AUTOMATIC VOICE TRACKING CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION

An automatic voice tracking camera system (12) is provided. System (12) includes a camera (18) operable to receive control signals for controlling a view of the camera (18). A microphone array (14) comprises a plurality of microphones. The microphone array (14) is operable to receive a voice of a speaker and to provide an audio signal representing the voice. A beamformer (30) coupled to the microphone array (14). The beamformer (30) is operable to receive the audio signal, to generate from the audio signal speaker position data representing a position of the speaker, and to provide the speaker position data. A camera controller (36) is coupled to the beamformer (30) and to the camera (18). The camera controller (36) is operable to receive the speaker position data and to determine an appropriate responsive camera movement The camera controller (36) is further operable to generate camera control signals and to provide the camera control signals to the camera (18) such that the view of the camera (18) automatically tracks the position of the speaker.