Audio Effect Prioritization and Selective Compression for Distributed Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio devices in home entertainment systems often face challenges in producing high-quality audio due to cost constraints, with inexpensive devices limited in frequency output and lacking computing resources to handle uncompressed audio, leading to the need for compressing audio effects which can compromise sound quality.
Innovation Solution
A system that selects the most suitable device for outputting audio effects based on priority, compressing lower-priority portions of audio effects while keeping higher-priority portions uncompressed, and combining audio data to optimize sound quality across devices, ensuring that audio is played back on devices with the best suited hardware capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If uncompressed audio effects are transmitted to inexpensive audio devices, then audio quality is improved, but device resource requirements and transmission bandwidth are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The audio effect is divided into multiple frequency bands (e.g., low-frequency, mid-frequency, high-frequency components). Each band is processed and transmitted separately, allowing selective compression of less critical frequency ranges while maintaining high quality for important frequencies, thus reducing overall data requirements for inexpensive devices
Solution Approach 2:
Different compression ratios and quality levels are applied to different portions of the audio spectrum based on perceptual importance. Critical frequency ranges maintain higher quality with minimal or no compression, while less critical ranges use higher compression, optimizing the balance between audio quality and device resource constraints
2Manufacturing precision
If high quality audio equipment is used, then sound quality is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing full uncompressed audio to all devices, the system applies partial compression only where perceptually acceptable. This allows inexpensive devices to receive adequately compressed audio that meets quality thresholds, eliminating the need for costly high-end equipment while maintaining satisfactory sound quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts audio parameters such as bit rate, sample rate, and frequency response based on device capabilities. Inexpensive devices receive audio optimized for their specific hardware constraints, achieving acceptable sound quality without requiring expensive high-fidelity equipment
3Adaptability or versatility
If audio effects are compressed to fit device capabilities, then device compatibility is improved, but audio quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is segmented into multiple frequency bands that can be independently compressed. This allows the system to maintain higher quality in critical frequency ranges while applying more aggressive compression to less critical bands, achieving device compatibility without uniform quality loss across the entire audio spectrum
Solution Approach 2:
A central controller or server acts as an intermediary that analyzes device capabilities and applies appropriate compression algorithms. This intermediary processes the audio before transmission, ensuring optimal compression settings are applied to maintain quality while achieving compatibility with various device constraints
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for outputting an audio effect on a remote device are disclosed. Embodiments select a device from a plurality of devices within a physical environment for use in outputting an audio effect. Upon determining that transmitting the audio effect as uncompressed data to the selected device would violate a predefined performance criteria, the audio effect is modified by determining, for each of a plurality of portions of the audio effect, a respective priority. Additionally, upon determining that a first portion of the plurality of portions of the audio effect is a lower priority, relative to a second portion of the audio effect, embodiments compress the first portion of the audio effect, while the second portion of the audio effect remains uncompressed. The modified audio effect is then transmitted to the selected device for playback.