Encoder pools for conferenced communications
Various example implementations are directed to methods and apparatuses for facilitating conferenced communications. In one of various examples involving audio signals received from a plurality of participants of a digital audio conference, a logic circuit is to process the audio signals via respective audio input circuits respectively associated with each of the endpoint devices, and, in response to a subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input as compared to other ones of the different audio signals, each of the other ones of the different audio signals are assigned to an encoder pool based on a codec associated with the digital audio conference. Digital audio packets for the digital audio conference associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input are then encoded for broadcast.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a logic circuit to process communications involving endpoint devices of a digital audio conference, each of the endpoint devices including a communications circuit enabled to convey involving one or more users; and the logic circuit also to:
process different audio signals via respective input circuits respectively associated with each of the endpoint devices,
assigning, in response to a subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input as compared to other ones of the different audio signals, each of the other ones of the different audio signals to an encoder pool based on a codec associated with the digital audio conference; and
encode digital audio packets for the digital audio conference associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including circuitry to prepare the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the broadcast is directed to at least some of the endpoint devices and associated with the digital audio conference, and wherein the circuitry to prepare is coupled to or part of the logic circuit.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an audio speaker communicatively coupled to the logic circuit for broadcasting audio based on the encoded digital audio packets.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including circuitry to prepare the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast and a speaker, in response the circuitry having prepared the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast, to broadcast audio corresponding to the encoded digital audio packets.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including circuitry to separately encode digital audio packets for the digital audio conference associated with the subset of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including circuitry communicatively coupled to a control circuit for causing broadcasting of selected audio based on the encoded digital audio packets, and further including encoding circuitry to separately encode digital audio packets for the digital audio conference associated with the subset of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit, for causing broadcasting of the selected audio based on the encoded digital audio packets, is to cause audio based on the separately encoded digital audio packets not to be broadcast.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including signal-mixing circuitry to mix or combine signals associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including signal-mixing circuitry to mix or combine signals associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input, and wherein the logic circuit and the signal-mixing circuitry are configured not to mix or combine signals associated with the other ones of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including broadcast preparation circuitry to prepare the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast and wherein the logic circuit and the broadcast preparation circuitry are configured not to prepare broadcast signals associated with the other ones of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including broadcast preparation circuitry to prepare the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast and wherein the logic circuit and the broadcast preparation circuitry are configured, for the other ones of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input, to remove feedback.
13. A method comprising:
processing communications, by use of a logic circuit, involving endpoint devices of a digital audio conference, each of the endpoint devices including a communications circuit enabled to convey involving one or more users;
processing different audio signals via respective input circuits respectively associated with each of the endpoint devices;
assigning, in response to a subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input as compared to other ones of the different audio signals, each of the other ones of the different audio signals to an encoder pool based on a codec associated with the digital audio conference; and
encode digital audio packets for the digital audio conference associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
14. The method of claim 13 , further including preparing the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast via a speaker.
15. The method of claim 13 , further including preparing the encoded digital audio packets for a broadcast directed to at least some of the endpoint devices.
16. The method of claim 13 , further including using an audio speaker communicatively coupled to the logic circuit for broadcasting audio based on the encoded digital audio packets.
17. The method of claim 13 , further including preparing the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast and a speaker, in response to circuitry having prepared the encoded digital audio packets for broadcast, broadcasting audio corresponding to the encoded digital audio packets.
18. The method of claim 13 , further including separately encoding digital audio packets for the digital audio conference associated with the subset of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
19. The method of claim 13 , further including signal-mixing circuitry to mix or combine signals associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
20. The method of claim 13 , further including signal-mixing circuitry to mix or combine signals associated with the subset of the different audio signals deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input, and using the logic circuit to prevent mixing of signals associated with the other ones of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input.
21. The method of claim 13 , further including using a control circuit for causing broadcasting of selected audio based on the encoded digital audio packets, while causing audio associated with the other ones of the different audio signals not deemed or qualified as having a loudest audio input, not to be broadcast.