Acoustic Data Communication with FFT and Impulse Response Deconvolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic communication of data is hindered by environmental interference, particularly reverberation, which reduces the reliability of signal decoding due to increased uncertainty about signal features.
Innovation Solution
The method involves processing the received acoustic signal to minimize environmental interference through techniques such as Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) and impulse response deconvolution, and encoding the data using a sequence of tones that are configured to reduce interference by predicting and modifying tone characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If acoustic communication is used for short range data transmission, then wireless communication capability is provided, but environmental interference (reverberation) degrades signal reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring the impulse response of the acoustic environment before data transmission begins. This pre-characterization of the acoustic channel allows the receiver to prepare deconvolution filters and transfer function estimates in advance, enabling effective compensation for reverberation during actual data transmission without requiring real-time adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a measured impulse response as a mediator between the transmitted signal and the received signal. The impulse response characterizes the acoustic environment's effect and serves as a basis for creating deconvolution filters that can remove reverberation effects, effectively mediating the degradation caused by the acoustic channel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reverberation is present in the acoustic environment, then acoustic communication can operate in real-world settings, but decoder uncertainty increases reducing data rate reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the measured impulse response is used to generate transfer function estimates and deconvolution filters that are fed back into the signal processing chain. This feedback loop continuously refines the compensation for reverberation effects, allowing the decoder to maintain precision in signal feature detection despite the presence of reverberation in real-world environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct acoustic measurement approaches with signal processing substitutions. Instead of relying solely on acoustic field measurements which are degraded by reverberation, the system uses impulse response measurement combined with deconvolution algorithms to extract accurate signal characteristics, substituting the mechanical/acoustic measurement process with a computational approach that compensates for environmental interference.
3Ease of manufacture
If tone sequences are used for data encoding, then acoustic transmission is enabled, but environmental interference creates coherent reflections that mask signal features
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by measuring the impulse response before transmission and using this information to pre-compute deconvolution filters and transfer function estimates. These pre-computed processing parameters are then applied to counteract the coherent reflections and reverberation effects during data transmission, effectively neutralizing the harmful interference before it can mask signal features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inversion by measuring the impulse response (which captures the acoustic environment's effect) and then inverting this information through deconvolution operations. The deconvolution filter is essentially the inverse of the acoustic channel's transfer function, and applying this inverse operation reverses the distorting effect of coherent reflections, restoring the original signal features.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy of data decoding by reducing environmental interference, making the system more reliable in reverberant environments without requiring prior knowledge of the acoustic space.
Implementation Method 1
Each frame of the received signal may be processed to generate a Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT)
Implementation Method 2
An impulse response of an acoustic environment may be calculated. The impulse response may be calculated via measurements of the acoustic space.
Implementation Method 3
The impulse response may be processed to generate a transfer function. The received signal may be processed using the transfer function.
Implementation Method 4
receiving an acoustically transmitted signal encoding data
Implementation Method 5
the receiver receives a signal that may include a lot of interference created by the environment in which the signal is transmitted which may, for example, be reverberation (including early/late reflections)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for receiving data transmitted acoustically. The method includes receiving an acoustically transmitted signal encoding data; processing the received signal to minimise environmental interference within the received signal; and decoding the processed signal to extract the data. The data encoded within the signal using a sequence of tones. A method for encoding data for acoustic transmission is also disclosed. This method includes encoding data into an audio signal using a sequence of tones. The audio signal in this method is configured to minimise environmental interference. A system and software are also disclosed.