SPATIAL SOUND CONFERENCE SYSTEM AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A spatial sound conference system comprising:
- a conference station comprising;
right and left spatially disposed microphones connected to a communication channel for receiving right and left audio signals, wherein the differences between the right and left audio signals represent a head-related transfer function; and
a remote station comprising;
right and left spatially disposed loudspeakers connected to the communication channel.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The spatial sound conference system enables participants in a teleconference to distinguish between speakers even during periods of interruption and overtalk, identify speakers based on spatial location cues, understand low volume speech, and block out background noise using spatial sound information. Spatial sound information may be captured using microphones positioned at the ear locations of a dummy head at a conference table, or spatial sound information may be added to a participant'"'"'s monaural audio signal using head-related transfer functions. Head-related transfer functions simulate the frequency response of audio signals across the head from one ear to the other ear to create a spatial location for a sound. Spatial sound is transmitted across a communication channel, such as ISDN, and reproduced using spatially disposed loudspeakers positioned at the ears of a participant. By inserting a spatial sound component in a teleconference, a speaker other than the loudest speaker may be heard during periods of interruption and overtalk. Additionally, speakers may be more readily identified when they have a spatial sound position, and the perception of background noise is reduced.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A spatial sound conference system comprising:
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a conference station comprising;
right and left spatially disposed microphones connected to a communication channel for receiving right and left audio signals, wherein the differences between the right and left audio signals represent a head-related transfer function; and
a remote station comprising;
right and left spatially disposed loudspeakers connected to the communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for conducting a spatial sound conference comprising the steps of:
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converting audio information into right and left audio signals at a conference station, wherein the conversion imparts a differential characteristic to the right and left audio signals, and the differential characteristic is represented by a head-related transfer function, and the right and left audio signals comprise spatialized audio;
transmitting audio information representative of said spatialized audio from the conference station across a communication channel to a remote station; and
playing the spatialized audio in the remote station. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A spatial sound conference system comprising:
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a transmitting station comprising;
a microphone connected to a communications system for receiving an audio signal;
a head-related transfer function unit connected to the communications system for imparting a head-related transfer function to the audio signal to produce a spatialized audio signal; and
a receiving station comprising;
right and left spatially disposed loudspeakers connected to the communication system for receiving the spatialized audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for conducting a spatial sound conference comprising the steps of:
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receiving an audio signal at a transmitting station;
transmitting the audio signal from the transmitting station to a spatial sound conference bridge;
imparting a head-related transfer function to the audio signal to create a spatialized audio signal;
sending the spatialized audio signal from the spatial sound conference bridge to a receiving station; and
playing the spatialized audio signal on spatially disposed loudspeakers at the receiving station. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for conducting a spatial sound conference comprising the steps of:
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receiving an audio signal at a transmitting station;
transmitting the audio signal from the transmitting station to a receiving station;
imparting a head-related transfer function to the audio signal to create spatialized audio signal;
playing the spatialized audio signal on spatially disposed loudspeakers in the receiving station. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A spatial sound conference bridge comprising:
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at least two input ports for receiving at least two audio outputs;
a head-related transfer function unit to the at least two input ports for imparting a head-related transfer function to at least one received audio signal to produce one spatialized audio signal; and
at two output ports connected to the head-related transfer function unit for transmitting the spatialized audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for conducting a spatial sound conference comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least two monaural audio signals;
generating at least two sets of spatialized audio signals from the at least two monaural audio signals using at least two head-related transfer functions;
compiling at least one composite signal from the at least two sets of spatialized audio signals;
transmitting at least one composite signal to a location; and
playing at least one composite signal at the location.
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Specification