Speaker Identification via Voice Localization and RFID Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-party teleconferences, identifying the individual speaker using shared endpoint devices like speakerphones is challenging, as existing solutions such as voice print and visual recognition are expensive and have slow response times.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with voice localization and device detection capabilities, using an array of microphones and RFID or NFC systems to determine the location of the speaker and correlate it with identification devices, allowing for accurate identification and mapping of the speaker's identity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If voice print identification is used to identify the speaker, then speaker identification capability is provided, but implementation cost increases and response time slows
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the identification process into two independent parts: (1) voice localization to determine speaker position using microphone arrays, and (2) identification device detection (RFID/NFC) to identify the speaker. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently and quickly, avoiding the slow comprehensive analysis of traditional voice print methods while maintaining accurate speaker identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary identification device (RFID tag or NFC device) that carries the speaker's identity information. Instead of directly analyzing voice characteristics to identify the speaker, the system uses the identification device as a mediator to quickly retrieve speaker information once the speaker's location is determined through voice localization.
2Reliability
If voice print identification is used to identify the speaker, then speaker identification capability is provided, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive voice print analysis infrastructure with cheaper alternatives: standard microphone arrays for voice localization and low-cost RFID/NFC tags for identification. These identification devices are inexpensive to deploy and can be easily replaced or updated, significantly reducing implementation costs while maintaining speaker identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system substitutes complex acoustic analysis mechanisms (voice print recognition requiring sophisticated signal processing and databases) with simpler electromagnetic field-based identification (RFID/NFC). This substitution dramatically reduces computational requirements and infrastructure costs while achieving the same speaker identification goal.
3Ease of operation
If shared endpoint devices are used in conference rooms, then device accessibility is improved, but speaker identification capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by detecting identification devices at specific locations around the shared endpoint device. Instead of treating the entire conference room uniformly, the system determines the precise location of each identification device relative to the microphone array and correlates it with the voice signal source, enabling speaker identification even when multiple people are present at the shared device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective identification of the speaker in shared device scenarios, providing real-time speaker identification even in noisy environments and supporting simultaneous multiple speaker scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a voice localization system can include a speaker phone having an array of microphones and a processor, included as part of the speaker phone or as part of an associated computer, capable of determining a location of a party providing audible information relative to the array of microphones
Implementation Method 2
a device detection and localization system can, for example but without limitation, include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader capable of reading RFID tags carried by or associated with conference call participants
Implementation Method 3
or a near field communication (NFC) system capable of obtaining identification and location information of NFC tags or devices associated with conference call participants
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for identifying a participant providing audible information during a communication session are disclosed. More particularly, speech localization is utilized to determine a location of the participant providing audible information. An identification device determined to be at a location corresponding to the location of the participant providing audible information is identified. The identity of the participant providing the audible information is then obtained by mapping the identification device to the participant. The information identifying the participant providing audible information can be provided to other endpoints of the communication session.