Distributor Terminal Sound Processing via Listener Acoustic Copying

Solution Overview

Problem

Content distributors operating audio equipment face challenges in performing sound processing while distributing content, as they cannot easily operate under the same conditions as listeners receiving the content due to the inability to hear the same sounds as the listeners.

Innovation Solution

A sound processing method that allows a distributor terminal to communicate with listener terminals, specify an operation listener terminal to change sound processing parameters, and transmit these changes to audio equipment, enabling the listener to perform sound processing under the same conditions as other recipients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the distributor operates audio equipment locally, then sound processing can be performed, but the distributor cannot hear the same sounds as the listeners receiving content distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound processing operationVSAvoidacoustic environment consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy of the listener's acoustic environment at the distributor terminal. By transmitting audio content and reproduction characteristics from the listener terminal to the distributor terminal, the distributor can hear the same sounds as the listener, enabling accurate sound processing decisions without being physically present in the acoustic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The listener terminal acts as an intermediary that captures the actual acoustic environment and transmits it to the distributor terminal. This intermediary mechanism allows the distributor to experience the listener's acoustic conditions remotely, bridging the gap between the distributor's location and the listener's acoustic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the distributor focuses on content distribution, then content distribution efficiency improves, but the distributor cannot perform sound processing under the same conditions as listeners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent distribution efficiencyVSAvoidsound processing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy of the listener's acoustic environment at the distributor terminal. By transmitting audio content and reproduction characteristics from the listener terminal to the distributor terminal, the distributor can hear the same sounds as the listener, enabling accurate sound processing decisions without being physically present in the acoustic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the distributor manages both content distribution and audio equipment operation, then sound processing can be performed, but the distributor cannot operate under the same acoustic conditions as listeners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistributor role flexibilityVSAvoidacoustic environment consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy of the listener's acoustic environment at the distributor terminal. By transmitting audio content and reproduction characteristics from the listener terminal to the distributor terminal, the distributor can hear the same sounds as the listener, enabling accurate sound processing decisions without being physically present in the acoustic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11985489B2Sound processing method, terminal, and sound system

Publication Date: 2024.05.14 YAMAHA CORP

AI summary

In a sound processing method of operating audio equipment to perform sound processing relating to audio content in accordance with one embodiment, a distributor terminal communicates with the audio equipment and at least one listener terminal, the distributor terminal distributes the audio content from the distributor terminal to the at least one listener terminal, the distributor terminal specifies an operation listener terminal, from among the at least one listener terminal, that is permitted to change a sound processing parameter of the audio equipment, the operation listener terminal accepts the sound processing parameter changed by the operation listener terminal, the operation listener terminal transmits the sound processing parameter changed by the operation listener terminal to the distributor terminal, and the audio equipment performs the sound processing based on the changed sound processing parameter changed by the operation listener terminal.