SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATED CONFERENCING PLATFORM
A software-based conferencing platform is provided. The platform comprises a plurality of audio sources providing input audio signals, the audio sources including a virtual audio device driver configured to receive far-end input audio signals from a conferencing software module, and a network audio library configured to receive near-end input audio signals from one or more near-end audio devices. The platform further comprises a digital signal processing component configured to receive the input audio signals from the audio sources and generate audio output signals based the received signals, the digital signal processing component comprising an acoustic echo cancellation module configured to apply acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more of the near-end input audio signals.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A computer-implemented method of audio processing for a conferencing environment, the computer-implemented method comprising:(a) executing, by one or more processors of a conferencing device comprising one or more microphones, a conferencing application stored in a memory of the conferencing device, the conferencing application comprising a digital signal processing component and a virtual audio device driver;(b) capturing, using the one or more microphones of the conferencing device, near-end audio signals produced by conference participants situated in the conferencing environment;(c) receiving far-end input audio signals at the virtual audio device driver from a third- party conferencing software module;(d) processing the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals using the digital signal processing component, the processing comprising:applying acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more of the near-end audio signals, andgenerating audio output signals based on the near-end audio signals and the far- end input audio signals; and(e) outputting the audio output signals to the conference participants situated in the conferencing environment via one or more networked speakers.
22 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , further comprising:transmitting a mixed audio output signal to far-end participants via the third-party conferencing software module and the virtual audio device driver, wherein the mixed audio output signal includes the near-end audio signals but excludes the far-end input audio signals received from the third-party conferencing software module.
23 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the virtual audio device driver is configured to present as a standard audio device to the third-party conferencing software
module, making the virtual audio device driver selectable as a single input/output device from an audio settings menu of the third-party conferencing software module.
24 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the processing further comprises mixing, using an automixing module of the digital signal processing component, two or more of the near-end audio signals to generate an automix output signal.
25 . The computer-implemented method of claim 24 , wherein the generating of the audio output signals comprises using a matrix mixer of the digital signal processing component to generate the audio output signals, wherein, for a given audio source, the matrix mixer is configured to mix the automix output signal with one or more of the far-end input audio signals while excluding any input audio signals received from the given audio source.
26 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the third-party conferencing software module is in communication with one or more third-party conferencing servers, and wherein the far-end input audio signals are received from far-end participants connected to the conferencing environment via the one or more third-party conferencing servers.
27 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the digital signal processing component further comprises a clock synchronization module configured to synchronize the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals to a common clock.
28 . A conferencing device for audio processing in a conferencing environment, the conferencing device comprising:one or more processors, a memory, and a conferencing application stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the conferencing application comprising a digital signal processing component and a virtual audio device driver, wherein the virtual audio device driver is configured to receive far-end input audio signals from a third-party conferencing software module, and wherein the digital signal processing component is configured to:
apply acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more near-end audio signals captured from one or more microphones, andgenerate audio output signals based on the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals.
29 . The conferencing device of claim 28 , wherein the digital signal processing component is further configured to generate a mixed audio output signal for transmission to far- end participants via the third-party conferencing software module and the virtual audio device driver, wherein the mixed audio output signal includes the near-end audio signals but excludes the far-end input audio signals received from the third-party conferencing software module.
30 . The conferencing device of claim 28 , wherein the virtual audio device driver is configured to present as a standard audio device to the third-party conferencing software module, making the virtual audio device driver selectable as a single input/output device from an audio settings menu of the third-party conferencing software module.
31 . The conferencing device of claim 28 , wherein the digital signal processing component further comprises an automixing module configured to mix two or more of the near- end audio signals to generate an automix output signal.
32 . The conferencing device of claim 31 , wherein the digital signal processing component further comprises a matrix mixer configured to generate the audio output signals, wherein, for a given audio source, the matrix mixer is configured to mix the automix output signal with one or more of the far-end input audio signals while excluding any input audio signals received from the given audio source.
33 . The conferencing device of claim 28 , wherein the third-party conferencing software module is in communication with one or more third-party conferencing servers, and wherein the far-end input audio signals are received from far-end participants connected to the conferencing environment via the one or more third-party conferencing servers.
34 . The conferencing device of claim 28 , wherein the digital signal processing component further comprises a clock synchronization module configured to synchronize the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals to a common clock.
35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a conferencing device comprising one or more microphones, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:capturing, using the one or more microphones of the conferencing device, near-end audio signals produced by conference participants situated in a conferencing environment;receiving far-end input audio signals at a virtual audio device driver from a third-party conferencing software module;processing the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals using a digital signal processing component, the processing comprising:applying acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more of the near-end audio signals, andgenerating audio output signals based on the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals; andoutputting the audio output signals to the conference participants situated in the conferencing environment via one or more networked speakers.
36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise: transmitting a mixed audio output signal to far-end participants via the third- party conferencing software module and the virtual audio device driver, wherein the mixed audio output signal includes the near-end audio signals but excludes the far-end input audio signals received from the third-party conferencing software module.
37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the virtual audio device driver is configured to present as a standard audio device to the third-party conferencing software module, making the virtual audio device driver selectable as a single
input/output device from an audio settings menu of the third-party conferencing software module.
38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the processing further comprises mixing, using an automixing module of the digital signal processing component, two or more of the near-end audio signals to generate an automix output signal.
39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38 , wherein the generating of the audio output signals comprises using a matrix mixer of the digital signal processing component to generate the audio output signals, wherein, for a given audio source, the matrix mixer is configured to mix the automix output signal with one or more of the far-end input audio signals while excluding any input audio signals received from the given audio source.
40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the digital signal processing component further comprises a clock synchronization module configured to synchronize the near-end audio signals and the far-end input audio signals to a common clock.