Audio Synchronization via Correlation for 360-Degree VR
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 360-degree audio/video applications, the asynchronous starting times of microphones result in unsynchronized audio tracks, disrupting the immersive experience in virtual reality due to internal hardware or software variations.
Innovation Solution
An audio synchronization method that involves receiving audio signals from multiple recording devices, performing correlation operations to align patterns, and calculating the starting-time difference to synchronize the audio signals, using synchronization sound patterns and speakers to compensate for sound propagation delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple microphones are used to record audio tracks in 360-degree applications, then the audio coverage and virtual reality experience are improved, but the starting-time synchronization between audio tracks deteriorates due to internal hardware or software variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a correlation operation between audio signals from multiple microphones before final audio processing. This preliminary alignment step identifies time offsets between microphones and compensates for them in advance, ensuring synchronized audio tracks while maintaining the benefit of using multiple microphones for 360-degree coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the correlation operation to detect time synchronization issues between microphones and then applying compensation based on the detected offset. The system continuously monitors and adjusts for timing differences, creating a closed-loop solution that maintains audio synchronization despite hardware or software variations
2Measurement precision
If correlation operation is performed to align audio patterns, then the starting-time difference is accurately determined, but the processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential correlation operation needed to determine time offsets between audio signals, separating this specific processing task from the overall audio pipeline. By focusing on extracting just the timing information through correlation rather than processing entire audio streams, the system achieves accurate synchronization with minimized processing overhead
Data Source
AI summary
An audio synchronization method includes: receiving a first audio signal from a first recording device; receiving a second audio signal from a second recording device; performing a correlation operation upon the first audio signal and the second audio signal to align a first pattern of the first audio signal and the first pattern of the second audio signal; after the first patterns of the first audio signal and the second audio signal are aligned, calculating a difference between a second pattern of the first audio signal and the second pattern of the second audio signal; and obtaining a starting-time difference between the first audio signal and the second audio signal for audio synchronization according to the difference between the second pattern of the first audio signal and the second pattern of the second audio signal.