Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention are capable of determining a face direction associated with a detected subject (or multiple detected subjects) of interest within a 3D space using face detection procedures, while simultaneously avoiding the pick up of other environmental sounds. In addition, if more than one face is detected, embodiments of the present invention can automatically detect an active speaker based on the recognition of facial movements consistent with the performance of providing audio (e.g., tracking mouth movements) by those subjects whose faces were detected. Once determinations are made regarding face direction of the detected subject, embodiments of the present invention may dynamically adjust the audio acquisition capabilities of the audio capture device (e.g., microphone devices) relative to the location of the detected subject using beamforming techniques for instance. As such, embodiments of the present invention can detect the direction of the “talking object” and guide the audio subsystem to filter out any sound not coming from that direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to the field of devices capable of directional audio signal receipt as well as image capture. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Beamforming technology enables devices to receive desired audio while simultaneously filtering out undesired background sounds. Conventional beamforming technologies utilize “audio beams” which are isolated audio channels that enhance the quality of sounds emanating from a particular direction. In forming these audio beams, conventional beamforming technologies generally focus on the distribution and/or arrangements of the microphones employed by the particular technology used (e.g., number, separation, relative position of the microphones). 
         [0003]    Positioning of the audio beam is essential in capturing the most accurate audio possible. As a result of their focus on the physical characteristics of the microphones used, conventional beamforming technologies employed by modern systems provide less accuracy when determining audio beam position. These technologies are inefficient in the sense that they rely primarily on the volume gains or losses detected by the microphones employed by the system. As such, these inefficiencies may result in a greater amount of undesired noise acquired by the system and may ultimately lead to user frustration. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, a need exists to address the inefficiencies discussed above. What is needed is a system that enhances sound originating from a desired source while attenuating the pick up of sound from other sources in a mixed sound source environment (e.g., a “noisy environment”). Embodiments of the present invention are capable of determining a face direction associated with a detected subject (or multiple detected subjects) of interest within a 3D space using face detection procedures, while simultaneously avoiding the pick up of other environmental sounds. In addition, if more than one face is detected, embodiments of the present invention can automatically detect an active speaker based on the recognition of facial movements consistent with the performance of providing audio (e.g., tracking mouth movements) by those subjects whose faces were detected. Once determinations are made regarding face direction of the detected subject, embodiments of the present invention may dynamically adjust the audio acquisition capabilities of the audio capture device (e.g., microphone devices) relative to the location of the detected subject using beamforming techniques for instance. As such, embodiments of the present invention can detect the direction of the “talking object” and guide the audio subsystem to filter out any sound not coming from that direction. 
         [0005]    More specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a method of audio signal acquisition. The method includes detecting a subject of interest within an environment using computer-implemented face detection procedures applied to image data captured by a camera system. In one embodiment, the method of detecting further includes automatically selecting an actively speaking subject as the subject of interest from a plurality of subjects of interest based on recorded images of facial movements performed by the actively speaking subject. 
         [0006]    The method also includes determining a face direction associated with the subject of interest relative to the camera system within a 3 dimensional space using the image data associated with the subject. In one embodiment, the face direction comprises an angle and a depth. In one embodiment, the method of determining a face direction further includes using camera system focusing features to locate the subject of interest. In one embodiment, the method of determining a face direction further includes determining a 3 dimensional coordinate position for the subject of interest using stereoscopic cameras. 
         [0007]    Additionally, the method includes producing an output audio signal using an audio capture arrangement by focusing an audio beam of the audio capture arrangement in the face direction, in which the output audio signal enhances audio originating from the subject of interest relative to other audio of the environment. In one embodiment, the audio capture arrangement comprises an array of microphones. In one embodiment, the method of focusing further includes electronically steering the audio beam to filter out directionally inapposite audio received relative to the face direction using beamforming procedures. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a system for audio signal acquisition. The system includes an image capture module operable to detect a subject of interest using computer-implemented face detection procedures applied to image data, in which the image capture module is operable to determine a face direction associated with the subject of interest relative to a camera system within a 3 dimensional space using image data associated with the subject of interest. In one embodiment, the image capture module is further operable to automatically select an actively speaking subject as the subject of interest from a plurality of subjects based on recorded images of facial movements performed by the actively speaking subject. In one embodiment, the face direction comprises an angle and a depth. In one embodiment, the image capture module is further operable to determine the depth using camera system focusing features to focus on the subject of interest. In one embodiment, the image capture module is further operable to determine a 3 dimensional coordinate position for the subject of interest using stereoscopic cameras. 
         [0009]    The system also includes a directional audio capture arrangement operable to produce an output audio signal using a directional audio beam. In one embodiment, the directional audio capture arrangement is further operable to electronically steer the audio beam to filter out directionally inapposite audio received relative to the face direction using beamforming procedures. In one embodiment, the audio capture arrangement comprises an array of microphones. Furthermore, the system includes a beamforming module operable to direct the audio beam in the face direction in which the output audio signal enhances audio originating from the subject of interest relative to other audio. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a method of audio signal acquisition. The method includes detecting a plurality of subjects of interest using computer-implemented face detection procedures applied to image data. In one embodiment, the method of detecting further includes automatically selecting an actively speaking subject as the subject of interest based on recorded images of facial movements performed by the actively speaking subject. In one embodiment, the method of detecting further includes automatically detecting the plurality of subjects of interest using computer-implemented facial recognition procedures that recognize eye and nose positions. In one embodiment, the method of determining further includes using camera system focusing features to locate the plurality of subjects of interest. 
         [0011]    The method also includes determining a respective face direction associated with each subject of the plurality of subjects relative to a camera system within a 3 dimensional space using the image data associated with the plurality of subjects of interest. In one embodiment, the method of determining further includes determining a respective 3 dimensional coordinate position for each subject of the plurality of subjects of interest using stereoscopic cameras. 
         [0012]    Additionally, the method includes producing a respective output audio signal for each subject of the plurality of subjects of interest using a directional audio capture arrangement by focusing a plurality of audio beams in the face directions of the plurality of subjects of interest, in which the output audio signals enhance audio originating from the plurality of subjects of interest relative to other audio. In one embodiment, the audio capture arrangement comprises an array of microphones. In one embodiment, the method of focusing further includes electronically steering the plurality of audio beams to filter out directionally inapposite audio received relative to the respective face direction of each subject of the plurality of subjects of interest using beamforming procedures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification and in which like numerals depict like elements, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  depicts an exemplary system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  depicts an exemplary facial detection process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1C  depicts an exemplary active speaker detection process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1D  another exemplary active speaker detection process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1E  depicts another exemplary face direction determination process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1F  depicts an exemplary 3D full subject position determination process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration that depicts how a system determines a current audio signal direction relative to the system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration that depicts an exemplary audio beam positioning process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2C  is another illustration that depicts an exemplary audio beam positioning process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  illustrates yet another exemplary audio beam positioning process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  illustrates yet another exemplary audio beam positioning process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart that depicts an exemplary audio enhancing process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While described in conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure. 
         [0027]    Portions of the detailed description that follow are presented and discussed in terms of a process. Although operations and sequencing thereof are disclosed in a figure herein (e.g.,  FIG. 4 ) describing the operations of this process, such operations and sequencing are exemplary. Embodiments are well suited to performing various other operations or variations of the operations recited in the flowchart of the figure herein, and in a sequence other than that depicted and described herein. 
         [0028]    As used in this application the terms controller, module, system, and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, specifically, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a module can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, an integrated circuit, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a module. One or more modules can reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these modules can be executed from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. 
       Exemplary Audio Source Positioning Process Using Face Detection in Accordance with Embodiments of the Present Invention 
       [0029]    As presented in  FIG. 1A , an exemplary system  100  upon which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented is depicted. System  100  can be implemented as, for example, a digital camera, cell phone camera, portable electronic device (e.g., audio device, entertainment device, handheld device), webcam, video device (e.g., camcorder) and the like. Components of system  100  may comprise respective functionality to determine and configure respective optical properties and settings including, but not limited to, focus, exposure, color or white balance, and areas of interest (e.g., via a focus motor, aperture control, etc.). Furthermore, components of system  100  may be coupled via internal communications bus and may receive/transmit image data for further processing over such communications bus. 
         [0030]    According to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A , system  100  may capture scenes through lens  125 , which may be coupled to image sensor  115 . According to one embodiment, image sensor  115  may comprise an array of pixel sensors operable to gather image data from scenes external to system  100 , such as detected subject  141  as well as the environment surrounding detected subject  141 . As such, system  100  may capture light via lens  125  and convert the light received into a signal (e.g., digital or analog). Lens  125  may be placed in various positions along lens focal length  125 - 1 . The image data gathered from these scenes may be stored within memory  150  for further processing by image processor  110  and/or other components of system  100 . Although system  100  depicts only lens  125  in the  FIG. 1A  illustration, embodiments of the present invention may support multiple lens configurations and/or multiple cameras (e.g., stereo cameras). 
         [0031]    Image data gathered from image sensor  115  may then be passed to image capture module  155  for further processing. Image sensor  115  may provide image capture module  155  with pixel data associated with a scene captured via lens  125 . In one embodiment, image capture module  155  may analyze the acquired pixel data to detect the presence of faces that are captured within the scene using well-known face detection procedures. Using these procedures, image capture module  155  may gather data regarding the relative position, shape and/or size of various detected facial features such as cheek bones, nose, eyes, and/or the jaw bone. For instance, with reference to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1B , image capture module  155  may be able to detect the eyes, nose and mouth of detected subject  141  captured within a scene using well-known face detection procedures capable of detecting those particular facial features (e.g., mouth locator  140 - 2  to locate the mouth of detected subject  141 ; nose locator  140 - 3  to locate the nose of detected subject  141 ; eyes locator  140 - 4  to locate the eyes of detected subject  141 ). As such, face detection provides information as to a subject of interest. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may utilize face detection procedures which enable image capture module  155  to further recognize which of the detected subjects are actively speaking based on facial movements or gestures performed within a given scene. This may provide information to further define the subject of interest. With reference to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1C , mouth movement trackers  125 - 3 ,  125 - 2 , and  125 - 4  may be procedures utilized by image capture module  155  which are capable of tracking the lip movements of each subject detected (e.g., detected subjects  140 ,  141  and  142 , respectively) within a given scene. As depicted within the scene captured in  FIG. 1C , lip movements performed by detected subject  141  may alert image capture module  155  that detected subject  141  may be actively speaking (e.g., providing audio  141 - 3 ). As such, image capture module  155  may continue to track the mouth movements of detected subject  141  (e.g., mouth movement tracking  125 - 2 ) via lens  125  and gather image data regarding detected subject  141  for further processing by components of system  100 . It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to tracking mouth movements performed by a detected subject when determining whether a detected subject is actively speaking and may consider other facial movements or gestures performed by a detected subject that are consistent with making such determinations. 
         [0033]    With reference to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1D , embodiments of the present invention may be operable to select a subject (or multiple subjects of interest) upon the detection of multiple detected subjects actively speaking within a given scene. For instance, lip movements performed by detected subjects  140 ,  141  and  142  may alert image capture module  155  that these detected subjects may be actively speaking (e.g., each providing respective audio  140 - 3 ,  141 - 3  and  142 - 3 ). As such, image capture module  155  may continue to track the mouth movements of these detected subjects (e.g., mouth movement tracking  125 - 3 ,  125 - 2 ,  125 - 4 ) via lens  125 . As depicted within the scene captured in  FIG. 1D , the user may be given the option to select a particular detected subject that the user is interested in gathering audio exclusively from (depicted as arrows pointing to detected subjects  140 ,  141 , and  142 ). Given the options available, the user may select detected subject  141  (illustrated with the solid arrow line) at which time image capture module  155  may gather image data regarding detected subject  141  for further processing by components of system  100 . In one embodiment, the user may select all three detected subjects (e.g., detected subjects  140 ,  141  and  142 ) for further processing by components of system  100 . 
         [0034]    Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may utilize well-known facial recognition procedures which enable image capture module  155  to focus on specific detected subjects based on recognized facial data associated with that detected subject stored within a local data structure or memory resident on system  100  (e.g., facial data stored within memory  150 ). As such, embodiments of the present invention may be used for security purposes (e.g., granting specified detected subjects special permissions to perform a task or gain access to a particular item). Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may also enable the user to manually focus on a particular detected subject, irrespective of the actions being performed by the detected subject or detected subjects of interest. For instance, in one embodiment, system  100  may be configured by the user to allow the user to manually focus on a particular detected subject using touch control options (e.g., “touch-to-focus”, “touch-to-record”) which may direct image capture module  155  to focus on a particular detected subject that the user selects through the system&#39;s viewfinder. 
         [0035]    Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may also be able to determine the facial angle (or “face direction”) of a detected subject of interest with respect to system  100  using pixel data acquired by components of system  100 . For instance, according to one embodiment, image capture module  155  may be able to determine the direction of the detected subject&#39;s face within a 3D space based on pixel distances calculated between certain facial features detected (e.g., eyes) using the pixel data gathered via image sensor  115 . Pixel distances calculated may be compared to predetermined threshold values which correlate to fixed facial angles relative to a specific location (e.g., relative to the position of system  100 ). These threshold values may be established based on a number of different detected subjects analyzed. Furthermore, these threshold values may be determined a priori through empirical data gathered or through calibration procedures using system  100 . 
         [0036]    For instance, when directly facing a camera, the distance between the eyes may yield a maximum eye separation distance for any given subject. As such, this value may serve as a reference point upon which other facial directions or angles or depth data with respect to the camera may be determined. Therefore, according to one embodiment, this distance may be set as a predetermined threshold value for use when determining the face direction of detected subjects captured in the future by the camera system. According to one embodiment, these values may be a priori data loaded within the memory of system  100  in factory. 
         [0037]    Additionally, according to one embodiment, these values may be obtained through calibration procedures performed using system  100 , in which system  100  captures an image (or multiple images) of one or more detected subjects and then subsequently analyzes them to determine threshold values. These images may be captured based on different lens perspectives by placing system  100  in various positions and capturing images of test subjects for calibration purposes. Furthermore, these threshold calculations may also include the physical characteristics of the lens itself (e.g., aperture of lens  125 , position of lens  125  along focal length  125 - 1 , zoom level used to capture images). 
         [0038]      FIG. 1E  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which predetermined threshold values may be used to approximate the angle or “direction” at which the face of a detected subject of interest is positioned with respect to the lens of the camera system (e.g., lens  125  of system  100 ). With reference to the embodiment depicted in image  240  of  FIG. 1E , image capture module  155  may calculate pixel distance  155 - 1  between the detected eyes of detected subject  141  when determining which direction detected subject  141 &#39;s face is pointing towards. In one embodiment, distance  155 - 1  may include the distance between fixed points within the eyes of detected subject  141  (e.g., location of each eye&#39;s pupil). Distance  155 - 1  of image  240  may be calculated and then compared to predetermined threshold values correlating the pixel distances calculated to face direction angles with respect to system  100 . As such, this comparison of distance  155 - 1  to predetermined threshold values may lead to the determination that the face direction of detected subject  141  is facing system  100  at an angle of 0 degrees. 
         [0039]    With reference to the embodiment depicted in image  241  of  FIG. 1E , image capture module  155  may calculate pixel distance  155 - 2  in a manner similar pixel distance  155 - 1 . However, distance  155 - 2  of image  241  may represent a smaller pixel distance compared to distance  155 - 1 . For instance, the eyes of subject  141  in this particular image may appear to be closer together compared to the maximal pixel distance determined within image  240 . As such, image capture module may perform a computation and determine that the face direction of subject  141  is pointed at a −45 degree angle relative to system  100 . 
         [0040]    Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may also calculate the full 3D position of the detected subject within a given 3D space. According to one embodiment, stereoscopic cameras may be used to capture the 3D positioning (x,y,z) of detected subjects themselves. According to one embodiment, 3D positioning (x,y,z) of the detected subject may be calculated based on contrasts of the detected subject&#39;s face using available auto-focusing features of the system. As depicted in image  242  of  FIG. 1F , stereo cameras  101  and  102  may assist image capture module  155  in calculating the full 3D position (x,y,z) of the detected subject  141 . Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may calculate both the face direction and the full 3D positioning of detected subjects simultaneously for use in making audio direction determinations, which will be described in further detail infra. 
       Exemplary Audio Beam Formation and Adjustment Process Responsive to Determined Audio Source Positioning 
       [0041]    With reference to  FIG. 2A , embodiments of the present invention may be operable to enhance the audio that originates from a given direction through the use of audio elements (e.g., microphones) located within system  100 . For instance, audio receiving arrangements  126 - 1  and  126 - 2  may constitute a plurality of audio elements spatially arranged in a manner that enables system  100  to enhance the audio that originates from a given direction (e.g., an array of directional microphones and/or omnidirectional microphones). The arrangement of audio elements within system  100  may also enable the receipt of multiple different audio signals provided by multiple different audio sources. According to one embodiment, system  100  may use amplifiers as well as signal converters (e.g., ADCs) in processing the audio signals acquired via audio elements. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the positioning and arrangement of audio elements as depicted in  FIG. 2A  and may be arranged in multi-dimensional and/or non-linear patterns. For instance, according to one embodiment, audio elements may be placed on separate sides of system  100  or arranged in a spherical pattern. 
         [0042]    Beam forming module  171  may be operable to alter the phase and amplitude of audio signals received by audio elements within system  100 . Beam adjustment unit  171 - 2  may produce isolated audio channels or “audio beams” through mathematical manipulation of incoming signal data such that gains and/or losses (e.g., signal attenuation) received by audio elements within system  100  are adjusted through constructive and/or destructive interference with respect to a particular pattern of audio signal acquisition. For instance, sound provided by detected subjects of interest may be of varying frequencies and may originate from varying distances relative to each audio element of system  100 . As such, each audio element within audio receiving arrangements  126 - 1  and  126 - 2  may receive the same sound from a detected subject (e.g., audio  141 - 3  provided by detected subject  141 ) at different times (e.g., times T 1 -T 4 ) and at varying degrees of signal strength based on each audio element&#39;s position relative to the detected subject. 
         [0043]    According to one embodiment, beam adjustment unit  171 - 2  may mathematically incorporate signal delays for certain audio elements within audio arrangements  126 - 1  and  126 - 2  based on the current position (e.g., direction) of a detected subject of interest (e.g., face direction determined by image capture module  155 ). Beam adjustment unit  171 - 2  may recognize the physical locations of each audio element within system  100  (e.g., locations of each audio element within audio receiving arrangements  126 - 1  and  126 - 2 ). As such, beam adjustment unit  171 - 2  may amplify or attenuate signals to compensate for time variances in signal receipt among audio elements and produce a sound wave-front from a specific angle relative to system  100  such that when the audio signals are summed, the signal from that angle experiences constructive interference. In this manner, audio beams generated by beam forming module  171  may be electronically steered to any angle of incidence relative to system  100 . Furthermore, beam forming module  171  may generate summed audio signal output based on the adjusted signal data received by each respective audio element within audio receiving arrangements  126 - 1  and  126 - 2  using signal summation unit  171 - 1 . As such, audio beams may produce a resultant audio output that maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio with respect to the direction of detected subjects relative to system  100 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a scenario involving 3 detected subjects actively speaking (e.g., detected subjects  141 ,  140  and  142 ) with two detected subjects (e.g., detected subjects  140  and detected subject  142 ) engaged in a discussion at such a distance from detected subject  141  that a user may have difficulty distinguishing the audio provided by detected subjects  140 ,  141  and  142  due to the noise created by the combined effect of audio  140 - 3 ,  141 - 3  and  142 - 3  being juxtaposed. As such, the user may be interested in gathering audio exclusively from detected subject  141  and filtering out other sources of audio (e.g., audio from detected subjects  140  and  142 ). Accordingly, beam forming module  171  may consider the angle at which the face of detected subject  141  is pointing towards relative to system  100  (e.g., as determined by image capture module  155 ). For example, beam forming module  171  may receive data from image capture module  155  indicating that the face of detected subject  141  may be at a 45 degree angle towards the left of lens  125 . As a result, beam forming module  171  may position audio beam  127 - 1  at a 45 degree angle towards the left of lens  125 . Furthermore, as illustrated in graph  150 - 1  of  FIG. 2B , the combined effect of the constructive and destructive interference used to position audio beam  127 - 1  may enable the user to experience greater volume gains in the direction of detected subject  141  compared to detected subjects  140  and  142 . 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 2C , the user may now be interested in the conversation between detected subjects  140  and  142 . Therefore, the user may wish to gather audio exclusively from those particular detected subjects and filter out other sources of audio (e.g., audio from detected subject  141 ). Beam forming module  171  may receive data from image capture module  155  indicating that the face of detected subject  140  is determined to be at a 49.6 degree angle towards the right of lens  125 . Accordingly, beam forming module  171  may position audio beam  127 - 3  at a 49.6 degree angle towards the right of lens  125 . Additionally, beam forming module  171  may also receive data from image capture module  155  indicating that the face of detected subject  142  is determined to be at a 65.7 degree angle towards the right of lens  125 . Accordingly, beam forming module  171  may position audio beam  127 - 2  at a 65.7 degree angle towards the right of lens  125 . Furthermore, as illustrated in graph  150 - 2  of  FIG. 2C , the combined effect of the constructive and destructive interference used to position audio beams  127 - 3  and  127 - 2  may enable the user to now experience greater volume gains in the directions of detected subjects  140  and  142  as compared to detected subject  141 . Additionally,  FIG. 2C  illustrates how embodiments of the present invention may utilize multiple audio beams simultaneously when isolating audio from multiple subjects of interest (e.g., subjects  140 ,  142 ). As such, a user may be able to gather audio exclusively from different subjects using separate isolated audio beams (e.g., audio beams  127 - 3 ,  127 - 2 ). 
         [0046]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate how embodiments of the present invention may dynamically alter the position of audio beams formed in real-time in response to detected subjects shifting their physical positions relative to system  100 .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict detected subject  141  actively speaking while shifting positions relative to system  100  over a period of time.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  may be further used to demonstrate how embodiments of the present invention may utilize well-known facial recognition procedures which enable system  100  to capture audio exclusively from a specific subject. For instance, detected subject  141  may be recognized via image capture module  155  using recognized facial data associated with detected subject  141  stored within a local data structure or memory resident on system  100 . 
         [0047]    With reference to the  FIG. 3A  illustration, detected subject  141  may be recognized among various other subjects within a given scene (e.g., subjects  145  and  146 ) based on recognized facial data associated with detected subject  141  stored within a local data structure or memory  150  resident on system  100  using well-known facial recognition procedures. As such, image capture module  155  may be able to track detected subject  141  in real-time as detected subject  141  shifts positions relative to system  100 . For instance, detected subject  141  may be initially positioned at a 45 degree angle towards the left of lens  125  when providing audio (e.g., audio  141 - 3 ) at Time  1 . Accordingly, beam forming module  171  may position audio beam  127 - 1  at a 45 degree angle towards the left of lens  125  at Time  1 . Furthermore, as depicted in graph  150 - 3  of  FIG. 3A , the combined effect of the constructive and destructive interference used to position audio beam  127 - 1  may enable the user to experience greater volume gains in the direction of detected subject  141  compared to subjects  145  and  146 . 
         [0048]    With reference now to the  FIG. 3B  illustration, detected subject  141  may shift positions at Time  2  and now be positioned at 45 degree angle towards the right of lens  125  when providing audio (e.g., audio  141 - 3 ). Accordingly, beam forming module  171  may position audio beam  127 - 1  at a 45 degree angle towards the right of lens  125  at Time  2 . Furthermore, as depicted in graph  150 - 4  of  FIG. 3B , the combined effect of the constructive and destructive interference used to position audio beam  127 - 1  may enable the user to continue to experience similar levels of volume gain in the direction of detected subject  141  at Time  2  as in Time  1  in comparison to subjects  145  and  146 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  presents an exemplary process for enhancing audio of an object of interest in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0050]    At step  605 , the camera system captures a scene to detect the faces of potential subjects of interests using the image capture module. 
         [0051]    At step  610 , a determination is made as to whether more than one face is detected. If more than one face is detected, then a further determination is made as to whether, of the faces detected, there is an actively speaking subject present, as detailed in step  615 . If only one face is detected, then the image capture module calculates and passes coordinate data regarding the face direction of the detected subject to the audio controller module for further processing automatically without user intervention, as detailed in step  625 . 
         [0052]    At step  615 , more than one face was detected and, therefore, the image capture module further determines whether, of the faces detected, there is an actively speaking subject present. If there is an actively speaking subject present, then the image capture module calculates and passes coordinate data regarding the face direction of the detected subject to the audio controller module for further processing automatically without user intervention, as detailed in step  625 . If there are no actively speaking subjects present, then the image capture module passes coordinate data regarding the face direction of the subject (or subjects) manually selected by the user to the audio controller module for further processing, as detailed in step  620 . 
         [0053]    At step  620 , there are no actively speaking subjects present, therefore, the image capture module passes coordinate data or direction regarding the face direction of the subject (or subjects) manually selected by the user to the beam forming module for further processing. 
         [0054]    At step  625 , there is an actively speaking subject present, therefore, the image capture module calculates and passes coordinate data or direction regarding the face direction of the detected subject to the beam forming module for further processing automatically without user intervention. 
         [0055]    At step  630 , the beam forming module receives data from the audio arrangement of the camera system and determines a current direction of audio signal receipt for the camera system. 
         [0056]    At step  635 , the beam forming module calculates audio beam positions based on calculations made by the image capture module at step  625  or step  620  in addition to the determinations made by the beam forming module at step  630 . 
         [0057]    At step  640 , the beamforming module configures the audio arrangement of the camera system to position the audio beam in accordance with the determinations made at step  635 . 
         [0058]    While the foregoing disclosure sets forth various embodiments using specific block diagrams, flowcharts, and examples, each block diagram component, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/or illustrated herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or any combination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure of components contained within other components should be considered as examples because many other architectures can be implemented to achieve the same functionality. 
         [0059]    The process parameters and sequence of steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various example methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed. 
         [0060]    While various embodiments have been described and/or illustrated herein in the context of fully functional computing systems, one or more of these example embodiments may be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, regardless of the particular type of computer-readable media used to actually carry out the distribution. The embodiments disclosed herein may also be implemented using software modules that perform certain tasks. These software modules may include script, batch, or other executable files that may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or in a computing system. These software modules may configure a computing system to perform one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein. One or more of the software modules disclosed herein may be implemented in a cloud computing environment. Cloud computing environments may provide various services and applications via the Internet. These cloud-based services (e.g., software as a service, platform as a service, infrastructure as a service) may be accessible through a Web browser or other remote interface. Various functions described herein may be provided through a remote desktop environment or any other cloud-based computing environment. 
         [0061]    The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated. 
         [0062]    Embodiments according to the invention are thus described. While the present disclosure has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the below claims.