Virtual Conference System Using Personal Communication Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional conference systems face issues such as attendees being unable to access audiovisual outputs due to distance or obstructions, and the system's unavailability leading to negative user experiences.
Innovation Solution
A Virtual Conference System (VCS) utilizing personal communication devices (PCDs) as input and output devices, where a master device receives and processes uplink data packets from satellite devices, selects the best channel based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and energy levels, and transmits downlink data packets, implementing echo cancellation and channel grouping to ensure clear audio and video communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional conference system with fixed display screens and microphones is used, then the system structure is simple, but attendees cannot access audiovisual outputs due to distance or obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the conference system into multiple distributed PCDs (personal communication devices), each capable of independently displaying and outputting audio. Instead of a single centralized display, multiple PCDs are distributed throughout the venue, allowing attendees to access audiovisual outputs from any location regardless of distance or obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes each PCD multi-functional by enabling it to serve as both a display device and an audio output device. Each PCD can receive and process audio data packets independently, allowing any attendee's device to function as a conference system component, thereby improving accessibility without requiring specialized fixed infrastructure.
2Loss of information
If multiple channels capture conversations simultaneously, then conversation coverage is improved, but channel management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multiple captured channels into distinct conversation groups using cross-correlation analysis. By identifying which channels correspond to the same conversation through signal correlation, the system can manage multiple channels systematically, selecting representative channels from each group rather than processing all channels uniformly, thus reducing management complexity while maintaining comprehensive conversation coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If PCDs are used as universal input/output devices, then system adaptability is improved, but echo and howling issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements echo cancellation by having PCDs transmit feedback signals containing audio data back to the master PCD. The master PCD processes this feedback to identify and subtract echo components from the audio output, thereby reducing harmful echo and howling effects while maintaining the versatility of PCDs as universal input/output devices throughout the conference system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described herein for providing a virtual conference with a master device connected to a plurality of satellite devices, including: receiving, by the master device, uplink data packets from a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels is associated with one of the plurality of satellite devices, and dividing, by the master device, the plurality of channels into two or more groups based on a conversation captured in the uplink data packets of each of the plurality of channels. The master device selects one group from the two or more groups for output. The master device also transmits downlink data packets corresponding to the selected group for the plurality of satellite devices.