Immersive Audio Delayed Orientation Signalling for Smooth Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersive audio technologies face challenges in handling user-controlled spatial audio rendering changes, leading to unwanted perceptual artifacts due to sudden orientation shifts in spatial audio scenes, especially at low bit rates.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a delay mechanism in the encoding and decoding processes to signal future orientation changes, allowing for smooth transitions and compensation at the receiving device, using RTP header extensions to manage orientation change data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If orientation changes are signaled immediately in spatial audio scenes, then real-time responsiveness is improved, but perceptual artifacts and user discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by signaling orientation changes in advance before they actually occur. The encoder transmits orientation change information with a delay parameter indicating when the change will happen, allowing the decoder to prepare for the transition. This proactive signaling approach allows the system to maintain real-time responsiveness while avoiding sudden perceptual artifacts by giving the audio rendering system time to smoothly transition between orientations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If orientation changes are delayed to reduce perceptual artifacts, then audio quality is improved, but real-time responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by signaling orientation changes in advance with a delay parameter that indicates when the change will occur. This allows the system to prepare for the transition smoothly without actually delaying the user experience. The decoder receives the orientation change information early and can begin smooth transition processing, maintaining both audio quality and real-time responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the encoder monitors audio signal characteristics and adjusts orientation change signaling accordingly. When audio activity is detected, the system can modify when and how orientation changes are signaled, ensuring that perceptual artifacts are minimized while maintaining appropriate responsiveness based on the current audio context.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If smooth transitions are implemented over multiple audio frames, then perceptual quality is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the orientation change process into discrete time segments corresponding to audio frames. The orientation change is distributed across multiple frames rather than applied all at once, with each frame containing a portion of the total orientation change. This segmentation approach enables smooth transitions that reduce perceptual artifacts while keeping processing complexity manageable through frame-by-frame incremental updates.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed apparatus for encoding a spatial audio scene comprising means configured to: determine, for an audio frame of at least one audio signal of the spatial audio scene, a change to the orientation of the apparatus, wherein the change to the orientation of the apparatus is respect to an orientation of the apparatus from a previous audio frame of the at least one audio signal, wherein the change to the orientation of the apparatus forms at least one orientation change value which forms at least part of an orientation change data set; determine an orientation change delay time for the change to the orientation of the apparatus, wherein the orientation delay time forms a further part of the orientation change data set; and perform the change to the orientation of the apparatus after a period of time specified by the orientation change delay time.