Spatial Audio Communication With Activity-Based Sound Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spatial audio communication systems fail to effectively control the positioning of sound sources based on the activity of sound sources, leading to suboptimal audio perception and quality in teleconferences.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that receive multiple audio signals, including spatial audio signals, obtain activity information about sound sources, and perform spatial processing to control the positioning of sound sources based on this activity, such as repositioning and resizing audio signals to enhance audio intelligibility and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spatial processing is applied to control positioning of sound sources, then audio perception and intelligibility are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary spatial processing on audio signals by obtaining activity information about sound sources and controlling positioning before audio playback. This advance preparation allows the system to pre-position sound sources in the spatial audio field based on their activity levels, improving audio perception without adding real-time processing complexity during playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary spatial processing module that acts between the audio signal reception and the final audio output. This intermediary component analyzes activity information and applies positioning control, separating the complex spatial processing functions from the core audio processing pipeline, thereby improving audio perception while managing system complexity through modular architecture.
2Measurement precision
If multiple audio signals are processed simultaneously with spatial processing, then audio quality is enhanced, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing of multiple audio signals by obtaining activity information for each sound source independently and applying spatial processing controls separately. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different audio signals, enhancing overall audio quality while reducing total processing time through concurrent operations rather than sequential handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial spatial processing by focusing computational resources on sound sources with higher activity levels. Instead of uniformly processing all audio signals with equal computational intensity, the system applies spatial processing selectively based on activity information, enhancing audio quality for prominent sources while reducing processing overhead for less active sources.
3Measurement precision
If sound sources are repositioned based on activity information, then audio intelligibility is improved, but computational resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by repositioning only those sound sources that exhibit high activity levels rather than uniformly processing all sources. The spatial processing control selectively adjusts positioning for active sound sources based on obtained activity information, improving audio intelligibility where it matters most while conserving computational energy on less significant sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positioning parameter of sound sources dynamically based on activity information. By monitoring activity levels and adjusting spatial position parameters accordingly, the system improves audio intelligibility when sources are active while reducing computational overhead when sources are inactive, creating an energy-efficient adaptive processing system.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the disclosure relate to spatial audio communication. An apparatus receives multiple audio signals wherein the multiple audio signals include at least one spatial audio signal. The apparatus obtains information relating to activity of sound sources for at least for the at least one spatial audio signal and enables spatial processing of the at least one spatial audio signal. The spatial processing is based, at least in part, on the obtained activity information and the spatial processing controls the positioning of the sound sources according to the obtained activity information.