Real-Time Audio Rendering with Position-Aware Room Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio reproduction systems require recalibration each time a user changes position, as they optimize audio settings only for a reference position, leading to suboptimal performance when the user moves.

Innovation Solution

An audio restitution method that includes a preliminary phase to create a room map and simulate sound propagation using ray tracing, determining reference audio parameters for multiple positions, and an operational phase that adjusts audio settings in real time based on the user's current position using UWB geolocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If calibration is performed for a reference position only, then audio reproduction is optimized at that position, but the system requires recalibration every time the user moves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio reproduction qualityVSAvoidadaptability to user position changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration at multiple reference positions and pre-calculates audio parameters for each position before the user actually moves. This allows the system to have ready-made optimized audio settings for various positions without requiring real-time recalibration when the user moves, thus maintaining both high audio quality and adaptability to position changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model (digital twin) of the acoustic environment by simulating sound propagation at multiple reference positions. This virtual copy of the acoustic field allows the system to pre-determine optimal audio parameters for different positions without physically recalibrating, enabling smooth transitions and adaptive audio reproduction as the user moves through the space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple calibration phases are performed for different positions, then audio optimization is achieved for each position, but the calibration process must be repeated every time the user moves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio parameter optimizationVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs all necessary calibration measurements and audio parameter calculations in advance during an initial multi-position calibration phase. By pre-computing the acoustic field characteristics at multiple reference positions and storing the corresponding optimized parameters, the system eliminates the need for repeated calibration when the user moves, significantly reducing time loss while maintaining audio optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and stores pre-computed audio parameters for multiple positions before the user actually needs them. This beforehand preparation acts as a cushion, allowing the system to instantly retrieve and apply appropriate audio settings when the user moves to different positions without requiring time-consuming recalibration procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4386338B1Real-time optimized audio rendering
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
  • EP4386338B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4386338B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4386338B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method comprising the preliminary steps of: - creating a map (31) of a room in which one or more sound sources (1, 3a, 3b) are located; - acquiring acoustic characteristics of the walls; - performing a simulation, using the map and the acoustic characteristics, of the propagation in the room of sounds emitted by the sound sources; - producing reference audio parameters; the method further comprising the operational steps of: - determining a current position of a user in the room; - having an audio signal reproduced by the sound sources by applying current audio parameters obtained from the reference audio parameters and which depend on the current position.