Systems and methods for improving audio conferencing services

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for improving audio conferencing services. One aspect relates to processing audio content of a conference. A first audio signal is received from a first conference participant, and a start and an end of a first utterance by the first conference participant are detected from the first audio signal. A second audio signal is received from a second conference participant, and a start and an end of a second utterance by the second conference participant is detected from the second audio signal. The second conference participant is provided with at least a portion of the first utterance, wherein at least one of start time, start point, and duration is determined based at least in part on the start, end, or both, of the second utterance.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 providing, by at least one processor, audio content comprising a first utterance obtained from a first speaker to a second speaker;   in response to detecting a start of a second utterance by the second speaker, stopping the providing the audio content comprising the first utterance to the second speaker; and   in response to detecting an end of the second utterance, resuming the providing the audio content comprising the first utterance to the second speaker near a point in the audio content comprising the first utterance when the audio content was stopped.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second speakers are participants in a call. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the call is a phone call. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the call is a conference call. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the conference call includes video and audio content. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein a third speaker is present in the call. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein no participants are in the call, other than the first and second speakers. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the audio content comprising the first utterance is recorded from the first speaker before the first speaker connects to the call. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising in response to detecting an end of the first utterance, providing audio content comprising the second utterance to the first speaker. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the providing of the first utterance to the second speaker at least partially overlaps with the second utterance spoken in real time. 
     
     
         41 . A system, comprising controller circuitry configured to:
 provide audio content comprising a first utterance obtained from a first speaker to a second speaker;   in response to detecting a start of a second utterance by the second speaker, stop the providing the audio content comprising the first utterance to the second speaker; and   in response to detecting an end of the second utterance, resume the providing the audio content comprising the first utterance to the second speaker near a point in the audio content comprising the first utterance when the audio content was stopped.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second speakers are participants in a call. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the call is a phone call. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the call is a conference call. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the conference call includes video and audio content. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein a third speaker is present in the call. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein no participants are in the call, other than the first and second speakers. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the audio content comprising the first utterance is recorded from the first speaker before the first speaker connects to the call. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising in response to detecting an end of the first utterance, providing audio content comprising the second utterance to the first speaker. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the providing of the first utterance to the second speaker at least partially overlaps with the second utterance spoken in real time.