Techniques for providing multi-channel telephony are described herein. In different aspects, a multi-channel telephony apparatus may include a sound interface configured to process a multi-channel sound signal including at least one of causing speakers to emit multi-channel sound or receiving multi-channel sound from microphones and a network interface configured to transmit the multi-channel sound signal from the sound interface to one or more communication lines of a telephone network. In some aspects, a dialer may be configured with the network interface to establish a connection with the telephone network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to co-pending, commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,510 entitled “Methods and Systems for Synthetic Audio Placement” and is related to co-pending, commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,540 entitled “Synthetic Audio Placement”, both of which were filed concurrently on Apr. 4, 2007, and both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to communications, and more specifically to providing multi-channel telephony.

BACKGROUND

Conferences are often conducted with multiple participants. A conference will typically include a number of different speakers throughout the duration of the conference. When attending a conference in person, a participant has the luxury of utilizing sensory information, including vision and the timbre effect of sound, to determine helpful information about the speaker. Unfortunately, face-to-face conferences are not always possible due to geographical or other constraints. Therefore, many conferences occur over communication systems, such as telephone systems configured for conference calling, or video conference systems.

Many communication systems are limited to transmitting single channel audio signals between users. Therefore, when conferences occur over typical communication systems, spatial reference is often lost through the single channel communication. It is often difficult to determine which participant is speaking during a conference call when multiple participants sound similar or when there are a large number of participants on the conference call. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to improve communication systems.

SUMMARY

Techniques for providing multi-channel telephony are described herein. In different aspects, a multi-channel telephony apparatus may include a sound interface configured to process a multi-channel sound signal including at least one of causing speakers to emit multi-channel sound or receiving multi-channel sound from microphones and a network interface configured to transmit the multi-channel sound signal from the sound interface to one or more communication lines of a telephone network. In some aspects, a dialer may be configured with the network interface to establish a connection with the telephone network.

In another aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus may include a communication processor operably connected to a telephone network configured as a multi-channel transport path. The apparatus may further include a sound interface for facilitating connections with two or more speakers and at least one microphone, and an audio processor in connection between the sound interface and the communication processor, the audio processor converting a communication signal from the communication processor to a sound signal for the sound interface.

In still another aspect of the disclosure, a method for providing multi-channel telephony may include connecting a multi-channel telephone to a multi-channel network using a call identifier, establishing a protocol between the multi-channel telephone and the network to facilitate provide at least two-channel sound to the multi-channel telephone, and providing multi-channel sound to the multi-channel telephone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

A communication system according to embodiments disclosed herein may more closely simulate an in-person conference setting. For example, a communication system may provide multi-channel sound to a listener by combining traditional public switch telephone network (PSTN) lines to transmit stereo sound between users in a telephone conference. The communication system may include a number of additional features to enhance the sound quality and the transmission of the audio signals between users conversing on the system.

Apparatus and techniques for providing multi-channel telephony are described herein. Many specific details of certain embodiments are set forth in the following description and inFIGS. 1 through 7to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. Throughout the disclosure, several examples are described using stereo telephony, which is one example of multi-channel telephony. More generally, however, multi-channel telephony is intended to include providing communications using two or more channels to provide a user with a spatial aural presentation.

FIG. 1is a schematic of an illustrative environment100including users communicating using multi-channel telephony. The environment100includes a first multi-channel telephony device (or telephone)102at a first location104and a second multi-channel telephone106at a second location108. The first and second multi-channel telephones102,106facilitate a communication between a first set of users110and a second set of users112, respectively. The first set of users110may include any number of users110(1), . . . ,110(N), and accordingly the second set of users112may include users112(1), . . . ,112(R). The first and second sets of users110,112may communicate over a telephone network114or other communication system in multi-channel sound.

According to exemplary embodiments, the first multi-channel telephone102includes a first set of speakers116and a first set of microphones118while the second multi-channel telephone106includes a second set of speakers120and a second set of microphones122to facilitate communications between the first and second set of users110,112. Each set of speakers116,120may include a plurality of speakers, such as speakers116(1), . . . ,116(M) and120(1), . . . ,120(Q), respectively. Similarly, each set of microphones118,122may include a plurality of microphones, such as microphones118(1), . . . ,118(P) and122(1), . . . ,122(T), respectively.

In an illustrative communication in the environment100, the first set of users110may only include the first user110(1) while the second set of users112includes the users112(1) and112(2). The first user110(1) may greet the second set of users112such as by stating, “Hi Bob and Ted.” The first user's voice may be captured by the first set of microphones118, processed and/or transmitted by the first multi-channel telephone102to the second multi-channel telephone106, and emitted by the second set of speakers120. In one instance, the sound captured by the microphone118(1) may be transmitted via a first channel and emitted on the first speaker120(1). Accordingly, the microphone118(P) may transmit to the speaker120(Q). The sound emitted by the second set of speakers120may provide a spatial aural presentation of the first user's location relative to the first set of microphones118. Similarly, the second set of users112may reply to the first user, such as the user112(1) may say, “Hello Tina” while the user112(2) may say, “Good afternoon.” The first user110(1) may hear the communication from the second set of users112through speakers116such that the spatial configuration of the second set of users is represented. More specifically, the user112(1) may emit sound primarily through the speaker116(1) while the user112(2) may emit sound primarily though the speaker116(N), thus creating a spatial aural presentation of the second set of users112which may allow the first user110(1) to more easily distinguish voices between the users112(1),112(2).

FIG. 2is a block diagram of an illustrative architecture200of a basic multi-channel telephony system. The architecture200includes a multi-channel telephone202and a telephone network204. In some instances, the telephone network204may be a time-division multiplexed (TDM) digital network, including a PSTN, plain old telephone service (POTS), cellular network, integrated services digital network, or other TDM network, a combination of the foregoing, or the like. In one implementation, the connection between the multi-channel telephone202and the telephone network204may use multiple parallel transport paths, such as two or more PSTN telephone lines.

For example, the multi-channel telephone202may be connected to the PSTN using two twisted pair loops206. Each twisted pair loop206may transmit a single channel of audio to and from the multi-channel telephone202. In some instances, additional twisted pair loops may be used to transmit sound. Each twisted pair loop206may be in connection with an analog hybrid circuit (AHC)208, such as a left AHC208(L) and a right AHC208(R). As known to those familiar with analog telephony, the AHC208may route the majority of the electrical signal from a microphone through the twisted pair loop206while routing a small portion of the electrical signal through a set of speakers back to the user. The AHC208allows the speaker to hear her own voice by transmitting it back to her speakers for a low volume projection known as “sidetone”, while at the same time her voice is transmitted to remote listeners for a normal projection.

The multi-channel telephone202may also include a dialer210to facilitate completing a telephone call or other multi-channel telephony communication. The dialer210may be operably connected to the AHC208. The dialer210may be configured to dial a single number to connect the caller. In some instances, the dialer210may have to dial multiple numbers to connect the caller, such as when the architecture200uses two twisted pair loops206in a PSTN. In such instances, the dialer210may dial a first number to complete a first connection (e.g., right channel) and dial a second number to complete a second connection (e.g., left channel), thus creating stereo sound through the two channels. The dialer210may include memory for storing numbers or dialing codes, and may include a user interface to facilitate user interaction.

A synchronization controller212may synchronize sound between two or more channels when sound is transmitted from multi-channel sources. For example, a first channel of sound (e.g., right channel) may be transmitted via a first twisted pair loop206(1) while a second channel of sound (e.g., left channel) may be transmitted via a second twisted pair loop206(2). When sound travels through the telephone network204, it may travel via any number of routes, each route varying in distance and/or transmission time. Therefore, the sound from the first channel may be received before the sound from the second channel. The synchronization controller212may delay the sound from one or more channels to provide a substantially synchronized output of the sound by a set of speakers. In some instances, the synchronization controller212may facilitate manual adjustment of the sound synchronization. In this case, the user may be presented with a control input such as a knob, fader, or screen representation of such a device. The control input may introduce delay proportional to the control input position into the left channel and/or the right channel. To improve the sound when the initial synchronization is audibly wrong, the user may simply adjust the control input in one direction or the other until the perceived sound quality has been maximized. Additionally or alternatively, the synchronization controller212may automatically synchronize the sound between channels, such as by comparing the sounds from each channel through known methods of synchronization. In brief, a digital signal processor may sample signals from the left and right channels, compare the signals for similar sounds in both channels, and use the time difference between the similar sounds to automatically adjust the delay for the appropriate channel.

The multi-channel telephone202may include a sound interface214(e.g., stereo plug and jack) to enable the connection of a sound reproduction system216to the multi-channel telephone. In some instances, the sound interface214may be a multi-channel port such as a stereo jack, Ethernet connection, universal serial bus (USB) connection for connecting a portable or fixed sound reproduction system, such as the sound reproduction system216, including speakers and/or microphones. In other instances, the multi-channel telephone202may include integrated speakers and/or microphones.

With continued reference toFIG. 2, the architecture200includes the illustrative multi-channel telephone202including the sound reproduction system216configured as a portable headset. As illustrated, the headset216may include a single microphone218to capture sound from a user and to provide an audio input to both the analog hybrid circuits208. In other instances, each analog hybrid circuit208may include one or more microphones for capturing sound for transmission through the telephone network204. The headset216may also be configured with speakers220including a left speaker220(L) and a right speaker220(R) in connection to the left AHC208(L) and right AHC208(R), respectively. The speakers220provide multi-channel sound providing a spatial aural presentation of sound captured by a speaker. In some instances, the speakers220and/or microphones218may be connected to the multi-channel telephone via a first wireless connection222(e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).

As previously mentioned, the multi-channel telephone202is in connection with the telephone network204. In some instances, the multi-channel telephone202may be coupled to the telephone network204via a second wireless connection224. For example, the multi-channel telephone202may connect to the telephone network204via a wireless telephone network (e.g., Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), etc.), Wi-Fi, or any other wireless protocol. In some instances, the multi-channel telephone202may be connected to the telephone network204via a wired system such as by a twisted pair, coaxial cable, shielded audio cable, power line carrier, or other wired connection.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of an illustrative architecture300of an advanced multi-channel telephony system. The architecture300includes a multi-channel telephone302in connection with a telephone network304. The telephone network304may include a multi-channel transport path306, such as a time-division multiplexed (TDM) or a channelized internet protocol connection. In some instances, the telephone network304may include, in whole or in part, a packet network such as voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) network.

The multi-channel telephone302may include an Internet protocol (IP) processor308to process the signals to or from the multi-channel transport path306. The IP processor308is operably connected to an audio processor310. The audio processor310facilitates transmitting and/or receiving sound to or from speakers312and microphones314, respectively. For example, the audio processor310may receive sound from the microphones314in multi-channel format, and process the sound for multi-channel transmission to the IP processor308, which in turn processes the signals for multi-channel transmission via the multi-channel transport path306.

FIG. 4is an illustrative environment400including a multi-channel telephone402for providing multi-channel telephony according to an aspect of the disclosure. The multi-channel telephone402may include a number of inputs and outputs, collectively designated as a user interface404. The user interface404may include, without limitation, a series of input keys406, knobs408(e.g., for adjusting sound), and a numeric keypad410(e.g., configured for dialing telephone numbers or otherwise entering calling information). The multi-channel telephone402may also include a display412for presenting dialing and/or caller information, among other related information. The display412and the input keys406may enable a menu driven system for initiating and maintaining multi-channel telephony communications.

In some aspects, the multi-channel telephone402may include integrated speakers414and/or microphones416thus enabling multi-channel telephony. Additionally or alternatively, the multi-channel telephone402may include one or more remote or satellite speakers and/or microphones. In the illustrated embodiment, the speakers414may enable two channel sound (i.e., right and left signals), or more channels including channel configurations commonly designated 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, or any other configuration, where the number to the left of the decimal indicates the number of mid-frequency to high frequency channels and the number to the right of the decimal indicates a low frequency channel.

In one aspect, the multi-channel telephone402may be a hand-held device equipped with two or more of the speakers414oriented to present multi-channel output to a user and may include two or more of the microphones416to receive a multi-channel signal for transmission via a telephone network, such as the telephone network114shown inFIG. 1. In other aspects, the multi-channel telephone402may be configured as a mobile telephone. For example, the multi-channel telephone402may be configured as a portable pocket sized mobile telephone configured to connect to peripheral devices418to facilitate multi-channel telephony.

The peripheral devices418may be in connection to the multi-channel telephone402via a wireless connection, as discussed above, using an antenna420or may be in connection via the sound interface214(e.g., stereo plug and jack, USB). The peripheral devices418may include one or more microphones418(1), speakers418(2), headsets418(3), and/or integrated sensory devices418(N), among other possible peripheral devices. For example, the integrated sensory devices418(N) may be a speaker or vibration-generating device mounted on a chair. In some instances, the headsets418(3) may include an around-ear clip headset or hearing aid that inserts at least partially into a user's ear. In addition, the headsets418(3) may include one or more microphones.

Operation

FIG. 5is a flow diagram of an illustrative process500of communication using a multi-channel telephony system. The process500includes a block502where a numerical input or other identifier is provided to initiate (e.g., dial) the desired connection to another communication device. For example, a user may input two telephone numbers, each corresponding to a PSTN line, using the dialer210on the multi-channel telephone202that uses two PSTN lines. The numerical input or other identifier may also be automated, such as to enable a single entry to connect multiple PSTN lines. Similarly, a number may be stored in an address book, or other known methods of dialing may be used to connect the multi-channel telephone202to another communication device. In a multi-channel network, a single address may be used such as a telephone number, uniform resource locator (URL), internet protocol (IP) address, or other identifier. At a block504, the multi-channel telephone202may connect to a multi-channel network, such as a TDM network or a packet network.

At a block506, the multi-channel telephone202may complete a handshake, or other configuration process, to configure the channels between the transmitting multi-channel telephone (transmitter) and the receiving multi-channel telephone (receiver). In a multi-channel network, user-to-network signaling may be used to specify the parameters of the multi-channel call such as number of channels, encoding scheme, channel assignments. For example, the transmitter may be enabled to provide 5.1 multi-channel sound to a user while a receiver may only be enabled to provide two channel sound. Therefore, the transmitter and the receiver may undergo a dynamic configuration process to determine how to best render the sound with the available resources (e.g., map microphones from one device to speakers on the other device). Algorithms which contain well-understood rules for channel mapping may be used, or an exchange of signaling messages may be used to configure the devices to provide the maximum multi-channel sound possible for each device. A lower-count channel device may be capable of using a higher-count channel connection using analog or digital signal processing to emulate the higher-count signal. For example, a device with two channel headphones may be able to connect to a 5.1 channel network source, and through the use of digital signal processing, delay, echo, and equalization, present a signal to the headphones that the user will perceive with more “depth” than the sound provided by a simple two channel mapping. Such channel mappings are known to those familiar with the design of multi-channel consumer audio systems.

In addition, the configuration process at the block506may include other configurations, such as processing sound quality for differences in network bandwidth, or other configurations to enable multi-channel telephony between the connecting devices. In some instances, the handshake may recognize the presence of a multi-channel capable device, such as the device202, and, thus, connect the device in accordance with an established protocol.

At a block508, the process500may synchronize the channels to account for any time delay in one or more channels. The sound may be further adjusted at a block510, such as to change the tone or timbre of the sound, including volume, balance, or other aspects of the sound. The sound may also be enhanced at the block510, either manually or automatically, such as by incorporating an aural-exciter or other sound enhancing techniques.

At the block512, the process500may facilitate activation of multi-channel sound or monaural sound. For example, the multi-channel telephone202may be configured to switch between multi-channel sound and monaural sound (single channel sound) based on a user preference, subscription, or other determining factor. The switch may be initiated using a manual or automatic process. For example, if a network management system detects a heavy traffic load, the network may free up bandwidth by broadcasting a control signal to terminal devices to reduce network demand. One means of accomplishing such a reduction would be to reduce a multi-channel call to a single channel or monaural call.

Also, any of the acts described above with respect to the method500may be implemented by a processor or other computing device based on instructions stored on one or more computer-readable media associated with a multi-channel telephony system. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed locally or remotely by a multi-channel telephony system. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media such as volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a multi-channel telephony system. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Alternative Embodiments

FIG. 6is a schematic of an alternative configuration of a multi-channel telephony system configured for a conference according to another aspect of the disclosure. A multi-channel telephone architecture600may include a plurality of speakers602and microphones604situated around a conference table or other conference area. In some instances, the multi-channel telephone may be integrated into a conference facilitating device, such as a table, a conference room, or the like. The multi-channel telephone architecture600may be used to connect to another multi-channel telephone at a second location to facilitate a multi-channel communication such as a conference call. Sound from users606may be captured by the microphones604, transmitted on separate channels, and emitted by one or more speakers in the second location. In an example, two similarly configured multi-channel telephones may be in connection between a first and second location. A first user606(1) at the first location may make a sound captured by a microphone604(1) which may in turn emit a sound on a speaker at the second location that is positioned similarly to a speaker602(1) at the first location. This configuration may result in a spatial aural presentation at the second location that mimics the user arrangement at the first location.

FIG. 7is a schematic of another alternative configuration of a multi-channel telephony system including a multi-user headset configuration according to still another aspect of the disclosure. An environment700includes a multi-channel telephone702with a sound interface704for connecting a plurality of users706. At least a portion of the users706may have headphones708with speakers710and microphones712, however other configurations are contemplated. The speakers710and the microphones712are operably configured with the multi-channel telephone702(via wired or wireless connections).

The multi-channel telephone702is configured to receive and transmit multi-channel sound. For example, when a second user706(2) is speaking, a microphone712(2) may transmit a first channel sound while a microphone712(1) (situated near a user706(1)) may transmit a second channel sound, thus exaggerating spatial separation of the users706and providing a spatial aural presentation to listeners using a multi-channel telephone, such as the multi-channel telephone702.

CONCLUSION

It is noted that the various modules shown herein may be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Additionally, these modules are shown as separate items only for convenience of reference and description, and these representations do not limit possible implementations of the teachings herein. Instead, various functions described with these modules could be combined or separated as appropriate in a given implementation, without departing from the scope and spirit of the description herein.

Although techniques for providing multi-channel telephony have been described in language specific to certain features and methods, it is to be understood that the features defined in the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features and methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.