Band-Limited Audio Object Control for Fewer-Speaker Spatial Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Band limited audio objects, such as low frequency effect audio objects, require specific speakers for rendering and often need to be accounted for in spatial audio systems with fewer speakers, leading to challenges in spatial audio rendering.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that determine a user's position and use spatial metadata to control parameters like volume, delay, and reverberation of band limited audio objects, enabling dynamic spatial audio rendering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If spatial audio is rendered with fewer speakers, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of spatial audio rendering deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of speakersVSAvoidspatial audio rendering accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters of the band limited audio object (volume, delay, reverberation, diffusivity) based on user position and spatial metadata to achieve accurate spatial rendering with fewer speakers. This allows the system to compensate for reduced speaker count by dynamically adjusting audio parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The spatial metadata obtained for the band limited audio object is also used to control parameters of a non-band limited audio object, allowing one set of metadata to serve multiple audio rendering purposes and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If band limited audio objects are controlled dynamically based on user position, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial audio controlVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously determines user position and uses this feedback to dynamically control parameters of band limited audio objects. This closed-loop approach enables adaptive spatial audio rendering that responds to user movement and position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Spatial metadata is obtained in advance with the band limited audio object, preparing control information before playback. This preliminary preparation reduces real-time processing complexity during actual audio rendering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12548575B2Apparatus, methods and computer programs for controlling band limited audio objects

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

The application relates to apparatus, methods and computer programs for controlling band limited audio objects. The example apparatus includes circuitry configured for: obtaining a band limited audio object comprising one or more parameters; obtaining spatial metadata associated with the band limited audio object; determining a position of a user; and using the determined position of the user and the spatial metadata associated with the band limited audio object to control at least one of the parameters of the band limited audio object.