Mediated Reality Audio Splitting for Coherent Multi-Device Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies struggle to provide seamless integration of spatial audio rendering across multiple devices, particularly in mediated reality environments, leading to conflicts and suboptimal sound positioning when using hand-held devices and head-mounted audio output devices.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that splits spatial audio content into two parts, with one part rendered by a hand-held device and the other by a head-mounted audio output device, using a rendering control module to adjust sound sources based on user actions and device positions, ensuring first-person perspective-mediated reality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If spatial audio content is rendered by a single device, then device complexity is reduced, but spatial audio coherence and positioning accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering system complexityVSAvoidspatial audio positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides spatial audio content into multiple parts and assigns different parts to different devices for rendering. The rendering control module separates audio processing between the hand-held device and head-mounted device, with each device handling specific spatial audio components based on its position and orientation, thereby achieving accurate spatial positioning while distributing system complexity across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If spatial audio content is split across multiple devices, then spatial audio coherence is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial audio coherenceVSAvoidrendering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rendering control module acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the hand-held device and head-mounted device. It receives spatial audio content, determines appropriate rendering assignments based on device positions and orientations, and distributes audio parts to each device. This intermediary manages the complexity of multi-device coordination while maintaining spatial audio coherence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts which device renders which part of spatial audio content based on real-time device positions and orientations. The rendering control module continuously monitors device states and reassigns audio rendering tasks accordingly, allowing the system to adapt to changing spatial configurations and maintain optimal spatial audio coherence without fixed complex routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If hand-held device renders all spatial audio, then ease of operation is improved, but spatial audio positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction simplicityVSAvoidsound source positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments spatial audio rendering between the hand-held device and head-mounted device. The hand-held device handles audio components that benefit from its position and orientation, while the head-mounted device handles components requiring proximity to the user's head for accurate spatial perception. This segmentation maintains ease of operation through automatic device coordination while improving sound source positioning accuracy by utilizing each device's spatial advantages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3623934B1An apparatus, method, computer program for enabling access to mediated reality content by a remote user
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3623934B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1F
  • EP3623934B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3C
  • EP3623934B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~6C

AI summary

An apparatus comprising means for: simultaneously controlling content rendered by a hand portable device and content rendered by a spatial audio device; and providing for rendering to a user, in response to an action by the user, of a first part, not a second part, of a spatial audio content via the hand portable device not the spatial audio device.