Personalized HRTF Sharing Across Apps and Audio Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional technologies fail to flexibly use head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) across multiple applications and environments, leading to suboptimal sound localization and realism due to OS constraints and lack of equipment-specific adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes a user terminal, cloud server, and headphones, which captures user ear images to calculate personalized HRTFs, associates them with equipment identifiers, and uses one-time URLs to deliver HRTF data and equipment parameters, ensuring appropriate usage across different apps and environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a head-related transfer function is individually calculated for each user, then the feeling of localization of the sound image is enhanced, but the system cannot flexibly use the HRTF across multiple applications and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the HRTF data from the first application and makes it available to the second application through a sharing mechanism. The HRTF is obtained in the first application and then transferred to the second application, allowing the second application to use the same HRTF without recalculating it, thus achieving flexibility across applications while maintaining individualized sound localization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal HRTF sharing mechanism that allows the same HRTF data to be used across multiple applications and potentially multiple pieces of equipment. The system design enables the HRTF to serve multiple functions and be accessible by different applications, achieving versatility while preserving the individually calculated characteristics.
2Measurement precision
If HRTF adjustment is made according to actual usage situation and audio equipment, then realistic sensations and accurate localization are enhanced, but conventional technology lacks the capability to perform such dynamic adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capability by allowing the second application to modify the HRTF based on actual usage conditions and equipment characteristics. The system can dynamically change the HRTF parameters according to the specific audio equipment being used and the current playback situation, enabling realistic acoustic adaptation without requiring complete recalculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary acquisition of the HRTF in the first application before it is needed in the second application. This preliminary action allows the HRTF to be obtained and stored in advance, and then efficiently transferred and adjusted when needed in the second application, reducing computational overhead during actual usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HRTF is calculated for each user, then personalized sound experience is achieved, but the system cannot prevent inappropriate usage or ensure compatibility with specific equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the second application can determine whether to actually use the HRTF based on compatibility assessment with the connected audio equipment. The system provides feedback about equipment compatibility and allows conditional usage of the HRTF, ensuring that the personalized sound experience is only applied when appropriate for the specific equipment being used.
Data Source
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AI summary
An information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an executing unit that associates a head-related transfer function corresponding to a user with an identifier that identifies equipment that is used by the user and a providing unit that provides the head-related transfer function and the identifier associated with the head-related transfer function to a providing destination to which the head-related transfer function corresponding to the user is provided.