# US 2017/0257709 A1 · Signal to noise ratio using decentralized dynamic laser microphones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0257709 A1 - Document ID: US20170257709A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/061,720 - Filed: 2016-03-04 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-04 - Assignees: Avaya Inc. - Applicants: Avaya Inc. - Inventors: Azaria Cohen; Tamar Barzuza - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170257709A1 ## CPC - H04R 23/008: {using optical signals for detecting or generating sound} - G06F 3/012: {Head tracking input arrangements} - G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)} - H04N 7/147: {Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals (selecting H04Q)} - H04N 7/15: Conference systems - H04R 29/004: {for microphones (H04R29/007 takes precedence)} - H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A communication system includes a processor and a computer readable medium, coupled with the processor, comprising instructions that program the processor to: cause an electromagnetic emitter to irradiate a location on a selected object in proximity to a speaker; determine, from radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location, an audio characteristic of the irradiated location; and when the audio characteristic is acceptable, assigning an electromagnetic microphone to collect audio information from radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication system, comprising: a processor; and a computer readable medium, coupled with the processor, comprising instructions that program the processor to: cause an electromagnetic emitter to irradiate a location on a selected object in proximity to a speaker; determine, from radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location, an audio characteristic of the irradiated location; and when the audio characteristic is acceptable, assigning an electromagnetic microphone to collect audio information from radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor causes plural locations to be irradiated, determines a respective audio characteristic for each of the irradiated locations, compares the respective audio characteristics with one another, and assigns the electromagnetic microphone to the location having the superior respective audio characteristic for collection of audio information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor selects the location to be irradiated for audio information collection based on one or more of lip movement of a participant and gaze direction of a participant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines, during irradiation of the location, whether a line-of-sight between the electromagnetic emitter and the location is at least partially blocked and, when the line-of-sight is at least partially blocked, selects a different location for irradiation having line-of-sight with the electromagnetic emitter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the selected object is one or more of a wall, mirror, window, screen, picture, item of furniture, ceiling, vase, drinking utensil, window cover, and floor, wherein the radiation is one of light outside of the visible spectrum and microwave radiation, wherein the electromagnetic microphone comprises an electromagnetic emitter and a detector to detect reflected radiation, and wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the irradiated location to collect audio information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic microphone comprises an electromagnetic emitter and a detector to detect reflected radiation, wherein the electromagnetic emitter is part of the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the audio characteristic is a signal-to-noise ratio of a signal output by the detector describing a sound pressure wave contacting the irradiated location, and wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the location to irradiate the location to determine the audio characteristic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic emitter is separate from an electromagnetic emitter in the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the radiation emitted by the electromagnetic emitter has a wavelength different from a wavelength of the radiation output by the electromagnetic microphone, and wherein the audio characteristic is an irradiated spot size or radiation intensity at the location. ### Claim 8 A communication system, comprising: a processor; plural electromagnetic microphones, each electromagnetic microphone comprising a radiation emitter and a radiation detector; a media input to collect video of participants to a communication session during the communication session; and a computer readable medium, coupled with the processor, comprising instructions that program the processor to: cause an electromagnetic emitter to irradiate a location on a selected object in proximity to a speaker; determine, from radiation reflected by the object at the irradiated location, an audio characteristic of the irradiated location; and when the audio characteristic is acceptable, assigning an electromagnetic microphone to collect audio information from radiation output by the electromagnetic microphone and reflected by the object at the irradiated location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the processor causes plural locations to be irradiated, determines a respective audio characteristic for each of the irradiated locations, compares the determined respective audio characteristics with one another, and assigns the electromagnetic microphone to the location having the superior respective audio characteristic for collection of audio information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the processor selects the location to be irradiated for audio information collection based on one or more of lip movement of a participant and gaze direction of a participant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the processor determines, during irradiation of the location, whether a line-of-sight between the electromagnetic emitter and the location is at least partially blocked and, when the line-of-sight is at least partially blocked, selects a different location for irradiation having line-of-sight with the electromagnetic emitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the selected object is one or more of a wall, mirror, window, screen, picture, item of furniture, ceiling, vase, drinking utensil, window cover, and floor, wherein the radiation is one of light outside of the visible spectrum and microwave radiation, wherein the electromagnetic microphone comprises an electromagnetic emitter and a detector to detect reflected radiation, and wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the irradiated location to collect audio information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic microphone comprises an electromagnetic emitter and a detector to detect reflected radiation, wherein the electromagnetic emitter is part of the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the audio characteristic is a signal-to-noise ratio of a signal output by the detector describing a sound pressure wave contacting the irradiated location, and wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the location to irradiate the location to determine the respective audio characteristic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic emitter is separate from an electromagnetic emitter in the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the radiation emitted by the electromagnetic emitter has a wavelength the same as a wavelength of the radiation output by the electromagnetic microphone, and wherein the audio characteristic is an irradiated spot size or radiation intensity at the location. ### Claim 15 In a video conference call system, a method comprising: causing, by a processor, an electromagnetic emitter to irradiate a location on a selected object in proximity to a speaker; determining, by the processor from radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location, a respective audio characteristic of the irradiated location; and when the respective audio characteristic is acceptable, assigning, by the processor, an electromagnetic microphone to collect audio information from radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the processor causes plural locations to be irradiated, determines the respective audio characteristic for each of the irradiated locations, compares the respective audio characteristics with one another, and assigns the electromagnetic microphone to the location having the superior respective audio characteristic for collection of audio information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: selecting, by the processor, the location to be irradiated for audio information collection based on one or more of lip movement of a participant and gaze direction of a participant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining, by the processor, during irradiation of the location, whether a line-of-sight between the electromagnetic emitter and the location is at least partially blocked; and when the line-of-sight is at least partially blocked, selecting, by the processor, a different location for irradiation having line-of-sight with the electromagnetic emitter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the selected object is one or more of a wall, mirror, window, screen, picture, item of furniture, ceiling, vase, drinking utensil, window cover, and floor, wherein the radiation is one of light outside of the visible spectrum and microwave radiation, wherein the electromagnetic microphone comprises an electromagnetic emitter and a detector to detect reflected radiation, wherein the electromagnetic emitter is part of the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the irradiated location to collect the audio characteristic and audio information, wherein the audio characteristic is a signal-to-noise ratio of a signal output by the detector describing a sound pressure wave contacting the irradiated location, and wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the location to irradiate the location to determine the audio characteristic. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the selected object is one or more of a wall, mirror, window, screen, picture, item of furniture, ceiling, vase, drinking utensil, window cover, and floor, wherein the radiation is one of light outside of the visible spectrum and microwave radiation, wherein the electromagnetic emitter is separate from an electromagnetic emitter in the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the radiation emitted by the electromagnetic emitter has a wavelength different from a wavelength of the radiation output by the electromagnetic microphone, wherein the audio characteristic is an irradiated spot size or radiation intensity at the location, and wherein the processor controls the pan and tilt of the electromagnetic microphone to direct the electromagnetic microphone to the irradiated location to collect audio information. ### Claim 21 A video conferencing system, comprising: a processor; a media input, coupled to the processor, to collect image information of one or more local participants to a communication session; a media output, coupled to the processor, to provide, in a selected layout, image information of one or more remote participants to the communication session; an audio output, coupled to the processor, to provide audio information from the one or more remote participants; and an audio input, coupled to the processor, to collect audio information from the one or more local participants, wherein the audio input comprises an array of electromagnetic microphones, each electromagnetic microphone comprising an electromagnetic emitter to irradiate a location on a selected object in proximity to the one or more local participants and a detector to collect radiation reflected by the selected object at the irradiated location and wherein the processor determines the audio information from the reflected radiation collected by each electromagnetic microphone in the array.