System and method for automated ambient noise reduction for online meetings

A system and method for addressing distracting ambient noise during online collaborative meetings monitors when an online meeting is entered by a user at their computer. Smart devices are automatically powered down, paused or otherwise controlled during the online meeting. Devices are returned to their former state once the user leaves the meeting.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to improving the quality of virtual meetings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Online collaboration has become increasingly popular with services such Skype from Skype Technologies, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom from Zoom Video Communications. For business, most collaborative meetings were undertaken from users while at work. The business paradigm shifted strongly to working from home due to the Covid pandemic that started in 2019. Unlike workplace offices, homes include ambient noises that can be disruptive to online meetings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.

There is no guarantee that a work from home environment will be like an office environment in terms of the existence of background noise. Online meetings can occur without warning. There may not always be time to turn off loud appliances or address other distracting ambient noises before a meeting starts. Example embodiments here provide a system that includes automatically turning off, muting, or pausing devices when an online collaborative service is launched. By way of example, loud running appliances during meetings can be paused or powered down when an online meeting is commenced and restarted or resumed after the meeting is finished. This results in increased convenience at home and reduced distractions during meetings.

Smart appliances are becoming ubiquitous but lack an integration that allows them to be temporarily turned off or paused during meetings. In example embodiments herein, when a person enters an online meeting at home, a meeting application comprising a collaboration service such Teams, Skype or Zoo sends out a signal to devices, such as appliances, that are listening for a signal directing them to lower or eliminate output noise. These devises are paused until a run signal is resent when the person exits the online meeting.

FIG.1illustrates an example embodiment of a system100for automatic reduction of ambient noises during an online collaborative meeting. System100is operable on a premises comprising a home104in the illustrated example. Home104includes a home office108in use by user112. Noise rendering devices disposed about home104include a washer116, a dryer120, a dishwasher124, a sound system126and a television132. Home office108includes a computer136in use by user112which is in data communication with the devices by any suitable wireless or wired means, such as via Wi-Fi hotspot134. Computer136is also in data communication with network cloud140, suitably comprised of local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) which may comprise the Internet, or any suitable combination thereof. Also in data communication with network cloud140are one or more additional users144and their associated data devices.

Computer136facilitates online collaboration via applications such as Teams, Skype or Zoom, with additional users144. Computer136stores data that may include a device list, noise levels associated with devices, data indicating noise reduction options for devices, device distances, device state information or one or more door positions. Door positions can be determined by sensors, such as sensor128associated with door146. In the illustrated example, the position of door146is also remotely controllable via motor138.

When user112enters an online meeting, noise level control instructions are relayed to one or more devices. These may include instructions to turn off or suspend operation, such as with washer116, dryer120and dishwasher124. Such instructions may also be relayed to sound system126or television132. These devices may also be remotely controllable which may include sound level detection and volume adjustment. With such capabilities, a device may have its volume lowered instead of being turned off. Example instructions to start and end a noise reduction include a power down instruction and a power up instruction, a decrease volume instruction and an increase volume instruction, a pause instruction and a resume instruction, a mute instruction and an unmute instruction, a decrease power instruction and an increase power instruction and a close powered door instruction and an open powered door instruction.

Ambient noise reaching the home office108is also affected by a distance between a device and home office108. Distances may be pre-stored as distance data in computer136. Alternatively, distances can be determined by geolocation. In a home environment, geolocation is suitably accomplished in connection with wireless data transmission such as free space path loss (FSPL) or a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS). Information for positioning is suitably acquired by a signal strength of a Wi-Fi link relative to one or more Wi-Fi hotspots having a known location, such as Wi-Fi hotspots134,142and144. In the illustrated example, acceptable noise emissions for a particular device can vary based on its distance from the online meeting affecting how or how much noise emissions are controlled.

In the illustrated example, determined distance include distances of devices from Wi-Fi hotspot134, such as distance D1to washer116, distance D2to dryer120, distance D3to sensor128and distance D4to television132. Distances relative to hotspot144include distance D5to sound system126, distance D6to tablet computer148, distance D7to dishwasher124and distance D8to sensor128. Distance based noise calculations can be particularly advantageous when a user's computing device is moveable relative to one or more noise rendering devices. By way of particular example, a user may initiate an online collaboration with tablet computer148while in kitchen152, and move to living room156where the tablet computer appears as148′.

In addition to device noises, distracting noises can be associated with living things, such as a barking dog160. Such noises can arise at any time, before or during a collaboration session. Spontaneous noises are suitably detected by a sonic transducer, such as microphone164. Spontaneous noises, such as with the barking dog160may be addressed by remotely closing powered door168. Use of data acquired by one or more microphones may also be used to lower ambient sound levels by use of active noise cancellation, such as with cancelling sound waves emanating from speaker172.

FIG.2depicts a flowchart200for an example embodiment of a system automatic reduction of ambient noises during an online collaborative meeting. The process commences at block204and proceeds to block208where it remains until such time an active virtual meeting is detected. At this point, a distance to an active device or noise source is determined at block212and a determination of an associated noise level determined at block216. Such a determination may be made by data associated with a known device noise level for a device, a noise level supplied by a device, such as data indicating a volume setting, or data from captured sounds. A test is made at block220to determine whether a noise threshold has been exceed. If so, a determination as to whether an associated door is closed at block224. If the associated door is opened or if there is no associated, controllable door, the sound level is addressed at block228by one or more of pausing a device, which may comprised powering it down or sending a pause command, lowering device volume, closing a powered door or initiating active noise cancellation. Next, a test is made at block232to determine whether any additional controllable noise sources are present. If so, the system returns to block212. If the device was determined to be under a noise threshold at block220, the system proceeds directly to block232.

Once it is determined at block232that no other devices need be address for noise, the system proceeds to block236where a check is made as to whether the virtual meeting is still in progress. If so, the system proceeds to block240where a check for new or spontaneous noise emissions are present. If so, the system returns to block212to address it. If not, the system loops back to block236. If the meeting is determined to be over at block236, the system returns devices to their former state at block244and returns to block208.

Turning now toFIG.3, illustrated is an example embodiment of a digital data processing device300such as computer136or tablet computer148′ ofFIG.1. It is to be appreciated that some components listed may be unnecessary in certain configurations. Components of the digital data processing device300suitably include one or more processors, illustrated by processor304, memory, suitably comprised of read-only memory308and random access memory312, and bulk or other non-volatile storage316, suitably connected via a storage interface320. Data communication among components is accomplished via data bus324. A network interface controller328suitably provides a gateway for data communication with other devices, via any wireless or wired connection, such as via wireless network interface332. A user input/output interface336is suitably comprised of display generator340interfacing with touchscreen display344. As noted above, any suitable user input and display can be used. Processor304processor is also in data communication with a digital microphone352and audio output356via interface336.