Virtual microphones in electronic conferencing systems
First Claim
1. A multi-pod conferencing system for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants, the multi-pod conferencing system comprising;
- a base unit including a base controller configured to communicate audio signals with the remote conference participates over a carrier medium; and
a plurality of pods separate from, and operably coupled to, the base unit, wherein each pod of the plurality of pods comprises;
a pod processor;
a loudspeaker operably coupled to the pod processor;
a digital to analog converter operably coupled to the loudspeaker, the digital to analog converter configured to convert digital audio to analog audio for sound reproduction by the loudspeaker;
a plurality of physical microphones connected to a pair of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker;
an analog to digital converter operably coupled with the plurality of physical microphones, the analog to digital converter configured to convert the analog audio to digital audio for processing by the pod processor; and
a plurality of virtual microphones for reducing common-mode noise, each virtual microphone of the plurality of virtual microphones formed from a combination of at least two outputs from the plurality of the physical microphones,wherein the analog to digital converters for each pod of the plurality of pods are configured for synchronized sampling with the analog to digital converters of the other pods of the plurality of pods in the multi-pod conferencing system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes a virtual microphone for reducing common-mode noise for an individual pod in a multi-pod conferencing system that includes a base and a plurality of pods for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants. The described virtual microphone includes pod processor means and a loudspeaker that couples to a digital to analog converter that converts digital audio to analog audio, where the loudspeaker couples to the pod processor means. In addition, the virtual microphone includes three physical bi-polar microphones positioned at 120-degree intervals in the horizontal resting plane of the pod, where each individual physical microphone connects to a pair of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker, and where the physical microphones couple to analog to digital converting means, and further where the physical microphones couple to the pod processor means. Further, the virtual microphone includes virtual microphone means. And, the virtual microphone includes pod echo cancellation means. Further, the virtual microphone includes microphone gating means using a loudness value, a quietness counter, and a noise floor value. And further, the virtual microphone also has the individual pod using the microphone gating means to gate on or off the virtual microphone.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-pod conferencing system for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants, the multi-pod conferencing system comprising;
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a base unit including a base controller configured to communicate audio signals with the remote conference participates over a carrier medium; and a plurality of pods separate from, and operably coupled to, the base unit, wherein each pod of the plurality of pods comprises; a pod processor; a loudspeaker operably coupled to the pod processor; a digital to analog converter operably coupled to the loudspeaker, the digital to analog converter configured to convert digital audio to analog audio for sound reproduction by the loudspeaker; a plurality of physical microphones connected to a pair of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker; an analog to digital converter operably coupled with the plurality of physical microphones, the analog to digital converter configured to convert the analog audio to digital audio for processing by the pod processor; and a plurality of virtual microphones for reducing common-mode noise, each virtual microphone of the plurality of virtual microphones formed from a combination of at least two outputs from the plurality of the physical microphones, wherein the analog to digital converters for each pod of the plurality of pods are configured for synchronized sampling with the analog to digital converters of the other pods of the plurality of pods in the multi-pod conferencing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of manufacturing a virtual microphone system for reducing common-mode noise for an individual pod that is part of a multi-pod conferencing system, the method comprising:
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providing a base unit having a base processor for communicating audio signals to remote conference participants; and providing a plurality of pods that are coupled to, and separate from, the base unit, wherein providing the plurality of pods comprises; providing a pod processor for providing audio processing for various pod functions; coupling a loudspeaker to a digital to analog converter and the pod processor, the digital to analog converter configured to convert digital audio from the pod processor to analog audio to the loudspeaker; coupling an analog to digital converter to a plurality of physical microphones that are configured to sample analog audio in a synchronized manner with sampling performed by analog to digital converters of other pods of the virtual microphone system; connecting the plurality of physical microphone a plurality of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker; and coupling the physical microphones with the pod processor, such that outputs from the plurality physical microphones are combined forming a plurality of virtual microphones for reducing common-mode noise. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of using a virtual microphone system for a multi-pod conferencing system, the method comprising:
communicating local audio to remote participants through a base unit and coupled with a plurality of pods, wherein communicating further comprises; audio processing using a pod processor; converting digital audio to analog audio with a loudspeaker that coupled to a digital to analog converter and the pod processor; converting sampled analog audio to digital audio using an analog to digital converter coupled to a plurality of physical bi-polar microphones positioned in the horizontal resting plane of each individual pod of the plurality of pods, each individual physical microphone connected to a pair of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker, the physical microphones coupled to the pod processor, wherein the sampled analog audio is synchronized with sampling performed by other analog to digital converters from other pods of the virtual microphone system; and creating a plurality of virtual microphones for reducing common-mode noise, the plurality of virtual microphones are formed by combining outputs from the plurality of physical microphones. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification