Adaptive Audio Object Streaming for 3D Spatial Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio distribution systems are inflexible and incapable of accurately rendering sound in three-dimensional space, failing to account for playback environments and psychoacoustic principles, leading to a rough simulation of acoustic spaces rather than true multi-dimensional presentations.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an object-oriented audio system that creates and streams audio objects with attributes such as location, velocity, and directivity, allowing for adaptive rendering based on environment and network conditions, enabling more accurate and immersive audio experiences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional fixed-channel audio distribution systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different playback environments and 3D rendering capabilities are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to playback environmentsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The audio signal is segmented into multiple independent audio objects, each representing a discrete sound source with its own attributes (position, velocity, directivity). This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration and adaptive rendering across different playback environments without requiring a complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic adaptability by allowing audio objects to be rendered in real-time based on playback environment characteristics, network conditions, and listener position. The rendering engine dynamically adjusts audio object parameters and spatial distribution to optimize the listening experience for each specific environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If fixed-channel audio systems are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but accuracy in rendering three-dimensional sound is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of 3D sound renderingVSAvoidaudio system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from traditional two-dimensional stereo or surround sound to three-dimensional spatial audio rendering. Audio objects are positioned in 3D space with coordinates (x, y, z) and rendered using psychoacoustic principles to create accurate spatial perception, enabling true multi-dimensional sound presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple audio parameters simultaneously including spatial position, velocity, directivity patterns, and psychoacoustic attributes to achieve accurate 3D rendering. These parameter changes are applied dynamically to each audio object based on its characteristics and the desired spatial effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If all audio objects are streamed with high fidelity, then audio quality is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by selectively streaming audio objects based on their importance, spatial position, and current relevance to the listener. Less critical audio objects or those outside the listener's field of view are streamed with lower fidelity or omitted entirely, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining perceived audio quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The streaming system dynamically changes audio object parameters including bitrate, sampling rate, and compression level based on network conditions, listener position, and object importance. This adaptive parameter adjustment maintains audio quality for critical objects while reducing bandwidth consumption for less important ones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3697083B1System for adaptively streaming audio objects
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 DTS INC(US)
  • EP3697083B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3697083B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3697083B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing object-oriented audio are described. Audio objects can be created by associat-ing sound sources with attributes of those sound sources, such as location, velocity, directivity, and the like. Audio objects can be used in place of or in addition to channels to distribute sound, for example, by streaming the audio objects over a network to a client device. The objects can define their locations in space with associated two or three dimensional coordinates. The objects can be adaptively streamed to the client device based on available network or client device resources. A renderer on the client device can use the attributes of the objects to determine how to render the objects. The renderer can further adapt the playback of the ob-jects based on information about a rendering environment of the client device. Various examples of audio object creation tech-niques are also described.