Audio System Sound Space Visualization and Customization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio systems lack the ability to effectively visualize and customize sound spaces, making it difficult for users to manage and enhance specific sound sources in a dynamic environment.
Innovation Solution
A method for providing sound visualizations on an augmented reality system that determines the direction of sound signals, associates them with visualizations, and allows users to interact with a graphical user interface to modify sound parameters such as volume, direction, and distance, enabling customization of the sound space based on user preferences and themes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sound signals are visualized and made interactive in the sound space, then user control and customization capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a graphical user interface (GUI) as an intermediary between the user and the sound processing system. The GUI displays visual representations of sound sources with their spatial positions and provides interactive controls (sliders, buttons) that mediate user interactions. This intermediary layer simplifies complex sound parameter adjustments by presenting intuitive visual controls rather than requiring direct programming or complex menu navigation, thus improving user control capability while managing system complexity through a standardized interface layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual sound control methods with visual and digital interactions. Instead of physical volume knobs or switch panels, the system uses on-screen visual representations of sound sources with draggable controls and slider interfaces. This substitution allows for more flexible and programmable control mechanisms while reducing the need for physical components, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing mechanical complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sound parameters are made adjustable through GUI interactions, then customization capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sound control interface into distinct interactive elements corresponding to individual sound sources. Each sound source is represented as a separate visual entity in the GUI with its own set of controls (volume slider, position indicator, mute button). This segmentation allows users to independently adjust parameters for each sound source without being overwhelmed by a monolithic control system. The modular structure improves customization capability by enabling granular control while maintaining ease of operation through localized, context-specific controls for each sound element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by providing selective control over sound parameters rather than requiring adjustment of all parameters simultaneously. Users can choose to interact only with the specific sound sources and parameters they wish to modify, leaving other sounds and parameters unchanged. This partial control approach reduces the operational burden compared to systems requiring comprehensive parameter setup, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining high customization capability for those who need it.
3Productivity
If real-time sound parameter modification is enabled through user interaction, then responsiveness and user experience are improved, but processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic updates of the sound parameter modifications rather than continuous real-time processing. The system refreshes the sound output and visual display at regular intervals (e.g., when a control interaction is detected or at fixed time frames). This periodic action approach provides sufficiently responsive user experience for most applications while significantly reducing processing requirements compared to continuous real-time modification, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing by pre-calculating and storing sound parameter settings, sound source positions, and visualization data before user interactions occur. When users interact with the GUI, the system applies modifications to pre-prepared data structures rather than computing everything from scratch. This preliminary preparation reduces the computational burden during real-time interactions, enabling responsive parameter modification while managing processing complexity through advance computation and data organization.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An audio system for visualizing and customizing a sound space. The audio system detects sound signals and determines directions of the sound signals. The audio system associates each of the sound signals with a visualization, and provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to display a sound space based on the visualizations and the directions of the sound signals. The visualizations are placed at positions on the GUI corresponding to the directions of the respective sound signals relative to a user. The GUI also includes an interactive element configured to receive a user interaction for modifying a parameter of a particular sound signal. Responsive to receiving the user interaction, the audio system modifies the parameter of the particular sound signal, and plays the sound signals with the particular sound signal modified based on the user interaction.