Audio Object Combining for Data Transmission Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transmission of object-based audio data becomes increasingly inefficient as the number of audio objects increases, leading to larger data transmission amounts.

Innovation Solution

Combining audio objects that are undistinguishable at a predetermined listening position into a single object, reducing the number of objects to be transmitted, and transmitting audio waveform data and rendering parameters accordingly, while including flag information to differentiate between combined and uncombined audio objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of audio objects to be transmitted is increased, then the audio quality and spatial accuracy are improved, but the data transmission amount increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple audio objects that are spatially close to each other into a single audio object group. By merging objects within a predetermined distance threshold, the system reduces the total number of objects to be transmitted while maintaining spatial accuracy for objects that are distinguishable by the human ear. This directly addresses the contradiction by reducing data transmission amount without significantly compromising spatial precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If the number of audio objects to be transmitted is increased, then the audio quality is improved, but the transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves transmission efficiency by combining multiple audio objects into groups based on their spatial relationships. By transmitting grouped objects as fewer entities, the system reduces the number of transmission operations required, thereby improving productivity while preserving audio quality through selective grouping that maintains distinguishability of important sound sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3605531B1Information processing device, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3605531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3605531B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3605531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that enable reduction of an amount of data to be transmitted in transmission of data of a plurality of audio objects. An information processing device according to one aspect of the present technology: combines audio objects with sounds that are undistinguishable at a predetermined supposed listening position among a plurality of audio objects for the predetermined supposed listening position among a plurality of supposed listening positions; and transmits data of a combined audio object obtained by the combination, along with data of other audio objects with sounds that are distinguishable at the predetermined supposed listening position. The present technology can be applied to a device that can process object-based audio data.