A method for the broadcasting of sound to persons (10, 20, 30) with mobile hearing systems (11, 21, 31) at a meeting with a speaker (1) and with an audiovisual system (2, 3, 4), the audiovisual system having a computer (2), a screen (3) and a microphone (4). The method comprises the steps: receiving first data from a first mobile hearing system (11) which is carried by a first person (10), wherein the first data reference an image (12) of the first person (10); receiving second data from a second mobile hearing system (21) which is carried by a second person (20), wherein the second data reference an image (22) of the second person (20);

depicting the image (12) of the first person (10) and the image (22) of the second person (20) on the screen (3) for perception by the speaker (1); selecting a person (10, 20) by the speaker (1) by choosing one of the depicted images (12, 22); generating a speech signal by recording speech of the speaker (1) with the microphone (4); wireless transmission of the speech signal to the mobile hearing system (11, 21) of the selected person (10, 20); and presentation of the speech signal by a loudspeaker of the mobile hearing system (11, 21) for perception by the selected person (10, 20).

A hearing-assist system for use in a venue in which ambient sounds contain dialogue as well as other components which comprises circuitry inserted in a signal path between a program source feed in a program occurring in the venue and a hearing-assist unit worn by a user in that venue which reduces psychoacoustic conflict and interference between sound which is ambient in the venue and sound heard by the user via the hearing-assist unit.

An audio encoding device and an audio decoding device are described herein. The audio encoding device may examine a set of audio channels/channel groups representing a piece of sound program content and produce a set of ducking values to associate with one of the channels/channel groups. During playback of the piece of sound program content, the ducking values may be applied to all other channels/channel groups. Application of these ducking values may cause (1) the reduction in dynamic range of ducked channels/channel groups and/or (2) movement of channels/channel groups in the sound field. This ducking may improve intelligibility of audio in the non-ducked channel/channel group. For instance, a narration channel/channel group may be more clearly heard by listeners through the use of selective ducking of other channels/channel groups during playback.

An audio encoding device and an audio decoding device are described herein. The audio encoding device may examine a set of audio channels/channel groups representing a piece of sound program content and produce a set of ducking values to associate with one of the channels/channel groups. During playback of the piece of sound program content, the ducking values may be applied to all other channels/channel groups. Application of these ducking values may cause (1) the reduction in dynamic range of ducked channels/channel groups and/or (2) movement of channels/channel groups in the sound field. This ducking may improve intelligibility of audio in the non-ducked channel/channel group. For instance, a narration channel/channel group may be more clearly heard by listeners through the use of selective ducking of other channels/channel groups during playback.

The invention relates to a communication system comprising a hearing aid, a communication unit, a relay server, a rule processing server, and at least one external device, wherein the rule processing server comprises a data communication interface to communicate with said relay server and with a plurality of external devices over a plurality of data communication channels, a rule processor, and a rule base comprising a set of rules, each rule defining an action to be triggered in response to a trigger event. Said rule processor is configured to generate an action request signal in response to an event signal representing a trigger event. Said action request signal is configured to cause an action of at least one of the hearing aid, the communication unit, the relay server or the external device, and wherein said action request signal carries information that designates at least one of said devices and at least one action to be performed of said at least one device. Said communication system further comprises an event detector that is configured to detect a trigger event and to generate the event signal in response to a detection of the trigger event.

A sound generation notification device includes a sound pickup unit including a plurality of microphones for collecting sounds, a sound source localization unit that performs sound source localization on the basis of an acoustic signal picked up by the sound pickup unit, a sound source separation unit that performs sound source separation on the basis of information obtained by the sound source localization, a sound source identification unit that specifies a type of sound obtained by the sound source separation, and an informing unit that informs of the type of sound of which the sound source is specified through stimulation.

The disclosure relates to an audio processing device. This device comprises an audio processing component, e.g. DSP, a microprocessor, memory and a communication interface. Said microprocessor receives via said communication interface two or more listening profiles from personal devices of two or more persons. Said microprocessor comprises means for calculating a combined listening profile out of the two or more received listening profiles and means for calculating a compensation gain profile out of the combined listening profile. Said audio processing component makes use of the compensation gain profile to adapt the audio processing to the listening deficits of the two or more persons who are jointly consuming the audio presentation from the audio processing device.

Elevator systems including an elevator car moveable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car having a first elevator car component, the first elevator car component having a first side facing an interior of the elevator car and a second side opposite from the first side and a structural sound-generation system. The structural sound-generation system having at least one audio actuator coupled to the second side of the first elevator car component and an audio system controller in communication with the at least one audio actuator. The structural sound-generation system is configured to generate vibrations within the first elevator car component such that sound waves are produced therefrom and projected into the interior of the elevator car.

Elevator systems including an elevator car moveable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car having a first elevator car component, the first elevator car component having a first side facing an interior of the elevator car and a second side opposite from the first side and a structural sound-generation system. The structural sound-generation system having at least one audio actuator coupled to the second side of the first elevator car component and an audio system controller in communication with the at least one audio actuator. The structural sound-generation system is configured to generate vibrations within the first elevator car component such that sound waves are produced therefrom and projected into the interior of the elevator car.

An audio encoding device and an audio decoding device are described herein. The audio encoding device may examine a set of audio channels/channel groups representing a piece of sound program content and produce a set of ducking values to associate with one of the channels/channel groups. During playback of the piece of sound program content, the ducking values may be applied to all other channels/channel groups. Application of these ducking values may cause (1) the reduction in dynamic range of ducked channels/channel groups and/or (2) movement of channels/channel groups in the sound field. This ducking may improve intelligibility of audio in the non-ducked channel/channel group. For instance, a narration channel/channel group may be more clearly heard by listeners through the use of selective ducking of other channels/channel groups during playback.