Virtual Room Audio Positioning for Simultaneous Teleconference Conversations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current teleconferencing systems prevent actual conversations between participants by equally amplifying audio, limiting interactions to one speaker at a time, and lack features available in in-person conferences.
Innovation Solution
Implement variable-volume audio based on user-controlled or system-controlled positioning in a virtual room, allowing participants to move closer for increased volume, and integrate supplemental data and speech-to-text analysis to enhance interaction and conversation insights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio is equally amplified for all participants, then all participants can hear all speakers, but multiple simultaneous conversations cannot be comprehended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating audio amplification based on participant location in the virtual space. Audio from participants closer to the user is amplified more than audio from participants farther away, creating localized audio zones that enable selective conversation comprehension while maintaining overall system reliability
2Loss of information
If all audio streams are transmitted to all participants, then complete information is provided, but presenter is distracted by side conversations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by creating different audio transmission zones: the presenter receives audio only from participants in the immediate vicinity (direct conversation zone), while other participants receive audio from all sources. This spatial differentiation maintains information completeness for most participants while protecting presenter focus
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the participant group into different audio reception zones based on their role and position. The presenter is segmented into a restricted audio zone that excludes side conversations, while other participants are in an unrestricted zone, allowing the system to tailor information delivery to specific user needs
3Device complexity
If participants are fixed in position, then system control is simplified, but spatial audio simulation and conversation selection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing participant interface elements to be repositioned within the virtual space during the teleconference. This dynamic positioning capability enables participants to control their spatial relationships, simulating natural conversation dynamics while the system automatically adjusts audio amplification based on the new positions, maintaining adaptability without significantly increasing control complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
Variable-volume audio for participants of a conference based on a user-controlled and/or a system-controlled location in a virtual room or interface. As a participant moves their respective interface element closer to another participant's interface element, the volume from the audio stream from that participant is increased, which simulates spatial audio. Thus, even in a virtual setting, participants may move closer to other participants to better hear what that participant has to say-effectively allowing for actual conversations to occur in a teleconferencing platform. Where a conference participant is presenting to the entire conference, that audio is provided to all participants while still allowing for side conversations between other participants based on their relative positions within the virtual room. However, the audio streams from the non-presenting participants is not provided to the presenter.