Audio Mix Generation for Varying Listening Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio technologies fail to effectively adapt and enhance audio signals for varying listening environments, such as homes, cars, and aircraft, leading to poor sound quality due to background noise and interference.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that receives digital audio data and environmental inputs to calculate and adjust audio parameters, generating an optimized audio mix by modifying intensity levels and processing the data according to specified reference levels for the specific listening environment, using systems and apparatus that include user interfaces and ambient audio capture devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If audio signals are played in varying listening environments (homes, cars, aircraft), then portability and accessibility are improved, but sound quality deteriorates due to background noise and interference

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidsound quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts audio parameters based on the detected listening environment. It analyzes ambient noise characteristics and modifies audio signal properties in real-time to compensate for environmental conditions, enabling the audio system to adapt to different portability contexts while maintaining sound quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes audio signal parameters such as intensity levels, frequency distribution, and mixing characteristics based on the identified listening environment. By modifying these parameters according to environmental conditions, the system overcomes background noise interference while preserving the benefits of portable audio playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If background noise is present in listening environments, then portability is improved, but audible perception deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidaudible perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of background noise into useful information by analyzing noise characteristics to identify the listening environment. This environmental identification then guides the audio processing to compensate for the specific noise conditions, transforming the previously harmful noise into a diagnostic tool for optimizing audio playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Measurement precision

If audio parameters are adjusted for different environments, then audible perception is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudible perceptionVSAvoidaudio processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audio processing into distinct stages: environmental noise analysis, listening environment identification, parameter calculation, and audio mix generation. This segmentation allows the complex task of audio optimization to be broken down into manageable modules, improving audible perception while organizing device complexity into functional segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8325944B1Audio mixes for listening environments

Publication Date: 2012.12.04 ADOBE INC

AI summary

This specification describes technologies relating to generating audio mixes for listening environments. A method is provided that includes receiving digital audio data; receiving an environmental input, the environmental input being associated with the listening environment; calculating one or more audio parameters for the digital audio data based on the received environmental input, the calculating including: calculating a particular intensity level for the digital audio data, and processing the digital audio data according to specified reference levels; and generating an audio mix for the digital audio data according to the calculated audio parameters.