3D Audio Conferencing Server Using Stream Identifiers for Spatial Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio conferencing systems face limitations in providing a sense of presence due to excessive transmission channels in distributed solutions and reliance on centralized processing, which restricts the ability of terminals to freely determine sound image positions of other terminals.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing method and system for 3D audio conferencing that involves a server allocating identifiers to audio streams and combining them with the streams for targeted terminals, allowing terminals to determine sound image positions based on received audio streams and identifiers, enabling precise 3D audio processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If distributed 3D audio conferencing is implemented where every terminal performs 3D positioning on all audio data, then the user feels different audio streams come from different positions, but there must be many transmission channels making the solution applicable only to small conferencing systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives audio streams from all terminals, performs centralized 3D positioning processing, and distributes the processed audio to appropriate terminals. This mediator approach reduces the number of transmission channels needed compared to fully distributed processing while maintaining spatial audio quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio processing function by separating positioning calculations from audio distribution. The server handles the complex positioning computations centrally, while terminals only need to receive and play audio streams, simplifying terminal requirements and reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If centralized 3D audio conferencing is implemented where the server performs 3D positioning on all audio streams, then the transmission channel requirement is reduced, but the server must know the player configuration of all terminals in advance and a terminal cannot determine the sound image positions of other terminals freely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic positioning where terminals can freely determine sound image positions based on real-time audio stream characteristics rather than pre-configured settings. The server processes audio streams with identifiers that allow terminals to dynamically allocate positions according to their own player configurations and spatial requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each terminal is allowed to determine sound image positions according to its local player configuration and spatial setup. The server processes audio streams generically with identifiers, allowing each terminal to apply its own positioning logic and spatial allocation strategy independently.
3Ease of operation
If audio data is processed on distributed terminals, then spatial audio quality is maintained, but the solution is applicable only to small conferencing systems with a few conference sites
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a mediator that handles audio processing for multiple terminals and conference sites. This centralized processing capability allows the system to scale to larger conferences with more participants and locations while maintaining spatial audio quality, as the server can manage positioning calculations for all terminals regardless of system size.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a signal processing method, system and apparatus for 3-dimensional (3D) audio conferencing. The implementation is: a server obtains at least one audio stream relative to one terminal; the server allocates identifiers for the obtained at least one audio stream relative to the terminal; and the server combines the obtained at least one audio stream and the identifiers of the at least one audio stream and sends the combination to the terminal. With the technical solution of the present invention, the issue of excessive transmission channels required in the prior art is resolved and the terminal is capable of determining the sound image positions of other terminals freely.