Muting Audio Streams via Talk Path Connection States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turret switching systems in trading floor environments face challenges in managing audio data streams across multiple talk paths, particularly in determining when to mute output audio data streams based on connection states, leading to potential audio interference and privacy issues.
Innovation Solution
A turret switching system that includes a media server and telephony devices connected via talk paths, where a mixer combines input audio data streams and determines whether to mute output audio data streams based on connection types and states, using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to create and manage talk paths, and Real-Time Protocol (RTP) for data transmission, with specific muting rules for different connection types such as speaker calls, handset calls, and privacy settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system broadcasts audio data streams to all telephony devices via multiple talk paths, then communication coverage is improved, but audio interference and privacy issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing connection-specific muting rules that treat different talk paths differently. Each talk path is evaluated individually based on its connection state (speaker call, handset call, conference call, or private call), and muting is applied selectively to specific output audio data streams rather than uniformly across all paths. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining broad communication coverage while locally suppressing audio interference in appropriate contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines muting status based on real-time connection states of talk paths. The muting decision is not static but changes according to the current state of each connection, allowing the system to adapt communication coverage and interference suppression dynamically. This dynamic approach enables the system to maximize communication coverage when appropriate while preventing audio interference when connection states indicate potential conflicts.
2Productivity
If the system allows multiple speaker calls to be active simultaneously, then communication efficiency is improved, but determining when to mute output audio data streams becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the muting control function into individual evaluations for each talk path and its corresponding output audio data stream. Rather than implementing a monolithic muting control system that must handle all speaker calls simultaneously, the system divides the problem into discrete segments (one per talk path), evaluating connection states and applying muting rules independently to each segment. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining support for multiple simultaneous speaker calls.
Solution Approach 2:
Each talk path effectively performs self-service by having its muting status determined independently based on its own connection state and the states of other talk paths. The system evaluates each connection autonomously against predefined muting rules, eliminating the need for complex centralized coordination. This self-service approach enables multiple speaker calls to operate simultaneously with simplified muting control logic.
3Reliability
If the system mutes output audio data streams based on connection states, then privacy is improved, but communication flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic muting control where the muting status of output audio data streams changes based on real-time connection states. Rather than applying static muting rules that would permanently restrict communication, the system continuously evaluates connection states (speaker call, handset call, conference call, private call) and adjusts muting accordingly. This dynamic approach ensures privacy protection when connection states indicate potential privacy concerns while maintaining communication flexibility when states permit broader communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies privacy protection locally to specific output audio data streams based on their associated talk path connection states, rather than applying uniform muting across all communications. Each output audio data stream is evaluated independently, and muting is applied only where connection states indicate privacy concerns. This local application of privacy protection preserves communication flexibility in areas where privacy is not a concern while ensuring privacy protection where needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Broadcasting data streams to telephony devices via talk paths, wherein audio data streams are muted based on connection states of each of the plurality of talk paths. Each telephony device sends an input audio data stream to a media server via a respective talk path. The media server combines input audio data streams received from the telephony devices to generate output audio data streams for sending to the telephony devices via the respective talk paths. For each telephony device, a determination is made as to whether to mute the respective output audio data stream. The determination is based on connection states of each of the talk paths.