Direction-Aware Audio Segmentation for Meeting Side Conversations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Side conversations during meetings can interfere with the primary speaker's message, making it difficult for participants to focus on the main discussion, especially in multi-participant environments where audio and video signals can compete.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses participant headphones equipped with directional orientation and gaze-tracking technology to identify and initiate side conversations, prioritizing audio signals from participants within the focus direction of the first participant, thereby minimizing interference with the primary speaker's audio.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If side conversations are allowed during meetings, then participant communication flexibility is improved, but interference with the primary speaker's message increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidinterference with primary speaker

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The audio output is segmented into multiple independent channels: a first output for the primary speaker and second outputs for side conversation participants. This segmentation allows the system to deliver different audio content to different participant groups simultaneously, enabling side conversations without interfering with the primary speaker's message propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different audio quality and priority levels are assigned to different spatial locations or participant groups. Participants engaged in side conversations receive prioritized audio signals tailored to their specific interaction, while other participants continue to receive the primary speaker's message with appropriate audio quality, creating localized audio experiences that resolve the interference conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If audio signals from side conversation participants are prioritized, then side conversation clarity is improved, but primary speaker's message propagation is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside conversation audio clarityVSAvoidprimary speaker message

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The audio signal processing is segmented into separate streams: one stream processes and prioritizes audio from participants engaged in side conversations for their specific group, while another stream maintains the primary speaker's message for general distribution. This segmentation ensures that prioritizing side conversation audio does not result in loss of the primary speaker's message, as both streams are independently processed and delivered to appropriate recipients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10360894B1Direction-aware cross talk management

Publication Date: 2019.07.23 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

In response to commencement of a meeting, embodiments select audio signals provided by the host of a meeting as a primary audio data source broadcast to a first meeting participant through a speaker of headphones worn by the first participant; determine a direction of gaze of the first meeting participant as a function of orientation data of the headphones; in response to determining that a second meeting participant is located within the gaze and that attention of the first participant is focused upon the second participant, initiate a side conversation between the first and second participants and set audio signals provided by the second participant as the primary source to the first participant through the headphones speaker.