A device has an input that is configured to receive a sound signal captured from an acoustic environment in which the device is located. The device also includes a signal processor that is configured to obtain a reverberation signature from the sound signal and classify the acoustic environment as being of a particular type in dependence on that reverberation signature. It also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the device in dependence on the classification of the acoustic environment. By using the reverberation signature to classify the environment, the device it is not dependent on a particular type of signal having to be present in the environment at the time when the sound signal is captured. The reverberation properties of the environment will be embodied by any sound signal captured from that environment.

Disclosed are a distance rendering method used for audio signal output and an audio signal output apparatus using the same. The distance rendering method includes receiving a decoded audio signal, checking whether a distance between a user and a sound image is changed, if the distance is changed, calculating a gain parameter g.sub.new and a period parameter.sub.new, applied to room response modeling, based on the changed distance, so as to maintain a space characteristic, and generating room response modeling for maintaining the space characteristic even when the distance is changed, using the calculated period parameter .sub.new and gain parameter g.sub.new.

Disclosed are a distance rendering method used for audio signal output and an audio signal output apparatus using the same. The distance rendering method includes receiving a decoded audio signal, checking whether a distance between a user and a sound image is changed, if the distance is changed, calculating a gain parameter g.sub.new and a period parameter.sub.new, applied to room response modeling, based on the changed distance, so as to maintain a space characteristic, and generating room response modeling for maintaining the space characteristic even when the distance is changed, using the calculated period parameter .sub.new and gain parameter g.sub.new.

A method is provided to operate a computer to interoperate with a portable media player. The method includes processing signals provided from the portable media player to the computer that are indicative of whether an accessory has been connected to the portable media player, to determine whether the accessory has been connected to the portable media player. Based on a determination that the accessory has been connected to the portable media player, physiologic data of a user that was provided to the portable media player from a wireless physiologic data gathering device, is received from the portable media player, into the computer, via the accessory.

A method incudes the preliminary steps of producing a map of a room, wherein one or more sound sources are located; acquiring acoustic features of the walls; performing a simulation, by using the map and the acoustic features, of a propagation in the room of sounds emitted by the sound sources; producing the reference audio parameters; the method further comprising the operational steps of: determining a current position of a user in the room; playing an audio signal back by the sound sources by applying the current audio parameters obtained from the reference audio parameters, and which depend on the current position.

A personal assistant device configured to determine a location of the personal assistant device and apply settings specific to the location may include at least one speaker configured to emit a stimulus noise, at least one microphone configured to acquire a room sample based on the stimulus noise, the room sample including a sample room impulse response, and a memory configured to maintain a plurality of room profiles, each room profile including a room location, a stored room impulse response, and a room specific response. A processor may be configured to receive the room sample, compare the sample room impulse response with at least one of the stored room impulse responses, determine whether the sample room impulse response matches one of the stored room impulse responses, apply the room specific response associated with the room profile of the matched stored room impulse response.

A personal assistant device configured to determine a location of the personal assistant device and apply settings specific to the location may include at least one speaker configured to emit a stimulus noise, at least one microphone configured to acquire a room sample based on the stimulus noise, the room sample including a sample room impulse response, and a memory configured to maintain a plurality of room profiles, each room profile including a room location, a stored room impulse response, and a room specific response. A processor may be configured to receive the room sample, compare the sample room impulse response with at least one of the stored room impulse responses, determine whether the sample room impulse response matches one of the stored room impulse responses, apply the room specific response associated with the room profile of the matched stored room impulse response.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer-based method for reproducing a performance sound quality in a rehearsal space, the method comprising accessing a computer stored multi-dimensional sound signature for an audience location in a performance space, receiving sound data from a sound input device in the rehearsal space, modifying the sound data to match a sound characteristic of the multi-dimensional sound signature, and transmitting the modified sound data through a sound output device in the rehearsal space.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer-based method for reproducing a performance sound quality in a rehearsal space, the method comprising accessing a computer stored multi-dimensional sound signature for an audience location in a performance space, receiving sound data from a sound input device in the rehearsal space, modifying the sound data to match a sound characteristic of the multi-dimensional sound signature, and transmitting the modified sound data through a sound output device in the rehearsal space.

A system and associated method for estimating one or more reverberation parameters includes an adaptive, parametric, linear prediction filter having one or more power spectral density (PSD) estimates of signals of one or more channels as inputs. The prediction filter estimates at least one parameter related to reverberation time, such as T.sub.60, and can further estimate an additional parameter, such as Direct-to-Reverberant Ratio (DRR). The prediction filter may be adapted during a period of reverberation by minimizing a cost function. Adaptation can include using a gradient descent approach, which can operate according to a step size provided by an adaptation controller configured to determine the period of reverberation. One or more microphones can provide the signals. The reverberation parameters estimated can be applied to a reverberation suppressor, with an estimator that does not require a training phase and without relying on assumptions of the user's position relative to the microphones.