A system configured to perform deep adaptive acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) to improve audio processing. Due to mechanical noise and continuous echo path changes caused by movement of a device, echo signals are nonlinear and time-varying and not fully canceled by linear AEC processing alone. To improve echo cancellation, deep adaptive AEC processing integrates a deep neural network (DNN) and linear adaptive filtering to perform echo and/or noise removal. The DNN is configured to generate a nonlinear reference signal and step-size data, which the linear adaptive filtering uses to generate output audio data representing local speech. The DNN may generate the nonlinear reference signal by generating mask data that is applied to a microphone signal, such that the reference signal corresponds to a portion of the microphone signal that does not include near-end speech.

This disclosure describes, in part, covers for electronic devices. For instance, a portion of a cover may attach to a portion of an electronic device. In some instances, the portion of the electronic device is associated with receiving sound. The cover may include one or more speakers that are configured to output sound towards one or more microphones of the electronic device. By outputting the sound towards the one or more microphones, the one or more microphones may receive more of the sound than sound (e.g., user speech) located in an environment that includes the electronic device. The cover may also include one or more microphones for generating audio data representing commands. For example, the commands may cause the cover to output the sound using the one or more speakers and/or cease outputting the sound using the one or more speakers.

A mobile terminal booth with a sound masking function includes a sound absorbing panel which partitions a space as viewed from the above to provide a place where a user of a mobile terminal can have a telephone conversation; a speaker provided to emit sounds to an outside of the mobile terminal booth; and a masking sound generation unit provided to emit a masking sound through the speaker. The harsh-sounding high frequency components of the masking sound which is output from the speaker are attenuated so that the masking sound gives less uncomfortable feeling to persons surrounding the mobile terminal booth.

A space management system for managing an environment of a shared space that is arranged inside a mobile body and can be used jointly by a first occupant and a second occupant comprises a control mode determining unit configured to determine a control mode serving as a control target of an adjusting unit configured to adjust the environment of the shared space. The control mode determining unit is configured to determine enabling or disabling of an independent control mode for independently adjusting an environment of a first subspace, which is a part of the shared space, where the first occupant is present and an environment of a second subspace, which is a part of the shared space, where the second occupant is present.

A method and system to obscure inappropriate sounds and ensure privacy in conversations through Near Field communication. The method includes applying a passive NFC tag on a first object associated to an individual who advances inside an enclosed area designed for a specific purpose. Further, the method includes activating an NFC reader on a second object when the first object and the second object are within a short range. Furthermore, the method includes sending a signal to a WIFI router wherein the signal speaks to a speaker module inside the enclosed area. Moreover, the method includes automatically streaming sound files, from a storage, thereby making it difficult for the individual inside the enclosed area to hear private conversations between two or more people due to a fogging sound effect produced by the sound files.

A system and method to prevent eavesdropping by a device. An anti-eavesdrop component is installed on the device. The anti-eavesdrop component is configured to actively prevent the device from capturing audio from the environment. In response to installing the anti-eavesdrop component, the device recognizes the anti-eavesdrop component as a primary audio input for the device. The anti-eavesdrop component then proceeds to block the device from capturing outside audio by injecting noise or otherwise interfering with the primary audio input.

In the sound insulation apparatus, a sound wave transmitter configured to transmit sound waves with frequencies including the frequencies of propagation sound waves from a sound source and a sound wave receiver configured to receive the sound waves transmitted from the sound wave transmitter are coupled such that the orientation of a sound wave transmission surface of the sound wave transmitter and the orientation of a sound wave receiving surface of the sound wave receiver intersect each other and one pair set is formed. The one pair set is disposed in plurality such that the sound wave transmission surface of one set is spaced from and opposed to the sound wave receiving surface of another set and a space surrounding the sound source is formed. The sound waves transmitted from each of the sound wave transmitters are mixed with the propagation sound waves.

A sound masking system according to the invention is disclosed in which one or more sound masking loudspeaker assemblies are coupled to one or more electronic sound masking signal generators. The loudspeaker assemblies in the system of the invention have a low directivity index and preferably emit an acoustic sound masking signal that has a sound masking spectrum specifically designed to provide superior sound masking in an open plan office. Each of the plurality of loudspeaker assemblies is oriented to provide the acoustic sound masking signal in a direct path into the predetermined area in which masking sound is needed. In addition, the sound masking system of the invention can include a remote control function by which a user can select from a plurality of stored sets of information for providing from a recipient loudspeaker assembly an acoustic sound masking signal having a-selected sound masking spectrum.

A transportation vehicle provides a workspace in a passenger cabin to support a teleconference with a remote party. External sensors are configured to scan the exterior of the vehicle and detect a pedestrian. A sound exciter is configured to generate a masking noise directed to the exterior. A control circuit which enhances privacy of the teleconference is configured to A) detect the audio content of the teleconference being present in the interior of the vehicle, B) quantify an interior sound level of the audio content, C) estimate a discernability of the audio content at an external location corresponding to the detected pedestrian, and D) activate the sound exciter such that the masking noise is adapted to mask the audio content at the external location.

A transportation vehicle provides a workspace in a passenger cabin to support a teleconference with a remote party. External sensors are configured to scan the exterior of the vehicle and detect a pedestrian. A sound exciter is configured to generate a masking noise directed to the exterior. A control circuit which enhances privacy of the teleconference is configured to A) detect the audio content of the teleconference being present in the interior of the vehicle, B) quantify an interior sound level of the audio content, C) estimate a discernibility of the audio content at an external location corresponding to the detected pedestrian, and D) activate the sound exciter such that the masking noise is adapted to mask the audio content at the external location.