# US 2025/0097640 A1 · Recording audio using nearfield radio ranging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0097640 A1 - Document ID: US20250097640A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/467,969 - Filed: 2023-09-15 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-15 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Jeffrey Bisti; PHILIP SICONOLFI; Robert Paquin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250097640A1 ## CPC - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - G10L 25/60: for measuring the quality of voice signals - H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04S 3/008: {in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels (data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02)} - H04R 2201/401: 2D or 3D arrays of transducers - H04R 2400/01: Transducers used as a loudspeaker to generate sound aswell as a microphone to detect sound - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04S 2400/11: Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field (H04S2420/13 takes precedence) - H04S 2400/15: Aspects of sound capture and related signal processing for recording or reproduction - 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) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS ## Abstract A mesh map of networked radio devices is maintained for recording audio of a target speaker using multiple radio devices. Relative locations of the radio devices are established according to audio signal quality received by the radio devices. A primary microphone assignment for recording the target speaker is dynamically assigned among the radio devices according to audio quality conditions. Additional roles of background audio microphone and speaker system may be assigned to other nearby radio devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method comprising: identifying a plurality of radio devices for role assignment; locating a target speaker based on audio signal quality received by the plurality of radio devices; establishing a mesh map of the plurality of radio devices based on shared audio signal data from the plurality of radio devices, the mesh map locating a first device with respect to other devices; and assigning to the first device a role of primary microphone, the first device receiving a higher quality audio signal of the target speaker than the other devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning to a first sub-set of radio devices a role of background audio microphone, the first sub-set of radio devices located, according to the mesh map, within a background distance range from the first device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radio devices are fine-ranging (FiRa) radio devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring audio signal quality of the first device and a second device, the second device being relatively closer to the first device than other devices of the plurality of radio devices; and responsive to the audio quality of the second device being higher than the first device, assigning the second device the role of primary microphone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a second sub-set of radio devices within an interference distance from the first device, the second sub-set of radio devices including a second device; and assigning to the second sub-set of radio devices a role of inactive speaker, the inactive speaker role muting speaker volume of corresponding radio devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising: responsive to the audio quality of the second device being higher than the first device, assigning to the second device the role of primary microphone; and assigning to the first device the role of inactive speaker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: updating an edge path of the mesh map based on a detected change in distance between the first device and a second device of the plurality of radio devices, the detected change in distance being based on a comparison of vocal characteristics of the primary speaker received by the first and second devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a third sub-set of radio devices beyond an interference distance from the first device; and assigning to the third sub-set of radio devices a role of speaker system, the role of speaker system turning on the speakers of assigned devices to emit audio received by the first device having a role of primary microphone. ### Claim 9 A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method comprising: identifying a plurality of radio devices for role assignment; locating a target speaker based on audio signal quality received by the plurality of radio devices; establishing a mesh map of the plurality of radio devices based on shared audio signal data from the plurality of radio devices, the mesh map locating a first device with respect to other devices; and assigning to the first device a role of primary microphone, the first device receiving a higher quality audio signal of the target speaker than the other devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: assigning to a first sub-set of radio devices a role of background audio microphone, the first sub-set of radio devices located, according to the mesh map, within a background distance range from the first device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: monitoring audio signal quality of the first device and a second device, the second device being relatively closer to the first device than other devices of the plurality of radio devices; responsive to the audio quality of the second device being higher than the first device, assigning the second device the role of primary microphone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: identifying a second sub-set of radio devices within an interference distance from the first device, the second sub-set of radio devices including a second device; assigning to the second sub-set of radio devices a role of inactive speaker, the inactive speaker role muting speaker volume of corresponding radio devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer program product of claim 12, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: responsive to the audio quality of the second device being higher than the first device, assigning to the second device the role of primary microphone; and assigning to the first device the role of inactive speaker. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: updating an edge path of the mesh map based on a detected change in distance between the first device and a second device of the plurality of radio devices, the detected change in distance being based on a comparison of vocal characteristics of the primary speaker received by the first and second devices. ### Claim 15 A computer system comprising: a processor set; and a computer readable storage medium; wherein: the processor set is structured, located, connected, and/or programmed to run program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium; and the program instructions which, when executed by the processor set, cause the processor set to perform a method comprising: identifying a plurality of radio devices for role assignment; locating a target speaker based on audio signal quality received by the plurality of radio devices; establishing a mesh map of the plurality of radio devices based on shared audio signal data from the plurality of radio devices, the mesh map locating a first device with respect to other devices; and assigning to the first device a role of primary microphone, the first device receiving a higher quality audio signal of the target speaker than the other devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer system of claim 15, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: assigning to a first sub-set of radio devices a role of background audio microphone, the first sub-set of radio devices located, according to the mesh map, within a background distance range from the first device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer system of claim 15, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: monitoring audio signal quality of the first device and a second device, the second device being relatively closer to the first device than other devices of the plurality of radio devices; responsive to the audio quality of the second device being higher than the first device, assigning the second device the role of primary microphone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer system of claim 15, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: identifying a second sub-set of radio devices within an interference distance from the first device, the second sub-set of radio devices including a second device; assigning to the second sub-set of radio devices a role of inactive speaker, the inactive speaker role muting speaker volume of corresponding radio devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer system of claim 18, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: responsive to the audio quality of the second device being higher than the first device, assigning to the second device the role of primary microphone; and assigning to the first device the role of inactive speaker. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer system of claim 15, further causing the processor to perform a method comprising: updating an edge path of the mesh map based on a detected change in distance between the first device and a second device of the plurality of radio devices, the detected change in distance being based on a comparison of vocal characteristics of the primary speaker received by the first and second devices.