Mobile Cluster Audio Adjusting via Autonomous Sound Fingerprinting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio systems face challenges in maintaining consistent sound quality, particularly in large venues, due to issues like echo, crowd noise, and synchronization of audio and video, which require extensive human intervention and often result in suboptimal listening experiences for audiences.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing omnidirectional transducers and short-range wireless technologies to create 'sound fingerprints' that allow for autonomous audio management, enabling devices like smartphones and wearables to sense and adjust audio outputs in real-time, reducing the need for audio professionals and improving sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed sound systems are used to reduce echo, then sound quality is improved, but temperature gradients and wind can still steer sound in undesirable ways
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service by having each listener's device autonomously measure and report their own sound quality metrics without requiring external calibration or adjustment. The devices independently assess their acoustic environment and communicate findings back to the mixing system, enabling automatic adaptation to environmental conditions like temperature gradients and wind.
2Reliability
If audio levels are increased to overcome crowd noise, then audio intelligibility is improved, but sound pressure exceeds safe listening levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing customized audio mixes to different spatial zones or individual listeners based on their specific environmental conditions and preferences. Rather than uniformly increasing audio levels for all listeners, the system adjusts audio delivery locally to each device, maintaining intelligibility while preventing excessive sound pressure through personalized gain control and spatial routing.
3Reliability
If more audio professionals are employed to manage complex audio systems, then audio quality is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical system of human audio professionals with an automated electronic system. Each listener's device functions as an autonomous audio engineer, measuring sound quality metrics and communicating with the mixing system to enable automatic real-time adjustments. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple human professionals while maintaining or improving audio quality through continuous automated monitoring and adjustment.
4Ease of operation
If autonomous audio management systems are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by utilizing existing multi-functional mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables) that already possess audio playback, microphone, processor, and wireless communication capabilities. Rather than designing specialized dedicated hardware, the invention leverages the universal functionality of consumer devices to perform multiple roles: audio output, environmental sensing, and communication with the mixing system, thereby avoiding additional complexity while achieving autonomous operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system enables precise control of audio levels and noise reduction, enhancing the listening experience for audiences while minimizing the physical footprint of RF circuits and maintaining high power efficiency, allowing for scalable sound management in various settings.
Implementation Method 1
A system utilizing omnidirectional transducers and short-range wireless technologies to create 'sound fingerprints' that allow for autonomous audio management
Implementation Method 2
omnidirectional transducers and short-range wireless technologies to create 'sound fingerprints'
Data Source
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AI summary
The mobile cluster-based audio adjusting method and apparatus provides for a highly configurable sound management apparatus and process that combines standard computing devices such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones to measure various aspects of sound waves across multiple points, allowing a single user to visualize and adjust sound output accordingly.