Abstract: A system includes a first wireless-enabled device that transparently stores confidential information and a second wireless-enabled device that stores the same confidential information. The confidential information is to be used to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device. One or both of the first device and the second device is to delete the confidential information upon fulfillment of one or more conditions related to the communication link. The conditions include general timeout, device inactivity, loss of connection over the communication link, a decline in signal strength, and a predefined number of transactions having occurred between the first device and the second device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solution for handling encryption of control messages in a wireless telecommunications network. Key generation is based on sequence numbers and the present invention reduces access to core network devices for updating sequence numbers relating to network events by separating sequence number generation to different parts of the network and different types of network events. This is done by providing a solution where sequence number rollover events and handover events are separated from each other in providing input to radio resource control message encryption. Three different counters may be used for different types of events and all three may be used as input to an encryption algorithm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating status of digital certificate subkeys. A request is made to a key server to verify if a given key is revoked. If it is not, then the key with its subkeys is acquired from the key server. If one or more subkeys or signatures of the subkeys are different in the acquired key, then the key is replaced.

Abstract: Security device objects can be utilized to support a stack of components of computer-executable instructions that are directed to managing the security functionality represented by the security device object. In the case of hardware encrypting storage devices, a security device object can represent the self-encrypting capabilities of those devices and the attendant stack can comprise drivers directed to band and key management. A default band management driver can support a band-centric set of input/output controls that can be redirected to the band management driver. It can cache band authentication keys or provide callback mechanisms for key providers to register themselves to provide keys on-demand. Key provider identifiers can be stored on the storage device and utilized to dynamically load, install or upgrade key providers when the band authentication key is required. The band management driver can also prevent the powering-down of the storage device in an unlocked state.

Abstract: A server communicates a set of entitlement data representative of the entitlement of a client to access corresponding contents data by using a set of keys and a non-invertible cryptographic function. The cryptographic function is applied to a set of candidate bit strings using the set of keys to find a selected bit string that produces the set of entitlement data as a result of the application of the non-invertible cryptographic function by using the keys in the set. The server and the client share the cryptographic function as well as the set of keys (or the selected bit string). The server transmits to the client the selected bit string (or the set of keys). In either case, the client is thus in a position to apply the cryptographic function to the selected string of bits by using the set of keys, thereby reconstructing the set of entitlement data.

Abstract: A stereo sound generation apparatus and method of reproducing multi-channel sound input signals through two-channel speakers.

Abstract: A device in a headset having a throat microphone and ear speakers soundproofing against the auditory meatus. The device has a separate microphone connected to the ear speaker for picking up the sound of the surroundings that is transmitted to the car speaker. Furthermore, noise-suppressing means are included, which limit the sound level of the sound of the surroundings. The throat microphone communicates via a communication unit. The soundproofing ear speaker and the microphone are arranged so that the headset can be housed in a safety helmet.

Abstract: An audio system for a vehicle that includes a system for allowing an occupant of the vehicle to adjust a balance setting of each audio source (116). The audio system includes a plurality of audio sources (102) that are connected to an amplifier (104). The amplifier is connected to a head unit (106) that adjusts the balance setting of each audio source based on predetermined parameters or user preferences (112). Audio output signals from the audio sources are thus reproduced with different balance settings.

Abstract: A sound processing apparatus includes a power spectrum operation unit obtaining a power spectrum of an audio signal, an envelope component removal unit removing an envelope component of the power spectrum and generating a signal characteristic that represents a peakness of the power spectrum, a filter characteristic calculation unit calculating a filter characteristic suppressing the signal characteristic by using the signal characteristic, and a suppress filter filtering the audio signal by using the filter characteristic.

Abstract: An audio signal processing device is provided whereby, from two systems of audio signals in which audio signals of multiple audio sources are included, the audio signals of the multiple audio sources can be suitably separated. The audio signal processing device divides each of two systems of audio signals into a plurality of frequency bands, calculates a level ratio or a level difference of the two systems of audio signals, at each of the divided plurality of frequency bands, and extracts and outputs frequency band components of and nearby values regarding which the level ratio or the level difference calculated at the level comparison means have been determined beforehand. The frequency band components have a level ratio or level difference at and nearby the values determined beforehand which are different one from another.

Abstract: A speaker assembly is provided with a speaker and a reflector spaced apart from the speaker. The reflector faces the speaker. The reflector has a central region and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes. Each lobe extends radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector. Gaps are provided between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass through the gaps.

Abstract: A ribbon microphone includes two magnets spaced in parallel and generating a magnetic field therebetween, two ribbon diaphragms arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance in the magnetic field, and a step-up transformer raising the voltages of electric signals generated in response to vibrations of the ribbon diaphragms in the magnetic field and outputs the raised electric signals. The step-up transformer includes two primary windings and two secondary windings corresponding to the two ribbon diaphragms, one of the two ribbon diaphragms and one of the two primary windings of the step-up transformer are connected in parallel whereas the others are connected in parallel, and the two secondary windings of the step-up transformer are connected in series so as to have opposite polarities. The ribbon microphone exhibits enhanced shielding effect without shielding a step-up transformer and does not generate noise caused by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: A surround sound system acquires a set of original channel signals as picked up or modeled by a set of microphones, located in a real or virtual acoustic space. Two microphones, mounted on or near the front of a head that may be real or artificial, are oriented to pick up the sounds emanating from the front. Two additional microphones are located near the ear canals of the head configured to emulate a human head in a manner that encodes the surround sound signals with a head-related transfer function (HRTF) that, in reproduction, enhances the accuracy and realism with which a listener perceives the various source locations. The head can be augmented, e.g. with small baffles strategically configured and located to modify the HRTF for overall accuracy and realism. Surround sound channels, so originated, may be transmitted for real-time reproduction or may be recorded, filtered, delayed, or otherwise processed and stored in memory for later reproduction. In an exemplary 4.

Abstract: A hearing device with a plurality of microphones is intended to be able to be continued to be operated sensibly, even if a microphone fails. Therefore, a hearing device, and in particular a hearing aid, is proposed which provides a decision unit for deciding whether one of the microphones is defective, and a signal processing unit for processing the signals from the microphones using a plurality of processing algorithms. The signal processing unit switches from a first one of the processing algorithms to a second one of the processing algorithms if a decision is made in the decision unit that one of the microphones is defective. In particular, if a microphone fails, automatic switching from directional microphone operation into omnidirectional operation is for example made possible.

Abstract: A hearing aid device includes a plurality of microphones which converts picked sound to audio signals, an inter-signal phase difference calculation unit which calculates a phase difference between a first audio signal and a second audio signal, a hand placement determination unit, a directivity sound pickup unit which generates an output signal, a nonlinear amplification unit which controls the signal level of the output signal acquired from the directivity sound pickup unit, and a hearing aid process control unit which, when the hand placement determination unit determines that a state where a phase difference is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value continues for a first time, controls the directivity sound pickup unit such that at least one of the sensitivity-frequency characteristic and the frequency characteristics of the audio signals becomes nondirective, and controls the nonlinear amplification unit to amplify the signal levels of the acquired audio signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid system comprising an input transducer for converting an input sound signal comprising an information signal part of a known waveform and a background noise part to an electrical analogue input signal, optionally an A/D converter for converting the electrical input signal to a digital input signal. The invention further relates to a method of making a critical gain measurement. The object of the present invention is to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal to be measured or detected in a hearing instrument compared to prior art solutions. The problem is solved in that a matched filter receiving said analogue or digital input signal and optimized to improve the identification of the information signal part from the noisy input signal. An advantage of the invention is that it provides an alternative scheme for improving signal to noise ratio of a hearing aid. The invention may e.g.

Abstract: Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a person. The hearing aid device includes a signal processing circuitry connected to a microphone and a receiver. At least one of the plurality of devices includes a link quality management device adapted to assess a link quality for a first wireless communication channel, provide channel metrics indicative of the assessed quality for the first wireless communication channel, and adjust wireless communication over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

Abstract: A human body sound transmission apparatus and method for minimizing a signal loss are disclosed. The human body sound transmission apparatus includes: an audio signal transmission unit modulating an audio signal desired to be transmitted, and transmitting the modulated audio signal to the vicinity of a user's ear through the human body (i.e., a user's body); and a carrier wave signal transmission unit transmitting a carrier wave signal for demodulating the modulated audio signal to the vicinity of the user's ear through the air.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a signal path for receiving at least one audio input signal and an autocorrelation index (ACI) estimator (4). The ACI includes a down-sampler for producing a sampling-rate reduced signal of the audio input signal, a sign extractor for extracting a sign signal of the sampling rate reduced signal, a memory and delay for producing and storing delayed versions of the sign signal, a comparator for comparing a subset of the delayed versions of the sign signal with a version of the non-delayed audio input signal, and an averager for averaging the outputs of the comparator to extract delay specific estimates of the audio signal self-resemblance. An autocorrelation estimator obtains an estimated autocorrelation index by determining summarized features from the delay specific estimates of the audio signal self-resemblance. Also disclosed is a method and a computer program for controlling signal processing in a hearing aid.

Abstract: An audio processing system processing an input sound to an output sound includes: an input transducer for converting input sound to an electric input signal and defining an input side; an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound and defining an output side; a forward path defined between the input transducer and the output transducer; a signal processing unit for processing an SPU-input signal originating from the electric input signal and to provide a processed SPU-output signal, and an electric feedback loop from the output side to the input side, having a feedback path estimation unit for estimating an acoustic feedback transfer function from the output transducer to the input transducer, and a enhancement unit for estimating noise-like signal components in the electric signal of the forward path and providing a noise signal estimate output.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing, an ear hook, and an ear tube. The casing includes a first connector on an upper portion of the casing and a second connector on a lower portion of the casing, wherein the first and second connectors are substantially identical. The ear hook includes a receptacle sized to fit the first and second connectors and adapted to releasably couple to one of the first connector and the second connector. The ear tube includes a receptacle sized to fit the first and second connectors and adapted to releasably couple to another of the first connector and the second connector.

Abstract: A hearing aid of the present invention is convenient to repair and replace. The hearing aid includes: (i) an out-of-canal assembly comprising a power source (e.g., a battery) and a processor, and (ii) an in-canal assembly comprising a microphone and a receiver. The out-of-canal assembly is selectively, removably, electrically coupled to the in-canal assembly. Sound perceived by the in-canal assembly is processed by the out-of-canal assembly and transmitted to the user's eardrum. The in-canal assembly is conveniently, selectively decoupled from the out-of-canal assembly for convenient replacement or repair.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that provides compact configurations for audio elements are disclosed. The audio elements can be drivers (e.g., speakers) or receivers (e.g., microphones). In one embodiment, an audio element can be mounted on or coupled to an intermediate structure (e.g., a flexible electrical substrate) having an opening therein to allow audio sound to pass there through. In another embodiment, an audio chamber can be formed to assist in directing audio sound between an opening an outer housing and a flexible electronic substrate to which the audio element is mounted or coupled thereto. In still another embodiment, a barrier, such as a mesh barrier, can be provided in an opening of an outer housing so that undesired foreign substances can be blocked from further entry into the opening in the outer housing.

Abstract: A boundary microphone includes: a metal mesh; a base made of metal; a cover made of metal on which a plurality of holes through which a sound wave is passed is formed; and a microphone unit that is installed on the base and converts sound into an electrical signal. The metal mesh is welded onto the base with a metal material of the base entering a space of the metal mesh. The microphone unit is covered by the metal mesh.

Abstract: A base having a flat shape; a support provided on a bottom surface of the base; a microphone unit incorporated in the base and converts sound into an electric signal; and a pressure sensitive switch with which an output signal from the microphone unit is turned on and off are included. At least one such pressure sensitive switch is provided to be pressed between the base and the support.

Abstract: Fibers may be intertwined to form cables for headsets and other structures. The cables may include wires. The wires may be surrounded by a jacket formed from intertwined fibers. The intertwined fibers may include fibers with different melting temperatures. The jacket may be heated to a temperature that is sufficient to melt some of the fibers in the jacket without melting other fibers in the jacket. The melted fibers may flow into spaces between the unmelted fibers and may serve as a binder that holds together the unmelted fibers. The intertwining process may be used to form a bifurcation for a headset. A dipping process may be used to cover the jacket with a coating. The coating may be formed over the entire length of the cable or may be formed in a particular portion of the cable such as the portion of the cable that includes the bifurcation.

Abstract: A headphone including a headband, an ear cup attached to the headband, a baffle plate fixed to the ear cup and having a rib wall at its periphery, an ear pad engaged with the baffle plate, and a gas permeable buffer between the ear cup and the baffle plate, wherein the buffer and the rib wall prevent a reduction in volume of a front air chamber caused by lateral pressure.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are provided for vibration confinement and stress management in a loudspeaker. In one embodiment, the loudspeaker comprises a diaphragm that extends from an inner diaphragm region (e.g., dome or cone-shaped) to an outer diaphragm region, wherein the outer diaphragm region bends at a defined angle (e.g., between about 45 degrees and about 135 degrees) relative to the inner diaphragm region. The loudspeaker also comprises a suspension member extending from an inner suspension region to an outer suspension region, the inner suspension region overlapping and attaching with the outer diaphragm region. The bend in the diaphragm isolates the inner diaphragm region from spurious vibrations in the suspension member.

Abstract: A ribbon transducer (101) is disclosed, comprising: a ribbon made of conductive material (2), a damping system (4) arranged at least at one end of the conductive ribbon (2), and two rigid supports (103) where the ends of the ribbon (2) are fixed. The damping system (104) comprises a suspension composed of at least one wire (105), anchoring means (107) to connect said ribbon (2) to said wire (105), and elastic means (150) operatively connected to said wire to generate mechanical stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dome-shaped diaphragm fabricated based on a film base of polyethylene terephthalate resin film. The diaphragm includes a first vibrating part of a dome shape or a flat shape, and a second vibrating part of an annular shape. The second vibrating part includes a peripheral portion of the film base provided around a central portion of the film base. The first vibrating part includes the central portion of the film base, a thermosensitive adhesive resin film, provided on the central portion, and a fiber sheet made of a woven fabric using carbon fiber or an embossed nonwoven fabric. The fiber sheet is layered over the central portion with the thermosensitive adhesive resin film interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to process a digital image is provided. The method may comprise receiving host image data, receiving audio data and embedding the audio data within the host image data to provide an embedded image wherein the audio data if freely recoverable from the embedded image. The method may comprise processing the audio data using a Short Term Fourier Transformation (STFT) prior to embedding the audio data within the host image data. The method may reduce an amount of digital data that represents an audio signal included in the audio data prior to embedding the audio data within the host image. In one embodiment, the method comprises quantizing magnitude data and discarding phase data of the audio signal to provide the audio data for embedding. The method may comprise quantizing the audio data to match a shell of a D4 Lattice.

Abstract: A method for determining heat and/or energy loss from a building using a thermographic image of the building, the image of the building being captured at a pre-determined angle, preferably perpendicular to the building, the method comprising analyzing automatically the image to determine the temperature of areas of the image, determining the real size of the scene associated with the image areas that are above a pre-determined temperature and using this to determine heat and/or energy loss from the building.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for searching for a control signal in streaming video or streaming audio that indicates the presence of a watermark in the streaming video or streaming audio. The streaming video or streaming audio is received and searched for a control signal. The detection of a control signal indicates the presences of a digital watermark in the streaming video or streaming audio. An indicator is triggered based upon detecting the control signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mobile device analyzes frames before and after a particular frame of a real-time video to identify one or more social network objects, and selects one or more frames before and after the particular frame based on social network information for further storage in the mobile device.

Abstract: A device for identifying mail items includes a memory for storing mail item information of a mail item and characteristic image features of the mail item. A control unit assigns the mail item information to image features that are recorded again. In order that the mail items can still be identified reliably even after a cancellation in print or a forwarding sticker has been applied, the control unit carries out the assignment with the aid of an identification code associated with the mail item.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method which detect a user's upper body posture and the user's hand postures through at least two cameras to configure a user interface such as computers and home appliances. An apparatus for detecting upper body posture and hand posture includes a stereo vision calculation unit, a color pattern categorization unit, a plurality of position detection units, an upper body posture recognition unit, and a hand posture recognition unit. The stereo vision calculation unit calculates three-dimensional distance information from each image provided from at least two cameras. The color pattern categorization unit categorizes each color and pattern from the image to output color information and pattern information. The position detection units extract three-dimensional position information for each subject based on the three-dimensional distance information, the color information and the pattern information.

Abstract: An image analysis apparatus comprising: an identification unit operable to, in each of a plurality of scenes, identify one or more persons who appear in the scene; a scene evaluation value calculation unit operable to calculate a scene evaluation value for, among the plurality of scenes, each scene in which at least one person has been identified, the one person being included as one of persons identified by the identification unit; a scene selection unit operable to select, from among the plurality of scenes, one or more scenes that include the one person; and a person evaluation value calculation unit operable to calculate a person evaluation value for the one person by summating scene evaluation values of the scenes selected by the scene selection unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a target object are provided. A plurality of images is received, and one of the images is selected as a current image. A specific color of the current image is extracted. And the current image is compared with a template image to search a target object in the current image. If the target object is not found in the current image, a previous image with the target object is searched in the images received before the current image. And the target object is searched in the current image according to an object feature of the previous image. The object feature and an object location are updated into a storage unit when the target object is found.

Abstract: An object detecting method includes dividing a standard pattern into two or more areas radially from a central point; selecting, in each divided area of the standard pattern, a standard pattern pixel position at the maximum distance from the area dividing central point as a standard pattern representative point; dividing a determined pattern into two or more areas; selecting, in each divided area of the determine pattern, a determined pattern pixel position at the maximum distance from the area dividing central point as a determined pattern representative point; determining a positional difference between the standard pattern representative point and the determined pattern representative point in the corresponding divided areas; and determining the determined pattern as a target object when the positional differences in all of the divided areas are within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A laser detection method and apparatus for detection of laser beams can each perform operations for producing an interference image from detected light radiation, recording the interference image, and processing the recorded interference image in order to detect laser radiation. In order to allow more robust and faster laser detection, the apparatus and method can detect a spatially defined point distribution from the interference image, and transform the point distribution such that a grid interval remains between a point grid in the point distribution, and a fixed position, which is independent of a position in the original image, is associated with the point grid. The apparatus and method can further detect a grid interval in the point grid that was transformed, and detect the position of the point grid from the point distribution by filtering with the assistance of the grid interval.

Abstract: An article of manufacture and method for performing post-BLOB analysis.

Abstract: A method for detecting the course of a traffic lane, including the following steps: measuring structures of the traffic lane; evaluating the homogeneity of the measurements; and determining the course of the traffic lane on the basis of the evaluated homogeneity.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for providing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes accessing, by a computing device, a plurality of images for a geographic location; determining which of the images has a predetermined geographic accuracy; determining which of the image has a predetermined image clarity; determining a common point on the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy and the image with the predetermined image clarity; utilizing the common point to merge the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy with the image with the predetermined image clarity; and providing one or more location services on the image with predetermined image clarity, utilizing geographic location data from the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy.

Abstract: Particularly applicable to the implementation of sustainability requirements concerning on the promotion of the use of bioproduct from renewable sources, through the system and method described is possible to ensure that the origin of raw materials is sustainable (according to a previously defined sustainability requirements), avoiding travel to the area of interest, thus saving time and economic costs and preventing errors and fraud. More specifically, the system and method object of the invention are particularly applicable for identifying those areas that comply with said sustainability requirements. Said sustainability requirements state that raw material intended for bioproduct shall not be made from lands with a high biodiversity, high carbon stock or peatlands, and bearing in mind additionally the land use requirement.

Abstract: A method and computer product are presented for identifying a subject by biometric analysis of an eye. First, an image of the iris of a subject to be identified is acquired. Texture enhancements may be done to the image as desired, but are not necessary. Next, the iris image is radially segmented into a selected number of radial segments, for example 200 segments, each segment representing 1.8° of the iris scan. After segmenting, each radial segment is analyzed, and the peaks and valleys of color intensity are detected in the iris radial segment. These detected peaks and valleys are mathematically transformed into a data set used to construct a template. The template represents the subject's scanned and analyzed iris, being constructed of each transformed data set from each of the radial segments. After construction, this template may be stored in a database, or used for matching purposes if the subject is already registered in the database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for authenticating the identity of an authorized custodian of a dependent individual visiting a facility. In particular, the identity of an authorized custodian of a dependent individual visiting a facility is authenticated by: recording an image of an iris of the authorized custodian in a database; capturing an image of an iris of an individual attempting to accompany the dependent individual when the dependent individual exits the facility; and verifying, prior to allowing the dependent individual to exit the facility, that the captured image of the iris of the individual attempting to accompany the dependent individual matches the recorded image of the iris of the authorized custodian.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for associating faces to determine whether the faces are similar. For example a captured face may be associated with known faces to determine which known face the captured most closely resembles. The system and method incorporate the use of Gabor filters applied to masked face images to develop covariance matrixes. The covariance matrixes are subject to a similarity measure to determine the similarity of the images.

Abstract: A biometric sample training device, a biometric sample quality assessment device, a biometric fusion recognition device, an integrated biometric fusion recognition system and example processes in which each may be used are described. Wavelets and a boosted classifier are used to assess the quality of biometric samples, such as facial images. The described biometric sample quality assessment approach provides accurate and reliable quality assessment values that are robust to various degradation factors, e.g., such as pose, illumination, and lighting in facial image biometric samples. The quality assessment values allow biometric samples of different sample types to be combined to support complex recognition techniques used by, for example, biometric fusion devices, resulting in improved accuracy and robustness in both biometric authentication and biometric recognition.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for intelligent diagnostic relevant information processing and analysis. Information associated with a patient is processed via an image reading platform. Based on such processed information, a matrix of diagnosis decisions containing diagnostic related information is generated via a matrix of diagnosis decision platform. A diagnostic decision is made based on the diagnostic relevant information. The image reading platform and/or the matrix of diagnosis decision platform encapsulate information and toolkits to be used to manipulate the information.

Abstract: A method and system are described for generating a pattern indicating at least medical information related to an individual's body; and invoking circuitry for displaying at least the generated pattern on one or more surfaces on the individual's body.