Patent ID: 8428236

Claim:
A conference audio system ( 1 ), comprising: a plurality of delegate units ( 2 ), each delegate unit ( 2 ) having a delegate loudspeaker ( 5 ), a delegate microphone ( 4 ), or both; a control means ( 15 ) for distributing at least one audio signal from at least one of the delegate microphones ( 4 ) or another sound source to a plurality of the delegate loudspeakers ( 5 ), the plurality of delegate loudspeakers ( 5 ) generating a common audio atmosphere; delay means ( 16 ) operable to add a time delay on the audio signal, wherein the time delay is dependent from the distance between the position of the delegate microphone ( 4 ) or sound source, respectively, generating the audio signal and the individual delegate loudspeaker ( 5 ) position, wherein the time delay is added in such a way to provide directivity or directional properties to the common audio atmosphere generated under participation of the generated audio signal, and wherein a length of the time delays is estimated based on an encoded position stamp in the audio signal or based on a selection of a loudspeaker channel.