Daisy-Chained Conferencing Audio Reinforcement for Large Room Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conferencing systems face limitations in expanding to cover larger areas and ensuring audibility of near-end audio for in-room participants, particularly those located far away from the speaker, and require substantial reconfiguration when adding devices.
Innovation Solution
A conferencing system with daisy-chained units that utilize digital audio buses to distribute audio processing across multiple devices, adjusting gain based on device position, ensuring clear reinforcement of near-end audio for all participants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple conferencing devices are used to cover larger areas, then the coverage area is improved, but the system complexity increases and requires substantial reconfiguration when adding devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the conferencing environment into multiple independent conferencing devices (e.g., speakerphones) that can be distributed throughout the space. Each device independently captures local audio and broadcasts far-end audio, eliminating the need for a single complex centralized system and enabling easy expansion by simply adding more discrete units without substantial reconfiguration.
2Device complexity
If centralized audio processing is used, then the audio mixing is simplified, but the expandability of the system is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically assigns the role of primary audio processing device based on which device is currently capturing audio from the active speaker. Instead of a fixed centralized processor, any conferencing device can become the primary processor when needed, allowing the system to adapt to different configurations and expansions without requiring substantial reconfiguration of the audio processing architecture.
3Power
If far-end audio is broadcast through loudspeakers, then the audio reinforcement is provided, but the near-end audio becomes too loud and irritating for in-room listeners
Solution Approach 1:
Each conferencing device broadcasts far-end audio through its own local loudspeaker at appropriate volume levels for the nearby in-room participants. This localized audio reinforcement ensures that far-end speakers are audible to everyone in the room without requiring high-volume broadcasting that would cause irritation, as each device serves its local area independently.
4Device complexity
If a single conferencing device is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the audibility of near-end audio for distant listeners is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple distributed conferencing devices, each capturing audio locally and reinforcing it for nearby listeners. This segmentation of the audio distribution network ensures that near-end audio is clearly audible to all in-room participants regardless of their position, as each device provides localized audio reinforcement to its surrounding area.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, apparatus, and methods for processing audio signals associated with conferencing devices communicatively connected in a daisy-chain configuration using local connection ports included on each device are provided. One method involving a first conferencing device comprises receiving auxiliary mixed microphone signal(s) from at least one other conferencing device via at least one local connection port, each auxiliary signal comprising a mix of microphone signals captured by the at least one other conferencing device; determining a gain adjustment value for each auxiliary mixed microphone signal based on a daisy-chain position of the at least one other conferencing device relative to the position of the first conferencing device; adjusting a gain value for each auxiliary mixed microphone signal based on the corresponding gain adjustment value; generating a loudspeaker output signal from the gain- adjusted auxiliary mixed microphone signal(s); and providing the loudspeaker signal to the loudspeaker of the first conferencing device.