Stereo Conferencing Endpoint Signal Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stereo conferencing systems require intensive signal processing to synthesize and rebalance stereo signals at the server or endpoints, leading to inefficiencies in processing and echo correction.
Innovation Solution
Assigning unique or common stereo positions to each endpoint, allowing them to transmit and receive signals encoded at their designated positions, thereby delegating synthesis and rebalancing to the transmitting endpoint, and enabling simple addition or selection of signals for composite transmission without further processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the server synthesizes stereo signals from each endpoint and creates composite signals, then stereo positioning and echo correction are achieved, but signal processing intensity becomes quite intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stereo synthesis function from the server and relocates it to the endpoints. Each endpoint independently synthesizes its own stereo signal based on assigned positional parameters, eliminating the need for the server to perform intensive stereo mixing and echo correction processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Each endpoint serves itself by autonomously generating stereo signals at its assigned position and performing its own echo correction. The endpoint transmits the synthesized stereo signal directly to other endpoints without requiring server-mediated processing, thereby reducing overall system processing intensity.
2Reliability
If each client transmits monaural signals to every other client and stereo synthesis is performed at receiving endpoints, then stereo positioning is achieved, but processing load is distributed to multiple endpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary actions by assigning stereo positional parameters to each endpoint before the conference begins. This pre-configuration allows endpoints to directly synthesize stereo signals at their assigned positions without requiring real-time server intervention for positioning calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces positional parameter assignments as an intermediary mechanism between the server and endpoints. The server communicates positional parameters to endpoints, which then use these parameters to independently generate stereo signals, effectively mediating the complex server-endpoint interaction with a simple parameter-passing protocol.
3Reliability
If stereo signals are synthesized and mixed at the server, then echo-free transmission is achieved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the echo correction function so that each endpoint independently performs echo removal for its own transmitted signal. Instead of the server processing all signals centrally, each endpoint handles its own echo correction locally, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing server complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Audio conferencing is carried out in stereo by centrally assigning a position in the stereo spectrum (either bipolar stereo or surround sound) and instructing each conference endpoint to transmit at the stereo position assigned to it. In this way signals from a number of endpoints can be simply added to one another in order to provide a composite broadcast signal. This method also facilitates multiple server conferences in which endpoints attached to additional conference servers can be instructed to change their virtual stereo position in the case of a conflict with the stereo position of an existing conferee.