Patent ID: 8717402

Claim:
A video conferencing device for enhanced detection of an active human speaker through sound source localization, the device comprising: at least two satellite microphone modules, wherein each satellite microphone module includes at least three microphones and an infrared light source, wherein the satellite microphone modules are configured to: estimate a first orientation and a first distance of a satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker by the satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker based on detecting a sound emitted from a loudspeaker on a base unit at the satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker; the base unit coupled to the satellite microphone modules that includes a video capture device and at least one microphone, wherein the base unit is configured to: estimate a second orientation and a second distance of the satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker by the base unit based on detecting another sound emitted from the satellite microphone module at the base unit; estimate a third orientation and a third distance of the satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker by the base unit based on detecting an infrared light emitted from the satellite microphone module at the base unit; and determine a location of the satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker by comparing one of two pairs of estimated distances and orientations, the pairs comprising: the first and the second orientations and distances, and the second and the third orientations and distances; and focus a video capture device of the base unit on the active human speaker based on the determined location of the satellite microphone module closest to the active human speaker.