Dynamic Forgetting Factor for Spatial Sound Reproduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spatial audio technologies fail to accurately restore sound fields for listeners as they move, leading to inefficiencies in sound pressure estimation and requiring excessive computational resources.

Innovation Solution

A method that adjusts the forgetting factor based on listener movement, using virtual microphones and loudspeakers to dynamically redefine sound zones and apply weights to control signals, ensuring precise sound pressure estimation and adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If iterative methods are used to calculate weights for sound field reproduction, then the sound field can be reproduced at the listener's position, but the weights from previous iterations remain in memory causing a memory effect that reduces accuracy when the listener moves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound field reconstruction accuracyVSAvoidoutdated weight information retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The forgetting factor is made dynamic by adjusting it based on the listener's movement. When the listener moves, the forgetting factor increases to更快地 discard outdated weights; when the listener is stationary, the forgetting factor decreases to retain useful weight information. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining accuracy and avoiding memory effects from previous iterations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The forgetting factor parameter is changed based on listener movement conditions. By monitoring whether the listener has moved between iterations and adjusting the forgetting factor accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between retaining useful historical weight information and discarding outdated information that would degrade sound field reconstruction accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the forgetting factor is increased to mitigate memory effects, then accuracy improves, but computational resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound field reconstruction accuracyVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always using a high forgetting factor to ensure accuracy, the system applies partial action by adjusting the forgetting factor based on actual listener movement. When the listener is stationary, a lower forgetting factor is used to conserve computational resources. When movement is detected, the forgetting factor is increased only to the extent necessary to maintain accuracy, avoiding excessive computational consumption during periods of no movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The forgetting factor is dynamically adjusted based on listener movement detection. This dynamic approach ensures that computational resources are consumed only when necessary (when the listener moves and accuracy would otherwise degrade), rather than continuously consuming high computational resources regardless of listener behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If sound field reproduction is adapted to listener movement, then accuracy is maintained, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound field reproduction accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from listener movement detection to adjust the forgetting factor. By monitoring whether the listener has moved between iterations and using this feedback to dynamically adjust the forgetting factor, the system maintains accuracy without requiring complex real-time recalculation of all weights, thus managing system complexity effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the forgetting factor parameter based on simple listener movement detection rather than implementing complex adaptive algorithms. This parameter change approach maintains accuracy while avoiding the need for sophisticated complex systems, as it relies on a straightforward mechanism of detecting movement and adjusting a single critical parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3844981B1Method for the spatial sound reproduction of a sound field that is audible in a position of a moving listener and system implementing such a method
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 ORANGE SA
  • EP3844981B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3844981B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3844981B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

A computer-assisted method for spatial sound reproduction from a network of loudspeakers (HP1, HPN) with a view to diffusing a selected sound field in a position of a listener iteratively and continuously comprises: - obtaining the current position of a listener; - determining respective acoustic transfer functions of the loudspeakers to a virtual microphone, the position of which is dynamically defined as a function of the current position of the listener; - estimating an acoustic pressure (P) in the virtual microphone (MIC); - computing an error between said estimated acoustic pressure (P) and a target acoustic pressure (Pt); - computing and applying respective weights to the control signals (S(HP1,HPN)) of the loudspeakers (HP1,…,HPN) as a function of said error and of a weight forgetting factor, said forgetting factor being computed as a function of a movement of the listener; - computing the acoustic pressure in the current position of the listener.