Ad-Hoc Microphone Array Using Mobile Devices for Conference Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
The quality of audio transmitted during meetings, especially video and audio conferences, is often compromised due to factors like background noise, echo, and poor microphone positioning, leading to unintelligible audio for remote participants.
Innovation Solution
Creating an ad-hoc microphone array using mobile devices' microphones, which identifies and pairs devices in proximity, maps their physical relationship, and switches between audio streams to prioritize the microphone closest to the active speaker, enhancing digital signal processing to filter out background noise and improve audio quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed microphone is used at a physical location, then the device complexity is reduced, but the audio quality deteriorates when the speaker is not positioned directly in front of the microphone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mobile devices with microphones into an ad-hoc microphone array, merging their audio capture capabilities to achieve improved audio quality without requiring a complex fixed microphone system. The mobile devices work together as a unified array, with each device contributing its microphone to the collective audio capture effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic selection of active microphones based on the speaker's position. The system continuously monitors which mobile device is closest to the active speaker and dynamically switches between microphones to maintain optimal audio quality. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to maintain high reliability while using simple mobile device microphones rather than complex fixed installations.
2Reliability
If multiple mobile devices are used to create an ad-hoc microphone array, then the audio quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile devices in the ad-hoc array perform self-service by automatically detecting their own positions, identifying the active speaker, and determining which device should be the active microphone. Each device contributes its own processing capabilities to the array, reducing the need for external complex control systems. The system leverages the inherent capabilities of the mobile devices themselves to manage the array's operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes mobile devices universal by having them perform multiple functions: audio capture, position detection, active speaker identification, and participation in array management. Each mobile device serves as both a participant and a potential active microphone, eliminating the need for dedicated specialized equipment and reducing overall system complexity despite using multiple devices.
3Reliability
If background noise filtering is enhanced through digital signal processing, then the audio intelligibility improves, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having mobile devices continuously detect their positions and monitor audio signals before noise filtering is needed. The ad-hoc array is pre-established with all devices ready to contribute, and the system proactively identifies the active speaker and selects the optimal microphone before audio quality degradation occurs. This preliminary preparation reduces real-time processing requirements and accelerates the noise filtering process.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a method includes determining when a first device and a second device are in proximity to each other, wherein the first device includes a first microphone and the second device includes a second microphone. The method also includes pairing the first device and the second device, and creating a mobile mapping of the physical relationship between the first device and the second device. Pairing the first device and the second device forms a microphone array that includes the first microphone and the second microphone. An aggregate stream is created using a first stream obtained from the first microphone and a second stream obtained from the second microphone. Creating the aggregate stream includes using the model mapping to determine when to use the first stream and when to use the second stream. Finally, the method also includes transmitting the aggregate stream.