Patent · US Expired

Communications system and method utilizing centralized signal processing

US7206404B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
21References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 2005
Grant dateApr 17, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M9/08
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A communications system and method performs centralized signal processing on received audio signals. A plurality of terminals are coupled to a processing switch via links. The terminals can be, for example, dedicated speakerphones, desktop handsets, or personal computers with audio capabilities. The links can be wired or wireless, can carry analog or digital signals, and can be shared with other users in a network. The switch receives the audio data from the terminals, processes the data according to desired acoustical procedures, creates one or more output mixes, and provides the output mixes to the appropriate terminals. The operation of the processing switch is controlled by a communications support module (CSM) which can receive, process, and send data to/from multiple terminals simultaneously. The CSM receives audio signals from the terminals. The CSM uses stored room models holding room model information including data and/or filters representing the acoustic properties of the terminal and/or the environment surrounding the terminal to produce the audio signals. Signal processing (SP) modules provide a pool of SP power from which the CSM can draw to process audio signals rece…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.