In-Person Conference Audio Capture Using User-Device Microphones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conferencing systems fail to improve audio quality for in-person participants in large conference rooms due to ineffective detection and adjustment of audio signals from participants seated at a distance from the in-room microphone, and they do not leverage additional user devices present in the room.
Innovation Solution
A conference system configures a user device's microphone within the conference room for audio capture, determining its presence and obtaining permission to use it, and combines the captured audio with the in-room microphone's audio for improved quality, optionally requiring administrator authorization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single in-room microphone is used to capture audio for all participants, then the device complexity is low, but the audio quality for distant participants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple audio capture sources (conference room microphone and user device microphones) into a unified audio capture system. The server coordinates these diverse microphones to work together, selecting and combining their outputs to provide high-quality audio for all participants regardless of distance.
Solution Approach 2:
User devices serve multiple functions: they act as both communication endpoints for participants and additional audio capture devices. The microphones in user devices, originally intended for personal use, are leveraged to enhance the overall conference audio quality for remote participants.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional conferencing systems use a fixed in-room microphone, then the system stability is high, but the adaptability to different participant positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The audio capture system dynamically adapts to participant positions by continuously monitoring which user devices are present and actively speaking. The server adjusts the audio capture configuration in real-time, selecting the most appropriate microphones based on current conference conditions and participant locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from speech detection and audio analysis to determine which user devices should contribute audio. The server monitors conference audio quality and participant activity, then adjusts the audio capture configuration accordingly, creating a closed-loop adaptive system.
3Reliability
If user devices are leveraged for audio capture, then the audio quality improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to permission requirements
Solution Approach 1:
User devices automatically participate in audio capture without requiring manual configuration. The system prompts users for permission and automatically configures the audio capture settings, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust microphone settings or configure audio devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system obtains user permission for microphone access before the conference begins or during setup. By securing permissions in advance, the system eliminates the need for repeated permission requests during the conference, streamlining the operation for users.
Data Source
AI summary
A conference room device located in a conference room uses a conference room microphone to capture audio for one or more in-person conference participants located in the conference room during a conference. During the conference, audio is sampled from the microphone used by the conference room device and from microphones of one or more user devices determined to be located in the conference room. Based on a score calculated for the audio sampled from a user device being higher than a score calculated for audio sampled from the conference room device, the microphone of the user device is selected for audio capture for one or more of the in-person conference participants. The audio is output through conferencing software to which the conference room device is connected via a user interface tile for the conference room without displaying a new user interface tile.