DETECTING DEVICES IN OVERLAPPING AUDIO SPACE

• US 20080159178A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Syrjanen, Sampo, Vartiainen, Panu
• Granted Patent: US 8,243,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

Devices are able to identify other devices in a shared audio space (e.g., a room) by emitting a signal and receiving messages from other devices over a data connection indicating which of the other devices received the emitted signal. Devices that are determined to be in the same audio space can selectively mix audio in a teleconference to inhibit mixing of audio signals for devices that are determined to be in the same audio space.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a shared data connection between a plurality of devices;

emitting a locating signal from a first device of the plurality of devices;

receiving from a second device of the plurality of devices a message over the shared data connection indicating whether the locating signal was detected by the second device; and

in response to determining that the second device detected the locating signal, storing an indication that the first device is in a shared audio space with the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locating signal comprises an audio signal emitted from a speaker incorporated into the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the locating signal comprises a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the DTMF signal comprises tones that do not coincide with tones assigned to numeric keys associated with each of the plurality of devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the emitting, receiving, and storing steps with a third device of the plurality of devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to emitting the locating signal, transmitting over the shared data connection a recording message indicating that each of the plurality of devices should begin recording.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, after transmitting the recording message, receiving one or more confirmation messages confirming initiation of recording.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, after emitting the locating signal, transmitting a stop message indicating that each of the plurality of devices should stop recording.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to emitting the locating signal, selecting the first device to emit the locating signal on the basis of information exchanged at the time the shared data connection is established.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting mixing of a teleconference audio signal based on the stored indication.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inhibiting inhibits mixing of teleconference audio signals that are determined to originate from the first device or the second device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitting, receiving, and storing steps are performed in a mobile terminal.

13. A method comprising:

forming a shared data connection between a plurality of devices;

receiving a message configured to initiate a recording operation;

recording audio signals;

analyzing the one or more recorded audio signals and determining, based on the analysis, whether a predetermined signal is present in each of the one or more recorded audio signals; and

in response to determining that the predetermined signal is present, storing an indication that at least two of the plurality of devices are located in an audio space.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, after recording the audio signals, stopping recording upon receiving a stop message indicating that the recording operation should stop.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a confirmation message to a device from which the recording message was received confirming that the recording message was received.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein analyzing the one or more recorded audio signals comprises detecting whether a predetermined dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tone is present.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the one or more recorded audio signals further comprises analyzing the recorded signal using Goertzel'"'"'s algorithm.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to determining that the predetermined signal is present, transmitting a confirmation message confirming that the predetermined signal was detected.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising inhibiting mixing of an audio signal from another device determined to be within the same audio space.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the forming, receiving, analyzing, and storing are performed in a mobile terminal.

21. A device comprising:

a signal-emitting element configured to generate a locating signal;

a signal-receiving element configured to receive signals emitted from one or more other devices;

a processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform a method comprising;

establishing a shared data connection with the one or more other devices;

emitting the locating signal by the signal-emitting element;

receiving from at least one of the one or more other devices a message over the shared data connection indicating that the locating signal was detected; and

in response to receiving the message indicating that the locating signal was detected, storing an indication that the device is in a shared audio space with the at least one of the one or more of the other devices.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the signal-emitting element comprises a speaker and the locating signal comprises an audio signal.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the locating signal comprises a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the memory stores further instructions for, prior to the locating signal being emitted, transmitting a recording message to one or more other devices over the shared data connection indicating that a recording operation should begin.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the memory stores further instructions for, after the locating signal is emitted, transmitting a stop message to the one or more other devices over the shared data connection indicating that the recording operation should stop.

26. The device of claim 21, further comprising a mixer capable of mixing audio signals received from other devices.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the memory stores further instructions for inhibiting mixing of audio signals received from one or more other devices that are determined to be in a shared audio space with the device.

28. The device of claim 21, wherein the device comprises a mobile terminal.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the signal-receiving element is further configured to record signals, analyze the signals to determine whether a predetermined signal is present and, in response to determining that the predetermined signal is present, storing an indication that the device is in a shared audio space with the one or more other devices.

30. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

forming a shared data connection between a plurality of devices;

receiving a message indicating that a recording operation should begin;

recording audio signals from at least one of the plurality of devices;

analyzing the recorded audio signals and determining, based on the analysis, whether a predetermined signal is present; and

in response to determining that the predetermined signal is present, storing an indication that at least two of the plurality of devices are located in an audio space.

31. A method comprising:

determining whether one or more devices are located within a shared audio space;

initiating a teleconference among a plurality of devices; and

inhibiting mixing of audio for devices that are determined to be within the shared audio space.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a shared data connection between a plurality of devices;

means for emitting a locating signal from a first device of the plurality of devices;

means for receiving from a second device of the plurality of devices a message over the shared data connection indicating whether the locating signal was detected by the second device; and

means for storing an indication that the first device is in a shared audio space with the second device in response to determining that the second device detected the locating signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for transmitting, over the shared data connection, a recording message indicating that each of the plurality of devices should begin recording.