US4734934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Binaural teleconferencing system
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1986-11-24
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2006-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A teleconferencing bridge simulates the auditory spatial ambience of a face-to-face conference. This bridge uses a novel binaural approach to simulate spatial ambience.
Inventors
- 👤 George J. Boggs
- 👤 John F. Egan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/568; H04M3/561
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
441 words
Teleconferencing apparatus for providing binaural discrimination for each of n conferees, where n is an integer greater than two, comprising means for amplifying speech from a first of said conferees, means for amplifying speech from a second of said conferees, means for amplifying speech from a third of said conferees, means for providing the amplified speech of said first conferee along a first path, means for providing the amplified speech of said first conferee, delayed a time duration t 1 , along a second path, means for providing the amplified speech of said second conferee along a third path, means for providing the amplified speech of said second conferee, delayed a time duration t 2 , along a fourth path, means for providing the amplified speech of said third conferee along a fifth path, means for providing the amplified speech of said third conferee, delayed a time duration t 3 , along a sixth path, means for combining the provided amplified speech from one of said first and said second paths, from one of said third and said fourth paths, and from one of said fifth and said sixth paths, into a first combination, means for combining the provided amplified speech from the other of said first and said second paths, from the other of said third and said fourth paths, and from the other of said fifth and said sixth paths, into a second combination, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said first and said second paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a first line to said first conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said first and said second paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a second line to said first conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said third and said fourth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a third line to said second conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said third and said fourth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fourth line to said second conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said fifth and said sixth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fifth line to said third conferee, and means for suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said fifth and said sixth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a sixth line to said third conferee.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
441 words
Teleconferencing apparatus for providing binaural discrimination for each of n conferees, where n is an integer greater than two, comprising means for amplifying speech from a first of said conferees, means for amplifying speech from a second of said conferees, means for amplifying speech from a third of said conferees, means for providing the amplified speech of said first conferee along a first path, means for providing the amplified speech of said first conferee, delayed a time duration t 1 , along a second path, means for providing the amplified speech of said second conferee along a third path, means for providing the amplified speech of said second conferee, delayed a time duration t 2 , along a fourth path, means for providing the amplified speech of said third conferee along a fifth path, means for providing the amplified speech of said third conferee, delayed a time duration t 3 , along a sixth path, means for combining the provided amplified speech from one of said first and said second paths, from one of said third and said fourth paths, and from one of said fifth and said sixth paths, into a first combination, means for combining the provided amplified speech from the other of said first and said second paths, from the other of said third and said fourth paths, and from the other of said fifth and said sixth paths, into a second combination, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said first and said second paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a first line to said first conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said first and said second paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a second line to said first conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said third and said fourth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a third line to said second conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said third and said fourth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fourth line to said second conferee, means for suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said fifth and said sixth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fifth line to said third conferee, and means for suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said fifth and said sixth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a sixth line to said third conferee.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including means for varying said time durations t 1 , t 2 , and t 3 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the amplified speech along said first, said third, and said fifth paths are substantially undelayed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising first switching means for switching speech on said first and said second paths, second switching means for switching speech on said third and said fourth paths, and third switching means for switching speech on said fifth and said sixth paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein any one or more of t 1 , t 2 , or t 3 can be effectively positive or negative, and whereby the actual values of t 1 , t 2 and t 3 are such that t 1 ≠t 2 ≠t 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising analog to digital converting means so that digital speech can be subsequently delayed, and digital to analog converting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein n is equal to three.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The teleconferencing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein n is equal to seven.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
410 words
A method of teleconferencing with binaural discrimination for each of n conferees, where n is an integer greater than two, comprising the steps of amplifying speech from a first of said conferees, amplifying speech from a second of said conferees, amplifying speech from a third of said conferees, providing the amplified speech of said first conferee along a first path, providing the amplified speech of said first conferee, delayed a time duration t 1 , along a second path, providing the amplified speech of said second conferee along a third path, providing the amplified speech of said second conferee, delayed a time duration t 2 , along a fourth path, providing the amplified speech of said third conferee along a fifth path, providing the amplified speech of said third conferee, delayed a time duration t 3 , along a sixth path, combining the provided amplified speech from one of said first and said second paths, from one of said third and said fourth paths, and from one of said fifth and said sixth paths, into a first combination, combining the provided amplified speech from the other of said first and said second paths, from the other of said third and said fourth paths, and from the other of said fifth and said sixth paths, into second combination, suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said first and said second paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a first line to said first conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said first and said second paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a second line to said first conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said third and said fourth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a third line to said second conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said third and said fourth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fourth line to said second conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said fifth and said sixth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fifth line to said third conferee, and suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said fifth and said sixth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a sixth line to said third conferee.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
410 words
A method of teleconferencing with binaural discrimination for each of n conferees, where n is an integer greater than two, comprising the steps of amplifying speech from a first of said conferees, amplifying speech from a second of said conferees, amplifying speech from a third of said conferees, providing the amplified speech of said first conferee along a first path, providing the amplified speech of said first conferee, delayed a time duration t 1 , along a second path, providing the amplified speech of said second conferee along a third path, providing the amplified speech of said second conferee, delayed a time duration t 2 , along a fourth path, providing the amplified speech of said third conferee along a fifth path, providing the amplified speech of said third conferee, delayed a time duration t 3 , along a sixth path, combining the provided amplified speech from one of said first and said second paths, from one of said third and said fourth paths, and from one of said fifth and said sixth paths, into a first combination, combining the provided amplified speech from the other of said first and said second paths, from the other of said third and said fourth paths, and from the other of said fifth and said sixth paths, into second combination, suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said first and said second paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a first line to said first conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said first and said second paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a second line to said first conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said third and said fourth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a third line to said second conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said third and said fourth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fourth line to said second conferee, suppressing the amplified speech of said one of said fifth and said sixth paths from said first combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a fifth line to said third conferee, and suppressing the amplified speech of said other of said fifth and said sixth paths from said second combination, and directing the resulting suppressed combination along a sixth line to said third conferee.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further including the steps of varying said time durations t 1 , t 2 and t 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the amplified speech along said first, said third, and said fifth paths are substantially undelayed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further including the steps of switching speech on said first and said second paths, switching speech on said third and said fourth paths, and switching speech on said fifth and said sixth paths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein any one or more of t 1 , t 2 , or t 3 can be effectively positive or negative, and whereby the actual values of t 1 , t 2 , and t 3 are such that t 1 ≠t 2 ≠t 3 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further including the steps of converting analog speech into digital data, transmitting said digital data along a first course, delaying different portions of said digital data different time delays along a second course, and converting the digital data along both said courses into analog signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein n is equal to three.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as recited in claim 9 where n is equal to seven.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4650929A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |