Audio Stream Spatiality Evaluation Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for evaluating 3D-audio content are inefficient and costly, as they require manual listening by experienced engineers and specialized equipment, and are not capable of analyzing the spatiality of 3D-audio signals, which are distinct from stereo and 5.1 signals.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method for evaluating audio streams with audio channels assigned to different spatial layers, allowing for the measurement of spatiality without the need for a reproduction setup, by determining spatial level information and similarity measures between audio channels, and outputting a measure of spatiality that indicates strong spatial effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual listening evaluation by experienced engineers is used, then evaluation accuracy is improved, but labor costs and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the human listening evaluation process through automated algorithms that analyze audio streams and generate spatiality measures, replacing the need for manual listening while maintaining evaluation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical process of manual listening with electronic signal processing and automated analysis algorithms, eliminating the need for human engineers to physically listen to and evaluate each audio segment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If specialized listening equipment and reproduction setups are used, then evaluation reliability is improved, but equipment expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation reliabilityVSAvoidequipment expenses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential evaluation function from the complex reproduction setup and listening environment, creating a standalone automated analysis system that determines spatiality measures without requiring specialized acoustic rooms or speaker configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary automated analysis system that processes audio streams directly, eliminating the need for physical reproduction equipment by computing spatiality measures through signal analysis rather than physical playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive analysis of all audio content is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatiality measurement precisionVSAvoidevaluation throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audio stream into manageable sections and processes them through automated algorithms, enabling comprehensive analysis of entire audio programs while maintaining high processing speed and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous automated processing of audio streams without interruption, analyzing spatiality measures across the entire duration of audio content at high speed, thereby maintaining both precision and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3593544B1Apparatus and method for providing a measure of spatiality associated with an audio stream

Publication Date: 2023.05.17 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

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AI summary

Apparatus for evaluating an audio stream, wherein the audio stream comprises audio channels to be reproduced at at least two different spatial layers, wherein the two spatial layers are arranged in a manner distanced along a spatial axis. The apparatus is configured to evaluate the audio channels of the audio stream so as to provide a measure of spatiality associated with the audio stream.