An audio system for an ear mountable playback device includes a speaker, an error microphone, which senses sound being output from the speaker, and a sound control processor. The processor is configured for controlling and/or monitoring a playback of a detection signal or a filtered version of the detection signal via the speaker, recording an error signal from the error microphone, and determining whether the playback device is in a first state, where the playback device is worn by a user, or in a second state, where the playback device is not worn by a user, based on processing of the error signal.

Wireless data network access architecture and methods enabling location-specific and/or user-specific provision of services or resources. In one embodiment, an end-user device makes a request for service within a wireless LAN (WLAN). A wireless access point (WAP) controller/policy server determines whether the user device meets criteria for a first user status or a second user status, and assigns the appropriate status to an identifier of the end-user device. When the user device is assigned the first user status, the user device is provided network access according to e.g., a first permissible bandwidth allocation. Otherwise, the user device is provided network access according to a second, different bandwidth allocation. The first and second user status may be assigned based on a location of the user device within e.g., a venue, a class of end-user device, end user application, an access pass associated with the user device, or yet other criteria.

A detection device includes a pressure sensor, which provides a pressure signal indicative of an ambient pressure in an operating environment. An electrostatic-charge-variation sensor provides a charge-variation signal indicative of a variation of electrostatic charge associated with the operating environment, and processing circuitry is coupled to the pressure sensor and to the electrostatic-charge-variation sensor so as to receive the pressure signal and the charge-variation signal, and jointly processes the pressure signal and the charge-variation signal for detecting a variation between a first operating environment and a second operating environment for the detection device. The second operating environment is different from the first operating environment.

A portable acoustic device comprising: a device housing that defines an internal cavity, the device housing comprising a speaker housing portion and a stem portion extending away from the speaker housing portion; a first acoustic port formed through a wall of the speaker housing; an audio driver disposed within the speaker housing portion and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic first port; a battery disposed within the speaker housing portion and positioned an opposite side of the audio driver than the acoustic port; an antenna disposed in the stem; a user input region disposed along the stem; and a system in a chip disposed in the stem, the system in a chip comprising: a processor that controls operation of the portable wireless acoustic device, charging circuitry, an accelerometer, a wireless communication controller, support components for the antenna and support components for the user input region.

An active noise cancellation system has a secondary path including a loudspeaker configured to output an anti-noise signal to cancel noise in a noise cancellation zone, and an error microphone configured to sense sound in the noise cancellation zone. The ANC system further includes a logic device configured to adaptively generate the anti-noise signal for playback through the loudspeaker based at least in part on a feedback signal from the error microphone and identify a user of the active noise cancellation system based, at least in part, on a measured frequency response of the secondary path. The logic device is further configured to identify the user of the active noise cancellation system through a comparison of the measured frequency response of the secondary path to stored models and may be configured to execute a new user enrollment process, store user profiles, and/or switch between in-ear and open-air states.

A method of determining an audio controller for a headphone that is configured to use an acoustic transducer to develop sound that is delivered to an ear of a user and that includes a feedback microphone that is configured to sense sound developed by the acoustic transducer, and a related computer program product and system. A first audio transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the feedback microphone is measured. A second audio transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the feedback microphone with a feedback controller applied is determined. The audio controller is calculated based on both the first audio transfer function and the second audio transfer function.

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 personal audio device (e.g., headphones, earphones) can have an earpiece (e.g., an ear cup or earbud) with a removable cushioning member (e.g., headphone cushions or ear tips for earbuds). The cushioning member can include an identification tag that encodes identification data for the cushioning member. When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member. The identification data can be used to modify a behavior of the earpiece and/or of a host device communicably coupled to the earpiece.

A computer system detects an occurrence of a respective event. In response, and in accordance with a determination that a first wearable audio output component of a wearable audio output device is at least partially in a first ear of the user and that a second wearable audio output component of the wearable audio output device is at least partially in a second ear of the user, the computer system displays acoustic seal information for the wearable audio output device, including concurrently displaying, via the display device: a first indication of a quality of a first acoustic seal between the first wearable audio output component and the first ear of the user; and a second indication, distinct from the first indication, of a quality of a second acoustic seal between the second wearable audio output component and the second ear of the user.

An ultrasonic proximity sensor can determine one or more characteristics of a local environment. For example, the sensor can emit an ultrasonic signal into a local environment and can receive an ultrasonic signal from the local environment. From a measure of correlation between the emitted and the received signals, the sensor can classify the local environment. By way of example, such a sensor can assess whether an in-ear earphone is positioned in a user's ear. A media device in communication with the sensor can transmit an audio signal to the earphone for audio playback responsive to a determination by the sensor that the earphone is in the user's ear and can redirect the audio signal to another playback device responsive to a determination by the sensor that the earphone is not in the user's ear. Related and other aspects also are described.