Semi-Global Audio Muting for Sidetone-Free Speaker Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In trading environments, internal users experience distracting sidetone and audio feedback when trying to hear external users during conversations, as their own voice is played back through speaker devices, causing a phase mismatch and echo effect.
Innovation Solution
A semi-global mute system that prevents the transmission of audio from a first communication device to co-located devices while allowing reception from remote devices, using media managers and unidirectional communication pathways to manage audio flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If speaker devices are used to communicate with external users, then audio communication capability is improved, but sidetone feedback and phase mismatch occur causing user irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The audio communication system is segmented into distinct unidirectional pathways: a first pathway for transmitting audio from the internal communication device to the external device, and a second pathway for receiving audio from the external device. This segmentation prevents the transmitted audio from being played back through the speaker device, eliminating sidetone feedback while maintaining bidirectional communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A media manager acts as an intermediary component that controls and manages the audio pathways. The media manager receives audio signals from the internal communication device, routes them through the first unidirectional pathway to the external device, and separately manages the second pathway for receiving external audio. This intermediary control ensures that transmitted audio is not fed back through the speaker, preventing sidetone effects.
2Loss of information
If internal users hear external users through speaker devices, then communication awareness is improved, but hearing their own voice twice causes distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The audio routing is segmented into separate unidirectional pathways: the first pathway carries audio from the internal device to external devices, while the second pathway carries audio from external devices to internal devices. This segmentation ensures that internal users hear external users clearly through the speaker device without simultaneously hearing their own voice through the same device, eliminating phase mismatch and distraction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a global mute is implemented to prevent sidetone, then feedback is reduced, but external users cannot be heard by internal users
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a global mute that blocks all audio, the system implements segmented unidirectional pathways: the first pathway allows internal devices to transmit audio to external devices without feedback, while the second pathway independently allows external devices to transmit audio to internal devices. This segmentation enables external users to be heard clearly by internal users while preventing sidetone feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The mute function is applied locally and selectively rather than globally. The media manager applies muting only to the first pathway (preventing transmitted audio from being played back through speakers) while leaving the second pathway open for external audio reception. This local quality approach maintains external audio reception while eliminating feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed towards a semi-global mute system and method. In one example, a method for muting communication devices includes receiving a message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated. The method further includes upon receiving the message: preventing a co-located communication device from receiving the audio signals transmitted from the first audio communication device, permitting the first audio communication device to transmit signals to the remote communication device, and permitting the first audio communication device and the co-located communication device to receive audio signals transmitted from the remote communication device.