Dynamic Positional Audio for Seamless Surround Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to effectively personalize user experiences based on location changes, leading to variable network performance and inconsistent audio perceptions as users move within a network environment.

Innovation Solution

Systems and methods that automatically detect and manage addressable audio-capable devices to adjust audio information transmission based on user location, enabling personalized audio experiences by generating location-specific audio information and balancing levels across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If audio information is transmitted to multiple audio-capable devices without location-based adjustment, then device coverage is expanded, but audio quality consistency deteriorates as users move between locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio coverage areaVSAvoidaudio quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines the user's location and generates location-specific audio information tailored to each audio-capable device's position relative to the user. This ensures that audio characteristics (such as spatial positioning, volume, and channel assignment) are optimized for each local environment, maintaining consistent audio quality across different locations while expanding overall coverage area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The audio information transmission is dynamically adjusted based on real-time location data. As users move between locations, the system recalculates optimal audio parameters for each device and updates the transmitted audio information accordingly. This dynamic adaptation maintains audio quality consistency across varying spatial conditions without requiring manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If location-based audio personalization is implemented, then audio quality consistency is improved, but system complexity increases due to location determination and audio processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio quality consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A central processing system acts as an intermediary between location determination services and audio distribution. This intermediary receives location data, determines optimal audio parameters for each device, and generates location-specific audio information. By centralizing this complex processing logic, the system manages computational requirements while maintaining audio quality consistency across multiple devices and locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user location and adjusts audio information transmission accordingly. Location feedback triggers recalculation of audio parameters for each device, ensuring consistent audio quality. This feedback mechanism automatically adapts to location changes without requiring manual intervention, managing system complexity through automated response to location data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual configuration of audio devices is required, then device control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex setup procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice control precisionVSAvoidease of setup
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines user location, identifies relevant audio-capable devices, and configures location-specific audio information without manual intervention. The automated process includes location-based device selection, parameter calculation, and audio information generation, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex audio settings while maintaining precise device control through algorithmic optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240323639A1Dynamic positional audio
Publication Date: 2024.09.26 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • US20240323639A1 patent drawing
  • US20240323639A1 patent drawing
  • US20240323639A1 patent drawing

AI summary

System and methods for providing dynamic positional audio are disclosed. Methods can comprise determining availability of one or more devices to output audio and determining a location of the one or more available devices. Audio information can be received and at least a portion of the audio information can be configured to generate assigned audio information based on the determined location of the available devices. The assigned audio information can be transmitted to the available devices.