.

Abstract: A shank adapter, forming part of a drilling assembly, has a main body extending axially between a first end and a second end, an externally threaded male spigot portion provided at the second end, and a non-threaded shank positioned axially intermediate the main body and the threaded section. A radially projecting shoulder is positioned axially between the main body and the male spigot portion. The shank has a transition section positioned adjacent to the shoulder at the second end having an outside diameter that increases in a direction from the spigot portion to the shoulder.

Abstract: A drill string rod is arranged to form part of an assembly of connected drill string rods. The drill string rod includes an elongate central rod portion extending axially between a male and female end. The central rod portion is a hollow-cylindrical defined by an inner first diameter (drod) and an outer second diameter (Drod). The male end includes a spigot having a base projecting axially from a shoulder that axially separates the spigot and the central rod portion. The female end includes a sleeve portion configured to fit to the spigot. The base has an outer thread and the sleeve portion has an inner thread, the inner thread corresponding to the outer thread such that the inner thread of the sleeve portion is attachable to the outer thread of the base of the spigot of a further drill string rod of the assembly.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is a method for rendering a spatially-heterogeneous audio element. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining two or more audio signals representing the spatially-heterogeneous audio element, wherein a combination of the audio signals provides a spatial image of the spatially-heterogeneous audio element. The method also includes obtaining metadata associated with the spatially-heterogeneous audio element, the metadata comprising spatial extent information indicating a spatial extent of the audio element. The method further includes rendering the audio element using: i) the spatial extent information and ii) location information indicating a position (e.g. virtual position) and/or an orientation of the user relative to the audio element.

Abstract: An encoder for encoding frequency transform coefficients of a harmonic audio signal include the following elements: A peak locator configured to locate spectral peaks having magnitudes exceeding a predetermined frequency dependent threshold. A peak region encoder configured to encode peak regions including and surrounding the located peaks. A low-frequency set encoder configured to encode at least one low-frequency set of coefficients outside the peak regions and below a crossover frequency that depends on the number of bits used to encode the peak regions. A noise-floor gain encoder configured to encode a noise-floor gain of at least one high-frequency set of not yet encoded coefficients outside the peak regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to identify coincident microphone configurations, CC, and adapt an inter-channel time difference, ITD, search, in an encoder or a decoder is provided. The method includes for each frame m of a multi-channel audio signal: generating a cross-correlation of a channel pair of the multi-channel audio signal; determining a first ITD estimate based on the cross-correlation; determining if the multi-channel audio signal is a CC signal; and responsive to determining that the multi-channel audio signal is a CC signal, biasing the ITD search to favor ITDs close to zero to obtain a final ITD.

Abstract: An audio signal processing method and apparatus for adaptively adjusting a decorrelator. The method comprises obtaining a control parameter and calculating mean and variation of the control parameter. Ratio of the variation and mean of the control parameter is calculated, and a decorrelation parameter is calculated based on the said ratio. The decorrelation parameter is then provided to a decorrelator.

Abstract: A method of audio rendering. The method includes receiving an audio element, wherein the audio element comprises: i) an interior representation that is valid within a spatial region, the interior representation of the audio element being in a listener-centric format and ii) information indicating the spatial region. The method further includes determining that a listener is outside the spatial region. The method further includes deriving an exterior representation of the audio element and rendering the audio element using the exterior representation of the audio element. In another aspect, a method of providing a spatially-bounded audio element is provided. The method includes providing, to a rendering node, an audio element. The audio element includes: (i) an interior representation that is valid within a spatial region, the interior representation being in a listener-centric format; and (ii) information indicating the spatial region.

Abstract: A method for partitioning of input vectors for coding is presented. The method comprises obtaining of an input vector. The input vector is segmented, in a non-recursive manner, into an integer number, NSEG, of input vector segments. A representation of a respective relative energy difference between parts of the input vector on each side of each boundary between the input vector segments is determined, in a recursive manner. The input vector segments and the representations of the relative energy differences are provided for individual coding. Partitioning units and computer programs for partitioning of input vectors for coding, as well as positional encoders, are presented.

Abstract: A drill string including an elongate hollow main length section and a male spigot portion provided at the second end and having an externally threaded section and a non-threaded shank positioned axially intermediate the main length section and the threaded section. The shank includes a transition section positioned adjacent the main length section or a radially projecting shoulder at the second end. The transition section has an outside diameter that increases in a direction from the male spigot portion to the main length section or the shoulder. The cross-sectional shape profile of the outer surface of the transition section in the plane of the longitudinal axis has a segment of an ellipse having semi-major axis (a) and a semi-minor axis (b), wherein the ratio of the semi-major to semi-minor axes (a:b) is within the range 2b<a<8b.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting downhole tubulars includes a tubular body, a female coupling part, a male coupling part, and at least one of: a male screw thread formed on an outer surface of the body, and a female screw thread formed in an inner surface of the body. The at least one thread has a thread-form including a crest, a root, and a pair of flanks. The crest and the root are each cambered about a respective first and second camber radius, Rb, Rb-T along the entire length of the thread-form, and each camber radius, Rb, Rb-T, is greater than an outer diameter of the coupling. The male screw thread has a camber radius, Rbm, and the female screw thread has a camber radius, Rbf, wherein the ratio of the male thread camber radius to the female thread camber radius (Rbm/Rbf) is between <1.0 and ?1.1.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting downhole tubulars includes a tubular body, a female coupling part, a male coupling part, and at least one of: a male screw thread formed on an outer surface of the body, and a female screw thread formed in an inner surface of the body. The at least one thread having a thread-form including a crest, a root, and a pair of flanks. The crest and the root are each cambered about a respective first and second camber radius, Rb, Rb?T along the entire length of the thread-form, and each camber radius, Rb, Rb?T, is greater than an outer diameter of the coupling. The male screw thread has a camber radius, Rbm, and the female screw thread has a camber radius, Rbf, wherein each camber radius (Rb, Rb?T) is between 700-1900 mm.

Abstract: An encoder for encoding frequency transform coefficients of a harmonic audio signal include the following elements: A peak locator configured to locate spectral peaks having magnitudes exceeding a predetermined frequency dependent threshold. A peak region encoder configured to encode peak regions including and surrounding the located peaks. A low-frequency set encoder configured to encode at least one low-frequency set of coefficients outside the peak regions and below a crossover frequency that depends on the number of bits used to encode the peak regions. A noise-floor gain encoder configured to encode a noise-floor gain of at least one high-frequency set of not yet encoded coefficients outside the peak regions.

Abstract: A method for generating a final corrected head-related (HR) filter dataset, (A). The method includes obtaining a first corrected HR filter dataset, (B). Obtaining the first corrected HR filter dataset (B) includes: obtaining (s802) an initial HR filter dataset, (C); obtaining (s804) an extracted HR filter dataset, (D), extracted from the initial HR filter dataset, (C); obtaining (s806) a model, (E), of the extracted HR filter dataset, (D); generating (s808) a modelled HR filter dataset, (F), using the model, (E); selecting (s810) for correction one or more HR filters that are included in the initial HR filter dataset, (C), based on the modelled HR filter dataset, (F), and the extracted HR filter dataset, (D); and generating (s812) the first corrected HR filter dataset, (B) by correcting the selected one or more HR filters.

Abstract: A method for increasing stability of an inter-channel time difference (ICTD) parameter in parametric audio coding, wherein a multi-channel audio input signal comprising at least two channels is received. The method comprises obtaining an ICTD estimate, ICT Dest(m), for an audio frame m and a stability estimate of said ICTD estimate, and determining whether the obtained ICTD estimate, ICT Dest(m), is valid. If the ICTDest(m) is not found valid, and a determined sufficient number of valid ICTD estimates have been found in preceding frames, a hang-over time is determined using the stability estimate and a previously obtained valid ICTD parameter, ICTD(m?1), is selected as an output parameter, ICTD(m), during the hang-over time. The output parameter, ICTD(m), is set to zero if valid ICT Dest(m) is not found during the hang-over time.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting downhole tubulars includes a tubular body, a female coupling part, a male coupling part, and at least one of: a male screw thread formed on an outer surface of the body, and a female screw thread formed in an inner surface of the body. The at least one thread has a thread-form including a crest, a root, and a pair of flanks. The crest and the root are each cambered about a respective first and second camber radius, Rb, Rb-T along the entire length of the thread-form, and each camber radius, Rb, Rb-T, is greater than an outer diameter of the coupling. The male screw thread has a camber radius, Rbm, and the female screw thread has a camber radius, Rbf, wherein the ratio of the male thread camber radius to the female thread camber radius (Rbm/Rbf) is between <1.0 and ?1.1.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting downhole tubulars includes a tubular body, a female coupling part, a male coupling part, and at least one of: a male screw thread formed on an outer surface of the body, and a female screw thread formed in an inner surface of the body. The at least one thread having a thread-form including a crest, a root, and a pair of flanks. The crest and the root are each cambered about a respective first and second camber radius, Rb, Rb?T along the entire length of the thread-form, and each camber radius, Rb, Rb?T, is greater than an outer diameter of the coupling. The male screw thread has a camber radius, Rbm, and the female screw thread has a camber radius, Rbf, wherein each camber radius (Rb, Rb?T) is between 700-1900 mm.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is a method for rendering a spatially-heterogeneous audio element. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining two or more audio signals representing the spatially-heterogeneous audio element, wherein a combination of the audio signals provides a spatial image of the spatially-heterogeneous audio element. The method also includes obtaining metadata associated with the spatially-heterogeneous audio element, the metadata comprising spatial extent information indicating a spatial extent of the audio element. The method further includes rendering the audio element using: i) the spatial extent information and ii) location information indicating a position (e.g. virtual position) and/or an orientation of the user relative to the audio element.