Scalable Conferencing Devices for Large-Room Audio Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conferencing systems face challenges in providing adequate pickup coverage in larger rooms, are costly and complicated to deploy, and are difficult to move or manage, especially when customized for specific environments.
Innovation Solution
A scalable conferencing system comprising multiple devices that can be placed on surfaces, mounted on ceilings, or attached to walls, with synchronized audio pickup and reproduction, and a hub for centralized control, allowing easy deployment and reconfiguration across different rooms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a dedicated conferencing system is deployed to cover larger rooms, then audio pickup coverage is improved, but system complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the conferencing function into separate, independent modules: conferencing devices for audio pickup, display devices for visual output, and a hub for coordination. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and deployed flexibly based on room requirements, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The conferencing devices are designed as universal units that can function independently or be combined with other devices in the system. Each device can provide audio pickup, display, and networking capabilities, allowing them to serve multiple functions and reducing the need for specialized dedicated systems for each function.
2Measurement precision
If customized conferencing systems with dedicated endpoints are deployed, then audio quality is improved, but mobility and reconfiguration capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing conferencing devices to be easily moved, added, or removed from the network based on changing requirements. The hub manages connections dynamically, maintaining optimal audio quality regardless of device location or configuration changes, thus providing both high audio quality and mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows parameter changes in device configuration and connectivity without requiring physical reconfiguration of the entire system. Audio parameters, device roles, and network connections can be adjusted through software controls, enabling high audio quality to be maintained while devices are relocated or reconfigured.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple conferencing devices are deployed in a room, then audio coverage is improved, but synchronization difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub acts as an intermediary device that coordinates and synchronizes multiple conferencing devices in the room. It manages audio streams, display synchronization, and device communications centrally, reducing the complexity of direct peer-to-peer synchronization between multiple devices and enabling comprehensive audio coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A scalable conferencing system can include a set of conferencing devices configured to be placed on a surface (such as, a table), mounted on a ceiling, or attached to a wall. The conferencing devices can be configured to be positioned in a room and pick up and/or reproduce audio in the room. Depending on the configuration and/or characteristics of the room (such as, dimensions, geometry, acoustical properties, furnishings, or the like), a plurality of conferencing devices of a particular type can be deployed in the room and/or conferencing devices of another particular type may not be deployed. The conferencing system can be used for audio and/or video conferencing.