Enhanced audio teleconferencing with sound field effect
US5991385A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M3/56
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An audio teleconferencing apparatus and method provide an audio sound field among a plurality of teleconferencees creating a sense of a virtual conference table having a spatial location for each conferencee at the virtual table. Each conferencee has a speakerphone including a programmable Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for receiving a conference audio signal. In one form, the speakerphones are coupled to a conference bridge through individual ports, the bridge linking together all conferencees for purposes of the multiparty teleconference and transmitting port identifying signals denoting at discrete instants of time which remote port has a currently speaking conferences. The port identity signals are transmitted in-band or out-of-band to the speakerphones in conjunction with the conference audio signal. Each speakerphone uses the programmed DSP and the port identity signal/audio signals to cause sound reproduced at the speakerphone to appear to emanate from positions around the virtual conference table according to the port identity signals. In another form, a conference speakerphone exchanges its ID with other conference phones on the call and creates an "outgoing image" of part…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.