The technology relates to establishing wireless communication links, or connections, between a first audio accessory device, a second audio accessory device, and a client computing device. After receiving signals from the client computing device to initiate audio output, the first audio accessory device and the second audio accessory device may both perform a series of steps in parallel to establish connections with the client computing device and with each other. The series of steps may include relaying one or more acknowledgement (ACK) signals between the audio accessory devices in order to confirm proper receipt of the signals from the client computing device at both audio accessory devices. Alternatively, the series of steps may include transmitting a jamming signal from one of the audio accessory devices in order to prevent an ACK signal from the other audio accessory device from reaching the client computing device and initiating audio output.

A gateway device for a sensor network comprising: communication means to communicate with an aircraft interface device or other communication means provided by aircraft, short-range wireless communication means for communicating with nodes via short range communication means, characterized in that the gateway device is arranged to receive flight status information from the aircraft interface device and to facilitate control of nodes in accordance with the flight status, such as that the gateway sends the nodes a command to disable all wireless transmission when the aircraft status is take off or landing, and a command to utilize only short-range wireless transmission means when the aircraft status is climb, cruise or descent. Corresponding arrangement and method are also presented.

A method is provided for controlling communication in wireless charging. The method comprises: controlling wireless power transfer with a device; receiving a communication signal from the device; generating a jamming signal based on the communication signal from the device; and applying the jamming signal to the communication signal to obtain a jammed communication signal. A device is also provided for controlling communication in wireless charging. The device is configured to control wireless power transfer and receive a communication signal. The device comprises: a jamming circuit configured to generate a jamming signal based on the received communication signal, wherein the device is further configured to apply the jamming signal to the received communication signal to obtain a jammed communication signal.

A wireless sound-emitting device includes a housing adapted to be coupled to a wall at a source of electric power, a loudspeaker positioned at a periphery of the housing, a control module outputting an electric audio signal to the at least one loudspeaker, and a wireless communications module in electrical communication with the control module. The loudspeaker emits acoustic signals in a direction parallel to the wall, when the housing is coupled to the wall, with the acoustic signals reflecting off the wall. The device may produce a sound masking noise or play a sound recorded on an internal memory. The device may include an electric plug or be adapted to replace an electric outlet faceplate. The device may have electric pass-through outlets and may be powered by the source of electric power. The device may be controlled remotely, for example via an Internet of Things (IoT) platform.

Lightweight shielded enclosures and systems provide a high level of acoustic, RF, EMI and EMP protection. Such enclosures and systems include one or more lightweight, non-conductive beams arranged to support a shielded covering.

Methods and apparatuses for addressing open space noise are disclosed. In one example, a method for masking open space noise includes optimizing a recorded naturally occurring sound signal. The method also includes outputting the optimized recorded naturally occurring sound signal from a plurality of speakers distributed in the open space. Further, the method includes displaying a natural system complementing the optimized recorded naturally occurring sound signal.

The game table reading system comprises reading antennas for each of a plurality of reading areas of a game table, read-restriction antennas for each of the plurality of the reading areas, the read-restriction antennas restricting the RFID tag embedded in a game token placed in the corresponding reading area from being read by the reading antenna corresponding to the other adjacent reading areas, a reading control device that controls the reading antennas, and a read-restriction control device that controls the read-restriction antennas. The read-restriction control device causes the read-restriction antennas corresponding to the reading areas adjacent to the reading areas corresponding to the reading antenna that the reading control device causes to read, in synchronization with the reading control device.

A metamaterial comprising, a plurality of acoustic vector field sensors, each configured to sense an acoustic vector field of a fluid within a fluid-filled space in response to fluid waves, and producing an electrical signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vector field; a processor configured to perform a time and space transform on the electrical signal; and at least one phased array transducer, configured to emit fluid waves according to a produced acoustic vector field pattern dependent on a result of the time and space transform, a within a portion of the fluid.

A metamaterial comprising, a plurality of acoustic vector field sensors, each configured to sense an acoustic vector field of a fluid within a fluid-filled space in response to fluid waves, and producing an electrical signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vector field; a processor configured to perform a time and space transform on the electrical signal; and at least one phased array transducer, configured to emit fluid waves according to a produced acoustic vector field pattern dependent on a result of the time and space transform, a within a portion of the fluid.

Certain example embodiments relate to speech privacy systems and/or associated methods. The techniques described herein disrupt the intelligibility of the perceived speech by, for example, superimposing onto an original speech signal a masking replica of the original speech signal in which portions of it are smeared by a time delay and/or amplitude adjustment, with the time delays and/or amplitude adjustments oscillating over time. In certain example embodiments, smearing of the original signal may be generated in frequency ranges corresponding to formants, consonant sounds, phonemes, and/or other related or non-related information-carrying building blocks of speech. Additionally, or in the alternative, annoying reverberations particular to a room or area in low frequency ranges may be cut out of the replica signal, without increasing or substantially increasing perceived loudness.