Audio Signal Processing Using Transducer-Specific Playback Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern audio playback systems fail to reproduce audio signals in a way that accounts for the specific characteristics of the audio transducer being used, leading to a compromised listening experience due to the lack of automatic signal processing tailored to the device and user preferences.
Innovation Solution
A system that processes audio signals by receiving a request and an identifier associated with a personal audio device, retrieving parameters specific to that device, and applying customized processing to enhance the audio reproduction, including simulating nonlinear effects of sound propagation and mixing in air, reducing stress on the auditory system, and restoring natural sound dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual sound controls are provided for adjusting audio characteristics, then user control over volume, equalization, and dynamic range is enabled, but the listening experience is compromised because the reproduction does not account for the type and manufacture of the audio transducer
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies the audio transducer type and applies appropriate processing parameters without requiring manual user configuration. The processor retrieves transducer identification information and automatically selects optimized audio processing settings, allowing the system to serve itself rather than relying on user knowledge or manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes audio processing parameters based on the identified transducer type. Different transducers (headphones, speakers, earbuds) have different acoustic characteristics, and the processor adjusts equalization, dynamic range, and other parameters to match the specific transducer's capabilities and characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If automatic signal processing is implemented for a particular listening device, then audio reproduction is tailored to the transducer characteristics, but the system complexity increases to accommodate device identification and parameter retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is designed to handle multiple transducer types through a universal identification and processing framework. A single processor unit can identify and optimize for various audio devices (headphones, speakers, earbuds) using standardized identification protocols, eliminating the need for separate processing systems for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary identification mechanism (such as a database or lookup table) that maps transducer identifiers to their corresponding processing parameters. This intermediary layer simplifies the complexity by providing a structured way to retrieve appropriate settings without hardcoding complex processing logic for each device.
3Manufacturing precision
If proprietary sonic processing is enabled for enhanced acoustic reception, then audio quality is improved for specific devices, but the system requires additional identifier storage and retrieval mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer identification information and processing parameters are extracted from the audio signal path or device metadata rather than being embedded in the audio content itself. This separation allows the proprietary sonic processing to be applied based on external identification data, reducing the complexity of integrating identifier storage directly into the audio processing chain.
Data Source
AI summary
In various applications, the system provides a method for processing audio signals, including: receiving a request for audio content; receiving an identifier encoded in a personal audio device comprising a transducer for playing audio; retrieving at least one parameter associated with the identifier; and processing the audio content using at least the request, the identifier and the at least one parameter, wherein the processing is customized for the personal audio device based on the at least one parameter associated with the identifier. In various applications the parameter is, one or more of, associated with a specification of the personal audio device, acoustic metrics of the transducer, relates to control of equalization, relates to permission to enable proprietary sonic processing for enhanced acoustic reception of streaming content, relates to acoustic metrics of the transducer and wherein the identifier is associated with permission to enable proprietary sonic processing for enhanced acoustic reception of streaming content, and/or is stored in a chip on the personal audio device, is retrieved from a server in a network, among other things. In various applications, the personal audio device comprises ear buds and the identifier is stored in a non-volatile memory of the ear buds.