To filter unwanted sounds from a conference call, a first voice signal is captured by a first device during a conference call and converted into corresponding text, which is then analyzed to determine that a first portion of the text was spoken by a first user and a second portion of the text was spoken by a second user. If the first user is relevant to the conference call while the second user is not, the first voice signal is prevented from being transmitted into the conference call, the first portion of text is converted into a second voice signal using a voice profile of the first user to synthesize the voice of the first user, and the second voice signal is then transmitted into the conference call. The second portion of text is not converted into a voice signal, as the second user is determined not to be relevant.

Example embodiments relate to conference calls. In a method, there may be provided audio data and associated classification data from a plurality of user devices as part of a conference call, the plurality of user devices including at least a first user device and a second user device. The classification data may be indicative of one of a plurality of predetermined sound types represented by the associated audio data in a current time frame. The method may comprise determining that the audio data provided by the first user device is associated with a dominant speaker. The method may comprise controlling transmission of the audio data as part of the conference call, including preventing transmission of audio data provided by at least the second user device based on its associated classification data being indicative of a restricted sound type and the first user device being associated with a dominant speaker.

There is provided a multi-talker acoustic network system for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising at least two table microphone units (10, 12) for capturing audio signals from a speaker's voice, each comprising a microphone arrangement (30) having an omnidirectional characteristic, a VAD (32) for detecting voice activity of the microphone arrangement and a transmitter (36) for transmitting the captured audio signals via a wireless audio link (40), a control unit (34) for selecting one of tire table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit, wherein the control unit is configured to select, in case that at a time only for one of the table microphone units voice activity is detected, that one of the table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit, and to select, in case that at a time for more than one of the table microphone units voice activity is detected, at least for a certain time period that one of the table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit which has detected the voice activity first as the presently active microphone unit, wherein the system is configured to maintain the selection of the presently active microphone unit with a release time, and a hearing assistance device (20, 22) to be worn by the user, comprising a receiver unit (42) for receiving audio signals captured by the presently active microphone unit and an output transducer (44) for stimulation of the user's hearing according to the received audio signals, wherein the system is configured to prevent audio signals of the table microphone unit(s) not being the presently active microphone unit from being supplied to the output transducer.

A method for identifying and managing users within a group during a teleconference. The method includes a computer processor determining that a group of users are sharing a first client device to communicate, via a teleconference with one or more other users. The method further includes identifying a first user, of the group of user that are sharing the first client device, that is speaking during a first portion of the teleconference. The method further includes determining an action corresponding to the first user, where an action affects managing content of the teleconference at a client device. The method further includes initiating the determined action corresponding to the first user.

Electronic accessory device capable of dynamically muting the microphone and/or speaker responsive to predefined user control input, and a communications terminal at least functionally connected to the accessory for the transfer of audio signals and related signaling. Related methods for execution by the accessory and the terminal are presented.

There is provided a multi-talker acoustic network system for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising at least two table microphone units (10, 12) for capturing audio signals from a speaker's voice, each comprising a microphone arrangement (30) having an omnidirectional characteristic, a VAD (32) for detecting voice activity of the microphone arrangement and a transmitter (36) for transmitting the captured audio signals via a wireless audio link (40), a control unit (34) for selecting one of tire table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit, wherein the control unit is configured to select, in case that at a time only for one of the table microphone units voice activity is detected, that one of the table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit, and to select, in case that at a time for more than one of the table microphone units voice activity is detected, at least for a certain time period that one of the table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit which has detected the voice activity first as the presently active microphone unit, wherein the system is configured to maintain the selection of the presently active microphone unit with a release time, and a hearing assistance device (20, 22) to be worn by the user, comprising a receiver unit (42) for receiving audio signals captured by the presently active microphone unit and an output transducer (44) for stimulation of the user's hearing according to the received audio signals, wherein the system is configured to prevent audio signals of the table microphone unit(s) not being the presently active microphone unit from being supplied to the output transducer.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling communications for an online meeting. The method includes, at each of a plurality of user devices, receiving audio from one of a plurality of participants via a microphone, at least one processor coordinating transmission of the audio from each of the plurality of user devices to the other user devices via a communications system, the processors progressing through multiple stages for the online meeting where each stage is associated with audio configuration data, and at each stage, the at least one processor automatically muting audio received from one or more of the plurality of user devices in accordance with the audio configuration data associated with that stage such that the muted audio is not generated at the other user devices. Other systems and methods for controlling communications and managing online meetings are disclosed.

To filter unwanted sounds from a conference call, a voice profile of a first user is generated based on a first voice signal captured by a media device during a first conference call. The voice profile may be generated by identifying a base frequency of the first voice signal and determining a plurality of voice characteristics, such as pitch, intonation, accent, loudness, and speech rate. These data may be stored in association with the first user. During a second conference call, a second voice signal captured by the media device is analyzed to determine, based on the voice profile of the first user, whether the second voice signal includes the voice of a second user. If so, the second voice signal is prevented from being transmitted into the conference call. A voice profile of the second user may be generated from the second voice signal for future use.

A server, system, and client are provided. The server receives audio data from one or more clients; receives an audio data request from a requesting client, and obtains, from the audio data request, a mixing manner of audio data requested by the requesting client; preprocesses audio data of a client of the one or more clients that corresponds to the audio data request using the obtained mixing manner; and sends the preprocessed audio data to the requesting client.

An example method for managing a conference call includes detecting multiple concurrent audio signals. The multiple concurrent audio signals include a first audio signal from a first participant on a conference call and a second audio signal from a second participant on the conference call. The example method also includes comparing a first cumulative time period in which the first participant has spoken to a second cumulative time period in which the second participant has spoken on the conference call. The example method further includes selecting, based on the comparison, one of the first participant and the second participant as a lower ranked participant. The example method also includes providing an indication to the lower ranked participant to yield speaking in favor of another participant on the conference call.