Author: claimsbot

1. A method for echo compensation of at least one audio microphone signal that includes an echo signal contribution due to an audio loudspeaker signal in a loudspeaker-microphone system, the method comprising:
converting overlapped sequences of the audio loudspeaker signal from a time domain to a frequency domain and obtaining a time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra with a predetermined number of sub-bands, wherein the sequences have a predetermined sequence length and an amount of overlapping of the overlapped sequences predetermined by a loudspeaker sub-sampling rate;
temporally interpolating the time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra, including, for each pair of temporally adjacent short-time loudspeaker spectra, calculating an interpolated short-time loudspeaker spectrum by weighted addition of the temporally adjacent short-time loudspeaker spectra;
computing an estimated echo spectrum with its sub-band components for at least one current loudspeaker spectrum by weighted adding of a current short-time loudspeaker spectrum and previous short-time loudspeaker spectra, up to a predetermined maximum time delay, wherein:
first filter coefficients are used for weighting the current loudspeaker spectrum and the corresponding previous short-time loudspeaker spectra with increasing time delay;
second filter coefficients are used for weighting the interpolated short-time loudspeaker spectra temporally adjacent to the current loudspeaker spectrum and the corresponding previous short-time loudspeaker spectra; and
the first and second filter coefficients are estimated by an adaptive algorithm; converting overlapped sequences of the audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain and obtaining a time series of short-time microphone spectra with a predetermined number of sub-bands, wherein the sequences have a predetermined sequence length and an amount of overlapping of the overlapped sequences predetermined by a microphone sub-sampling rate;
adaptively filtering the time series of short-time microphone spectra of the microphone signal by at least subtracting a corresponding estimated echo spectrum from a corresponding microphone spectrum, where the first and second filter coefficients are applied and sub-band components of the spectra are used for the subtraction;
converting the filtered time series of short-time spectra of the microphone signal to overlapped sequences of a filtered audio microphone signal; and
overlapping the sequences of the filtered audio microphone signal to generate an echo compensated audio microphone signal.
2. The method according to claim 1, where the step of temporally interpolating the time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra is made by applying an interpolation matrix P, wherein:
P
=
THH
1

\u2062

H
2
+

\u2062
T
~

+
with
H
~

1

=
H
\u2062
\u2062

0

N
\xd7
r
,
\u2062
H
~

2

=
0

N
\xd7
r
\u2062
H
,
\u2062
and
T
~

=
T
0
N

2

+

1
\xd7
N
0
N

2

+

1
\xd7
N
T
.
wherein T is a transformation matrix, H is a diagonal matrix containing window coefficients, H1 is a first extended matrix of the filter coefficients, H2 is a second extended matrix, r is the sub-sampling rate, and N is the number of samples.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adaptively filtering comprises suppressing a residual echo, after subtracting the estimated echo spectrum.
4. A method according claim 1, wherein the adaptively filtering comprises reducing noise, after subtracting the estimated echo spectrum.
5. A method according claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker sub-sampling rate is not greater than about 0.75 times the sequence length and greater than about 0.35 times the sequence length.
6. A method according to claim 5, where the loudspeaker sub-sampling rate is about 0.6 times the sequence length.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the overlapped sequences of the audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain, the adaptively filtering the time series of short-time microphone spectra of the microphone signal, the converting the filtered time series of short-time spectra of the microphone signal and the overlapping the sequences of the filtered audio microphone signal are performed for each of a plurality of audio microphone signals.
8. A signal processor system for echo compensation of at least one audio microphone signal that includes an echo signal contribution due to an audio loudspeaker signal in a loudspeaker-microphone system, the signal processor system comprising:
a loudspeaker analysis filter bank configured to convert overlapped sequences of the audio loudspeaker signal from a time domain to a frequency domain and to obtain a time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra with a predetermined number of sub-bands, wherein the sequences have a predetermined sequence length and an amount of overlapping of the overlapped sequences predetermined by a loudspeaker sub-sampling rate;
a temporal interpolator configured to interpolate the time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra, including, for each pair of temporally adjacent short-time loudspeaker spectra, computing an interpolated short-time loudspeaker spectrum by weighted addition of the temporally adjacent short-time loudspeaker spectra;
an echo spectrum estimator having a computer processor configured to compute an estimated echo spectrum with its sub-band components for at least one current loudspeaker spectrum by weighted addition of a current short-time loudspeaker spectrum and previous short-time loudspeaker spectra, up to a predetermined maximum time delay, wherein:
first filter coefficients are used for weighting the current loudspeaker spectrum and the corresponding previous short-time loudspeaker spectra with increasing time delay;
second filter coefficients are used for weighting the interpolated short-time loudspeaker spectra temporally adjacent to the current loudspeaker spectrum and the corresponding previous short-time loudspeaker spectra; and
the first and second filter coefficients are estimated by an adaptive algorithm;
a microphone analysis filter bank configured to convert overlapped sequences of the audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain and obtain a time series of short-time microphone spectra with a predetermined number of sub-bands, wherein the sequences have a predetermined sequence length and an amount of overlapping of the overlapped sequences predetermined by a microphone sub-sampling rate;
a synthesis filter bank configured to convert the filtered time series of short-time spectra of the microphone signal to overlapped sequences of a filtered audio microphone signal;
an adaptive filter configured to adaptively filter the time series of short-time microphone spectra of the microphone signal by at least subtracting a corresponding estimated echo spectrum from a corresponding microphone spectrum, where the first and second filter coefficients are applied and sub-band components of the spectra are used for the subtraction; and
a synthesis filter bank configured to overlap the sequences of the filtered audio microphone signal to generate an echo compensated audio microphone signal.
9. A signal processor system according to claim 8, wherein the adaptive filter comprises a residual echo suppressor applied after the subtraction of the estimated echo spectrum.
10. A signal processor system according to claim 8, wherein the adaptive filter comprises a noise reducer applied after the subtraction of the estimated echo spectrum.
11. A signal processor system according to claim 8, wherein the loudspeaker sub-sampling rate is not greater than about 0.75 times the sequence length and greater than about 0.35 times the sequence length.
12. A signal processor system according to claim 11, wherein the loudspeaker sub-sampling rate is about 0.6 times the sequence length.
13. A signal processor system according to claim 8, further comprising a beamformer configured to beamform the adaptively filtered time series of short-time microphone spectra of a plurality of microphone signals to generate a combined filtered time series of short-time spectra of the plurality of microphone signals.
14. A signal processor system according to claim 8, further comprising a hands-free telephony system.
15. A signal processor system according to claim 8, further comprising a speech recognition system.
16. A signal processor system according to claim 8, further comprising a vehicle communication system.
17. A computer program product for providing echo compensation of at least one audio microphone signal that includes an echo signal contribution due to an audio loudspeaker signal in a loudspeaker-microphone system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon, the computer readable program configured to:
convert overlapped sequences of the audio loudspeaker signal from a time domain to a frequency domain and obtain a time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra with a predetermined number of sub-bands, wherein the sequences have a predetermined sequence length and an amount of overlapping of the overlapped sequences predetermined by a loudspeaker sub-sampling rate;
temporally interpolate the time series of short-time loudspeaker spectra, including, for each pair of temporally adjacent short-time loudspeaker spectra, calculate an interpolated short-time loudspeaker spectrum by weighted addition of the temporally adjacent short-time loudspeaker spectra;
compute an estimated echo spectrum with its sub-band components for at least one current loudspeaker spectrum by weighted addition of a current short-time loudspeaker spectrum and previous short-time loudspeaker spectra, up to a predetermined maximum time delay, wherein:
first filter coefficients are used for weighting the current loudspeaker spectrum and the corresponding previous short-time loudspeaker spectra with increasing time delay;
second filter coefficients are used for weighting the interpolated short-time loudspeaker spectra temporally adjacent to the current loudspeaker spectrum and the corresponding previous short-time loudspeaker spectra; and
the first and second filter coefficients are estimated by an adaptive algorithm;
convert overlapped sequences of the audio microphone signal from the time domain to the frequency domain and obtain a time series of short-time microphone spectra with a predetermined number of sub-bands, wherein the sequences have a predetermined sequence length and an amount of overlapping of the overlapped sequences predetermined by a microphone sub-sampling rate;
adaptively filter the time series of short-time microphone spectra of the microphone signal by at least subtracting a corresponding estimated echo spectrum from a corresponding microphone spectrum, wherein the first and second filter coefficients are applied and sub-band components of the spectra are used for the subtraction;
convert the filtered time series of short-time spectra of the microphone signal to overlapped sequences of a filtered audio microphone signal; and
overlap the sequences of the filtered audio microphone signal to generate an echo compensated audio microphone signal.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus for detecting a continuous wave (CW) signal, the apparatus comprising:
a demodulator demodulating a received CW signal and providing a demodulated signal;
an edge detector for detecting an edge of the demodulated signal and thereby, detecting the CW signal; and
a switchable short-circuit of the demodulator, edges being formed in the demodulated signal when the demodulator is temporarily short-circuited during receipt of the CW signal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for receiving the CW signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the CW signal is a low frequency (LF) signal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a filter for filtering the CW signal.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the demodulator, the edge detector and the switchable short-circuit are mounted on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the ASIC is programmable to actuate the switchable short-circuit at predetermined periodic intervals.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the demodulator comprises an envelope detector.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an antenna for receiving the CW signal.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a first antenna for receiving the CW signal;
a pressure sensor for detecting air pressure; and
a second antenna for providing an output signal.
10. An apparatus for detecting a CW signal, the apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving the CW signal;
demodulating means for determining an envelope of the received CW signal;
edge detecting means for detecting an edge of the envelope and thereby detecting the CW wave signal; and
short-circuiting means for temporarily short-circuiting the demodulating means, edges being formed in the envelope when the demodulating means is temporarily short-circuited during the receipt of the CW signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the short-circuiting means, the demodulating means and the edge detecting means are mounted on a programmable ASIC.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ASIC activates the short-circuiting means at predetermined periodical intervals.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
pressure sensing means; and
signal sending means for providing a signal indicative of a sensed pressure.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the demodulating means comprises an envelope detector.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the receiving means comprises an antenna.
16. A method for detecting and processing a CW signal, the method comprising:
receiving a CW signal at an antenna;
providing the CW wave to an input of a demodulator;
providing an output of the demodulator to an edge detector;
activating a short-circuiting switch to short-circuit the demodulator at predetermined periodical intervals;
deactivating the short-circuiting switch to create a rising edge in the output of the demodulator; and
detecting the rising edge at the edge detector.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
signaling a pressure sensor to sense a pressure; and
providing a signal indicative of the sensed pressure to a second antenna.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the deactivating occurs a predetermined amount of time after the activating.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the activating and deactivating occurs at periodic intervals.

1. An entertaining nose clasp apparatus that comprises:
a nose clasp that includes a band, the band adapted to connect to the outside of a nose;
an extension the extension connects to the nose clasp and the structure of the extension adapted for positioning on the face of the wearer adjoining the nose of the wearer; and
an entertaining device connected to the nose clasp, the extension stabilizing the position of the entertaining device on the wearer.
2. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 1, wherein the extension is adapted to be positioned along the ridge of the nose.
3. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 1 that further includes a plate, the plate includes a first side, an opposed second side and side edges.
4. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 3, wherein the extension has a first side, a second side and side edges, the extension connects to the plate on one end and has an opposing free edge.
5. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 1, wherein the nose clasp includes an adjustment mechanism and the band includes at least two components, the adjustment mechanism moves at least one of the at least two components.
6. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 1, wherein the extension is adjustably moveable.
7. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 1, wherein the extension is adapted to be positioned between the upper lip and nose of the wearer.
8. An entertaining nose clasp apparatus adapted for connecting to a wearer, the entertaining nose clasp comprises:
a nose clasp that includes a band, an entertainment device and an extension, the band adapted to connect to the outside of a nose of a wearer, the extension connected to the band, the extension stabilizes the nose clasp on the wearer, the entertainment device connectable to at least one of the band or the extension.
9. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 8, wherein the nose clasp further includes a plate and the plate connects the band and the extension, the entertainment device connectable to the plate.
10. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 8, wherein the band includes two flexible components that are adapted to adjust to the nose of the wearer.
11. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 9, wherein the nose clasp includes an adjustment mechanism for the band and the band includes two components, the adjustment mechanism moves at least one of the two components relative to the other component.
12. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 11, wherein the adjustment mechanism accommodates the movement of each component of the band independent of the other component.
13. An entertaining nose clasp apparatus that comprises:
a nose clasp that includes a band, the band adapted to connect to the outside of a nose;
an extension connected to the band that is adapted to stabilize the position of the nose clasp on the face of the wearer; and has a first side, a second opposed side and side edges, the extension and nose clasp; and
an entertainment device connected to the band.
14. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 13, wherein the extension has a plate shape and the extension connects to a plate, the extension connects to the plate on a first side of the extension and an opposing side of the extension is adapted for positioning on the face of the wearer between an upper lip and a nose of the wearer.
15. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 14, wherein the plate includes a first side, an opposed second side and side edges.
16. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 14, wherein the opposing free side of the extension includes a partially arcuate terminal edge.
17. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 14, wherein the nose clasp includes an adjustment mechanism and the band includes at least two components, the adjustment mechanism moves at least one of the at least two components.
18. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 13, wherein the band includes two components and each component of the band is flexibly adjustable, the components adapted to adjust to the nose of the wearer.
19. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 13, wherein the extension opposing free side includes a terminal edge and the terminal edge includes an increased surface area.
20. The entertaining nose clasp of claim 17 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a gear, a protuberance and two adjustable components, the gear accommodates the simultaneous inward or outward movement of the components and the protuberance provides ease of inward and outward movement of the components and the secure positioning of components.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A computer-implemented method for planning an assortment, comprising:
receiving, by one or more computers, a hierarchical list of articles including a plurality of nodes wherein the plurality of nodes include a division node and a category node;
receiving, by one or more computers, sales information for a plurality of stores, the sales information of the plurality of stores comprising a theme module defining a group of related products and article information defining a specific product of the group of related products;
wherein the article information comprises a template display rack capacity and an individual display rack capacity;
calculating a capacity index by dividing the individual display rack capacity by the template display rack capacity;
assigning the calculated capacity index to each of the plurality of stores;
defining a criteria level for each of the plurality of stores based on the demographics and fashion price point of the each of the plurality of stores wherein the criteria level comprises levels including a flagship store, a high end store, a medium end store and a low end store;
categorizing, by the one or more computers, the plurality of stores according to both the capacity index value and the criteria level;
assigning, by the one or more computers, one or more stores to the assortment based on the categorizing result;
receiving, by one or more computers, a selection of a first node from the hierarchical list of articles to assign a first group of articles to the assortment,
wherein assigning the first group of articles to the assortment assigns the first group of articles to the one or more stores that are assigned to the same assortment,
wherein the assortment corresponds to a particular display location at the one or more stores, for placement of the first group of articles, and
wherein the selection of the first node assigns the first group of articles concurrently to the assortment and the particular display location at the one or more stores.
2. The method of claim 1, further including displaying the hierarchical list of articles to a user.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is performed by a user.
4. The method of claim 1, further including receiving, using the graphical user interface, a selection of a second node from the hierarchical list of articles to assign a second group of articles to the assortment.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein each group of articles corresponds to all of the articles in the hierarchical list below the selected node.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein each node in the hierarchical list of articles corresponds to a level, each level including one or more article groupings.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein each article grouping on each level is associated with no more than one article grouping at a next highest level.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node in the hierarchical list of articles is one of a division node, a category node, a sub-category node, a segment node, a consumer theme node, a theme module node, an assortment module node, a generic article node, an article variant node, a merchandise node, and a merchandise category node.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising excluding one or more articles from the first group of articles to modify the assortment.
10. A computer-implemented system for planning an assortment, comprising:
a computing device configured to receive a hierarchical list of articles including a plurality of nodes wherein the plurality of nodes include a division node and a category node; and
a graphical user interface configured to receive sales information for a plurality of stores, the sales information of the plurality of stores comprising a theme module defining a group of related products and article information defining a specific product of the group of related products;
wherein the article information comprises a template display rack capacity and an individual display rack capacity;
wherein the computing device is configured to calculate a capacity index by dividing the individual display rack capacity by the template display rack capacity assigning the calculated capacity index to each of the plurality of stores,
define a criteria level for each of the plurality of stores based on the demographics and fashion price point of the each of the plurality of stores wherein the criteria level comprises levels including a flagship store, a high end store, a medium end store and a low end store,
categorize the plurality of stores according to both the capacity index value and criteria level,
and assign one or more stores to the assortment based on the categorizing result;
wherein assigning the first group of articles to the assortment assigns the first group of articles to the one or more stores that are assigned to the same assortment,
wherein the assortment corresponds to a particular display location at the one or more stores, for placement of the first group of articles, and
wherein the selection of the first node assigns the first group of articles concurrently to the assortment and the particular display location at the plurality of stores.
11. The system of claim 10, further including displaying the hierarchical list of articles to a user.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device further comprises a processing unit configured to receive a selection of a second node from the hierarchical list of articles to assign a second group of articles to the assortment.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein each group of articles corresponds to all of the articles in the hierarchical list below the selected node.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein each node in the hierarchical list of articles corresponds to a level, each level including one or more article groups.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein each article grouping on each level is associated with no more than one article grouping at a next highest level.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first node in the hierarchical list of articles is one of a division node, a category node, a sub-category node, a segment node, a consumer theme node, a theme module node, an assortment module node, a generic article node, an article variant node, a merchandise node, and a merchandise category node.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device further comprises means for excluding one or more articles from the first group of articles to modify the assortment.
18. A computer-readable storage media, for planning an assortment, storing machine-readable program code causing, when executed by a processor, one or more machines to perform the following method steps:
receiving a hierarchical list of articles including a plurality of nodes wherein the plurality of notes include a division node and a category node;
receiving, by one or more computers, sales information for a plurality of stores, the sales information of the plurality of stores comprising a theme module defining a group of related products and article information defining a specific product of the group of related products;
wherein the article information comprises a template display rack capacity and an individual display rack capacity;
calculating a capacity index by dividing the individual display rack capacity by the template display rack capacity assigning the calculated capacity index to each of the plurality of stores;
defining a criteria level for each of the plurality of stores based on the demographics and fashion price point of the each of the plurality of stores wherein the criteria level comprises levels including a flagship store, a high end store, a medium end store and a low end store;
categorizing, by the one or more computers, the plurality of stores according to both the capacity index value and criteria level;
assigning, by the one or more computers, one or more stores to the assortment based on the categorizing result;
receiving, using a graphical user interface, a selection of a first node from the hierarchical list of articles to assign a first group of articles to the assortment,
wherein assigning the first group of articles to the assortment assigns the first group of articles to the one or more stores that are assigned to the same assortment,
wherein the assortment corresponds to a particular display fixture at the one or more stores, for placement of the first group of articles, and
wherein the selection of the first node assigns the first group of articles concurrently to the assortment and the particular display location at the one or more stores.
19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the steps further comprise displaying the hierarchical list of articles to a user.
20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the selection of the first node is performed with input from a user.
21. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the steps further comprise receiving, using the graphical user interface, a selection of a second node from the hierarchical list of articles to assign a second group of articles to the assortment.
22. The computer-readable storage media of claim 21, wherein each group of articles corresponds to all of the articles in the hierarchical list below the selected node.
23. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein each node in the hierarchical list corresponds to a level, each level including one or more article groups.
24. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein each article grouping on each level is associated with no more than one article grouping at a next highest level.
25. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the first node in the hierarchical list of articles is one of a division node, a category node, a sub-category node, a segment node, a consumer theme node, a theme module node, an assortment module node, a generic article node, an article variant node, a merchandise node, and a merchandise category node.
26. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the steps further comprise excluding one or more articles from the first group of articles to modify the assortment.
27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
establishing, using the processor, a restriction to one of the plurality of stores for monitoring a receipt of a selection of one or more other nodes of the hierarchical list of articles to assign one or more other groups of articles to the assortment.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the restriction is configured for disallowing the selection of the one or more other nodes.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
upon the receipt of the selection of the one or more other nodes, facilitating a user override of the disallowance of the selection.
30. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, using the graphical user interface, a selection of the first node to assign the first group of articles to a second assortment.