Conference audio management

A method for managing audio during a conference, the method comprising:

• decoding, at a first decoder of a mobile device, a first audio stream, based upon a determination to prioritize the first audio stream, received from a first device associated with a first participant of the conference to generate a first decoded audio, the determination to prioritize the first audio stream being based upon a frame energy or an active level;
• decoding, at a second decoder of the mobile device, a second audio stream received from a second device associated with a second participant of the conference to generate a second decoded audio;
• obtaining user input of a user of the mobile device, the user input including a first user indication that the first participant associated with the first device is a preferred participant;
• responsive to the user input, (a) providing a control signal to a network device to adjust a first bit rate, in a manner indicated by user preference, of the first audio stream and (b) increasing a first gain of the first decoded audio;
• steering, at a spatial steering processor, the first decoded audio to be projected from a speaker at a first angle, the first angle based upon a second user indication of an angle at which audio is to be projected, the first decoded audio corresponding to a decoded version of the first audio stream from the first device;
• steering, at the spatial steering processor, the second decoded audio to be projected from the speaker at a second angle, the second decoded audio corresponding to a decoded version of the second audio stream from a second device associated with a second participant of the conference, and the first decoded audio synchronized with the second decoded audio;
• receiving a signal indicating detection of head movement associated with the user of the mobile device, wherein the user of the mobile device is distinct from the first participant and second participant;
• and
• shifting the first angle and the second angle by a shift amount in response to receiving the signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for managing audio during a conference, the instructions, when executed by a spatial steering processor in a mobile device, cause the spatial steering processor to perform operations comprising:

• decoding, at a first decoder of a mobile device, a first audio stream, based upon a determination to prioritize the first audio stream, received from a first device associated with a first participant of the conference to generate a first decoded audio, the determination to prioritize the first audio stream being based upon a frame energy or an active level;
• decoding, at a second decoder of the mobile device, a second audio stream received from a second device associated with a second participant of the conference to generate a second decoded audio;
• obtaining user input of a user of the mobile device, the user input including a first user indication that the first participant associated with the first device is a preferred participant;
• responsive to the user input, (a) providing a control signal to a network device to adjust a first bit rate, in a manner indicated by user preference, of the first audio stream and (b) increasing a first gain of the first decoded audio;
• steering the first decoded audio to be projected from a speaker at a first angle, the first angle based upon a second user indication of an angle at which audio is to be projected, the first decoded audio corresponding to a decoded version of the first audio stream from the first device;
• steering the second decoded audio to be projected from the speaker at a second angle, the second decoded audio corresponding to a decoded version of the second audio stream from a second device associated with a second participant of the conference, and the first decoded audio synchronized with the second decoded audio;
• and
• receiving a signal indicating detection of head movement associated with the user of the mobile device, wherein the user of the mobile device is distinct from the first participant and second participant;
• and
• shifting the first angle and the second angle by a shift amount in response to receiving the signal.

An apparatus for managing audio during a conference, the apparatus comprising:

• means for decoding, at a first decoder of a mobile device, a first audio stream received from a first device, based upon a determination to prioritize the first audio stream, associated with a first participant of the conference to generate a first decoded audio, the determination to prioritize the first audio stream being based upon a frame energy or an active level;
• means for decoding, at a second decoder of the mobile device, a second audio stream received from a second device associated with a second participant of the conference to generate a second decoded audio;
• means for obtaining user input of a user of the mobile device, the user input including a first user indication that the first participant associated with the first device is a preferred participant;
• means for providing, responsive to the first user indication, a control signal to a network device to adjust a first bit rate, in a manner indicated by user preference, of the first audio stream based upon user preferences;
• means for increasing, responsive to the first user indication, a first gain of the first decoded audio;
• means for steering the first decoded audio to be projected from means for projecting at a first angle, the first angle based upon a second user indication of an angle at which audio is to be projected, and steering the second decoded audio to be projected from the means for projecting at a second angle, the first decoded audio corresponding to a decoded version of the first audio stream from the first device, the second decoded audio corresponding to a decoded version of the second audio stream from a second device associated with a second participant of the conference, and the first decoded audio synchronized with the second decoded audio;
• the means for projecting;
• and
• means for receiving a signal indicating detection of head movement associated with the user of the mobile device, wherein the user of the mobile device is distinct from the first participant and second participant;
• and
• means for shifting the first angle and the second angle by a shift amount in response to receiving the signal.