Two-Stage Audio Focus for Spatial Beamforming and Head Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio focus technologies struggle to provide simultaneous control over audio focus direction, strength, spatial format selection, support for head tracking, and maintain excellent spatial audio quality, especially in multi-microphone capture scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage audio focus system is implemented, where beamforming is performed at the capture device and spatial filtering is done at the playback device, allowing user-controlled focus settings and support for head tracking, while maintaining low bit rate encoding and compatibility with various playback devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single stage audio focus is used for spatial audio processing, then the processing speed is maintained, but the precision of determining the focus area and focus point deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audio focus processing into two distinct stages: a first audio focus determination that identifies an initial focus area, and a second audio focus determination that refines the focus point within that area. This segmentation allows each stage to specialize in specific aspects of focus determination, improving overall precision without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The first audio focus determination serves as a preliminary action that narrows down the search space to a specific focus area before the second determination refines the exact focus point. This preliminary filtering reduces the complexity of the second stage by limiting its search scope to a predefined region rather than the entire audio field
2Measurement precision
If multiple audio focuses are determined simultaneously, then the processing time increases, but the accuracy of focus determination improves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the focus determination process into sequential stages where the first stage identifies a focus area and the second stage determines the focus point within that area. This time-sequential segmentation allows accurate multi-point determination without requiring all calculations to occur simultaneously, thus reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The first audio focus determination performs a preliminary identification of focus areas that serves as preparation for the second determination stage. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden of the second stage by pre-filtering and organizing the audio data, enabling faster and more accurate simultaneous determination of multiple focuses
3Measurement precision
If a detailed two stage audio focus processing is implemented, then the precision of focus area and focus point determination is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first audio focus determination performs preliminary processing to identify focus areas and narrow down the search space before the second determination refines the exact focus points. This preliminary action optimizes the data structure and reduces the computational scope for the second stage, achieving high precision without excessive processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the processing into two specialized stages with distinct functions: the first stage handles broad area identification and the second stage handles precise point determination. This functional segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific task, improving overall processing efficiency while maintaining high precision through specialized algorithms in each stage
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to: receive at least two microphone audio signals (101) for audio signal processing wherein the audio signal processing comprises at least a spatial audio signal processing (303) and beamforming processing (305); determine spatial information (304) based on the audio signal processing associated with the at least two microphone audio signals; determine focus information (308) for the beamforming processing associated with the at least two microphone audio signals; and apply a spatial filter (307) in order to synthesize at least one spatially processed audio signal (312) based on the at least one beamformed audio signal from the at least two microphone audio signals (101), the spatial information (304) and the focus information (308) in such a way that the spatial filter (307), the at least one beamformed audio signal (306), the spatial information (304) and the focus information (308) are configured to be used to spatially synthesize (307) the at least one spatially processed audio signal (312).