Not exactly frequency shaping, but probably time delay via networks. You need delay to do beam forming. It is easier in radar since the bandwidth is narrow. For audio, you are much better off using DSP techniques where delay comes for free in the sampling.
I looked into doing a product with multiple microphones years ago. The idea was not to do beam forming, which merely steers the signal, but zone forming. It is possible with DSP to narrow the pickup to a zone rather than have the beam go out to infinity.
The problem with beam forming is it is a patent mine field. As you probably know, half the patents litigated are proven to be invalid, but the cost to litigate makes developing the project unfeasible for the small investor. Even a large Japanese firm I was dealing with didn't want to do it.
It would be interesting to see how Polycom got their project to market.