Parametric Directional Propagation for Real-Time VR Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for real-time directional acoustic effects in video games and virtual reality struggle to render authentic, convincing sound with true-to-life directionality, especially with occluders, and exceed reasonable computational budgets, failing to account for complex scene acoustics and movement of sound sources and listeners.
Innovation Solution
Parametric directional propagation concepts generate convincing audio by simulating sound propagation using encoded directional impulse response fields, accounting for scene geometry, occluders, and movement, while reducing computational costs through perceptual encoding and precomputation techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional real-time path tracing methods are used to simulate sound propagation, then sound directionality and scene acoustics can be accounted for, but computational cost exceeds reasonable budgets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precomputes acoustic parameters (transfer functions, impulse responses) for all possible sound source and listener positions before runtime. This preliminary action stores complex acoustic data in lookup tables, allowing real-time sound rendering to simply query precomputed values rather than perform expensive path tracing calculations during gameplay, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and computational cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified acoustic models that replicate the essential characteristics of complex sound propagation. By using precomputed transfer functions and impulse responses that capture the acoustic behavior of scenes without requiring full physical accuracy, the system achieves convincing sound effects at reduced computational cost, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and power consumption
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional methods are used to account for moving sound sources and listeners, then dynamic acoustic effects can be achieved, but computational complexity increases prohibitively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precomputes acoustic transfer functions for discrete positions of sound sources and listeners throughout the scene. During runtime, when sources or listeners move, the system interpolates between precomputed values or selects the nearest precomputed position, avoiding expensive real-time recalculation. This allows dynamic acoustic modeling while keeping computational complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system that adapts to moving sound sources and listeners by using precomputed acoustic data at discrete positions. The system dynamically selects or interpolates between precomputed transfer functions based on current source and listener positions, enabling dynamic acoustic effects without requiring continuous expensive calculations, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If high sampling rates are used in path tracing to produce smooth results, then audio quality improves, but computational budget is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs exhaustive path tracing calculations with high sampling rates during an offline precomputation phase, storing the results in lookup tables. During runtime, the system simply queries these precomputed high-quality results without performing additional expensive sampling, thus achieving high audio quality while maintaining computational efficiency during gameplay
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates compressed representations (impulse responses, transfer functions) that capture the essential acoustic characteristics computed from high-rate path tracing. These compressed copies are stored and reused during runtime, providing high-quality audio results without requiring the computational resources of full high-rate path tracing, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
The description relates to parametric directional propagation for sound modeling and rendering. One implementation includes receiving virtual reality space data corresponding to a virtual reality space. The implementation can include using the virtual reality space data to simulate directional impulse responses for initial sounds emanating from multiple moving sound sources and arriving at multiple moving listeners. The implementation can include using the virtual reality space data to simulate directional impulse responses for sound reflections in the virtual reality space. The directional impulse responses can be encoded and used to render sound that accounts for a geometry of the virtual reality space.