Methods and systems for creating a spatial auditory environment in an audio conference system
First Claim
1. A system for audio communication between a plurality of users at a plurality of sites, the system comprising:
- a set of audio input sensors at each site, each set of audio input sensors binaurally sensing an auditory space in proximity thereto;
means for providing a metaphorical representation of each of the sites, each metaphorical representation being moveable by a user to a position within a metaphorical space;
means for combining the auditory space sensed at each site to form at least one synthetic auditory space, the at least one synthetic auditory space formed in dependence upon the position of each metaphorical representation within the metaphorical space; and
means for producing a binaurally-perceivable auditory environment at each site based upon the at least one synthetic auditory space.
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Abstract
A method and a system for audio communication between a plurality of users at a plurality of sites utilizes a set of audio input sensors at each site. Each set of audio input sensors binaurally senses an auditory space in proximity thereto. A metaphorical representation of each of the sites is provided. Each metaphorical representation has a position which is variable within a metaphorical space. The metaphorical representations can be based upon, for example, a physical metaphor, a visual metaphor, an auditory metaphor, or a textual metaphor. The auditory space sensed at each site is combined to form at least one synthetic auditory space. The at least one synthetic auditory space is formed in dependence upon the position of each metaphorical representation within the metaphorical space. A binaurally perceivable auditory environment is produced at one or more sites based upon the at least one synthetic auditory space.
190 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A system for audio communication between a plurality of users at a plurality of sites, the system comprising:
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a set of audio input sensors at each site, each set of audio input sensors binaurally sensing an auditory space in proximity thereto; means for providing a metaphorical representation of each of the sites, each metaphorical representation being moveable by a user to a position within a metaphorical space; means for combining the auditory space sensed at each site to form at least one synthetic auditory space, the at least one synthetic auditory space formed in dependence upon the position of each metaphorical representation within the metaphorical space; and means for producing a binaurally-perceivable auditory environment at each site based upon the at least one synthetic auditory space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of audio communication between a plurality of users at a plurality of sites, each site having a set of audio input sensors, the method comprising:
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binaurally sensing an auditory space in proximity to each set of audio input sensors; providing a metaphorical representation of each of the sites, each metaphorical representation being moveable by a user to a position within a metaphorical space; combining the auditory space sensed at each site to form at least one synthetic auditory space, the at least one synthetic auditory space formed in dependence upon the position of each metaphorical representation within the metaphorical space; and producing a binaurally-perceivable auditory environment at each site based upon the at least one synthetic auditory space. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for use with an audio conferencing apparatus which provides a user with a corresponding bidirectional audio communication link with each of a plurality of external transceivers, the audio conferencing apparatus containing an audio output device capable of producing sound waves from a first audio signal applied thereto, the audio conferencing apparatus further containing an audio input device capable of producing a second audio signal from sound waves received thereby for transmission to the plurality of external transceivers, the system comprising:
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a graphical user interface which displays a corresponding icon for each of the external transceivers at a corresponding location in a display space, wherein the corresponding location of each icon is capable of being modified by the user; a processor, operatively associated with the graphical user interface, which generates a control signal in dependence upon the corresponding location of each icon with respect to a reference location; and an audio mixer, operatively associated with the processor, which variably amplifies and variably pans a corresponding audio signal received from each of the plurality of external transceivers in dependence upon the control signal, and forms a mixed audio signal from a combination thereof; wherein the mixed audio signal is applied to the audio output device to create a spatial auditory environment based upon the audio signals received from the plurality of external transceivers. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method of bidirectional communication with each of a plurality of external transceivers, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first audio signal to each of the plurality of external transceivers; displaying a corresponding icon for each of the external transceivers at a corresponding location in a display space; receiving a corresponding audio signal from each of the plurality of external transceivers; amplifying and panning each corresponding audio signal in dependence upon the corresponding location of the corresponding icon with respect to a reference location; mixing the amplified and panned corresponding audio signals to form a mixed audio signal; and applying the mixed audio signal to an audio output device to create a spatial auditory environment based upon the audio signals received from the plurality of external transceivers. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification