Abstract: In various embodiments, a speakerphone may comprise multiple (e.g., 16) microphones placed in a circular array around a central speaker. The microphones may be mounted vertically in the speakerphone with their respective diaphragms substantially parallel to the top surface of the speakerphone. The centrally mounted speaker may be coupled to a stiff internal speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may be made of a stiff, heavy material (e.g., a dense plastic) to prevent the speaker vibrations from excessively vibrating the speakerphone enclosure (which may affect the microphones). The speaker enclosure may also include a raised rim and ridges to increase its stiffness.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a High Definition (HD) camera may be controlled by one or more motors in a base of the HD camera. Cables and other components may be used to manipulate the HD camera lens through the side arms of the HD camera. Putting the motors in the base may reduce the size of the outer case of the HD camera and add stability. In some embodiments, images from the HD camera may be converted into a serialized stream and transported over a cable from the HD camera. Other components may also be used to increase the functionality of the HD camera.

Abstract: A communication system (e.g., a speakerphone) includes an array of microphones, a speaker, memory and a processor. The processor may perform a virtual broadside scan on the microphone array and analyze the resulting amplitude envelope to identify acoustic source angles. Each of the source angles may be further investigated with a directed beam (e.g., a hybrid superdirective/delay-and-sum beam) to obtain a corresponding beam signal. Each source may be classified as either intelligence or noise based on an analysis of the corresponding beam signal. The processor may design a virtual beam pointed at an intelligence source and having nulls directed at one or more of the noise sources. Thus, the virtual beam may be highly sensitive to the intelligence source and insensitive to the noise sources.

Abstract: A system such as a speakerphone may include a processor, memory and an array of microphones. The processor may be configured (via program instructions stored in the memory) to perform automatic echo cancellation, self calibration and beam forming. In particular, the processor may receive input signals from the microphone array and operate on the input signals with a highly directed virtual beam which is a composite of two or more beams which are restricted to respective frequency ranges. The two or more beams may include beams of different kinds, e.g., superdirective beams and delay-and-sum beams.

Abstract: A communication system (e.g., a speakerphone) includes an array of microphones, a speaker, memory and a processor. The processor may be configured to perform acoustic echo cancellation, to track multiple talkers with highly directed beams, to design beams with nulls pointed at noise sources, to generate a 3D model of the physical environment, to compensate for the proximity effect, and to perform dereverberation of a talker's voice signal. The processor may also be configured to use a standard codec in non-standard ways. The processor may perform a virtual broadside scan on the microphone array, analyze the resulting amplitude envelope for acoustic source angles, examine each of the source angles with a directed beam, combine the beam outputs that show the characteristics of intelligence or speech.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the components of a videoconferencing system may be incorporated in a unitary housing. For example, an integrated videoconferencing system may include microphones to capture participant audio and a camera to capture participant video (along with corresponding audio processing capabilities) in a unitary housing. The unitary housing may also include speakers to produce audio from conference participants and a display to provide video of conference participants. The integrated videoconferencing system may include a codec for encoding and/or decoding). The integrated videoconferencing system may also perform other conference related functions. The integrated videoconferencing system may be used as a speakerphone (e.g., in audio only calls) and/or a videoconference system. The integrated videoconferencing system may also fold into a compact form for portability.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a speakerphone may comprise multiple (e.g., 16) microphones placed in a circular array around a central speaker. Each microphone may be mounted to the speakerphone through a microphone support. The microphone support may be made of a flexible material and have various features designed to minimize interference to the microphone (e.g., from the speaker and/or vibrations external to the speakerphone). The centrally mounted speaker may be coupled to a stiff internal speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may be made of a stiff, heavy material (e.g., a dense plastic) to prevent the speaker vibrations from excessively vibrating the speakerphone enclosure (which may affect the microphones).

Abstract: A system may be configured to: receive remote audio signals and corresponding spatial indicators from remote systems; generate output signals for local speakers based on the remote audio signals and the corresponding spatial indicators; supply a microphone input signal to a first echo canceller in a series of echo cancellers, where each echo canceller of the series corresponds to a position in a set of positions along a one-dimensional locus connecting the speakers; map each of the remote audio signals to a corresponding one of the positions based on the corresponding spatial indicator; for each position of the set of positions, combine any of the remote audio signals that map to that position in order to form a corresponding input signal for the corresponding echo canceller; transmit a resultant signal including at least an output of a last echo canceller of the series to the remote systems.

Abstract: A communication system includes a set of microphones, a speaker, memory and a processor. The processor is configured to operate on input signals from the microphones to obtain a resultant signal representing the output of a virtual microphone which is highly directed in a target direction. The processor also is configured for self calibration. The processor may provide an output signal for transmission from the speaker. The output signal may be a noise signal, or, a portion of a live conversation. The processor captures one or more input signals in response to the output signal transmission uses the output signal and input signals to estimate parameters of the speaker and/or microphone.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described which utilize a recursive security protocol for the protection of digital data. These may include encrypting a bit stream with a first encryption algorithm and associating a first decryption algorithm with the encrypted bit stream. The resulting bit stream may then be encrypted with a second encryption algorithm to yield a second bit stream. This second bit stream is then associated with a second decryption algorithm. This second bit stream can then be decrypted by an intended recipient using associated keys.

Abstract: A system may include a processor and memory. The processor may be configured to perform calibration measurements on the speaker even when the speaker is being used to conduct a live conversation. The processor may be configured to: provide a live output signal for transmission from a speaker; receive an input signal corresponding to the output signal; compute a midrange sensitivity and a lowpass sensitivity for a transfer function derived from a spectrum of the input signal and a spectrum of the output signal; subtract the midrange sensitivity from the lowpass sensitivity to obtain a speaker-related sensitivity; perform an iterative search for current parameters of a speaker model using the input signal spectrum, the output signal spectrum and the speaker-related sensitivity; and update averages of the speaker model parameters using the current parameter values. The parameter averages may be used to perform echo cancellation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described which utilize a recursive security protocol for the protection of digital data. These may include encrypting a bit stream with a first encryption algorithm and associating a first decryption algorithm with the encrypted bit stream. The resulting bit stream may then be encrypted with a second encryption algorithm to yield a second bit stream. This second bit stream is then associated with a second decryption algorithm. This second bit stream can then be decrypted by an intended recipient using associated keys.

Abstract: A processor operates on samples of a digital output signal to determine samples of a digital correction signal. The output signal samples are directed to an output channel for transmission from a speaker. The digital correction signal samples are supplied to a first digital-to-analog converter for conversion into an analog correction signal. The subtraction circuit generates a difference between a first analog signal provided by a microphone and the analog correction signal. The analog correction signal is an estimate of a contribution to the first analog signal due to a direct path transmission between the speaker and the microphone. The processor also receives a digital input signal derived from the difference signal, and, performs acoustic echo cancellation on the digital input signal to obtain a resultant signal. The acoustic echo cancellation is configured to remove contributions to the digital input signal due to reflected path transmissions.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a camera may be controlled by one or more motors in a base of the camera. Cables and other components may be used to manipulate the camera lens through the side arms of the camera. Putting the motors in the base may reduce the size of the outer case of the camera and add stability. A pan motor may pan the camera while a tilt motor may move a tilt pulley relative to a lens portion of the camera (which may or may not tilt the camera depending on the panning motion of the camera). In some embodiments, images from the camera may be converted into a serialized stream and transported over a cable from the lens through a center shaft of the camera.

Abstract: A system such as a speakerphone may include a processor, memory, a speaker and a microphone. The processor may be configured (via program instructions stored in the memory) to calibrate the speaker by: outputting a stimulus signal; receiving an input signal corresponding to the stimulus signal; computing a midrange sensitivity and a lowpass sensitivity for a transfer function derived from a spectrum of the input signal and a spectrum of the output signal; subtracting the midrange sensitivity from the lowpass sensitivity to obtain a speaker-related sensitivity; performing an iterative search for current parameters of a speaker model using the input signal spectrum, the stimulus signal spectrum and the speaker-related sensitivity; and updating averages of the speaker model parameters using the current parameter values. The stimulus signal may be transmitted during periods of silence in the external environment. The parameter averages may be used to perform echo cancellation.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods which provide highly specific control over the execution of general-purpose code block are disclosed. These embodiments may allow the exact circumstances under which a given code block is allowed to execute to be determined with specificity. Such a control mechanism may be coupled with embodiments of a data hiding system and method, based for example, on an ordered execution of a set of code segments implemented via recursive execution. When embodiments of these systems and methods are utilized together an unencumbered generality as well as a level of protection against attack that surpasses many other security systems may be obtained.

Abstract: In some embodiments, spatially realistic audio may be provided for a conference call. Voices from participants on the left side of a display, in a conference call, may be directed through audio on the left side of the display at the other conferencing system in the conference call (similarly for voices from the center and right side of the display). In some embodiments, two speakers may be used in the system to create synthesized stereo sound at a location specified by directional information received as side information along with the existing audio channel. The location may be determined by using beamforming with integrated microphones on a camera or speakerphone. In some embodiments, the audio signal and directional information may be sent in the form of a left audio channel and a right audio channel.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a speakerphone may comprise multiple (e.g., 16) microphones placed in a circular array around a central speaker. Each microphone may be mounted to the speakerphone through a microphone support. The microphone support may be made of a flexible material and have various features designed to minimize interference to the microphone (e.g., from the speaker and/or vibrations external to the speakerphone). The centrally mounted speaker may be coupled to a stiff internal speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may be made of a stiff, heavy material (e.g., a dense plastic) to prevent the speaker vibrations from excessively vibrating the speakerphone enclosure (which may affect the microphones).

Abstract: In various embodiments, a speakerphone may comprise multiple (e.g., 16) microphones placed in a circular array around a central speaker. Each microphone may be mounted to the speakerphone through a microphone support. The microphone support may be made of a flexible material and have various features designed to minimize interference to the microphone (e.g., from the speaker and/or vibrations external to the speakerphone). The centrally mounted speaker may be coupled to a stiff internal speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may be made of a stiff, heavy material (e.g., a dense plastic) to prevent the speaker vibrations from excessively vibrating the speakerphone enclosure (which may affect the microphones).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described which utilize a recursive security protocol for the protection of digital data. These may include encrypting a bit stream with a first encryption algorithm and associating a first decryption algorithm with the encrypted bit stream. The resulting bit stream may then be encrypted with a second encryption algorithm to yield a second bit stream. This second bit stream is then associated with a second decryption algorithm. This second bit stream can then be decrypted by an intended recipient using associated keys.