Audio Transition Rendering for Seamless Acoustic Environment Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transitioning between acoustic environments in immersive audio scenes, such as those used in augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, result in abrupt changes that disrupt the immersive experience due to sudden differences in diffuse late reverberation, making the transition unnatural and distracting.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism that adjusts reverberation gain parameters based on the listener's position relative to a defined proximity threshold, allowing for seamless transitions between acoustic environments by modifying late reverberation characteristics using a first distance threshold and a function to control attenuation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional abrupt transition methods are used between acoustic environments, then the transition is simple to implement, but the immersive experience is disrupted due to sudden differences in diffuse late reverberation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of reverberation parameters based on listener position. The system continuously monitors the listener's location and adapts the reverberation gain and decay characteristics in real-time, creating a smooth transition between acoustic environments rather than using static, abrupt changes. This dynamic approach maintains immersion by matching the acoustic properties to the listener's current spatial context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key acoustic parameters (reverberation gain, decay time, early reflections) to enable seamless transitions between acoustic environments. By gradually modifying these parameters based on distance thresholds and listener position, the system avoids sudden perceptible changes while maintaining computational efficiency through parameter-based control rather than complete re-rendering.
2Reliability
If distance threshold-based adaptive rendering is implemented, then smooth transitions between acoustic environments are achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transition space into distinct zones using distance thresholds. Instead of continuously calculating complex acoustic fields, the system divides the environment into regions (current acoustic environment, transition region, target acoustic environment) and applies simplified rendering rules to each segment. This segmentation reduces computational load while maintaining perceptual smoothness through controlled parameter changes at threshold boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively adjusting only the reverberation parameters that need to change during transition, rather than re-rendering the entire acoustic scene. The system modifies late reverberation characteristics and early reflections partially, leaving other acoustic properties unchanged, thus reducing computational energy while achieving the desired transition effect.
3Reliability
If multiple reverberation parameters are adjusted simultaneously, then perceptual seamlessness is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting specific reverberation parameters (late reverberation gain, decay time) in the transition region while leaving other parameters unchanged. The system focuses computational effort on the acoustic properties that most significantly affect perceptual smoothness during transition, rather than uniformly modifying all acoustic parameters. This selective approach maintains perceptual seamlessness while reducing control complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables smooth and believable transitions between acoustic environments, maintaining immersion by ensuring a perceptually seamless audio experience as the listener moves between different acoustic spaces.
Implementation Method 1
sudden differences in diffuse late reverberation
Implementation Method 2
modifying late reverberation characteristics using a first distance threshold and a function to control attenuation levels
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for enabling audio transition between at least two acoustic environments, the apparatus including circuitry configured to: obtain information of at least a first acoustic environment associated with an audio scene, wherein the audio scene includes the first acoustic environment and a second acoustic environment; obtain a first distance threshold that at least partially defines an audio transition region that enables adaptive rendering between the first and second acoustic environments depending on a listening position within the audio scene; determine the listening position to adjust an environment characteristic of at least one of the first and second acoustic environments; and adjust the environment characteristic of at least one of the first and second acoustic environments depending on the listening position, wherein the environment characteristic is adaptively controlled within the audio scene.