Distributed Interactive Binaural Rendering for Low-Latency Wearable Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for real-time listener orientation and position-based audio rendering face challenges with high data transmission bandwidth, processing power requirements, and latency, leading to increased power consumption and reduced Quality of Experience (QoE) in wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a first processing module that preempts rendering multiple audio presentations for different orientations and positions, determining transformation parameters, and a second module that applies these parameters efficiently to adapt audio output based on user orientation and position changes, using reduced data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rendering is performed in substantially real-time based on listener orientation and position, then audio objects appear fixed in space enhancing immersion, but data transmission bandwidth and processing power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rendering system is divided into two separate processing modules: a first processing module that performs heavy computational tasks (rendering multiple audio presentations for different orientations) and a second processing module that handles lighter tasks (applying transformation parameters). This segmentation allows complex rendering to be performed remotely while keeping the wearable device's processing requirements manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the first and second processing modules, enabling coordinated data exchange. The first module sends transformed audio presentations and transformation parameters through this intermediary to the second module, which then applies them to generate the final audio output for the wearable device.
2Loss of time
If rendering responds quickly to listener orientation changes with low latency, then audio objects remain fixed in space during head movement, but power consumption increases due to continuous processing
Solution Approach 1:
The first processing module pre-empts rendering by proactively generating multiple audio presentations for different listener orientations before actual head movement occurs. This preliminary rendering of multiple orientations allows the system to respond instantly when orientation changes, minimizing latency while distributing the computational workload over time rather than requiring continuous high-power processing during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number and complexity of rendered presentations based on the listener's actual movement characteristics. When the listener is stationary, fewer presentations are rendered; when movement is detected, the system activates pre-computed transformations to provide immediate response. This dynamic adaptation maintains low latency during movement while reducing power consumption during static periods.
3Reliability
If multiple audio presentations are rendered for different orientations, then audio quality for various head positions is improved, but data transmission bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential transformation parameters from the fully rendered audio presentations and transmits these condensed parameters to the second processing module. Instead of transmitting complete audio files for multiple orientations, only the transformation data (rotation matrices, gain values) are sent, dramatically reducing data transmission bandwidth while preserving the ability to generate high-quality audio for any orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the representation of audio data from complete time-domain waveforms to transformed parameter representations. Audio presentations are represented not by their raw signal values but by transformation parameters that describe how to convert from a reference orientation to the target orientation. This parameter-based representation maintains audio quality information while reducing data volume for transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method, system and computer program product for processing audio. The method comprises receiving at least one input audio signal and producing a main rendered presentation and an additional rendered presentation, each rendered presentation being associated with a listener orientation and/or position. The method further comprises determining transformation parameters for transforming the main rendered presentation to the additional rendered presentation and determining a deviation value based on the orientation and/or position of the user and the listener orientations and/or positions. The method further comprises determining modified transformation parameters based on the transformation parameters and the deviation value and applying the modified transformation parameters to the main rendered presentation to generate an output presentation associated with the orientation and/or position of the user.