Acoustic perimeter for reducing noise transmitted by a communication device in an open-plan environment

A method for audio processing in an environment, the environment including:

• a first primary communication device configured to transmit a first speaker's voice from the first primary communication device to a first receiving communication device, wherein the first primary communication device includes a first main microphone;
• a second primary communication device configured to transmit a second speaker's voice from the second primary communication device to a second receiving communication device, wherein the second primary communication device includes a second main microphone;
• and
• a plurality of reference microphones, with each reference microphone in a different device, a first subset of the plurality of reference microphones forming a first perimeter about the first primary communication device and a second subset of the plurality of reference microphones forming a second perimeter about the second primary communication device, with a given reference microphone of the plurality of microphones being in both the first subset and the second subset,
• the method comprising:
• receiving at a first processor a first main audio input from the first main microphone;
• receiving at the first processor first subset reference audio inputs from each of the reference microphones in the first subset, including the given reference microphone, wherein the first subset reference audio inputs include far field noise with respect to the first primary communication device;
• generating by the first processor a first reduced-noise audio output having suppressed far field noise based on a comparison of at least one of the first subset reference audio inputs and the first main audio input;
• and
• providing by the first processor the first reduced-noise audio output for transmission to the first receiving communication device;
• receiving at a second processor a second main audio input from the second main microphone;
• receiving at the second processor second subset reference audio inputs from each of the reference microphones in the second subset, including the given reference microphone, wherein the second subset reference audio inputs include far field noise with respect to the second primary communication device;
• generating by the second processor a second reduced-noise audio output having suppressed far field noise based on a comparison of at least one of the second subset reference audio inputs and the second main audio input;
• and
• providing by the second processor the second reduced-noise audio output for transmission to the second receiving communication device.