Audio Render Analyzer for Real-Time Inter-Channel Feature Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio processing systems introduce artifacts, delays, latency, and channel mapping issues, leading to varying quality levels in audio rendering and reproduction, and lack effective tools for real-time inter-channel audio feature measurement and visualization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an audio render analyzer that extracts inter-channel audio features, such as correlation coefficients and spectral fluxes, and presents them in a color-coded graphical user interface, allowing for real-time visualization and manipulation of audio signals to enhance immersion and coherence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple audio processors are used in end-to-end audio processing chains, then audio content can be delivered to various end user devices with different speaker configurations, but artifacts, delays, latency, channel mapping issues, and quality variations are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different speaker configurationsVSAvoidaudio quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by measuring inter-channel audio features (such as correlation coefficients and spectral fluxes) from the processed audio signal and using these measurements to adjust processing parameters. The audio feature measurement module continuously monitors the audio signal and provides feedback to the audio processing chain, enabling real-time optimization to maintain audio quality consistency across different speaker configurations while reducing artifacts and latency issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes processing parameters based on measured audio features. By adjusting parameters such as correlation thresholds, spectral flux values, and channel mapping configurations according to the measured inter-channel features, the system adapts to different speaker configurations while maintaining consistent audio quality and minimizing artifacts introduced by multiple processing stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If audio processing operations are performed to adapt audio content for different speaker configurations, then versatility is improved, but processing complexity and potential for introducing artifacts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio rendering for various speaker configurationsVSAvoidaudio processing chain complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential inter-channel audio features (correlation coefficients and spectral fluxes) from the complex audio signal using dedicated measurement modules. By extracting and focusing on these specific features rather than processing the entire audio signal comprehensively, the system reduces processing complexity while maintaining the ability to adapt to different speaker configurations and minimize artifacts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal audio feature measurement and processing framework that can handle multiple speaker configurations (stereo, 5.1, 7.1, immersive audio) through a single system architecture. The same measurement modules and processing operations are used across different configurations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility through parameter adjustment rather than separate processing chains for each configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If real-time audio feature measurement and visualization tools are implemented, then audio quality control is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-channel audio feature measurementVSAvoidaudio render analyzer complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audio feature measurement and visualization system into distinct functional modules: an audio feature measurement module that extracts inter-channel features, a visualization module that displays the measured features, and a processing control module that uses the measurements to adjust audio parameters. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3843428B1Inter-channel audio feature measurement and display on graphical user interface
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP
  • EP3843428B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3843428B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3843428B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A pair of sets of audio blocks is determined from a multi-channel audio signal. The pair comprises a first set for a first time block over audio channels and a second set for a second time block over the audio channels. Audio features including inter-channel audio features are generated from the pair. The audio features are graphically presented with user interface components on a display page. A specific perceptible audio characteristic is visually conveyed to the user using the user interface components dynamically updated with sets of audio features computed from pairs of sets of audio blocks of the multi-channel audio signal.