[Object] There is proposed a mechanism that allows for a higher noise cancellation effect by operating a plurality of units in coordination. [Solution] An information processor including a signal processing section that: acquires a first signal to be detected by an acoustic input section of a first unit including the acoustic input section disposed within a predetermined distance from one ear hole of a user in a state of being worn by the user; acquires a second signal, which indicates a noise generated from a noise source, to be acquired by a second unit; and generates a noise cancellation signal directed to the noise on the basis of the first signal and the second signal.

An exemplary sound reproducing, noise reducing method and system include supplying to a corresponding loudspeaker a useful signal that represents sound to be reproduced and an anti-noise signal that, when reproduced by the corresponding loudspeaker, reduces noise in the vicinity of the corresponding microphone. The method and system further include receiving audio input signals and processing the audio input signals to provide the useful signals so that the useful signals provide a more realistic sound impression for a listener wearing the helmet than the audio input signals.

A speech reproduction device for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone includes an audio processing module configured for receiving the speech signal; a set of speech loudspeakers configured for reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals; and a set of masking sound loudspeakers configured for producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; wherein the audio processing module includes a speech signal analysis module configured for producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal; wherein the audio processing module includes a masking sound generator configured for producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals.

A unit cell of an artificial phononic crystal for building of an artificial phononic metamaterial, showing reduced mechanical vibrations in a defined frequency range with at least one band gap in the band structure dispersion relation of the unit cell. The unit cell includes at least one building block and at least one mechanical connection connected to the building block, showing reduced mechanical vibrations in a defined frequency range with tailored dispersion properties with at least one band gap is sought. This is accomplished by forming the building block as a toroid, with a central opening and a front surface from which a first multiplicity of struts, which are tiltable relatively to the principal direction, is extending from the front surface. More than one strut is inclined with respect to the principal direction so that a rotation of the toroid around the principal direction is possible.

The sound suppression apparatus comprises a sound sensing device, configured to sense a sound; and a sound producing device comprising an air-pulse generating device, configured to generate a plurality of air pulses at an ultrasonic pulse rate. The plurality of air pulses at the ultrasonic pulse rate forms an anti-sound. The anti-sound comprises a component which is configured to suppress the sound.

The sound suppression apparatus comprises a sound sensing device, configured to sense a sound; and a sound producing device comprising an air-pulse generating device, configured to generate a plurality of air pulses at an ultrasonic pulse rate. The plurality of air pulses at the ultrasonic pulse rate forms an anti-sound. The anti-sound comprises a component which is configured to suppress the sound.

An exemplary sound reproducing, noise reducing method and system include supplying to a corresponding loudspeaker a useful signal that represents sound to be reproduced and an anti-noise signal that, when reproduced by the corresponding loudspeaker, reduces noise in the vicinity of the corresponding microphone. The method and system further include receiving audio input signals and processing the audio input signals to provide the useful signals so that the useful signals provide a more realistic sound impression for a listener wearing the helmet than the audio input signals.

An open acoustic device (100) may include a fixing structure (120) configured to fix the acoustic device (100) near an ear of a user without blocking an ear canal of the user; a first microphone array (130) configured to acquire environmental noise (410); a signal processor (140) configured to: determine, based on the environmental noise, a primary route transfer function (420) between the first microphone array (130) and the ear canal of the user; estimate, based on the environmental noise and the primary route transfer function, a noise signal (430) at the ear canal of the user; and generate, based on the noise signal at the ear canal of the user, a noise reduction signal (440); and a speaker (150) configured to output, according to the noise reduction signal, a noise reduction acoustic wave (450), the noise reduction acoustic wave being configured to eliminate the noise signal.

An open acoustic device (100) may include a fixing structure (120) configured to fix the acoustic device (100) near an ear of a user without blocking an ear canal of the user; a first microphone array (130) configured to acquire environmental noise (410); a signal processor (140) configured to: determine, based on the environmental noise, a primary route transfer function (420) between the first microphone array (130) and the ear canal of the user; estimate, based on the environmental noise and the primary route transfer function, a noise signal (430) at the ear canal of the user; and generate, based on the noise signal at the ear canal of the user, a noise reduction signal (440); and a speaker (150) configured to output, according to the noise reduction signal, a noise reduction acoustic wave (450), the noise reduction acoustic wave being configured to eliminate the noise signal.

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for audio signal processing are presented. Some configurations include determining that first audio activity in at least one microphone signal is voice activity; determining whether the voice activity is voice activity of a participant in an application session active on a device; based at least on a result of the determining whether the voice activity is voice activity of a participant in the application session, generating an antinoise signal to cancel the first audio activity; and by a loudspeaker, producing an acoustic signal that is based on the antinoise signal. Applications relating to shared virtual spaces are described.