An apparatus, method and computer program product for: providing spatial audio signals for output for a first user via a first audio device and a second audio device, receiving an indication of deactivation of the second audio device, receiving an indication that the second audio device is re-activated by a second user, and performing, in response to receiving the indication that the second audio device is re-activated by the second user, a modification of the spatial audio signals.

Methods for rendering audio for playback by two or more speakers are disclosed. The audio includes one or more audio signals, each with an associated intended perceived spatial position. Relative activation of the speakers may be a cost function of a model of perceived spatial position of the audio signals when played back over the speakers, a measure of proximity of the intended perceived spatial position of the audio signals to positions of the speakers, and one or more additional dynamically configurable functions. The dynamically configurable functions may be based on at least one or more properties of the audio signals, one or more properties of the set of speakers and/or one or more external inputs.

A method for channel identification of a multi-channel audio signal comprising X>1 channels is provided. The method comprises the steps of: identifying, among the X channels, any empty channels, thus resulting in a subset of Y≤X non-empty channels; determining whether a low frequency effect (LFE) channel is present among the Y channels, and upon determining that an LFE channel is present, identifying the determined channel among the Y channels as the LFE channel; dividing the remaining channels among the Y channels not being identified as the LFE channel into any number of pairs of channels by matching symmetrical channels; and identifying any remaining unpaired channel among the Y channels not being identified as the LFE channel or divided into pairs as a center channel.

Provided is a sound output device communicatively coupled to an information processing device, that includes a mounting portion configured to mount the sound output device on a human body, a plurality of sound output units configured to perform operation for outputting information indicating sound, or sound, and a control unit configured to, when the sound output device is coupled to the information processing device, enable operation of one or more first sound output units that are predetermined among the plurality of sound output units, and disable operation of one or more sound output units other than the one or more first sound output units among the plurality of sound output units.

A multimodal audio broadcast assembly for selectively enabling individual and group listening includes a pair of earbuds and a docking station. Each earbud is selectively engageable a respective ear of a user so that the earbud is removably engaged to the respective ear. The earbuds can receive wirelessly an audio signal from an electronic device and can broadcast the audio signal into the ears of the user. The docking station operationally engages the pair of earbuds so that the docking station is positioned to charge the pair of earbuds. The docking station also can receive the audio signal from the electronic device. A dock speaker is engaged to the docking station and is positioned to selectively broadcast the audio signal.

Example techniques involve noise-robust acoustic echo cancellation. An example implementation may involve causing one or more speakers of the playback device to play back audio content and while the audio content is playing back, capturing, via the one or more microphones, audio within an acoustic environment that includes the audio playback. The example implementation may involve determining measured and reference signals in the STFT domain. During each n.sup.th iteration of an acoustic echo canceller (AEC): the implementation may involve determining a frame of an output signal by generating a frame of a model signal by passing a frame of the reference signal through an instance of an adaptive filter and then redacting the n.sup.th frame of the model signal from an n.sup.th frame of the measured signal. The implementation may further involve determining an instance of the adaptive filter for a next iteration of the AEC.

A method of operating a display apparatus includes: transmitting stereo data corresponding to first audio data included in content being reproduced, to an external audio apparatus using a first audio transmission profile; changing an audio transmission profile from the first audio transmission profile to a second audio transmission profile, based on an audio-related event occurring while the stereo data is transmitted using the first audio transmission profile; and obtaining first mono audio data by selecting any one of a plurality of pieces of sound data included in the stereo data, and transmitting the first mono audio data and second mono audio data generated based on second audio data corresponding to the audio-related event, to the external audio apparatus using the second audio transmission profile.

At least a system or a method is provided for remote delivery or collection of a device such as an audio collection device. For example, a device comprising an aperture collection and retrieval pin is provided. An apparatus is provided having an aperture receiver, an aperture drive gear and a drive motor. The drive motor is configured to drive the aperture drive gear to open or close the aperture receiver of the apparatus for retrieving or releasing the device comprising the aperture collection pin.

One example method of operation may include determining whether a received command will be locally processed by a control device, determining an audio stream is associated with the received command, forwarding the audio stream to a server, and forwarding an audio output to a termination device based on a processed audio stream.

Example techniques may involve headphone interaction. An implementation may include while headphones are disconnected from a control device, the control device receiving an indication of particular audio content being played back by a first zone of the media playback system. While the particular audio content is being played back by the one or more playback devices of the media playback system, detecting that headphones have been connected to the first control device. Headphones may be connectable to the control device via either (a) an analog headphone jack or (b) a point-to-point personal area network connection. In response to detecting that the headphones are connected to the control device: the control device (i) causing the one or more playback devices of the first zone to stop playback of the particular audio content; (ii) retrieving the particular audio content and (iii) resuming playback of the particular audio content via the connected headphones.