Architecture of a teleconference system based on Minimum Audible Angle

Abstract

Several researchers have established the superior performance of spatial audio over monaural audio in multi-talker environments. The advantage provided by spatial audio can be incorporated in an audio teleconferencing system for an enhanced user experience. In our earlier work, a novel scheme for the spatial rendition of audio in an audio teleconferencing situation was proposed based on the concept of Minimum Audible Angle (MAA). We provide the basic architecture for a multi-talker teleconferencing system that uses the proposed scheme with independent clients that facilitate speaking, listening or both. The software stack that runs on each client is capable of receiving, sending and processing of audio signals and operates in real-time. The implementation is done in Java, using the Java Media Framework (JMF) for capturing and playback of the audio signal. RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) protocols are used to ensure real-time transmission and reception over the network.