Method and apparatus for localization of an acoustic source
First Claim
1. A method of processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source comprising the steps of:
- acquiring respective streams of acoustic data at a plurality of locations during a plurality of time frames;
determining whether the acoustic data acquired at any one of the locations during a particular time frame represents the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals;
identifying acoustic received signals at at least two of said locations representative of said sequence of signals if said acoustic data at any one of said locations represents the beginning of the sequence; and
determining a direction of said source based upon the identified acoustic received signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic signal processing method and system using a pair of spatially separated microphones to obtain the direction or location of speech or other acoustic signals from a common sound source is disclosed. The invention includes a method and apparatus for processing the acoustic signals by determining whether signals acquired during a particular time frame represent the onset or beginning of a sequence of acoustic signals from the sound source, identifying acoustic received signals representative of the sequence of signals, and determining the direction of the source based upon the acoustic received signals. The invention has applications to videoconferencing where it may be desirable to automatically adjust a video camera, such as by aiming the camera in the direction of a person who has begun to speak.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source comprising the steps of:
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acquiring respective streams of acoustic data at a plurality of locations during a plurality of time frames; determining whether the acoustic data acquired at any one of the locations during a particular time frame represents the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; identifying acoustic received signals at at least two of said locations representative of said sequence of signals if said acoustic data at any one of said locations represents the beginning of the sequence; and determining a direction of said source based upon the identified acoustic received signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source for use in videoconferencing comprising the steps of:
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acquiring a stream of acoustic data during a plurality of time frames; determining whether the acoustic data acquired during a particular time frame represent the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; identifying acoustic received signals representative of said sequence of signals when said data represents the beginning of the sequence; determining the direction of said source based upon the acoustic received signals; and aiming a video camera automatically in response to the step of determining the direction of said source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source comprising:
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a plurality of transducers for acquiring a stream of acoustic data during a plurality of time frames; means for determining whether the acoustic data acquired at any one of the transducers during a particular time frame represents the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; means for identifying acoustic received signals at at least two of said locations representative of said sequence of signals if said acoustic data at any one of said locations represents the beginning of the sequence; and means for determining a direction of said source based upon the identified acoustic received signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source for use in videoconferencing comprising:
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a video camera; a plurality of transducers for acquiring a stream of acoustic data during a plurality of time frames; means for determining whether the acoustic data acquired during a particular time frame represent the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; means for identifying acoustic received signals representative of said sequence of signals when said data represents the beginning of the sequence; and means for determining the direction of said source based upon the acoustic received signals; wherein the video camera is automatically aimed in the direction of the source in response to signals received from the means for determining the direction of said source. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source for use in videoconferencing comprising:
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a video camera; at least a first, second and third transducer for acquiring a stream of acoustic data during a plurality of time frames; means for determining whether the acoustic data acquired during a particular time frame represent the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; means for identifying acoustic received signals representative of said sequence of signals when said data represents the beginning of the sequence; and means for determining the direction of said source in two-dimensions based upon the acoustic received signals; wherein the video camera is automatically aimed in the direction of the source in response to signals received from the means for determining the direction of said source. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of processing a sequence of acoustic signals arriving from an acoustic source for use in videoconferencing comprising the steps of:
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acquiring a stream of acoustic data during a plurality of time frames at first, second and third transducers; determining whether the acoustic data acquired during a particular time frame represent the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; identifying acoustic received signals representative of said sequence of signals when said data represents the beginning of the sequence; determining the direction of said source in two-dimensions based upon the acoustic received signals; and aiming a video camera automatically in the direction of the source in response to the step of determining the direction of said source. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method of operating a video camera for use in videoconferencing comprising the steps of:
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displaying images corresponding to video data acquired by the video camera; acquiring a stream of acoustic data, including a sequence of acoustic signals from a source, during a plurality of time frames; determining the direction of said source based upon the acquired stream of acoustic data; aiming the video camera automatically in response to the step of determining by tilting or panning the video camera; and freezing the image displayed on a display during the period when the video camera is tilting or panning. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method of operating a system comprising at least first and second video cameras for use in videoconferencing comprising, the method comprising:
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displaying on a display images corresponding to video data acquired by the first video camera; acquiring a stream of acoustic data, including a sequence of acoustic signals from a source, during a plurality of time frames; determining whether the acoustic data acquired during a particular time frame represent the beginning of the sequence of acoustic signals; identifying acoustic received signals representative of said sequence of signals when said data represents the beginning of the sequence; and determining the direction of said source based upon the acoustic received signals; aiming the first video camera automatically in response to determining the direction by tilting or panning the video camera; and displaying on the display images corresponding to video data acquired by the second video camera during the period when the first video camera is tilting or panning.
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Specification