Method, apparatus and computer-readable media to manage semi-constant (persistent) sound sources in microphone pickup/focus zones

A method of targeting one or more undesired sound source(s) in a space having a plurality of microphones and at least one desired sound source, comprising:

• using at least one microphone input to receive plural microphone input signals from the plurality of microphones in the space;
• and
• using at least one processor, coupled to said at least one microphone input and receiving the plural microphone input signals, to:
• determine plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space;
• determine a threshold sound field level, utilizing processing in a time domain, for each virtual microphone bubble based on the received plural microphone input signals that that correspond to (i) virtual microphone bubbles located within ambient background noise and (ii) virtual microphone bubbles located at the one or more undesired sound source(s) in the space;
• and
• recognize a desired sound source when the received plural microphone input signals exceed one or more threshold sound field levels.

An apparatus mitigating one or more undesired sound source(s) in a space having at least one microphone and at least one desired sound source, comprising:

• at least one microphone input that receives microphone input signals from the at least one microphone in the space;
• at least one processor, coupled to said at least one microphone input and receiving the microphone input signals;
• the at least one processor determining plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space;
• the at least one processor determining a threshold sound field level, utilizing processing in a time domain, for each virtual microphone bubble based on the received microphone input signals that correspond to the one or more undesired sound source(s) in the space;
• and
• the at least one processor recognizing a desired sound source when the received microphone input signals exceed one or more threshold sound field levels.

At least one non-transitory computer readable media for mitigating one or more undesired sound source(s) in a space having at least one microphone and at least one desired sound source, said non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions causing at least one processor to:

• use at least one microphone input to receive plural microphone input signals from the plurality of microphones in the space;
• use at least one processor, coupled to said at least one microphone input and receiving the plural microphone input signals, to:
• determine plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space;
• determine a threshold sound field level, utilizing processing in a time domain, for each virtual microphone bubble based on the received plural microphone input signals that correspond to the one or more undesired sound source(s) in the space;
• and
• recognize a desired sound source when the received plural microphone input signals exceed one or more threshold sound field levels.