Binaural Sound Pre-Convolution for Playback Delay Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in efficiently processing and transmitting binaural sound during electronic communications, particularly due to processor-intensive convolving of sound with head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), which can result in delayed or jumpy sound experiences and privacy concerns regarding unauthorized access to customized HRTFs.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device or server convolves sound with HRTFs before transmission, relieving the receiving device of processing-intensive tasks and allowing users to control access to their HRTFs and binaural sound through privacy settings, ensuring only authorized entities can play or access binaural sound.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If sound is convolved with HRTFs at the receiving device, then binaural sound quality is improved, but processing time increases and sound playback is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinaural sound qualityVSAvoidsound playback delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by convolving the sound with HRTFs at the transmitting device before transmission, rather than at the receiving device. This pre-processing ensures that the binaural sound is ready for immediate playback upon receipt, eliminating processing delays while maintaining sound quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If sound is convolved with HRTFs at the transmitting device, then processing time is reduced, but transmission data size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidtransmission data size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential binaural characteristics from the full convolution process by using pre-computed HRTF filters that capture the dominant spatial information. This allows the transmitting device to apply lightweight filtering rather than transmitting complete impulse responses, reducing data size while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If customized HRTFs are made accessible, then binaural sound personalization is improved, but privacy security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinaural sound personalizationVSAvoidprivacy security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that mediates between HRTF storage and usage. The authentication system verifies user identity and authorization before allowing HRTF access or application, creating a secure layer that enables personalization while protecting privacy security through controlled access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240373188A1Method to Expedite Playing of Binaural Sound to a Listener

Publication Date: 2024.11.07 FOUR MILE BAY LLC

AI summary

A method expedites processing and playing of binaural sound during an electronic communication between a first user and a second user. An electronic device of the first user convolves sound into binaural sound for the second user before the binaural sound transmits to the electronic device of the second user. In this way, the binaural sound is already convolved and ready to play upon receipt at the electronic device of the second user.