Information Processing Device for Parallel Audio Routing in Conferencing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online conferencing systems do not effectively allow for separate conversations between specific users without disrupting the overall conversation among all users, leading to potential exclusion of participants in secondary discussions.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device and method that enables a mechanism for a separate conversation to take place between specific users while maintaining their participation in the overall conversation, by using a processor to output distinct speech for the separate conversation to engaged users and only overall conversation to non-engaged users, utilizing a communication control unit to manage speech and image processing to ensure seamless integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate conversation is established between specific users, then private communication between those users is enabled, but other participants are excluded from the separate conversation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversation mode flexibilityVSAvoidinformation access for non-engaged users

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the audio output into separate channels: one channel carries the separate conversation audio for engaged users, while another channel carries the overall conversation audio for non-engaged users. This segmentation allows different user groups to receive different audio streams simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between private communication and information accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The information processing device acts as an intermediary that receives audio from multiple sources, processes it differently based on user engagement status, and distributes it appropriately. It mediates between the separate conversation audio source and the overall conversation audio source, combining them in a way that serves different user needs simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users engage in a separate conversation, then focused discussion between specific users is achieved, but their participation in the overall conversation may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparate conversation capabilityVSAvoidcontinuous participation in overall conversation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous audio output for both separate conversations and overall conversations simultaneously. Users engaged in separate conversations can continue to hear the overall conversation through the speaker, ensuring uninterrupted participation in both conversation types without requiring them to switch modes or mute channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20230100767A1Information processing device, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2023.03.30 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing device includes a processor configured to output, in a case where a service is being used in which at least speech is exchanged among multiple users such that a conversation takes places among all of the multiple users, a speech of a separate conversation distinctly from a speech of the conversation taking place among all of the multiple users to a device of a user who is engaged in the separate conversation with a specific user from among the multiple users, and output the speech of the conversation taking place among all of the multiple users without outputting the speech of the separate conversation to a device of a user who is not engaged in the separate conversation.