Variable beamforming with a mobile platform

Abstract

The invention relates to VARIABLE BEAMFORMING WITH A MOBILE PLATFORM. A mobile platform includes a microphone array and is capable of implementing beamforming to amplify or suppress audio information from a sound source. The sound source is indicated through a user input, such as pointing the mobile platform in the direction of the sound source or through a touch screen display interface. The mobile platform further includes orientation sensors capable of detecting movement of the mobile platform. When the mobile platform moves with respect to the sound source, the beamforming is adjusted based on the data from the orientation sensors so that beamforming is continuously implemented in the direction of the sound source. The audio information from the sound source may be included or suppressed from a telephone or video-telephony conversation. Images or video from a camera may be likewise controlled based on the data from the orientation sensors.

Description

[0001] The patent application for this invention is the international application number PCT / US2012 / 021340, the international application date is January 13, 2012, the application number entering the Chinese national phase is 201280005335.1, and the name is "Variable Beamforming Using a Mobile Platform" A divisional application of an invention patent application. technical field [0002] This application relates to variable beamforming with mobile platforms. Background technique [0003] Current computers such as laptops, desktops, and smart phones and tablets do not have the ability to easily join people other than the primary user in the call (if the other people are at different locations in the room), even if The same is true where the device includes a directional microphone or microphone array. Simply amplifying all sound sources in a room will often create a lot of unwanted background noise. Individuals wishing to participate in a telephone or video telephony call a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Thus, a person who may be sitting or resting comfortably, but wishes to say a few words on the call, is forced to move closer to the microphone and / or camera or will not be able to hear or see clearly

[0004] While beamforming techniques using microphone arrays are known (such as high noise rejection techniques) and can reduce distracting ambient noise and bit rate requirements during voice calls (Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), etc.), these techniques generally Relying on beam-steering algorithms that attempt to identify a single speaker based on several time-, space-, frequency-, and amplitude-based cues causes attenuation during rapid switching between speakers and prevents multiple-speaker scenarios such as the one described

Additionally, the task of direction-of-arrival identification can become difficult under poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, resulting in speech cancellation, background noise modulation, and other artifacts

Also, in the case of mobile devices such as computer tablets or smartphones, there is the potential for the device to move during a call, making the task of direction-of-arrival identification even more difficult

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