Audio signal processing method, computer program, and audio signal processing device

Abstract

In the present invention, an audio signal processing method executed by an audio signal processing device includes: an analysis step for calculating the time difference between a time when a sound emitted from a sound source arrives, as direct sound, at a listening position where a listener is present, from a sound source position of the sound source, and a time when the sound arrives, as a reflected sound, at the listening position by being reflected by a reflecting object; an acquisition step for acquiring the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicating the reflected sound; a determination step for determining, on the basis of the acquired time difference, properties of an object that mediates propagation of the sound, a first sound volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second sound volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to a reflecting object position corresponding to the position of the reflecting object, whether the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal is to be selected; and a replay unit for outputting an output signal based on the audio signal indicating the reflected sound determined to be selected.

Description

Audio signal processing method, computer program, and audio signal processing device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an audio signal processing method and the like.

[0002] In recent years, products and services using ER (Extended Reality) (which may also be expressed as XR), including VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality), have become increasingly popular. Accordingly, audio signal processing technology that provides immersive audio to listeners in a virtual or real space by adding acoustic effects that occur according to the environment of the space to sounds emitted from a virtual sound source has become increasingly important.

[0003] The listener may also be expressed as a listener or a user. Furthermore, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Non-Patent Document 1 disclose techniques related to the audio signal processing method and the like of the present disclosure.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 6288100 JP 2019-22049 A International Publication No. 2021 / 180938

[0005] B. C. J. Moore, "Introduction to Auditory Psychology," Seishin Shobo, April 20, 1994, Chapter 6: Spatial Perception, p. 225

[0006] However, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it may be difficult to appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an audio signal processing method and the like that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0008] An audio signal processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an audio signal processing method executed by an audio signal processing device, and includes an analysis step of calculating the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from a sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to a listening position, which is the position of a listener, and the time when the sound is reflected by a reflecting object and arrives at the listening position as reflected sound; an acquisition step of acquiring the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicative of the reflected sound; a determination step of determining whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference, the properties of objects intervening in the propagation of the sound, a first volume which is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume which is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object; and a reproduction step of outputting an output signal based on the audio signal indicative of the reflected sound that has been decided to be selected.

[0009] Furthermore, a computer program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute the above-described audio signal processing method.

[0010] In addition, an audio signal processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an analysis unit that calculates the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from a sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to a listening position, which is the position of a listener, and the time when the sound arrives at the listening position as reflected sound after being reflected by a reflecting object; an acquisition unit that acquires the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicative of the reflected sound; a determination unit that determines whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference, the properties of objects intervening in the propagation of the sound, a first volume that is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume that is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object; and a playback unit that outputs an output signal based on the audio signal indicative of the reflected sound that has been decided to be selected.

[0011] These comprehensive or specific aspects may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or may be realized as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

[0012] According to the audio signal processing method and the like according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be appropriately reduced.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of direct sound and reflected sound generated in a sound space. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a stereophonic sound reproduction system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an encoding device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3B is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a decoding device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3C is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of an encoding device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3D is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of a decoding device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a decoder according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of a decoder according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the physical configuration of an audio signal processing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the physical configuration of an encoding device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a rendering unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the audio signal processing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object when they are relatively far apart. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object when they are relatively close together. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the time difference between direct sound and reflected sound and a threshold. FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a part of an example of a method for setting threshold data. FIG. 12B is a diagram showing part of an example of a method for setting threshold data. FIG. 12C is a diagram showing part of an example of a method for setting threshold data. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a method for setting thresholds. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a selection process. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between the direction of a direct sound, the direction of a reflected sound, the time difference, and the threshold. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle difference, the time difference, and the threshold. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of a rendering unit. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing another example of the selection process. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the selection process. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a first modified example of the operation of the audio signal processing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a second modified example of the operation of the audio signal processing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an avatar, a sound source object, and an obstacle object. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the selection process.FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration for a rendering unit to perform pipeline processing. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing transmission and diffraction of sound. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing another example of a positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 28 is an example of an echo detection limit threshold according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a rendering unit according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining a first sound, a second sound, a direct sound, and a reflected sound according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining sound directivity according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 32A is a diagram for explaining the relationship between sound directivity and the first sound, the second sound, the direct sound, and a reflected sound according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 32B is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for calculating a second volume according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the audio signal processing device according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of a first example of analysis processing and selection processing according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining the processing of step S314 according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating the processing of step S322 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating the processing of step S332 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of a second example of the analysis processing and selection processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of a third example of the analysis processing and selection processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of a fourth example of the analysis processing and selection processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of a fifth example of the analysis processing and selection processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of a sixth example of the analysis processing and selection processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 43 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of a seventh example of the analysis processing and selection processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 44 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a rendering unit according to another example.

[0014] (Knowledge forming the basis of the present disclosure) Conventionally, audio signal processing techniques have been studied that provide immersive audio to listeners in a virtual or real space by adding acoustic effects that arise according to the environment of the space to sounds emitted by a virtual sound source.

[0015] Such an audio signal processing technology is disclosed in Patent Document 1. More specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for detecting the importance of an audio signal (voice signal) and not outputting an audio signal with a detected low importance. By not outputting an audio signal with a low importance in this way, the audio signal processing technology is expected to appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0016] Incidentally, in a sound space (virtual space or real space), reflected sound can be important.

[0017] 1 is a diagram showing an example of direct sound and reflected sound generated in a sound space. In acoustic processing that expresses the characteristics of a virtual space with sound, it is effective to reproduce not only direct sound but also reflected sound in order to express the size of the space, the material of the walls, etc., and to accurately grasp the position of the sound source (localization of the sound image).

[0018] For example, when listening to sound in a rectangular room as shown in Figure 1, six primary reflections are generated for a single sound source, corresponding to the six walls. Reproducing these reflections provides clues for a proper understanding of the space and sound image. Furthermore, for each reflection, secondary reflections are generated from surfaces other than the surface that generated the reflection. These reflections also provide useful perceptual clues.

[0019] However, even if only secondary reflections are taken into account, one sound source will produce one direct sound and 36 (6 + 6 x 5) reflected sounds, resulting in 37 sound rays, and a considerable amount of calculation is required to process these sound rays.

[0020] Furthermore, in recent applications envisioned for the Metaverse, such as virtual meetings, virtual shopping, or virtual concerts, multiple sound sources will inevitably be present, requiring even greater amounts of computation.

[0021] In addition, listeners who listen to sounds in a virtual space use headphones or VR goggles. To provide such listeners with stereophonic sound, binaural processing is performed on each sound ray, which provides a sound pressure ratio and phase difference between the two ears to reproduce the direction of sound arrival and the sense of perspective. Therefore, if all reflected sounds are to be reproduced, the amount of calculation required becomes enormous.

[0022] On the other hand, for convenience, small storage batteries are sometimes used as the batteries for VR goggles worn by listeners who experience virtual space. In order to extend the battery life, it is desirable to reduce the computational load required for the above-mentioned processing. To achieve this, it is desirable to reduce the number of sound rays, which may number on the order of several hundred, to a degree that does not impair sound localization and spatial understanding.

[0023] Furthermore, in some sound reproduction systems, degrees of freedom such as 6 DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) are permitted for the position and orientation of the listener (i.e., the listening position where the listener is located). In this case, the positional relationship between the listener, the sound source, and the object that reflects the sound is not determined until playback (rendering). Therefore, reflected sounds are also not determined until playback. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the reflected sounds to be processed in advance.

[0024] Therefore, appropriately selecting and outputting (playing back) one or more reflected sounds that are to be processed or not to be processed from among the multiple reflected sounds that occur in the sound space during playback is useful for appropriately reducing the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0025] Note that controlling whether to select a sound corresponds to determining whether to select a sound, and more specifically, to determining whether to select a sound and output (play) it. Furthermore, selecting a sound may mean selecting the sound as a sound to be processed, or may mean selecting the sound as a sound not to be processed.

[0026] However, in Patent Document 1, the importance of an audio signal, more specifically, the importance of a direct sound indicated by the audio signal is detected, but the importance of a reflected sound is not considered. Therefore, when an indirect sound such as a reflected sound occurs as shown in Figure 1, the amount of calculation and the calculation load increase, which means that it may be difficult to appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0027] Therefore, there is a demand for an audio signal processing method that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load in the sound space.

[0028] Therefore, an audio signal processing method according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is an audio signal processing method executed by an audio signal processing device, and includes an analysis step of calculating the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from a sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to a listening position, which is the position of a listener, and the time when the sound is reflected by a reflecting object and arrives at the listening position as reflected sound; an acquisition step of acquiring the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicative of the reflected sound; a determination step of determining whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference, the properties of objects intervening in the propagation of the sound, a first volume which is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume which is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object; and a reproduction step of outputting an output signal based on the audio signal indicative of the reflected sound that has been decided to be selected.

[0029] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal based on an audio signal indicating a reflected sound is selected based on the time difference, the property, the first volume, and the second volume. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is appropriately selected. When an output signal is not output, the amount of calculation and the calculation load are reduced. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0030] An audio signal processing method according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the first aspect, wherein the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object, is calculated based on the direction from the position of the mirror image of the sound source via the reflecting object to the listening position.

[0031] This allows the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position to be calculated based on the direction from the position of the mirror image of the sound source to the listening position.

[0032] An audio signal processing method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the first aspect, wherein the property is the directionality of the sound, and in the determination step, it is determined whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference, the first volume calculated according to the directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity.

[0033] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the first and second volumes calculated according to the directivity. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0034] An audio signal processing method according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the third aspect, wherein in the determination step, it is determined whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference and a volume ratio between the first volume calculated according to the directivity and the second volume calculated according to the directivity.

[0035] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0036] An audio signal processing method according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the first aspect, wherein the property is a reflection coefficient of the reflecting object.

[0037] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal based on an audio signal indicating a reflected sound is selected based on the time difference, the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object, the first volume, and the second volume. In other words, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0038] An audio signal processing method according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the first aspect, wherein the properties are the directivity of the sound and the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object, and in the determination step, it is determined whether to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference, the reflection coefficient, the first volume calculated according to the directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity.

[0039] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference, the reflection coefficient, and the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0040] In the audio signal processing method according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the audio signal processing method according to the sixth aspect, when the first volume is A, the second volume is B, and the reflection coefficient is Ref, the determination step determines whether to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference and the following formula: (B×Ref) / A.

[0041] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the above formula. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0042] An audio signal processing method according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the sixth aspect, wherein when the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume is Dir and the reflection coefficient is Ref, the determination step determines whether to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference and the following formula: Dir x Ref

[0043] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the above formula. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0044] An audio signal processing method according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is an audio signal processing method according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, in which the determination step further determines whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the position of an object intervening in the propagation of the sound.

[0045] This further selects whether to output an output signal based on the positions of objects involved in the propagation of sound, such as the sound source, reflectors, and listeners. That is, it is more appropriately selected whether to output an output signal based on the audio signal. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0046] An audio signal processing method according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is the audio signal processing method according to the ninth aspect, wherein in the determination step, it is determined whether to select the reflected sound based on a path length ratio between a direct sound path length through which the direct sound, calculated based on the position of the object, arrives at the listening position and a reflected sound path length through which the reflected sound, calculated based on the position of the object, arrives at the listening position.

[0047] This further selects whether to output an output signal based on the path length ratio. That is, it is more appropriately selected whether to output an output signal based on the audio signal. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0048] A computer program according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing a computer to execute the audio signal processing method according to any one of the first to tenth aspects.

[0049] This allows the computer to execute the above-described audio signal processing method in accordance with the computer program.

[0050] An audio signal processing device according to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure includes an analysis unit that calculates the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from a sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to a listening position, which is the position of a listener, and the time when the sound arrives at the listening position as reflected sound after being reflected by a reflecting object; an acquisition unit that acquires the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicative of the reflected sound; a determination unit that determines whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference, the properties of objects intervening in the propagation of the sound, a first volume that is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume that is a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position; and a playback unit that outputs an output signal based on the audio signal indicative of the reflected sound that has been decided to be selected.

[0051] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal based on an audio signal indicating a reflected sound is selected based on the time difference, the property, the first volume, and the second volume. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is appropriately selected. When an output signal is not output, the amount of calculation and the calculation load are reduced. In other words, an audio signal processing device that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0052] (Embodiment 1) (Example of a stereophonic sound reproduction system) Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000. Specifically, Fig. 2 shows the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000, which is an example of a system to which the acoustic processing or decoding processing of the present disclosure can be applied. Stereophonic sound is also expressed as immersive audio. The stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 includes an audio signal processing device 1001 and an audio presentation device 1002.

[0053] The audio signal processing device 1001, also referred to as an audio processing device, performs audio processing on an audio signal emitted by a virtual sound source to generate an audio signal after the audio processing to be presented to a listener. The audio signal is not limited to a voice, and may be any audible sound. The audio processing is, for example, signal processing performed on the audio signal to reproduce one or more effects that the sound undergoes from the time it is generated by the sound source until it reaches the listener.

[0054] The audio signal processing device 1001 performs acoustic processing based on spatial information that describes factors that cause the above-mentioned effects. The spatial information includes, for example, information indicating the positions of a sound source, a listener, and surrounding objects, information indicating the shape of a space, and parameters related to sound propagation. The audio signal processing device 1001 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, a tablet, a game console, or the like.

[0055] The signal after acoustic processing is presented to the listener from the audio presentation device 1002. The audio presentation device 1002 is connected to the audio signal processing device 1001 via wireless or wired communication. The audio signal after acoustic processing generated by the audio signal processing device 1001 is transmitted to the audio presentation device 1002 via wireless or wired communication.

[0056] When the audio presentation device 1002 is configured with a plurality of devices, such as a device for the right ear and a device for the left ear, the plurality of devices present sounds in synchronization through communication between the plurality of devices or communication between each of the plurality of devices and the audio signal processing device 1001. The audio presentation device 1002 is, for example, headphones, earphones, or a head-mounted display worn on the head of a listener, or a surround speaker configured with a plurality of fixed speakers.

[0057] The stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 may be used in combination with an image presentation device or a stereoscopic video presentation device that provides a visual ER experience, including AR / VR. For example, the space handled by the spatial information is a virtual space, and the positions of a sound source, a listener, and an object in the space are the virtual positions of a virtual sound source, a virtual listener, and a virtual object in the virtual space. The space may also be expressed as a sound space. The spatial information may also be expressed as sound space information.

[0058] 2 shows an example of a system configuration in which the audio signal processing device 1001 and the audio presentation device 1002 are separate devices, but the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 to which the audio processing method (audio signal processing method) or decoding method of the present disclosure can be applied is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 2. For example, the audio signal processing device 1001 may be included in the audio presentation device 1002, which may perform both audio processing and sound presentation.

[0059] The acoustic processing described in the present disclosure may be shared between the audio signal processing device 1001 and the audio presentation device 1002. A server connected to the audio signal processing device 1001 or the audio presentation device 1002 via a network may perform part or all of the acoustic processing described in the present disclosure.

[0060] Furthermore, the audio signal processing device 1001 may perform audio processing by decoding a bit stream generated by encoding at least a portion of the data of the audio signal and spatial information used for the audio processing. Therefore, the audio signal processing device 1001 may be referred to as a decoding device.

[0061] (Example of Encoding Device) Fig. 3A is a block diagram showing an example configuration of encoding device 1100. Specifically, Fig. 3A shows the configuration of encoding device 1100, which is an example of an encoding device of the present disclosure.

[0062] Input data 1101 is data to be coded, including spatial information and / or an audio signal, that is input to an encoder 1102. Details of the spatial information will be explained later.

[0063] The encoder 1102 encodes the input data 1101 to generate encoded data 1103. The encoded data 1103 is, for example, a bit stream generated by the encoding process.

[0064] The memory 1104 stores the encoded data 1103. The memory 1104 may be, for example, a hard disk or a solid-state drive (SSD), or may be other memory.

[0065] In the above description, a bitstream generated by an encoding process is given as an example of the encoded data 1103 stored in memory 1104, but the encoded data 1103 may be data other than a bitstream. For example, the encoding device 1100 may store converted data generated by converting a bitstream into a predetermined data format in memory 1104. The converted data may be, for example, a file or a multiplexed stream corresponding to one or more bitstreams.

[0066] Here, the file is a file having a file format such as ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF), etc. The encoded data 1103 may be in the form of a plurality of packets generated by dividing the bit stream or file.

[0067] For example, the bitstream generated by the encoder 1102 may be converted into data different from the bitstream. In this case, the encoding device 1100 may include a conversion unit (not shown) and perform the conversion process in the conversion unit, or may perform the conversion process in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is an example of a processor described later.

[0068] (Example of Decoding Device) Fig. 3B is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the decoding device 1110. Specifically, Fig. 3B shows the configuration of the decoding device 1110, which is an example of a decoding device of the present disclosure.

[0069] The memory 1114 stores, for example, the same data as the coded data 1103 generated by the coding device 1100. The stored data is read from the memory 1114 and input to the decoder 1112 as input data 1113. The input data 1113 is, for example, a bitstream to be decoded. The memory 1114 may be, for example, a hard disk or an SSD, or may be some other memory.

[0070] Note that the decoding device 1110 may convert the data read from the memory 1114 and input the converted data to the decoder 1112 as input data 1113, rather than inputting the data directly to the decoder 1112 as input data 1113. The data before conversion may be, for example, multiplexed data including one or more bitstreams. Here, the multiplexed data may be a file having a file format such as ISOBMFF.

[0071] The data before conversion may also be a plurality of packets generated by dividing the bitstream or file. Data different from the bitstream may be read from memory 1114 and converted into a bitstream. In this case, decoding device 1110 may include a conversion unit (not shown) and perform the conversion process, or a CPU (an example of a processor, described later) may perform the conversion process.

[0072] Decoder 1112 decodes input data 1113 to produce an audio signal 1111 representing the audio to be presented to the listener.

[0073] (Another Example of Encoding Device) Fig. 3C is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of an encoding device. Specifically, Fig. 3C shows the configuration of encoding device 1120, which is another example of an encoding device of the present disclosure. In Fig. 3C, the same components as those in Fig. 3A are assigned the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 3A, and descriptions of these components will be omitted.

[0074] Coding device 1100 stores coded data 1103 in memory 1104. On the other hand, coding device 1120 differs from coding device 1100 in that coding device 1120 includes a transmitting unit 1121 that transmits coded data 1103 to the outside.

[0075] The transmitter 1121 transmits to another device or a server a transmission signal 1122 generated based on the encoded data 1103 or data converted into another data format from the encoded data 1103. The data used to generate the transmission signal 1122 is, for example, the bit stream, multiplexed data, file, or packet described in the encoding device 1100.

[0076] (Another Example of Decoding Device) Fig. 3D is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of a decoding device. Specifically, Fig. 3D shows the configuration of a decoding device 1130, which is another example of a decoding device of the present disclosure. In Fig. 3D, the same components as those in Fig. 3B are assigned the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 3B, and descriptions of these components will be omitted.

[0077] The decoding device 1110 reads input data 1113 from a memory 1114. On the other hand, the decoding device 1130 differs from the decoding device 1110 in that it includes a receiving unit 1131 that receives the input data 1113 from an external source.

[0078] The receiving unit 1131 receives a received signal 1132, acquires received data, and outputs input data 1113 to be input to the decoder 1112. The received data may be the same as the input data 1113 to be input to the decoder 1112, or may be data in a data format different from that of the input data 1113.

[0079] If the data format of the received data is different from the data format of the input data 1113, the receiving unit 1131 may convert the received data into the input data 1113. Alternatively, a conversion unit or a CPU (not shown) of the decoding device 1130 may convert the received data into the input data 1113. The received data is, for example, a bit stream, multiplexed data, a file, or a packet, as described in the encoding device 1120.

[0080] (Example of Decoder) Fig. 4A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the decoder 1200. Specifically, Fig. 4A shows the configuration of the decoder 1200, which is an example of the decoder 1112 in Fig. 3B or 3D.

[0081] The input data 1113 is an encoded bitstream, and includes encoded audio data, which is an encoded audio signal, and metadata used in acoustic processing.

[0082] The spatial information management unit 1201 acquires and analyzes metadata included in the input data 1113. The metadata includes information describing elements that act on sounds arranged in a sound space. The spatial information management unit 1201 manages spatial information used for acoustic processing obtained by analyzing the metadata, and provides the spatial information to the rendering unit 1203.

[0083] In the present disclosure, the information used for acoustic processing is expressed as spatial information, but other expressions may be used. For example, the information used for acoustic processing may be expressed as sound space information or scene information. Furthermore, when the information used for acoustic processing changes over time, the spatial information input to the rendering unit 1203 may be information expressed as a spatial state, a sound space state, a scene state, or the like.

[0084] Furthermore, the spatial information may be managed for each sound space or each scene. For example, when a plurality of different rooms are represented as virtual spaces, the rooms may be managed as a plurality of different scenes. Furthermore, the spatial information may be managed as different scenes depending on the situation represented in the same space.

[0085] Therefore, a plurality of pieces of spatial information may be managed for a plurality of sound spaces or a plurality of scenes. In managing the plurality of pieces of spatial information, an identifier for identifying each piece of spatial information may be assigned to the spatial information.

[0086] The spatial information data may be included in a bitstream, which is an example of input data 1113. Alternatively, the bitstream may include an identifier of the spatial information, and the spatial information data may be acquired from an information source other than the bitstream. Specifically, when the bitstream includes only the identifier of the spatial information, the identifier of the spatial information may be used in rendering to acquire the spatial information data stored in a memory within the device or an external server as input data 1113.

[0087] It should be noted that the information managed by the spatial information management unit 1201 is not limited to information included in the bitstream. For example, the input data 1113 may include data that is not included in the bitstream and indicates the characteristics and structure of a space acquired from software or a server that provides VR or AR.

[0088] The input data 1113 may also include data indicating the characteristics and positions of listeners or objects, etc. The input data 1113 may also include information about the positions of listeners acquired by sensors provided in the terminal including the decoding device (1110, 1130), or may include information indicating the position of the terminal estimated based on the information acquired by the sensors.

[0089] That is, the spatial information management unit 1201 may communicate with an external system or server to acquire spatial information and listener positions (i.e., listening positions). The spatial information management unit 1201 may also acquire clock synchronization information from the external system and execute processing to synchronize with the clock of the rendering unit 1203.

[0090] Note that the space in the above description may be a virtually formed space, i.e., a VR space, or may be a real space or a virtual space corresponding to a real space, i.e., an AR space or an MR space. The virtual space may also be expressed as a sound field or a sound space. Furthermore, the information indicating a position in the above description may be information such as coordinate values ​​indicating a position within a space, information indicating a relative position with respect to a predetermined reference position, or information indicating the movement or acceleration of a position within a space.

[0091] The audio data decoder 1202 decodes the encoded audio data included in the input data 1113 to obtain an audio signal.

[0092] The encoded audio data acquired by the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 is a bitstream encoded in a predetermined format such as MPEG-H 3D Audio (ISO / IEC 23008-3). Note that MPEG-H 3D Audio is merely one example of an encoding method that can be used to generate the encoded audio data contained in the bitstream. The encoded audio data may also be a bitstream encoded using another encoding method.

[0093] For example, the encoding method may be a lossy codec such as MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3), AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), WMA (Windows Media Audio), AC3 (Audio Codec-3), or Vorbis. Alternatively, the encoding method may be a lossless codec such as ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) or FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec).

[0094] Alternatively, any other encoding method may be used. For example, PCM data may be a type of encoded audio data. In this case, the decoding process may be, for example, a process of converting an N-bit binary number into a number format (e.g., floating-point format) that can be processed by the rendering unit 1203, where the number of quantization bits of the PCM data is N.

[0095] The rendering unit 1203 acquires the audio signal and spatial information, performs acoustic processing on the audio signal using the spatial information, and outputs the audio signal after the acoustic processing (audio signal 1111).

[0096] Before starting rendering, the spatial information management unit 1201 reads metadata of the input signal, detects rendering items such as objects and sounds defined in the spatial information, and transmits them to the rendering unit 1203. After starting rendering, the spatial information management unit 1201 grasps changes over time in the spatial information and the listener's position, updates and manages the spatial information, and transmits the updated spatial information to the rendering unit 1203.

[0097] The rendering unit 1203 generates and outputs an audio signal to which acoustic processing has been applied, based on the audio signal included in the input data 1113 and the spatial information received from the spatial information management unit 1201 .

[0098] The spatial information update process and the audio signal output process with added acoustic processing may be executed in the same thread. Furthermore, the spatial information management unit 1201 and the rendering unit 1203 may each allocate their processes to independent threads. When the spatial information management unit 1201 and the rendering unit 1203 execute the spatial information update process and the audio signal output process with added acoustic processing in different threads, they may set the thread startup frequency individually, or may execute the processes in parallel.

[0099] When the spatial information management unit 1201 and the rendering unit 1203 execute processes in different independent threads, it is possible to allocate computing resources preferentially to the rendering unit 1203. This makes it possible to safely execute sound output processing in which even the slightest delay is unacceptable, for example, in which a delay of one sample (0.02 msec) would cause a popping noise.

[0100] In this case, the allocation of computational resources to the spatial information management unit 1201 is limited. However, because updating of spatial information is a process that occurs less frequently than output processing of audio signals (for example, a process such as updating the direction of the listener's face), it does not necessarily have to be performed instantaneously like output processing of audio signals. Therefore, even if the allocation of computational resources is limited, it does not have a significant impact on acoustic quality.

[0101] The spatial information may be updated periodically at preset times or intervals, or when preset conditions are met. The spatial information may also be updated manually by a listener or a sound space manager, or may be updated in response to a change in an external system.

[0102] For example, the spatial information may be updated when a listener operates a controller to instantly warp the position of his / her avatar or instantly advance or reverse the time. Alternatively, the spatial information may be updated when an administrator of the virtual space suddenly changes the environment of the space. In these cases, the thread for updating the spatial information managed by the spatial information management unit 1201 may be started as a one-off interrupt process in addition to being started periodically.

[0103] The role of the information update thread that executes the spatial information update process is, for example, to update the position or orientation of the listener's avatar placed in the virtual space based on the position or orientation of the VR goggles worn by the listener, and to update the position of objects moving in the virtual space. These tasks are handled within a processing thread that runs relatively infrequently, on the order of several tens of Hz. Processing that reflects the properties of direct sound may be performed in such an infrequently occurring processing thread. This is because the properties of direct sound change less frequently than the frequency with which audio processing frames for audio output occur. Doing so can actually reduce the computational load of the process relatively, and can also avoid the risk of pulsive noise occurring when information is updated at an unnecessarily fast frequency.

[0104] Fig. 4B is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of a decoder. Specifically, Fig. 4B shows the configuration of a decoder 1210, which is another example of the decoder 1112 in Fig. 3B or 3D.

[0105] Figure 4B differs from Figure 4A in that the input data 1113 includes an unencoded audio signal rather than encoded audio data. The input data 1113 includes a bitstream including metadata and an audio signal.

[0106] The spatial information management unit 1211 is the same as the spatial information management unit 1201 in FIG. 4A, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0107] The rendering unit 1213 is the same as the rendering unit 1203 in FIG. 4A, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0108] The decoders 1112, 1200, and 1210 may be expressed as audio processing units that perform audio processing. The decoding devices 1110 and 1130 may be the audio signal processing devices 1001, and may be expressed as audio processing devices.

[0109] (Physical configuration of audio signal processing device) Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the physical configuration of the audio signal processing device 1001. Note that the audio signal processing device 1001 in Fig. 5 may be the decoding device 1110 in Fig. 3B or the decoding device 1130 in Fig. 3D. The multiple components shown in Fig. 3B or Fig. 3D may be implemented by the multiple components shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, part of the configuration described here may be provided in the audio presentation device 1002.

[0110] The audio signal processing device 1001 in FIG. 5 includes a processor 1402 , a memory 1404 , a communication IF (Interface) 1403 , a sensor 1405 , and a speaker 1401 .

[0111] The processor 1402 is, for example, a CPU, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The CPU, DSP, or GPU may perform the acoustic processing or decoding processing of the present disclosure by executing a program stored in the memory 1404. The processor 1402 is, for example, a circuit that performs information processing. The processor 1402 may also be a dedicated circuit that performs signal processing on audio signals, including the acoustic processing of the present disclosure.

[0112] The memory 1404 is configured, for example, with a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory 1404 may include a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory such as an SSD. The memory 1404 may also be an internal memory incorporated in the CPU or GPU. The memory 1404 may also store spatial information managed by the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211, and threshold data, which will be described later.

[0113] The communication IF 1403 is a communication module compatible with a communication method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WIGIG (registered trademark). The audio signal processing device 1001 communicates with another communication device via the communication IF 1403, for example, to acquire a bitstream to be decoded. The acquired bitstream is stored in the memory 1404, for example.

[0114] The communication IF 1403 is configured with, for example, a signal processing circuit and an antenna corresponding to a communication method. The communication method is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark) and WIGIG (registered trademark), but may also be LTE (Long Term Evolution), NR (New Radio), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or the like.

[0115] Furthermore, the communication method is not limited to the wireless communication method described above, but may be a wired communication method such as Ethernet (registered trademark), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface).

[0116] The sensor 1405 performs sensing to estimate the position and orientation of the listener. Specifically, the sensor 1405 estimates the position and / or orientation of the listener based on one or more detection results of the position, orientation, movement, velocity, angular velocity, acceleration, etc. of a part or the whole of the body, and generates position / or orientation information indicating the position and / or orientation of the listener.

[0117] Note that a device external to the audio signal processing device 1001 may be equipped with the sensor 1405. The part of the body may be the listener's head, etc. The position / orientation information may be information indicating the position and / or orientation of the listener in real space, or information indicating a displacement of the position and / or orientation of the listener based on the position and / or orientation of the listener at a predetermined time. Furthermore, the position / or orientation information may be information indicating a position and / or orientation relative to the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 or an external device equipped with the sensor 1405.

[0118] The sensor 1405 is, for example, an imaging device such as a camera or a ranging device such as a LiDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging). The sensor 1405 may capture an image of the listener's head movement and detect the head movement by processing the captured image. Alternatively, the sensor 1405 may be a device that performs position estimation using a wireless signal of any frequency band, such as a millimeter wave.

[0119] Furthermore, the audio signal processing device 1001 may acquire position information from an external device equipped with a sensor 1405 via the communication IF 1403. In this case, the audio signal processing device 1001 may not include the sensor 1405. Here, the external device is, for example, the audio presentation device 1002 described in Fig. 2 or a 3D video playback device worn on the head of a listener. In this case, the sensor 1405 is configured by combining various sensors such as a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor.

[0120] For example, the sensor 1405 may detect the angular velocity of rotation around at least one of three mutually orthogonal axes in the sound space as the axis of rotation as the speed of movement of the listener's head, or may detect the acceleration of displacement with at least one of the three axes as the direction of displacement.

[0121] For example, the sensor 1405 may detect the amount of rotation about at least one of three mutually orthogonal axes in the sound space as the rotation axis, or the amount of displacement about at least one of the three axes as the displacement direction, as the amount of movement of the listener's head. Specifically, the sensor 1405 detects the 6 DoF positions (x, y, z) and angles (yaw, pitch, roll) as the position of the listener. The sensor 1405 is configured by combining various sensors used for detecting movement, such as a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor.

[0122] The sensor 1405 may be realized by a camera for detecting the position of the listener, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, or the like. Position information obtained by performing self-position estimation using a LiDAR or the like as the sensor 1405 may also be used. For example, when the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 is realized by a smartphone, the sensor 1405 is built into the smartphone.

[0123] The sensor 1405 may also include a temperature sensor such as a thermocouple that detects the temperature of the audio signal processing device 1001. The sensor 1405 may also include a sensor that detects the remaining charge of a battery provided in the audio signal processing device 1001 or a battery connected to the audio signal processing device 1001.

[0124] The speaker 1401 has, for example, a diaphragm, a drive mechanism such as a magnet or a voice coil, and an amplifier, and presents an audio signal after acoustic processing as sound to a listener. The speaker 1401 operates the drive mechanism in response to an audio signal (more specifically, a waveform signal indicating the waveform of the sound) amplified via the amplifier, and the drive mechanism vibrates the diaphragm. In this way, the diaphragm vibrating in response to the audio signal generates sound waves, which propagate through the air to the listener's ears, causing the listener to perceive the sound.

[0125] Here, an example has been given in which the audio signal processing device 1001 is equipped with a speaker 1401 and presents an audio signal after acoustic processing via the speaker 1401, but the means for presenting the audio signal is not limited to the above configuration.

[0126] For example, the audio signal after acoustic processing may be output to an external audio presentation device 1002 connected via a communication module. Communication via the communication module may be wired or wireless. As another example, the audio signal processing device 1001 may have a terminal for outputting an analog audio signal, and a cable for earphones or the like may be connected to the terminal to present the audio signal from the earphones or the like.

[0127] In the above case, the audio presentation device 1002 may be headphones, earphones, a head-mounted display, a neck speaker, a wearable speaker, or the like that are worn on the head or part of the body of the listener. Alternatively, the audio presentation device 1002 may be a surround speaker or the like that is composed of multiple fixed speakers. The audio presentation device 1002 may then reproduce an audio signal.

[0128] (Physical Configuration of Encoding Apparatus) Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the physical configuration of encoding apparatus 1500. Encoding apparatus 1500 in Fig. 6 may be encoding apparatus 1100 in Fig. 3A or encoding apparatus 1120 in Fig. 3C, and multiple components shown in Fig. 3A or 3C may be implemented by multiple components shown in Fig. 6.

[0129] The encoding device 1500 in FIG. 6 includes a processor 1501 , a memory 1503 , and a communication IF 1502 .

[0130] The processor 1501 is, for example, a CPU, a DSP, or a GPU. The CPU, DSP, or GPU may perform the encoding process of the present disclosure by executing a program stored in the memory 1503. The processor 1501 is, for example, a circuit that performs information processing. The processor 1501 may be a dedicated circuit that performs signal processing on an audio signal, including the encoding process of the present disclosure.

[0131] The memory 1503 is configured with, for example, a RAM or a ROM. The memory 1503 may include a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory such as an SSD. The memory 1503 may also be an internal memory incorporated in the CPU or GPU.

[0132] The communication IF 1502 is a communication module compatible with a communication method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WIGIG (registered trademark). The encoding device 1500 communicates with another communication device via the communication IF 1502, for example, and transmits an encoded bitstream.

[0133] The communication IF 1502 is configured with, for example, a signal processing circuit and an antenna corresponding to the communication method. The communication method is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark) and WIGIG (registered trademark), but may be LTE, NR, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or the like. Furthermore, the communication method is not limited to a wireless communication method. The communication method may be a wired communication method such as Ethernet (registered trademark), USB, or HDMI (registered trademark).

[0134] The communication module is composed of, for example, a signal processing circuit and an antenna corresponding to the communication method. In the above example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WIGIG (registered trademark) was used as an example of the communication method, but the communication method may also be compatible with communication methods such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), NR (New Radio), or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Furthermore, the communication IF may be a wired communication method such as Ethernet (registered trademark), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) instead of the wireless communication method described above.

[0135] [Configuration of Rendering Unit] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the rendering unit 1300. Specifically, Fig. 7 shows an example detailed configuration of the rendering unit 1300, which corresponds to the rendering units 1203 and 1213 in Figs. 4A and 4B.

[0136] The rendering unit 1300 is composed of an analysis unit 1301, a selection unit 1302, and a reproduction unit 1303, and applies acoustic processing to sound data contained in an input signal and outputs the result.

[0137] The input signal may be composed of, for example, spatial information, sensor information, and sound data. The input signal may also include a bitstream composed of sound data and metadata (control information), in which case the metadata may include spatial information.

[0138] The spatial information is information about the sound space (three-dimensional sound field) created by the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000, and is composed of information about objects included in the sound space and information about the listener. Objects include sound source objects that emit sound and act as sound sources, and non-sound-emitting objects that do not emit sound. Sound source objects can also be simply referred to as sound sources.

[0139] A non-sound-emitting object acts as an obstacle object that reflects the sound emitted by a sound source object, but a sound source object may also act as an obstacle object that reflects the sound emitted by another sound source object. Obstacle objects may also be referred to as reflecting objects.

[0140] Information commonly assigned to sound source objects and non-sound generating objects includes position information, shape information, and the rate of attenuation of the volume when the object reflects sound.

[0141] The position information is expressed as coordinate values ​​on three axes, for example, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, in Euclidean space, but does not necessarily have to be three-dimensional information. For example, the position information may be two-dimensional information expressed as coordinate values ​​on two axes, the X-axis and the Y-axis. The position information of an object is determined by a representative position of a shape expressed by a mesh or voxels.

[0142] The shape information may include information about the surface material.

[0143] The attenuation rate may be expressed as a real number between 0 and 1, or may be expressed as a negative decibel value. In real space, the volume is not amplified by reflection, so a negative decibel value is set as the attenuation rate, but for example, to create an eerie feeling in an unreal space, an attenuation rate of 1 or more, i.e., a positive decibel value, may be set.

[0144] The attenuation rate may be set to a different value for each of the frequency bands constituting the plurality of frequency bands, or may be set independently for each frequency band. Furthermore, if the attenuation rate is set for each type of material on the object surface, a corresponding attenuation rate value may be used based on information about the surface material.

[0145] The spatial information may also include information indicating whether the object belongs to a living thing, information indicating whether the object is a moving object, etc. If the object is a moving object, the position indicated by the position information may move over time. In this case, information on the changed position or the amount of change is transmitted to the rendering unit 1300.

[0146] The information about the sound source object includes information commonly assigned to the sound source object and the non-sound-producing object, as well as sound data and information necessary for radiating the sound data into the sound space. The sound data is data indicating information about the frequency and intensity of the sound, and is data that expresses the sound perceived by a listener.

[0147] The sound data is typically a PCM signal, but may also be data compressed using an encoding method such as MP3. In this case, the signal must be decoded at least before it reaches the playback unit 1303, so the rendering unit 1300 may include a decoding unit (not shown). Alternatively, the signal may be decoded by the audio data decoder 1202.

[0148] One piece of sound data may be set for one sound source object, or multiple pieces of sound data may be set for one sound source object. Furthermore, identification information for identifying each piece of sound data may be assigned to the sound data, and the information about the sound source object may include the identification information of the sound data.

[0149] The information necessary to radiate sound data into a sound space may include, for example, information on the reference volume used as a standard for playing back sound data, information indicating the properties (also called characteristics) of the sound data, information on the position of the sound source object, and information on the orientation of the sound source object (i.e., information on the directionality of the sound emitted by the sound source object).

[0150] The reference volume information may be, for example, the effective value of the amplitude value of the sound data at the sound source position when the sound data is emitted into the sound space, and may be expressed as a floating-point decibel (db) value.

[0151] For example, a reference volume of 0 db may indicate that sound is emitted into the sound space from the position indicated by the information regarding the position of the sound source object at the same volume as the signal level indicated by the sound data, without increasing or decreasing the volume.Alternatively, a reference volume of -6 db may indicate that sound is emitted into the sound space from the position indicated by the information regarding the position of the sound source object, with the volume of the signal level indicated by the sound data reduced to approximately half.

[0152] The reference volume information may be attached to each piece of sound data, or may be attached to a plurality of pieces of sound data collectively.

[0153] The information indicating the properties of the sound data may be, for example, information relating to the volume of the sound source, and may be information indicating time-series fluctuations in the volume of the sound source.

[0154] For example, if the sound space is a virtual conference room and the sound source is a speaker, the volume transitions intermittently over a short period of time. That is, sound and silence alternate. If the sound space is a concert hall and the sound source is a performer, the volume is maintained for a certain period of time. If the sound space is a battlefield and the sound source is an explosive, the volume of the explosion will increase for a moment and then remain silent or low.

[0155] In this way, the information on the volume of the sound source may include not only information on the loudness of the sound but also information on the transition of the loudness of the sound. Such information may be used as information indicating the properties of the sound data.

[0156] The transition information may be represented by data indicating frequency characteristics in a time series. The transition information may be represented by data indicating the duration of a sound section. The transition information may be represented by data indicating a time series of the duration of a sound section and the duration of a silent section. The transition information may be represented by data listing, in a time series, multiple pairs of durations during which the amplitude of a sound signal can be considered steady (considered to be roughly constant) and the amplitude values ​​of the signal during those durations.

[0157] The transition information may be expressed as data on the duration for which the frequency characteristics of the sound signal can be considered stationary. The transition information may be expressed as data listing, in time series, multiple pairs of durations for which the frequency characteristics of the sound signal can be considered stationary and the frequency characteristics during those periods. The transition information may be expressed, for example, in the form of data indicating the outline of a spectrogram.

[0158] Furthermore, the volume used as the reference for the frequency characteristics may be the reference volume. Information on the reference volume and information indicating the properties of the sound data may be used in a process of calculating the volume of direct sound or reflected sound to be perceived by the listener, or may be used in a process of selecting whether or not to perceive the direct sound or reflected sound. Other examples and usage methods of the information indicating the properties of the sound data will be described later.

[0159] The reflected sound according to this embodiment is an example of an indirect sound. The indirect sound may be a reflected sound, a diffracted sound, or the like. In this embodiment, the description will be given using a reflected sound, which is an example of an indirect sound, but the same processing is performed even if an indirect sound is used instead of a reflected sound.

[0160] Information about the direction of the sound source object (orientation information) is typically expressed using yaw, pitch, and roll. Alternatively, the roll rotation may be omitted, and the direction information of the sound source object may be expressed using azimuth (yaw) and elevation (pitch). The direction information of the sound source object may change over time, and if it changes, it is transmitted to the rendering unit 1300.

[0161] Information about the listener is information about the listener's position and orientation in sound space. The information about the position (position information) is expressed as a position on the XYZ axes in Euclidean space, but it does not necessarily have to be three-dimensional information and may be two-dimensional information. Information about the listener's orientation (orientation information) is typically expressed using yaw, pitch, and roll. Alternatively, the roll rotation may be omitted, and the listener's orientation information may be expressed using azimuth (yaw) and elevation (pitch).

[0162] The position information and orientation information of the listener may change over time, and if so, is transmitted to the rendering unit 1300 .

[0163] The sensor information includes the amount of rotation or displacement detected by a sensor 1405 worn by the listener, as well as the listener's position and orientation. The sensor information is transmitted to the rendering unit 1300, which updates the listener's position and orientation information based on the sensor information. The sensor information may include, for example, position information obtained by a mobile terminal performing self-position estimation using a GPS, a camera, LiDAR, or the like.

[0164] Furthermore, information acquired from outside via a communication module may be detected as sensor information instead of the sensor 1405. Information indicating the temperature of the audio signal processing device 1001 and information indicating the remaining battery capacity may be acquired from the sensor 1405. Furthermore, the computational resources (CPU capacity, memory resources, PC performance, etc.) of the audio signal processing device 1001 or the audio presentation device 1002 may be acquired in real time.

[0165] The analysis unit 1301 analyzes the audio signal contained in the input signal and the spatial information received from the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211, and calculates the information necessary to generate direct sound and reflected sound in the playback unit 1303, as well as the information necessary to select whether or not to generate reflected sound.

[0166] The information required to generate direct sound and reflected sound is, for example, values ​​relating to the path taken by each of the direct sound and the reflected sound to reach the listening position, the time it takes for the sound to reach the listening position, the volume at the time of arrival, etc. The values ​​relating to the path taken by each of the direct sound and the reflected sound to reach the listening position, the time it takes for the sound to reach the listening position, the volume at the time of arrival, etc. are, for example, values ​​indicating the path taken by each of the direct sound and the reflected sound to reach the listening position, the time it takes for the sound to reach the listening position, and the volume at the time of arrival, respectively.

[0167] The information required to select the reflected sound to be output is information indicating the relationship between the direct sound and the reflected sound, such as a value relating to the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound, and a value relating to the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound at the listening position. The value relating to the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound and the value relating to the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound at the listening position are, for example, a value indicating the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound and a value indicating the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound at the listening position, respectively.

[0168] It goes without saying that when the volume is expressed in decibel units on a logarithmic axis (when the volume is expressed in the decibel domain), the volume ratio of two signals is expressed as the difference in decibel values. Specifically, the volume ratio of two signals may be the difference between the amplitude values ​​of each signal when expressed in the decibel domain. This value may be calculated based on an energy value, a power value, or the like. Furthermore, in the decibel domain, this difference may be referred to as a gain difference or simply a gain difference.

[0169] That is, the volume ratio in the present disclosure is essentially a ratio of signal amplitudes, and may be expressed as a sound volume ratio, a volume ratio, an amplitude ratio, a sound level ratio, a sound intensity ratio, a gain ratio, etc. Furthermore, when the unit of volume is decibels, the volume ratio in the present disclosure can of course be rephrased as a volume difference.

[0170] In the present disclosure, the term "volume ratio" typically refers to the gain difference when the volume of two sounds is expressed in decibel units, and in the example embodiments, the threshold data is also typically defined as a gain difference expressed in the decibel domain. However, the volume ratio is not limited to a gain difference in the decibel domain. When a volume ratio expressed in a domain other than the decibel domain is used, the threshold data defined in the decibel domain may be converted into the unit of the calculated volume ratio and used. Alternatively, threshold data defined in each unit may be stored in advance in memory.

[0171] In other words, it is clear that the algorithm in the present disclosure can be applied to solving the problem of the present disclosure even if a ratio of energy values ​​or power values, for example, is used instead of the volume ratio.

[0172] The time difference between direct sound and reflected sound refers to, for example, the time difference between the time when direct sound arrives at the listening position from the sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, and the time when the sound emitted from the sound source is reflected by a reflecting object and becomes reflected sound, and the reflected sound arrives at the listening position. For simplicity, the time difference between the time when direct sound arrives at the listening position from the sound source position and the time when reflected sound arrives at the listening position may be referred to as the time difference between direct sound and reflected sound, or simply as the time difference. The time difference between direct sound and reflected sound may also be, for example, the time difference between the direct sound arrival time (arrival time) and the reflected sound arrival time (arrival time). The time difference between direct sound and reflected sound may also be the time difference between the times when the direct sound and the reflected sound arrive at the listening position, or the difference in the time it takes for the direct sound and the reflected sound to arrive at the listening position. Methods for calculating these values ​​will be described later.

[0173] The selection unit 1302 uses the information calculated by the analysis unit 1301 and the threshold data to select whether or not the reproduction unit 1303 will generate a reflected sound. In other words, the selection unit 1302 determines whether or not to select a reflected sound as a target reflected sound to be generated. In other words, the selection unit 1302 selects which of the multiple reflected sounds the reproduction unit 1303 will generate.

[0174] The threshold data is expressed as a boundary (threshold) between whether the reflected sound is perceived or not, for example, on a graph with the value of the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound on the horizontal axis and the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound on the vertical axis. The threshold data may be expressed as an approximation formula having the value of the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound as a variable, or may be expressed as an array having the value of the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound as an index and a corresponding threshold.

[0175] The selection unit 1302 selects to generate reflected sound when, for example, the volume ratio between the volume of the direct sound at the time of arrival and the volume of the reflected sound at the time difference between the arrival time of the direct sound and the arrival time of the reflected sound is greater than a threshold value set with reference to threshold data. Note that the volume at the time of arrival means the volume of the sound when it arrives at the listening position.

[0176] The time difference between the arrival time of the direct sound and the arrival time of the reflected sound is, in other words, the difference in the time it takes for the direct sound and the reflected sound to arrive at the listening position. Alternatively, the time difference between the end of the direct sound and the arrival of the reflected sound at the listening position may be used as the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound. In this case, threshold data different from the threshold data determined based on the time difference between the arrival time of the direct sound and the arrival time of the reflected sound may be used, or a common threshold data may be used.

[0177] The threshold data may be acquired from the memory 1404 of the audio signal processing device 1001, or may be acquired from an external storage device via a communication module. A method for storing the threshold data and a method for setting the threshold will be described later.

[0178] The reproduction unit 1303 synthesizes the audio signal of the direct sound with the audio signal of the reflected sound that the selection unit 1302 has selected to generate.

[0179] Specifically, the reproduction unit 1303 processes the input audio signal to generate a direct sound based on information about the direct sound arrival time and volume at the time of direct sound arrival calculated by the analysis unit 1301. The reproduction unit 1303 also processes the input audio signal to generate a reflected sound based on information about the reflected sound arrival time and volume at the time of reflected sound arrival for the reflected sound selected by the selection unit 1302. The reproduction unit 1303 then synthesizes and outputs the generated direct sound and reflected sound.

[0180] The reproduction unit 1303 may include reproduction means including a dispersion filter. The dispersion filter is a filter that diffuses (varies) the phase of sound and can simulate the diffusion of sound. A signal amplification factor may be set in advance in the dispersion filter, or the reproduction unit 1303 may include means for setting the signal amplification factor.

[0181] The rendering unit 1300 shown in Fig. 7 may include a plurality of analysis units 1301 and selection units 1302. The processes performed by the analysis unit 1301, selection unit 1302, and reproduction unit 1303 may be performed as part of pipeline processing as described in, for example, Patent Document 3. Pipeline processing refers to dividing a process for providing sound effects into a plurality of processes and executing the plurality of processes one by one in sequence. Each of the plurality of processes performs, for example, signal processing on an audio signal or generation of parameters used in the signal processing.

[0182] [Example of Operation of Rendering Unit] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the audio signal processing device 1001. Fig. 8 mainly shows processing executed by the rendering unit 1300 of the audio signal processing device 1001.

[0183] In the input signal analysis process (S101 in FIG. 8), the analysis unit 1301 analyzes the input signal input to the audio signal processing device 1001 to detect direct sound and reflected sound that may be generated in the sound space. The reflected sound detected here is a candidate for reflected sound that is selected by the selection unit 1302 as the reflected sound that will ultimately be generated by the reproduction unit 1303. The analysis unit 1301 also analyzes the input signal to calculate information necessary for generating direct sound and reflected sound, and information necessary for selecting the reflected sound to be generated.

[0184] First, the characteristics of each of the direct sound and the reflected sound are calculated. Specifically, the arrival time and volume of each of the direct sound and the reflected sound when they reach the listener are calculated. If multiple objects exist in the sound space as reflecting objects, the characteristics of the reflected sound are calculated for each of the multiple objects.

[0185] The direct sound arrival time (td) is calculated based on the direct sound arrival path (pd). The direct sound arrival path (pd) is a path connecting the position information S (xs, ys, zs) of the sound source object and the position information A1 (xa, ya, za) of the listener. The direct sound arrival time (td) is a value obtained by dividing the length of the path connecting the position information S (xs, ys, zs) and the position information A1 (xa, ya, za) by the speed of sound (approximately 340 m / s).

[0186] For example, the path length (X) can be calculated as (xs-xa)^2 + (ys-ya)^2 + (zs-za)^2)^0.5. The volume attenuates in inverse proportion to the distance. Therefore, if the volume of the sound source object at the position information S(xs, ys, zs) is N and the unit distance is U, the volume of the direct sound (ld) when it arrives can be calculated as ld=N*U / X.

[0187] The volume N at the sound source position may be the reference volume described above.

[0188] The reflected sound arrival time (tr) is calculated based on the reflected sound arrival path (pr), which is a path connecting the position of the sound image of the reflected sound and the position information A1 (xa, ya, za).

[0189] The position of the sound image of the reflected sound may be derived using, for example, the "mirror image method" or "ray tracing method," or any other method for deriving the sound image position. The mirror image method is a method for simulating a sound image by assuming that a mirror image of a wave reflected from a wall in a room exists at a position symmetrical to the sound source with respect to the wall, and that a sound wave is emitted from the position of the mirror image. The ray tracing method is a method for simulating an image (sound image) observed at a certain point by tracing waves that propagate in a straight line, such as light rays or sound rays.

[0190] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object where the listener is relatively far away. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object where the listener is relatively close. That is, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 each show an example in which a sound image of a reflected sound is formed at a position symmetrical with respect to the sound source position across a wall. By determining the position of the sound image of the reflected sound on the x, y, and z axes based on this relationship, the reflected sound arrival time can be determined in the same way as the method for calculating the direct sound arrival time.

[0191] The arrival time of a reflected sound (tr) is a value obtained by dividing the length (Y) of the path connecting the position of the sound image of the reflected sound and the position information A1 (xa, ya, za) by the speed of sound (approximately 340 m / sec). The volume attenuates in inverse proportion to the distance. Therefore, if the volume at the sound source position is N, the unit distance is U, and the rate of attenuation of the volume upon reflection is G, the volume at the time of arrival of the reflected sound (lr) can be calculated as lr = N * G * U / Y.

[0192] As explained above, the attenuation factor G may be expressed as a real number between 0 and 1, or may be expressed as a negative decibel value. In this case, the volume of the entire signal is attenuated by G. The attenuation factor may also be set for each frequency band constituting multiple frequency bands. In this case, the analysis unit 1301 multiplies each frequency component of the signal by a specified attenuation factor. In order to reduce the amount of calculation, the analysis unit 1301 may use a representative value or average value of multiple attenuation factors for multiple frequency bands as the overall attenuation factor, and attenuate the volume of the entire signal by that amount.

[0193] Next, the analysis unit 1301 calculates the volume ratio (L), which is the ratio between the volume at the time of arrival of the direct sound (ld) and the volume at the time of arrival of the reflected sound (lr), and the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound, which are necessary for selecting the reflected sound to be generated.

[0194] The volume ratio (L), which is the ratio of the volume (ld) when direct sound arrives to the volume (lr) when direct sound arrives, is, for example, the value obtained by dividing the volume (lr) when reflected sound arrives by the volume (ld) when direct sound arrives, and is calculated as follows: L = (N * G * U / Y) / (N * U / X) = G * X / Y. Because the value to be calculated is the volume ratio, the values ​​of N and U may be any predetermined values.

[0195] The time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound may be, for example, the time difference between the time it takes for the direct sound and the reflected sound to arrive at the listening position. For example, the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound to arrive at the listening position can be calculated as T = tr - td.

[0196] The time difference (T) may also be the difference in time between when the direct sound and the reflected sound arrive at the listening position. The time difference (T) may also be the time difference between when the direct sound ends and when the reflected sound arrives at the listening position. In other words, the time difference (T) may be the time difference between when the direct sound ends and when the reflected sound starts at the listening position.

[0197] Next, in the reflected sound selection process (S102 in FIG. 8), the selection unit 1302 selects whether or not the reproduction unit 1303 will generate the reflected sound calculated by the analysis unit 1301. In other words, the selection unit 1302 determines whether or not to select the reflected sound as a target reflected sound to be generated. When there are multiple reflected sounds, the selection unit 1302 selects whether or not to generate each of the reflected sounds. As a result of selecting whether or not to generate each reflected sound, the selection unit 1302 may select one or more target reflected sounds to be generated from among the multiple reflected sounds, or may not select any target reflected sounds to be generated.

[0198] The selection unit 1302 may select reflected sounds to which other processing is to be applied, not limited to the generation processing. For example, the selection unit 1302 may select reflected sounds to which binaural processing is to be applied. Furthermore, the selection unit 1302 basically selects only one or more reflected sounds to be processed. However, the selection unit 1302 may also select only one or more reflected sounds that are not to be processed. Then, processing may be applied to one or more reflected sounds that are not selected.

[0199] For example, the selection of reflected sounds is performed based on the volume ratio (L) and time difference (T) calculated by the analysis unit 1301. By performing the selection process based on the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound, it is possible to more appropriately select reflected sounds that have a greater impact on the listener's perception than when the selection process is performed based only on the volume difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0200] Specifically, the selection of whether to generate reflected sound is made by comparing the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound, which corresponds to the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound, with a preset threshold. The threshold is set with reference to threshold data. The threshold data is an index indicating the boundary between whether a reflected sound relative to the direct sound is perceived by a listener, and is defined as the ratio between the volume of the direct sound (Id) and the volume of the reflected sound (Ir).

[0201] The threshold corresponds to a value expressed by a numerical value or the like determined in correspondence with the time difference (T). The threshold data corresponds to the relationship between the time difference (T) and the threshold, and corresponds to table data or a relational expression used to identify or calculate the threshold for the time difference (T). The format and type of the threshold data are not limited to table data or a relational expression.

[0202] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the time difference between direct sound and reflected sound and a threshold. For example, threshold data of a volume ratio that is predetermined for each value of the time difference between direct sound and reflected sound as shown in Fig. 11 may be referenced. Alternatively, threshold data obtained by interpolation or extrapolation from the threshold data shown in Fig. 11 may be referenced.

[0203] Then, a threshold value for the volume ratio at the time difference (T) calculated by the analysis unit 1301 is identified from the threshold data. Then, the selection unit 1302 determines whether or not to select the reflected sound as a reflected sound to be generated, depending on whether or not the volume ratio (L) between the direct sound and the reflected sound calculated by the analysis unit 1301 exceeds the threshold value.

[0204] By performing selection processing using threshold data of volume ratios that are predetermined for each value of the time difference between direct sound and reflected sound, it is possible to realize selection processing that takes post-masking or precedence effect into consideration. The type, format, storage method, and setting method of threshold data will be described in detail later.

[0205] Next, in the process of generating direct sound and reflected sound (S103 in FIG. 8), the reproduction unit 1303 generates and synthesizes an audio signal of the direct sound and an audio signal of the reflected sound selected by the selection unit 1302 as the reflected sound to be generated.

[0206] The audio signal of the direct sound is generated by applying the direct sound arrival time (td) and the volume at direct sound arrival (ld) calculated by the analysis unit 1301 to the sound data of the sound source object included in the input information. Specifically, the sound data is delayed by the direct sound arrival time (td) and multiplied by the volume at direct sound arrival (ld). The process of delaying the sound data is a process of moving the position of the sound data forward or backward on the time axis. For example, a process of delaying sound data without degrading sound quality, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 2, may be applied.

[0207] The audio signal of the reflected sound is generated by applying the reflected sound arrival time (tr) and the volume at the time of arrival of the reflected sound (lr) calculated by the analysis unit 1301 to the sound data of the sound source object, just like the direct sound.

[0208] However, unlike the volume of the direct sound when it arrives, the volume of the reflected sound when it is generated (lr) is a value to which the attenuation rate G of the volume of the reflection is applied. G may be an attenuation rate that is applied to all frequency bands at once. Alternatively, a reflectance may be specified for each predetermined frequency band to reflect the bias in frequency components caused by reflection. In this case, the process of applying the volume of the reflected sound when it arrives (lr) may be performed as a frequency equalizer process that multiplies each band by an attenuation rate.

[0209] In the above example, the path lengths of the direct sound and the reflected sound candidates as they arrive at the listener are calculated. Furthermore, the arrival times and volumes at the time of arrival are calculated based on the respective path lengths. Then, the reflected sound candidates are selected based on the time difference and volume ratio between them.

[0210] As another example, the selection process may be performed based on the path lengths of the direct sound and the reflected sound as they reach the listener, and the calculation of the arrival times and arrival volumes of the direct sound and the reflected sound, as well as the calculation of the time difference and volume ratio, may be omitted. In this case, a threshold value corresponding to the path length difference may be predetermined for the path length ratio. The selection process may then be performed based on whether the calculated path length ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value corresponding to the calculated path length difference. This makes it possible to perform the selection process based on the path length difference corresponding to the time difference while reducing the amount of calculation.

[0211] In addition to the path length difference, the value of a parameter indicating the sound propagation velocity or the value of a parameter that affects the sound propagation velocity parameter may also be used.

[0212] (Details of Selection Process) Details of the selection process of whether or not to generate reflected sound will be described.

[0213] The selection of the reflected sound is performed by comparing a threshold value that defines a volume ratio, which is the ratio between the volume of the direct sound when it arrives and the volume of the reflected sound when it arrives, during the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound, with the volume ratio (L) calculated by the analysis unit 1301. For example, of the volume ratio threshold values ​​that are predetermined for each value of the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound, the volume ratio threshold value for the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound calculated by the analysis unit 1301 is referenced. Then, whether or not to select the reflected sound as a reflected sound to be generated is determined depending on whether or not the volume ratio (L) calculated by the analysis unit 1301 exceeds the threshold value.

[0214] The time difference (T) may be, for example, the difference in the time when the direct sound and the reflected sound arrive at the listening position, the time difference between the time it takes for the direct sound and the reflected sound to arrive at the listening position, or the time difference between the time when the direct sound ends and the time when the reflected sound arrives at the listening position. Here, the end time of the direct sound may be calculated by adding the duration of the direct sound to the arrival time of the direct sound.

[0215] The threshold data may be determined based on the minimum time difference at which a listener can perceptually detect a discrepancy between two sounds due to auditory nerve activity or cognitive activity in the brain, more specifically, due to the precedence effect (described below), the temporal masking phenomenon (described below), or a combination thereof. Specific values ​​may be derived from already known research results on the temporal masking effect, the precedence effect, or the echo detection limit, or may be determined through listening experiments assuming application to the virtual space.

[0216] 12A, 12B, and 12C are diagrams showing examples of a method for setting threshold data. As shown in Fig. 12A, 12B, and 12C, the threshold data is represented by a graph in which the horizontal axis represents the time difference between direct sound and reflected sound and the vertical axis represents the volume ratio between direct sound and reflected sound, and the threshold is the boundary (threshold) between whether the reflected sound is perceived or not.

[0217] The threshold data may be expressed by an approximation formula having the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound as a variable. Alternatively, the threshold data may be stored in an area of ​​memory 1404 as an array of indexes of the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound and thresholds corresponding to the indexes, as shown in FIG.

[0218] Note that when the height of the line parallel to the horizontal axis (minimum audibility limit) in Example 4 of Fig. 12C is used as the threshold, the volume of the reflected sound itself is compared with the threshold, not the volume ratio (L) between the direct sound and the reflected sound. This is because the threshold indicates the volume at the boundary between whether a sound can be perceived by a listener and is a threshold for determining that sounds lower in volume than the threshold will not be reproduced. In other words, the threshold corresponding to the minimum audibility limit is not a threshold for the ratio between the volume of the reflected sound and the volume of the direct sound.

[0219] When the minimum audible limit is used as the threshold, the time difference (T) does not need to be calculated because the threshold is constant regardless of the time difference (T).

[0220] When multiple reflected sounds are generated in the analysis process (S101 in FIG. 8), the selection process may be performed on all reflected sounds, or on only those reflected sounds with high evaluation values ​​based on evaluation values ​​derived for each reflected sound using a preset evaluation method. Here, the evaluation value of a reflected sound corresponds to the perceptual importance of the reflected sound. A high evaluation value corresponds to a large evaluation value, and these expressions may be interchangeable.

[0221] The selection unit 1302 may calculate an evaluation value of the reflected sound using a pre-set evaluation method based on, for example, the volume of the sound source, the visibility of the sound source, the positioning of the sound source, the visibility of the reflecting object (obstacle object), or the geometric relationship between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0222] Specifically, the louder the volume of the sound source, the higher the evaluation value may be. Furthermore, in order to match the visual localization with the acoustic localization, the evaluation value may be high when the sound source object or a reflective object (obstacle object) is visible to the listener, or when the localization of the sound source object is high.

[0223] Furthermore, the difference in the arrival angle between the direct sound and the reflected sound and the difference in the arrival time between the direct sound and the reflected sound have a significant impact on the perception of the space, so if the difference in the arrival angle between the direct sound and the reflected sound is large or if the difference in the arrival time between the direct sound and the reflected sound is large, the evaluation value may be high.

[0224] The information on the volume of the sound source may indicate a reference volume defined for each content, a temporal transition of the volume, or both.

[0225] For example, if the virtual space is a virtual conference room and the direct sound is conversation, the volume transitions intermittently over a short period of time. That is, sound and silence alternate. If the virtual space is a concert hall and the direct sound is a musical performance, the volume is maintained for a certain period of time. If the virtual space is a battlefield and the direct sound is an explosion, the volume increases for a moment and then remains silent or low.

[0226] In this way, the volume information of the sound source may include not only information on the reference volume corresponding to the volume setting when the sound is emitted into the virtual space, but also information on the transition of the volume of the sound.

[0227] The transition information may be represented by data indicating frequency characteristics in a time series. The transition information may be represented by data indicating the duration of a sound section. The transition information may be represented by data indicating a time series of the duration of a sound section and the duration of a silent section. The transition information may be represented by data listing, in a time series, multiple pairs of durations during which the amplitude of a sound signal can be considered steady (considered to be roughly constant) and the amplitude values ​​of the signal during those durations.

[0228] The transition information may be expressed as data on the duration for which the frequency characteristics of the sound signal can be considered to be stationary, or may be expressed as data listing, in chronological order, multiple pairs of durations for which the frequency characteristics of the sound signal can be considered to be stationary and the frequency characteristics during those periods.

[0229] Furthermore, efforts to use temporal transitions in the frequency characteristics of signals in acoustic processing of virtual spaces have been widely undertaken in the past (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In light of such prior art, it goes without saying that the above pair may be a pair of a time length during which the frequency characteristics are constant and the frequency characteristics themselves.

[0230] The geometric relationship may be the relationship between the positions of the sound source, the listener, and the reflecting object in the virtual space. These relationships allow the geometric calculation of the path lengths of the direct sound and the reflected sound. Therefore, by utilizing the relationship in which the volume is inversely proportional to the distance, it is possible to calculate the reference volume of the reflected sound relative to the reference volume of the direct sound.

[0231] The reference volume of the reflected sound may be calculated using the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object. A commonly used typical value may also be used as the reflection coefficient. On the other hand, if a special condition exists, such as the reflecting object being covered with a sound-absorbing material, a specially assigned reflection coefficient may be used as the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object.

[0232] The reflected sound may be evaluated based on its volume, which may be calculated from the geometric relationship between the direct sound and the reflected sound and the index assigned to the reflective object, as described above, and may be evaluated by comparing the volume with a predetermined threshold.

[0233] Furthermore, information indicating the temporal transition of the volume of the sound source may be reflected in the evaluation. For example, if the information indicating the temporal transition of the volume of the sound source indicates the duration of a sound section, and the time is within the sound section, the evaluation value of the reflected sound may be maintained as is. On the other hand, if the time is outside the sound section, processing may be performed to reduce or set the evaluation value of the reflected sound to zero even if the reference volume of the reflected sound exceeds the threshold.

[0234] Alternatively, the information indicating the temporal transition of the volume of the sound source may be data listing, in time series, multiple pairs of durations during which the amplitude of a sound signal is considered to be roughly constant and the amplitude values ​​of the signal during those durations. In this case, the reference volume of the reflected sound may be changed in conjunction with changes in the amplitude values ​​in the data to evaluate the reflected sound.

[0235] Furthermore, both information on the reference volume and information on the volume that changes over time may be used as information indicating the volume of the direct sound. For example, after an evaluation value is calculated based on information on the reference volume, the evaluation value may be corrected using information on the volume that changes over time.

[0236] In the evaluation of reflected sounds, all of the above-described methods may be executed, or only some of them may be executed. For example, reflected sounds may be evaluated using a plurality of evaluation methods, or may be evaluated using a single evaluation method.

[0237] When reflected sound is evaluated using multiple evaluation methods, whether or not to select the reflected sound may be determined based on an evaluation value determined comprehensively using the multiple evaluation methods, or may be determined based on the evaluation values ​​for each of the multiple evaluation methods.

[0238] When determining whether to select a reflected sound based on each of a plurality of evaluation methods, the audio signal processing device 1001 may select a sound if all of the plurality of evaluation results based on the plurality of evaluation methods indicate that the sound should be selected. Alternatively, the audio signal processing device 1001 may select a sound if any one of the plurality of evaluation results based on the plurality of evaluation methods indicates that the sound should be selected.

[0239] Furthermore, for example, priorities may be assigned to the first to third evaluation methods. Then, when it is determined that sound should not be selected using the first evaluation method, the audio signal processing device 1001 may ultimately determine that sound should not be selected without depending on the determination results of the second and third evaluation methods. Furthermore, when it is determined that sound should not be selected using one of the second and third evaluation methods but that sound should be selected using the other, the audio signal processing device 1001 may ultimately determine that sound should be selected.

[0240] Furthermore, the selection process and the evaluation process may be performed independently, or only one of them may be performed. Alternatively, the evaluation process may be performed only on reflected sounds that have been determined to be selected in the selection process, and the evaluation process may then re-determine whether or not to select the reflected sounds. Alternatively, the evaluation process may be performed only on reflected sounds that have been determined not to be selected in the selection process, and the evaluation process may then re-determine whether or not to select the reflected sounds.

[0241] The above-described selection process can be interpreted as a process of selecting reflected sounds according to the properties of direct sounds. For example, in the process of selecting reflected sounds according to the properties of direct sounds, a threshold value used for selecting reflected sounds is set or adjusted according to the properties of the direct sounds. Alternatively, an evaluation value used for selecting reflected sounds is calculated based on one or more of the volume of a sound source, the visibility of a sound source, the localization of a sound source, the visibility of a reflecting object (obstacle object), and the geometric relationship between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0242] Furthermore, the process of selecting reflected sounds according to the properties of direct sounds is not limited to the process of setting or adjusting a threshold value according to the properties of direct sounds and the process of calculating an evaluation value used to select reflected sounds to be processed, and other processes may be performed. Even when the process of setting or adjusting a threshold value according to the properties of direct sounds or the process of calculating an evaluation value used to select reflected sounds to be processed is performed, the process may be partially changed or new processes may be added.

[0243] Note that setting the threshold value may include adjusting the threshold value, changing the threshold value, and the like.

[0244] [Method of Setting Thresholds] The threshold data used in the selection process may be set with reference to, for example, an echo detection limit based on the already known precedence effect, or a masking threshold based on the post-masking effect.

[0245] The precedence effect is a phenomenon in which, when sounds are heard from two locations, the one heard first is perceived as the source of the sound. If two short sounds merge and sound like a single sound, the location where the entire sound is heard (localization) is largely determined by the location of the first sound. The echo detection limit is a phenomenon caused by the precedence effect, and is the minimum time difference at which a listener can perceive a discrepancy between two sounds.

[0246] 12C, the horizontal axis corresponds to the arrival time of the reflected sound (echo), specifically, the delay time from the arrival time of the direct sound to the arrival time of the reflected sound, and the vertical axis corresponds to the volume ratio of the detectable reflected sound to the direct sound, specifically, the threshold value for whether the reflected sound arriving with a delay is detectable.

[0247] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a method for setting a threshold. The horizontal axis in Fig. 13 corresponds to the arrival time of the reflected sound, specifically, the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound. The vertical axis in Fig. 13 corresponds to the volume of the reflected sound. Specifically, the vertical axis in Fig. 13 may correspond to the volume of the reflected sound determined relatively to the volume of the direct sound (volume ratio), or may correspond to the volume of the reflected sound determined absolutely regardless of the volume of the direct sound.

[0248] For example, when the listener and the obstacle object are relatively far apart as shown in Fig. 9, the arrival time of the reflected sound is delayed, and the threshold value is set low, as shown in C of Fig. 13. As a result, reflected sound is generated in the case of Fig. 9. On the other hand, when the listener and the obstacle object are relatively close, as shown in Fig. 10, the arrival time of the reflected sound is earlier than in the case of Fig. 9, and the threshold value is set high, as shown in B of Fig. 13. As a result, reflected sound is not generated in the case of Fig. 10.

[0249] The threshold data may also be stored in the memory 1404, retrieved from the memory 1404 during the selection process, and used in the selection process.

[0250] 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the selection process. First, the selection unit 1302 specifies the reflected sound detected by the analysis unit 1301 (S201). Then, the selection unit 1302 detects the volume ratio (L) between the direct sound and the reflected sound and the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound (S202 and S203).

[0251] The time difference (T) may be, for example, the time difference between the time it takes for a direct sound and a reflected sound to arrive at the listening position, the time difference between the arrival time of the direct sound and the arrival time of the reflected sound, or the time difference between the time when the direct sound ends and the time when the reflected sound arrives at the listening position. Here, an example based on the time difference between the arrival time of the direct sound and the arrival time of the reflected sound will be described.

[0252] Specifically, the selection unit 1302 calculates the difference between the path length of the direct sound and the path length of the reflected sound from the position information of the sound source object and the listener, and the position information and shape information of the obstacle object.The selection unit 1302 then divides this difference in length by the speed of sound to detect the time difference (T) between the time when the direct sound arrives at the listener's position and the time when the reflected sound arrives at the listener's position.

[0253] The volume of the sound reaching the listener attenuates in proportion to the distance to the listener (inversely proportional to the distance) relative to the volume of the sound source. Therefore, the volume of the direct sound is obtained by dividing the volume of the sound source by the path length of the direct sound. The volume of the reflected sound is obtained by dividing the volume of the sound source by the path length of the reflected sound and then multiplying the result by the attenuation rate assigned to the virtual obstacle object. The selection unit 1302 detects the volume ratio by calculating the ratio between these volumes.

[0254] The selection unit 1302 also uses the threshold data to identify a threshold corresponding to the time difference (T) (S204), and determines whether the detected volume ratio (L) is equal to or greater than the threshold (S205).

[0255] If the volume ratio (L) is equal to or greater than the threshold (Yes in S205), the selection unit 1302 selects the reflected sound as the reflected sound to be generated (S206). If the volume ratio (L) is smaller than the threshold (No in S205), the selection unit 1302 does not select the reflected sound as the reflected sound to be generated (S207). That is, in this case, the selection unit 1302 determines that the reflected sound is not to be generated.

[0256] Thereafter, the selection unit 1302 determines whether or not there is an unspecified reflected sound (S208). If there is an unspecified reflected sound (Yes in S208), the selection unit 1302 repeats the above-described processing (S201 to S207). If there is no unspecified reflected sound (No in S208), the selection unit 1302 ends the processing.

[0257] This selection process may be performed on all reflected sounds generated in the analysis process, or may be performed only on the reflected sounds with high evaluation values ​​described above.

[0258] [Details of Threshold Storage Method] The threshold data according to this embodiment is stored in the memory 1404 of the audio signal processing device 1001. The stored threshold data may be in any format and of any type. When multiple formats and types of thresholds are stored, the selection process may determine which format and type of threshold to use in the selection process of the reflected sounds. A method for determining which threshold data to use in the selection process will be described later.

[0259] Furthermore, threshold data in a plurality of formats and of a plurality of types may be stored in combination. The combined threshold data may be read from the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211, and a threshold to be used in the selection process may be set. The threshold data stored in the memory 1404 may be stored in the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211.

[0260] The threshold data may be stored as thresholds at each time difference, for example, as shown in [Example 1] and [Example 2] of FIG. 12C.

[0261] Furthermore, the threshold data may be stored as table data in which thresholds and time differences (T) are associated with each other, as shown in FIG. 11 . That is, the threshold data may be stored as table data having the time difference (T) as an index. Of course, the thresholds shown in FIG. 11 are merely an example, and the thresholds are not limited to the example of FIG. 11 . Furthermore, instead of storing the thresholds themselves, the thresholds may be approximated by a function having the time difference (T) as a variable, and the coefficients of the function may be stored. Furthermore, a combination of multiple approximation formulas may be stored.

[0262] For example, the threshold data may be expressed by the following formula, where the time difference (T) is timeDiff and the threshold is gainThresh.

[0263]

[0264] The threshold is defined only within the time range in which the precedence effect is expected to occur. For time differences outside this time range (values ​​of 1 ms or less or 40 ms or more in the above formula), the determination using gainThresh may not be performed, and the determination may be performed only based on a threshold indicating the minimum volume reproduced in the virtual space, as described below.

[0265] Experiments conducted by the present inventors have revealed that it is desirable to approximate the threshold with an upwardly convex function in the time range in which the precedence effect occurs. The above formula is an example of an approximation formula generated based on the experiments.

[0266] The memory 1404 may store information regarding a relational expression showing the relationship between the time difference (T) and the threshold value. That is, an expression having the time difference (T) as a variable may be stored. The threshold value of each time difference (T) may be approximated by a straight line or a curve, and parameters indicating the geometric shape of the line or curve may be stored. For example, if the geometric shape is a straight line, the starting point and slope for expressing the straight line may be stored.

[0267] Furthermore, the type and format of threshold data may be determined and stored for each characteristic of the direct sound. Furthermore, parameters for adjusting the threshold according to the characteristic of the direct sound and using it in the selection process may be stored. The process of adjusting the threshold according to the characteristic of the direct sound and using it in the selection process will be described later as a modified example of the threshold setting method.

[0268] As an example of storing a combination of multiple types of threshold data, the larger of the masking threshold and the echo detection limit threshold may be stored for each time difference (T) as shown in [Example 3] of Fig. 12C. Alternatively, the larger of the minimum volume reproduced in the virtual space and the echo detection limit threshold may be stored for each time difference (T) as shown in [Example 4] of Fig. 12C.

[0269] The combination of multiple types of threshold data is not limited to this. For example, maximum value information for each time difference (T) in multiple types of threshold data may be stored.

[0270] In the above description, the information about the threshold value has a one-dimensional index representing the time. The information about the threshold value may also have a two-dimensional or three-dimensional index including a variable relating to the direction of arrival.

[0271] 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between the direction of a direct sound, the direction of a reflected sound, the time difference, and a threshold value. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, threshold values ​​calculated in advance according to the relationship between the direction of a direct sound (θ), the direction of a reflected sound (γ), the time difference (T), and the volume ratio (L) may be stored.

[0272] The direction of direct sound (θ) corresponds to the angle of the direction from which the direct sound arrives relative to the listener. The direction of reflected sound (γ) corresponds to the angle of the direction from which the reflected sound arrives relative to the listener. Here, the direction the listener is facing is defined as 0 degrees. The time difference (T) corresponds to the difference between the time when the direct sound arrives at the listening position and the time when the reflected sound arrives. The volume ratio (L) corresponds to the volume ratio between the volume when the direct sound arrives and the volume when the reflected sound arrives.

[0273] Of course, the thresholds shown in Fig. 15 are merely an example, and the thresholds are not limited to the example of Fig. 15. Also, Fig. 15 mainly illustrates thresholds when the angle (θ) of the arrival direction of the direct sound is 0 degrees. However, thresholds when the arrival direction (θ) of the direct sound is other than 0 degrees are also stored in memory 1404.

[0274] In the above description, the thresholds are stored in an array having the direction of the direct sound (θ) (more specifically, the angle (θ) of the direction from which the direct sound arrives) and the direction of the reflected sound (γ) (more specifically, the angle (γ) of the direction from which the reflected sound arrives) as independent variables or indexes. However, the angle (θ) of the direction from which the direct sound arrives and the angle (γ) of the direction from which the reflected sound arrives do not have to be used as independent variables.

[0275] For example, the angle difference between the angle (θ) of the arrival direction of the direct sound and the angle (γ) of the arrival direction of the reflected sound may be used. This angle difference corresponds to the angle between the arrival direction of the direct sound and the arrival direction of the reflected sound, and may be expressed as the arrival angle between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0276] Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle difference, the time difference, and the threshold. For example, a threshold calculated in advance using the angle difference (Φ) between the angle (θ) of the arrival direction of the direct sound and the angle (γ) of the arrival direction of the reflected sound as a variable may be stored as in the example shown in Fig. 16. Of course, the threshold shown in Fig. 16 is just an example, and the threshold is not limited to the example of Fig. 16.

[0277] 16, it is possible to reduce the number of variables used to derive thresholds, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the number of thresholds stored in memory 1404. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of data stored in memory 1404.

[0278] In addition, when the angle difference (Φ) between the angle (θ) of the arrival direction of the direct sound and the angle (γ) of the arrival direction of the reflected sound is used, the threshold data may be stored in a two-dimensional array. In addition, in the selection process, the difference between the angle (θ) of the arrival direction of the direct sound and the angle (γ) of the arrival direction of the reflected sound may be calculated using a three-dimensional array.

[0279] A method for selecting reflected sounds using a threshold value according to the direction of arrival will be described later.

[0280] 12A , 12B, and 12C , multiple formats and multiple types of thresholds may be stored in the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211. Then, it may be determined which format and which type of threshold to use in the reflected sound selection process from the multiple formats and multiple types of thresholds. Specifically, as shown in example 3 of FIG. 12C , the highest threshold may be adopted for the time difference (T) corresponding to the arrival time of the reflected sound.

[0281] Furthermore, as shown in Example 4, a masking threshold, an echo detection threshold, and a threshold indicating the minimum volume to be reproduced in the virtual space may be stored, and the highest threshold may be adopted for the time difference (T) corresponding to the arrival time of the reflected sound.

[0282] [Second Modification of Threshold Setting Method] As another example of the threshold setting method, a method of setting a threshold depending on the properties of the direct sound will be described.

[0283] Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing another example configuration of the rendering unit 1300 shown in Fig. 7. The rendering unit 1300 in Fig. 17 differs from the rendering unit 1300 in Fig. 7 in that it includes a threshold adjustment unit 1304. The description of the components other than the threshold adjustment unit 1304 is omitted because they are the same as those described in Fig. 7.

[0284] The threshold adjustment unit 1304 selects a threshold to be used by the selection unit 1302 from the threshold data based on information indicating the properties of the audio signal. Alternatively, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may adjust the threshold included in the threshold data based on information indicating the properties of the audio signal.

[0285] The information indicating the properties of the audio signal may be included in the input signal. Then, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may acquire the information indicating the properties of the audio signal from the input signal. Alternatively, the analysis unit 1301 may derive the properties of the audio signal by analyzing the audio signal included in the received input signal, and output the information indicating the properties of the audio signal to the threshold adjustment unit 1304.

[0286] The information indicating the characteristics of the audio signal may be obtained before the rendering process begins, or may be obtained each time the rendering process is performed.

[0287] Furthermore, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 does not have to be included in the audio signal processing device 1001, and another communication device may fulfill the role of the threshold adjustment unit 1304. In this case, the analysis unit 1301 or the selection unit 1302 may acquire information indicating the properties of the audio signal, threshold data according to the properties, or information for adjusting the threshold data according to the properties from the other communication device via the communication IF 1403.

[0288] Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing another example of the selection process. Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the selection process. In Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, a threshold is set according to the properties of the direct sound. Specifically, in Fig. 18, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 specifies a threshold from threshold data based on the time difference (T) and the properties of the audio signal. In Fig. 19, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 adjusts the threshold specified from the threshold data based on the time difference (T) based on the properties of the audio signal.

[0289] The operation of each example will be described below, with the explanation of the processes common to the example in FIG.

[0290] First, an example of processing shown in Fig. 18 will be described. Here, threshold data for each property of direct sound is stored in advance in memory 1404. As a result, multiple threshold data corresponding to multiple properties are stored in advance in memory 1404. Then, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 identifies threshold data to be used in the selection processing of reflected sounds from the multiple threshold data.

[0291] For example, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 acquires the characteristics of the direct sound based on the input signal (S211). The threshold adjustment unit 1304 may acquire the characteristics of the direct sound associated with the input signal. Then, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 identifies a threshold corresponding to the time difference (T) and the characteristics of the direct sound (S212).

[0292] As shown in FIG. 19, the threshold value adjusting unit 1304 may adjust the threshold value specified by the selecting unit 1302 based on the properties of the direct sound (S221).

[0293] In either case, the input signal may include information indicating the characteristics of the audio signal, information for adjusting the threshold in accordance with the characteristics of the audio signal, or both of these, and the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may adjust the threshold using one or both of these.

[0294] Furthermore, the information indicating the properties of the audio signal, the information for adjusting the threshold, or both may be transmitted in an input signal other than the input signal containing the audio signal. In this case, the input signal containing the audio signal may include information associating the other input signal with the input signal, or the information associating the other input signal with the input signal may be stored in memory 1404 together with information regarding the threshold.

[0295] In the examples of Figures 18 and 19, the threshold value used to select the reflected sound is set according to the properties of the direct sound, i.e., the properties of the audio signal. Threshold data set in advance for each property may be used, as in Figure 18, or the threshold value may be adjusted according to the properties of the audio signal, as in Figure 19. Furthermore, the parameters of the threshold data may be adjusted according to the properties of the audio signal.

[0296] The operation performed by the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may be performed by the analysis unit 1301 or the selection unit 1302. For example, the analysis unit 1301 may acquire the properties of the audio signal. Alternatively, the selection unit 1302 may set the threshold according to the properties of the audio signal.

[0297] Next, the relationship between the characteristics of the audio signal and the threshold will be described.

[0298] Two short sounds that arrive consecutively at a listener's ears will be heard as a single sound if the time interval between them is sufficiently short. This phenomenon is called the precedence effect. It is known that the precedence effect occurs only for discontinuous, i.e., transient, sounds (Non-Patent Document 1). Therefore, when an audio signal represents a stationary sound, the echo detection threshold may be set lower than when the audio signal represents a non-stationary sound.

[0299] That is, in accordance with the characteristics of such precedence effect, for example, if the direct sound is a steady sound, the threshold value is set to be small. Also, the higher the steadyness, the smaller the threshold value may be set.

[0300] An example of processing when the nature of the audio signal is stationary will be described. First, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 or the analysis unit 1301 determines stationarity based on the amount of fluctuation in the frequency components of the audio signal over time. For example, if the amount of fluctuation is small, the stationarity is determined to be high. Conversely, if the amount of fluctuation is large, the stationarity is determined to be low. As a result of the determination, a flag indicating the level of stationarity may be set, or a parameter indicating stationarity may be set according to the amount of fluctuation.

[0301] Next, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may adjust the threshold data or threshold based on information indicating stationarity, such as a flag or parameter indicating the stationarity of the audio signal, and set the adjusted threshold data or threshold as the threshold data or threshold to be used in the selection unit 1302.

[0302] Alternatively, parameters for setting threshold data according to information indicating the continuity of the direct sound may be stored in advance in the memory 1404. In this case, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may determine the continuity of the audio signal, and set threshold data used for selecting reflected sounds based on the information indicating the continuity and the parameters.

[0303] Alternatively, multiple parameters of the threshold data may be stored in advance in memory 1404 in correspondence with multiple patterns of the continuity of the direct sound. In this case, threshold adjustment unit 1304 may determine the continuity of the audio signal, select parameters of the threshold data based on the pattern of the continuity of the direct sound, and set threshold data to be used for selecting reflected sounds based on the parameters of the threshold data.

[0304] The constancy of an audio signal may be determined based on the amount of fluctuation in the frequency components of the audio signal each time the audio signal is input.

[0305] Alternatively, the continuity of the audio signal may be determined based on information indicating the continuity that is pre-linked to the audio signal. That is, the information indicating the continuity of the audio signal may be pre-linked to the audio signal and stored in the memory 1404. The analysis unit 1301 may acquire the information indicating the continuity that is pre-linked to the audio signal every time an audio signal is input. Then, the threshold adjustment unit 1304 may adjust the threshold based on the information indicating the continuity that is pre-linked to the audio signal.

[0306] As another example of how the threshold may be set depending on the nature of the audio signal, the echo detection limit may be set to a shorter range if the audio signal represents a short sound (such as a click) than if the audio signal represents a long sound. This process is based on the properties of the precedence effect.

[0307] It is known that due to the precedence effect, two short sounds that arrive consecutively at a listener's ears are perceived as a single sound if the time interval between them is sufficiently short. The upper limit of this time interval depends on the duration of the sounds. For example, the upper limit of this time interval is about 5 ms for a click sound, but can be as long as 40 ms for complex sounds such as human voices or music (Non-Patent Document 1).

[0308] According to the characteristics of such precedence effect, for example, if the duration of the direct sound is short, a short threshold value is set. Also, the shorter the duration of the direct sound, the shorter the threshold value is set.

[0309] Setting a short threshold value means that a threshold value corresponding to an echo detection limit based on the characteristics of the precedence effect is set within a range where the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound is small. Outside this range, a threshold value corresponding to an echo detection limit based on the characteristics of the precedence effect is not set. In other words, outside this range, the threshold value is small. Therefore, setting a short threshold value for a short sound can correspond to setting a small threshold value for a short sound.

[0310] As another example of setting the threshold depending on the characteristics of the direct sound, if the direct sound is an intermittent sound (such as speech), the threshold may be set lower than if the direct sound is a continuous sound (such as music).

[0311] For example, when the direct sound corresponds to speech, sound and silence portions are repeated, and only the post-masking effect occurs in the silence portions. On the other hand, when the direct sound is a continuous sound such as music content, both the post-masking effect and the simultaneous masking effect due to the sound occurring at that time occur. Therefore, the overall masking effect is higher in the case of music than in the case of speech.

[0312] According to the characteristics of the masking effect as described above, the threshold may be set higher for music, etc. than for speech, etc. Conversely, the threshold may be set lower for speech, etc. than for music, etc. In other words, if the direct sound has many intermittent parts, the threshold may be set lower.

[0313] As described above, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information indicating the constancy, intermittency, duration, etc. of the direct sound. Furthermore, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be any combination of these. Furthermore, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information indicating the time variation of any of these, or information indicating the time variation of any combination of these. In other words, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information indicating the time variation of the direct sound.

[0314] For example, as described in the description of the stationarity determination, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be time-series data of frequency characteristics, where the frequency characteristics may be expressed in a commonly used format such as a gain value for each frequency band, a Fourier series for a time-domain signal, or an LPC coefficient or cepstrum coefficient for determining a frequency envelope.

[0315] Furthermore, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information indicating the intermittency of the direct sound, which lists in chronological order a plurality of pairs of durations during which the amplitude of a signal is steady and the amplitude values ​​of the signal during those durations (an outline of the amplitude envelope). Here, the amplitude values ​​may be expressed as a ratio to a reference volume.

[0316] Furthermore, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information regarding the frequency characteristics of the direct sound. For example, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information indicating the constancy of the frequency characteristics of the direct sound. Specifically, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information (approximate spectrogram shapes) listing in time series multiple pairs of durations during which the frequency characteristics are small and the frequency characteristics of the signal during those durations. Here, the volume used as a reference for the frequency characteristics may be the reference volume.

[0317] For example, the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound is information indicating the envelope of the direct sound. The information indicating the time variation of the direct sound may be used when the "minimum audible limit" described in [Example 4] of Fig. 12C is the threshold. The signal to be compared with the minimum audible limit is the volume of the reflected sound.

[0318] The volume of reflected sound is obtained by geometric calculation using information on the positions of the sound source, listener, and reflecting object. Specifically, the reference volume of the reflected sound relative to the reference volume of the sound source is obtained. By increasing or decreasing the reference volume of the reflected sound using information on the transition of the sound source's loudness as information indicating the properties of the direct sound, it is possible to accurately determine the volume of the reflected sound from moment to moment. This is because fluctuations in the volume of the sound source are reflected in fluctuations in the volume of the reflected sound.

[0319] After adjusting the volume of the reflected sound, the volume of the reflected sound is compared with a threshold value, thereby making it possible to more accurately select the reflected sound that is required for auditory perception.

[0320] Of course, it goes without saying that the same result can be obtained by adjusting the threshold based on the inverse of the information on the transition in loudness of the sound source, without adjusting the reference volume of the reflected sound, and then comparing the adjusted threshold with the reference volume of the reflected sound. In other words, the reference volume of the reflected sound may be adjusted using the information on the transition in loudness of the sound source, or the threshold may be adjusted using the information on the transition in loudness of the sound source. Adjustment of the reference volume of the reflected sound and adjustment of the threshold correspond to each other.

[0321] Depending on the composition of the surface of an object that reflects sound, the sound reflectance (the rate at which sound decays due to reflection) varies for each frequency band. Therefore, as will be described later, a sound reflectance (decay rate) may be associated with each sound reflecting object for each frequency band. Using such reflectance information and spectrogram information, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not to select the reflected sound. For example, the following processing is performed.

[0322] Specifically, for example, spectrogram information may indicate that high frequency components are more prevalent than low frequency components in a certain time interval, and sound reflectance information may indicate that high frequency components have significantly lower reflectance than low frequency components.

[0323] In this case, even if the amplitude of the sound source signal on the time axis is large, the volume of the reflected sound obtained by multiplying the frequency components indicated by the spectrogram information by the attenuation rate for each frequency band indicated by the reflectivity information will be small, and the reflected sound may not be selected.

[0324] As described above, the information indicating the characteristics of the direct sound may be information indicating a time variation of the direct sound. For example, the information indicating the characteristics of the direct sound may indicate a value obtained by analyzing the direct sound for a predetermined time length.

[0325] Specifically, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information obtained by calculating the average energy or average amplitude of the direct sound for each predetermined time length. Alternatively, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information obtained by calculating the energy or average amplitude of the direct sound for each short-term analysis length and calculating a weighted average of the energy or average amplitude for each long-term analysis length longer than the short-term analysis length.

[0326] More specifically, for example, the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound may be information obtained by calculating the energy or average amplitude of the direct sound for each predetermined short time length (for example, 5 ms; hereinafter, frames of this time length will be referred to as analysis frames). Furthermore, the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound may be information represented by a weighted average of the energy or average amplitude calculated for the past N-1 analysis frames.

[0327] If the energy of the n-th analysis frame is expressed as E(n), information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound can be calculated according to the following equation.

[0328]

[0329] Here, the parameter a(i) represents a weighting coefficient. Generally, a(i) is set so that a(i)≧0 and the sum of a(i) is 1. However, the method for setting a(i) is not limited to this.

[0330] Note that information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound is calculated every 5 ms that the direct sound is captured. In other words, it is possible to calculate the time variation of information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound with low delay. Therefore, this method is suitable for application requiring real-time performance.

[0331] Furthermore, information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound may be calculated according to the following formula:

[0332]

[0333] Here, the parameter b(i) represents a weighting coefficient. Generally, b(i) is set so that b(i)≧0 and the sum of b(i) is 1. However, the method for setting b(i) is not limited to this.

[0334] In this equation, information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound is calculated recursively, making it possible to calculate the average energy over a long time period with a small amount of calculation.

[0335] The above formulas 1 and 2 can be considered as filters in which E(n) is the input signal and I(n) is the output signal. In this case, formula 1 is a moving average (MA) model filter, and formula 2 is an autoregressive (AR) model filter, both of which have low-pass filter characteristics. Alternatively, an ARMA model filter, which is a combination of both, may be used.

[0336] Note that the method of deriving the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound is not limited to the above-described formula or filter, and other known methods may be used. As described above, the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound indicates a value obtained by analyzing the direct sound for a predetermined time length. The direct sound may be analyzed from a perspective other than average energy.

[0337] As described above, the information indicating the properties of the direct sound may be information related to the frequency characteristics of the direct sound. The information related to the frequency characteristics of the direct sound may be information calculated using the frequency characteristics of the direct sound. For example, the information related to the frequency characteristics of the direct sound may be information obtained as the average energy of the low-frequency components by averaging the low-frequency components of the direct sound over a predetermined analysis length.

[0338] Specifically, a low-pass filter is applied to the direct sound included in the analysis frame length to obtain the low-frequency components of the direct sound. Information indicating the properties of the direct sound is derived from the energy or average amplitude of the low-frequency components, as in the above-described Equation 1.

[0339] If the energy of the low frequency component of the n-th analysis frame is expressed as EL(n), the information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound can be calculated according to the following equation.

[0340]

[0341] Here, the parameter c(i) represents a weighting coefficient. Generally, c(i) is set so that c(i) ≥ 0 and the sum of c(i) is 1. However, the method for setting c(i) is not limited to this.

[0342] Note that information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound is calculated every 5 ms that the direct sound is captured. In other words, it is possible to calculate the time variation of information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound with low delay. Therefore, this method is suitable for application requiring real-time performance.

[0343] Similarly to Equation 2, information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound may be calculated according to the following equation:

[0344]

[0345] Here, the parameter d(i) represents a weighting coefficient. Generally, d(i) is set so that d(i)≧0 and the sum of d(i) is 1. However, the method for setting d(i) is not limited to this.

[0346] In this equation, information I(n) indicating the properties of the direct sound is calculated recursively, making it possible to calculate the average energy over a long time period with a small amount of calculation.

[0347] The above equations 3 and 4 can be considered as filters in which E(n) is the input signal and I(n) is the output signal. In this case, equation 3 is a moving average (MA) model filter, and equation 4 is an autoregressive (AR) model filter, both of which have low-pass filter characteristics. Alternatively, an ARMA model filter, which is a combination of both, may be used.

[0348] In the above, a filter having low-pass characteristics is used to calculate the low-frequency components of the direct sound, but the method for calculating the low-frequency components of the direct sound is not limited to this. Furthermore, the method for deriving information indicating the time variation of the direct sound is not limited to the above-described formula or filter, and other known methods may be used. For example, the spectrum of the direct sound may be calculated by performing a frequency conversion on the direct sound. Then, the energy or average amplitude of the low-frequency components of the spectrum may be calculated.

[0349] In the above, the MA model or the AR model is used to derive the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound. The coefficients of these models may be predetermined fixed values ​​or may be variable values ​​that change over time.

[0350] The relationship between the analysis frame length and the interval at which the information update thread occurs may be as follows:

[0351] For example, if the time length of the analysis frame is TA (msec) and the occurrence interval of the information update thread is TU (msec), the value of N in the above (Equation 1) and (Equation 3) for the MA filter may be approximately the value given by TU / TA. Also, the values ​​of b(i) and d(i) (1≦i<N) in the above (Equation 2) and (Equation 4) for the AR filter may be values ​​such that the time constant of the filter is approximately TU (msec).

[0352] The reason for the above setting is that the filter is expected to converge within the interval period of information update.

[0353] On the other hand, if the value of the information indicating the time variation of the direct sound fluctuates too sharply with the above settings, I(n) may be calculated in advance. Then, the pre-calculated I(n) may be applied to the selection process of the reflected sounds. For example, I(t+tau) may be used in the processing of the t-th frame. Here, tau is a value determined according to the convergence characteristics of the filter. When convergence is slow, the value of tau is larger than when convergence is fast.

[0354] Furthermore, auditory masking (frequency masking) information calculated from the direct sound may be used as information indicating the characteristics of the direct sound. The auditory masking information indicates a threshold value for the amplitude value in the frequency domain that is masked by the direct sound. The amplitude value of the reflected sound in the same frequency domain may be compared with the threshold value, and processing may be performed to not select reflected sounds with amplitude values ​​smaller than the threshold value. The amplitude value of the reflected sound in the frequency domain may be acquired by the analysis unit 1301 as information indicating the characteristics of the reflected sound.

[0355] In this way, by setting the threshold value used to select reflected sounds according to the properties of the direct sound, it becomes possible to appropriately select reflected sounds that are auditorily necessary, and it becomes possible to effectively reflect the characteristics of hearing in the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000. The process of detecting the properties of the direct sound, the process of determining the threshold value according to the properties, and the process of adjusting the threshold value according to the properties may be performed during the rendering process or before the rendering process starts.

[0356] For example, these processes may be performed when the virtual space is created (when the software is created), when processing of the virtual space starts (when the software is launched or rendering starts), or when an information update thread that occurs periodically in processing of the virtual space occurs, etc. Furthermore, when the virtual space is created may be when the virtual space is constructed before the start of acoustic processing, or when information about the virtual space (spatial information) is acquired, or when the software is acquired.

[0357] Here, in the information update thread, processing for updating the spatial information managed by the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211 is carried out.

[0358] The role of the information update thread is, for example, to update the position and orientation of the listener's avatar placed in the virtual space based on the position and orientation of the VR goggles worn by the listener, or to update the position of an object moving in the virtual space, etc. Such processing is handled within a processing thread that runs at a relatively low frequency of about several tens of Hz.

[0359] The process of updating information indicating the characteristics of the direct sound may be performed in such a processing thread that occurs less frequently. This is because the characteristics of the direct sound change less frequently than the frequency with which audio processing frames for audio output occur. This makes it possible to relatively reduce the computational load of this process. Furthermore, updating information at an unnecessarily high frequency poses a risk of generating pulsive noise. Updating information at a low frequency makes it possible to avoid such a risk.

[0360] [Third Modification of Threshold Setting Method] As another example of a method for setting a threshold, the threshold may be set according to the computational resources (CPU power, memory resources, PC performance, remaining battery power, etc.) used to process the reproduction of the virtual space. More specifically, the sensor 1405 of the audio signal processing device 1001 detects the amount of computational resources, and if the amount of computational resources is low, the threshold is set high. As a result, the volume of more reflected sounds becomes lower than the threshold, making it possible to reduce the amount of reflected sounds that are subjected to binaural processing, and thereby reducing the amount of computation.

[0361] Alternatively, when signal processing is performed in a device powered by a battery, such as a smartphone or VR goggles, it is expected that priority will be given to continuing processing for a long period of time and that computational resources will be saved. In such a case, the threshold may be set high without detecting the amount or remaining amount of computational resources.

[0362] [Fourth variant of threshold setting method] As another example of a threshold setting method, the audio signal processing device 1001 or the audio presentation device 1002 may be provided with a threshold setting unit (not shown), so that the threshold can be set by an administrator or listener of the virtual space.

[0363] For example, a listener wearing the audio presentation device 1002 may be able to select between an "energy saving mode" with less target reflected sounds and less computational effort, and a "high performance mode" with more target reflected sounds and more computational effort. Alternatively, the mode may be selectable by an administrator managing the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 or a creator of the stereophonic content. Alternatively, the threshold or threshold data may be directly selectable instead of the mode.

[0364] [First Modification of Operation of Rendering Unit] Fig. 20 is a flowchart showing a first modification of the operation of the audio signal processing device 1001. Fig. 20 shows the processing executed mainly by the rendering unit 1300 of the audio signal processing device 1001. In this modification, a volume compensation processing is added to the operation of the rendering unit 1300.

[0365] For example, the analysis unit 1301 acquires data (input signal) (S301). Next, the analysis unit 1301 analyzes the data (S302). Next, the selection unit 1302 determines whether or not to select reflected sound based on the analysis result (S303). Next, the playback unit 1303 performs volume compensation processing based on the reflected sound that is not selected (S304). Next, the playback unit 1303 performs acoustic processing on the direct sound and reflected sound (S305). Then, the playback unit 1303 outputs the direct sound and reflected sound as audio (S306).

[0366] Of the above processes (S301 to S306), the processes other than the volume compensation process (S304) are common to the other examples described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0367] The volume compensation process is performed in response to reflected sounds that were not selected in the selection process. For example, a lack of perceived loudness occurs when reflected sounds are not selected in the selection process. The volume compensation process suppresses the sense of discomfort that accompanies such a lack of perceived loudness. The following two methods are disclosed as examples of methods for compensating for perceived loudness. Either of the two methods may be used.

[0368] First, a method for compensating for the sense of volume by increasing the volume of the direct sound will be described. The reproduction unit 1303 generates a direct sound by increasing the volume of the direct sound by the amount of the volume of the unselected reflected sound. This compensates for the sense of volume that would be lost by not generating reflected sound.

[0369] When increasing the volume, the playback unit 1303 may increase the volume for each frequency component in accordance with the frequency characteristics of the reflected sound. To enable such processing, a volume attenuation rate at which the reflective object attenuates the volume may be assigned to each predetermined frequency band. This makes it possible to derive the frequency characteristics of the reflected sound.

[0370] Next, a method for compensating for the perceived loudness by synthesizing reflected sounds with direct sounds will be described. In this method, the playback unit 1303 adds unselected reflected sounds to the direct sound to generate a direct sound, thereby compensating for the perceived loudness caused by not generating reflected sounds. The generated direct sound reflects the volume (amplitude), frequency, delay, etc. of the unselected reflected sounds.

[0371] In the case of the method of increasing the volume of direct sound, the amount of calculation required for the compensation process is extremely small, but only the volume is compensated. In the case of the method of combining direct sound with reflected sound, the amount of calculation required for the compensation process is greater than in the method of increasing the volume of direct sound, but the characteristics of the reflected sound are compensated more accurately.

[0372] In either case, the overall amount of calculation is reduced because only direct sound is generated, without generating reflected sound. In particular, the amount of calculation required for binaural processing, including the process of convolving HRTFs, is reduced, resulting in a significant reduction in the overall amount of calculation. This is because the amount of calculation required for binaural processing is far greater than the amount of calculation required for the compensation process described above.

[0373] If the reason why the reflected sound is not selected is that the volume of the reflected sound is below the masking threshold, the perceived volume is not lost, so the reflected sound may simply be removed without performing compensation processing.

[0374] [Second Modification of Operation of Rendering Unit] Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing a second modification of the operation of the audio signal processing device 1001. Fig. 21 shows the processing executed mainly by the rendering unit 1300 of the audio signal processing device 1001. In this modification, left-right volume difference adjustment processing is added to the operation of the rendering unit 1300.

[0375] For example, the analysis unit 1301 analyzes an input signal (S401). Next, the analysis unit 1301 detects the direction from which the sound is coming (S402). Next, the selection unit 1302 adjusts the difference in volume between the sounds perceived by the left and right ears (S403). The selection unit 1302 also adjusts the difference in arrival time (delay) between the sounds perceived by the left and right ears (S404). The selection unit 1302 determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the adjusted sound information (S405).

[0376] Of the above processes (S401 to S405), the processes other than the left-right volume difference adjustment process (S403) and the delay adjustment process (S404) are common to the other examples described above, and therefore descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0377] Fig. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an avatar, a sound source object, and an obstacle object. For example, when the front direction of the listener is 0 degrees, and the polarity (e.g., positive or negative) of the incoming direction of the direct sound (θ) and the incoming direction of the reflected sound (γ) (direction of the reflected sound (γ)) is different, as shown in Fig. 22, the volume difference occurring between the two ears is corrected.

[0378] Specifically, when the polarities of θ and γ are different, the ear that primarily (first) perceives the direct sound and the reflected sound is different. In this case, the selection unit 1302 performs the left-right volume difference adjustment process (S403) to adjust the volume of the direct sound according to the position of the ear that primarily perceives the reflected sound. For example, the selection unit 1302 attenuates the volume of the direct sound when it reaches the listener by multiplying the volume by (1.0-0.3 sin(θ)) (0≦θ≦180).

[0379] The selection unit 1302 calculates the volume ratio between the volume of the direct sound corrected as described above and the volume of the reflected sound, and compares the calculated volume ratio with a threshold value to determine whether to select the reflected sound. This corrects the volume difference that occurs between the two ears, more accurately derives the volume of the direct sound that affects the reflected sound, and more accurately determines whether to select the reflected sound.

[0380] Furthermore, in addition to the left-right volume difference adjustment process (S403), the selection unit 1302 may also perform a delay adjustment process (S404) in which the selection unit 1302 delays the direct sound arrival time in accordance with the position of the ear that perceives the reflected sound. Specifically, the selection unit 1302 may delay the direct sound arrival time by adding (a(sin θ+θ) / c) ms (where a is the radius of the head and c is the speed of sound) to the direct sound arrival time.

[0381] [Third Modification of the Operation of the Rendering Unit] A method of setting a threshold value according to the direction of arrival will be described.

[0382] Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the selection process. A description of the process common to the example of Fig. 14 will be omitted. In the example of Fig. 23, the selection unit 1302 selects reflected sounds using a threshold value according to the arrival direction.

[0383] Specifically, the selection unit 1302 calculates the direct sound arrival direction (θ) and the reflected sound arrival direction (γ) (the direction of the reflected sound (γ)) determined using the avatar orientation as a reference, from the direct sound arrival path (pd) and the reflected sound arrival path (pr) calculated by the analysis unit 1301, and the avatar orientation information D1. That is, the selection unit 1302 detects the direct sound arrival direction (θ) and the reflected sound arrival direction (γ) (S231). The orientation of the avatar corresponds to the orientation of the listener. The avatar orientation information D1 may be included in the input signal.

[0384] The selection unit 1302 uses three indexes including the direct sound arrival direction (θ), the reflected sound arrival direction (γ), and the time difference (T) to identify the threshold to be used in the selection process from a three-dimensional array such as that shown in Figure 15 (S232).

[0385] As an example, a method for setting a threshold value used in the selection process when an avatar, a sound source object, and an obstacle object are arranged as shown in FIG. 22 will be described.

[0386] From the input signal, position information of the avatar, sound source object, and obstacle object, as well as avatar orientation information D1, are acquired. Using this position information and orientation information D1, the direction of the direct sound (θ) and the direction of the sound image of the reflected sound (γ) are calculated when the orientation of the avatar is set to 0 degrees. In the case of Figure 22, the direction of the direct sound (θ) is approximately 20 degrees, and the direction of the sound image of the reflected sound (γ) is approximately 265 degrees (-95 degrees).

[0387] 15, threshold values ​​are identified from an array region corresponding to the values ​​of the two directions (θ) and (γ) and the value of the time difference (T) calculated by the analysis unit 1301. If there is no index corresponding to the calculated values ​​of (θ), (γ), and (T), a threshold value corresponding to the closest index may be identified.

[0388] Alternatively, the threshold value may be determined by performing a process such as interpolation, extrapolation, or the like based on one or more threshold values ​​corresponding to one or more indexes close to the calculated values ​​of (θ), (γ), and (T). For example, a threshold value corresponding to (20°, 265°, T) may be determined based on four threshold values ​​corresponding to four indexes, namely, (0°, 225°, T), (0°, 270°, T), (45°, 225°, T), and (45°, 270°, T).

[0389] The selection process based on the difference between the angle (θ) of the direction from which the direct sound arrives and the angle (γ) of the direction from which the reflected sound arrives will be described.

[0390] For example, threshold data having the angular difference (Φ) between the arrival direction (θ) of the direct sound and the arrival direction (γ) of the reflected sound and the time difference (T) as a two-dimensional index array may be created and set in advance, as shown in Fig. 16. In this case, the angular difference (Φ) and the time difference (T) are referenced in the selection process. Alternatively, the angular difference (Φ) between the angle (θ) of the arrival direction of the direct sound and the angle (γ) of the arrival direction of the reflected sound may be calculated in the selection process, and the calculated angular difference (Φ) may be used to specify the threshold.

[0391] Alternatively, threshold data may be set that has, as an index array, a combination of the angle difference (Φ), the direction of arrival of the direct sound (θ), and the time difference (T), or a combination of the angle difference (Φ), the direction of arrival of the reflected sound (γ), and the time difference (T).

[0392] Alternatively, threshold data having the values ​​of (θ), (γ) and (T) as a three-dimensional index array as shown in FIG. 15 may be set.

[0393] [Fourth Modification of Operation of Rendering Unit] The processes performed by the analysis unit 1301, selection unit 1302, and reproduction unit 1303 described above may be performed as pipeline processes as described in, for example, Patent Document 3.

[0394] FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration for the rendering unit 1300 to perform pipeline processing.

[0395] The rendering unit 1300 in Fig. 24 includes a reverberation processing unit 1311, an early reflection processing unit 1312, a distance attenuation processing unit 1313, a selection unit 1314, a generation unit 1315, and a binaural processing unit 1316. These multiple components may be configured from multiple components of the rendering unit 1300 shown in Fig. 7, or may be configured from at least some of multiple components of the audio signal processing device 1001 shown in Fig. 5.

[0396] Pipeline processing refers to dividing the process for applying sound effects into multiple processes and executing the multiple processes one by one in sequence. Each of the multiple processes performs, for example, signal processing on an audio signal or generation of parameters used in the signal processing.

[0397] The rendering unit 1300 may perform reverberation processing, early reflection processing, distance attenuation processing, binaural processing, and the like as pipeline processing. However, these processes are merely examples, and the pipeline processing may include other processes or may not include some of the processes. For example, the pipeline processing may include diffraction processing and occlusion processing. Furthermore, for example, reverberation processing may be omitted if it is not necessary.

[0398] Each process may be expressed as a stage. An audio signal such as a reflected sound generated as a result of each process may be expressed as a rendering item. The multiple stages in the pipeline process and their order are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 24 .

[0399] Here, the parameters used in the selection process (arrival paths, arrival times, and volume ratios for direct sound and reflected sound) are calculated in one of multiple stages for generating a rendering item. In other words, the parameters used to select reflected sounds are calculated as part of the pipeline processing for generating a rendering item. Note that not all stages need to be performed by the rendering unit 1300. For example, some stages may be omitted or may be performed by a unit other than the rendering unit 1300.

[0400] The following describes reverberation processing, early reflection processing, distance attenuation processing, selection processing, generation processing, and binaural processing that may be included as stages in the pipeline processing. At each stage, metadata included in the input signal may be analyzed to calculate parameters used to generate reflected sounds.

[0401] In the reverberation processing, the reverberation processor 1311 generates an audio signal indicating a reverberant sound or parameters used to generate an audio signal. A reverberant sound is a sound that arrives at a listener as reverberation after a direct sound. As an example, a reverberant sound is a sound that arrives at a listener after a relatively late stage (e.g., about 150 ms after the arrival of the direct sound) after an early reflected sound (described later) arrives at the listener, and after having been reflected more times (e.g., several tens of times) than an early reflected sound.

[0402] The reverberation processor 1311 refers to the audio signal and spatial information contained in the input signal, and calculates the reverberation sound using a predetermined function prepared in advance as a function for generating the reverberation sound.

[0403] The reverberation processor 1311 may generate reverberant sounds by applying a known reverberation generation method to the audio signal included in the input signal. An example of a known reverberation generation method is the Schroeder method, but known reverberation generation methods are not limited to the Schroeder method. Furthermore, when applying a known reverberation generation method, the reverberation processor 1311 uses the shape and acoustic characteristics of the sound reproduction space indicated by the spatial information. This allows the reverberation processor 1311 to calculate parameters for generating reverberant sounds.

[0404] In the early reflection process, the early reflection processor 1312 calculates parameters for generating early reflection sounds based on spatial information. The early reflection sounds are reflected sounds that arrive at the listener after one or more reflections at a relatively early stage after a direct sound from a sound source object arrives at the listener (for example, about several tens of milliseconds after the direct sound arrives).

[0405] The early reflection processing unit 1312 refers to, for example, the audio signal and metadata, and calculates the path of the reflected sound that travels from the sound source object to the listener after being reflected by the reflecting object. For example, the path calculation may use the shape of the three-dimensional sound field (space), the size of the three-dimensional sound field, the positions of reflecting objects such as structures, and the reflectance of the reflecting object.

[0406] The early reflection processing unit 1312 may also calculate the path of the direct sound. Information about the path may be used as a parameter by which the early reflection processing unit 1312 generates the early reflected sound, or may be used as a parameter by which the selection unit 1314 selects the reflected sound.

[0407] In the distance attenuation process, the distance attenuation processor 1313 calculates the volume of the direct sound and the reflected sound that reach the listener based on the path lengths of the direct sound and the reflected sound. The volume of the direct sound and the reflected sound that reach the listener attenuates in proportion to the distance of the path to the listener (inversely proportional to the distance) relative to the volume of the sound source. Therefore, the distance attenuation processor 1313 can calculate the volume of the direct sound by dividing the volume of the sound source by the path length of the direct sound, and can calculate the volume of the reflected sound by dividing the volume of the sound source by the path length of the reflected sound.

[0408] In the selection process, the selection unit 1314 selects a generation target reflected sound based on parameters calculated before the selection process. Any of the selection methods disclosed herein may be used to select the generation target reflected sound.

[0409] The selection process may be performed on all reflected sounds, or may be performed only on reflected sounds with high evaluation values ​​based on the evaluation process as described above. In other words, reflected sounds with low evaluation values ​​may be determined not to be selected without even undergoing the selection process. For example, a reflected sound with a very low volume may be considered to have a low evaluation value and may be determined not to be selected.

[0410] Alternatively, for example, a selection process may be performed on all reflected sounds, and the evaluation values ​​of the reflected sounds selected in the selection process may be determined, and reflected sounds with low evaluation values ​​may be re-determined as not being selected.

[0411] The selection process and the evaluation process may be performed independently or in combination. When the selection process and the evaluation process are performed in combination, either of the two processes may be performed first.

[0412] In the generation process, the generation unit 1315 generates direct sound and reflected sound. For example, the generation unit 1315 generates direct sound from an audio signal included in the input signal based on the arrival time and volume of the direct sound at the time of arrival. Furthermore, for the reflected sound selected in the selection process, the generation unit 1315 generates reflected sound from an audio signal included in the input signal based on the arrival time and volume of the reflected sound at the time of arrival.

[0413] In the binaural processing, the binaural processing unit 1316 performs signal processing so that the audio signal of the direct sound is perceived by the listener as a sound arriving from the direction of the sound source object. Furthermore, the binaural processing unit 1316 performs signal processing so that the reflected sound selected by the selection unit 1314 is perceived by the listener as a sound arriving from the reflecting object.

[0414] For example, the binaural processing unit 1316 performs processing to apply the HRIR DB based on the position and orientation of the listener in the sound space so that sound arrives at the listener from the position of a sound source object or the position of an obstacle object.

[0415] HRIR (Head-Related Impulse Responses) is a response characteristic when one impulse is generated. Specifically, HRIR is a response characteristic obtained by converting a head-related transfer function, which represents changes in sound caused by surrounding objects including the auricle, the human head, and shoulders, from a frequency domain representation to a time domain representation by Fourier transform. The HRIR DB is a database containing such information.

[0416] Furthermore, the position and orientation of the listener in the sound space are, for example, the position and orientation of the virtual listener in the virtual sound space. The position and orientation of the virtual listener in the virtual sound space may change in accordance with the movement of the listener's head. The position and orientation of the virtual listener in the virtual sound space may also be determined based on information acquired from the sensor 1405.

[0417] The programs, spatial information, HRIR DB, threshold data, and other parameters used in the above processing are obtained from the memory 1404 provided in the audio signal processing device 1001 or from outside the audio signal processing device 1001.

[0418] The pipeline processing may also include other processes. The rendering unit 1300 may also include processing units (not shown) for performing other processes included in the pipeline processing. For example, the rendering unit 1300 may include a diffraction processing unit and an occlusion processing unit.

[0419] The diffraction processing unit executes processing to generate an audio signal representing a sound including diffracted sound caused by an obstacle object between the listener and the sound source object in a three-dimensional sound field (space). When an obstacle object exists between the sound source object and the listener, the diffracted sound is a sound that travels from the sound source object to the listener, going around the obstacle object.

[0420] The diffraction processing unit calculates a path of the diffracted sound from the sound source object to the listener, bypassing the obstacle object, and generates the diffracted sound based on the path, for example, by referring to the audio signal and metadata. The path calculation may use the positions of the sound source object, the listener, and the obstacle object in the three-dimensional sound field (space), as well as the shape and size of the obstacle object.

[0421] When a sound source object is present on the other side of an obstacle object, the occlusion processing unit generates an audio signal of the sound that leaks from the sound source object and passes through the obstacle object based on spatial information and information such as the material of the obstacle object.

[0422] [Example of Sound Source Object] In the above, the position information assigned to the sound source object indicates a "point" in the virtual space as the position of the sound source object. That is, in the above, the sound source is defined as a "point sound source."

[0423] On the other hand, a sound source in a virtual space may be defined as an object having length, size, shape, etc., i.e., as a spatially extended sound source rather than a point sound source. In this case, the distance between the listener and the sound source and the direction from which the sound is coming are not determined. Therefore, reflected sounds caused by such sound sources may be limited to those selected by the selection unit 1302 without being analyzed by the analysis unit 1301 or regardless of the analysis results. This makes it possible to avoid deterioration in sound quality that may occur when reflected sounds are not selected.

[0424] Alternatively, a representative point such as the center of gravity of the object may be determined, and the processing of the present disclosure may be applied on the assumption that the sound is generated from that representative point. In this case, the threshold may be adjusted according to information on the spatial extent of the sound source.

[0425] [Examples of Direct Sound and Reflected Sound] For example, direct sound is sound that is not reflected by a reflecting object, and reflected sound is sound that is reflected by a reflecting object. Direct sound may be sound that arrives at the listener from a sound source without being reflected by a reflecting object, or reflected sound may be sound that arrives at the listener from a sound source after being reflected by a reflecting object.

[0426] Furthermore, the direct sound and the reflected sound are not limited to sounds that have arrived at the listener, but may be sounds that have not yet arrived at the listener. For example, the direct sound may be sounds output from a sound source, or in other words, sounds from the sound source.

[0427] 25 is a diagram illustrating sound transmission and diffraction. As shown in FIG. 25, there are cases where direct sound does not reach the listener due to the presence of an obstacle object between the sound source object and the listener. In this case, sound emitted from the sound source object, transmitted through the obstacle object, and reached the listener may be considered as direct sound. Meanwhile, sound emitted from the sound source object, diffracted by the obstacle object, and reached the listener may be considered as reflected sound.

[0428] Furthermore, the two sounds compared in the selection process are not limited to a direct sound and a reflected sound based on a sound emitted from a single sound source. For example, a sound may be selected by comparing two reflected sounds based on a sound emitted from a single sound source. In this case, the direct sound in the present disclosure may be interpreted as the sound that reaches the listener first, and the reflected sound in the present disclosure may be interpreted as the sound that reaches the listener later.

[0429] [Example of Bitstream Structure] A bitstream includes, for example, an audio signal and metadata. The audio signal is sound data that expresses sound, and indicates information about the frequency and intensity of the sound. The metadata includes spatial information about the sound space, which is the space of the sound field.

[0430] For example, the spatial information is information about a space in which a listener who listens to a sound based on an audio signal is located. Specifically, the spatial information is information about a predetermined position (localization position) for localizing a sound image at a predetermined position in a sound space (e.g., a three-dimensional sound field), that is, for allowing the listener to perceive a sound arriving from a direction corresponding to the predetermined position. The spatial information includes, for example, sound source object information and position information indicating the position of the listener.

[0431] The sound source object information is information about a sound source object that generates a sound based on an audio signal. That is, the sound source object information is information about an object (sound source object) that reproduces an audio signal, and is information about a virtual sound source object that is placed in a virtual sound space. Here, the virtual sound space may correspond to a real space in which an object that generates a sound is placed, and the sound source object in the virtual sound space may correspond to an object that generates a sound in the real space.

[0432] The sound source object information may indicate the position of the sound source object arranged in the sound space, the orientation of the sound source object, the directivity of the sound emitted by the sound source object, whether the sound source object belongs to a living thing or not, whether the sound source object is a moving object or not, etc. For example, the audio signal is associated with one or more sound source objects indicated by the sound source object information.

[0433] The bitstream has a data structure that is made up of, for example, metadata (control information) and an audio signal.

[0434] The audio signal and metadata may be contained in a single bitstream or in separate bitstreams, or may be contained in a single file or in separate files.

[0435] A bitstream may exist for each sound source or for each playback time. Even if a bitstream exists for each playback time, multiple bitstreams may be processed in parallel at the same time.

[0436] Metadata may be assigned to each bitstream, or may be assigned to multiple bitstreams together as information for controlling multiple bitstreams. In this case, multiple bitstreams may share the same metadata. Metadata may also be assigned for each playback time.

[0437] When multiple bitstreams or multiple files exist, one or more of the bitstreams or files may contain information indicating the associated bitstreams or files, or alternatively, each of all of the bitstreams or each of all of the files may contain information indicating the associated bitstreams or files.

[0438] Here, the related bitstreams or related files are, for example, bitstreams or files that may be used simultaneously during audio processing, and may also include bitstreams or files that collectively describe information indicating related bitstreams or related files.

[0439] Here, the information indicating the related bitstream or related file may be, for example, an identifier indicating the related bitstream or related file. Alternatively, the information indicating the related bitstream or related file may be, for example, a file name indicating the related bitstream or related file, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), or a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier).

[0440] In this case, the acquisition unit identifies and acquires the related bitstream or related file based on the information indicating the related bitstream or related file. Alternatively, the bitstream or file may contain information indicating the related bitstream or related file, and another bitstream or another file may contain information indicating the related bitstream or related file.

[0441] Here, the file containing information indicating the associated bitstream or associated file may be a control file such as a manifest file used for content distribution.

[0442] Note that all or part of the metadata may be obtained from sources other than the bitstream of the audio signal. For example, either the metadata for controlling the sound or the metadata for controlling the video may be obtained from sources other than the bitstream, or both may be obtained from sources other than the bitstream.

[0443] Furthermore, metadata for controlling the video may be included in the bitstream acquired by the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000. In this case, the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 may output the metadata for controlling the video to a display device that displays images or a stereophonic video reproduction device that reproduces the stereophonic video.

[0444] [Examples of Information Included in Metadata] Metadata may be information used to describe a scene represented in a sound space, where a scene is a term that refers to a collection of all elements representing three-dimensional video and sound events in a sound space that is modeled by the stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 using the metadata.

[0445] That is, the metadata may include not only information for controlling audio processing but also information for controlling video processing. The metadata may include only one of information for controlling audio processing and information for controlling video processing, or may include both.

[0446] The stereophonic sound reproduction system 1000 generates virtual sound effects by performing sound processing on audio signals using metadata included in the bitstream and additionally acquired interactive listener position information, etc. Among the sound effects, early reflection processing, obstacle processing, diffraction processing, blocking processing, and reverberation processing may be performed, and other sound processing may be performed using the metadata. For example, sound effects such as distance attenuation, localization, or Doppler effect may be added.

[0447] Furthermore, information on switching on / off all or part of the sound effects, or priority information for multiple sound effect processes may be added to the metadata.

[0448] As an example, the metadata includes information about a sound space including sound source objects and obstacle objects, and information about a positioning position for localizing a sound image at a predetermined position within the sound space (i.e., allowing the listener to perceive sound coming from a predetermined direction).

[0449] Here, an obstacle object is an object that may affect the sound perceived by the listener by, for example, blocking or reflecting the sound emitted by the sound source object before it reaches the listener. Obstacle objects may include not only stationary objects but also moving objects such as animals or machines. The animal may also be a person, etc.

[0450] Furthermore, when multiple sound source objects exist in a sound space, other sound source objects can be obstacle objects for any sound source object. In other words, both non-sound-emitting objects, such as building materials or inanimate objects, which do not emit sound, and sound source objects that emit sound can be obstacle objects.

[0451] The metadata includes information that represents all or part of the shape of the sound space, the shape and position of obstacle objects in the sound space, the shape and position of sound source objects in the sound space, and the position and orientation of the listener in the sound space.

[0452] The sound space may be either a closed space or an open space. The metadata may also include information indicating the reflectance of obstacle objects that may reflect sound in the sound space. For example, the floor, walls, or ceiling that form the boundaries of the sound space may also constitute obstacle objects.

[0453] The reflectance (reflection coefficient) is the ratio of the energy of reflected sound to incident sound, and may be set for each frequency band of sound. Of course, the reflectance may be set uniformly regardless of the frequency band of sound. Note that when the sound space is an open space, parameters such as a uniform attenuation rate, diffracted sound, and early reflected sound may be used.

[0454] The metadata may include information other than reflectance as a parameter related to an obstacle object or a sound source object. For example, the metadata may include information related to the material of the object as a parameter related to both the sound source object and the non-sound-emitting object. Specifically, the information related to the material of the object as metadata may include information other than reflectance, such as diffusion rate, transmittance, and sound absorption rate, and parameters related to the material, such as reflectance, diffusion rate, and sound absorption rate, may be associated with each piece of information identifying the material.

[0455] The information about the sound source object may include information indicating the volume, radiation characteristics (directivity), playback conditions, the number and type of sound sources in one object, and the sound source area in the object. The playback conditions may determine, for example, whether the sound is a continuous sound or an event-triggering sound. The sound source area in the object may be determined based on the relative relationship between the position of the listener and the position of the object, or may be determined using the object as a reference.

[0456] For example, if the sound source area is defined relative to the listener's position and the object's position, it is possible for the listener to perceive sound E coming from the right side of the object and sound F coming from the left side of the object.

[0457] Furthermore, when a sound source region is defined using an object as a reference, it is possible to fix which region of the object will emit which sound. For example, when a listener views an object from the front, it is possible for the listener to perceive a high-pitched sound from the right side of the object and a low-pitched sound from the left side of the object. When a listener views an object from the back, it is possible for the listener to perceive a low-pitched sound from the right side of the object and a high-pitched sound from the left side of the object.

[0458] The spatial metadata may include the time to early reflections, the reverberation time, the ratio of direct sound to diffuse sound, etc. If the ratio of direct sound to diffuse sound is zero, the listener will perceive only direct sound.

[0459] [Brief Summary] Here, the present embodiment will be briefly summarized.

[0460] The relationship between direct sound and reflected sound is analyzed, and when the direct sound is considered to be the preceding sound and the reflected sound is considered to be the following sound, if the relationship is such that the precedence effect occurs, in other words, when the reflected sound is below the echo detection limit, the reflected sound will not be perceived, and therefore even if the reflected sound is deleted, there will be little impact on the listener's hearing.

[0461] Fig. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object according to this embodiment. Fig. 27 is a diagram showing another example of the positional relationship between a listener and an obstacle object according to this embodiment. Note that Fig. 26 is equivalent to the positional relationship shown in Fig. 9, and Fig. 27 is equivalent to the positional relationship shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 28 is an example of an echo detection limit threshold according to this embodiment. Note that the echo detection limit threshold shown in Fig. 28 is an example of the threshold data shown in Fig. 12C etc.

[0462] For example, when comparing the positional relationship in Fig. 26 with the positional relationship in Fig. 27, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener in the positional relationship in Fig. 26 is lower than the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener in the positional relationship in Fig. 27. This is because the path length over which the reflected sound arrives in the positional relationship in Fig. 26 is longer than the path length over which the reflected sound arrives in the positional relationship in Fig. 27.

[0463] Therefore, when judging only by the volume of the reflected sound, the reflected sound shown in Fig. 26 has a smaller auditory impact than the reflected sound shown in Fig. 27. However, when comparing the arrival time of the reflected sound at the listening position shown in Fig. 26 with the arrival time of the reflected sound at the listening position shown in Fig. 27, the case shown in Fig. 26 is slower.

[0464] For this reason, when a judgment is made from the viewpoint of the echo detection limit, as shown in FIG. 28, the reflected sound shown in FIG. 27 is below the echo detection limit and is therefore not perceived by the listener as a reflected sound, whereas the reflected sound shown in FIG. 26 is above the echo detection limit and is therefore perceived by the listener as a reflected sound.

[0465] In this embodiment, this is utilized to determine the auditory importance of reflected sounds and prevent unimportant reflected sounds from being reproduced, thereby reducing the amount of calculation required for processing reflected sounds.

[0466] The present embodiment can be briefly summarized as above.

[0467] In order to make the above determination, it is necessary to calculate the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound, and the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0468] Such calculations may increase the amount of calculations, especially when calculating the volume ratio between direct sound and reflected sound, which may require a cumulative calculation process using various parameters in the virtual space, which may increase the amount of calculations.

[0469] Therefore, in the following, a more detailed description will be given of an audio signal processing method that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load in the sound space.

[0470] (Embodiment 2) The following describes embodiment 2. The following mainly describes the differences from embodiment 1, and the description of commonalities will be omitted or simplified.

[0471] [Configuration of the Rendering Unit] First, a description will be given of the configuration of the rendering unit 2300 according to this embodiment. Fig. 29 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the rendering unit 2300 according to this embodiment.

[0472] The rendering unit 2300 includes an analysis unit 2301, a selection unit 2302, and a reproduction unit 2303. The audio signal processing device according to this embodiment is an example of a decoding device, and the decoding device includes a decoder, which includes the rendering unit 2300. In other words, it can be said that the audio signal processing device according to this embodiment includes the analysis unit 2301, the selection unit 2302, and the reproduction unit 2303. The rendering unit 2300 applies acoustic processing to sound data included in an input signal and outputs the result.

[0473] As in the first embodiment, the input signal is composed of, for example, spatial information, sensor information, and sound data. The spatial information also includes physical information such as the reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, and diffraction coefficient of the object (obstacle object).

[0474] In this embodiment, the description will be mainly given using reflected sound, which is an example of indirect sound, but the same processing is performed even if indirect sound is used instead of reflected sound. In addition, examples of indirect sound include reflected sound and diffracted sound.

[0475] The analysis unit 2301 may perform all or part of the processing performed by the analysis unit 1301 according to the first embodiment.

[0476] Similar to the analyzer 1301 according to the first embodiment, the analyzer 2301 analyzes the audio signal included in the input signal and the spatial information received from the spatial information management units 1201 and 1211. As a result, the analyzer 2301 calculates information necessary for generating direct sound and reflected sound in the playback unit 2303, as well as information necessary for selecting whether or not to generate reflected sound. The method by which the analyzer 2301 calculates this information is as described in the first embodiment.

[0477] The analysis unit 2301 also performs analysis processing of the input signal, as performed by the analysis unit 1301 according to the first embodiment in S101 of Fig. 8. That is, the analysis unit 2301 analyzes the input signal input to the audio signal processing device according to the present embodiment, and detects direct sound and reflected sound that may occur in the sound space.

[0478] When such direct sound and reflected sound are detected, the analysis unit 2301 creates an audio signal indicating the reflected sound and an audio signal indicating the direct sound based on the spatial information and sound data.

[0479] More specifically, the analysis unit 2301 creates an audio signal indicating reflected sound and an audio signal indicating direct sound based on the position information of the sound source object contained in the spatial information, the position information of the object (obstacle object), the position information and physical information of the listener, and the sound data.

[0480] That is, the analysis unit 2301 creates an audio signal generated in a virtual space based on spatial information and sound data. More specifically, the audio signal created by the analysis unit 2301 is assigned attribute information that specifies the attribute of the audio signal, that is, the analysis unit 2301 creates an audio signal that includes such attribute information. The analysis unit 2301 also creates attribute information. An audio signal including attribute information is created for each sound generated in a virtual space. The attribute of the audio signal includes information indicating whether the audio represented by the audio signal is direct sound or reflected sound. In the present embodiment, as an example, the attribute is information indicating whether the audio represented by the audio signal is direct sound or reflected sound.

[0481] For simplicity, an audio signal whose attribute is information indicating reflected sound (indirect sound) may be described as an audio signal indicating reflected sound (indirect sound), and an audio signal whose attribute is information indicating direct sound may be described as an audio signal indicating direct sound.

[0482] Furthermore, the attribute information may include information necessary for radiating an audio signal into a sound space, such as gain information, information on gain characteristics for each frequency bandwidth, position information, and directivity information. That is, the necessary information may be held in the attribute information. Furthermore, the attribute information may be linked to the audio signal as metadata. The gain characteristics for each frequency bandwidth of the audio signal included in the attribute information may be identified, for example, based on spatial information included in the input information. Information indicating frequency characteristics that indicate auditory sensitivity may be identified, for example, based on spatial information included in the input information, and may particularly be identified as information linked to the listener's avatar.

[0483] A sound that reaches the listener's head directly from a single sound source is called a direct sound, and a sound that is output from the single sound source and then reflected off or diffracted by a reflecting object before reaching the listener's head is called an indirect sound (reflected sound or diffracted sound).

[0484] In this embodiment, the analysis unit 2301 generates an audio signal indicating a reflected sound (indirect sound) and an audio signal indicating a direct sound related to the reflected sound (indirect sound).

[0485] Furthermore, a direct sound related to an indirect sound refers to a direct sound originating from the same sound source as the indirect sound. An indirect sound related to a direct sound refers to an indirect sound originating from the same sound source as the direct sound.

[0486] An audio signal whose attribute is information indicating a reflected sound (indirect sound) includes information indicating an audio signal of a direct sound related to the reflected sound (indirect sound).

[0487] The analysis unit 2301 may store the generated voice signal in a memory included in the analysis unit 2301. The analysis unit 2301 may also generate a plurality of voice signals and store them in the memory.

[0488] Furthermore, the analysis unit 2301 may calculate values ​​relating to the path taken by each of the direct sound and the reflected sound to reach the listening position where the listener is located, the time it takes for the sound to arrive, etc., as in embodiment 1. Similarly, the analysis unit 2301 may calculate information indicating the relationship between the direct sound and the reflected sound, such as a value relating to the time difference between the time when the direct sound arrives at the listening position from the sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, and the time when the reflected sound arrives at the listening position (the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound).

[0489] The analysis unit 2301 includes a first analysis unit 2301a, a second analysis unit 2301b, and a third analysis unit 2301c.

[0490] The first analyzer 2301a calculates a first volume, which is the volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume, which is the volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position. Note that the sound corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position is defined as the first sound, i.e., the first volume is the volume of the first sound, which is the sound corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position. Also, the sound corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position is defined as the second sound, i.e., the second volume is the volume of the second sound, which is the sound corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position.

[0491] In this way, the first analyzer 2301a calculates the first volume of the first sound and the second volume of the second sound. First, the first sound and the second sound will be described with reference to FIG.

[0492] FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining the first sound, the second sound, the direct sound, and the reflected sound according to this embodiment.

[0493] 30, a sound source 100 emits sound. The sound emitted from the sound source 100 spreads around it. As described above, a direct sound is a sound that reaches the head of a listener directly from the sound source 100, and a reflected sound is a sound that is output from the sound source 100 and then reflected by a reflecting object (e.g., a wall) before reaching the head of the listener.

[0494] The first sound is a sound emitted from the sound source 100 and becomes a direct sound. More specifically, the first sound is a sound that has just been emitted from the sound source 100 and has not yet reached the listener. In Fig. 30 , the first sound is indicated by a solid line. The first sound propagates from the sound source 100 toward the listener, becomes a direct sound, and is heard by the listener.

[0495] The second sound is a sound emitted from the sound source 100 and becomes a reflected sound. More specifically, the second sound is a sound immediately after being emitted from the sound source 100 and traveling toward a reflecting object. The second sound is a sound that has not yet reached the reflecting object (reflecting object) or the listener. In FIG. 30 , the second sound is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The second sound propagates from the sound source 100 toward the reflecting object (e.g., a wall) and is reflected by the reflecting object, becoming a reflected sound indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 30 and being heard by the listener.

[0496] The reflected sound is a sound emitted from the sound source 100, reflected by a reflecting object, and travels from the reflecting object position to the listening position.

[0497] The reflection object position is determined based on the position information of the reflection object and the position information of the sound source object, and may be, for example, the position of the sound image of the reflected sound. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 30 , the position where the sound emitted from the sound source is reflected by the reflection surface may be the position of the sound image of the reflected sound, that is, the reflection object position.

[0498] The reflection object position may also be a position determined independently of the position information of the sound source object. For example, it may be the center of the reflection object, or the position of any point on the surface of the reflection object. By roughly determining the position of the reflection position in this way, the accuracy of the directionality of the reflected sound decreases, but it is possible to significantly save the computational resources required for calculation.

[0499] The direction in which the second sound travels is from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, and is typically the direction in which the sound emitted from the sound source travels toward the position where the sound is reflected by the reflecting surface, but may also be the direction in which the second sound travels toward any of the above-mentioned examples of the reflecting object position. Similarly, the direction in which the reflected sound travels is from the reflecting object position to the listening position, and is typically the direction in which the sound emitted from the sound source travels toward the listening position from the position where the sound is reflected by the reflecting surface, but may also be the direction in which the reflected sound travels from any of the above-mentioned examples of the reflecting object position to the listening position.

[0500] The first analyzer 2301a then calculates a first volume of the first sound and a second volume of the second sound. In this embodiment, the first analyzer 2301a calculates the first volume and the second volume using sound directionality, which is an example of the property of an object that intervenes in the propagation of the sound.

[0501] Here, the object intervening in the propagation of sound is the sound source 100, and the sound directivity, which is an example of the property of an object intervening in the propagation of sound, is the directivity of the sound emitted from the sound source 100. That is, the first analysis unit 2301a calculates the directivity of the sound emitted from the sound source 100 by performing an analysis process on the input signal. For example, the sound directivity is included in the spatial information contained in the input signal.

[0502] Furthermore, sound directivity will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32A.

[0503] Fig. 31 is a diagram showing sound directivity according to this embodiment. Fig. 32A is a diagram for explaining the relationship between sound directivity according to this embodiment and first sound, second sound, direct sound, and reflected sound. Note that Fig. 32A is a diagram in which the sound directivity shown in Fig. 31 is superimposed on the diagram shown in Fig. 30.

[0504] The sound directivity is defined by a directivity diagram such as that shown in Fig. 31. Data indicating the sound directivity may be stored in the SOFA (Spatially Oriented Format for Acoustics) format.

[0505] In the data showing the sound directivity, the scale indicates the volume of the sound, and is shown, for example, in dB values. The volume increases toward the outside of the circle and decreases toward the center of the circle. The area surrounded by the curve shown in Figure 31 indicates the directivity of the sound source 100, that is, the curve indicates the volume of the sound in the direction the sound is traveling. Note that the volume is not limited to dB values ​​and may be shown in other values.

[0506] In the data showing sound directivity, the scale can be said to represent the amount of sound attenuation. That is, the amount of attenuation is smaller toward the outside of the circle and greater toward the center of the circle.

[0507] The front direction is the direction in which sound travels at 0°. As shown in Figures 31 and 32A, for example, the first sound is a sound that travels in the front direction. The first analysis unit 2301a calculates that the first volume of the first sound is 0 dB based on the directivity of the sound and the direction in which the first sound travels.

[0508] 31 and 32A, for example, the second sound is a sound that travels in a direction of 270°. The first analysis unit 2301a calculates that the second volume of the second sound is −8 dB based on the directivity of the sound and the direction in which the second sound travels.

[0509] In this way, the first analyzer 2301a calculates the first volume and the second volume according to the directivity of the sound, which is an example of the property of an object that intervenes in the propagation of the sound.

[0510] In the above description, the second volume has been described as a volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object. An example of a method for calculating this direction will be described below with reference to FIG. 32B . FIG. 32B is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for calculating the second volume according to this embodiment. When a virtual image (mirror image) 110 of the sound source 100 is placed at the position of the mirror image via a wall (reflecting object), and the point where a line connecting the position of the virtual image (mirror image) 110 and the position of the listener intersects with the reflecting object is defined as a reflection point (reflecting object position), the direction of the second sound may be calculated as the direction connecting the sound source 100 to the reflection point. In this case, the second volume may be calculated by applying the direction of the second sound to the directivity of the sound source. Alternatively, it goes without saying that the second volume may be calculated by applying the direction of the reflected sound (the direction from the virtual image (mirror image) 110 toward the listener) to the directivity of the virtual image (mirror image) 110. In this case, it goes without saying that the directivity of the virtual image (mirror image) 110 has a mirror image relationship with the directivity of the sound source. Alternatively, the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object, may be calculated without using the mirror image. That is, the same result is obtained whether the second volume is calculated using the mirror image or without using the mirror image. To identify the direction and volume from the sound source position to the reflection point (reflecting object position), the calculation result of the direction and volume from the position of the mirror image of the sound source to the listening position may be used. In other words, it is essentially the same whether the direction from the sound source position to the reflection point (reflecting object position) is the direction corresponding to the second volume or the direction from the position of the mirror image of the sound source to the listening position is the direction corresponding to the second volume.

[0511] Note that the first analyzer 2301a calculates and acquires the first volume and the second volume using sound directionality, but this is not limited to this. For example, the first analyzer 2301a may calculate the first volume and the second volume by estimating the volume for each direction from shape data associated with the input signal. For example, if the shape data is a trumpet, the first volume and the second volume may be calculated so that the volume is strong in the direction of the nozzle and attenuates according to a predetermined rule as the volume deviates from that direction.

[0512] Furthermore, the first analyzer 2301a calculates a volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directionality of the sound. For example, the first analyzer 2301a calculates the volume ratio using a reference volume of the sound emitted by the sound source 100. Note that this volume ratio may be referred to as Dir. As described above, the spatial information includes information about the sound source object included in the sound space, the information about the sound source object includes information necessary for radiating sound data into the sound space, and the information necessary for radiating the sound data into the sound space includes information about the reference volume. Therefore, the first analyzer 2301a calculates the reference volume of the sound emitted by the sound source 100 by performing an analysis process on the input signal, and thereby calculates the volume ratio.

[0513] For example, in data showing sound directivity, if the scale represents the amount of sound attenuation and is expressed in dB, the first volume is expressed as (reference volume + attenuation in the direction in which the first sound travels), and the second volume is expressed as (reference volume + attenuation in the direction in which the second sound travels). The volume ratio Dir is calculated as (reference volume + attenuation in the direction in which the second sound travels) - (reference volume + attenuation in the direction in which the first sound travels), that is, (attenuation in the direction in which the second sound travels - attenuation in the direction in which the first sound travels).

[0514] In addition, when the first volume and the second volume are expressed in a value other than dB, if the first volume is A and the second volume is B, Dir satisfies the following formula 5.

[0515] Dir=B / A...(Formula 5)

[0516] Next, the second analysis unit 2301b will be described.

[0517] The second analysis unit 2301b performs processing using a reflection coefficient. For example, the second analysis unit 2301b performs analysis processing on the input signal to calculate a reflection coefficient of a reflecting object, which is an example of the properties of an object intervening in the propagation of sound. Here, the object intervening in the propagation of sound is a reflecting object that reflects the second sound, i.e., a reflecting object (wall). The second analysis unit 2301b calculates the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object and performs processing using the calculated reflection coefficient. Note that the reflection coefficient may be referred to as Ref.

[0518] The third analysis unit 2301c calculates the direct sound path length along which the direct sound arrives at the listening position where the listener is located, and the reflected sound path length along which the reflected sound arrives at the listening position. More specifically, the third analysis unit 2301c calculates the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length based on the positions of objects that intervene in the sound propagation. Here, the positions of objects that intervene in the sound propagation are the positions of the sound source object, the positions of the reflecting object (wall), and the position of the listener.

[0519] The third analysis unit 2301c calculates the positions of the sound source object, the reflecting object (wall), and the listener by analyzing the input signal. The third analysis unit 2301c geometrically calculates the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length based on the calculated positions of the sound source object, the reflecting object (wall), and the listener.

[0520] Furthermore, the third analyzer 2301c calculates the path length ratio between the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length. The path length ratio is the direct sound path length / the reflected sound path length.

[0521] The selection unit 2302 may be capable of performing all or part of the processing performed by the selection unit 1302 according to embodiment 1. The selection unit 2302 also determines whether an output signal based on the audio signal created by the analysis unit 2301 is to be output (played) by the playback unit 2303. That is, the selection unit 2302 first designates and acquires one audio signal from among the multiple audio signals (e.g., audio signals indicating reflected sound) created by the analysis unit 2301. The selection unit 2302 then determines whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal. If the reflected sound is selected, the playback unit 2303 outputs an output signal based on the audio signal indicating the reflected sound.

[0522] The selection unit 2302 includes an acquisition unit 2302a and a determination unit 2302b. The determination unit 2302b includes a first determination unit 2302b1, a second determination unit 2302b2, and a third determination unit 2302b3.

[0523] The acquisition unit 2302a acquires the audio signals created by the analysis unit 2301 and stored in the memory of the analysis unit 2301. The acquisition unit 2302a acquires, for example, an audio signal indicating a reflected sound (indirect sound) and an audio signal indicating a direct sound related to the reflected sound (indirect sound). The acquisition unit 2302a also acquires a value related to the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound calculated by the analysis unit 2301.

[0524] The determination unit 2302b determines whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the audio signal acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a. If the determination unit 2302b determines to select the reflected sound, the determination unit 2302b outputs the acquired audio signal to the reproduction unit 2303, and the reproduction unit 2303 acquires the output audio signal and outputs an output signal based on the acquired audio signal.

[0525] The determination unit 2302b may determine whether to select a reflected sound by, for example, the following process: The determination unit 2302b determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a, the properties of objects intervening in the sound propagation, the first volume of the first sound, and the second volume of the second sound.

[0526] More specifically, the property of an object intervening in the propagation of sound is the directivity of the sound, and the first determination unit 2302b1 determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference, a first volume calculated according to the directivity of the sound, and a second volume calculated according to the directivity of the sound. When performing this process, the first determination unit 2302b1 preferably acquires the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directivity of the sound by the first analysis unit 2301a.

[0527] Furthermore, for example, the first determination unit 2302b1 may determine whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference and the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directionality of the sound. When performing this process, the first determination unit 2302b1 may acquire the volume ratio calculated by the first analysis unit 2301a.

[0528] Furthermore, for example, the determining unit 2302b may determine whether to select a reflected sound using the reflection coefficient of a reflecting object as the property of an object that is involved in the propagation of sound.

[0529] More specifically, the second determining unit 2302b2 may use the reflection coefficient calculated by the second analyzing unit 2301b to determine whether or not to select a reflected sound.

[0530] Furthermore, for example, the determining unit 2302b may determine whether or not to select a reflected sound based on the position of an object that is present in the propagation of the sound.

[0531] More specifically, the positions of objects involved in the propagation of sound are the position of the sound source object, the position of the reflecting object (wall), and the position of the listener. In this case, the third determination unit 2302b3 may determine whether to select a reflected sound based on the path length ratio between the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length calculated by the third analysis unit 2301c based on the positions of the objects.

[0532] The reproduction unit 2303 may perform all or part of the processing performed by the reproduction unit 1303 according to Embodiment 1. The reproduction unit 2303 also acquires the audio signal output from the selection unit 2302, and outputs an output signal based on the acquired audio signal.

[0533] The reproduction unit 2303 performs processing such as binaural filtering on the acquired audio signal to generate and output an output signal. The binaural filtering is realized, for example, by processing the acquired audio signal using a head-related transfer function.

[0534] The reproduction unit 2303 may also combine the audio signal representing the direct sound acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a with the generated output signal and output the combined signal.

[0535] Furthermore, the reproduction unit 2303 may generate and output an output signal by performing both binaural filtering and diffusion filtering on the audio signal output from the selection unit 2302. Diffusion filtering is, for example, processing that improves the realism of indirect sound by diffusing reflected sound (indirect sound) represented by an acquired audio signal. Diffusion filtering is processing that uses a filter that realistically simulates the auditory strength of the diffusion of sound represented by the acquired audio signal (i.e., simulates the auditory strength of the diffusion of sound perceived by a listener). The diffusion filtering uses a finite impulse filter and / or an infinite impulse filter.

[0536] An example of the operation of the audio signal processing method performed by the audio signal processing device (more specifically, the rendering unit 2300) according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0537] [Example of operation of rendering unit] Fig. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the audio signal processing device according to this embodiment. Fig. 33 mainly shows processing executed by the rendering unit 2300 included in the audio signal processing device according to this embodiment. Note that here, explanation of commonalities with Fig. 8 according to embodiment 1 will be omitted or simplified.

[0538] First, the analysis unit 2301 performs an analysis process to analyze an input signal (S101a). More specifically, the analysis unit 2301 analyzes the input signal to detect direct sound and reflected sound that may occur in the sound space. When such direct sound and reflected sound are detected, the analysis unit 2301 creates an audio signal indicating the reflected sound and an audio signal indicating the direct sound based on the spatial information and sound data. The analysis unit 2301 stores the created audio signals in its memory.

[0539] In addition, the analysis unit 2301 analyzes the input signal and calculates values ​​related to the path taken by each of the direct sound and reflected sound to reach the listening position, the time it takes for each sound to arrive, and the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0540] First, the analyzer 2301 calculates the characteristics of the direct sound represented by the generated audio signal and the reflected sound represented by the generated audio signal. Specifically, the analyzer 2301 calculates the arrival times of the direct sound and the reflected sound when they reach the listener (listening position). Note that the method for calculating these arrival times can be the method described in the first embodiment.

[0541] Then, the analyzer 2301 calculates the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound. Note that the method of calculating the time difference (T) can be the same as that shown in the first embodiment.

[0542] Unlike step S101 according to the first embodiment, step S101a does not require the volume ratio (L) to be calculated.

[0543] The first analyzer 2301a may also calculate a first volume and a second volume, and may also calculate a volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume.

[0544] The second analyzing unit 2301b may also calculate a reflection coefficient of a reflecting object (wall). As described above, the second sound is a sound that becomes a reflected sound by being reflected by the reflecting object.

[0545] The third analyzing unit 2301c may also calculate the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length, and may calculate the path length ratio between the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length.

[0546] The selection unit 2302 selects a reflected sound (selection process) (S102a). That is, the selection unit 2302 selects whether or not the output signal based on the audio signal indicating the reflected sound generated by the analysis unit 2301 is to be reproduced by the reproduction unit 2303.

[0547] First, the acquisition unit 2302a acquires the audio signal created by the analysis unit 2301 and stored in memory. For example, the acquisition unit 2302a acquires at least one of an audio signal indicating a reflected sound (indirect sound) and an audio signal indicating a direct sound related to the reflected sound (indirect sound); in this case, the acquisition unit 2302a acquires both. The acquisition unit 2302a also acquires a value related to the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound calculated by the analysis unit 2301.

[0548] As described above, the reflected sound and the direct sound associated with the reflected sound are sounds originating from the same sound source.

[0549] The determination unit 2302b determines whether or not to select a reflected sound, for example, by the following process: The determination unit 2302b determines whether or not to select a reflected sound based on the time difference acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a, the properties of objects intervening in the sound propagation, the first volume of the first sound, and the second volume of the second sound.

[0550] Furthermore, the determination unit 2302b also uses a threshold determined according to the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound to determine whether to select the reflected sound. If the determination unit 2302b determines that the reflected sound should be selected, the determination unit 2302b outputs an audio signal indicating the reflected sound to the playback unit 2303, and the playback unit 2303 acquires the output audio signal and outputs an output signal based on the audio signal. In other words, this case corresponds to the case where the determination unit 2302b selects that the playback unit 2303 output an output signal based on the acquired audio signal indicating the reflected sound.

[0551] The threshold value is a value determined according to the time difference (T) between the direct sound related to the reflected sound and the reflected sound, in other words, a value that depends on the time difference (T), and is a value indicated in the threshold value data of embodiment 1. The threshold value data is expressed as a threshold value for whether the reflected sound is perceived or not, for example, in a graph having the value of the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound on the horizontal axis and the volume ratio between the direct sound and the reflected sound on the vertical axis.

[0552] More specifically, the threshold data indicating the threshold is the data shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, etc.

[0553] The selection unit 2302 performs the selection process as described above.

[0554] The reproduction unit 2303 acquires the audio signal output from the selection unit 2302 (more specifically, the determination unit 2302b) and outputs an output signal based on the audio signal (S103a). Here, the reproduction unit 2303 combines the audio signal representing the direct sound acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a with the generated output signal (audio signal representing the reflected sound) and outputs the combined signal.

[0555] The analysis process and selection process will be described in more detail using first to seventh examples.

[0556] First Example First, a first example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0557] 34 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a first example of the analysis process and selection process according to the present embodiment. Note that here, explanation of commonalities with FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

[0558] First, the selection unit 2302 specifies the reflected sound detected by the analysis unit 2301 (S310). That is, the acquisition unit 2302a of the selection unit 2302 specifies the audio signal created by the analysis unit 2301 and stored in memory, and acquires the specified audio signal. The acquisition unit 2302a, for example, specifies an audio signal indicating a reflected sound, and acquires the specified audio signal. At this time, the acquisition unit 2302a may also acquire an audio signal indicating a direct sound related to the reflected sound. Note that this step S310 is the same process as step S201.

[0559] Then, the analysis unit 2301 (more specifically, the first analysis unit 2301a) calculates the volume ratio (Dir) between the first volume and the second volume (S311). More specifically, the first analysis unit 2301a first calculates the first volume and the second volume. For example, the first analysis unit 2301a calculates the first volume and the second volume using sound directivity, which is an example of the property of an object that intervenes in the propagation of sound. Furthermore, the first analysis unit 2301a calculates the volume ratio (Dir) between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the sound directivity.

[0560] The analysis unit 2301 calculates the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound (S312). That is, as described above, the analysis unit 2301 calculates a value relating to the time difference between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0561] The selection unit 2302 (determination unit 2302b) also uses the threshold data to identify a threshold value corresponding to the time difference (T) calculated in step S312 (S313). Note that step S313 is the same process as step S204.

[0562] The determination unit 2302b (first determination unit 2302b1) then determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a, the properties of objects intervening in the sound propagation, the first volume of the first sound, and the second volume of the second sound. More specifically, the first determination unit 2302b1 determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference, the first volume calculated according to the sound directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the sound directivity. Even more specifically, the first determination unit 2302b1 determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference and the volume ratio (Dir) between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the sound directivity. In this operation example, the first determination unit 2302b1 determines whether the volume ratio (Dir) calculated by the first analysis unit 2301a is equal to or greater than a threshold value identified corresponding to the time difference (T) (S314).

[0563] If the volume ratio (Dir) is less than the threshold value (No in step S314), the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound (S341). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound specified in step S310. Note that step S341 is the same process as step S207.

[0564] The process of step S314 will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0565] Fig. 35 is a diagram for explaining the processing of step S314 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 35 shows two volume ratios (Dir) and an echo detection limit threshold. Note that the echo detection limit threshold shown in Fig. 35 is an example of the threshold data shown in Fig. 12C and the like.

[0566] The two volume ratios are the volume ratio indicated by the solid circle and the volume ratio indicated by the dashed circle. If the volume ratio calculated in step S311 corresponds to the volume ratio indicated by the solid circle, it is determined that the volume ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold (echo detection limit threshold). On the other hand, if the volume ratio calculated in step S311 corresponds to the volume ratio indicated by the dashed circle, it is determined that the volume ratio is less than the threshold (echo detection limit threshold).

[0567] The processing of step S314 illustrated in Fig. 35 does not use the volume ratio (L) between the direct sound and the reflected sound that was used in the processing of step S205 according to embodiment 1. As described above, there is a risk that the amount of calculation required to calculate this volume ratio (L) will increase, but in this embodiment, because this volume ratio (L) is not used, it is possible to appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0568] Furthermore, a volume ratio (Dir) less than the threshold value corresponds to the second volume of the second sound being sufficiently smaller than the first volume of the first sound. Even if such a second sound is reflected by a reflecting object or other reflective object and arrives at the listening position as a reflected sound, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener is very small. Therefore, even if the listener cannot hear the reflected sound, the listener is unlikely to feel uncomfortable. In other words, even if the reflected sound is deleted, the listener's auditory sensation is minimally affected.

[0569] That is, the audio signal processing method according to the present embodiment can suppress the listener from feeling uncomfortable, and can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0570] This will be explained again with reference to FIG.

[0571] If the volume ratio (Dir) is equal to or greater than the threshold (Yes in step S314), the analysis unit 2301 (second analysis unit 2301b) performs the following process. That is, the second analysis unit 2301b identifies a reflection coefficient (Ref) and multiplies the calculated volume ratio (Dir) by the identified reflection coefficient (Ref) (S321). As a result, the second analysis unit 2301b calculates a value (Dir x Ref) obtained by multiplying the volume ratio (Dir) and the reflection coefficient (Ref).

[0572] Here, the second analysis unit 2301b calculates and identifies the reflection coefficient (Ref) of the reflecting object, which is an example of the property of the object involved in the propagation of the sound. The object involved in the propagation of the sound is a reflecting object (wall) that reflects the second sound.

[0573] Then, the second analyzer 2301b calculates a value (Dir×Ref) by multiplying the calculated volume ratio (Dir) by the calculated reflection coefficient (Ref).

[0574] The determination unit 2302b (second determination unit 2302b2) determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference acquired by the acquisition unit 2302a, the calculated reflection coefficient (Ref), the first volume calculated according to the directivity of the sound, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity of the sound. More specifically, the second determination unit 2302b2 determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference and Equation 6.

[0575] Dir×Ref... (Formula 6)

[0576] In this operation example, the second determination unit 2302b2 determines whether the value (Dir×Ref) calculated by the second analysis unit 2301b is equal to or greater than a threshold value identified corresponding to the time difference (T) (S322).

[0577] If the value (Dir x Ref) is less than the threshold value (No in step S322), the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound (S341). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0578] The process of step S322 will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0579] Fig. 36 is a diagram for explaining the process of step S322 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 36 shows the volume ratio (Dir), a value (Dir x Ref), and an echo detection limit threshold. Note that the echo detection limit threshold shown in Fig. 36 is an example of the threshold data shown in Fig. 12C and the like.

[0580] The volume ratio (Dir) shown in Fig. 36 is the volume ratio (Dir) determined as Yes in step S314, i.e., the volume ratio (Dir) that is equal to or greater than the threshold. The value (Dir x Ref) shown in Fig. 36 is the value obtained by multiplying the volume ratio (Dir) shown in Fig. 36 by the reflection coefficient (Ref). In step S322, if the calculated value (Dir x Ref) corresponds to the value (Dir x Ref) shown in Fig. 36, it is determined that the value (Dir x Ref) is less than the threshold (echo detection limit threshold).

[0581] In step S322, similarly to step S314, the volume ratio (L) is not used, so the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be appropriately reduced.

[0582] Furthermore, the value (Dir x Ref) being less than the threshold value corresponds to the volume of the reflected sound when the second sound is reflected by a reflecting object such as a reflecting object and becomes a reflected sound being sufficiently smaller than the first volume of the first sound. Even when such a reflected sound arrives at the listening position, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener is very small. Therefore, the listener is unlikely to feel uncomfortable even if he or she is unable to hear the reflected sound. In other words, the deletion of the reflected sound has little impact on the listener's hearing.

[0583] That is, the audio signal processing method according to the present embodiment can suppress the listener from feeling uncomfortable, and can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0584] This will be explained again with reference to FIG.

[0585] If the value (Dir × Ref) is equal to or greater than the threshold (Yes in step S322), the analysis unit 2301 (third analysis unit 2301c) performs the following process. That is, the third analysis unit 2301c calculates the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound based on the positions of objects intervening in the sound propagation (S331). Note that this volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound corresponds to the volume ratio between the volume of the direct sound heard by the listener and the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener. Furthermore, this volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound corresponds to the volume ratio between the volume of the direct sound reaching the listener and the volume of the reflected sound reaching the listener.

[0586] The third analyzer 2301c calculates the volume ratio (L1) in the following manner.

[0587] First, the third analysis unit 2301c calculates the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length. More specifically, the third analysis unit 2301c calculates the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length based on the positions of objects that intervene in the sound propagation. That is, the positions of objects that intervene in the sound propagation are the positions of the sound source object, the positions of the reflecting object (wall), and the position of the listener.

[0588] Furthermore, the third analysis unit 2301c calculates the path length ratio between the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length. The path length ratio is the direct sound path length / the reflected sound path length. Generally, the longer the distance from the sound source to the listening position, the lower the volume of the sound, i.e., the sound attenuates with distance. The path length ratio is used to express this attenuation with distance.

[0589] The third analyzer 2301c then multiplies the value (Dir × Ref) calculated by the second analyzer 2301b in step S321 by the path length ratio to calculate the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound. That is, the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound satisfies the following formula 7.

[0590] L1 = (Dir × Ref) × path length ratio (Equation 7)

[0591] The volume ratio (Dir) is the ratio of the volume of the first sound and the second sound immediately after they are emitted from a sound source (e.g., sound source 100). (Dir x Ref) indicates the ratio between the first volume and the volume of the second sound after it is reflected by a reflecting object. To represent that the first sound and the second sound have reached the listening position as direct sound and reflected sound, this ratio is multiplied by a path length ratio that takes into account the attenuation of volume due to the distance to the listener, thereby calculating the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound. In addition, the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound can also be said to be a volume ratio that takes into account attenuation due to distance.

[0592] The determination unit 2302b (third determination unit 2302b3) determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the position of an object intervening in the sound propagation. More specifically, the third determination unit 2302b3 determines whether to select a reflected sound based on the path length ratio between the direct sound path length and the reflected sound path length calculated based on the position of the object intervening in the sound propagation. In this operation example, the third determination unit 2302b3 determines whether the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound calculated by the third analysis unit 2301c is equal to or greater than a threshold value specified corresponding to the time difference (T) (S332).

[0593] If the volume ratio (L1) is less than the threshold value (No in step S332), the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound (S341). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0594] The process of step S332 will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0595] Fig. 37 is a diagram for explaining the processing of step S332 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 37 shows a value (Dir x Ref), a volume ratio (L1) between direct sound and reflected sound, and an echo detection limit threshold. Note that the echo detection limit threshold shown in Fig. 37 is an example of the threshold data shown in Fig. 12C and the like.

[0596] The value (Dir x Ref) shown in Fig. 37 is the value (Dir x Ref) determined as Yes in step S322, i.e., the value (Dir x Ref) that is equal to or greater than the threshold. The volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound shown in Fig. 37 is the value obtained by multiplying the value (Dir x Ref) shown in Fig. 37 by the path length ratio. In step S332, if the calculated volume ratio (L1) corresponds to the volume ratio (L1) shown in Fig. 37, it is determined that the volume ratio (L1) is less than the threshold (echo detection limit threshold).

[0597] In step S332, similarly to step S314, the volume ratio (L) is not used. The volume ratio (L1) can be calculated with a smaller amount of calculation than the volume ratio (L). Therefore, the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be appropriately reduced.

[0598] Furthermore, the volume ratio (L1) being less than the threshold value corresponds to the volume of the reflected sound, which is generated when the second sound is reflected by a reflecting object such as a reflecting object and reaches the listening position, being sufficiently smaller than the first volume of the first sound. Even when such a reflected sound reaches the listening position, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener is very small. Therefore, the listener is unlikely to feel uncomfortable even if he or she is unable to hear the reflected sound. In other words, the deletion of the reflected sound has little impact on the listener's hearing.

[0599] That is, the audio signal processing method according to the present embodiment can suppress the listener from feeling uncomfortable, and can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0600] This will be explained again with reference to FIG.

[0601] If the volume ratio (L1) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (Yes in step S332), the selection unit 2302 selects the reflected sound as the reflected sound to be generated (S342). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 selects the reflected sound specified in step S310. Note that step S342 is the same process as step S206.

[0602] Thereafter, the selection unit 2302 determines whether or not there is an unspecified reflected sound (S343). If there is an unspecified reflected sound (Yes in step S343), the selection unit 2302 repeats the above-described processing (steps S310 to S343). If there is no unspecified reflected sound (No in step S343), the selection unit 2302 ends the processing. Note that step S343 is the same processing as step S208.

[0603] Then, the process of step S103a in FIG. 33 is carried out.

[0604] Second Example Next, a second example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0605] 38 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second example of the analysis process and selection process according to this embodiment. Note that here, explanation of commonalities with the first example will be omitted or simplified.

[0606] In the second example, the processes of steps S310 to S314 are performed. Also, in the second example, the processes of steps S321 to S332 and step S342 performed in the first example are not performed.

[0607] Then, the processes of steps S341 and S343 are carried out.

[0608] <Third Example> Next, a third example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0609] 39 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the third example of the analysis process and selection process according to this embodiment. Note that here, explanation of commonalities with the first example will be omitted or simplified.

[0610] In the third example, the processes of steps S310 to S322 are performed. Also, in the third example, the processes of steps S331 and S332 performed in the first example are not performed.

[0611] Then, the processes of steps S341 to S343 are carried out.

[0612] <Fourth Example> Next, a fourth example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0613] 40 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the fourth example of the analysis process and selection process according to the present embodiment. Note that here, explanation of commonalities with the first example will be omitted or simplified.

[0614] In the fourth example, the processes of steps S310 to S314 and steps S331 to S343 are performed. Also, in the fourth example, the processes of steps S321 and S322 performed in the first example are not performed.

[0615] In step S331 according to the fourth example, the volume ratio (L1) between the direct sound and the reflected sound satisfies the following formula 8.

[0616] L1 = Dir × path length ratio (Equation 8)

[0617] <Fifth Example> Next, a fifth example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0618] 41 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the fifth example of the analysis process and selection process according to the present embodiment. Note that here, explanation of the points in common with the first example will be omitted or simplified.

[0619] In the fifth example, the process of step S310 is performed.

[0620] Then, the analysis unit 2301 (second analysis unit 2301b) identifies the reflection coefficient (Ref) (S411). Here, the second analysis unit 2301b calculates and identifies the reflection coefficient (Ref) of a reflecting object, which is an example of the property of an object that intervenes in the propagation of the sound. The object that intervenes in the propagation of the sound is a reflecting object that reflects the second sound, i.e., a reflecting object (wall).

[0621] The second analysis unit 2301b calculates the volume taking the reflection coefficient into consideration by multiplying the reference volume by the reflection coefficient. More specifically, the second analysis unit 2301b may first calculate the reference volume using the same method as the first analysis unit 2301a. Note that the reference volume may also be referred to as N. The second analysis unit 2301b then calculates the volume taking the reflection coefficient into consideration by multiplying the calculated reference volume (N) by the reflection coefficient (Ref) calculated in step S411. The calculated volume taking the reflection coefficient into consideration satisfies Equation 9.

[0622] N×Ref...(Formula 9)

[0623] Next, the second analysis unit 2301b calculates the volume ratio between the reference volume (N) and the volume (N × Ref) that takes the reflection coefficient into consideration (S412). This volume ratio is written as NRef, and is the value obtained by dividing the volume (N × Ref) that takes the reflection coefficient into consideration by the reference volume (N), and satisfies Equation 10.

[0624] NRef=(N×Ref) / N...(Formula 10)

[0625] The analysis unit 2301 calculates the time difference (T) between the direct sound and the reflected sound (S312). The selection unit 2302 (determination unit 2302b) uses the threshold data to identify a threshold value corresponding to the time difference (T) (S313).

[0626] Then, the determination unit 2302b (second determination unit 2302b2) determines whether the calculated volume ratio (NRef) is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S413). Note that this threshold value corresponds to the echo detection limit threshold value, and is an example of the threshold value data shown in FIG. 12C and the like.

[0627] If the volume ratio (NRef) is less than the threshold value (No in step S413), the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound (S341). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0628] If the volume ratio (NRef) is equal to or greater than the threshold (Yes in step S413), the selection unit 2302 determines whether or not there is an unspecified reflected sound (S343). If there is an unspecified reflected sound (Yes in step S343), the selection unit 2302 repeats the above-described processing (steps S310 to S413). If there is no unspecified reflected sound (No in step S343), the selection unit 2302 ends the processing.

[0629] Here, the process of step S413 will be considered.

[0630] As described above, the threshold value is a value determined by the determining unit 2302b in step S313 based on the time difference (T).

[0631] Furthermore, to calculate the volume ratio (NRef), a reference volume (N), a reflection coefficient (Ref), and a volume (N x Ref) taking the reflection coefficient into account are used. The reference volume can be considered to be the volume of a sound that reaches the listening position without reflection, and the volume taking the reflection coefficient into account can be considered to be the volume of a sound that reaches the listening position after being reflected by a reflecting object. In other words, here, the reference volume corresponds to the volume of a sound that becomes a direct sound, i.e., the first volume of the first sound, and the volume taking the reflection coefficient into account corresponds to the volume of a sound that becomes a reflected sound, i.e., the second volume of the second sound.

[0632] From the above, it can be said that in the processing of step S413, the judgment unit 2302b (second judgment unit 2302b2) performs processing to determine whether or not to select reflected sound based on the time difference, the reflection coefficient which is an example of the property of an object intervening in the propagation of sound, the first volume, and the second volume.

[0633] Sixth Example Next, a sixth example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0634] 42 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the sixth example of the analysis process and selection process according to the present embodiment. Note that here, explanation of the points in common with the fifth example will be omitted or simplified.

[0635] In the sixth example, the processes of steps S310 to S412 are performed.

[0636] Then, the process of step S413 is performed. Here, if the volume ratio (NRef) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (Yes in step S413), the analysis unit 2301 (third analysis unit 2301c) calculates a value (L2) obtained by multiplying the identified reflection coefficient (Ref) by the path length ratio (S511).

[0637] The reflection coefficient (Ref) is preferably determined by the second analysis unit 2301b in step S411, and the third analysis unit 2301c may obtain the determined reflection coefficient (Ref) before step S511.

[0638] The third analysis unit 2301c may calculate the path length ratio before step S511.

[0639] Then, the determination unit 2302b (third determination unit 2302b3) determines whether the calculated value (L2) is equal to or greater than a threshold value specified corresponding to the time difference (T) (S512). Note that this threshold value corresponds to the echo detection limit threshold value and is an example of the threshold value data shown in FIG. 12C and the like.

[0640] If the value (L2) is less than the threshold value (No in step S512), the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound (S341). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0641] If the value (L2) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (Yes in step S512), the selection unit 2302 selects the reflected sound as the reflected sound to be generated (S342). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 selects the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0642] Thereafter, the selection unit 2302 determines whether or not there is an unspecified reflected sound (S343). If there is an unspecified reflected sound (Yes in step S343), the selection unit 2302 repeats the above-described processing (steps S310 to S342). If there is no unspecified reflected sound (No in step S343), the selection unit 2302 ends the processing.

[0643] Here, the processing in step S512 will be considered.

[0644] If the reflection coefficient (Ref) is sufficiently small, even if the second sound arrives at the listening position as a reflected sound, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener will be very small. In step S512, the reflection coefficient (Ref) is further multiplied by a path length ratio to take into account the attenuation of volume over distance, resulting in a value (L2) that is compared with a threshold value.

[0645] That is, when the value (L2) is less than the threshold value, even if the second sound is reflected by a reflecting object or the like and reaches the listening position as a reflected sound, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener is very small. Therefore, even if the listener cannot hear the reflected sound, the listener will not feel uncomfortable. In other words, even if the reflected sound is deleted, the impact on the listener's hearing is small.

[0646] Seventh Example Next, a seventh example of the analysis process and selection process will be described.

[0647] 43 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the seventh example of the analysis process and selection process according to the present embodiment. Note that here, explanation of the points in common with the first example will be omitted or simplified.

[0648] In the seventh example, the process of step S310 is performed.

[0649] The first analyzer 2301a calculates the first volume and the second volume (S611). For example, the first analyzer 2301a calculates the first volume and the second volume using sound directionality, which is an example of the property of an object that intervenes in the propagation of sound.

[0650] The second analysis unit 2301b calculates and identifies a reflection coefficient (Ref) of a reflecting object, which is an example of the property of an object intervening in the propagation of the sound (S612). The object intervening in the propagation of the sound is a reflecting object that reflects the second sound, i.e., a reflecting object (wall).

[0651] The analysis unit 2301 calculates the volume ratio (L3) between the direct sound and the reflected sound based on the calculated first volume, the calculated second volume, and the identified reflection coefficient (Ref) (S613). Note that this volume ratio (L3) between the direct sound and the reflected sound corresponds to the volume ratio between the volume of the direct sound heard by the listener and the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener. Furthermore, this volume ratio (L3) between the direct sound and the reflected sound corresponds to the volume ratio between the volume of the direct sound reaching the listener and the volume of the reflected sound reaching the listener. Here, assuming that the first volume is A and the second volume is B, the volume ratio (L3) is expressed by the following Equation 11:

[0652] L3 = {(B × Ref) / A} × path length ratio (Equation 11)

[0653] (B x Ref) indicates the volume of the second sound after it is reflected by a reflecting object, and this volume is divided by the first volume (A) of the first sound and multiplied by a path length ratio to take into account the attenuation of volume due to the distance to the listener, thereby calculating the volume ratio (L3) between the direct sound and the reflected sound.

[0654] Then, the determining unit 2302b determines whether the volume ratio (L3) between the direct sound and the reflected sound calculated by the analyzing unit 2301 is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S614).

[0655] If the volume ratio (L3) is less than the threshold value (No in step S614), the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound (S341). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 does not select the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0656] If the volume ratio (L3) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (Yes in step S614), the selection unit 2302 selects the reflected sound as the reflected sound to be generated (S342). That is, in this case, the selection unit 2302 selects the reflected sound specified in step S310.

[0657] The threshold value is a value corresponding to the time difference (T), and (B×Ref) / A is included in Equation 11. Therefore, in step S614, the determination unit 2302b can be said to determine whether or not to select a reflected sound based on the time difference and (B×Ref) / A.

[0658] In the above embodiment, an example of the configuration of the rendering unit 2300 is shown in Fig. 29 etc., but the configuration is not limited to this. Here, another example of a rendering unit will be described with reference to Fig. 44.

[0659] FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a rendering unit 3300 according to another example.

[0660] The rendering unit 3300 includes an initial reflection processing unit 3310 , a directivity processing unit 3320 , a distance attenuation processing unit 3330 , a detection limit determination unit 3340 , and a reproduction unit 3350 .

[0661] The initial reflection processing unit 3310 has a second analysis unit 2301b and a second determination unit 2302b2. It is preferable that the initial reflection processing unit 3310 can perform the same processing as the analysis unit 2301 according to the second embodiment. The directivity processing unit 3320 has a first analysis unit 2301a and a first determination unit 2302b1. The distance attenuation processing unit 3330 has a third analysis unit 2301c and a third determination unit 2302b3.

[0662] The processing performed by the rendering unit 3300 may be performed as part of a pipeline processing such as that described in, for example, US Pat. No. 6,233,999.

[0663] 44, a plurality of processing units (an early reflection processing unit 3310, a directivity processing unit 3320, a distance attenuation processing unit 3330, a detection limit determination unit 3340, and a reproduction unit 3350) are provided to perform the processing for imparting sound effects executed by a rendering unit 3300. Pipeline processing refers to the execution of a plurality of processes one by one in sequence for each sound.

[0664] However, these processes are merely examples, and the pipeline processing may include other processes or may not include some of the processes. The order of the processes may also be different. Each processing unit may be expressed as a stage. Furthermore, an audio signal indicating a reflected sound or the like generated as a result of each process may be expressed as a rendering item.

[0665] In the present disclosure, if the judgment unit included in each processing unit determines that the reflected sound will not be selected (for example, if the judgment is "NO" in processing such as step S314 shown in Figure 34), processing of the reflected sound in subsequent processing units can be skipped.

[0666] Even if the order of the processing units is changed, the effect of the present disclosure can be achieved by making a determination in each processing unit.

[0667] An even better example of the order will be explained below. It is advisable to perform processing of the initial reflection processing unit 3310 and the directivity processing unit 3320 before the distance attenuation processing unit 3330. This is because, in order for the distance attenuation processing unit 3330 to calculate the volume at the listening position, it is necessary to acquire parameters related to the directivity of the sound emitted from the sound source object and parameters related to the reflection coefficient beforehand.

[0668] When the directivity processing unit 3320 performs processing before the distance attenuation processing unit 3330, if the first determination unit 2302b1 according to the present disclosure determines not to generate the reflected sound, the reflected sound can be omitted from processing in the subsequent processing units, that is, the distance attenuation processing unit 3330, the detection limit determination unit 3340, and the reproduction unit 3350. As a result, it becomes possible to determine whether or not to select a sound generated in the sound space by a processing unit that performs processing earlier in the pipeline processing, making it possible to appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0669] The present embodiment can be summarized as follows.

[0670] The audio signal processing method according to this embodiment is an audio signal processing method executed by an audio signal processing device, and includes an analyzing step, an acquiring step, a determining step, and a reproducing step.

[0671] The analysis step calculates the time difference between the time when sound emitted from the sound source 100 arrives as direct sound from the sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to the listening position, which is the position of the listener, and the time when the sound arrives as reflected sound at the listening position after being reflected by a reflecting object. The acquisition step acquires the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicative of the reflected sound. The determination step determines whether to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference, the properties of objects intervening in the sound propagation, a first volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position. The reproduction step outputs an output signal based on the audio signal indicative of the reflected sound determined to be selected.

[0672] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal based on an audio signal indicating a reflected sound is selected based on the time difference, the property, the first volume, and the second volume. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is appropriately selected. When an output signal is not output, the amount of calculation and the calculation load are reduced. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0673] In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in the first example of the analysis process and the selection process, the volume ratio (L) between the direct sound and the reflected sound used in the process of step S205 in embodiment 1 is not used. As described above, there is a risk that the amount of calculation will increase in order to calculate this volume ratio (L), but in this embodiment, because this volume ratio (L) is not used, the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be appropriately reduced.

[0674] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a threshold value is used to determine whether to select a reflected sound. As shown in the first example, when the volume ratio (Dir), the value (Dir x Ref), or the volume ratio (L1) is less than the threshold value, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener is very low, and the listener is unlikely to feel uncomfortable even if he or she is unable to hear the reflected sound. In other words, the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment can prevent the listener from feeling uncomfortable and can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0675] In the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment, the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position, which is the position of the reflecting object, is calculated based on the direction from the position of the mirror image of the sound source via the reflecting object to the listening position.

[0676] This allows the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position to be calculated based on the direction from the position of the mirror image of the sound source to the listening position.

[0677] In the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment, the property is the directivity of the sound, and in the determination step, it is determined whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference, the first volume calculated according to the directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity.

[0678] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the first and second volumes calculated according to the directivity. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0679] In the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment, in the determination step, it is determined whether or not to select reflected sound based on the acquired time difference and the volume ratio between the first volume calculated according to the directivity and the second volume calculated according to the directivity.

[0680] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0681] In the audio signal processing method according to the present embodiment, the property is the reflection coefficient of a reflecting object.

[0682] As a result, as shown in the fifth example of the analysis process and the selection process, whether or not to output an output signal based on an audio signal indicating a reflected sound is selected based on the time difference, the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object, the first volume, and the second volume. In other words, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0683] In the audio signal processing method according to the present embodiment, the properties are the directivity of the sound and the reflection coefficient of the reflecting object. In the determination step, it is determined whether to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference, the reflection coefficient, the first volume calculated according to the directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity.

[0684] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference, the reflection coefficient, and the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0685] In the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment, when the first volume is A, the second volume is B, and the reflection coefficient is Ref, the determination step determines whether or not to select the reflected sound (B×Ref) / A based on the acquired time difference and the following formula:

[0686] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the above formula. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0687] In the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment, when the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume is Dir and the reflection coefficient is Ref, the determination step determines whether or not to select Dir x Ref reflected sound based on the acquired time difference and the following formula:

[0688] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal is selected based on the time difference and the above formula. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is more appropriately selected. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0689] In the audio signal processing method according to the present embodiment, the determining step further determines whether or not to select a reflected sound based on the position of an object that is present in the propagation of the sound.

[0690] This further selects whether to output an output signal based on the positions of the sound source 100, reflecting objects, listeners, and other objects that are involved in the propagation of sound. That is, it is more appropriately selected whether to output an output signal based on the audio signal. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0691] In the audio signal processing method according to this embodiment, in the determination step, it is determined whether or not to select a reflected sound based on the path length ratio between the direct sound path length through which the direct sound, calculated based on the position of the object, arrives at the listening position and the reflected sound path length through which the reflected sound, calculated based on the position of the object, arrives at the listening position.

[0692] This further selects whether to output an output signal based on the path length ratio. That is, it is more appropriately selected whether to output an output signal based on the audio signal. In other words, it is possible to realize an audio signal processing method that can more appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0693] The computer program according to the present embodiment is a computer program for causing a computer to execute the above-described audio signal processing method.

[0694] This allows the computer to execute the above-described audio signal processing method in accordance with the computer program.

[0695] The audio signal processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes an analysis unit 2301 , an acquisition unit 2302 a , a determination unit 2302 b , and a reproduction unit 2303 .

[0696] The analysis unit 2301 calculates the time difference between the time when sound emitted from the sound source 100 arrives as direct sound from the sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to the listening position, where the listener is located, and the time when the sound arrives as reflected sound at the listening position after being reflected by a reflecting object. The acquisition unit 2302a acquires the calculated time difference and an audio signal representing the reflected sound. The determination unit 2302b determines whether to select the reflected sound represented by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference, the properties of objects intervening in the sound propagation, a first volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflecting object position. The reproduction unit 2303 outputs an output signal based on the audio signal representing the reflected sound determined to be selected.

[0697] As a result, whether or not to output an output signal based on an audio signal indicating a reflected sound is selected based on the time difference, the property, the first volume, and the second volume. That is, whether or not to output an output signal based on the audio signal is appropriately selected. When an output signal is not output, the amount of calculation and the calculation load are reduced. In other words, an audio signal processing device that can appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be realized.

[0698] (Supplementary Note) The aspects grasped based on the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments, and may be implemented with various modifications.

[0699] For example, a process performed by a specific component in the embodiment may be performed by another component instead of the specific component. Also, the order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be performed in parallel.

[0700] Furthermore, ordinal numbers such as first and second used in the description may be rearranged, removed, or newly added as appropriate. These ordinal numbers do not necessarily correspond to a meaningful order, but may be used to identify elements.

[0701] Furthermore, for example, in comparison with a threshold, "greater than or equal to the threshold" and "greater than the threshold" may be interpreted interchangeably. Similarly, "equal to or less than the threshold" and "smaller than the threshold" may be interpreted interchangeably. Furthermore, for example, "time" and "hour" may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0702] Furthermore, in the process of selecting one or more processing target sounds from a plurality of sounds, if there is no sound that satisfies the conditions, then none of the sounds may be selected as the processing target sounds. In other words, the process of selecting one or more processing target sounds from a plurality of sounds may include cases in which no processing target sounds are selected.

[0703] Also, for example, reference to at least one of a first element, a second element, and a third element may correspond to the first element, the second element, the third element, or any combination thereof.

[0704] In the fifth example, the determination unit 2302b (second determination unit 2302b2) performs the process of determining whether to select a reflected sound based on the time difference, the reflection coefficient, which is an example of the property of an object involved in the sound propagation, the first volume, and the second volume. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the process of step S412 may not be performed, and the determination unit 2302b (second determination unit 2302b2) may perform the following process instead of step S413. The second determination unit 2302b2 performs the process of determining whether the specified reflection coefficient (Ref) is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

[0705] This process can be summarized as follows:

[0706] An audio signal processing method executed by an audio signal processing device, comprising: an analysis step of calculating the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from a sound source position, which is the position of the sound source, to a listening position, which is a position where a listener is located, and the time when the sound is reflected by a reflecting object and arrives at the listening position as reflected sound; an acquisition step of acquiring the calculated time difference and an audio signal indicative of the reflected sound; a determination step of determining whether or not to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal based on the acquired time difference and the properties of objects intervening in the propagation of the sound; and a reproduction step of outputting an output signal based on the audio signal indicative of the reflected sound that has been decided to be selected.

[0707] This process does not use the volume ratio (L), and therefore the amount of calculation and the calculation load can be appropriately reduced.

[0708] Furthermore, if the reflection coefficient (Ref) is sufficiently small, that is, less than the threshold value, even if the second sound arrives at the listening position as a reflected sound, the volume of the reflected sound heard by the listener is very small. Therefore, even if the listener cannot hear the reflected sound, the listener will not feel uncomfortable. In other words, even if the reflected sound is deleted, the impact on the listener's hearing is small.

[0709] That is, the audio signal processing method according to the present invention can suppress the listener from feeling uncomfortable, and can also appropriately reduce the amount of calculation and the calculation load.

[0710] Furthermore, for example, in the embodiments, the cases where the aspects understood based on the present disclosure are implemented as an audio signal processing device, an encoding device, or a decoding device are described. However, the aspects understood based on the present disclosure are not limited to these, and may be implemented as software for executing an audio signal processing method, an encoding method, or a decoding method.

[0711] For example, a program for executing the above-described audio signal processing method, encoding method, or decoding method may be stored in advance in a ROM, and the CPU may operate in accordance with the program.

[0712] Furthermore, a program for executing the above-described audio signal processing method, encoding method, or decoding method may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, and the computer may then record the program stored in the recording medium into its RAM and operate in accordance with the program.

[0713] Each of the above components may be realized as an LSI, which is typically an integrated circuit having input and output terminals. These may be individually integrated into a single chip, or a single chip may include all or some of the components of the embodiments. The LSI may be expressed as an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI, or an ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration.

[0714] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to LSIs, and dedicated circuits or general-purpose processors may also be used. Furthermore, FPGAs, which can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or reconfigurable processors, which allow the connection or settings of circuit cells within the LSI to be reconfigured, may also be used. Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that replaces LSIs emerges due to advances in semiconductor technology or other derived technologies, that technology may naturally be used to integrate components. The application of biotechnology, etc., is also a possibility.

[0715] Furthermore, the FPGA, CPU, etc. may download all or part of the software for realizing the audio signal processing method, encoding method, or decoding method described in the present disclosure via wireless or wired communication. Furthermore, all or part of the software for updating may be downloaded via wireless or wired communication. The FPGA, CPU, etc. may then store the downloaded software in memory and operate based on the stored software to perform the digital signal processing described in the present disclosure.

[0716] In this case, the device equipped with the FPGA or CPU may be connected to the signal processing device wirelessly or via a wire, or may be connected to the signal processing server via a network. Then, this device and the signal processing device or the signal processing server may perform the audio signal processing method, encoding method, or decoding method described in the present disclosure.

[0717] For example, the audio signal processing device, encoding device, or decoding device in the present disclosure may include an FPGA, a CPU, etc. Furthermore, the audio signal processing device, encoding device, or decoding device may include an interface for externally obtaining software for operating the FPGA, CPU, etc., and a memory for storing the obtained software. Then, the FPGA, CPU, etc. may operate based on the stored software to perform the signal processing described in the present disclosure.

[0718] A server may provide software related to the acoustic processing, encoding processing, or decoding processing of the present disclosure. Then, a terminal or device may operate as the audio signal processing device, encoding device, or decoding device described in the present disclosure by installing the software. Note that the terminal or device may be connected to the server via a network and the software may be installed.

[0719] Furthermore, a device other than the terminal or device may connect to a server via a network to acquire data for installing the software, and the other device may provide the data for installing the software to the terminal or device, thereby installing the software in the terminal or device. Note that an example of the software may be VR software or AR software for causing a terminal or device to execute the audio signal processing method described using the embodiment.

[0720] In the above-described embodiments, each component may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0721] Although the devices and the like according to one or more aspects have been described above based on the embodiments, the aspects grasped based on the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments. As long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure, forms obtained by applying various modifications conceivable by a person skilled in the art to the embodiments, and forms constructed by combining components in different modifications, may also be included within the scope of one or more aspects.

[0722] The present disclosure includes aspects that are applicable to, for example, an audio signal processing device, an encoding device, a decoding device, or a terminal or device that includes any of these devices.

[0723] 100 Sound source 110 Virtual image (mirror image) 1000 Stereophonic sound reproduction system 1001 Audio signal processing device (audio processing device) 1002 Audio presentation device 1100, 1120, 1500 Encoding device 1101, 1113 Input data 1102 Encoder 1103 Encoded data 1104, 1114, 1404, 1503 Memory 1110, 1130 Decoding device 1111 Audio signal 1112, 1200, 1210 Decoder 1121 Transmitting unit 1122 Transmitted signal 1131 Receiving unit 1132 Received signal 1201, 1211 Spatial information management unit 1202 Audio data decoder 1203, 1213, 1300, 2300, 3300 Rendering unit 1301, 2301 Analysis unit 1302, 1314, 2302 Selection unit 1303, 2303, 3350 Reproduction unit 1304 Threshold adjustment unit 1311 Reverberation processing unit 1312, 3310 Early reflection processing unit 1313, 3330 Distance attenuation processing unit 1315 Generation unit 1316 Binaural processing unit 1401 Speaker 1402, 1501 Processor 1403, 1502 Communication IF 1405 Sensor 2301a First analysis unit 2301b Second analysis unit 2301c Third analysis unit 2302a Acquisition unit 2302b Determination unit 2302b1 First determination unit 2302b2 Second determination unit 2302b3 Third determination unit 3320 Directivity processing unit 3340 Detection limit determination unit

Claims

1. A method for processing audio signals performed by an audio signal processing device, An analysis step to calculate the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from the sound source location to the listening location where the listener is located, and the time when the sound arrives at the listening location as reflected sound due to reflection by a reflector, An acquisition step to acquire the calculated time difference and the audio signal indicating the reflected sound, A determination step of determining whether or not to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal, based on the acquired time difference, the properties of the object intervening in the propagation of sound, a first volume which is the volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume which is the volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflector position which is the position of the reflector. The playback step includes outputting an output signal based on the audio signal indicating the reflected sound which has been decided to be selected, Audio signal processing method.

2. The direction from the sound source position to the reflector position, which is the position of the reflector, is calculated based on the direction from the mirror image position of the sound source via the reflector to the listening position. The audio signal processing method according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned property is the directivity of the sound, In the determination step, a determination is made whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference, the first volume calculated according to the directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. The audio signal processing method according to claim 1.

4. In the determination step, a determination is made whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference and the volume ratio of the first volume calculated according to the directivity and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. The audio signal processing method according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned property is the reflection coefficient of the reflector. The audio signal processing method according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned properties are the directivity of the sound and the reflection coefficient of the reflector. In the determination step, a determination is made whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the acquired time difference, the reflection coefficient, the first volume calculated according to the directivity, and the second volume calculated according to the directivity. The audio signal processing method according to claim 1.

7. When the first volume is A, the second volume is B, and the reflection coefficient is Ref, In the determination step, based on the acquired time difference and Equation 1, (B×Ref) / A... (Formula 1) To determine whether or not to select the reflected sound, The audio signal processing method according to claim 6.

8. When the volume ratio of the first volume and the second volume is Dir and the reflection coefficient is Ref, In the determination step, based on the acquired time difference and Equation 2, Dir×Ref... (Formula 2) To determine whether or not to select the reflected sound, The audio signal processing method according to claim 6.

9. In the determination step, further, it is determined whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the position of an object intervening in the propagation of sound. The audio signal processing method according to claim 1.

10. In the determination step, a determination is made whether or not to select the reflected sound based on the path length ratio between the direct sound path length, calculated based on the position of the object, from which the direct sound arrives at the listening position, and the reflected sound path length, calculated based on the position of the object, from which the reflected sound arrives at the listening position. The audio signal processing method according to claim 9.

11. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the audio signal processing method described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An analysis unit calculates the time difference between the time when sound emitted from a sound source arrives as direct sound from the sound source location to the listening location where the listener is located, and the time when the sound arrives at the listening location as reflected sound due to reflection by a reflective object. An acquisition unit that acquires the calculated time difference and the audio signal indicating the reflected sound, A determination unit determines whether or not to select the reflected sound indicated by the acquired audio signal, based on the acquired time difference, the properties of the object intervening in the propagation of sound, a first volume which is the volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the listening position, and a second volume which is the volume corresponding to the direction from the sound source position to the reflector position which is the position of the reflector. The system includes a playback unit that outputs an output signal based on the audio signal indicating the reflected sound that has been selected, Audio signal processing device.