Returning briefly to FIG. 1B, computerized conference assistant 106 includes a sound source localization (SSL) machine 120 that is configured to estimate the location(s) of sound(s) based on signals 112. FIG. 2 schematically shows SSL machine 120 analyzing signals 112a-g to output an estimated origination 140 of the sound modeled by signals 112a-g. As introduced above, signals 112a-g are respectively generated by microphones 108a-g. Each microphone has a different physical position and/or is aimed in a different direction. Microphones that are farther from a sound source and/or aimed away from a sound source will generate a relatively lower amplitude and/or slightly phase delayed signal 112 relative to microphones that are closer to and/or aimed toward the sound source. As an example, while microphones 108a and 108d may respectively produce signals 112a and 112d in response to the same sound, signal 112a may have a measurably greater amplitude if the recorded sound originated in front of microphone 108a. Similarly, signal 112d may be phase shifted behind signal 112a due to the longer time of flight (ToF) of the sound to microphone 108d. SSL machine 120 may use the amplitude, phase difference, and/or other parameters of the signals 112a-g to estimate the origination 140 of a sound. SSL machine 120 may be configured to implement any suitable two- or three-dimensional location algorithms, including but not limited to previously-trained artificial neural networks, maximum likelihood algorithms, multiple signal classification algorithms, and cross-power spectrum phase analysis algorithms. Depending on the algorithm(s) used in a particular application, the SSL machine 120 may output an angle, vector, coordinate, and/or other parameter estimating the origination 140 of a sound.
