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 plurality of primary communication devices, each comprising:
• a microphone;
• a processor coupled to the microphone;
• and
• a network connection for interconnection over a network with each of the other of the plurality of primary communication devices,
• wherein the microphone acts as the main microphone of the primary communication device and acts as a reference microphone for at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices, and
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a main audio input from the microphone;
• receive a plurality of reference audio inputs from at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices and from selected ones of a plurality of reference microphones in different devices, the at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices and the selected ones of the plurality of reference microphones forming a subset of microphones forming an acoustic perimeter about the primary communication device, wherein the subset reference audio inputs include far field noise with respect to the primary communication device;
• generate a reduced-noise audio output having suppressed far field noise based on a comparison of at least one of the subset reference audio inputs and the main audio input;
• provide the reduced-noise audio output for transmission to a receiving communication device;
• and
• provide an audio input from the microphone as a reference audio input for at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices;
• the method comprising:
• operating at least one of the plurality of primary communication devices to act as both the primary communication device and the at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices.

A non-transitory storage medium storing programs for execution by a processor that cause the processor to perform the following method when executed on the processor, the processor included in a primary communication device for use in an environment, the environment including:

• a plurality of primary communication devices, each comprising:
• a microphone;
• a processor coupled to the microphone;
• and
• a network connection for interconnection over a network with each of the other of the plurality of primary communication devices,
• wherein the microphone acts as the main microphone of the primary communication device and acts as a reference microphone for at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices, and
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a main audio input from the microphone;
• receive a plurality of reference audio inputs from at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices and from selected ones of a plurality of reference microphones in different devices, the at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices and the selected ones of the plurality of reference microphones forming a subset of microphones forming an acoustic perimeter about the primary communication device, wherein the subset reference audio inputs include far field noise with respect to the primary communication device;
• generate a reduced-noise audio output having suppressed far field noise based on a comparison of at least one of the subset reference audio inputs and the main audio input;
• provide the reduced-noise audio output for transmission to a receiving communication device;
• and
• provide an audio input from the microphone as a reference audio input for at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices;
• the method comprising:
• operating at least one of the plurality of primary communication devices to act as both the first primary communication device and the at least one other of the plurality of primary communication devices.