US 11,743,430 B2
Providing awareness of who can hear audio in a virtual conference, and applications thereof
Gerard Cornelis Krol, Leiden (NL); and Erik Stuart Braund, Saugerties, NY (US)
Assigned to Katmai Tech Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed by Katmai Tech Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed on May 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/313,338.
Prior Publication US 2022/0360742 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 7/15 (2006.01); G10L 25/51 (2013.01); G06T 15/04 (2011.01); G06T 15/20 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 7/157 (2013.01) [G06T 15/04 (2013.01); G06T 15/20 (2013.01); G10L 25/51 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for providing awareness of who can hear audio in a virtual conference, comprising:
(a) from a perspective of a virtual camera of a speaking user, rendering for display to the speaking user a three-dimensional virtual space including a plurality of avatars, wherein each user of a plurality of users is represented by a respective avatar of the plurality of avatars;
for each user of the plurality of users:
(b) determining a sound volume based on a position in the three-dimensional virtual space of the respective avatar relative to a position of the virtual camera in the three-dimensional virtual space; and
(c) determining whether a user is able to audibly hear the speaking user based on whether the sound volume exceeds a threshold amount, wherein the sound volume can be higher or lower than the threshold amount;
(d) generating a list of users from the plurality of users such that the list of users consists of users that are able to audibly hear the speaking user based on whether the sound volume for each respective user in the list of users exceeds the threshold amount; and
(e) outputting a single visual notification of the list of users for display to the speaking user, wherein the single visual notification of the list of users excludes users from the plurality of users that are unable to audibly hear the speaking user.