BRIR Segmentation for Personalized Room-Modified Spatial Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing BRIR datasets are inadequate for accurately representing changes in loudspeaker-room-listener distances and other attributes, requiring costly and time-consuming remeasurement to achieve desired spatial audio experiences.
Innovation Solution
A processor segments BRIRs into regions and applies digital signal processing techniques to modify these regions, allowing for simulated changes in loudspeaker position, room characteristics, and listener distance without requiring additional in-ear measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If BRIR measurements are taken for different loudspeaker positions and room characteristics, then spatial audio realism is improved, but measurement time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The BRIR is segmented into distinct regions (direct sound, early reflections, late reverberation) that can be independently modified. This allows selective adjustment of specific acoustic characteristics without requiring complete remeasurement of the entire impulse response, thereby reducing measurement time while maintaining spatial audio realism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies digital signal processing techniques to modify BRIR parameters such as reverberation time, early reflection timing, and decay characteristics. By changing these parameters through computational methods rather than physical remeasurement, the system achieves adapted spatial audio experiences for different room characteristics and loudspeaker positions without the time cost of actual remeasurement.
2Measurement precision
If BRIR measurements are performed for different loudspeaker distances, then distance accuracy is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of BRIRs with modified distance characteristics by applying digital signal processing algorithms. Instead of performing physically complex measurements for different distances, the system generates synthetic BRIR variants that accurately represent different loudspeaker-to-listener distances through computational manipulation of the original BRIR data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts BRIR characteristics to simulate different distance scenarios. By making the BRIR adaptable through parameter modification rather than requiring static measurements for each distance, the system achieves distance accuracy without the measurement complexity of capturing multiple fixed-distance impulse responses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If in-ear measurements are taken for BRIR generation, then personalization is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary personalization by measuring BRIRs for a set of standard room characteristics and loudspeaker configurations. These pre-measured and stored BRIRs serve as a library from which personalized audio experiences can be quickly generated by selecting and modifying appropriate BRIRs, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time measurements for each unique listening scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves personalization by modifying BRIR parameters (such as reverberation characteristics and early reflection patterns) to match individual listener preferences and environmental conditions. These parameter changes are applied computationally to pre-measured BRIRs, providing personalized audio experiences without requiring time-consuming new measurements for each user.
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 realistic spatial audio rendering by modifying BRIRs to mimic changed room/speaker characteristics, providing enhanced audio experiences without the need for remeasurement.
Implementation Method 1
A music track may then be convolved (filtered) using these IRs and the results mixed together and played over headphones.
Implementation Method 2
The BRIR and its related Binaural Room Transfer Function (BRTF) simulate the interaction of sound waves from a loudspeaker with the listener ears, head and torso, as well with the walls and other objects in the room.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio rendering system includes a processor that combines audio input signals with personalized spatial audio transfer functions having room responses. The personalized spatial audio transfer functions are selected from a database having a plurality of candidate transfer functions derived from in-ear microphone measurements for a plurality of individuals. Alternatively, the personalized transfer functions are derived from actual in-ear measurements of the listener. A room modification module allows the user to modify the personalized spatial audio transfer functions to substitute a different room or to modify the characteristics of the selected room without requiring additional in ear measurements. The module segments the selected transfer function into regions including one or more of direct; head and torso influenced; early reflection, and late reverberation regions. Extraction and modification operations are performed on one or more of the regions to alter the perceived sound.