Adaptive Microphone Positioning for Moving Teleconference Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing systems face challenges in accurately detecting and reproducing sound waves from users during telecommunication sessions due to the user's movement, leading to poor audio quality as the microphone may not be able to discern words clearly when the user is too far away or out of range.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts the position of the microphone receiver based on positioning information from a connected device to enhance sound wave detection, using methods like Time-of-Flight, Time-Difference-of-Flight, Angle-of-Arrival, and Angle-of-Departure to calculate the user's location and direct the receiver towards them, and adjusts volume accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the microphone receiver remains stationary, then the device complexity is reduced, but the audio quality deteriorates when the user moves away from the microphone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the microphone receiver movable rather than stationary. The receiver can dynamically adjust its position based on the user's location, allowing it to track and maintain optimal detection angles even as the user moves around the room, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining audio quality and avoiding complex positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously receiving positioning information from the user's device, calculating the optimal receiver position based on this feedback, and adjusting the receiver accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures audio quality is maintained without requiring overly complex manual positioning systems
Solution Approach 3:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with electronic and computational methods. Instead of using motors, gears, or other mechanical components to position the receiver, the system uses electronic signals to control the receiver's movement based on calculated positions derived from positioning data, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining audio quality
2Adaptability or versatility
If the microphone receiver adjusts position dynamically, then the audio quality is maintained as user moves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by making the microphone receiver serve multiple functions: it acts as both a stationary detection device and a dynamically adjustable tracking device. The same receiver component can remain fixed or move based on operational needs, eliminating the requirement for separate stationary and movable microphone systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes positioning information and determines optimal receiver positions. This intermediary system acts as a mediator between the user's location data and the receiver's physical positioning, reducing the complexity of direct mechanical control while improving adaptability to user movement
3Measurement precision
If the receiver is positioned optimally towards the user, then sound wave detection is enhanced, but the system complexity increases due to positioning calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with electronic and computational methods. Instead of using motors, gears, or other mechanical components to position the receiver, the system uses electronic signals to control the receiver's movement based on calculated positions derived from positioning data, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining audio quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically calculating and adjusting the receiver position based on positioning information from the user's device. The system serves itself by autonomously determining optimal positions and executing adjustments without requiring external intervention or complex manual positioning mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves audio quality by ensuring clear communication in telecommunication sessions by maintaining effective sound wave detection and reproduction as the user moves, compared to systems without adaptive microphone positioning.
Implementation Method 1
using methods like Time-of-Flight, Time-Difference-of-Flight, Angle-of-Arrival, and Angle-of-Departure to calculate the user's location
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein relate to systems and devices consistent with the disclosure. For instance, the computing device comprises a microphone, an antenna to receive signals providing positioning information, and a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processing resource to receive positioning information from the antenna, calculate a position of a receiver of the microphone based on the positioning information, and adjust the position of the receiver of the microphone towards a direction determined by the calculated positioning information.