Stereo microphone processing for teleconferencing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for processing multi-channel audio signals in a teleconference, the method comprising:
- receiving microphone signals from a plurality of microphones for a plurality channels;
arbitrating the microphone signals for each channel to develop one or more selected microphone signals;
forming an audio signal for each channel from the one or more selected microphone signals; and
sending the audio signal for each channel to the far end.
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Abstract
Methods and devices for improving the intelligibility of audio in a teleconferencing unit. Multiple microphones and multiple audio channels are used, in which only the best microphones are selected to represent each audio channel. Multiple microphones signals may be mixed according to microphones'"'"' positions in a room to form a single signal to represent one audio channel. The audio signal may be further processed to effectuate other features.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for processing multi-channel audio signals in a teleconference, the method comprising:
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receiving microphone signals from a plurality of microphones for a plurality channels;
arbitrating the microphone signals for each channel to develop one or more selected microphone signals;
forming an audio signal for each channel from the one or more selected microphone signals; and
sending the audio signal for each channel to the far end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A teleconference unit comprising:
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a network interface;
a processing module coupled to the network interface;
an audio input interface coupled to the processing module for receiving audio input signals; and
an audio output interface coupled to the processing module for sending out audio output signals to loudspeakers, wherein the processing module is operable to;
receive a plurality of microphone signals from the audio input interface, each of which is assigned to one of a plurality of audio channels;
arbitrate the microphone signals for each audio channel to develop one or more selected microphone signals;
form an audio signal for each channel from the selected microphone signals;
encode audio channels into one or more audio signals;
send the audio signals to a far end teleconference unit via the network interface;
receive far end audio signals from the far end teleconference unit; and
decode the far end audio signals into far end audio channels; and
reproduce the far end audio channels through the loudspeakers via audio output interface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A teleconference system comprising:
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a first teleconference unit at a near end includes, a first network interface, a first processing module coupled to the first network interface, a first audio input interface coupled to the first processing module for receiving audio input signals, and a first audio output interface coupled to the first processing module for sending out audio output signals to loudspeakers; and
a second teleconference unit at a far end coupled to the first teleconference unit through a network, includes, a second network interface coupled to the first network interface through the network, a second processing module coupled to the second network interface, a second audio input interface coupled to the second processing module for receiving audio input signals, and a second audio output interface coupled to the second processing module for sending out audio output signals to loudspeakers;
wherein the first processing module is operable to;
receive a plurality of microphone signals from the first audio input interface, each of which is assigned to one of a plurality of audio channels, arbitrate the microphone signals for each audio channel to develop one or more selected microphone signals, form an audio signal for each channel from the selected microphone signals, encode audio channels into one or more audio signals, send the audio signals to the second teleconference unit via the first network interface, receive far end audio signals from the second teleconference unit, decode the far end audio signals into far end audio channels, and reproduce the far end audio channels through the loudspeakers via the first audio output interface; and
wherein the second processing module is operable to;
receive a plurality of microphone signals from the second audio input interface, each of which is assigned to one of a plurality of audio channels, arbitrate the microphone signals for each audio channel to develop one or more selected microphone signals, form an audio signal for each channel from the selected microphone signals, encode audio channels into one or more audio signals, send the audio signals to the first teleconference unit via the second network interface, receive near end audio signals from the first teleconference unit, decode the near end audio signals into near end audio channels, and reproduce the near end audio channels through the loudspeakers via the second audio output interface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification