Plantronics, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Arun Rajasekaran

Nicholas Kennedy Eisner

Robert J Kelly

Youhong Lu

A wireless control pod stores a headset for charging when not in use. When the headset is in signal communication with a smart device, a user can use the wireless control pod to control one or more functions of the smart device. When the headset is docked with a secondary headset, the audio to the speakers of the headset is adjusted for broadcast by the secondary headset.

Control pod with docking headset

A method is disclosed for forking call audio channels. The method includes, during an active call, receiving a first audio stream of first call audio that originates from a far-end telephony device, and receiving a second audio stream of second call audio that originates from a microphone of a near-end headset. Further, the method includes generating, during the active call, a third audio stream containing the first call audio by processing the first audio stream, and generating a fourth audio stream containing the second call audio by processing the second audio stream. Still yet, the method includes, during the active call, generating a fifth audio stream containing the first call audio, and generating a sixth audio stream containing the second call audio.

Forking transmit and receive call audio channels

A headset control pod stores a headset for charging when not in use. When the headset is in signal communication with a smart device, a user can use the control pod to mute and unmute a call of the smart device with no need to access the smart device. When the headset is used for music playback from the smart device, the control pod can be used to pause or advance playback. The control pod can also control playback by a headset of music stored in the control pod.

Control pod for a wireless headset

Pre-processing systems, methods of pre-processing, and speech processing systems for improved Automated Speech Recognition are provided. Some pre-processing systems for improved speech recognition of a speech signal are provided, which systems comprise a pitch estimation circuit; and a pitch equalization processor. The pitch estimation circuit is configured to receive the speech signal to determine a pitch index of the speech signal, and the pitch equalization processor is configured to receive the speech signal and pitch information, to equalize a speech pitch of the speech signal using the pitch information, and to provide a pitch-equalized speech signal.

Systems and methods of pre-processing of speech signals for improved speech recognition

A method is disclosed for forking call audio channels. The method includes, during an active call, receiving a first audio stream of first call audio that originates from a far-end telephony device, and receiving a second audio stream of second call audio that originates from a microphone of a near-end headset. Further, the method includes generating, during the active call, a third audio stream containing the first call audio by processing the first audio stream, and generating a fourth audio stream containing the second call audio by processing the second audio stream. Still yet, the method includes, during the active call, generating a fifth audio stream containing the first call audio, and generating a sixth audio stream containing the second call audio. In addition, the method includes, during the active call, concurrently transmitting: the third audio stream, the fourth audio stream, the fifth audio stream, and the sixth audio stream.

A communication device for a communication system is disclosed, which communication device comprises at least an I/O interface for connection with one or more audio sources to at least receive an input audio signal, a user audio output, an audio processor to provide an output audio signal to the user audio output from the input audio signal, and a reporting module. To improve the acoustic safety for a user of the communication device, the reporting module is configured to analyze the input audio signal and to determine, whether an acoustic safety incident is given, upon which the reporting module is configured to generate metadata of the acoustic safety incident.

Communication device and communication system

A communication hub for a communication system and a communication system are provided. The communication hub comprises at least an audio I/O interface for connection with one or more audio sources to at least receive an input audio signal, a user device interface for connection with at least one user audio device, a processor to provide a user input audio signal to the user device interface from the input audio signal, and a reporting module, configured to generate metadata of at least the input audio signal and to provide the metadata to a monitoring device of the communication system.

Communication hub and communication system

A headset system with at least one or more headsets to provide output audio and a monitoring device is provided. The monitoring device is connected with the one or more headsets, which each comprise an audio processor to provide the output audio to a respective user from an input audio signal and a reporting module, configured to generate metadata of the output audio. The monitoring device is configured to receive the metadata from the one or more headsets and to determine, whether an acoustic safety incident is given. To reduce acoustic shocks to the user, the audio processor comprises a mode-switchable acoustic safety module with at least an enabled state and a disabled state, which acoustic safety module in the enabled state being configured to process the input audio signal to reduce acoustic shocks.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Arun Rajasekaran