Echo Cancellation via Grouped Representative Speakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online conference systems experience echo effects when participants are in close proximity, leading to poor audio quality, and existing solutions require manual coordination to disable microphones and speakers, which is inconvenient and may not ensure optimal audio reception.
Innovation Solution
Divide devices in an online conference into groups based on physical location and select a representative speaker for each group, forwarding audio data from one group to the representative speakers of other groups to prevent echo, while enabling all microphones and speakers to remain active.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all microphones and speakers are kept active in close proximity, then audio coverage is improved, but echo effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments devices into multiple groups based on physical location. Each group has a designated representative speaker, and audio data is selectively forwarded only to representative speakers of other groups rather than all devices. This segmentation allows all microphones and speakers to remain active while preventing echo by controlling the audio forwarding path.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual coordination is required to disable microphones and speakers, then echo is reduced, but system complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs echo cancellation by dividing devices into groups based on physical location and selectively forwarding audio data to representative speakers. This automated process eliminates the need for manual coordination among users to disable microphones and speakers, reducing both echo and user burden while maintaining optimal audio coverage.
3Productivity
If audio data is forwarded to all devices, then audio reception is maximized, but echo effects are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different audio forwarding rules to different groups of devices based on their physical locations. Audio data from a device in one group is forwarded only to representative speakers of other groups, not to all devices universally. This localized approach ensures optimal audio reception for each participant while preventing echo by avoiding forwarding to devices in the same physical location.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment for cancelling echo in online conference systems is provided. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the computer-implemented method comprises, in response to an update of devices of participants in an online conference, dividing, by one or more processors, the devices in an online conference into a plurality of groups, wherein the devices located in a same physical location are divided into a same group. The method also comprises, in response to an update of the devices in an online conference, selecting at least one speaker of the devices in each of the plurality of groups as a representative speaker for each of the plurality of groups. The method further comprises forwarding audio data received from microphones of the devices in one of the plurality of groups to the respective representative speaker of other groups of the plurality of groups.