WO2022050946A1

WO2022050946A1 - Inverted sound patterns based on ambient noise

Info

Publication number: WO2022050946A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/049232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chien-Pai Lai; Chih-Hsin Lee; Pei-Chen Chuang
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2020-09-03
Filing date: 2020-09-03
Publication date: 2022-03-10

Abstract

Examples for generation of inverted sound patterns for reducing ambient noise in a voice-based communication session, are described. In an example, a first distance between an audio device and the computing device and a second distance between an ambient noise source and the computing device, is determined. Based on the first distance and the second distance a noise sound pattern corresponding to an ambient noise is generated. Thereafter, an inverted sound pattern based on the noise sound pattern is obtained.

Description

INVERTED SOUND PATTERNS BASED ON AMBIENT NOISE

BACKGROUND

[0001] Computing devices may facilitate users at different geographical locations to communicate with each other, for instance, through video telephony. During a communication session, background or ambient noise, which may arise from an immediate vicinity of the user, may impact the quality of call. To reduce the effect of the ambient noise, the user may either conduct such calls from an isolated space, or in some cases, may utilize acoustic noise cancellation audio devices,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0002] The following detailed description references the drawings, wherein:

[0003] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example computing device, as per an example of the present subject matter;

[0004] FIG, 2 is a block diagram of an example computing devsce, as per another example of the present subject matter;

[0005] FIG. 3 is an example of communication environment with a detailed block diagram of an example computing device, as per an example of the present subject matter;

[0006] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example method to be implemented in a computing device, as per an example of the present subject matter; and

[0007] FIG, 5 illustrates a non-transitory computer-readable medium for causing the computing device to generate an audio feed for reducing ambient noise in a voice- based communication, as per an example of the present subject matter.

[0008] Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Computing devices may be used for voice-based communication with other communication devices over a communication network. For example, a user may utilize a computing device for an audio-video conference call. While participating in the conference call, the individual may also use a wirelessly paired audio device. The paired audio device may include an integrated headphone and microphone which may enable the user to transmit and receive an audio feed corresponding to the conference call, which may be underway.

[0010] The conference calls may have to be taken up from environments which are free from ambient noise conditions to avoid background noise. Such locations may be difficult to secure. In certain cases, despite the best efforts of the user, certain ambient noise may still exist, which may tend to impact the quality of the audio during the conference calls. Various noise cancellation implements and devices, such as noise cancellation headphones or noise cancellation microphone, may be used to reduce the effect of the ambient noise on the quality of the audio during the conference call. However, such devices are costly. In certain instances, a computing device which may be hosting the communication session, may process the audio input received from various users to reduce the ambient noise. Yet, such approaches may not address the presence of ambient noise which may be detected at the audio device. As a result, the manner in which noise cancellation is implemented at either the audio devices or the computing device hosting the communication session, may vary in effect Ivity.

[0011] Approaches for generating an audio feed comprising an inverted sound pattern are described. The inverted sound pattern may be used to reduce interference caused by the ambient noise during voice-based communication. The voice-based communication may be implemented through a computing device executing a communication application, such as a voice-chat appiication. Examples of such computing devices include, but are not limited to, laptops, desktop PCs, tablet PCs, smartphones, and wearable computing devices. The computing device may be further communicatively coupled to an audio device. The coupled audio device may be implemented as any audio-based input-output device, such as an audio headset, which is in wireless communication with the computing device,

[0012] The computing device is to reduce the ambient noise emanating from an ambient noise source based on the inverted sound pattern. In operation, during a voice-based communication session, e.g., during a conference call or a video chat, the user may be bearing (either wearing around the head or plugged into the user’s ear canal) the audio device. The audio device may be wirelessly coupled to the computing device on which the communication session may be hosted. Although the computing device may be stationary during the communication session, the user may be moving with respect to the computing device. As a resuit, the distance between the audio device and the computing device may thus change during the communication session. Considering that a source of the ambient noise may also be in the vicinity of the user, the distance between the audio device and an ambient noise source may aiso change, owing to the motion of the user.

[0013] in an exampie, the computing device may determine a first relative position of the audio device with respect to its own position. The relative position may include a measure of a linear distance, and an angle between the audio device and the computing device. In an example, the relative position between the audio device and the computing device may be determined based on signals emitted by a hardware transmitter integrated within the audio device. An example of such a hardware transmitter includes a Bluetooth®⁵ Low Energy (BLE) beacon, which may be emitting a low energy Bluetooth® signal.

[0014] Once the relative position of the audio device with respect to the computing device is determined, the computing device may further determine a relative position of the ambient noise source. As may be understood, the ambient noise would be received and captured by the microphone of the computing device, as well as the microphone of the audio device. Based on the ambient noise detected at the computing device and the audio device, the computing device may determine the position of the ambient noise source. In an example, the position of the ambient noise source may be determined based on Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) of ambient noise arriving at the computing device as well as at the audio device. In an example, the computing device may also be wirelessly coupled to another device, such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or other computing devices, located in the proximity of the computing device. In such a case, the computing device may additionally consider the ambient noise detected at the other device to determine the position of the ambient noise source.

[0015] With the relative position of the audio device and the ambient noise source determined, the computing device may then estimate a noise sound pattern which may represent the ambient noise reaching the audio device. The noise sound pattern may include an acoustic estimation of the ambient noise which may be reaching and, is thus, detectable at the audio device. In one example, the computing device may assign a comparative weight to the received ambient noise from the respective microphones of the computing device and the audio device based on the determined relative position of the audio device and ambient noise source, and then may estimate the noise sound pattern based on the assigned weight, in an exampie, the noise sound pattern may be based on a frequency and an ampiitude component of the ambient noise.

[0016] Once determined, the computing device may further process the noise sound pattern to further generate an inverted sound pattern, in an example, the inverted sound pattern may be an acoustic wave pattern which is out~of~phase with respect to the noise sound pattern. The inverted sound pattern may then be utilized for reducing ambient noise in voice-based communication. The inverted sound pattern may be utilized for the suppression or elimination of the effects of the ambient noise at the audio device.

[0017] in an exampie, the inverted sound pattern may be combined with the audio input being captured by the audio device. For example, the computing device may generate an audio feed based on the voice input provided by the user to the audio device, the ambient noise, and the inverted sound pattern. Within the audio feed, the inverted sound pattern may inhibit the effects of the ambient noise during a voice- based communication session.

[0018] In yet another example, the computing device may generate an audio feed based on the audio signal received from a client device that is coupled to the computing device over a communication network, and the inverted sound pattern. The resulting audio feed may then be transmitted to the audio device. The audio feed may be generated by digitally processing audio signal based on the inverted sound pattern. In an example, at the coupled audio device, the inverted sound pattern is capable of interfering with the ambient noise that may be detectable at the audio device. The interference between the inverted sound pattern and the ambient noise detected at the audio device, results in suppression or cancellation of the ambient noise in the audio device. As a result, the user of the audio device is able to perceive the audio corresponding to the communication session which may be underway, and not the ambient noise.

[0G19] The present approaches implement noise cancellation functions without specific hardware (e.g., noise cancellation headsets). Furthermore, the noise cancellation performed as per the present approaches are based on noise sound pattern as detectable at the audio device. The noise cancellation is also accurate, since it is based on the noise sound patern at the location of the audio device rather than estimation of noise sound pattern at another location.

[0020] The manner in which the exampie computing devices are implemented are explained in detail with respect to FIGS. 1-5. While aspects of described computing device may be implemented in any number of different electronic devices, environments, and/or implementations, the examples are described in the context of the following example device(s). It is to be noted that drawings of the present subject matter shown here are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter claimed.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device 100, as per an example of the present subject matter. Examples of such computing device 100 include, but are not limited to laptops, desktop PCs, tablet PCs, smartphones, and wearable computing devices. The computing device 100 comprises a microphone 102 and a transceiver module 104. The microphone 102 detects sounds in its vicinity and may be implemented as a single microphone or as an array of microphones. The transceiver module 104 may include any circuitry which enables wireless coupling between the computing device 100 and other devices, such as an audio device. The user of the computing device 100 may communicate with users of other device over a communication session.

[0022] The computing device 100 may further include a processor 106, which may be coupled to the microphone 102 and the transceiver module 104. The computing device 100 may be utilized for voice-based communication by a user. The computing device 100 may also be proximal to an ambient noise source generating ambient noise. In an example, the processor 106 may fetch and execute the computer- readable instructions 108 stored in a memory (not depicted in FIG. 1), to generate an audio feed comprising an inverted sound pattern, amongst other functions. The generated audio feed which includes the inverted sound pattern may be utilized for suppressing or cancelling the ambient noise generated by the ambient noise source. During a communication session, such as a conference or a video call, the user may use a wirelessly coupled audio device (not shown in FIG. 1 ). Example of such an audio device may include, but is not limited to, wireless audio headsets comprising an integrated microphone and speaker.

[0023] In an example, a first distance between the audio device from the computing device 100 may be determined. The first distance corresponds to a relative position of the audio device with respect to the position of the computing device 100. After determining the first distance, the processor 106 may further determine a second distance between the computing device 100 and an ambient noise source, which may be generating an ambient noise.

[0024] Once the first distance and the second distance are determined, a noise sound pattern corresponding to the ambient noise detected at the audio device may be generated based on the first distance and the second distance. On generating the noise sound pattern, an inverted sound pattern based on the noise sound pattern may be obtained. In an example, the obtained inverted sound pattern corresponds to a sound pattern which is out-of-phase by an angle of 180° with respect to the generated noise sound pattern. In an example, the noise sound pattern may be based on frequency and an amplitude component within the ambient noise. Thereafter, an audio feed may be generated based on an audio input received from the audio device, the inverted sound pattern, and the ambient noise. The audio input may correspond to the oral or spoken inputs provided by the user into the audio device. Within the audio feed, the inverted sound pattern resuits in the suppression or cancellation of the ambient noise. The audio feed, thus generated, may be transmitted to a client device (not shown in FIG. 1 ), which may be in communication with the computing device 100.

[0025] As may be noted, the present approaches provide an audio feed in which the effect of the ambient noise are reduced. At the client device end, the generated audio output corresponding to the audio feed is free from the ambient noise which may have persisted at the audio device. As per the present example, the audio feed with the inverted sound pattern has been utilized to reduce the ambient noise for the client device which may be in communication with the computing device 100. In other examples, the audio feed with the inverted sound pattern may be utilized for the ambient noise for the audio device as well. These and other examples are further described on conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device 200, as per an example of the present subject matter. The computing device 200 is to generate an audio feed comprising an inverted sound pattern, and subsequently transmit the audio feed to an audio device which may be coupled to the computing device 200. The computing device 200 is similar to the computing device 100 and may include laptops, desktop PCs, tablet PCs, smartphones, and wearable computing devices. [0027] The computing device 200 includes a microphone 202 and a transceiver module 204_s similar to corresponding components of the computing device 100. The computing device 200 may further include a processor 206, which may be similar to the processor 106. Among other functions, the processor 206 may fetch and execute the computer-readable instructions 208 stored in a memory (not depicted in FIG. 2), to generate an audio feed comprising an inverted sound pattern and transmit such a generated audio feed to an audio device coupled to the computing device 200.

[0028] The computing device 200 may be in a voice-based communication, such as a conference video or audio call, with a client device over a network. During the communication session, the computing device 200 may be relaying audio signal received from a client device, to an audio device of the user. The audio device may be wirelessly coupled to the computing device 200. Owing to the ambient noise, the user may have difficulty in discerning and understanding the conversation taking place during the communication session.

[0029] To this end, the instructions 208 may cause the computing device 200 to determine a first distance of the audio device from the computing device 100, and a second distance between the computing device 200 and an ambient noise source. Similar to the computing device 100, the computing device 200 may further generate a noise sound pattern corresponding to the ambient noise detected at the audio device based on the first distance and the second distance. Thereafter, an inverted sound pattern which is out-of-phase by an angle of 180° with respect to the noise sound pattern, may be obtained.

[0030] Once the inverted sound pattern is obtained, an audio feed for the audio device (which is wirelessly coupled with the computing device 200) may be generated. In an example, the instructions 208 may cause the computing device 200 to generate the audio feed based on the inverted sound pattern and the audio signal received from the client device. The resulting audio feed may then be relayed to the audio device of the user. The inverted sound pattern of the audio feed is to suppress the ambient noise which may be detectable at the audio device of the user. As a result of the interference between the inverted sound pattern and the ambient noise, the audio signal would be predominantly discernible to the user. As per the present approaches, the ambient noise detectable at the audio device of the user, may be suppressed or cancelled through the inverted sound pattern. [0031 ] The first distance and the second distance determined for the computing devices 100, 200 may be determined through a variety of techniques. For example, the first distance between and the computing devices 100, 200 may be determined based on certain wireless signal, such as a low energy signal, exchanged between the transceiver of the computing devices 100, 200 and a transmitter within the audio device. The second distance may be determined based on the information pertaining to the ambient noise which may be detected by the computing devices 100, 200 and based on the ambient noise which may be detected by the audio device, in an example, an additional communication device (e.g., a smartphone) may be wirelessly paired with the computing devices 100, 200. In such a case, the second distance may be determined based on a Time-Distance-oTArrival of the ambient noise detected at the audio device, the computing devices 100, 200, and the additional communication device. It may be noted that the present examples are only illustrative. Other examples may also be utilized without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a network environment 300 comprising a computing device 302, as per an example of the present subject matter. The computing device 302 may communicate with a client device 304 over a communication network 306. For example, the computing device 302 may host an application, which when executed, enables a user of the computing device 302 to communicate with the respective user of the client device 304. The application may execute to establish a communication session between the computing device 302 and the client device 304. The application may implement voice-based communication, video-based communication, or a combination thereof.

[0033] The communication network 306 may be either a single communication network or a combination of multiple communication networks and may use a variety of different communication protocols. The communication network 306 may be a wireless network, a wired network, or a combination thereof. Examples of such individual communication networks include, but are not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, Personal Communications Service (PCS) network, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Next Generation Network (NON), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Depending on the technology, the communication network 306 includes various network entities, such as gateways, routers; however, such details have been omitted for the sake of brevity of the present description.

[0034] At the user’s end of the network environment 300 (referred to as the environment 300), the computing device 302 may be wirelessly coupled with an audio device 308. Wireless coupling of the audio device with the computing device 302 may be achieved, for example, through a process referred to as pairing. As a result of the wireless coupling, a connection is established between the audio device and the computing device 302. The audio device 308 may refer to any audio-based device which is to receive an audio input from the user (e.g., through an inbuilt microphone) and is capable of providing an audio output in response to an audio signal (i.e. , through an inbuilt headphone). In an example, the audio device 308 may be Bluetooth® based headset.

[0035] In one example, the computing device 302 may be further coupled to a communication device 310. Examples of the communication device 310 may include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, tablet PC, portable computing device, or any other computing device. The comm unication device 310 may be in wireless communication with the computing device 302 in a manner which may be similar to the wireless coupling between the audio device 308 and the computing device 302. [0036] The network environment 300 may further include an ambient noise source 312 (referred to as the source 312). The source 312 may generate an ambient noise 314 within the network environment 300. The ambient noise 314 may refer to background acoustic noise which may persist and is discernible within the environment 300. Examples of such background acoustic noise include, but are not limited to, environmental noises, peripheral speech, and electrical noise from appliances which may be present in the vicinity of the computing device 302. The ambient noise 314, thus generated, may adversely impact the communication session between the computing device 302 and the client device 304.

[0037] The computing device 302 may include a processor 316, interface 318, memory 320, a microphone 322, transceiver module 324, and data 326. The processor 316 may be implemented as microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or other devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 316 is configured to fetch and execute computer- readable instructions stored In the memory 320 to generate and transmit an audio feed comprising an inverted sound pattern, in a voice-based communication session. The audio feed with the inverted sound pattern may be utilized for reducing impact of ambient noise during such communication session.

[0038] The interface 318 may allow the connection or coupling of the computing device 302 with one or more other devices, through a wired (e.g., Local Area Network, i.e. , LAN) connection or through a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi). The interface 318 may also enable intercommunication between different logical as well as hardware components of the computing device 302. In an example, the interface 318 may also enable coupling of processor 316 with the microphone 322 and the transceiver module 324.

[0039] The memory 320 may be a computer-readable medium, examples of which include volatile memory (e.g., RAM), and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., Erasable Programmable read-only memory, i.e., EPROM, flash memory, etc.). The memory 320 may be an externa! memory, or internal memory, such as a flash drive, a compact disk drive, an external hard disk drive, or the like. The memory 320 may further include data which either may be utilized or generated during the operation of the computing device 302.

[0040] The microphone 322 provided in the computing device 302 is to detect and capture ambient noise 314. The microphone 322 may be positioned such that its receiving end is exposed to the surrounding ambient sound. The microphone 322 may be implemented as a single microphone, or as a plurality of microphones as a microphone array, located at various location in the housing of the computing device 302. The transceiver module 324 facilitates transmission as well as reception of information or communication signals, wirelessly. In an example, the transceiver module is a Bluetooth® Low Energy beacon, which may interact and exchange messages or communication signals with other such similar beacons provided in other devices, such as the audio device 308. In another example, the transceiver module 324 may facilitates wireiess connection of the audio device 308 and the communication device 310 with the computing device 302. Similar to the computing device 302, the audio device 308 and the communication device 310 may also include a microphone (not shown in FIG. 3) for detecting and capturing any acoustic signal (whether an audio input provided by the user or the ambient noise 314) in their respective vicinity. [0041] The computing device 302 may further include data 326. The data 326 may include corresponding data that is utilized or generated by the computing device 302 while performing a variety of functions, in an example, the data 326 further includes values indicating a first distance 328 and a second distance 330. The data 326 may further store noise sound pattern 332, inverted sound pattern 334, and other data 336. Further, the other data 336, amongst other things, may serve as a repository for storing data that is processed, or received, or generated as a result of the execution of the instruction by the processor 316.

[0042] In operation, i.e., while participating in a voice-based communication session, the computing device 302 may be communicating with the client device 304 over the communication network 306. The user may be able to hear the conversation pertaining to the communication session through the audio device 308 and may be abie to speak to provide an audio input, into the audio device 308. An ambient noise 314, generated by the source 312, might be present in the background of the computing device 302.

[0043] In an example, the processor 316 may determine a distance, referred to as the first distance 328, between the computing device 302 and the audio device 308. The first distance 328 may be determined by exchanging a series of beacon signals between the computing device 302 and the audio device 308. For example, the computing device 302 may determine a received signal strength of a beacon signal received from the audio device 308. Based on the receive signal strength, the computing device 302 may determine the distance between the computing device 302 and audio device 308. The processor 316 may also determine a relative angle between the computing device 302 and the audio device 308. In an example, the processor 316 may determine a relative distance between the communication device 310 and the computing device 302. The relative distance between the communication device 310 and the computing device 302 may be stored as first distance 328. Thereafter, the computing device 302 may employ triangulation techniques for determining the relative position and the relative angle of the audio device 308 and the communication device 310, with respect to the computing device 302. it may be noted that in instances where the network environment 300 includes multiple devices, such as the communication device 310, the processor 316 may further determine a relative distance between the computing device 302 and the multipie devices. [0044] Once the first distance 328 is determined, the processor 316 may determine a second distance 330 between the ambient noise source 312 from the computing device 302. in an example, the computing device 302 uses a time- Difference-of-Arrival of the ambient noise 314 detected at the microphone of the audio device 308, and the microphone 322 of the computing device 302. in another exampie, the processor 316 may also consider the instant of arrival of the ambient noise 314 at the communication device 310, without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter. In an example, the ambient noise 314 detected at the microphone of the audio device 308 and the microphone 322 of the computing device 302, may be recorded. Based on the differences between the time of arrival of the ambient noise 314 at the computing device 302, the audio device 308, and the communication device 310, the processor 316 may determine the relative distance, referred to as the second distance 330, of the source 312 with respect to the computing device 302.

[0045] Continuing with the present example, once the first distance 328 and the second distance 330 are determined, the processor 316 may generate a noise sound pattern 332. The noise sound pattern 332, amongst other aspects, may provide an estimation of acoustic pattern, levels, and other parameters corresponding to the ambient noise 314 which may be detected at the audio device 308. In an example, the processor 316 may determine the noise sound patern 332 based on the first distance 328 and the second distance 330. In one example, the processor 316 may assign a comparative weight to the received ambient noise from the microphone 322 of the computing device 302 and the microphones of audio device 308, based on the determined first distance 328 and second distance 330. Thereafter, the processor 316 may estimate the noise sound pattern 332 based on the assigned weight. As may be understood, the nature of the ambient noise 314 emanating from the source 312 may vary over a course of time. In an example, the processor 316 may periodically determine the noise sound pattern 332 to account for any variations in the ambient noise 314. In an example, the noise sound pattern 332 may be based on frequency and an amplitude component within the ambient noise 314.

[0046] It may be noted that size and shape of the audio devices, such the audio device 308, may vary across different makes. For certain audio devices, the microphone and the earpiece may be positioned apart (e.g., in the case of a headset). In other cases, the microphone and earpiece may be located in close proximity to each other within the audio device. Owing to the difference in the positioning of the microphone and the earpiece, the noise sound pattern 332 may be suitably modified. In an exampie, the noise sound patern 332 may be determined based on the positioning of the microphone and earpiece.

[0047] On generating the noise sound pattern 332, the processor 316 may generate an inverted sound pattern 334 based on the noise sound pattern 332. in an example, processor 316 may process the noise sound pattern 332 to provide an inverted sound pattern 334 which is out-of~phase with respect to the noise sound pattern 332 by 180°. The inverted sound pattern 334 may then be used to reduce interference caused by the ambient noise 314. The inverted sound patern 334 may be utilized for canceiling or suppressing the ambient noise 314 in the audio input being provided to the client device 304, as well as the audio feed being provided into the audio device 308 of the user.

[0048] In an example, the processor 316 may further generate an audio feed based on the inverted sound pattern 334, the ambient noise 314, and an audio input being provided by the user of the audio device 308. As may be understood, during the communication session, the computing device 302 may be receiving an audio input from the audio device 308. The audio input, in turn, comprises the voice-based input provided by the user along with the ambient noise 314 which may be detected by the audio device 308. The processor 316 may then generate an audio feed by mixing the audio input (which comprises the voice-based user input and the ambient noise 314) and the inverted sound pattern 334. The inverted sound pattern 334, when mixed with the audio input received from the audio device 308, is to generate an audio feed which may have reduced levels of the ambient noise 314. The audio feed may thereafter be transmitted by the computing device 302 to the client device 304 over the communication network 306. At the client device 304, the audio feed may be received, and corresponding output may be generated. Owing to the reduced ievels of ambient noise 314 in the audio feed, the resulting output is free from the effects of the ambient noise 314 to a large extent.

[0049] It may be noted that the user of the audio device 308 is also likely to be impacted by the ambient noise 314. in an example, the processor 316 may generate an audio feed for the audio device 308 based on the inverted sound patern 334 and an audio signal received from the client device 304 during the communication session. The audio signal may correspond to the oral conversation of different participants and the user, during the communication session. To generate the audio feed, the processor 316 may mix the inverted sound patern 334 and the audio signal received from the dient device 304. The mixing of the inverted sound pattern 334 and the audio signal received from the client device 304 may be implemented through various digital signa! processing techniques. Once the audio feed is generated, the processor 316 of the computing device 302 may relay the same to the audio device 308. As explained previously, the ambient noise 314 is also detectable at the audio device 308. The audio device 308, on receiving the audio feed from the computing device 302, may generate a corresponding audio output,

[0050] In an example, the inverted sound patern 334 present in the audio output may interfere with the ambient noise 314 which may be present at the audio device 308. The interference between the inverted sound pattern 334 and the ambient noise 314 may then reduce the !eve! of ambient noise 314 in the audio feed, which may be perceivable by the user of the audio device 308. As may be noted, the present approaches enable reducing the impact of the ambient noise 314 at the audio device 308 without any specific hardware or noise cancelling implements,

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 to be implemented by computing device 302, as per an example of the present subject matter. Although the method 400 may be implemented for servicing of a variety of computing devices, for the ease of explanation, the present description of the example method 400 is provided in reference to the above-described computing device 100, 200, or 302. The order in which the various method blocks of method 400 are described, is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks may be combined in any order to implement the method 400, or an alternative method.

[0052] The blocks of the method 400 may be implemented through instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, as will be readily understood. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include, for example, digital memories, magnetic storage media, such as magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media.

[0053] At block 402, relative distance between a computing device, an audio device, and a communication device, coupled to the computing device, is determined. For example, a user may use the computing device 302 for a voice-based communication session with another client device 304, The computing device 302 may be wirelessly coupled to the audio device 308 through which the user may be able to participate in the communication session. The processor 316 may determine the distance between the audio device 308 and the computing device 302 (i.e., the first distance 328). In the context of the network environment 300, the processor 316 may further determine the distance between the audio device 308 and the communication device 310, which may be stored as first distance 328. In an example, the first distance 328 (i.e., the distance between the computing device 302 and either the audio device 308 or the communication device 310, may be determined based on a series of beacon signals exchanged between the various devices. The processor 316 may rely on a received signal strength of a beacon signal received from the audio device 308 and the communication device 310. Based on the receive signal strength, the computing device 302 may determine the distance between the computing device 302 and the audio device 308, and with respect to the communication device 310. In an example, the signal may be a Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) beacon signal.

[0054] At block 404, ambient noise which is detected at the computing device and the audio device, may be captured. The ambient noise may be generated from any ambient noise source within an environment in which the computing device may be present. For example, the processor 316 may capture the ambient noise 314 which may be detected at the computing device 302, the audio device 308, and the communication device 310. In an example, the ambient noise 314 at the computing device 302 may be recorded through the microphone 322. In a similar manner, the ambient noise 314 at the audio device 308 and the communication device 310 may be recorded through a microphone which may be integrated within the circuitry of the audio device 308.

[0055] At block 406, a relative distance between the computing device and an ambient noise source is determined. For example, the processor 316 may determine a second distance 330 between the ambient noise source 312 from the computing device 302. The computing device 302 uses a time-Difference-of-Arrival of the ambient noise 314 detected at the microphone of the audio device 308, and the microphone 322 of the computing device 302. Based on the differences between the time of arrival of the ambient noise 314 at the computing device 302 and the audio device 308, the processor 316 may determine the relative distance (i.e., the second distance 330), of the source 312 with respect to the computing device 302.

[0056] At block 408, a noise sound pattern based on the relative distance from the ambient noise source, the audio device, and the communication device, is determined. In an example, the processor 316 may generate a noise sound pattern 332 based on the first distance 328 and the second distance 330. In an exampie, the noise sound pattern 332 may aiso be based on the ambient noise 314 which may be detected and recorded by the computing device 302, the audio device 308, and the communication device 310. in another example, the computing device 302 may assign a comparative weight to the detected ambient noise at the microphones of the computing device 302, the audio device 308, and the communication device 310, based on the determined first distance 328 and second distance 330 and then may estimate the noise sound pattern 332 based on the assigned weight, in an example, the processor 316 may select the ambient noise as the noise sound pattern 332 from amongst the detected ambient noise based on the weights. The noise sound pattern 332, amongst other aspects, may provide an estimation of acoustic pattern, levels, and other parameters corresponding to the ambient noise 314 which may be detected at the audio device 308.

[0057] At block 410, an inverted sound pattern is generated based on the noise sound pattern. For exampie, the processor 316 of the computing device 302 may generate an inverted sound pattern 334 based on the noise sound pattern 332. in an example, the inverted sound patern 334 corresponds to a sound pattern which is out- of-phase with respect to the noise sound pattern 332 by an angle of 180°. The inverted sound pattern 334 may be utilized to cancel or supress the ambient noise 314 in any signal.

[0058] At block 412, an audio feed based on the inverted sound patern for a ciient device, is generated. For example, the processor 316 may further generate an audio feed based on the inverted sound pattern 334, the ambient noise 314, and an audio input being provided by the user of the audio device 308. The audio input includes the voice-based input provided by the user. In the present example, the processor 316 may mix the audio input (which comprises the voice-based user input and the ambient noise 314) and the inverted sound pattern 334.

[0055] At biock 414, the audio feed is transmitted by the computing device to the ciient device over the communication network 306. For exampie, the computing device 302 may transmit the audio feed generated by the processor 316 to the ciient device 304. At the client device 304, the audio feed may be received, and corresponding output may be generated . Owing to the reduced levels of ambient noise 314 in the audio feed, the resuiting output is free from the effects of the ambient noise 314 to a large extent. [0060] At block 416, an audio feed for the audio device based on the inverted sound patern, is generated. For exampie, the processor 316 may generate an audio feed for the audio device 308 based on the inverted sound pattern 334 and an audio signa! received from the client device 304. in an exampie, the processor 316 may mix the inverted sound pattern 334 and the audio signa! received from the client device 304.

[0061] At block 418, the generated audio feed is relayed to the audio device. For exampie, the processor 316 may transmit the audio feed to the audio device 308, through the transceiver module 324. As explained previously, the audio device 308, on receiving the audio feed from the computing device 302, may generate a corresponding audio output. Since the audio feed includes the inverted sound pattern 334, the component of the inverted sound pattern 334 present in the audio output is to result in reduction of the ievel of ambient noise 314 in the audio feed which may be perceivable by the user of the audio device 308.

[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates a computing environment 500 implementing a non- transitory computer readable medium for obtaining an audio feed based on an inverted sound pattern. In an example, the computing environment 500 includes processor 502 communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium 504 through communication link 506. In an example, the processor 502 may have one or more processing resources for fetching and executing computer-readable instructions from the non-transitory computer readable medium 504. The processor 502 and the non- transitory computer readable medium 504 may be implemented, for example, in devices 100, 200 or 302.

[0063] The non-transitory computer readable medium 504 may be, for example, an internal memory device or an external memory. In an example implementation, the communication link 506 may be a network communication link, or other communication links, such as a PCI (Peripheral component interconnect) Express, USB-C (Universal Serial Bus Type-C) interfaces, FC (Inter-Integrated Circuit) interfaces, etc. The processor 502 and the non-transitory computer readable medium 504 may also be communicatively coupled to a computing device 508 over the network. The computing device 508 may be implemented, for example, as computing device 100, computing device 200 or computing device 302. In an example implementation, the non-transitory computer readable medium 504 includes a set of computer readable instructions 510 which may be accessed by the processor 502 through the communication link 506 and subsequently executed to obtain the input/output audio feed for cancellation of the ambient noise.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, in an example, the non-transitory computer readable medium 504 includes computer readable instructions 510 that cause the processor 502 to determine a first distance from the audio device and a second distance from an ambient noise source with respect to the computing device. Such a first distance 328 may correspond to the relative position of the audio device 308 from the computing device 302 and a second distance 330 may correspond to the relative position of the source 312 with respect to the computing device 302.

[0065] Once first distance 328 and the second distance 330 are obtained, the instructions 510 may further cause generation of a noise sound pattern 332 corresponding to the ambient noise 314 detected at the audio device 308. in an example, the noise sound pattern 332 may be generated based on the first distance 328 and the second distance 330. Based on the generated noise sound pattern 332, the instructions 510 may further cause the processor 502 to generate an inverted sound pattern, such as the inverted sound pattern 334, based on the noise sound pattern 332. In an example, the inverted sound pattern 334 may correspond to a sound pattern which is out-of-phase with respect to the noise sound pattern 332 by an angle of 180°. The inverted sound pattern 334 may then be utilized to reduce the effect of the ambient noise 314 in an audio feed sent to the client device 304 over a communication network 306, or in an audio feed sent to the audio device 308. Since the inverted sound pattern 334 is out of phase with respect to the noise sound pattern 332, it results in reducing the interference caused by the ambient noise 314.

[0066] Although examples for the present disclosure have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed and explained as examples of the present disclosure .

Claims

l/We Ciaim:

1 . A computing device comprising: a microphone; a transceiver module, wherein the transceiver module is to wirelessly connect the computing device to an audio device; and a processor coupled to the microphone and the transceiver module, wherein the processor is to: determine a first distance between the audio device from the computing device; determine a second distance between an ambient noise source from the computing device, wherein the ambient noise source is to generate an ambient noise; generate a noise sound pattern corresponding to the ambient noise detected at the audio device based on the first distance and the second distance; obtain an inverted sound pattern based on the noise sound pattern, wherein the inverted sound patern is out~of~phase with respect to noise sound pattern; and transmit, over a network, an audio feed to a client device in communication with the computing device, wherein the audio feed is generated based on an audio input received from a user of the audio device, the inverted sound pattern, and the ambient noise.

2. The computing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is to determine the first distance based on a signal received from a transmitter within the audio device.

3. The computing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is to determine the second distance based on information pertaining to the ambient noise captured by the audio device and the computing device.

4. The computing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver module is to further communicatively couple the computing device to a communication device.

5. The computing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the processor is to determine the second distance based on a Time-Difference-of-Arrival of the ambient noise detected at the audio device, the communication device, and the computing device.

6. The computing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the noise sound pattern is based on frequency and an amplitude component within the ambient noise.

7. The computing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver module is a Bluetooth® Low Energy beacon.

8. A computing device comprising: a microphone; a transceiver module, wherein the transceiver module is to wirelessly connect the computing device to an audio device; and a processor coupled to the microphone and the transceiver module, wherein the processor is to: determine a first distance from the audio device, and a second distance from an ambient noise source from the computing device, wherein the ambient noise source is to generate an ambient noise; generate a noise sound pattern corresponding to the ambient noise detected at the audio device based on the first distance and the second distance; obtain an inverted sound pattern based on the noise sound pattern, wherein the inverted sound pattern is out-of-phase with respect to noise sound pattern; and cause communication of an audio feed to the audio device, wherein the audio feed is generated based on an audio signal received from a client device in communication with the computing device, and the inverted sound pattern.

9. The computing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor is to: determine the first distance based on a wireless signal received from a transmitter within the audio device; and determine the second distance based on an information pertaining to the ambient noise captured by the audio device and the computing device.

10. The computing device as ciaimed in claim 9, wherein the wireiess signa! received from the transmiter of the audio device is a low energy signal.

11. The computing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the audio signal corresponds to voice-based communication in a communication session between the computing device and the client device.

12. The computing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the audio device is an audio headset comprising a headphone and a microphone.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions, which when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to: generate a noise sound pattern corresponding to an ambient noise detected at an audio device, wirelessly coupled to a computing device, based on distances of: the computing device from the audio device and a communication device wirelessly coupled to the computing device, and the computing device from the ambient noise source, wherein the ambient noise source is to generate the ambient noise; and obtain an inverted sound pattern based on the noise sound pattern, wherein the inverted sound pattern is out-of-phase with respect to noise sound pattern and is to cause cancellation of the ambient noise in an audio feed generated based on the inverted sound pattern.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in ciaim 13, wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the computing device to determine the distances of the computing device from the audio device and the communication device based on a low energy signal received from a transmitter of the audio device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the computing device to determine the distance of the computing device from the ambient noise source based on information pertaining to the ambient noise captured by the audio device and the computing device.