JPH066471A - Audio mixer for audio conference equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide audio effect as close to that of a conference in same room as possible even in the conference in an environment where conference participants are distributed. CONSTITUTION:Mixing instruction panels 1 displayed on the displays of terminals are prepared at every conference participant 3 and the respective conference participants 3 can move the miniatures 4 on the mixing instruction panels 1 with an operation means such as a mouse or the like. An audio mixing part 2 refers to the position information of the miniatures 4 on the mixing instruction panels 1 and mixes the voice of the conference participants 3 or the like by distribution corresponding to the position information of the miniatures 4 to be transmitted to the respective conference participants. Since the audio is mixed based on the position information of the miniatures 4, the audio effect close to that of the conference performed by the conference participants 3 in one room can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice mixing apparatus for appropriately mixing the voices of conference participants in a voice conference apparatus for transmitting a voice and conducting a conference. The present invention relates to a voice mixing device of a voice conference device capable of appropriately mixing and transmitting voices of a conference not in the same room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a conference in an environment where conference participants are dispersed, voices are merely mixed in a predetermined manner regardless of the participants' intentions. However, even in a conference where the conference participants are dispersed, it is desired to devise a device that is as close as possible to a conference held in the same room. That is, in a conference held in the same room, the conference participants usually know which audio to attend, whether to attend the main conference, to consult with a neighbor, or to immerse themselves in their own thoughts. You can choose yourself. On the other hand, in the above-mentioned conference in the environment where the conference participants are dispersed, since the voices of the conference participants are mixed in a predetermined method, it is quite different from the conference held in the same room. It was

[0003]

As described above, in a conventional conference in an environment in which conference participants are dispersed, the voices of the conference participants are mechanically mixed in a fixed manner, so It was difficult to pay attention to a specific voice. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and even in a conference in an environment in which conference participants are dispersed, a voice conference device audio capable of obtaining a voice effect as close as possible to a conference held in the same room. It is an object to provide a mixing device.

[0004]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. In the present invention, a mixing instruction panel 1 displaying a miniature 4 corresponding to each conference participant 3 or another sound source, which can be moved by the operation of the conference participant 3, and a miniature from the mixing instruction panel 1. 4 is provided with a voice mixing unit 2 that mixes the voices of each conference participant 3 or other sound sources based on the position information of 4. The voice mixing unit 2 allows the conference participant 3 to make a miniature on the mixing instruction panel 1. When 4 is moved, the voices of the conference participants 3 or other sound sources are mixed and output in a distribution according to the position information of each miniature 4.

[0005]

As shown in FIG. 2, the position information of the miniature 4 is sent to the voice mixing unit 2 (step S1), and the voice mixing unit 2 is operated.
Then, the voice mixing method is determined based on the position information of the miniature 4 (step S2). After that, until the miniature 4 is operated by the conference participant 3 on one of the mixing instruction panels 1, the voices of the conference participants 3 and the like are mixed and output by the voice mixing method defined by the voice mixing unit 2 ( Step S
3, S4). When the miniature 4 is operated by the conference participant 3 on one of the mixing instruction panels 1, the process returns to step S1 again and the above processing is repeated to always maintain an appropriate audio mixing system. Since the voice mixing method in the voice mixing unit is determined based on the miniature position information, even in a conference in which conference participants are dispersed, it is possible to obtain a voice effect similar to that in the same room.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, which shows a voice conference apparatus in the case where there are three conference participants. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a mixing instruction panel of a terminal provided in the vicinity of each conference participant, and the screen shown in the figure is displayed on the window screen of the display of the terminal or the like.

Reference numeral 2 is a voice mixing section provided for each conference participant for mixing the voices of each conference participant, and 2a and 2b are filters for selecting the respective voices of each conference participant input. The filter 2a has a voice of a conference participant corresponding to the miniature 4 approaching the miniature 4 in charge of each conference participant within a predetermined distance (including a voice of a conference participant corresponding to the miniature 4 in charge). The filter 2b, which passes only the voice, is a filter which passes only the voice of the conference participant corresponding to the miniature 4 near the center of the mixing instruction panel 1, which is the voice not selected by the filter 2a.

Reference numerals 2c, 2d, and 2g are mixers for mixing sounds, 2e is a reducer for reducing the output of the mixer 2d, 2f is a circuit breaker for interrupting the output of the reducer 2e, and a circuit breaker 2f.
Shuts off the output of the reducer 2e when the miniature 4 in charge is located near the end of the mixing instruction panel 1, and reduces it when the miniature 4 in charge is located near the center of the mixing instruction panel 1. The output of the container 2e is passed.

Reference numeral 3 is a conference participant, 3a is a microphone for recording the voice of each conference participant, and 3b is a speaker or headphone for converting the output of the voice mixing unit 2 into voice and transmitting it to each conference participant. 4 is a mixing instruction panel 1
The miniature 4 corresponds to each conference participant 3 (conference participants A to C correspond to miniatures A to C, respectively), and each conference participant 3 is a pointing device such as a mouse. Thus, the position of any miniature 4 can be moved within the mixing instruction panel 1.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are views showing a mixing instruction panel 1 displayed on a display screen of a terminal provided near each conference participant, a window screen of the display, etc., In the figure, 1 is a mixing instruction panel, 4 is the miniature shown in FIG. 3, 41 is a display, and 42 and 43 are filters 2a and 2 of the audio mixing unit 2.
b shows a switching boundary when controlling the sound mixing in the circuit breaker 2f and the circuit breaker 2f, and the filter 2a is a conference participant corresponding to the miniature B inside the dashed line 42 of FIG. Only the sound of
The filter 2b is shown in FIG.
2 and outside the center (dashed line 43 in FIG.
(Inside of), only the audio in Further, when the miniature 4 is located outside the dotted line 43 in the figure, the circuit breaker 2f of the person in charge corresponding to the miniature 4 is cut off.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Each conference participant determines the position of the miniature 4 corresponding to him / her by operating means, and determines the position in his / her conference as described later. Each miniature 4
The position information of 1 is sent to the corresponding audio mixing unit 2 and also sent to another mixing instruction panel 1 via the control line 1a in order to match the position information of the miniature 4 of each mixing instruction panel 1.

[0012] Next, each of the conference participants uses the microphone 3
When a voice is input to a, the voice input from the microphone 3a is sent to each voice mixing unit 2. Each voice mixing unit 2
The voice given to the filter is given to the filters 2a and 2b, and the voice to be passed is selected. For example, in FIG. 4B, the voices of the persons in charge of miniature C and miniature B ′ within the alternate long and short dash line 42 of the miniature A pass through the filter 2a of the voice mixing unit 2 corresponding to the miniature A. The voice of the person in charge of the miniature B outside the alternate long and short dash line 42 does not pass through the filter 2a of the voice mixing unit 2 corresponding to the miniature A.

On the other hand, for the miniature A, the alternate long and short dash line 4
The voice of the person in charge of the miniature B outside 2 passes through the filter 2b of the voice mixing unit 2 corresponding to the miniature A, but the miniature C and the miniature B ′ within the dashed line 42 and the miniature C outside the dotted line 43. The voice of the person in charge of 'does not pass through the filter 2b of the voice mixing unit 2 corresponding to the miniature A.

As described above, the sound passing through the filter 2a is mixed by the mixer 2c and given to the mixer 2g. The sound that has passed through the filter 2b is mixed by the mixer 2d, reduced by the reducer 2e, and cut off by the circuit breaker 2.
given to f. As described above, the circuit breaker 2f blocks the output of the mixer 2e when the miniature 4 corresponding to the sound mixing unit 2 is outside the dotted line 43 in FIG.

The output of the circuit breaker 2f is mixed with the output of the mixer 2c in the mixer 2g and input to the speaker or the headphone 3b of each person in charge. That is, the voice mixing unit 2 mixes voices as shown below in FIG. For the person in charge corresponding to the miniature A, the voice of the person in charge corresponding to the miniatures B ′ and C passes through the filter 2a and is loud, but the voice of the person in charge corresponding to the miniature B passes through the filter 2b and is reduced. Since it is reduced by the container 2e, it sounds small. Also, the voice of the person in charge corresponding to the miniature C'cannot be heard. The person in charge corresponding to the miniature B hears the voice of the person in charge corresponding to the miniatures A and C, passing through the filter 2b and reduced by the reducer 2e, and therefore sounds small (however, between the miniatures B and A and C). If the distance is larger than r in the figure), the voice of the person in charge corresponding to the miniatures C ′ and B ′ cannot be heard. The person in charge of miniature B ′ hears the voice of the person in charge corresponding to miniature A because it passes through filter 2a, but the voice of the person in charge of miniatures B, C, C ′ does not pass through filter 2a, and , Even if it passes through the filter 2b, it will not be heard because it is blocked by the circuit breaker 2f (however, the distance between the miniatures B'-B, C, C'is r
If larger). Persons in charge of miniature C'include miniatures A, B,
The voices of the persons in charge of B'and C do not pass through the filter 2a,
Also, even if the light passes through the filter 2b, it is not heard because it is cut off by the breaker 2f (however, the miniature C'-A,
(When the distance between B, B'and C is larger than r in the figure). In each case, each person can clearly hear his / her voice.

With the above construction, in the present embodiment, if the miniatures 4 are brought close to each other on the mixing instruction panel 1 (within the radius r in FIG. 4B), the miniatures 4 approaching each other can be dealt with. Participants in the conference can have local discussions, and by taking the miniature 4 near the edge on the mixing instruction panel 1 (outside the dotted line 43 in FIG. 4B), the extra voice is cut off. can do. further,
If you bring the miniature 4 near the center of the mixing instruction panel 1 (within the dotted line 43 in FIG. 4), the miniature 4 far away
The voice of the conference participant corresponding to (outside the radius r in FIG. 4) can be heard softly, and a sense of participation in the conference can be created.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows, as the miniature 4 displayed on the mixing instruction panel 1 shown in FIG. 3, in addition to conference participants, a radio, a television, a tape recorder, or a CD.
An embodiment is shown in which an audio device such as a device capable of outputting audio material or contents of a book is provided. In the figure, 4 is a miniature of a conference participant, 4'is a television, 4 ". Indicates a CD device.

The operation in FIG. 5 is the same as that explained in FIG. 3, and for example, the miniatures 4 ', 4 "of the television or the CD device 4" are usually mixed with the instruction panel 1 for mixing.
Place these miniatures 4 ', 4 "near the center of the mixing instruction panel 1 as needed, and the meeting participants will gather around them to make a miniature 4', 4". You can listen to the sound of the corresponding sound source.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the filters 2a and 2b and the circuit breaker 2f are switched depending on whether the miniature is inside or outside the alternate long and short dash line 42 and the dotted line 43 shown in FIG. 4 has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the volume of the voice may be changed according to the distance between the miniatures. When the volume of the sound passing through the filter 2a is changed according to the distance between the miniatures, for example, the filter 2a and the mixer 2 shown in FIG.
A reducer similar to the reducer 2f may be provided between c and its gain may be changed according to the distance between the miniatures.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and, for example, the selection condition of the sound of the filters 2a and 2b, the cutoff condition of the circuit breaker 2f, etc. can be appropriately changed according to the need. .

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description,
In the present invention, since the voice mixing method in the voice mixing unit is determined based on the position information of the miniature displayed on the mixing instruction panel, even in a conference in which conference participants are dispersed, a voice similar to a conference held in the same room is used. The effect can be obtained, and it greatly contributes to the function improvement of the audio conference apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Mixing instruction panel 2 Audio mixing section 2a, 2b Filters 2c, 2d, 2g Mixer 2e Reducer 2f Circuit breaker 3 Conference participant 3a Microphone 3b Speaker or headphone 4 Miniature

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mixing instruction panel for displaying a conference participant (3) or a miniature (4) corresponding to another sound source, which can be moved by operating the conference participant (3).
(1) and a voice mixing unit (2) that mixes the voices of each conference participant (3) or other sound sources based on the position information of the miniature (4) from the mixing instruction panel (1), The audio mixing unit (2) is a mixing instruction panel for the conference participants (3).
(1) Conference participants when moving the above miniature (4)
(3) Alternatively, the sound of another sound source can be used as the position information for each miniature.
A voice mixing device for a voice conference device, which mixes and outputs in a distribution according to (4).