Dynamic Audio Channel Mixing for Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced audio processing systems, especially in virtual reality and conference calling, face significant challenges in managing audio processing power as the number of participants increases, leading to potential system overload and degradation of immersive audio experiences due to exponential processing demands.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically adjusts the number of audio channels mixed per listener based on processing load, using factors like overall audio processing load, service level, and virtual environmental factors to reduce the number of channels and alleviate processing burdens, ensuring an immersive experience without overloading the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of audio channels mixed per listener is increased to provide more immersive audio experience, then the audio quality and immersion are improved, but the audio processing load increases exponentially causing system overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the number of audio channels mixed per listener variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts this parameter based on real-time audio processing load measurements, transitioning between high-quality high-channel modes and low-power reduced-channel modes to balance audio quality with system capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of channel count per listener based on system state. By monitoring audio processing load and adjusting the number of channels mixed accordingly, the system optimizes the trade-off between audio immersion quality and processing power consumption, preventing system overload while maintaining quality when possible
2Reliability
If the maximum number of audio channels to mix is set high for all listeners, then audio quality is maintained, but the system becomes vulnerable to overload when processing load exceeds threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the maximum number of channels based on real-time load conditions rather than using a static high threshold. This allows the system to adapt to varying processing demands while maintaining quality when capacity allows and reducing channels when approaching overload thresholds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring audio processing load and using this information to adjust the channel mixing parameters. The system measures actual processing load, compares it against thresholds, and adjusts the number of channels mixed accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains quality while preventing overload
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically selecting the number of audio channels to mix per listener in an audio processor, such as a server-based three-dimensional audio mixer, as a function of any reasonable measurement of the load on the audio processor.