3D Sound Localization via Object-Camera Spatial Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately determine the location and orientation of sound sources, especially when multiple sources are present and in motion, leading to difficulties in associating sound with specific objects or individuals in environments like movie production and security monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves tracking the position and orientation of objects and cameras in 3D space, using tracking devices and databases to associate sound information with relative positions, allowing for accurate simulation and editing of 3D sound effects by adjusting sound characteristics based on object movement and camera perspectives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple sound sources are present in an environment, then the richness and complexity of the audio scene increases, but the difficulty of determining which sound is attributed to which specific object or individual increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio scene by associating each sound source with a specific spatial location and visual identifier. The system divides the complex audio environment into discrete sound-object pairs by tracking multiple objects independently and assigning sound segments to each object based on their respective positions and visual characteristics, enabling precise attribution even when multiple sources are present
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual information as an intermediary to bridge the gap between sound and object identification. By capturing visual data of objects and synchronizing it with audio data, the system creates a visual-audio link that enables accurate sound source attribution. The visual identifier acts as a mediator that connects the acoustic signal to its corresponding physical object
2Speed
If the sound source is in motion, then the dynamic range and realism of the audio scene improves, but the difficulty of determining the location and maintaining association of the sound with the object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the spatial relationship and association between objects and their sound sources before motion occurs. The system tracks object positions continuously and maintains pre-computed spatial relationships, enabling rapid updates of sound location data even when objects move at high speeds, thus preserving accurate sound-object association throughout the motion sequence
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the sound localization system adaptive to object motion. The system continuously updates the spatial positions of both objects and sound sources in real-time, adjusting the audio rendering dynamically as objects move. This dynamic tracking ensures that sound location accuracy is maintained regardless of the speed or direction of object motion
3Measurement precision
If precise location and orientation of sound sources are required, then the quality and realism of the 3D sound effect improves, but the complexity of the tracking and calibration system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tracking of object position and orientation with the sound source localization into a unified system. By combining visual tracking data with audio spatial information, the system achieves precise sound location and orientation measurement without requiring separate complex tracking subsystems. The integrated approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional tracking system that simultaneously captures position, orientation, and spatial relationship data for both visual and audio processing. This universal tracking mechanism serves multiple purposes: it enables 3D sound localization, maintains object-sound association, and provides spatial context for audio rendering, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized systems
4Measurement precision
If sound information is to be accurately associated with object position and orientation data, then the synchronization accuracy improves, but the data processing and calibration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing automated calibration and synchronization of audio and video data before the sound editing process begins. The system pre-computes spatial relationships, establishes timecode synchronization, and creates lookup tables for sound-object association. This preliminary processing reduces the computational burden during actual editing, thereby improving productivity while maintaining high synchronization accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically maintain sound-object synchronization without continuous manual intervention. The automated tracking and association algorithms continuously update sound location data based on object position and orientation, and the system self-corrects synchronization drift, reducing the need for manual adjustments and enhancing editing efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for associating position information and sound. The method includes obtaining position information of an object at a given time; obtaining position information of a camera at the given time; determining a relative position of the object relative to the camera's position; and associating sound information with the relative position of the object. In another aspect, the position and orientation of a microphone are also tracked to calibrate the sound produced by an object or person, and the calibrated sound is associated with the relative position of the object, that is relative to the camera.