Audio profiles for personalized audio enhancement

Abstract

The invention relates to an audio profile for personalized audio enhancement. The system creates an audio profile. The audio profile may be stored in a database. For example, an audio profile may be securely stored in a database of a social network and associated with a user account. The audio profile may contain data describing a manner in which a particular user hears and interprets the sound. Systems and applications that present sound to a user may access an audio profile and modify the sound presented to the user based on data in the audio profile to enhance the audio experience of the user.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an application with an application date of May 11, 2020, an application number of 202080036524X, and an invention title of "Audio Profile for Personalized Audio Enhancement".

[0002] Cross - reference to related applications

[0003] This application claims the priority of U.S. Application No. 62 / 857,410, filed on Jun. 5, 2019, and U.S. Application No. 16 / 562,879, filed on Sep. 6, 2019. The contents of U.S. Application No. 62 / 857,410 and U.S. Application No. 16 / 562,879 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to audio systems and, in particular, to providing customized audio content. Background

[0006] People hear sounds in different ways. For users of an audio system, such as an audio system in an artificial reality system, the sounds presented by the audio system can be heard differently by different users. For example, some users may suffer from hyperacusis (oversensitivity), presbycusis (insensitivity to certain frequencies), or some other condition that affects the way they perceive sounds. Thus, the auditory differences between different users can affect their perception of the presented audio content.

[0007] Overview

[0008] A wearable device performs an audio assessment for a user. Based on the results of the audio assessment, the wearable device creates an audio profile. The audio profile can be stored in a database. For example, the audio profile can be stored in a database of a social network and associated with a user account. The audio profile can contain data describing the way a particular user hears and interprets sounds. For example, many users have difficulty understanding speech in a high - reverberation environment. Systems and applications that present sounds to the user can access the audio profile and modify the sounds presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the user's audio experience.

[0009] In some embodiments, a system, method, and computer program product can perform operations including collecting audio assessment data for a user by an audio system on a wearable device. Active and / or passive audio assessment routines can be used to collect the audio assessment data. The audio system creates an audio profile based on the audio assessment data and body data describing the user. The audio system can locally store the audio profile on the wearable device or transmit the audio file to an external system such as a social network. The audio system presents audio content to the user based in part on the audio profile.

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a method including collecting audio assessment data of a user by a wearable device; updating an audio profile based on the audio assessment data and body data describing the user; and presenting audio content to the user based in part on the audio profile.

[0011] Optionally, the method further includes transmitting the audio profile to a social network, where the social network associates the audio profile with a user profile. Optionally, the social network associates the audio profile with an enhancement scheme.

[0012] Optionally, the method further includes creating an audio profile by the wearable device. Optionally, the method further includes receiving audio content from an external system and modifying the audio content based on the audio profile.

[0013] Optionally, collecting the audio assessment data includes presenting a sound to the user and detecting the user's response to the sound. Optionally, collecting the audio assessment data includes determining the localization of a sound source in a local area and detecting the user's response to the sound source. Optionally, collecting the audio assessment data includes performing an audio assessment routine to determine a parameter describing a characteristic of the user's hearing. Optionally, the parameter includes at least one of a scaling factor or a maximum reverberation level.

[0014] Optionally, the body data describes the shape of the user's ears.

[0015] Optionally, the method further includes retrieving an audio profile from a social network.

[0016] Optionally, the audio profile includes a security setting, where the security setting indicates whether a third party is authorized to access the audio profile.

[0017] According to the present invention, there is also provided a computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code for collecting audio assessment data of a user by a wearable device, updating an audio profile based on the audio assessment data and body data describing the user, and presenting audio content to the user based in part on the audio profile.

[0018] Optionally, the computer program product further includes computer program code for transmitting the audio profile to a social network, where the social network associates the audio profile with a user profile.

[0019] According to the present invention, there is also provided a wearable device, which includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code for collecting, by the wearable device, audio evaluation data of a user, updating an audio profile based on the audio evaluation data and body data describing the user, and presenting audio content to the user partially based on the audio profile.

[0020] Optionally, the wearable device further includes computer program code for transmitting the audio profile to a social network, where the social network associates the audio profile with a user profile. Optionally, the social network associates the audio profile with an enhancement scheme.

[0021] Optionally, the wearable device further includes computer program code for receiving audio content from an external system and modifying the audio content based on the audio profile. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a headset implemented as an eyewear device according to one or more embodiments.

[0024] Figure 1B is a perspective view of a head-mounted device implemented as a head-mounted display according to one or more embodiments.

[0025] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an audio system according to one or more embodiments.

[0026] Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a process for providing personalized audio enhancement according to one or more embodiments.

[0027] Figure 4 is a system including a head-mounted device according to one or more embodiments.

[0028] The drawings depict various embodiments for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods shown herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein. Detailed Description

[0030] A system provides personalized audio content to users to enhance their audio experience. Wearable devices such as head-mounted devices or smartwatches can conduct audio evaluations for users. For example, the wearable device can present audio games, audiology screens, hearing tests, instantaneous environment assessments, and post-experience surveys to the user. The wearable device can monitor the user's behavior in response to the audio content, such as the direction of eye gaze in response to sound, whether the user reacts to the sound, whether the user understands the speech in the audio content, etc. The system can create an audio profile. The audio profile can be stored in a database. For example, the audio profile can be stored in the database of a social network and associated with the user account. The audio profile can contain data describing the way a particular user hears and interprets sounds. Systems and applications that present sounds to the user can access the audio profile and modify the sounds presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the user's audio experience. For example, if the user is hypersensitive to frequencies between 10 kHz and 15 kHz, the sound amplitude in that frequency band can be reduced for the user.

[0031] Traditional audiology screens can determine pure-tone audibility thresholds, but this assessment is conducted in absolute silence and may not necessarily provide insights into how a listener will perceive or perform in a real-world environment. The systems and methods described herein monitor and evaluate a user's hearing performance in a realistic scenario. Additionally, these routines can be combined with other results related to the user's physical characteristics, such as personalized head-related transfer functions and body-related transfer functions, to generate a unique personal audio profile. Once the audio profile is established, it can be attached and maintained as part of the user's social network profile. The audio profile can be encrypted or otherwise protected to safeguard the user's medical data. The system can prompt the user to allow storage of the audio profile, and the system can allow the user to select who can access the audio profile. Audio that can access the audio profile to improve the user's overall audio experience includes video calls, virtual reality games and applications, augmented reality telepresence, real-time voice enhancement, real-time noise reduction, etc.

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention may include or be implemented in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before being presented to a user, and may include, for example, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), hybrid reality, or some combination and / or derivative thereof. Artificial reality content may include fully generated content or generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world) content. Artificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (e.g., stereoscopic video that produces a three-dimensional effect for a viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may also be associated with an application, product, accessory, service, or some combination thereof, which are used to create content in artificial reality and / or otherwise be used in artificial reality. An artificial reality system that provides artificial reality content may be implemented on various platforms, including a wearable device (e.g., a head-mounted device) connected to a host computer system, a stand-alone wearable device (e.g., a head-mounted device), a mobile device or computing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to one or more viewers.

[0033] Figure 1A FIG. 100 is a perspective view of a head-mounted device 100 implemented as an eye-wear device according to one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the eye-wear device is a near-eye display (NED). Generally, the head-mounted device 100 can be worn on a user's face such that content (e.g., media content) is presented using a display component and / or an audio system. However, the head-mounted device 100 can also be used such that media content is presented to the user in a different manner. Examples of media content presented by the head-mounted device 100 include one or more images, videos, audio, or some combination thereof. The head-mounted device 100 includes a frame and may include a display component, a depth camera component (DCA), an audio system, and a position sensor 190, as well as other components, the display component including one or more display elements 120. Although Figure 1A The example locations on the head-mounted device 100 illustrate the components of the head-mounted device 100, but these components may be located elsewhere on the head-mounted device 100, on a peripheral device paired with the head-mounted device 100, or some combination of these two locations. Similarly, there may be more or fewer components on the head-mounted device 100 than Figure 1A shown.

[0034] The frame 110 holds the other components of the head-mounted device 100. The frame 110 includes a front portion that holds one or more display elements 120 and end pieces (e.g., temple arms) that are attached to the user's head. The front portion of the frame 110 bridges the top of the user's nose. The length of the end pieces can be adjustable (e.g., adjustable temple length) to fit different users. The end pieces may also include portions that curl behind the user's ears (e.g., temple tips, ear hooks).

[0035] One or more display elements 120 provide light to a user wearing the head-mounted device 100. As shown, the head-mounted device includes a display element 120 for each eye of the user. In some embodiments, the display element 120 generates image light that is provided to the eyebox of the head-mounted device 100. The eyebox is the spatial location where the user's eyes are located when wearing the head-mounted device 100. For example, the display element 120 can be a waveguide display. The waveguide display includes a light source (e.g., a two-dimensional light source, one or more line light sources, one or more point light sources, etc.) and one or more waveguides. Light from the light source is coupled inwards into one or more waveguides, and the waveguide outputs light in such a way that pupil replication exists in the eyebox of the head-mounted device 100. The inward and / or outward coupling of light from one or more waveguides can be accomplished using one or more diffraction gratings. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes a scanning element (e.g., a waveguide, a mirror, etc.) that scans the light from the light source when the light from the light source is coupled inwards into one or more waveguides. It should be noted that in some embodiments, one or both of the display elements 120 are opaque and do not transmit light from a local area around the head-mounted device 100. The local area is the area around the head-mounted device 100. For example, the local area can be the room where the user wearing the head-mounted device 100 is located, or the user wearing the head-mounted device 100 can be outside, and the local area is the external area. In this case, the head-mounted device 100 generates VR content. Alternatively, in some embodiments, one or both of the display elements 120 are at least partially transparent, such that light from the local area can be combined with light from one or more display elements to produce AR and / or MR content.

[0036] In some embodiments, the display element 120 does not generate image light, but instead a lens transmits light from the local area to the eyebox. For example, one or both of the display elements 120 can be uncorrected lenses (non-prescription), or prescription lenses (e.g., single vision lenses, bifocal and trifocal lenses, or progressive lenses) to help correct the user's vision defects. In some embodiments, the display element 120 can be polarized and / or tinted to protect the user's eyes from sunlight.

[0037] Note that in some embodiments, the display element 120 may include additional optical blocks (not shown). The optical block may include one or more optical elements (e.g., lenses, Fresnel lenses, etc.) that direct light from the display element 120 to the viewing window. The optical block may, for example, correct aberrations in some or all of the image content, magnify some or all of the images, or some combination thereof.

[0038] The display element 120 may display content as part of an audio evaluation routine. For example, the display element 120 may display instructions to the user or provide feedback during the audio evaluation routine.

[0039] The DCA determines depth information for a portion of a local area around the head-mounted device 100. The DCA includes one or more imaging devices 130 and a DCA controller (not shown in Figure 1A and may also include an illuminator 140. In some embodiments, the illuminator 140 illuminates a portion of the local area with light. The light may be, for example, structured light in the infrared (IR) (e.g., dot patterns, stripes, etc.), an IR flash for time-of-flight, etc. In some embodiments, one or more imaging devices 130 capture an image of the portion of the local area that includes light from the illuminator 140. As shown, Figure 1A a single illuminator 140 and two imaging devices 130 are shown. In alternative embodiments, there is no illuminator 140 and at least two imaging devices 130.

[0040] The DCA controller uses the captured images and one or more depth determination techniques to calculate the depth information for the portion of the local area. The depth determination techniques may be, for example, direct time-of-flight (ToF) depth sensing, indirect ToF depth sensing, structured light, passive stereoscopic analysis, active stereoscopic analysis (using texture added to the scene by light from the illuminator 140), some other technique for determining the depth of a scene, or some combination thereof.

[0041] The DCA controller may combine with an audio system to determine the localization of one or more sound sources in the local scene. The DCA controller may provide the localization of an object in the local scene. The DCA may provide the localization of the object to the audio system. The audio system may determine that a sound source emanating from the same direction as the object localized by the DCA may be caused by that object. The audio system may then use the determined sound source localization in combination with an audio evaluation routine.

[0042] The audio system provides audio content. The audio system includes a transducer array, a sensor array, and an audio controller 150. However, in other embodiments, the audio system may include different and / or additional components. Similarly, in some cases, the functions described with reference to the components of the audio system may be distributed among the components in a different manner than described herein. For example, some or all of the functions of the controller may be performed by a remote server.

[0043] The audio system may perform an audio assessment routine for a user. An audio assessment routine is a series of steps by which the audio system determines parameters that characterize the user's hearing, such as hyperacusis or presbycusis for certain frequencies, an acceptable reverberation level, etc. The audio assessment routine may include using various sensors on the head-mounted device 100 (such as the imaging device 130, the acoustic sensor 180, or the position sensor 190) to monitor the user's response. The audio system creates an audio profile for the user based on the parameters. An audio profile is a set of parameters that describe how the user hears sound. The audio system may use the audio profile to modify the sound presented to the user.

[0044] The transducer array presents sound to the user. The transducer array includes a plurality of transducers. The transducers may be speakers 160 or tissue transducers 170 (e.g., bone conduction transducers or cartilage conduction transducers). Although the speaker 160 is shown outside the frame 110, the speaker 160 may be enclosed within the frame 110. In some embodiments, instead of separate speakers for each ear, the head-mounted device 100 includes a speaker array that includes a plurality of speakers integrated into the frame 110 to improve the directivity of the presented audio content. The tissue transducer 170 is coupled to the user's head and directly vibrates the user's tissue (e.g., bone or cartilage) to generate sound. The number and / or positioning of the transducers may be different from Figure 1A that shown.

[0045] The sensor array detects sound within a local area of the head-mounted device 100. The sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic sensors 180. The acoustic sensors 180 capture sound emitted from one or more sound sources in a local area (e.g., a room). Each acoustic sensor is configured to detect sound and convert the detected sound into an electronic format (analog or digital). The acoustic sensors 180 may be acoustic wave sensors, microphones, sound transducers, or similar sensors suitable for detecting sound.

[0046] In some embodiments, one or more acoustic sensors 180 may be placed in the ear canal of each ear (e.g., acting as a binaural microphone). In some embodiments, the acoustic sensors 180 may be placed on the outer surface of the head-mounted device 100, on the inner surface of the head-mounted device 100, separated from the head-mounted device 100 (e.g., as part of some other device), or some combination thereof. The number and / or positioning of the acoustic sensors 180 may be different from Figure 1A that shown. For example, the number of acoustic detection positions may be increased to increase the amount of audio information collected as well as the sensitivity and / or accuracy of the information. The acoustic detection positions may be oriented such that the microphones can detect sound in a wide range of directions around the user wearing the head-mounted device 100.

[0047] The audio controller 150 processes information from the sensor array that describes the sounds detected by the sensor array. The audio controller 150 may include a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The audio controller 150 may be configured to generate a direction of arrival (DOA) estimate, generate an acoustic transfer function (e.g., an array transfer function and / or a head-related transfer function), track the localization of a sound source, form a beam in the direction of the sound source, classify the sound source, generate a sound filter for the speaker 160, or some combination thereof.

[0048] The position sensor 190 generates one or more measurement signals in response to the movement of the head-mounted device 100. The position sensor 190 may be located on a part of the frame 110 of the head-mounted device 100. The position sensor 190 may include an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Examples of the position sensor 190 include: one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, another suitable type of sensor for detecting movement, one type of sensor for error correction of the IMU, or some combination thereof. The position sensor 190 may be located outside the IMU, inside the IMU, or some combination thereof.

[0049] In some embodiments, the head-mounted device 100 may provide simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) of the position of the head-mounted device 100 and update of the local area model. For example, the head-mounted device 100 may include a passive camera assembly (PCA) that generates color image data. The PCA may include one or more RGB cameras for capturing images of some or all of the local area. In some embodiments, some or all of the imaging devices 130 of the DCA may also be used as the PCA. The images captured by the PCA and the depth information determined by the DCA may be used to determine the parameters of the local area, generate a model of the local area, update the model of the local area, or some combination thereof. In addition, the position sensor 190 tracks the position (e.g., location and orientation) of the head-mounted device 100 within the room. Additional details regarding the components of the head-mounted device 100 are discussed below in conjunction with Figure 4 Discuss additional details regarding the components of the head-mounted device 100.

[0050] The head-mounted device 100 includes an eye tracking unit 195. The eye tracking unit 195 may include one or more cameras that capture images of the user's eyes. The eye tracking unit 195 may also include one or more illuminators that illuminate the user's eyes. The eye tracking unit 195 estimates the angular orientation of the user's eye or eyes. In some embodiments, the eye tracking unit 195 may detect a distortion in an illumination pattern projected by the illuminator to determine the angular orientation of the user's eyes. The orientation of the eyes corresponds to the direction in which the user is gazing within the head-mounted device 100. The orientation of the user's eyes may be the direction of the foveal axis, which is an axis between the fovea (the area on the retina of the eye where light-sensitive cells are most concentrated) and the center of the eye's pupil. Generally, when the user's eyes are fixed on a point, the foveal axis of the user's eyes intersects that point. The pupil axis is another axis of the eye, which is defined as the axis perpendicular to the corneal surface passing through the center of the pupil. Generally, the pupil axis is not directly aligned with the foveal axis. The two axes intersect at the center of the pupil, but the orientation of the foveal axis is laterally offset from the pupil axis by approximately -1° to 8° and vertically offset by approximately ±4°. Since the foveal axis is defined based on the fovea located at the back of the eye, in some eye tracking embodiments, it may be difficult or impossible to directly detect the foveal axis. Thus, in some embodiments, the orientation of the pupil axis is detected and the foveal axis is estimated based on the detected pupil axis. However, in some embodiments, the orientation of the pupil axis may be used to estimate the angular orientation of the user's eye or eyes without adjustment for the foveal axis difference.

[0051] Typically, eye movement corresponds not only to angular rotation of the eye, but also to translation of the eye, changes in eye torsion, and / or changes in eye shape. The eye tracking unit 195 can also detect translation of the eye: i.e., a change in the position of the eye relative to the eye socket. In some embodiments, translation of the eye is not directly detected, but approximated based on a mapping from the detected angular orientation. Eye translation corresponding to a change in the position of the eye relative to the detection component of the eye tracking unit can also be detected. This type of translation can occur, for example, due to movement of the position of the head-mounted device 100 on the user's head. The eye tracking unit 195 can also detect torsion of the eye, i.e., rotation of the eye about the pupil axis. The eye tracking unit 195 can use the detected eye torsion to estimate the orientation of the fovea axis relative to the pupil axis. The eye tracking unit 195 can also track changes in eye shape, which can be approximated as a skew or scaled linear transformation or a warping deformation (e.g., due to a torsional deformation). The eye tracking unit 195 can estimate the fovea axis based on some combination of the angular orientation of the pupil axis, translation of the eye, torsion of the eye, and the current shape of the eye.

[0052] In some embodiments, the eye tracking unit 195 can include at least one emitter that projects a structured light pattern over all or a portion of the eye. The pattern is then projected onto the shape of the eye, which may create a perceivable distortion in the structured light pattern when viewed from an offset angle. The eye tracking unit 195 can also include at least one camera that detects any distortion of the light pattern projected onto the eye. The camera oriented on an axis different from the emitter captures the illumination pattern on the eye. This process is referred to herein as "scanning" the eye. By detecting the deformation of the illumination pattern on the eye surface, the eye tracking unit 195 can determine the shape of the portion of the eye being scanned. Thus, the captured distorted light pattern indicates the 3D shape of the illuminated portion of the eye. By deriving the 3D shape of the portion of the eye illuminated by the emitter, the orientation of the eye can be derived. The eye tracking unit can also estimate the pupil axis, translation of the eye, torsion of the eye, and the current shape of the eye based on an image of the illumination pattern captured by the camera.

[0053] In other embodiments, any suitable type of eye tracking system can be used. For example, the eye tracking unit 195 can capture an image of the eye, capture a stereoscopic image of the eye, can utilize an LED ring around the eye that lights up in sequence and determines eye orientation based on reflections from the LEDs, can utilize time-of-flight measurements, etc.

[0054] Since the orientation can be determined for the user's eyes, the eye tracking unit 195 can determine where the user is looking. The head-mounted device 100 can use the orientation of the eyes to, for example, determine the interpupillary distance (IPD) of the user, determine the gaze direction, introduce depth cues (e.g., blurring the image outside the user's main line of sight), collect heuristics about the user's interaction in VR media (e.g., the time spent on any particular subject, object, or frame based on the exposure to stimuli), some other functions based at least in part on the orientation of at least one of the user's eyes, or some combination thereof. Determining the direction of the user's gaze can include determining the point of convergence based on the determined orientations of the user's left and right eyes. The point of convergence can be the point where the two foveal axes of the user's eyes intersect (or the closest point between the two axes). The direction of the user's gaze can be the direction of the line passing through the point of convergence and through the midpoint of the user's eye pupils. The following is combined with Figure 4 to discuss additional details about the components of the head-mounted device 100.

[0055] The audio system generates an audio profile for the user. The audio system monitors the user's response to the sound. The eye tracking unit 195 detects the gaze position of the user's eyes in response to the sound. The audio system measures the accuracy of various parameters of the sound based on the user's response, such as the difference between the gaze position and the sound source position. The audio system uses the audio profile to subsequently present enhanced audio content to the user. Refer to Figures 2 - 4 for a further description of the audio enhancement process.

[0056] Figure 1B is a perspective view of the head-mounted device 105 implemented as an HMD according to one or more embodiments. In the description of embodiments of an AR system and / or an MR system, the portion on the front side of the HMD is at least partially transparent in the visible light band (about 380 nm to 750 nm), and the portion of the HMD between the front side of the HMD and the user's eyes is at least partially transparent (e.g., a partially transparent electronic display). The HMD includes a front rigid body 115 and a strap 175. The head-mounted device 105 includes many of the same components as described above with reference to Figure 1A but these components are modified to be integrated with the HMD form factor. For example, the HMD includes a display component, a DCA, an audio system, and a position sensor 190. Figure 1B Shows an illuminator 140, a plurality of speakers 160, a plurality of imaging devices 130, a plurality of acoustic sensors 180, and a position sensor 190. The speakers 160 can be located in different positions, such as coupled to the strap 175 (as shown), coupled to the front rigid body 115, or can be configured to be inserted into the user's ear canal.

[0057] Figure 2is a block diagram of an audio system 200 according to one or more embodiments. Figure 1A or Figure 1B The audio system in can be an embodiment of the audio system 200. The audio system 200 generates a customized audio profile for a user. The audio system 200 can then use the audio profile to generate audio content for the user. In Figure 2 embodiments, the audio system 200 includes a transducer array 210, a sensor array 220, and an audio controller 230. Some embodiments of the audio system 200 have components different from those described herein. Similarly, in some cases, the functions can be distributed among the components in a different manner than described herein.

[0058] The transducer array 210 is configured to present audio content. The transducer array 210 includes a plurality of transducers. A transducer is a device that provides audio content. The transducer can be, for example, a speaker (e.g., speaker 160), a tissue transducer (e.g., tissue transducer 170), some other device that provides audio content, or some combination thereof. The tissue transducer can be configured to function as a bone conduction transducer or a cartilage conduction transducer. The transducer array 210 can present audio content via air conduction (e.g., via one or more speakers), via bone conduction (via one or more bone conduction transducers), via a cartilage conduction audio system (via one or more cartilage conduction transducers), or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the transducer array 210 can include one or more transducers to cover different portions of a frequency range. For example, piezoelectric transducers can be used to cover a first portion of the frequency range, and dynamic coil transducers can be used to cover a second portion of the frequency range.

[0059] The bone conduction transducer generates a sound pressure wave by vibrating the bones / tissues of the user's head. The bone conduction transducer can be coupled to a part of the headset and can be configured to be coupled to a part of the user's skull behind the auricle. The bone conduction transducer receives vibration instructions from the audio controller 230 and vibrates a part of the user's skull based on the received instructions. The vibration from the bone conduction transducer generates a tissue-propagating sound pressure wave that bypasses the eardrum and travels towards the user's cochlea.

[0060] A cartilage conduction transducer generates sound pressure waves by vibrating one or more portions of the auricular cartilage of a user's ear. The cartilage conduction transducer may be coupled to a portion of a head-mounted device and may be configured to be coupled to one or more portions of the auricular cartilage of the ear. For example, the cartilage conduction transducer may be coupled to the posterior portion of the auricle of the user's ear. The cartilage conduction transducer may be located anywhere along the auricular cartilage surrounding the outer ear (e.g., the auricle, tragus, some other portion of the auricular cartilage, or some combination thereof). Vibrating one or more portions of the auricular cartilage may generate: airborne sound pressure waves outside the ear canal; sound pressure waves generated by tissue causing certain portions of the ear canal to vibrate, thereby generating airborne sound pressure waves within the ear canal; or some combination thereof. The generated airborne sound pressure waves propagate along the ear canal towards the eardrum.

[0061] The transducer array 210 generates audio content according to instructions from the audio controller 230. The audio content may be generated in combination with an audio evaluation routine. In some embodiments, the audio content is spatialized. Spatialized audio content is audio content that sounds like it originates from a specific direction and / or target area (e.g., an object and / or virtual object in a local area). For example, the spatialized audio content may make the sound seem to come from a virtual singer across the user's room from the audio system 200. The transducer array 210 may be coupled to a wearable device (e.g., the head-mounted device 100 or the head-mounted device 105). In an alternative embodiment, the transducer array 210 may be a plurality of speakers separate from the wearable device (e.g., coupled to an external console).

[0062] The sensor array 220 detects sounds within a local area surrounding the sensor array 220. The sensor array 220 may include a plurality of acoustic sensors, each acoustic sensor detecting changes in air pressure of sound waves and converting the detected sound into an electronic format (analog or digital). The plurality of acoustic sensors may be located on a head-mounted device (e.g., the head-mounted device 100 and / or the head-mounted device 105), the user (e.g., in the user's ear canal), a neckband, or some combination thereof. The acoustic sensors may be, for example, microphones, vibration sensors, accelerometers, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor array 220 is configured to monitor the audio content generated by the transducer array 210 using at least some of the plurality of acoustic sensors. Increasing the number of sensors may improve the accuracy of the information (e.g., directivity) describing the sound field generated by the transducer array 210 and / or the sounds from the local area.

[0063] The audio controller 230 controls the operation of the audio system 200. In Figure 2In an embodiment, the audio controller 230 includes a data storage 235, a DOA estimation module 240, a transfer function module 250, a tracking module 260, a beamforming module 270, a sound filter module 280, and a personalization module 290. The audio controller 230 may be located inside a wearable device such as a headset. Some embodiments of the audio controller 230 have different components than those described herein. Similarly, the functionality may be distributed among the components in a different manner than described herein. For example, some functions of the controller may be performed outside the headset device.

[0064] The data storage 235 stores data for use by the audio system 200. The data in the data storage 235 may include sounds recorded in a local area of the audio system 200, audio content, head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), transfer functions of one or more sensors, array transfer functions (ATFs) of one or more acoustic sensors, sound source localization, virtual models of the local area, direction-of-arrival estimations, sound filters, and other data related to the use of the audio system 200, or any combination thereof. The data storage 235 may include audio profiles of one or more users, instructions for audio assessment routines, user response data for audio assessment routines, and the like.

[0065] The DOA estimation module 240 is configured to locate a sound source in a local area based in part on information from the sensor array 220. Localization is the process of determining the position of the sound source relative to the user of the audio system 200. The DOA estimation module 240 performs DOA analysis to locate one or more sound sources within the local area. The DOA analysis may include analyzing the intensity, spectrum, and / or time of arrival of each sound at the sensor array 220 to determine the direction from which the sound originated. In some cases, the DOA analysis may include any suitable algorithm for analyzing the surrounding acoustic environment in which the audio system 200 is located.

[0066] For example, DOA analysis can be designed to receive input signals from the sensor array 220 and apply digital signal processing algorithms to the input signals to estimate the direction of arrival. These algorithms can include, for example, the delay and sum algorithm, where the input signals are sampled and the final weighted and delayed versions of the sampled signals are averaged together to determine the DOA. The least mean square (LMS) algorithm can also be implemented to create an adaptive filter. This adaptive filter can then be used, for example, to identify differences in signal strength or differences in time of arrival. These differences can then be used to estimate the DOA. In another embodiment, the DOA can be determined by transforming the input signals into the frequency domain and selecting specific bins in the time-frequency (TF) domain to be processed. Each selected TF bin can be processed to determine whether the bin includes a portion of the audio spectrum with a direct path audio signal. Then, those bins with a portion of the direct path signal can be analyzed to identify the angles at which the sensor array 220 receives the direct path audio signals. The determined angles can then be used to identify the DOA of the received input signals. Other algorithms not listed above can also be used, either alone or in combination with the algorithms above, to determine the DOA.

[0067] In some embodiments, the DOA estimation module 240 can also determine the DOA relative to the absolute position of the audio system 200 within a local area. The position of the sensor array 220 can be received from an external system (e.g., some other components of the head-mounted device, an artificial reality console, a mapping server, a position sensor (e.g., position sensor 190), etc.). The external system can create a virtual model of the local area, where the position of the local area and the audio system 200 are mapped. The received position information can include the positioning and / or orientation of some or all of the audio system 200 (e.g., the sensor array 220). The DOA estimation module 240 can update the estimated DOA based on the received position information.

[0068] The transfer function module 250 is configured to generate one or more acoustic transfer functions. Generally, a transfer function is a mathematical function that gives a corresponding output value for each possible input value. Based on the parameters of the detected sound, the transfer function module 250 generates one or more acoustic transfer functions associated with the audio system. The acoustic transfer functions can be an array transfer function (ATF), a head-related transfer function (HRTF), other types of acoustic transfer functions, or some combination thereof. The ATF characterizes how a microphone receives sound from a point in space.

[0069] The ATF includes a plurality of transfer functions that characterize the relationship between a sound source and the corresponding sounds received by the acoustic sensors in the sensor array 220. Thus, for a sound source, each acoustic sensor in the sensor array 220 has a corresponding transfer function. This set of transfer functions is collectively referred to as the ATF. Thus, for each sound source, there is a corresponding ATF. Note that the sound source can be, for example, a person or an object that generates sound in a local area, a user, or one or more transducers of the transducer array 210. The ATF for a particular sound source localization relative to the sensor array 220 may vary from user to user because a person's anatomy (e.g., ear shape, shoulders, etc.) affects the sound as it travels to the person's ears. Thus, the ATF of the sensor array 220 is personalized for each user of the audio system 200.

[0070] In some embodiments, the transfer function module 250 determines one or more HRTFs for a user of the audio system 200. The HRTF characterizes how the ears receive sound from a point in space. The HRTF for a particular source localization relative to a person is unique for each ear of the person (and unique for the person) because a person's anatomy (e.g., ear shape, shoulders, etc.) affects the sound as it travels to the person's ears. In some embodiments, the transfer function module 250 can use a calibration process to determine the HRTF for the user.

[0071] In some embodiments, the transfer function module 250 can provide the ATF and the HRTF to the personalization module 290 to be combined with the audio evaluation data in the user's audio profile.

[0072] The tracking module 260 is configured to track the localization of one or more sound sources. The tracking module 260 can compare current DOA estimates and compare them with a stored history of previous DOA estimates. In some embodiments, the audio system 200 can recalculate the DOA estimate periodically, such as once per second, or once per millisecond. The tracking module can compare the current DOA estimate with the previous DOA estimate, and in response to a change in the DOA estimate of a sound source, the tracking module 260 can determine that the sound source has moved. In some embodiments, the tracking module 260 can detect a change in localization based on visual information received from a headset or some other external source. The tracking module 260 can track the movement of one or more sound sources over time. The tracking module 260 can store values regarding the number of sound sources and the localization of each sound source at each point in time. In response to a change in the number or the localization values of the sound sources, the tracking module 260 can determine that the sound source has moved. The tracking module 260 can calculate an estimate of the localization variance. The localization variance can be used as a confidence level for each determination of a movement change.

[0073] The beamforming module 270 is configured to process one or more ATFs to selectively emphasize sounds from sound sources within a certain area while attenuating sounds from other areas. When analyzing the sounds detected by the sensor array 220, the beamforming module 270 can combine information from different acoustic sensors to emphasize relevant sounds from a specific area within the local area while attenuating sounds from outside that area. The beamforming module 270 can isolate the audio signals associated with the sounds from a specific sound source from other sound sources in the local area based on different DOA estimates from, for example, the DOA estimation module 240 and the tracking module 260. The beamforming module 270 can thus selectively analyze discrete sound sources in the local area. In some embodiments, the beamforming module 270 can enhance signals from sound sources. For example, the beamforming module 270 can apply a sound filter that eliminates signals above, below, or between specific frequencies. The signal enhancement is used to enhance the sounds associated with a given identified sound source relative to other sounds detected by the sensor array 220. In some embodiments, based on parameters received from the personalization module 290, the beamforming module 270 can adjust the width or behavior of the beam in a noisy environment according to the user's estimated speech understanding or listening effort.

[0074] The sound filter module 280 determines a sound filter for the transducer array 210. In some embodiments, the sound filter spatializes the audio content such that the audio content sounds as if it originated from the target area. The sound filter module 280 can use HRTF and / or acoustic parameters to generate the sound filter. The acoustic parameters describe the acoustic properties of the local area. The acoustic parameters can include, for example, reverberation time, reverberation level, room impulse response, etc. In some embodiments, the sound filter module 280 calculates one or more acoustic parameters. In some embodiments, the sound filter module 280 requests acoustic parameters from the mapping server (e.g., as described below with reference to Figure 4 ).

[0075] The sound filter module 280 provides the sound filter to the transducer array 210. In some embodiments, the sound filter can cause positive or negative amplification of the sound according to the frequency. For example, based on parameters received from the personalization module 290, the sound filter module 280 can amplify the sounds of specific frequencies that the user is less likely to detect compared to other frequencies.

[0076] The personalization module 290 generates an audio profile for the user. The audio profile describes how the user perceives sound. The audio profile includes parameters that describe how sound should be presented to the user to enhance the user's audio experience. The parameters can include the gain and limit of the sound. For example, these parameters can indicate a 6 dB gain for the frequency band between 10 kHz and 15 kHz, with a maximum limit of 85 dB sound pressure level, such that the audio system increases the sound amplitude in that frequency band by 6 dB.

[0077] In some embodiments, the parameters can include a scale factor that indicates that the amplitude of certain frequencies should be increased, or that the amplitude of certain frequencies should be decreased relative to other frequencies (e.g., a scale factor of 1.2 for the frequency band between 10 kHz and 15 kHz can indicate that the audio system should increase the sound amplitude in that frequency band by 20%). These parameters can indicate the maximum reverberation level of the environment that allows the user to understand speech. These parameters can describe beamformer adjustments in a noisy environment based on the user's estimated speech understanding or listening effort, such as width or dynamic behavior. These parameters can provide artificial amplification of sound source separation to help with the spatial release of masking. These parameters can provide a gain and compression structure suitable for the user's hearing. These parameters can describe how to enhance the voices of other speakers, such as by changing the frequency, which allows the user to better understand the speaker. The sound parameters can include sound localization ability, the amplitude of the spatial release of masking, the binaural masking level difference, the noise threshold of speech in different types of background noise, or any other suitable parameters that can increase the audio quality for the user.

[0078] The audio system 200 modifies the sound presented to the user according to the parameters in the audio file to provide the user with an enhanced audio experience. For example, the parameters in the audio profile can indicate that the audio system should increase or decrease the amplitude of certain frequencies presented to the user.

[0079] To generate an audio profile for the user, the personalization module 290 performs active and / or passive audio evaluations for the user. For example, the personalization module 290 can present audio games, audiological screenings, hearing tests, instantaneous environment evaluations, and post-experience surveys to the user.

[0080] Audio evaluation may include an audio evaluation routine. An audio evaluation routine is a series of steps by which an audio system determines parameters that characterize a user's hearing, such as hyperacusis or presbycusis for certain frequencies, acceptable reverberation levels, etc. For example, an audio evaluation routine may include explicit hearing test routines, including traditional audiology, speech-in-noise testing, audio games, spatial resolution testing, listening effort, localization accuracy, performance monitoring, and post-experience surveys. The audio evaluation routine generates audio evaluation data that describes the user's response to the audio evaluation routine. For example, the audio evaluation data may include binary data indicating whether the user responds to a sound, accuracy values indicating the degree to which the user understands speech in different noise environments, the duration and smoothness of directed movement towards a sound source, the proportion of front / back confusion, localization error, minimum audible angle, the degree of binaural masking level difference, etc.

[0081] The personalization module 290 stores the audio evaluation data in an audio profile. In some embodiments, the audio profile may be stored locally on the wearable device, such as in the data storage 235. In some embodiments, the personalization module 290 may transmit the evaluation data or the audio profile to an external system, such as a social networking system. The personalization module 290 may continuously update the audio profile as additional evaluation data is captured.

[0082] In some embodiments, as part of the audio evaluation routine, the personalization module 290 obtains perceptual feedback from the user. The perceptual feedback may indicate whether the user responds to a sound, whether the user understands the speech in the audio content, or indicate the perceived localization of the synthesized sound. In some embodiments, the perceptual feedback may include the gaze direction of the user's eyes, indicating that the user perceives a sound emanating from the gaze direction. The perceptual feedback may include an oral response from the user, such as "front", "back", "left", or "right", or the user's repetition of a phrase presented to the user. The perceptual feedback may include the user's movement, such as the user turning their head or pointing a finger in a direction.

[0083] The personalization module 290 captures active and passive responses from the user. These responses may be captured by any sensor on the head-mounted device, such as through a microphone, hand tracking, a controller, pupillometry, electroencephalogram (EEG), galvanic skin response (GSR), an eye tracking module, tactile feedback from a glove, a position sensor that captures the movement of the head-mounted device (such as an IMU), etc. In some embodiments, the perceptual feedback may be captured by an external sensor, such as a camera that detects the position of the head-mounted device or the user.

[0084] In some embodiments, perceptual feedback can be obtained during an active assessment routine. For example, the head-mounted device can notify the user that an audio assessment is being performed, and the head-mounted device can provide audio and / or visual instructions to perform actions such as repeating a phrase or looking in the direction of the sound.

[0085] In some embodiments, perceptual feedback can be obtained during a passive assessment routine, where the user may not be aware that an audio assessment is being performed. For example, the user can interact with the head-mounted device, such as by participating in a virtual reality game, and the personalization module 290 can monitor the user's response to sounds during the virtual reality game.

[0086] The personalization module 290 compares the perceptual feedback for each sound source in the audio assessment routine with one or more attributes of the sound source. The audio system can generate one or more sound sources for the audio assessment routine. The sound sources generated by the audio system may have known attributes. One or more sound sources can be generated by an object or person in a local area. The audio system can determine the attributes of the sound source, such as tracking the location and measuring the frequency, and compare the user response with the measured attributes. The attributes of the sound source can include location, amplitude, frequency, words in speech, etc.

[0087] The personalization module 290 can determine an accuracy value for one or more attributes of each sound source. For example, the personalization module 290 can assign a scalar accuracy value between 1 and 10, where 10 indicates a highly accurate response by the user to the sound source. Each sound source can include an accuracy value for each attribute. For example, the first accuracy value of the sound source can indicate the degree to which the user understands the words in a phrase, and the second accuracy value can indicate the difference between the perceived sound source location by the user and the actual or expected location of the sound source.

[0088] The personalization module 290 analyzes the results of the audio assessment to create an audio profile. In some embodiments, the personalization module 290 analyzes the results locally on the head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the personalization module 290 transmits the results to an external system, and the external system generates the audio profile.

[0089] The audio profile can describe environmental conditions associated with positive or negative assessment data of the user. For example, the environmental conditions can include geometric conditions of a room or local area, GPS coordinates, time of day, language spoken, signal-to-noise ratio, reverberation, background noise characteristics, etc. The audio profile can indicate whether the user is able or unable to understand speech under specific environmental conditions.

[0090] In addition, the audio profile may include results related to the user's physical characteristics that affect hearing, such as personalized HRTFs and body-related transfer functions, to generate a customized audio profile. The body data may describe the shape of the user's head, ears, and torso. The body data may be obtained from pictures of the user captured by a wearable device or retrieved from a database, such as retrieved from a social networking system. The audio profile may include HRTFs generated partially based on the shape. The audio profile may use the HRTF in combination with audio evaluation data to provide instructions for subsequent sound rendering for the user. For example, the HRTF of a sound source at a specific angle may attenuate certain frequencies more than others, which may cause the user not to hear a certain frequency. However, based on the audio evaluation data, the audio profile may indicate that the frequency should be increased to a dB level audible to the user. Thus, by combining the HRTF with the audio evaluation data, the audio profile may contain a complete set of parameters for improving the user's audio experience.

[0091] In some embodiments, the personalization module 290 may locally store the audio profile on the head-mounted device, such as in the data storage 235. In some embodiments, the personalization module 290 may transmit the audio profile to an external system, and the external system may store the audio profile in a database. For example, the audio profile may be stored in the database of a social network and associated with the user's account.

[0092] In response to the audio controller 230 determining to present audio content to the user, the audio controller 230 queries the personalization module 290 for the parameters in the audio profile. The personalization module 290 retrieves the user's audio profile, for example, by querying the data storage 235 or by querying an external system.

[0093] The personalization module 290 uses the audio profile to modify the sound presented to the user. Using the audio profile can improve the audio for all of the user's audio experiences, including video calls, virtual reality games and applications, augmented reality telepresence, real-time voice enhancement, real-time noise reduction, etc. For example, during a video call, if the parameters in the audio profile indicate that the user has low sensitivity in certain frequency ranges, the personalization module 290 may increase the amplitude of the speaker speaking in those frequency ranges. For a virtual reality game, if the parameters in the audio file indicate that the user has difficulty understanding speech in a reverberant environment, the personalization module 290 may reduce the amount of reverberation in the sound presented to the user. The personalization module 290 may provide parameters or instructions to the sound filter module 280 based on the parameters to adjust the sound filter according to the parameters.

[0094] In some embodiments, the personalization module 290 may store enhancement schemes associated with audio profiles in the data store 235. An enhancement scheme is a set of predefined parameters for modifying sound for a user. The enhancement scheme may be used to replace the parameters in the user's audio profile. Different users may have similar hearing characteristics such that different users may benefit from similar modifications to the sound presented to the user. By grouping multiple users into subsets associated with enhancement schemes, the system can reduce the complexity and processing power required to generate an enhanced audio experience for the user. For example, in some embodiments, the system may include ten different enhancement schemes, or one thousand different enhancement schemes, and may assign one of the enhancement schemes to an audio profile based on the similarity between the user's assessment data and the selected enhancement scheme.

[0095] In response to the audio system 200 detecting a new user, the audio system 200 may attempt to retrieve the new user's audio profile. The audio system 200 may identify the new user based on, for example, login information, password, facial recognition, etc. In some embodiments, the user may provide the user's social network identifier to the audio system 200. The personalization module 290 may query the data store 235 or an external system for the new user's audio profile. If the data store 235 or the external system identifies the new user's audio profile, the data store 235 or the external system may transmit the audio profile to the audio system 200. If the personalization module 290 cannot obtain the new user's audio profile, the personalization module 290 may initiate an audio assessment of the new user in order to generate an audio profile.

[0096] Systems and applications that present sound to a user may access the audio profile and modify the sound presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the user's audio experience. A head-mounted device, an external system, or a third-party application may access the audio profile to generate sound for a user of the head-mounted device. For example, the user may use any device available to the user to access third-party audio content, such as a gaming application or a website. The user may provide the user ID of the social network to the third party, and the third-party system may query the social network for the user's audio file. The third-party system may modify the audio content presented to the user according to the parameters in the audio file.

[0097] An audio profile may include security settings. The security settings may only allow authorized parties to access the audio profile, or only allow access to certain portions of the data stored in the audio profile. For example, the audio profile may be stored on a social network together with the user's user profile, and the security settings may indicate that only entities related to the user in the social network can access the user's audio profile. In some embodiments, the data in the audio profile may be encrypted, and the encryption key may be stored on the user's wearable device, such that a third-party system can utilize the audio profile to present content to the user on the user's device without providing the third-party system access to the audio profile content.

[0098] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method 300 for generating enhanced audio content according to one or more embodiments. Figure 3 The process shown can be performed by components of an audio system (e.g., audio system 200). In other embodiments, other entities may perform Figure 3 some or all of the steps. Embodiments may include different and / or additional steps, or perform these steps in a different order.

[0099] An audio system on a wearable device collects 310 audio assessment data of a user. Collecting the audio assessment data may include performing an audio assessment routine. The audio assessment routine may include monitoring the user's response to audio content. For example, the user may repeat a phrase, provide a rating of the audio content, look in the direction of the sound source, etc.

[0100] The audio system updates 320 the audio profile based on the audio assessment data and body data describing the user. The audio profile may include parameters indicating how to adjust the audio content for presentation to the user. For example, based on the results of the audio assessment routine, the parameters may indicate that the amplitude of certain frequency bands should be increased for the user, or that the reverberation level in an artificial audio environment should be decreased to allow the user to understand speech. The body data may describe the shape of the user's head, ears, and torso. The body data may be obtained from a picture of the user captured by the wearable device, or retrieved from a database, such as from a social networking system. The audio profile may include HRTFs generated in part based on the shape.

[0101] The audio system stores 330 the audio profile. In some embodiments, the audio system stores the audio profile locally on the wearable device. In other embodiments, the audio system may transmit the audio profile to an external system, such as a social media network, and the external system may store the audio profile together with the user's user profile. The audio system or the external system may assign an enhancement scheme to the audio profile.

[0102] The audio system presents 340 audio content to the user based on an audio profile. The audio content can include audio for virtual reality games, sounds generated by objects in the user's local area, music, or any other audio suitable for being generated by a wearable device. The audio system can modify the audio content based on parameters in the audio profile. In some embodiments, the audio system can modify the audio content based on an enhancement scheme associated with the audio file.

[0103] In some embodiments, the audio content can be presented to the user by any device, such as a device that the user has not used before. The device can request the audio profile from an external system, and the device can present customized audio content to the user based on the audio profile.

[0104] Figure 4 is a system 400 including a wearable device 405 according to one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the wearable device 405 can be Figure 1A the head-mounted device 100 or Figure 1B the head-mounted device 105. The system 400 can operate in an artificial reality environment (e.g., a virtual reality environment, an augmented reality environment, a mixed reality environment, or some combination thereof). Figure 4 The system 400 shown includes a wearable device 405, an input / output (I / O) interface 410 coupled to a console 415, a network 420, a mapping server 425, and an external system 470. Although Figure 4 an example system 400 including one wearable device 405 and one I / O interface 410 is shown, in other embodiments, any number of these components can be included in the system 400. For example, there can be multiple head-mounted devices, each head-mounted device having an associated I / O interface 410, and each head-mounted device and I / O interface 410 communicating with the console 415. In an alternative configuration, different and / or additional components can be included in the system 400. Additionally, in some embodiments, the functions described in connection with Figure 4 one or more of the components shown can be distributed among the components in a manner different from that described in connection with Figure 4 the description. For example, some or all of the functions of the console 415 can be provided by the wearable device 405.

[0105] The wearable device 405 includes a display component 430, an optical block 435, one or more position sensors 440, and a DCA 445. Some embodiments of the wearable device 405 have components different from those described in connection with Figure 4 the description. Additionally, in other embodiments, the functions provided by the individual components described in connection with Figure 4 the description can be differently distributed among the components of the wearable device 405, or can be captured in separate components of the wearable device 405.

[0106] The display component 430 displays content to the user based on data received from the console 415. The display component 430 uses one or more display elements (e.g., display element 120) to display the content. The display element can be, for example, an electronic display. In various embodiments, the display component 430 includes a single display element or multiple display elements (e.g., displays for each eye of the user). Examples of electronic displays include: liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, active matrix organic light-emitting diode displays (AMOLEDs), waveguide displays, some other display, or some combination thereof. Note that in some embodiments, the display element 120 may also include some or all of the functions of the optical block 435.

[0107] The optical block 435 can magnify the image light received from the electronic display, correct optical errors associated with the image light, and present the corrected image light to one or both windows of the wearable device 405. In various embodiments, the optical block 435 includes one or more optical elements. Example optical elements included in the optical block 435 include: apertures, Fresnel lenses, convex lenses, concave lenses, filters, reflective surfaces, or any other suitable optical element that affects image light. Additionally, the optical block 435 can include a combination of different optical elements. In some embodiments, one or more of the optical elements in the optical block 435 can have one or more coatings, such as a partial reflection coating or an anti-reflection coating.

[0108] The magnification and focusing of the image light by the optical block 435 allows the electronic display to be physically smaller, lighter in weight, and consume less power than a larger display. Additionally, the magnification can increase the field of view of the content presented by the electronic display. For example, the field of view of the displayed content is such that the displayed content is presented using nearly all of the user's field of view (e.g., approximately 110 degrees diagonal), and in some cases, all of the field of view. Additionally, in some embodiments, the amount of magnification can be adjusted by adding or removing optical elements.

[0109] In some embodiments, the optical block 435 can be designed to correct one or more types of optical errors. Examples of optical errors include barrel or pincushion distortion, longitudinal chromatic aberration, or lateral chromatic aberration. Other types of optical errors can also include spherical aberration, chromatic aberrations, or errors caused by lens field curvature, astigmatism, or any other type of optical error. In some embodiments, the content provided to the electronic display for display is pre-distorted, and when the optical block 435 receives the image light generated based on the content from the electronic display, the optical block 435 corrects the distortion.

[0110] The position sensor 440 is an electronic device that generates data indicating the position of the wearable device 405. The position sensor 440 generates one or more measurement signals in response to the movement of the wearable device 405. The position sensor 190 is an example of the position sensor 440. Examples of the position sensor 440 include: one or more IMUs, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, another suitable type of sensor for detecting movement, or some combination thereof. The position sensor 440 may include multiple accelerometers that measure translational movement (forward / backward, up / down, left / right) and multiple gyroscopes that measure rotational movement (e.g., pitch, yaw, roll). In some embodiments, the IMU samples the measurement signals rapidly and calculates the estimated position of the wearable device 405 based on the sampled data. For example, the IMU integrates the measurement signals received from the accelerometers over time to estimate the velocity vector, and integrates the velocity vector over time to determine the estimated position of a reference point on the wearable device 405. The reference point is a point that can be used to describe the position of the wearable device 405. Although the reference point can generally be defined as a point in space; however, in practice, the reference point is defined as a point within the wearable device 405.

[0111] The DCA 445 generates depth information for a part of the local area. The DCA includes one or more imaging devices and a DCA controller. The DCA 445 may also include an illuminator. The operation and structure of the DCA 445 are described above with respect to Figure 1A which have been described.

[0112] The audio system 450 provides audio content to the user of the wearable device 405. The audio system 450 may be an embodiment of the above-described audio system 200. The audio system 450 may include one or more acoustic sensors, one or more transducers, and an audio controller. The audio system 450 may provide spatialized audio content to the user. In some embodiments, the audio system 450 may request acoustic parameters from the mapping server 425 via the network 420. The acoustic parameters describe one or more acoustic characteristics of the local area (e.g., room impulse response, reverberation time, reverberation level, etc.). The audio system 450 may provide information describing at least a part of the local area from, for example, the DCA 445 and / or positioning information of the wearable device 405 from the position sensor 440. The audio system 450 may generate one or more sound filters using one or more acoustic parameters received from the mapping server 425 and use the sound filters to provide audio content to the user.

[0113] The audio system 450 may perform an audio assessment routine. The audio system 450 may create an audio profile 480 for a user based on the audio assessment routine. The audio system 450 may transmit the audio profile 480 and / or the results of the audio assessment routine to an external system 470, and the external system 470 may store the audio profile 480. In some embodiments, the audio system 450 may request a user's audio profile from the external system 470. The audio system 450 may modify the audio content presented to the user based on parameters stored in the audio profile.

[0114] The I / O interface 410 is a device that allows a user to send action requests and receive responses from the console 415. An action request is a request to perform a specific action. For example, an action request may be an instruction to start or end capturing image or video data, or an instruction to perform a specific action within an application. The I / O interface 410 may include one or more input devices. Example input devices include a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, or any other suitable device for receiving action requests and transmitting the action requests to the console 415. Action requests received by the I / O interface 410 are transmitted to the console 415, and the console 415 performs the action corresponding to the action request. In some embodiments, the I / O interface 410 includes an IMU that captures calibration data indicating an estimated position of the I / O interface 410 relative to an initial position of the I / O interface 410. In some embodiments, the I / O interface 410 may provide haptic feedback to the user according to instructions received from the console 415. For example, haptic feedback is provided when an action request is received, or when the console 415 transmits an instruction to the I / O interface 410 that causes the I / O interface 410 to generate haptic feedback when the console 415 performs an action.

[0115] The console 415 provides content to the wearable device 405 for processing based on information received from one or more of the following: the DCA 445, the wearable device 405, and the I / O interface 410. In Figure 4 the example shown, the console 415 includes an application storage 455, a tracking module 460, and an engine 465. Some embodiments of the console 415 have modules or components different from those described in connection with Figure 4 the modules or components described. Similarly, the functions further described below may be distributed among the components of the console 415 in a different manner than described in connection with Figure 4 the description. In some embodiments, the functions discussed herein with reference to the console 415 may be implemented in the wearable device 405 or a remote system.

[0116] The application memory 455 stores one or more applications for execution by the console 415. An application is a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, generates content for presentation to a user. The content generated by the application can be in response to input received from the user in response to movement via the wearable device 405 or the I / O interface 410. Examples of applications include: game applications, conferencing applications, video playback applications, or other suitable applications. In some embodiments, one or more applications can be stored on an external server that communicates with the console 415 or the wearable device 405 via the network 420. The application can generate audio content for presentation on the wearable device 405, and the audio system 450 can modify the audio content based on the audio profile 485. In some embodiments, the application transmits the audio content to the audio system 450, and the audio system 450 modifies the audio content based on parameters in an audio file locally stored on the wearable device 405.

[0117] The tracking module 460 uses information from the DCA 445, one or more position sensors 440, or some combination thereof to track the movement of the wearable device 405 or the I / O interface 410. For example, the tracking module 460 determines the position of the reference point of the wearable device 405 in the mapping of the local area based on information from the wearable device 405. The tracking module 460 can also determine the position of an object or a virtual object. Additionally, in some embodiments, the tracking module 460 can use a portion of the data indicating the position of the wearable device 405 from the position sensor 440 and a representation of the local area from the DCA 445 to predict the future positioning of the wearable device 405. The tracking module 460 provides the estimated or predicted future position of the wearable device 405 or the I / O interface 410 to the engine 465.

[0118] The engine 465 executes the application and receives the position information, acceleration information, speed information, predicted future position, or some combination thereof of the wearable device 405 from the tracking module 460. Based on the received information, the engine 465 determines the content to be provided to the wearable device 405 for presentation to the user. For example, if the received information indicates that the user has looked left, the engine 465 generates content for the wearable device 405 that mirrors the user's movement in the virtual local area or in the local area augmented with additional content. Additionally, the engine 465 executes an action within the application executed on the console 415 in response to an action request received from the I / O interface 410 and provides feedback to the user that the action has been executed. The feedback provided can be visual or auditory feedback via the wearable device 405 or tactile feedback via the I / O interface 410.

[0119] Network 420 couples wearable device 405 and / or console 415 to mapping server 425. Network 420 can include any combination of local area networks and / or wide area networks using wireless and / or wired communication systems. For example, network 420 can include the Internet and mobile phone networks. In one embodiment, network 420 uses standard communication technologies and / or protocols. Thus, network 420 can include links using technologies such as Ethernet, 802.11, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), 2G / 3G / 4G mobile communication protocols, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), InfiniBand, PCI Express Advanced Switching, etc. Similarly, network protocols used on network 420 can include Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), etc. Data exchanged over network 420 can be represented using technologies and / or formats including image data in binary form (e.g., Portable Network Graphics (PNG)), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), etc. Additionally, all or part of the links can be encrypted using conventional encryption technologies such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS), Virtual Private Network (VPN), Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), etc.

[0120] Mapping server 425 can include a database storing virtual models depicting multiple spaces, where a location in one of the virtual models corresponds to the current configuration of a local area corresponding to wearable device 405. Mapping server 425 receives, via network 420, information describing at least a portion of the local area and / or location information of the local area from wearable device 405. Mapping server 425 determines, based on the received information and / or location information, the location in the virtual model associated with the local area of wearable device 405. Mapping server 425 determines (e.g., retrieves) one or more acoustic parameters associated with the local area, partially based on the determined location in the virtual model and any acoustic parameters associated with the determined location. Mapping server 425 can transmit the location of the local area and any acoustic parameter values associated with the local area to wearable device 405.

[0121] The external system 470 can be a system that stores user profiles, such as a social network. The external system 470 can store a user profile 475 of a user of the wearable device 405. The user profile 475 can include information about the user, such as demographic information, content uploaded by the user, relationships between the user and other users of the external system 470, and the like. The external system 470 can store an audio profile 480 as part of or associated with the user profile 475. The audio profile 480 can contain audio assessment data received from the wearable device 405.

[0122] In some embodiments, the external system 470 can store an enhancement scheme associated with the audio profile. The enhancement scheme is a set of predefined parameters for modifying the sound for the user. The enhancement scheme can be used to replace the parameters in the user's audio file.

[0123] Additional configuration information

[0124] For illustrative purposes, the foregoing description of the embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.

[0125] Some portions of this description describe embodiments of the present disclosure in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. Those skilled in the data processing arts typically use these algorithmic descriptions and representations to effectively convey the substance of their work to others in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are to be understood as being implemented by a computer program or equivalent circuitry, microcode, or the like. Additionally, it has sometimes proven convenient, without loss of generality, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules. The described operations and their associated modules can be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof.

[0126] Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein can be performed or implemented using one or more hardware or software modules, either alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented using a computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium containing computer program code that can be executed by a computer processor to perform any or all of the described steps, operations, or processes.

[0127] Embodiments of the present disclosure may also relate to apparatuses for performing the operations herein. The apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and / or it may include a general purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in a computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium, or any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. Additionally, any computing system mentioned in the specification may include a single processor, or may be an architecture employing a multi-processor design to increase computing power.

[0128] Embodiments of the present disclosure may also relate to products produced by the computing processes described herein. Such products may include information produced by a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other combination of data described herein.

[0129] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and guidance purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present disclosure not be limited by this detailed description, but rather by any claims issued on an application based thereon. Thus, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative, rather than limiting, of the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for presenting personalized audio content, comprising: detecting sounds in a local area; converting the detected sounds into a synthesized sound in an electronic format; retrieving a user's audio profile, wherein, the audio profile includes a plurality of parameters, at least one of the plurality of parameters is generated based on the detected gaze direction of the user in response to the synthesized sound, and the gaze direction indicates that the user perceives the synthesized sound emitted from the gaze direction; modifying the audio content including the synthesized sound based on the plurality of parameters; and presenting the modified audio content to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the audio profile from a social network, wherein, the social network associates the audio profile with the user's profile.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising further modifying the audio content based on an enhancement scheme associated with the audio profile.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising modifying the audio profile.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving the audio profile from an external system; and modifying the audio content based on the received audio profile.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising collecting audio evaluation data by the following steps: presenting the synthesized sound to the user; and detecting the user's response to the synthesized sound.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, collecting the audio evaluation data includes: determining the localization of the sound source in the local area; and detecting the user's response to the sound source.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the audio profile includes body data describing the shape of the user's ears.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, modifying the audio content includes increasing the amplitude of the frequencies within the frequency band.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the at least one of the plurality of parameters is generated based on an audio evaluation routine.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the plurality of parameters include a scaling factor and a maximum reverberation level.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the audio profile includes security settings, wherein the security settings indicate whether a third party is authorized to access the audio profile.

13. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code, which when executed by a processor is used for the following operations: detecting sounds in a local area; converting the detected sounds into a synthesized sound in an electronic format; retrieving a user's audio profile, wherein, the audio profile includes a plurality of parameters, at least one of the plurality of parameters is generated based on the detected gaze direction of the user in response to the synthesized sound, and the gaze direction indicates that the user perceives the synthesized sound emitted from the gaze direction; modifying the audio content including the synthesized sound based on the plurality of parameters; and presenting the modified audio content to the user.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising computer program code for retrieving the audio profile from a social network, wherein, the social network associates the audio profile with the user's profile.

15. A wearable device comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code, the computer program code, when executed by a processor, being operative to: Detect sound within a local area; Convert the detected sound into a synthetic sound having an electronic format; Retrieve the user's audio profile, wherein, the audio profile includes a plurality of parameters, at least one of the plurality of parameters is generated based on the detected gaze direction of the user in response to the synthetic sound, and the gaze direction indicates that the user perceives the synthetic sound emitted from the gaze direction; Modify the audio content including the synthetic sound based on the plurality of parameters; and Present the modified audio content to the user.

16. The wearable device according to claim 15, further comprising computer program code for retrieving the audio profile from a social network when executed by the processor, wherein, the social network associates the audio profile with the user's profile.

17. The wearable device according to claim 15, further comprising computer program code for modifying the audio content based on an enhancement scheme associated with the audio profile when executed by the processor.

18. The wearable device according to claim 15, further comprising computer program code for performing the following operations when executed by the processor: Receive the audio profile from an external system; and Modify the audio content based on the received audio profile.

19. The wearable device according to claim 15, further comprising computer program code for collecting audio evaluation data when executed by the processor by: Presenting the synthetic sound to the user; and Detecting the user's response to the synthetic sound.

20. The wearable device according to claim 19, wherein, collecting the audio evaluation data includes: Determining the localization of the sound source in the local area; and Detecting the user's response to the sound source.

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