Method and device for transferring speech through virtual space

Abstract

An electronic device according to an embodiment may comprise: a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; a processor for accessing the memory and executing the instructions; a display; and a speaker. The instructions, when executed, cause the processor to: receive first acoustic data comprising speech data, from another electronic device connected through communication; obtain second acoustic data by reducing or removing, from the first acoustic data, an acoustic characteristic according to a physical space around the other electronic device; display a virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device through the display; identify the position and the heading direction of the other electronic device; obtain a speech output by adjusting the second acoustic data on the basis of the identified position and the identified heading direction of the other electronic device; and reproduce the obtained speech output through the speaker.

Description

Method and device for transmitting voice through virtual space

[0001] Below, a technology for transmitting voice through virtual space is disclosed.

[0002] Recently, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies that utilize computer graphics technology are being developed. VR technology uses computers to create virtual spaces that don't exist in the real world and then make them feel real, while AR or MR technologies superimpose computer-generated information on top of the real world. In other words, they combine the real and virtual worlds to enable real-time user interaction.

[0003] Among these, AR and MR technologies are being integrated and utilized in various fields, such as broadcasting, medical, and gaming. Representative examples of AR in broadcasting include the natural shifting of a weather map in front of a weathercaster giving a weather forecast on TV, or the insertion of non-existent advertising images onto the screen during a sports broadcast, as if they were actually present in the stadium.

[0004] A representative service that provides users with augmented reality or mixed reality is the metaverse. This metaverse, a portmanteau of "meta," meaning "fictional" or "abstract," and "universe," signifies a three-dimensional virtual world. A more advanced concept than the existing term "virtual reality environment," the metaverse provides an augmented reality environment where virtual worlds like the web and the internet are integrated into the real world.

[0005] An electronic device according to one embodiment may include a memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein; a processor accessing the memory to execute the instructions; a display; and a speaker. The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to receive first acoustic data including voice data from another electronic device connected to the communication device, obtain second acoustic data by reducing or removing an acoustic characteristic according to a physical space around the other electronic device from the first acoustic data, display a virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device through the display, determine a position and a heading direction of the other electronic device, obtain a voice output by adjusting the second acoustic data based on the determined position and heading direction of the other electronic device, and reproduce the obtained voice output through the speaker.

[0006] A method performed by an electronic device according to one embodiment may include an operation of receiving first acoustic data including voice data from another electronic device connected to the electronic device by communication, an operation of obtaining second acoustic data by reducing or removing an acoustic characteristic according to a physical space around the other electronic device from the first acoustic data, an operation of displaying a virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device through a display, an operation of confirming a position and a heading direction of the other electronic device, an operation of obtaining a voice output by adjusting the second acoustic data based on the confirmed position and heading direction of the other electronic device, and an operation of playing the obtained voice output through a speaker.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an optical see-through device according to various embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates examples of optical systems for an eye tracking camera, a transparent member, and a display according to various embodiments.

[0010] FIGS. 4A and 4B are drawings showing examples of the front and back of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates examples of construction of a virtual space, input from a user within the virtual space, and output to the user according to various embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of voice data transmission between multiple users in a virtual space according to various embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an example of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for an electronic device to reproduce voice output generated from audio data of another electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0015] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are drawings illustrating examples of utterance angles and listening angles according to various embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device according to various embodiments to attenuate high-pitched components of sound data.

[0017] FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams illustrating examples of operations for determining the volume of a speaker according to various embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of an interface of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the description with reference to the attached drawings, identical components are assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with at least one of the electronic device (104) or the server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0022] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together with the main processor (121). For example, when the electronic device (101) includes the main processor (121) and the auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0023] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence model is executed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0024] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0025] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0026] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0027] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0028] A display module (160) (e.g., a display) can visually provide information to an external device (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. In one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

[0029] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0030] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0031] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0032] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0033] The haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0034] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0035] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0036] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0037] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0038] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0039] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. In some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0040] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0041] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0042] According to one embodiment, commands or data can be transmitted or received between an electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199).

[0043] Each of the external electronic devices (102, 103) and the server (108) may be the same type of device as or different from the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 103) or the server (108). For example, when the electronic device (101) needs to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of executing the function or service itself or in addition, request one or more external electronic devices to execute at least a part of the function or service. The one or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a part of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a part of a response to the request. In this specification, an example is mainly described in which an electronic device (101) is an augmented reality device (e.g., an electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, an electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, or an electronic device (401) of FIG. 4), and an external electronic device (102, 103) or a server (108) among the servers transmits the results of executing a virtual space and additional functions or services related to the virtual space to the electronic device (101).

[0044] The server (108) may include a processor (181), a communication module (182), and a memory (183). The processor (181), the communication module (182), and the memory (183) may be configured similarly to the processor (120), the communication module (190), and the memory (130) of the electronic device (101). For example, the processor (181) may provide a virtual space and interaction between users within the virtual space by executing instructions stored in the memory (183). The processor (181) may generate at least one of visual information, auditory information, or tactile information of the virtual space and objects within the virtual space. For example, as visual information, the processor (181) may generate rendering data (e.g., visual rendering data) that renders the appearance (e.g., shape, size, color, or texture) of the virtual space and the appearance (e.g., shape, size, color, or texture) of objects positioned within the virtual space. In addition, the processor (181) may generate rendering data that renders a change (e.g., a change in the appearance of an object, a sound generation, or a tactile generation) based on at least one of an interaction between objects (e.g., a physical object, a virtual object, or an avatar object) in a virtual space, or a user input to an object (e.g., a physical object, a virtual object, or an avatar object). The communication module (182) may establish communication with a first electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (101)) of a user and a second electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (102)) of another user. The communication module (182) may transmit at least one of the visual information, the tactile information, or the auditory information described above to the first electronic device and the second electronic device. For example, the communication module (182) may transmit rendering data.

[0045] For example, the server (108) renders content data executed in an application and transmits it to the electronic device (101), and the electronic device (101) receiving the data can output the content data to the display module (160). If the electronic device (101) detects user movement through an IMU sensor or the like, the processor (120) of the electronic device (101) can correct the rendering data received from the external electronic device (102) based on the movement information and output it to the display module (160). Alternatively, the movement information can be transmitted to the server (108) to request rendering so that the screen data is updated accordingly. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the aforementioned rendering can be performed by various forms of external electronic devices (102, 103), such as a smartphone or a case device capable of storing and charging the electronic device (101). Rendering data corresponding to the aforementioned virtual space generated by the external electronic device (102, 103) can be provided to the electronic device (101). For another example, the electronic device (101) may receive virtual space information (e.g., vertex coordinates, texture, color defining the virtual space) and object information (e.g., vertex coordinates, texture, color defining the appearance of an object) from the server (108) and perform rendering on its own based on the received data.

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an optical see-through device according to various embodiments.

[0047] The electronic device (201) may include at least one of a display (e.g., a display module (160) of FIG. 1), a vision sensor, a light source (230a, 230b), an optical element, or a substrate. An electronic device (201) that has a transparent display and provides an image through the transparent display may be referred to as an optical see-through device (OST device).

[0048] The display may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a digital mirror device (DMD), a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), or a micro light emitting diode (micro LED).

[0049] In one embodiment, when the display is formed of one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a digital mirror display (DMD), or a silicon liquid crystal display (SLCD), the electronic device (201) may include a light source (230a, 230b) that irradiates light to a screen output area of ​​the display (e.g., a screen display unit (215a, 215b)). In another embodiment, when the display can generate light on its own, for example, when it is formed of one of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a micro LED, the electronic device (201) may provide a good quality virtual image to the user even without including a separate light source (230a, 230b). In one embodiment, if the display is formed of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a micro LED, the light source (230a, 230b) is unnecessary, and thus the electronic device (201) may be lightweight.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device (201) may include a display, a first transparent member (225a) and / or a second transparent member (225b), and a user may use the electronic device (201) while wearing it on his or her face. The first transparent member (225a) and / or the second transparent member (225b) may be formed of a glass plate, a plastic plate, or a polymer, and may be manufactured to be transparent or translucent. According to one embodiment, the first transparent member (225a) may be arranged to face the user's right eye, and the second transparent member (225b) may be arranged to face the user's left eye. The display may include a first display (205) that outputs a first image (e.g., a right image) corresponding to the first transparent member (225a), and a second display (210) that outputs a second image (e.g., a left image) corresponding to the second transparent member (225b). In one embodiment, if each display is transparent, each display and transparent member may be positioned at a position facing the user's eyes to form a screen display unit (215a, 215b).

[0051] In one embodiment, light emitted from the display (205, 210) may be guided along an optical path through an input optical member (220a, 220b) into a waveguide. Light traveling within the waveguide may be guided toward a user's eyes through an output optical member (e.g., the output optical member (340) of FIG. 3). The screen display units (215a, 215b) may be determined based on the light emitted toward the user's eyes.

[0052] For example, light emitted from the display (205, 210) may be reflected in the grating region of the waveguide formed in the input optical member (220a, 220b) and the screen display portions (215a, 215b) and transmitted to the user's eyes.

[0053] The optical element may include at least one of a lens or an optical waveguide.

[0054] The lens can adjust the focus so that the screen output to the display can be viewed by the user. The lens may include, for example, at least one of a Fresnel lens, a pancake lens, or a multi-channel lens.

[0055] An optical waveguide can transmit image light generated from a display to a user's eyes. For example, the image light may represent light emitted by a light source (230a, 230b) that passes through a screen output area of ​​the display. The optical waveguide can be made of glass, plastic, or polymer. The optical waveguide can include a nano-pattern formed on a portion of an internal or external surface, for example, a grating structure having a polygonal or curved shape. An exemplary structure of the optical waveguide is described below in FIG. 3.

[0056] The vision sensor may include at least one of a camera sensor or a depth sensor.

[0057] The first camera (265a, 265b) is a recognition camera, and may be a camera used for 3DoF, 6DoF head tracking, hand detection, hand tracking, and spatial recognition. The first camera (265a, 265b) may mainly include a GS (Global shutter) camera. Since a stereo camera is required for head tracking and spatial recognition, the first camera (265a, 265b) may include two or more GS cameras. The GS camera may have superior performance compared to the RS (Rolling shutter) camera in terms of detecting and tracking fine movements such as rapid hand movements and fingers. For example, the GS camera may have low image blur. The first camera (265a, 265b) may capture image data used for spatial recognition for 6DoF and SLAM function through depth shooting. Additionally, a user gesture recognition function can be performed based on image data captured by the first camera (265a, 265b).

[0058] The second camera (270a, 270b) is an ET (Eye Tracking) camera and can be used to capture image data for detecting and tracking the user's pupils. The second camera (270a, 270b) is described later in FIG. 3.

[0059] The third camera (245) may be a camera for photography. The third camera (245) may include a high-resolution camera for capturing HR (High Resolution) or PV (Photo Video) images. The third camera (245) may include a color camera equipped with functions for obtaining high-quality images, such as an AF function and optical image stabilization (OIS). The third camera (245) may be a GS camera or an RS camera.

[0060] The fourth camera unit (e.g., the face recognition camera (425, 426) of FIG. 4 below) is a face recognition camera, and the FT (Face Tracking) camera can be used to detect and track the user's facial expression.

[0061] A depth sensor (not shown) may be a sensor that senses information for determining the distance to an object, such as Time of Flight (TOF). TOF is a technology that measures the distance to an object using signals (e.g., near-infrared, ultrasound, laser, etc.). A depth sensor based on TOF technology can measure the time of flight of a signal by transmitting a signal and measuring the signal at a receiver.

[0062] The light source (230a, 230b) (e.g., illumination module) may include a device (e.g., light emitting diode (LED)) that irradiates light of various wavelengths. The illumination module may be attached to various locations depending on the application. As one example, a first illumination module (e.g., LED device) attached around the frame of the augmented reality glasses device may emit light to assist in gaze detection when tracking eye movements with an ET camera. The first illumination module may include, for example, an IR LED of an infrared wavelength. As another example, a second illumination module (e.g., LED device) may be attached adjacent to a camera mounted around a hinge (240a, 240b) connecting the frame and the temple, or around a bridge connecting the frames. The second illumination module may emit light to supplement the ambient brightness when the camera is taking pictures. If subject detection is not easy in a dark environment, the second lighting module may illuminate.

[0063] A substrate (235a, 235b) (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)) can support the aforementioned components.

[0064] A printed circuit board (PCB) may be disposed on the temple portion of the glasses. The FPCB may transmit electrical signals to each module (e.g., a camera, a display, an audio module, a sensor module) and other printed circuit boards. In one embodiment, at least one printed circuit board may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an interposer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Electrical signals may be transmitted to each module and other printed circuit boards.

[0065] Other components may include, for example, at least one of a plurality of microphones (e.g., a first microphone (250a), a second microphone (250b), a third microphone (250c)), a plurality of speakers (e.g., a first speaker (255a), a second speaker (255b)), a battery (260), an antenna, or a sensor (e.g., an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a touch sensor, etc.).

[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates examples of optical systems for an eye tracking camera, a transparent member, and a display according to various embodiments.

[0067] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an eye-tracking camera included in an electronic device according to one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, a process is illustrated in which an eye-tracking camera (310) of an electronic device (301) according to one embodiment (e.g., the first eye-tracking camera (270a) and the second eye-tracking camera (270b) of FIG. 2) tracks a user's eye (309), that is, the user's gaze, using light (e.g., infrared light) output from a display (320) (e.g., the first display (205) and the second display (210) of FIG. 2).

[0068] The second camera (e.g., the second cameras (270a, 270b) of FIG. 2) may be an eye tracking camera (310) that collects information to position the center of a virtual image projected onto the electronic device (301) according to the direction in which the pupil of the wearer of the electronic device (301) is looking. The second camera may also include a GS camera to detect the pupil and track rapid eye movement. ET cameras may also be installed for the left and right eyes, respectively, and cameras with the same performance and specifications may be used. The eye tracking camera (310) may include a gaze tracking sensor (315). The gaze tracking sensor (315) may be included inside the eye tracking camera (310). Infrared light output from the display (320) may be transmitted to the user's eyes (309) as infrared reflected light (303) by a half mirror. The gaze tracking sensor (315) can detect infrared reflected light (303) and infrared transmitted light (305) reflected from the user's eye (309). The eye tracking camera (310) can track the user's eye (309), or in other words, the user's gaze, based on the detection result of the gaze tracking sensor (315).

[0069] The display (320) may include a plurality of visible light pixels and a plurality of infrared pixels. The visible light pixels may include R, G, and B pixels. The visible light pixels may output visible light corresponding to a virtual object image. The infrared pixels may output infrared light. The display (320) may include, for example, micro light emitting diodes (LEDs) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).

[0070] The display optical pipe (350) and the eye tracking camera optical pipe (360) may be included inside a transparent member (370) (e.g., the first transparent member (225a) and the second transparent member (225b) of FIG. 2). The transparent member (370) may be formed of a glass plate, a plastic plate, or a polymer, and may be manufactured to be transparent or translucent. The transparent member (370) may be positioned to face the user's eyes. At this time, the distance between the transparent member (370) and the user's eyes (309) may be referred to as 'eye relief' (380).

[0071] The transparent member (370) may include optical waveguides (350, 360). The transparent member (370) may include an input optical member (330) and an output optical member (340). In addition, the transparent member (370) may include an eye-tracking splitter (375) that separates input light into multiple waveguides.

[0072] According to one embodiment, light incident on one end of the display light pipe (350) can be propagated inside the display light pipe (350) by the nano-pattern and provided to the user. In addition, the display light pipe (350) composed of a free-form prism can provide image light to the user through the reflected light. The display light pipe (350) can include at least one diffractive element (e.g., a Diffractive Optical Element (DOE), a Holographic Optical Element (HOE)) or at least one reflective element (e.g., a reflective mirror). The display light pipe (350) can guide display light (e.g., image light) emitted from a light source to the user's eyes by using at least one diffractive element or reflective element included in the display light pipe (350). For reference, also, in FIG. 3, the output optical member (340) is expressed as being separate from the eye-tracking optical waveguide (360), but the output optical member (340) may be included inside the eye-tracking optical waveguide (360).

[0073] According to various embodiments, the diffractive element may include an input optical member (330) and an output optical member (340). For example, the input optical member (330) may mean an input grating region. The output optical member (340) may mean an output grating region. The input grating region may serve as an input terminal that diffracts (or reflects) light output from (e.g., a Micro LED) to transmit the light to a transparent member (e.g., a first transparent member, a second transparent member) of a screen display unit. The output grating region may serve as an outlet that diffracts (or reflects) light transmitted to a transparent member (e.g., a first transparent member, a second transparent member) of a waveguide to a user's eye.

[0074] According to various embodiments, the reflective element may include a total internal reflection (TIR) ​​optical element or a total internal reflection waveguide. For example, total internal reflection may refer to a method of guiding light such that light (e.g., a virtual image) entering through an input grating region is 100% reflected from one surface (e.g., a specific surface) of the waveguide, thereby transmitting 100% of the light to the output grating region.

[0075] In one embodiment, light emitted from the display (320) may be guided along an optical path through an input optical element (330) into a waveguide. Light traveling within the waveguide may be guided toward the user's eyes through an output optical element (340). The screen display may be determined based on the light emitted toward the user's eyes.

[0076] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating examples of the front and back of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 4A may be an external appearance of the electronic device (401) as viewed from a first direction (①), and FIG. 4B may be an external appearance of the electronic device (401) as viewed from a second direction (②). When a user wears the electronic device (401), the external appearance viewed by the user's eyes may be FIG. 4B.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 4A, according to various embodiments, an electronic device (401) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, the electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, and the electronic device (301) of FIG. 3) may provide a service that provides an extended reality (XR) experience to a user. For example, an XR or XR service may be defined as a service that collectively refers to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and / or mixed reality (MR).

[0078] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may refer to a head-mounted device or a head-mounted display worn on the user's head, but may also be configured in the form of at least one of glasses, goggles, a helmet, or a hat. The electronic device (401) may include an OST (optical see-through) type configured to allow external light to reach the user's eyes through the glasses when worn, or a VST (video see-through) type configured to allow light emitted from the display to reach the user's eyes but block external light so that external light does not reach the user's eyes when worn.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may be worn on the user's head and may provide the user with an image related to an extended reality (XR) service. For example, the electronic device (401) may provide XR content (hereinafter referred to as an XR content image) that outputs at least one virtual object to be superimposed on a display area or an area determined to be the user's field of view (FoV). According to one embodiment, the XR content may refer to an image or image that appears to have at least one virtual object superimposed on an image related to a real space acquired through a camera (e.g., a camera for taking pictures) or a virtual space. According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may provide XR content based on a function being performed by the electronic device (401) and / or a function being performed by one or more external electronic devices (e.g., the electronic devices (102, 104) of FIG. 1, the server (108) of FIG. 1).

[0080] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) is at least partially controlled by an external electronic device (e.g., electronic devices (102 or 104) of FIG. 1), and may perform at least one function under the control of the external electronic device, but may also perform at least one function independently.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 4A, a vision sensor may be placed on a first surface of a housing of a main body (410) of an electronic device (401). The vision sensor may include cameras (e.g., cameras for second functions (411, 412), cameras for first functions (415)) and / or a depth sensor (417) for obtaining information related to the surrounding environment of the electronic device (401).

[0082] In one embodiment, the second function cameras (411, 412) can obtain images related to the surrounding environment of the electronic device (401). The first function cameras (415) can obtain images when the wearable electronic device is worn by the user. The first function cameras (415) can be used for hand detection and tracking, and recognition of user gestures (e.g., hand movements). The first function cameras (415) can be used for 3DoF, 6DoF head tracking, position (spatial, environmental) recognition, and / or movement recognition. In one embodiment, the second function cameras (411, 412) can also be used for hand detection and tracking, and user gestures.

[0083] In one embodiment, the depth sensor (417) may be configured to transmit a signal and receive a signal reflected from a subject, and may be used for purposes such as time of flight (TOF) to determine the distance to an object. Instead of or in addition to the depth sensor (417), cameras (411, 412, 415, 416) may determine the distance to an object.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 4b, a camera (425, 426) for facial recognition and / or a display (421) (and / or lens) may be placed on the second surface (420) of the housing of the main body (410).

[0085] In one embodiment, a face recognition camera (425, 426) adjacent to the display may be used to recognize the user's face, or may recognize and / or track the user's two eyes.

[0086] In one embodiment, the display (421) (and / or lens) may be disposed on the second side (420) of the electronic device (401). In one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may not include some of the plurality of cameras (415). Although not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , the electronic device (401) may further include at least one of the configurations illustrated in FIG. 2 .

[0087] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may include a main body (410) that mounts at least some of the components of FIG. 1, a display (421) (e.g., a display module (160) of FIG. 1) disposed in a first direction (①) of the main body (410), a first function camera (e.g., a recognition camera) (415) disposed in a second direction (②) of the main body (410), a second function camera (e.g., a shooting camera) (411, 412) disposed in a second direction (②), a third function camera (e.g., a gaze tracking camera) (428) disposed in the first direction (①), a fourth function camera (e.g., a face recognition camera) (425, 426) disposed in the first direction (①), a depth sensor (417) disposed in the second direction (②), and a touch sensor (413) disposed in the second direction (②). Although not shown in the drawing, the main body (410) includes a memory (e.g., memory (130) of FIG. 1) and a processor (e.g., processor (120) of FIG. 1), and may further include other components shown in FIG. 1.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the display (421) may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a digital mirror device (DMD), a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), or a micro light emitting diode (micro LED).

[0089] In one embodiment, when the display (421) is formed of one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a digital mirror display (DMD), or a silicon liquid crystal display (SiLCD), the electronic device (401) may include a light source that irradiates light to a screen output area of ​​the display (421). In another embodiment, when the display (421) can generate light on its own, for example, when the electronic device (401) is formed of one of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a micro LED, the electronic device (401) may provide a good quality XR content image to the user even without including a separate light source. In one embodiment, when the display (421) is formed of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a micro LED, a light source is unnecessary, and thus the electronic device (401) may be lightweight.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the display (421) may include a first transparent member (421a) and / or a second transparent member (421b). The user may use the electronic device (401) while wearing it on his or her face. The first transparent member (421a) and / or the second transparent member (421b) may be formed of a glass plate, a plastic plate, or a polymer, and may be manufactured to be transparent or translucent. According to one embodiment, the first transparent member (421a) may be arranged to face the user's left eye in the fourth direction (④), and the second transparent member (421b) may be arranged to face the user's right eye in the third direction (③). According to various embodiments, when the display (421) is transparent, it may be arranged at a position facing the user's eyes to form a display area.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the display (421) may include a lens including a transparent waveguide. The lens may serve to adjust the focus so that the screen (e.g., XR content image) output to the display (421) can be viewed by the user's eyes. For example, light emitted from the display panel may pass through the lens and be transmitted to the user through a waveguide formed within the lens. The lens may be configured as a Fresnel lens, a pancake lens, or a multi-channel lens.

[0092] An optical waveguide (e.g., a waveguide) may serve to transmit light generated by the display (421) to the user's eyes. The optical waveguide may be made of glass, plastic, or a polymer, and may include nano-patterns formed on a portion of the inner or outer surface, for example, a grating structure having a polygonal or curved shape. According to one embodiment, light incident on one end of the optical waveguide, that is, an output image of the display (421), may be propagated within the optical waveguide and provided to the user. In addition, an optical waveguide composed of a free-form prism may provide the incident light to the user through a reflective mirror. The optical waveguide may include at least one diffractive element (e.g., a diffractive optical element (DOE), a holographic optical element (HOE)) or at least one reflective element (e.g., a reflective mirror). The optical waveguide may guide an image output from the display (421) to the user's eyes by using at least one diffractive element or reflective element included in the optical waveguide.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the diffractive element may include an input optical member / output optical member (not shown). For example, the input optical member may mean an input grating region, and the output optical member (not shown) may mean an output grating region. The input grating region may serve as an input terminal that diffracts (or reflects) light output from a light source (e.g., a Micro LED) to transmit the light to a transparent member (e.g., a first transparent member (421a), a second transparent member (421b)) of the display area. The output grating region may serve as an outlet that diffracts (or reflects) light transmitted to a transparent member (e.g., a first transparent member, a second transparent member) of the optical waveguide to a user's eye.

[0094] In some embodiments, the reflective element may comprise a total internal reflection (TIR) ​​optical element or waveguide for total internal reflection. For example, total internal reflection may refer to a method of directing light such that light (e.g., a virtual image) entering through an input grating region is reflected substantially 100% from one surface (e.g., a specific surface) of the optical waveguide, thereby transmitting substantially 100% of the light to the output grating region at an angle of incidence.

[0095] In one embodiment, light emitted from the display (421) may be guided along an optical path through an input optical element into a waveguide. Light traveling within the optical waveguide may be guided toward the user's eyes through an output optical element. The display area may be determined based on the light emitted toward the user's eyes.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may include a plurality of cameras. For example, the cameras may include a first function camera (e.g., a recognition camera) (415) disposed in the second direction (②) of the main body (410), a second function camera (e.g., a shooting camera) (411, 412) disposed in the second direction (②), a third function camera (e.g., a gaze tracking camera) (428) disposed in the first direction (①), and / or a fourth function camera (e.g., a face recognition camera) (425, 426) disposed in the first direction (①), but may further include cameras for other functions not shown.

[0097] The first function camera (e.g., recognition camera) (415) can be used for the purpose of detecting user movement or recognizing user gestures. The first function camera (415) can support at least one of head tracking, hand detection and hand tracking, and spatial recognition. For example, the first function camera (415) mainly uses a GS (global shutter) camera, which has superior performance compared to an RS (rolling shutter) camera, to detect and track fine movements of hand movements and fingers, and can be configured as a stereo camera including two or more GS cameras for head tracking and spatial recognition. The first function camera (415) can perform a SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) function to recognize information (e.g., location and / or direction) related to the surrounding space through spatial recognition for 6DoF and depth shooting.

[0098] A second function camera (e.g., a camera for shooting) (411, 412) can be used to capture the outside and generate an image or video corresponding to the outside and transmit it to a processor (e.g., a processor (120) of FIG. 1). The processor can display the image provided from the second function camera (411, 412) on a display (421). The second function camera (411, 412) may be referred to as HR (high resolution) or PV (photo video) and may include a high-resolution camera. For example, the second function camera (411, 412) may include a color camera equipped with functions for obtaining high-quality images, such as an AF (auto focus) function and an OIS (optical image stabilizer), but is not limited thereto, and the second function camera (411, 412) may also include a GS camera or an RS camera.

[0099] A third function camera (e.g., a gaze tracking camera) (428) may be positioned on the display (421) (or inside the main body) so that the camera lens faces the user's eyes when the user wears the electronic device (401). The third function camera (428) may be used for the purpose of detecting and tracking (ET: eye tracking) the pupil. The processor may track the movements of the user's left and right eyes in the images received from the third function camera (428) to determine the gaze direction. By tracking the position of the pupil in the images, the processor may ensure that the center of the XR content image displayed in the display area is positioned according to the direction in which the pupil is looking. As an example, a GS camera may be used as the third function camera (428) to detect the pupil and track the movement of the pupil. The third function cameras (428) may be installed respectively for the left and right eyes, and each camera having the same performance and specifications may be used.

[0100] A fourth functional camera (e.g., a camera for facial recognition) (425, 426) can be used to detect and track (FT: face tracking) the user's facial expression when the user wears the electronic device (401).

[0101] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may include a lighting unit (e.g., LED) (not shown) as an auxiliary means for the cameras. For example, the third function camera (425) may use lighting included in the display to direct the emitted light (e.g., IR LED of infrared wavelength) toward the user's both eyes as an auxiliary means to facilitate gaze detection when tracking eye movements. As another example, the second function cameras (411, 412) may further include a lighting unit (e.g., flash) as an auxiliary means to supplement the surrounding brightness when taking external pictures.

[0102] According to one embodiment, a depth sensor (or depth camera) (417) can be used for the purpose of checking the distance to an object (e.g., an object), such as time of flight (TOF). TOF (time of flight) is a technology that measures the distance to an object using a signal (e.g., near-infrared, ultrasound, or laser). After a signal is transmitted from a transmitter, a signal is measured at a receiver, and the distance to an object can be measured based on the flight time of the signal.

[0103] According to one embodiment, the touch sensor (413) may be arranged in the second direction (②) of the main body (410). For example, when a user wears the electronic device (401), the user's eyes may look in the first direction (①) of the main body. The touch sensor (413) may be implemented as a single type or a left / right separated type depending on the shape of the main body (410), but is not limited thereto. For example, when the touch sensor (413) is implemented as a left / right separated type as illustrated in FIG. 4A, when a user wears the electronic device (401), the first touch sensor (413a) may be arranged at the user's left eye position, such as in the fourth direction (④), and the second touch sensor (413b) may be arranged at the user's right eye position, such as in the third direction (③).

[0104] The touch sensor (413) can recognize a touch input using at least one of, for example, a capacitive, pressure-sensitive, infrared, or ultrasonic method. For example, the capacitive touch sensor (413) can recognize a physical touch (or contact) input or a hovering input (or proximity) of an external object. According to some embodiments, the electronic device (401) may utilize a proximity sensor (not shown) to recognize proximity of an external object.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the touch sensor (413) has a two-dimensional surface and can transmit touch data (e.g., touch coordinates) of an external object (e.g., a user's finger) that comes into contact with the touch sensor (413) to a processor (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1). The touch sensor (413) can detect a hovering input for an external object (e.g., a user's finger) that approaches within a first distance from the touch sensor (413), or detect a touch input that touches the touch sensor (413).

[0106] According to one embodiment, the touch sensor (413) may provide two-dimensional information about the point of contact as “touch data” to the processor (120) when an external object touches the touch sensor (413). The touch data may be described as a “touch mode.” The touch sensor (413) may provide hovering data about the time or location of hovering around the touch sensor (413) to the processor (120) when an external object is located within a first distance from the touch sensor (or in proximity, hovering above the touch sensor). The hovering data may be described as a “hovering mode / proximity mode.”

[0107] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may obtain hovering data using at least one of a touch sensor (413), a proximity sensor (not shown), or / and a depth sensor (417) to generate information about a distance, location, or time point between the touch sensor (413) and an external object.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the interior of the main body (410) may include a processor (e.g., processor (120) of FIG. 1) and memory (e.g., memory (130) of FIG. 1).

[0109] Memory can store various instructions that can be executed by the processor. Instructions can include arithmetic and logical operations, data transfer, or control commands such as input / output that can be recognized by the processor. Memory can temporarily or permanently store various data, including volatile memory (e.g., volatile memory (132) of FIG. 1) and non-volatile memory (e.g., non-volatile memory (134) of FIG. 1).

[0110] The processor may be a configuration that is operatively, functionally, and / or electrically connected to each component of the electronic device (401) and can perform calculations or data processing related to control and / or communication of each component. The operations performed by the processor may be stored in memory and, when executed, executed by instructions that cause the processor to operate.

[0111] Hereinafter, the computational and data processing functions that the processor can implement on the electronic device (401) are not limited, but a series of operations related to the XR content service function will be described. The operations of the processor described below can be performed by executing instructions stored in memory.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the processor may generate a virtual object based on virtual information based on image information. The processor may output a virtual object related to an XR service together with background space information through the display (421). For example, the processor may capture an image related to a real space corresponding to the field of view of a user wearing the electronic device (401) through a second function camera (411, 412) to obtain image information or generate a virtual space for a virtual environment. For example, the processor may control the display (421) to display XR content (hereinafter referred to as an XR content screen) in which at least one virtual object is output so as to be overlapped in an area determined to be a field of view or a field of view (FoV) of the user.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may have a form factor for being worn on a user's head. The electronic device (401) may further include a strap and / or a wearable member for being secured on a body part of the user. The electronic device (401) may provide a user experience based on augmented reality, virtual reality, and / or mixed reality while being worn on the user's head.

[0114] FIG. 5 illustrates examples of construction of a virtual space, input from a user within the virtual space, and output to the user according to various embodiments.

[0115] An electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, the electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, the electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, and the electronic device (401) of FIG. 4) can obtain spatial information about a physical space in which the sensor is located using a sensor. The spatial information can include a geographical location of the physical space in which the sensor is located, a size of the space, an appearance of the space, a location of a physical object (551) arranged in the space, a size of the physical object (551), an appearance of the physical object (551), and illuminant information. The appearance of the space and the physical object (551) can include at least one of a shape, a texture, or a color of the space and the physical object (551). The illuminant information is information about a light source that emits light acting within the physical space, and can include at least one of an intensity, a direction, or a color of the illumination. The aforementioned sensor can collect information for providing augmented reality. For example, referring to the augmented reality device illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the sensor may include a camera and a depth sensor. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sensor may further include at least one of an infrared sensor, a depth sensor (e.g., a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, or a stereo camera), a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a geomagnetic sensor.

[0116] The electronic device (501) can collect spatial information over multiple time frames. For example, in each time frame, the electronic device (501) can collect spatial information about a portion of a scene within a sensing range (e.g., field of view (FOV)) of a sensor at the location of the electronic device (501) in physical space. By analyzing the spatial information of multiple time frames, the electronic device (501) can track changes in an object (e.g., movement of position or change of state) over time. The electronic device (501) can also obtain integrated spatial information (e.g., an image that spatially stitches scenes around the electronic device (501) in physical space) for the integrated sensing range of the multiple sensors by comprehensively analyzing the spatial information collected through the multiple sensors.

[0117] An electronic device (501) according to one embodiment can analyze a physical space into three-dimensional information by utilizing various input signals of sensors (e.g., sensing data from an RGB camera, an infrared sensor, a depth sensor, or a stereo camera). For example, the electronic device (501) can analyze at least one of the shape, size, and position of a physical space, and the shape, size, or position of a physical object (551).

[0118] For example, the electronic device (501) can detect an object captured within a scene corresponding to the camera's field of view using the camera's sensing data (e.g., a captured image). The electronic device (501) can determine a label of a physical object (551) from the camera's two-dimensional scene image (e.g., information indicating the classification of the object, including a value indicating a chair, a monitor, or a plant) and an area (e.g., a bounding box) occupied by the physical object (551) within the two-dimensional scene. Accordingly, the electronic device (501) can obtain two-dimensional scene information at a position viewed by the user (590). In addition, the electronic device (501) can also calculate the physical space location of the electronic device (501) based on the camera's sensing data.

[0119] The electronic device (501) can obtain location information of the user (590) and depth information of the actual space in the viewing direction using sensing data (e.g., depth data) of the depth sensor. The depth information is information indicating the distance from the depth sensor to each point and can be expressed in the form of a depth map. The electronic device (501) can analyze the distance of each pixel in the three-dimensional position viewed by the user (590).

[0120] The electronic device (501) can acquire information including a 3D point cloud and mesh using various sensing data. The electronic device (501) can analyze a physical space to acquire a surface, mesh, or 3D coordinate point cluster that constitutes the space. Based on the information acquired as described above, the electronic device (501) can acquire a 3D point cloud representing physical objects.

[0121] The electronic device (501) can analyze a physical space to obtain information including at least one of a three-dimensional position coordinate, a three-dimensional shape, or a three-dimensional size (e.g., a three-dimensional bounding box) of physical objects placed in the physical space.

[0122] Accordingly, the electronic device (501) can obtain information on a physical object detected in a three-dimensional space and semantic segmentation information on the three-dimensional space. The physical object information may include at least one of the position, appearance (e.g., shape, texture, and color), or size of the physical object (551) in the three-dimensional space. The semantic segmentation information is information that semantically divides the three-dimensional space into subspaces, and may include, for example, information indicating that the three-dimensional space is divided into an object and a background, and information indicating that the background is divided into a wall, a floor, and a ceiling. The electronic device (501) can obtain and store three-dimensional information (e.g., spatial information) on the physical object (551) and the physical space as described above. The electronic device (501) can store three-dimensional position information of the user (590) in the space together with the spatial information.

[0123] An electronic device (501) according to one embodiment can construct a virtual space (500) based on the physical location of the electronic device (501) and / or the user (590). The electronic device (501) can create the virtual space (500) by referring to the spatial information described above. The electronic device (501) can create a virtual space (500) of the same scale as the physical space based on the spatial information and place objects within the created virtual space (500). The electronic device (501) can provide a complete virtual reality to the user (590) by outputting an image that represents the entire physical space. The electronic device (501) can provide mixed reality (MR) or augmented reality (AR) by outputting an image that represents a part of the physical space. However, although the construction of a virtual space (500) based on spatial information acquired through analysis of the aforementioned physical space is described, the electronic device (501) may also construct a virtual space (500) regardless of the physical location of the user (590). In this specification, the virtual space (500) is a space corresponding to augmented reality or virtual reality, and may also be referred to as a metaverse space.

[0124] For example, the electronic device (501) may provide a virtual graphic representation that replaces at least a portion of a physical space. An electronic device (501) based on optical see-through may output a virtual graphic representation by overlaying the virtual graphic representation on a screen area corresponding to at least a portion of the space on a screen display unit. An electronic device (501) based on video see-through may output an image generated by replacing an image area corresponding to at least a portion of a space image corresponding to a physical space rendered based on spatial information with a virtual graphic representation. The electronic device (501) may replace at least a portion of a background in a physical space with a virtual graphic representation, but is not limited thereto. The electronic device (501) may also perform only additional placement of a virtual object (552) within a virtual space (500) based on spatial information without changing the background.

[0125] The electronic device (501) can place and output a virtual object (552) in a virtual space (500). The electronic device (501) can set an operation area of ​​the virtual object (552) in a space occupied by the virtual object (552) (e.g., a volume corresponding to the appearance of the virtual object (552). The operation area may indicate an area where manipulation of the virtual object (552) occurs. In addition, the electronic device (501) can output a physical object (551) by replacing it with the virtual object (552). The virtual object (552) corresponding to the physical object (551) may have a shape identical to or similar to that of the physical object (551). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electronic device (501) may also set only an operation area in a space occupied by the physical object (551) or in a location corresponding to the physical object (551) without outputting a virtual object (552) that replaces the physical object (551). In other words, the electronic device (501) can transmit visual information representing a physical object (551) (e.g., light reflected from the physical object (551) or an image captured of the physical object (551)) to the user (590) without change, and set a manipulation area on the physical object (551). The manipulation area can be set to the same shape and volume as the space occupied by the virtual object (552) or the physical object (551), but is not limited thereto. The electronic device (501) can also set a manipulation area smaller than the space occupied by the virtual object (552) or the space occupied by the physical object (551).

[0126] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (501) may place a virtual object (552) representing a user (590) (e.g., an avatar object) within the virtual space (500). When the avatar object is provided in a first-person view, the electronic device (501) may visualize a graphical representation corresponding to a part (e.g., a hand, a torso, or a leg) of the avatar object to the user (590) through the aforementioned display (e.g., an optical see-through display or a video see-through display). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the avatar object is provided in a third-person view, the electronic device (501) may also visualize a graphical representation corresponding to the entire shape (e.g., a back view) of the avatar object to the user (590) through the aforementioned display. The electronic device (501) may provide the user (590) with an experience integrated with the avatar object.

[0127] In addition, the electronic device (501) can provide an avatar object of another user who has entered the same virtual space (500). The electronic device (501) can receive feedback information that is the same or similar to feedback information (e.g., information based on at least one of visual, auditory, or tactile senses) provided to another electronic device (501) who has entered the same virtual space (500). For example, when an object is placed in a certain virtual space (500) and multiple users access the virtual space (500), the electronic devices (501) of the multiple users can receive feedback information (e.g., graphical representation, sound signal, or haptic feedback) of the same object placed in the virtual space (500) and provide the feedback information to each user (590).

[0128] The electronic device (501) can detect input to an avatar object of another electronic device (501) and can also receive feedback information from the avatar object of the other electronic device (501). The exchange of input and feedback for each virtual space (500) can be performed by a server (e.g., server (108) of FIG. 1). For example, a server (e.g., a server providing a metaverse space) can transmit input and feedback between an avatar object of a user (590) and an avatar object of another user between users (590). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electronic device (501) can establish direct communication with another electronic device (501) without going through a server to provide input or receive feedback based on an avatar object.

[0129] For example, the electronic device (501) may determine that a physical object (551) corresponding to the selected manipulation area has been selected by the user (590) based on detecting a user input for selecting an manipulation area. The user's (590) input may include at least one of a gesture input using a part of the body (e.g., a hand or an eye), an input using a separate virtual reality accessory device, or a user's voice input.

[0130] A gesture input is an input corresponding to a gesture identified based on tracking a body part (510) of a user (590), and for example, the gesture input may include an input for pointing or selecting an object. The gesture input may include at least one of a gesture in which a body part (e.g., a hand) faces an object for a predetermined period of time or longer, a gesture in which a body part (e.g., a finger, an eye, a head) points to an object, or a gesture in which a body part and an object make spatial contact. A gesture in which an eye points to an object may be identified based on eye tracking. A gesture in which the head points to an object may be identified based on head tracking.

[0131] Tracking of a body part (510) of a user (590) may be performed primarily based on a camera of the electronic device (501), but is not limited thereto. The electronic device (501) may also track the body part (510) based on the cooperation of sensing data of a vision sensor (e.g., image data of a camera and depth data of a depth sensor) and information collected by an accessory device described below (e.g., controller tracking, finger tracking within the controller). Finger tracking may be performed by sensing the distance or contact between an individual finger and the controller based on a sensor built into the controller (e.g., an infrared sensor).

[0132] The virtual reality accessory device may include a ride-on device, a wearable device, a controller device (520), or other sensor-based device. The ride-on device is a device that a user (590) rides on and operates, and may include, for example, at least one of a treadmill-type device or a chair-type device. The wearable device is a manipulation device that is worn on at least a part of the user's (590) body, and may include, for example, at least one of a full-body and half-body suit-type controller, a vest-type controller, a shoe-type controller, a bag-type controller, a glove-type controller (e.g., a haptic glove), or a face mask-type controller. The controller device (520) may include, for example, an input device (e.g., a stick-type controller or a gun) that is operated by a hand, foot, toe, or other body part (510).

[0133] The electronic device (501) may establish direct communication with the accessory device to track at least one of the location or motion of the accessory device, but is not limited thereto. The electronic device (501) may also communicate with the accessory device via a base station for virtual reality.

[0134] For example, the electronic device (501) may determine that the virtual object (552) has been selected based on detecting an action of gazing at the virtual object (552) for a predetermined period of time or longer through the aforementioned eye gaze tracking technology. As another example, the electronic device (501) may recognize a gesture indicating the virtual object (552) through hand tracking technology. The electronic device (501) may determine that the virtual object (552) has been selected based on whether the direction pointed by the tracked hand indicates the virtual object (552) for a predetermined period of time or longer, or whether the hand of the user (590) contacts or enters an area occupied by the virtual object (552) within the virtual space (500).

[0135] The user's voice input is an input corresponding to the user's voice acquired by the electronic device (501), and may include, for example, voice data sensed by an input module (e.g., a microphone) of the electronic device (501) or received from an external electronic device of the electronic device (501). The electronic device (501) may determine that a physical object (551) or a virtual object (552) has been selected by analyzing the user's voice input. For example, the electronic device (501) may determine that at least one of the physical object (551) or the virtual object (552) corresponding to the detected keyword has been selected based on detecting a keyword indicating at least one of the physical object (551) or the virtual object (552) from the user's voice input.

[0136] The electronic device (501) may provide feedback as described below in response to the user (590) input described above.

[0137] Feedback may include visual feedback, auditory feedback, tactile feedback, olfactory feedback, or gustatory feedback. The feedback may be rendered by a server (108), an electronic device (101), or an external electronic device (102), as described above in FIG. 1.

[0138] Visual feedback may include outputting an image through a display (e.g., a transparent display or an opaque display) of the electronic device (501).

[0139] Auditory feedback may include outputting sound through a speaker of the electronic device (501).

[0140] Tactile feedback may include force feedback that simulates weight, shape, texture, dimension, and dynamics. For example, a haptic glove may include haptic elements (e.g., electrical muscles) that can simulate the sensation of touch by tensing and relaxing the body of a user (590). The haptic elements within the haptic glove may act as tendons. The haptic glove may provide haptic feedback to the entire hand of the user (590). The electronic device (501) may provide feedback indicating the shape, size, and stiffness of an object through the haptic glove. For example, the haptic glove may generate forces that mimic the shape, size, and stiffness of an object. The exoskeleton of the haptic glove (or suit-like device) may include sensors and finger motion measurement devices, and may transmit tactile information to the body by transmitting a force (e.g., an electromagnetic, DC motor, or pneumatic-based force) that pulls a cable to the fingers of the user (590). Hardware providing tactile feedback may include sensors, actuators, power sources, and wireless transmission circuitry. Haptic gloves may operate by inflating and deflating inflatable air bladders on the glove surface.

[0141] The electronic device (501) may provide feedback to the user (590) based on the selection of an object within the virtual space (500). For example, the electronic device (501) may output a graphical representation indicating the selected object (e.g., an expression highlighting the selected object) through the display. As another example, the electronic device (501) may output a sound (e.g., a voice) guiding the selected object through the speaker. As another example, the electronic device (501) may provide the user (590) with a haptic movement that simulates the tactile sensation of the corresponding object by transmitting an electrical signal to a haptic-enabled accessory device (e.g., a haptic glove).

[0142] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of voice data transmission between multiple users in a virtual space according to various embodiments.

[0143] An electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, an electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, an electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, an electronic device (401) of FIG. 4, an electronic device (501) of FIG. 5) can be worn by a user. The electronic device can exist in a space (600). In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the space (600) can include a physical space and / or a virtual space (e.g., a virtual space (500) of FIG. 5). The presence of the electronic device in the space (600) can mean that, when the space (600) is a physical space, the location of the electronic device is included within an area defined by the space (600). The presence of an electronic device in a space (600) can be interpreted as corresponding to a user (601) connecting to (or entering) the virtual space when the space (600) is a virtual space, and the electronic device disconnecting from (or leaving) the space (600) can be interpreted as corresponding to a user (601) leaving the virtual space. The space (600) can be a virtual space constructed by at least one of a server (e.g., a server (108) of FIG. 1), an electronic device, and another electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (102) of FIG. 1, an electronic device (104) of FIG. 1).

[0144] An electronic device can receive audio data from another electronic device located in the same space (600). For example, the other electronic device may be worn by another user (602). The other electronic device may acquire audio data, including voice data of the other user (602). The other electronic device may transmit the acquired audio data to the electronic device. The electronic device may receive the audio data. The electronic device may reproduce the received audio data (or voice output acquired from the audio data). Consequently, a user (601) wearing an electronic device and another user (602) wearing another electronic device may converse through a virtual space even when they are located in different physical spaces. However, the user (601) wearing an electronic device and another user (602) wearing another electronic device are not limited to being located in different physical spaces. The user (601) and another user (602) may be located in the same physical space, and the electronic device and another electronic device may access the same virtual space.

[0145] An electronic device in a space (600) may have a position and / or heading direction of the electronic device within the space. The position and heading direction of the electronic device may be individually set at the time of entering the space (600) with an initial position and an initial heading direction. The position and heading direction of the electronic device may be changed based on an input from a user (601) received after the electronic device enters the space (600). The electronic device may display a virtual object corresponding to another electronic device that has entered the space (600) based on the position and / or heading direction of the other electronic device. The virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device may include an avatar object corresponding to another user (602).

[0146] When a user (601) and another user (602) are conversing in the same physical space, the other user (602) may perceive the same utterance differently to the user (601) based on the direction in which the other user (602) looks while speaking (hereinafter, “speaking direction”) and / or the direction in which the user (601) looks while listening to the utterance of the other user (602) (hereinafter, “listening direction”). For example, when the user (601) and the other user (602) are looking straight at each other, when the user (601) looks at the other user (602) and the other user (602) turns his / her head to a certain angle, when the other user (602) looks at the user (601) and the user (601) turns his / her head to a certain angle, or when the user (601) and the other user (602) turn their heads to a certain angle, the user (601) may hear the utterance of the other user (602) differently. For example, when a user (601) listens to the speech of another user (602), the user (601) may perceive at least one of the attenuation rate for high-pitched sounds during the speech, the volume perceived through the left ear, or the volume perceived through the right ear differently depending on the positions and / or head rotation angles of the user (601) and the other user (602).

[0147] However, when the electronic device reproduces the voice input of another user (602) without considering the position and heading direction of the user (601) (or the electronic device) and / or another user (602) (or another electronic device) in the space (600), the user experience may be degraded due to a mismatch between the acoustic characteristics (e.g., high-frequency component attenuation rate, volume for the left ear, volume for the right ear) according to the position and / or heading direction of the user (601) and another user (602) in the virtual space (600) recognized by the electronic device and the reproduced voice input.

[0148] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may process a voice input from another electronic device based on the location and / or heading direction of the other electronic device within the space (600). For example, the electronic device may generate a voice output that emulates a case where the user (601) and another user (602) are conversing within the same physical space based on the location and / or heading direction of the electronic device (or the user (601)) and the other electronic device (or the other user (602)) within the space (600).

[0149] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a first user and a second user may exist in a space (600). The first user may wear a first electronic device, and the second user may wear a second electronic device.

[0150] In a first situation (610), a first electronic device of a first user (611) and a second electronic device of a second user (612) can face each other directly within a space (600). The second electronic device can reproduce a voice output having a high-pitched sound attenuation rate lower than a threshold attenuation rate applied to the voice of the first user (611). In addition, the second electronic device can reproduce a voice output at the same volume from a first speaker corresponding to the right ear of the second user (612) and a second speaker corresponding to the left ear of the second user (612).

[0151] In a second situation (620), a first electronic device of a first user (621) may have a heading direction different from a direction toward a second electronic device of a second user (622) within a space (600), and the second electronic device of the second user (622) may face the first electronic device of the first user (621). The second electronic device may reproduce a voice output to which a high-pitched component attenuation rate exceeding a threshold attenuation rate is applied to the voice of the first user (621). In addition, the second electronic device may reproduce a voice output at a first volume through a first speaker corresponding to the right ear of the second user (622), and reproduce a voice output at a second volume greater than the first volume through a second speaker corresponding to the left ear of the second user (622).

[0152] In a third situation (630), a first electronic device of a first user (631) may face a second electronic device of a second user (632) within a space (600), and the second electronic device of the second user (632) may have a heading direction different from the direction toward the first electronic device of the first user (631). The second electronic device may reproduce a voice output to which a high-pitched component attenuation rate exceeding a threshold attenuation rate is applied to the voice of the first user (631). In addition, the second electronic device may reproduce a voice output at a first volume through a first speaker corresponding to the right ear of the second user (632), and reproduce a voice output at a second volume lower than the first volume through a second speaker corresponding to the left ear of the second user (632).

[0153] An electronic device according to one embodiment may adjust acoustic data based on the acoustic characteristics of the physical space and / or space (600) surrounding another electronic device. For example, the electronic device may reproduce a voice output in which the acoustic characteristics of the physical space surrounding another electronic device are limited and the acoustic characteristics of the space (600) are added. By limiting and / or adding the acoustic characteristics, the electronic device may reproduce a voice output that mimics a voice spoken by another user while positioned within the space (600). For example, if the other electronic device is positioned in a cave and the space (600) is a virtual space that mimics an outdoor terrace, the voice output may be reproduced to a user wearing the electronic device as a voice output that mimics a voice spoken by another user wearing the other electronic device on the outdoor terrace by limiting the acoustic characteristics according to the cave and adding the acoustic characteristics according to the outdoor terrace.

[0154] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an example of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0155] An electronic device (701) according to one embodiment (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, electronic device (401) of FIGS. 4A and 4B, electronic device (501) of FIG. 5) may process a voice input received from another electronic device based on at least one of a position and / or heading direction, or a spatial characteristic of the electronic device (701) and the other electronic device.

[0156] An electronic device (701) according to one embodiment may include at least one of a front end (710), a position and heading direction determination module (720), a space characteristic determination module (730), a space characteristic database (740), or a voice process module (750).

[0157] The front end (710) can receive voice input from a user wearing the electronic device (701). Alternatively, the front end (710) can receive voice input from another electronic device worn by another user.

[0158] The position and heading direction determination module (720) can determine the position and heading direction of the electronic device (701) and other electronic devices within a space (e.g., space (600) of FIG. 6). According to one embodiment, the position and heading direction determination module (720) can include at least one of a first position and heading direction determination module (721) or a second position and heading direction determination module (722).

[0159] A first position and heading direction determination module (721) of one embodiment can determine a position and heading direction of another electronic device within a space. The first position and heading direction determination module (721) can determine a first reference direction from another electronic device to the electronic device (701) (e.g., first reference directions 921a, 921b, 921c of FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C) and a speaking angle between the heading direction of the other electronic device (e.g., 0° of FIG. 9A, +θ1° of FIG. 9B, and -θ3° of FIG. 9C). The speaking angle can be determined to be a value greater than or equal to -180° and less than or equal to +180°.

[0160] For example, the first position and heading direction determination module (721) may determine the position and heading direction of another electronic device within a space based on a virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device displayed through the display. For example, the first position and heading direction determination module (721) may receive information regarding the position and heading direction of another electronic device from another electronic device and / or a server, and determine the position and heading direction of the other electronic device based on the received information.

[0161] The second position and heading direction determination module (722) of one embodiment can determine the position and heading direction of the electronic device (701) within the space. The second position and heading direction determination module (722) can determine a listening angle (e.g., 0° in FIG. 9A, -θ2° in FIG. 9B, and +θ4° in FIG. 9C) between a second reference direction opposite to the first reference direction (e.g., second reference directions 922a, 922b, 922c in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C) and the heading direction of the electronic device. The second reference direction can mean a direction from the electronic device (701) to another electronic device. The listening angle can be determined as a value greater than or equal to -180° and less than or equal to +180°.

[0162] The firing angle and listening angle are described in more detail later in FIGS. 9a, 9b, and 9c.

[0163] The spatial characteristic determination module (730) can determine acoustic characteristics according to the physical space surrounding the electronic device (701). According to one embodiment, the spatial characteristic determination module (730) can include at least one of a first spatial characteristic determination module (731) or a second spatial characteristic determination module (732).

[0164] Acoustic characteristics according to a space (e.g., physical space, virtual space) may include at least one of reverberation time and tonal characteristics. Reverberation time may refer to the time required for the sound pressure of a played test sound to decrease by 60 dB at the time of playing the test sound. However, this is only an example, and the reverberation time may be measured according to various criteria, such as the time required for a 20 dB or 30 dB decrease. Tonal characteristics may refer to the balance of each band from low to high tones.

[0165] The first spatial characteristic determination module (731) of one embodiment may determine acoustic characteristics according to a physical space around the electronic device (701) based on visual information. For example, the first spatial characteristic determination module (731) may obtain an image of a physical space around the electronic device (701). For example, the first spatial characteristic determination module (731) may determine acoustic characteristics according to a physical space around the electronic device (701) based on a size of the physical space around the electronic device (701) determined from the obtained image, a physical object (e.g., a desk, a chair) placed in the physical space, and / or a texture of a background that separates the physical space.

[0166] The second spatial characteristic determination module (732) of one embodiment may determine acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device (701) based on acoustic information. For example, the second spatial characteristic determination module (732) may reproduce first sound data in the physical space around the electronic device (701). The first sound data may correspond to a predetermined reference sound. For example, the first sound data may be sound data whose acoustic characteristics according to the physical space are limited. The second spatial characteristic determination module (732) may obtain second sound data based on the reproduced first sound data. The second sound data may have acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device (701) added to the first sound data. The second spatial characteristic determination module (732) may determine acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device (701) by comparing the first sound data and the second sound data.

[0167] The spatial characteristics database (740) can store acoustic characteristics according to physical space and / or virtual space. The spatial characteristics database (740) can store acoustic characteristics according to physical space determined by the spatial characteristics determination module (730). The spatial characteristics database (740) can store acoustic characteristics according to physical space received from an external device (e.g., another device, a server). The spatial characteristics database (740) can store acoustic characteristics according to virtual space obtained from a device that constructs a virtual space (e.g., an electronic device (701), another electronic device, a server).

[0168] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the spatial characteristic database (740) is primarily described as being included in the electronic device (701), but is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device (701) may be implemented as a separate device from the spatial characteristic data (740) and may be able to access the spatial characteristic data (740).

[0169] The voice processing module (750) can process audio data obtained from the electronic device (701) and / or other electronic devices.

[0170] For example, when acquiring audio data from another electronic device, the voice processing module (750) may generate audio output from the audio data. For example, the voice processing module (750) may attenuate high-pitched components of the audio data based on the heading direction (or speaking angle) of the other electronic device and / or the heading direction (or listening angle) of the electronic device (701). For example, the voice processing module (750) may add acoustic characteristics according to a virtual space to the audio data.

[0171] For example, when the voice processing module (750) obtains first acoustic data from the electronic device (701) (or a user wearing the electronic device (701), the voice processing module (750) can generate second acoustic data from the first acoustic data. The voice processing module (750) can adjust the second acoustic data based on acoustic characteristics of the physical space around the electronic device (701). For example, the voice processing module (750) can limit (e.g., reduce, remove) acoustic characteristics of the physical space around the electronic device (701) from a voice input. Thereafter, the front end (710) of the electronic device (701) can transmit the voice data to another electronic device.

[0172] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for an electronic device to reproduce voice output generated from audio data of another electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0173] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, electronic device (401) of FIGS. 4A and 4B, electronic device (501) of FIG. 5, electronic device (701) of FIG. 7) can reproduce a voice output based on a voice input of another electronic device in the same space.

[0174] In operation (810), the electronic device may receive first audio data, including voice data, from another electronic device connected to the electronic device via communication. The electronic device and the other electronic device may be in the same space. The space where the electronic device and the other electronic device are located may include at least one of a physical space and a virtual space.

[0175] When an electronic device and another electronic device are in the same virtual space, the electronic device and the other electronic device can access the virtual space.

[0176] A virtual space can be constructed as a three-dimensional space (e.g., a three-dimensional space) and / or a planar space (e.g., a two-dimensional space). Data corresponding to a virtual space can include at least one of information defining the space (e.g., size, boundary), information about each point within the space (e.g., location, information about the object corresponding to the point, color), or information about an object contained in the space.

[0177] In one embodiment, the virtual space may be constructed to correspond to the physical space surrounding the electronic device (or other electronic device).

[0178] For example, a virtual space can be constructed based on the physical space surrounding another electronic device (hereinafter also referred to as the "first physical space"). By accessing the virtual space, the electronic device can provide the user wearing the electronic device with a user experience similar to entering the first physical space.

[0179] For another example, a virtual space can be constructed based on the physical space surrounding the electronic device (hereinafter also referred to as a "second physical space"). By accessing the virtual space, another electronic device can provide a user experience similar to entering the second physical space to another user wearing the other electronic device.

[0180] In one embodiment, a virtual space can be constructed independently of the physical space surrounding an electronic device (or other electronic device). For example, the virtual space can be constructed based on established information (e.g., the size of the virtual space, the objects placed within it). By accessing the virtual space, the electronic device and other electronic devices can provide a user experience similar to entering the same space to both the user wearing the electronic device and other users wearing other electronic devices.

[0181] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is mainly described that an electronic device and another electronic device enter a single virtual space, but this is not limited thereto. According to one embodiment, the electronic device and the other electronic device may access virtual spaces constructed corresponding to each other. For example, the electronic device and the other electronic device may access a first virtual space and a second virtual space. The first virtual space may refer to a virtual space constructed based on a physical space around the other electronic device (e.g., a first physical space), and the second virtual space may refer to a virtual space constructed based on a physical space around the electronic device (e.g., a second physical space). The electronic device may display an object corresponding to the other electronic device based on the other electronic device's access to the first virtual space. The other electronic device may display an object corresponding to the electronic device based on the electronic device's access to the second virtual space. Electronic devices and other electronic devices can access the first virtual space and the second virtual space, thereby providing a user experience to a user wearing the electronic device as if another user wearing another electronic device had entered the first physical space, while at the same time providing a user experience to another user wearing another electronic device as if the user wearing the electronic device had entered the second physical space.

[0182] In one embodiment, another electronic device may obtain first audio data containing voice data. The voice data may refer to data corresponding to the voice of another user. The other electronic device may transmit the first audio data to the electronic device. The electronic device may receive the first audio data from the other electronic device.

[0183] In operation (820), the electronic device can obtain second acoustic data from the first acoustic data by reducing or eliminating acoustic characteristics according to the physical space of the other electronic device. The second acoustic data can be obtained by adjusting the first acoustic data of the other electronic device based on acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the other electronic device.

[0184] An electronic device can acquire second audio data by adjusting first audio data based on acoustic characteristics of a first physical space. The first audio data may be a voice that combines voice data of another user with acoustic characteristics of the first physical space. The electronic device can generate second audio data from the first audio data based on a space in which it exists with another electronic device.

[0185] For example, the electronic device may obtain second acoustic data by removing acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the other electronic device from the first acoustic data based on the fact that the space (e.g., virtual space) is constructed independently from the physical space around the other electronic device. If the virtual space is constructed independently from the first physical space, the electronic device may generate second acoustic data by restricting acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space from the first acoustic data. If the second acoustic data does not include acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space, a user listening to the second acoustic data (or voice output based on the second acoustic data) through the electronic device will not recognize the acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space, thereby preventing a degraded user experience caused by recognizing that another user exists in a first physical space that is different from the user's physical space (e.g., second physical space).

[0186] For example, an electronic device may acquire second acoustic data by maintaining acoustic characteristics of first acoustic data based on the fact that a space (e.g., a virtual space) is constructed corresponding to a physical space around another electronic device. If the virtual space is constructed corresponding to the first physical space, the electronic device may not limit the acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space from the first acoustic data. Even if the second acoustic data (or voice output based on the second acoustic data) reproduced by the electronic device includes acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space, since the virtual space is also constructed corresponding to the first physical space, the user of the electronic device may recognize the acoustic characteristics of the second acoustic data (or voice output based on the second acoustic data) as acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space.

[0187] However, when a space (e.g., a virtual space) is constructed to correspond to a physical space around another electronic device, the second acoustic data is not limited to maintaining the acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space. For example, the electronic device can generate the second acoustic data by at least partially limiting the acoustic characteristics according to the first physical space from the first acoustic data. The electronic device can generate the voice output by at least partially adding the acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space to the second acoustic data received from the other electronic device. When the virtual space is constructed to correspond to a physical space around another electronic device, the acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the other electronic device may be the same as or similar to the acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space.

[0188] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device is primarily described as acquiring second acoustic data from first acoustic data, but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, another electronic device can generate second acoustic data by adjusting the first acoustic data based on acoustic characteristics according to a first physical space. The other electronic device can transmit the second acoustic data to the electronic device. The electronic device can receive the second acoustic data from the other electronic device.

[0189] In operation (830), the electronic device may display a virtual object corresponding to another electronic device via a display. The electronic device may display the other electronic device within a space where the other electronic device coexists with the electronic device. The virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device may include an avatar object of another user wearing the other electronic device.

[0190] In operation (840), the electronic device can determine the location and heading direction of another electronic device. For example, the electronic device can determine the location and heading direction of another electronic device within a space based on a displayed virtual object. According to one embodiment, the location and heading direction determination module of the electronic device (e.g., the location and heading direction determination module (720) of FIG. 7 ) can determine the location and heading direction of another electronic device based on a displayed virtual object.

[0191] In operation (850), the electronic device can obtain a voice output by adjusting the second acoustic data based on the position and heading direction of the identified other electronic device. The voice output can be generated from the second acoustic data based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device within the virtual space.

[0192] In operation (860), the electronic device can reproduce the acquired voice output through the speaker.

[0193] An electronic device according to one embodiment can generate a voice output by adding acoustic characteristics according to a virtual space to second acoustic data. The acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space can be obtained by analyzing image data captured of the virtual space, and / or the acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space can be obtained from a spatial characteristics database (e.g., the spatial characteristics database (740) of FIG. 7).

[0194] For example, an electronic device may generate a voice output having acoustic characteristics according to a physical space around the electronic device, based on a virtual space being constructed corresponding to a physical space around the electronic device. If the virtual space is constructed corresponding to a second physical space, the electronic device may obtain acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space based on acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space. For example, the electronic device may determine the acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space to be the same as the acoustic characteristics according to the virtual space. The electronic device may determine the acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space by analyzing image data regarding the second physical space, and / or obtain the acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space stored in a space characteristic database (e.g., the space characteristic database 740 of FIG. 7). The electronic device may add the acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space to the second acoustic data. By reproducing the voice output generated by adding the acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space to the second acoustic data, the electronic device may provide a user experience similar to that of another user existing together with the user in the second physical space.

[0195] According to one embodiment, voice output can be obtained from the second acoustic data based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device. For example, the electronic device can determine a speaking angle and / or a listening angle based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device within the virtual space. The electronic device can generate voice output by adjusting the second acoustic data based on the speaking angle and / or the listening angle. For example, the electronic device can determine an attenuation rate for a high-pitched sound component of the second acoustic data based on the speaking angle and / or the listening angle. The electronic device can adjust the volume of the speaker corresponding to the right ear and the volume of the speaker corresponding to the left ear based on the speaking angle and / or the listening angle. The speaking angle and listening angle are described in more detail below in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, the attenuation rate for the high-pitched sound component is described in more detail below in FIG. 10, and the volume adjustment of the speakers is described in more detail below in FIG. 11.

[0196] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the physical space surrounding the electronic device and the physical space surrounding another electronic device are primarily described as being different, but are not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the electronic device may exist in the same physical space as another electronic device. For example, at least a portion of the physical space surrounding the electronic device may be identical to at least a portion of the physical space surrounding the other electronic device.

[0197] An electronic device according to one embodiment can adjust a volume of audio output based on whether at least a portion of a physical space around the electronic device is the same as at least a portion of a physical space around another electronic device.

[0198] When an electronic device and another electronic device exist in the same physical space, the voice of another user wearing the other electronic device can be not only acquired by the other electronic device, but also directly recognized by the user wearing the electronic device (e.g., by propagating through the air in the physical space without going through the electronic device). Therefore, even though the electronic device and the other electronic device exist in the same physical space, if the electronic device reproduces voice output at a volume determined without considering the physical space, the user can perceive both the directly recognized voice of the other user and the voice output reproduced through the electronic device. Consequently, the electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may reproduce voice output at an excessively loud volume (e.g., a volume exceeding a threshold volume) for the user. In contrast, the electronic device according to one embodiment can reproduce voice output at an appropriate volume (e.g., a threshold volume) that takes into account the directly recognized voice of the other user by adjusting (e.g., decreasing) the volume at which the voice output is reproduced based on the presence of the electronic device and the other electronic device in the same physical space.

[0199] Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 8, the electronic device may acquire audio data (hereinafter also referred to as “third audio data”) including voice data of a user wearing the electronic device, and transmit fourth audio data acquired from the third audio data of the electronic device to another electronic device.

[0200] According to one embodiment, an electronic device can obtain third acoustic data including voice data. The electronic device can determine acoustic characteristics according to a physical space around the electronic device. For example, the electronic device can determine acoustic characteristics according to a physical space around the electronic device from image data of the physical space around the electronic device based on obtaining the third acoustic data. The electronic device can obtain fourth acoustic data by reducing or eliminating acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device determined from the third acoustic data. The electronic device can transmit the fourth acoustic data to another electronic device.

[0201] The electronic device may, similarly to operation (820), adjust the third acoustic data based on the physical space on which the virtual space is based. For example, based on the fact that the virtual space is constructed independently of the physical space around the electronic device (e.g., the second physical space), the electronic device may limit acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space from the third acoustic data. The electronic device may transmit second acoustic data with limited acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space to another electronic device from the fourth acoustic data. For another example, based on the fact that the virtual space is constructed corresponding to the second physical space, the electronic device may not limit acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space from the first acoustic data. The electronic device may transmit second acoustic data that maintains acoustic characteristics according to the second physical space to another electronic device.

[0202] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are drawings illustrating examples of utterance angles and listening angles according to various embodiments.

[0203] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, electronic device (401) of FIGS. 4A and 4B, electronic device (501) of FIG. 5, electronic device (701) of FIG. 7) can process acoustic data based on a speaking angle and / or a listening angle. The electronic device can determine the speaking angle and / or the listening angle based on a position and heading direction of another electronic device within the virtual space.

[0204] In FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, it can be explained assuming that the speakers (901a, 901b, 901c) wear different electronic devices, and the listeners (902a, 902b, 902c) wear electronic devices. In addition, the positions and heading directions of the speakers (901a, 901b, 901c) and the listeners (902a, 902b, 902c) illustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate the positions and heading directions of the speakers (901a, 901b, 901c) (or different electronic devices) and the listeners (902a, 902b, 902c) (or electronic devices) within the virtual space. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the heading direction of other electronic devices is described as corresponding to the heading direction of the speaker, and the heading direction of the electronic device is described as corresponding to the heading direction of the listener.

[0205] The firing angle may refer to the angle between a first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c) from another electronic device to the electronic device and a heading direction of the other electronic device. The first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c) may refer to a direction from a reference point (911a, 911b, 911c) of the other electronic device to a reference point (912a, 912b, 912c) of the electronic device. For example, the first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c) may be the heading direction of the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) (e.g., another user wearing another electronic device) when the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) and the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) (e.g., another user wearing an electronic device) are facing each other head-on. The reference points (911a, 911b, 911c) of the other electronic devices may correspond to, for example, the center of the head of the other user wearing the other electronic device. The reference points (912a, 912b, 912c) of the electronic devices may correspond to, for example, the center of the head of the user wearing the electronic device.

[0206] According to one embodiment, the firing angle may be determined as a value greater than or equal to -180° and less than or equal to +180°. The sign of the firing angle may be determined based on a direction (e.g., clockwise, counterclockwise) in which the heading direction of the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) is rotated with respect to a first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c). The direction in which the heading direction of the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) is rotated with respect to the first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c) may be determined based on a viewpoint viewed from above the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) (e.g., from the head of the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) toward the legs). For example, in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, if the heading direction of the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) is rotated clockwise with respect to the first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c), the utterance angle may have a positive sign. If the heading direction of the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c), the utterance angle may have a negative sign.

[0207] The listening angle may refer to an angle between a second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c) opposite to the first reference direction (921a, 921b, 921c) and the heading direction of the electronic device. The second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c) may refer to a direction from a reference point (912a, 912b, 912c) of the electronic device to a reference point (911a, 911b, 911c) of another electronic device. For example, the second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c) may be the heading direction of the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) when the speaker (901a, 901b, 901c) (e.g., another user wearing another electronic device) and the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) (e.g., a user wearing an electronic device) are facing each other head-on.

[0208] According to one embodiment, the listening angle may be determined as a value greater than or equal to -180° and less than or equal to +180°. The sign of the listening angle may be determined based on a direction (e.g., clockwise, counterclockwise) in which the heading direction of the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) is rotated with respect to a second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c). The direction in which the heading direction of the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) is rotated with respect to the second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c) may be determined based on a viewpoint viewed from above the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) (e.g., from the head of the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) toward the legs). For example, in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, if the heading direction of the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) is rotated clockwise with respect to the second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c), the listening angle may have a positive sign. If the heading direction of the listener (902a, 902b, 902c) is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the second reference direction (922a, 922b, 922c), the listening angle may have a negative sign.

[0209] In Fig. 9a, a speaker (901a) and a listener (902a) can face each other directly within a virtual space. The speaking angle can be determined as 0°, and the listening angle can be determined as 0°.

[0210] In Fig. 9b, the heading direction of the speaker (901b) within the virtual space can be rotated clockwise by a first angle (θ1°) from a first reference direction (921b), and the head direction of the listener (902b) can be rotated counterclockwise by a second angle (θ2°) from a second reference direction (922a; 922b; 922c; 1122a; 1122b; 1122c) (922b). The speaking angle can be determined as +θ1°, and the listening angle can be determined as -θ2°.

[0211] In Fig. 9c, the heading direction of the speaker (901c) within the virtual space can be rotated counterclockwise by a third angle (θ3°) from the first reference direction (921c), and the head direction of the listener (902c) can be rotated clockwise by a fourth angle (θ4°) from the second reference direction (922a; 922b; 922c; 1122a; 1122b; 1122c) (922c). The speaking angle can be determined as -θ3°, and the listening angle can be determined as +θ4°.

[0212] An electronic device according to one embodiment may attenuate high-pitched components of sound data based on determined speech angles and listening angles, and / or determine the volume of a first speaker corresponding to a listener's right ear and the volume of a second speaker corresponding to a listener's left ear. The attenuation of high-pitched components is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 10, and the determination of speaker volumes is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C.

[0213] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device according to various embodiments to attenuate high-pitched components of sound data.

[0214] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, electronic device (401) of FIGS. 4A and 4B, electronic device (501) of FIG. 5, electronic device (701) of FIG. 7) can determine a high-pitched component attenuation rate of sound data based on a speaking angle.

[0215] An electronic device may attenuate a high-pitched component of audio data (e.g., second audio data) based on an angle of incidence between a first reference direction from another electronic device to the electronic device and a heading direction of the other electronic device. The high-pitched component of the audio data may refer to a component of a frequency band corresponding to the high-pitched component among the audio data. The frequency band corresponding to the high-pitched component may include frequencies above a threshold frequency. The threshold frequency may be, but is not limited to, 800 Hz and may vary depending on the design.

[0216] According to one embodiment, the electronic device can determine an attenuation rate for a high-pitched component of sound data (hereinafter also referred to as a "high-pitched component attenuation rate") based on an absolute value of an utterance angle. The high-pitched component attenuation rate can have a value greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1. The electronic device can attenuate the high-pitched component by applying the high-pitched component attenuation rate to the size (e.g., volume) of the high-pitched component of the sound data. The electronic device can generate a voice output by combining the attenuated high-pitched component of the sound data with the remaining components (e.g., low-pitched component) of the sound data.

[0217] For example, the electronic device may apply a larger treble component attenuation factor as the absolute value of the firing angle increases. The electronic device may apply a second treble component attenuation factor having a larger value than the first treble component attenuation factor to the sound data for a second firing angle, which has a larger absolute value than the first firing angle, than the first treble component attenuation factor applied to the sound data for the first firing angle.

[0218] The electronic device may apply a treble component attenuation rate that gradually increases (e.g., with a first average slope) as the absolute value of the firing angle increases in a section where the absolute value of the firing angle is less than a first threshold absolute value. The electronic device may apply a treble component attenuation rate that rapidly increases (e.g., with a second average slope) as the absolute value of the firing angle increases in a section where the absolute value of the firing angle is greater than or equal to the first threshold absolute value and less than a second threshold absolute value. The electronic device may apply a treble component attenuation rate that gradually increases (e.g., with a third average slope) as the absolute value of the firing angle increases in a section where the absolute value of the firing angle is greater than or equal to the second threshold absolute value and less than a third threshold absolute value. The second average slope may be less than the first average slope and the third average slope.

[0219] The model (1000) illustrated in Fig. 10 may represent an example of a high-pitched sound component attenuation rate according to the absolute value of the firing angle. As illustrated in Fig. 10, for example, the slope of the model (1000) may have a larger slope (e.g., an average slope) in a second section greater than or equal to the second absolute value (e.g., 45°) and less than or equal to the third absolute value (e.g., 135°) than in a first section in which the absolute value of the firing angle is greater than or equal to the first absolute value (e.g., 0°) and less than or equal to the second absolute value (e.g., 45°). The slope of the model (1000) may have a smaller slope (e.g., average slope) in the third interval from the third absolute value (e.g., 135°) to the fourth absolute value (e.g., 180°) than in the second interval from the second absolute value (e.g., 45°) to the third absolute value (e.g., 135°).

[0220] FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams illustrating examples of operations for determining the volume of a speaker according to various embodiments.

[0221] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, electronic device (401) of FIGS. 4A and 4B, electronic device (501) of FIG. 5, electronic device (701) of FIG. 7) can determine the volume of a speaker for reproducing voice output of another electronic device based on a speaking angle and / or a listening angle.

[0222] In FIGS. 11a, 11b, and 11c, it can be explained assuming that the speakers (1101a, 1101b, 1101c) wear other electronic devices, and the listeners (1102a, 1102b, 1102c) wear other electronic devices. In addition, the positions and heading directions of the speakers (1101a, 1101b, 1101c) and the listeners (1102a, 1102b, 1102c) depicted in FIGS. 11a, 11b, and 11c illustrate the positions and heading directions of the speakers (1101a, 1101b, 1101c) (or other electronic devices) and the listeners (1102a, 1102b, 1102c) (or electronic devices) within a virtual space.

[0223] An electronic device according to one embodiment may include a first speaker (e.g., the first speaker (255a) of FIG. 2) and a second speaker (e.g., the second speaker (255b) of FIG. 2). The first speaker may correspond to the right ear of a user wearing the electronic device, and the second speaker may correspond to the left ear of the user wearing the electronic device.

[0224] The electronic device can determine a first volume for the first speaker and a second volume for the second speaker based on the position of the other electronic device within the space and the heading direction of the other electronic device. For example, the electronic device can determine a reference volume based on the position of the other electronic device within the virtual space and the distance between the positions of the electronic device. The electronic device can determine a smaller value for the reference volume as the distance between the other electronic devices increases. The electronic device can determine a speaking angle and a listening angle based on the position of the other electronic device and the heading direction of the other electronic device. The electronic device can adjust the first volume for the first speaker and the second volume for the second speaker based on at least one of the speaking angle and the listening angle.

[0225] The electronic device can adjust the first volume and the second volume based on at least one of the speaking angle or the listening angle.

[0226] According to one embodiment, the electronic device can determine a magnitude relationship between a reference volume and a first volume or a second volume based on a sign of the firing angle.

[0227] For example, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be lower than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing angle has a positive sign. Furthermore, the electronic device may adjust the second volume to be higher than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing angle has a positive sign. In other words, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be lower than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing direction is rotated clockwise relative to the first reference direction. The electronic device may adjust the second volume to be higher than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing direction is rotated clockwise relative to the first reference direction.

[0228] For another example, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be greater than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing angle has a negative sign. Furthermore, the electronic device may adjust the second volume to be less than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing angle has a negative sign. In other words, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be greater than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing direction has rotated counterclockwise relative to the first reference direction. The electronic device may adjust the second volume to be less than the reference volume based on the fact that the firing direction has rotated counterclockwise relative to the first reference direction.

[0229] When the speech angle has a positive sign, that is, when the speech direction rotates clockwise with respect to the first reference direction, as the speaker's head rotates to the left from the listener's viewpoint, the first volume of the first speaker corresponding to the left ear may increase, and the second volume of the second speaker corresponding to the right ear may decrease. Conversely, when the speech angle has a negative sign, that is, when the speech direction rotates clockwise with respect to the first reference direction, as the speaker's head rotates to the right from the listener's viewpoint, the first volume of the first speaker corresponding to the left ear may decrease, and the second volume of the second speaker corresponding to the right ear may increase.

[0230] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may determine the difference between the first volume and the reference volume, and the difference between the second volume and the reference volume, based on the magnitude of the absolute value of the firing angle. For example, the electronic device may determine that the greater the absolute value of the firing angle, the greater the difference between the first volume and the reference volume. The electronic device may determine that the greater the absolute value of the firing angle, the greater the difference between the second volume and the reference volume.

[0231] According to one embodiment, the electronic device can determine a relationship between the reference volume and the first volume and the second volume based on the sign of the listening angle.

[0232] For example, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be lower than the reference volume based on the listening angle having a positive sign. Furthermore, the electronic device may adjust the second volume to be higher than the reference volume based on the listening angle having a positive sign. In other words, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be lower than the reference volume based on the listening direction being rotated clockwise relative to the second reference direction. The electronic device may adjust the second volume to be higher than the reference volume based on the listening direction being rotated clockwise relative to the second reference direction.

[0233] For another example, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be louder than the reference volume based on the listening angle having a negative sign. Furthermore, the electronic device may adjust the second volume to be quieter than the reference volume based on the listening angle having a negative sign. In other words, the electronic device may adjust the first volume to be louder than the reference volume based on the listening direction being rotated counterclockwise relative to the second reference direction. The electronic device may adjust the second volume to be quieter than the reference volume based on the listening direction being rotated counterclockwise relative to the second reference direction.

[0234] When the listening angle has a positive sign, that is, when the listening direction rotates clockwise with respect to the second reference direction, as the listener's left ear moves closer to the speaker and the listener's right ear moves farther from the speaker in the virtual space, the first volume of the first speaker corresponding to the left ear may increase, and the second volume of the second speaker corresponding to the right ear may decrease. Conversely, when the listening angle has a negative sign, that is, when the listening direction rotates clockwise with respect to the second reference direction, as the listener's left ear moves away from the speaker and the listener's right ear moves closer to the speaker in the virtual space, the first volume of the first speaker corresponding to the left ear may decrease, and the second volume of the second speaker corresponding to the right ear may increase.

[0235] According to one embodiment, the electronic device can determine the difference between the first volume and the reference volume, and the difference between the second volume and the reference volume, based on the magnitude of the absolute value of the listening angle. For example, the electronic device can adjust the difference between the first volume and the reference volume so that the larger the absolute value of the listening angle, the larger the difference. The electronic device can adjust the difference between the second volume and the reference volume so that the larger the absolute value of the listening angle.

[0236] The electronic device can reproduce audio output through the first speaker at a determined first volume. The electronic device can reproduce audio output through the second speaker at a determined second volume.

[0237] An electronic device according to one embodiment can determine a difference between a first volume and a second volume based on a first rotational direction of a heading direction of another electronic device with respect to a first reference direction and a second rotational direction of a heading direction of the electronic device with respect to a second reference direction.

[0238] The electronic device can determine a first rotation direction of the heading direction of another electronic device with respect to a first reference direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise. The electronic device can determine a second rotation direction of the heading direction of the electronic device with respect to a second reference direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0239] The electronic device may adjust the first volume and the second volume to have a smaller volume difference when the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are different than when the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are the same. For example, the electronic device may adjust the first volume for the first speaker and the second volume for the second speaker to have a first volume difference based on the first rotation direction being the same as the second rotation direction. The electronic device may adjust the first volume and the second volume to have a second volume difference that is smaller than the first volume difference based on the first rotation direction being different from the second rotation direction.

[0240] In Fig. 11a, a speaker (1101a) and a listener (1102a) may face each other head-on within a virtual space. In other words, the heading direction of the speaker (1101a) may be a first reference direction (1121a), and the heading direction of the listener (1102a) may be a second reference direction (1122a). The speaking angle may be determined as 0°, and the listening angle may be determined as 0°. Based on the fact that both the speaking angle and the listening angle are 0°, the electronic device may determine the first volume and the second volume to be the same value as the reference volume.

[0241] In Fig. 11b, the heading direction of the speaker (1101b) within the virtual space can be rotated clockwise by a first angle (θ1°) from a first reference direction (1121b), and the head direction of the listener (1102b) can be rotated counterclockwise by a second angle (θ2°) from a second reference direction (1122b). The speaking angle can be determined as +θ1°, and the listening angle can be determined as -θ2°.

[0242] The electronic device may determine a first volume that is reduced by a first volume adjustment amount determined based on the speaking angle from a reference volume and increased by a second volume adjustment amount determined based on the listening angle. For example, the electronic device may determine a value obtained by subtracting the first volume adjustment amount from the reference volume and adding the second volume adjustment amount as the first volume. The electronic device may determine a second volume that is increased by a third volume adjustment amount determined based on the speaking angle from the reference volume and decreased by a fourth volume adjustment amount determined based on the listening angle. For example, the electronic device may determine a value obtained by adding the third volume adjustment amount to the reference volume and subtracting the fourth volume adjustment amount as the first volume.

[0243] In Fig. 11c, the heading direction of the speaker (1101c) within the virtual space can be rotated clockwise by a third angle (θ3°) from the first reference direction (1121c), and the head direction of the listener (1102c) can be rotated clockwise by a fourth angle (θ4°) from the second reference direction (1122c). The speaking angle can be determined as +θ3°, and the listening angle can be determined as +θ4°.

[0244] The electronic device may determine a first volume that is decreased by a fifth volume adjustment amount determined based on the speaking angle and decreased by a sixth volume adjustment amount determined based on the listening angle from a reference volume. For example, the electronic device may subtract the fifth volume adjustment amount and the sixth volume adjustment amount from the reference volume. The electronic device may determine a second volume that is increased by a seventh volume adjustment amount determined based on the speaking angle and increased by an eighth volume adjustment amount determined based on the listening angle from the reference volume. For example, the electronic device may add the seventh volume adjustment amount and the eighth volume adjustment amount to the reference volume.

[0245] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device is primarily described as adjusting the first volume and the second volume, but is not limited thereto. For example, the first volume and the second volume may be adjusted by a server. In one embodiment, another electronic device may transmit voice input and / or voice data to the server. The server may generate voice output from the voice data based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device. The server may adjust the first volume and the second volume for playing the voice output. The server may transmit the voice output, the first volume, and the second volume to the electronic device. The electronic device may receive the voice output, the first volume, and the second volume from the server. The electronic device may play the voice output at the first volume from the first speaker, and play the voice output at the second volume from the second speaker.

[0246] The electronic device may determine that the difference between the first volume and the second volume is greater when the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are the same, as in FIG. 11c, than when the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are different, as in FIG. 11b.

[0247]

[0248] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of an interface of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0249] An electronic device according to one embodiment (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, electronic device (201) of FIG. 2, electronic device (301) of FIG. 3, electronic device (401) of FIGS. 4A and 4B, electronic device (501) of FIG. 5, electronic device (701) of FIG. 7) may display another electronic device (or another user) in the same space through at least one interface among a plurality of interfaces. The plurality of interfaces may include a window interface (1210) and an avatar interface (1220).

[0250] The window interface (1210) may refer to an interface in which an object corresponding to another electronic device (or another user) is displayed through a window (e.g., a first window (1211), a second window (1212)). The object corresponding to another electronic device may include an image captured for another user, an avatar object corresponding to another user, and / or an image set by another user (e.g., a profile picture). The electronic device may adjust at least one of the position, size, brightness, filter, or display status of the window according to a user's input.

[0251] When an electronic device displays an object corresponding to another electronic device (or another user) through a window interface (1210), the electronic device may determine the position and heading direction of the other electronic device based on the position and heading direction of the window. For example, the position of the other electronic device may be determined based on the position of the window displaying the object corresponding to the other electronic device (or another user) within space. The heading direction of the other electronic device may be determined based on the pose of the window displaying the object corresponding to the other electronic device (or another user) within space. According to one embodiment, the heading direction of the other electronic device may be determined as the normal direction of a plane corresponding to the window. The electronic device may reproduce voice output generated from voice data of the other electronic device using the position and heading direction of the other electronic device determined based on the window.

[0252] An avatar interface (1220) may mean an interface displayed as an avatar object (e.g., a first avatar object (1221), a second avatar object (1222)) corresponding to another electronic device (or another user).

[0253] When an electronic device displays an avatar object corresponding to another electronic device through the avatar interface (1220), the electronic device may determine the position and heading direction of the other electronic device based on the position and heading direction of the avatar object. For example, the position of the other electronic device may be determined based on the position of the avatar object corresponding to the other electronic device within space. The heading direction of the other electronic device may be determined based on the pose of the avatar object displaying the avatar object corresponding to the other electronic device within space. According to one embodiment, the heading direction of the other electronic device may be determined based on the heading direction of the avatar object. The electronic device may reproduce voice output generated from voice data of the other electronic device by using the position and heading direction of the other electronic device determined based on the avatar object corresponding to the other electronic device.

[0254] An electronic device can perform switching between multiple interfaces based on user input. For example, the electronic device can perform switching between a window interface (1210) and an avatar interface (1220). If the electronic device obtains a user input corresponding to an interface switching while displaying the window interface (1210), the electronic device can stop displaying the window interface (1210) and display the avatar interface (1220). Alternatively, if the electronic device obtains a user input corresponding to an interface switching while displaying the avatar interface (1220), the electronic device can stop displaying the avatar interface (1220) and display the window interface (1210).

[0255] As described above, since the position and heading direction of the other electronic device in each of the window interface (1210) and the avatar interface (1220) are determined based on criteria corresponding to the respective interfaces, the position and heading direction of the other electronic device in the window interface (1210) may differ from the position and heading direction of the other electronic device in the avatar interface (1220). Consequently, as the interfaces are switched, a change in the position and heading direction of the other electronic device may occur, and a change may occur in the voice output generated based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device.

[0256] Electronic devices according to the various embodiments disclosed in this document may take various forms. Electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliances. Electronic devices according to the embodiments of this document are not limited to the aforementioned devices.

[0257] The various embodiments of this document and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" can include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among those phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used merely to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0258] The term "module" used in various embodiments of this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integral component, or a minimum unit or part of such a component that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0259] Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program (140)) including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory (136) or an external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)) may call at least one instruction among the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

[0260] According to one embodiment, the method according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be provided as included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) through an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0261] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include one or more entities, and some of the entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0262] The embodiments described above may be implemented using hardware components, software components, and / or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, the devices, methods, and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing instructions and responding to them. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and software applications running on the operating system. Furthermore, the processing device may access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the processing device is sometimes described as being used alone; however, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the processing device may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, a processing unit may include multiple processors, or a processor and a controller. Other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0263] Software may include computer programs, codes, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, which may configure a processing device to perform a desired operation or may independently or collectively command the processing device. The software and / or data may be permanently or temporarily embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, or computer storage medium or device for interpretation by the processing device or for providing instructions or data to the processing device. The software may also be distributed over networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0264] The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program commands that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program commands, data files, data structures, etc., alone or in combination, and the program commands recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodiment or may be known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program commands such as ROMs, RAMs, and flash memories. Examples of program commands include not only machine language codes such as those generated by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc.

[0265] The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

Claims

1. In electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701), Processor (120); Memory (130) for storing instructions; Display (160; 205; 210; 320; 421); and Speaker (255a; 255b) Including, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Receives first acoustic data including voice data from another electronic device connected to the communication, By reducing or removing the acoustic characteristic according to the physical space around the other electronic device from the first acoustic data, the second acoustic data is obtained, Through the above display (160; 205; 210; 320; 421), a virtual object corresponding to the other electronic device is displayed, Check the location and heading direction of the other electronic devices above, Obtaining a voice output by adjusting the second acoustic data based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device confirmed above, Playing the acquired voice output through the above speaker (255a; 255b) causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

2. In paragraph 1, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Attenuate the high-pitched component of the second acoustic data based on a speaking angle between the first reference direction (921a; 921b; 921c; 1121a; 1121b; 1121c) from the other electronic device to the electronic device and the heading direction of the other electronic device. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

3. In any one of paragraphs 1 and 2, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: The second acoustic data is acquired by maintaining the acoustic characteristics of the first acoustic data based on the space (600) in which the electronic device and the other electronic device are constructed corresponding to the physical space around the other electronic device. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

4. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Based on the space (600) where the electronic device and the other electronic device are located being constructed corresponding to the physical space around the electronic device, a voice output having acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device is generated. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

5. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 4, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Based on the fact that the space (600) in which the electronic device and the other electronic device are located is constructed independently from the physical space around the other electronic device, the second acoustic data is obtained by removing acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the other electronic device from the first acoustic data. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

6. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Obtain third audio data including voice data from the above electronic device, Determining acoustic characteristics according to the physical space surrounding the electronic device, By reducing or removing acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device from the third acoustic data, fourth acoustic data is obtained. Transmitting the fourth acquired sound data to the other electronic device causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

7. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Based on obtaining the third acoustic data, acoustic characteristics according to the physical space around the electronic device are determined from image data of the physical space around the electronic device. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

8. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 7, The above speaker (255a; 255b) is, first speaker (255a); and Including a second speaker (255b), When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Based on the position of the other electronic device and the heading direction of the other electronic device within the space (600) where the electronic device and the other electronic device are located, a first volume for the first speaker (255a) and a second volume for the second speaker (255b) are determined. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

9. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 8, The above speaker (255a; 255b) is, first speaker (255a); and Including a second speaker (255b), When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Adjusting the first volume for the first speaker (255a) and the second volume for the second speaker (255b) based on at least one of a speaking angle between the first reference direction (921a; 921b; 921c; 1121a; 1121b; 1121c) and the heading direction of the other electronic device, or a listening angle between the second reference direction (922a; 922b; 922c; 1122a; 1122b; 1122c) opposite to the first reference direction (921a; 921b; 921c; 1121a; 1121b; 1121c) and the heading direction of the electronic device. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

10. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 9, The above speaker (255a; 255b) is, first speaker (255a); and Including a second speaker (255b), When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: A first rotation direction of the heading direction of the other electronic device relative to a first reference direction (921a; 921b; 921c; 1121a; 1121b; 1121c) from the other electronic device to the electronic device is determined as either clockwise or counterclockwise, A second rotation direction of the heading direction of the electronic device with respect to a second reference direction (922a; 922b; 922c; 1122a; 1122b; 1122c) opposite to the first reference direction (921a; 921b; 921c; 1121a; 1121b; 1121c) is determined as either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, Based on the first rotation direction being the same as the second rotation direction, the first volume for the first speaker (255a) and the second volume for the second speaker (255b) are adjusted to have a first volume difference, Based on the first rotation direction being different from the second rotation direction, the first volume and the second volume are adjusted to have a second volume difference smaller than the first volume difference. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

11. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, When the above instructions are executed by the processor (120), the electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701) causes: Adjusting the volume of the voice output based on at least a portion of the physical space surrounding the electronic device being the same as at least a portion of the physical space surrounding the other electronic device. causing to do, Electronic devices (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701).

12. In a method performed by an electronic device (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 701), An act of receiving first acoustic data, including voice data, from another electronic device connected to a communication device; An operation of obtaining second acoustic data by reducing or removing an acoustic characteristic according to a physical space around the other electronic device from the first acoustic data; An action of displaying a virtual object corresponding to said other electronic device through a display (160; 205; 210; 320; 421); An action to determine the position and heading direction of said other electronic device; An operation of obtaining a voice output by adjusting the second acoustic data based on the position and heading direction of the other electronic device identified above; and An operation of reproducing the acquired voice output through a speaker (255a; 255b). A method including:

13. In paragraph 12, The operation of obtaining the above voice output is: An operation of attenuating a high-pitched component of the second acoustic data based on a speaking angle between a first reference direction (921a; 921b; 921c; 1121a; 1121b; 1121c) from the other electronic device to the electronic device and the heading direction of the other electronic device. method.

14. In any one of paragraphs 12 to 13, The operation of obtaining the above second acoustic data is as follows: An operation of obtaining the second acoustic data by maintaining the acoustic characteristics of the first acoustic data based on the space (600) in which the electronic device and the other electronic device are located being constructed corresponding to the physical space around the other electronic device, method.

15. A computer-readable recording medium storing one or more computer programs including commands for performing the method of any one of claims 12 to 14.

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