Directional Audio Focus for Video Call Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic devices face challenges in improving audio signal quality, particularly with noisy audio signals, as they struggle to accurately identify and focus on the source of audio communication in video calls, especially when multiple microphones are used, leading to reduced sound quality due to competing audio signals.
Innovation Solution
The system processes video images and audio communications from multiple microphones to identify the source of the audio, determining the angle and displaying location information, allowing for filtering or emphasizing sounds from specific directions, thereby enhancing audio quality by suppressing noise outside the identified angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple microphones are used to capture audio signals, then the coverage area is improved, but the audio signal quality deteriorates due to competing audio signals from multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio signal processing by separating signals into different directional sectors. Each microphone's input is processed to identify and isolate sounds from specific angular ranges, allowing the system to selectively capture desired audio sources while excluding competing signals from other directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different processing characteristics to different spatial regions. The system identifies the direction of the desired audio source and applies enhanced processing (such as gain adjustment or noise suppression) specifically to signals arriving from that direction, while applying different processing to signals from other directions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If audio signals from multiple directions are captured, then the versatility is improved, but the measurement precision of the desired audio source deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors audio signals from multiple microphones, identifies the direction of the desired source, and adjusts processing parameters accordingly. The system provides feedback to the signal processing pipeline to dynamically adjust sector definitions and processing gains based on the identified audio source direction, thereby maintaining precision while preserving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the audio processing dynamic by allowing the system to adapt to changing audio source positions. The directional sectors and processing parameters are not fixed but are dynamically adjusted based on real-time identification of the desired audio source, enabling the system to maintain high measurement precision even when the source moves or when multiple sources are present.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system processes audio signals to identify and filter specific directions, then the audio quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing directional filtering that processes only the necessary portions of the audio signal spectrum and spatial information. Rather than performing exhaustive processing on all possible directions and frequencies, the system focuses computational resources on identifying and processing signals from the dominant audio source direction, achieving effective noise reduction with reduced processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
One example device includes a camera; a display device; a memory; and a processor in communication with the memory to receive audio signals from two or more microphones or a far-end device; receive first location information and second location information, the first location information for a visual identification of an audio source of the received audio signals and the second location information identifying a direction of arrival from the audio source; receive a first adjustment to a first portion of a UI to change either a visual identification or a coordinate direction of a direction focus; in response to the first adjustment, automatically perform a second adjustment to a second portion of the UI to change the other of the visual identification or the coordinate direction of the direction focus; and process the audio signals to filter sounds outside the direction focus, or emphasize sounds within the direction focus.