Sound signal processing device and sound signal processing method

A sound signal processing method implemented in a device that comprises at least:

• a microphone terminal to which a sound signal derived from sound received by a microphone is input;
• a loudspeaker terminal from which a sound signal directed to a loudspeaker is output;
• a first input terminal to which a sound signal from another device at a proximal-end is input;
• a first output terminal from which a sound signal directed to the another device is output;
• a distal-end input terminal to which a distal-end sound signal is input via a network that is any one of Internet, a local area network, a wired telephone network, and a wireless telephone network;
• and
• a distal-end output terminal from which a sound signal directed to the network is output,
• the method comprising:
• acquiring a connection status of a subject device indicating whether the subject device is connected to the network and a connection status of the another device indicating whether the another device is connected to the network;
• and
• determining, based on a result of acquiring the connection statuses, at least one signal path from at least one of the microphone terminal, the first input terminal, or the distal-end input terminal, to at least one of the loudspeaker terminal, the first output terminal, or the distal-end output terminal.

A sound signal processing device comprising:

• a microphone terminal to which a sound signal derived from sound received by a microphone is input;
• a loudspeaker terminal from which a sound signal directed to a loudspeaker is output;
• a first input terminal to which a sound signal from another device at a proximal-end is input;
• a first output terminal from which a sound signal directed to the another device is output;
• a distal-end input terminal to which a distal-end sound signal is input via a network that is any one of Internet, a local area network, a wired telephone network, and a wireless telephone network;
• a distal-end output terminal from which a sound signal directed to the network is output;
• and
• at least one processor configured to execute stored instructions to:
• establish at least one signal path from at least one of the microphone terminal, the first input terminal, or the distal-end input terminal, to at least one of the loudspeaker terminal, the first output terminal, or the distal-end output terminal,
• wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect whether a subject device is connected to the network,
• wherein in a case where the at least one processor detects that the subject device is connected to the network, the at least one processor establishes:
• a signal path through which a sound signal that is derived by calculation based on the sound signal input to the microphone terminal and the sound signal input to the first input terminal is provided to the distal-end output terminal;
• and
• a signal path through which the sound signal input to the distal-end input terminal is provided to the loudspeaker terminal and to the first output terminal;
• wherein in a case where the at least one processor detects that the subject device is not connected to the network, the at least one processor establishes:
• a signal path through which the sound signal input to the microphone terminal is provided to the first output terminal;
• and
• a signal path through which the sound signal input to the first input terminal is provided to the loudspeaker terminal.