The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of an ultrasonic sound field measuring system, and relates to a manual acoustic axis aligning method for an ultrasonic sound field measuring system. The method comprises: obtaining an intersection between a current acoustic axis and a plane by scanning two detection planes, and calculating an inclination angle of the current acoustic axis; judging whether the inclination angle is less than an adjustment threshold. The method does not depend on the specific mechanical implementation of adjusting an acoustic axis angle. The iterative algorithm combined with geometric information can converge quickly. The criterion of intersection between the acoustic axis and the plane used is not limited to the amplitude criterion, and other criteria can be introduced by increasing the distance between two planes to increase the robustness of measuring the acoustic axis angle.

In-ear sound pressure level, SPL, is determined that is caused by output audio being converted into sound by a headset worn by a user. The in-ear SPL is converted into a sound sample having units that are suitable for evaluating sound noise exposure. These operations are repeated to produce a sequence of sound samples during playback. This sequence of sound samples is then written to a secure database. Access to the database is authorized by the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

In-ear sound pressure level, SPL, is determined that is caused by output audio being converted into sound by a headset worn by a user. The in-ear SPL is converted into a sound sample having units that are suitable for evaluating sound noise exposure. These operations are repeated to produce a sequence of sound samples during playback. This sequence of sound samples is then written to a secure database. Access to the database is authorized by the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

An in-ear microphone allowing assessment of sound pressure level directly of an individual's ear canal without intervening conduits between the sound source (i.e., ear canal) and the microphone is provided. Sound from an in-ear communications device may also be isolated from ambient noise using an in-line noise detector For recording the noise from the in-ear communications device

A monitoring device that monitors a target area includes: a sound collecting device in which a plurality of microphones that converts sound waves emitted from the target area to a sound pressure signal is arranged; and an information processing device configured to detect an abnormality in the target area based on the sound pressure signal. The sound pressure signal is a signal of sound waves with a frequency of 20 kHz or higher.

Techniques are disclosed for enhancing user experience in video conferencing. In accordance with some embodiments, the graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on a device involved in a video conferencing session may undergo dynamic adjustment of its video composition, for example, to render video content in either a prominent or a thumbnail region of the GUI. Reorganization of the GUI's video composition may be performed, for example: (1) automatically based on detected audio activity levels of the video conferencing participants; and/or (2) upon user instruction. In accordance with some embodiments, individualized volume control over video conferencing participants may be provided. In accordance with some embodiments, the resolution and/or frame rate of video data captured at a source device involved in a video conferencing session may be adaptively varied, for example, during capture and/or processing before encoding based on the detected audio activity level of the user of that source device.

A method for using an earpiece (800) in a work environment is provided. The earpiece (800) attenuates sound from the work environment to the user's ear. The earpiece (800) includes an ear canal microphone (820) for measuring a sound pressure level in an ear canal of the user. Sound pressure levels are measured periodically while in the work environment. Each measured sound pressure levels is stored in memory (127) of the earpiece with time and location information. The sound pressure level information is downloaded to a database (1704) when the earpiece is removed from the user ear for recharging. The sound pressure level information is analyzed and any potential noise compliance issues in the work environment are identified.

A method for using an earpiece (800) in a work environment is provided. The earpiece (800) attenuates sound from the work environment to the user's ear. The earpiece (800) includes an ear canal microphone (820) for measuring a sound pressure level in an ear canal of the user. Sound pressure levels are measured periodically while in the work environment. Each measured sound pressure levels is stored in memory (127) of the earpiece with time and location information. The sound pressure level information is downloaded to a database (1704) when the earpiece is removed from the user ear for recharging. The sound pressure level information is analyzed and any potential noise compliance issues in the work environment are identified.

A monitoring system can include an earpiece, a database with stored earpiece characteristics data, and a microphone to receive a plurality of signals where each signal of the plurality of signals can represents a respective sound pressure level of sound pressure values over a time duration. The system can also include a processor and a memory coupled processor, the memory having computer instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform the operations. The operations can include determining exposure time duration when a signal of the plurality of signals exceeds a sound pressure level threshold value, retrieving a subset of data of the stored earpiece characteristics data, and modifying an acoustic output of the earpiece in accordance with the subset of data of the stored earpiece characteristics data.

A monitoring system can include an earpiece, a database with stored earpiece characteristics data, and a microphone to receive a plurality of signals where each signal of the plurality of signals can represents a respective sound pressure level of sound pressure values over a time duration. The system can also include a processor and a memory coupled processor, the memory having computer instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform the operations. The operations can include determining exposure time duration when a signal of the plurality of signals exceeds a sound pressure level threshold value, retrieving a subset of data of the stored earpiece characteristics data, and modifying an acoustic output of the earpiece in accordance with the subset of data of the stored earpiece characteristics data.