Audio Mixing System for Echo Reduction in Teleconferences
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Solution Overview
Problem
In teleconferences, participants in the same room often experience difficulties hearing remote participants and being heard due to the mixing of microphone signals from multiple devices, leading to confusion and echo effects.
Innovation Solution
Devices form a data connection, with one device emitting a locating signal that is detected by others in the same audio space, allowing them to determine their relative locations and selectively mix audio signals to prevent feedback and echo.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple participants use individual microphones and speaker combinations in the same room, then each participant can be heard clearly by remote participants, but participants in the same room hear mixed versions of speakers' voices creating confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments participants into different audio spaces based on their physical locations. Devices detect locating signals to determine which participants are in the same room versus remote locations. The audio mixing system then segments the audio stream into separate mixes: one for same-room participants (where individual voices are transmitted) and one for remote participants (where all voices are mixed). This segmentation resolves the contradiction by preventing same-room participants from hearing mixed audio that would cause confusion, while still allowing remote participants to hear all speakers clearly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different audio processing qualities to different participant groups based on their location. Participants in the same room receive a different audio mix than remote participants. The system identifies local groups (same-room participants) and applies localized audio handling by excluding their own audio from the mixed stream they receive, while remote participants receive the complete mixed audio. This local differentiation eliminates the harmful effect of hearing one's own voice mixed in, while preserving the benefit of hearing all speakers for remote participants.
2Adaptability or versatility
If participants in the same room use non-shared devices, then each participant can hear remote participants, but audio feedback and echo effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback from device location detection to control audio mixing. Devices transmit locating signals and respond to determine their spatial relationships. This feedback information is used by the audio mixing system to identify which participants are in the same room and should receive customized audio mixes. By using this feedback loop, the system can selectively exclude same-room participants' audio from their own streams, preventing echo and feedback while maintaining the ability for all participants to hear remote speakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes specific audio components from the mixed stream based on participant location. For participants in the same room, the system extracts and excludes their own audio signals from the mixed stream they receive, preventing them from hearing their own voices mixed in. This extraction operation eliminates echo and feedback effects for same-room participants while preserving the complete audio mix for remote participants who need to hear all speakers.
3Productivity
If all participant audio is mixed together and sent to all participants, then remote participants can hear all speakers, but same-room participants hear confusing mixed versions of voices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic audio mixing that adapts to participant locations in real-time. The system continuously monitors locating signals from devices to determine current spatial arrangements. Based on this dynamic information, the audio mixing strategy changes: same-room participants receive individualized audio streams excluding their own voices, while remote participants receive the complete mixed audio. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal audio clarity for each participant group without requiring separate physical audio systems, maintaining high productivity for remote communication while preserving audio information quality for local participants.
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 method enables participants in the same room to hear each other clearly without receiving mixed or feedback signals, reducing echo and improving communication clarity.
Implementation Method 1
A locating signal, which may be an audio signal, is emitted by one device to other devices within an audio space
Data Source
AI summary
Devices are able to identify other devices in a shared audio space (e.g., a room) by emitting a signal and receiving messages from other devices over a data connection indicating which of the other devices received the emitted signal. Devices that are determined to be in the same audio space can selectively mix audio in a teleconference to inhibit mixing of audio signals for devices that are determined to be in the same audio space.