Cascaded Microphone Networking for Large-Room Audio Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cascaded microphone systems face limitations in synchronization, networking, and deployment due to their design, which restricts the number of microphones and coverage, especially in large conference rooms or classrooms.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for large-scale networking of cascaded microphones, utilizing a triple tree structure comprising cascaded microphones, a cascaded Hub, and a video conference unit, with audio processors and data interfaces to enable scalable networking and energy-based data selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If cascaded microphones are added to extend sound picking up distance, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity increases and synchronization problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the microphone network into hierarchical levels: video conference units with array microphones form the base layer, while cascaded microphones form extended layers. Each level operates semi-independently with local audio processing, allowing the system to scale coverage area without proportionally increasing overall complexity. The segmentation enables modular deployment where each segment manages its own synchronization locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate audio processing units at each cascaded microphone level that perform local audio processing and synchronization before transmitting to the next level. These intermediaries handle timing alignment and signal processing locally, preventing synchronization errors from propagating through the entire chain and reducing the complexity burden on the central video conference unit.
2Reliability
If all sound processing is centralized in the video conference unit, then processing consistency is improved, but the maximum number of cascaded microphones is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local audio processing capabilities at each cascaded microphone level rather than requiring all processing to occur centrally. Each audio processing unit performs local functions such as noise reduction, echo cancellation, and signal mixing before passing results upward. This distributed approach maintains processing consistency through standardized algorithms while enabling the system to accommodate many more microphones than centralized processing would allow.
3Ease of operation
If cascaded microphones are Daisy chain-connected, then networking simplicity is improved, but networking flexibility and deployment options are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the cascaded microphone system with universal interfaces and protocols that support multiple connection topologies. The audio processing units can operate in Daisy chain mode for simple deployments, but also support star, tree, and mesh configurations for complex deployments. The standardized audio data formats and communication protocols enable the same hardware to adapt to different networking requirements, providing both simplicity and flexibility.
4Device complexity
If the mixer interface limits the number of microphones, then device complexity is reduced, but overall coverage effect is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the microphone system architecture, organizing microphones into multiple levels rather than a single flat layer. Video conference units with array microphones form the first dimension, while cascaded microphones form extended dimensions. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows the system to accommodate far more than 8 microphones by distributing them across hierarchical levels, effectively bypassing the limitation of traditional single-layer mixer interfaces while maintaining manageable device complexity at each level.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method of large-scale networking extended cascaded microphones including: a plurality of cascaded microphones configured for picking up a sound and completing an audio processing according to a reference audio signal received from the cascaded Hub of a superior device after the sound is picked up, and sending processed sound data to the cascaded Hub of the superior device; a cascaded Hub configured for comparing energies after the sound data uploaded by one or more cascaded microphones of a subordinate device are received, and sending the sound data with a maximum energy to the conference integrated machine of the superior device; and a conference integrated machine configured for completing an audio processing according to an audio signal received from a PC machine as a reference audio signal after the sound is picked up.