Reverberation Estimator Using Encoded Audio Spectral Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating reverberation time in audio scenes, particularly for mobile devices, are computationally intensive and inefficient, making it difficult to achieve accurate real-time estimates in reverberant environments, which is crucial for augmented reality and teleconferencing applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining reverberation time using encoded audio signals, specifically by selecting candidate reverberation time values based on their expectation values and decay factors, and selecting the excitation gain associated with the encoded audio signal, which reduces processing complexity and enables efficient estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional reverberation time estimation methods are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and computational resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the reverberation time estimation problem from the time domain to the frequency domain by analyzing the power spectral density. This parameter transformation allows the use of spectral flatness measurements instead of complex temporal decay analysis, significantly reducing computational requirements while maintaining estimation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical signal processing operations (temporal decay analysis, impulse response measurement) with statistical spectral analysis. By substituting time-domain mechanical processing with frequency-domain statistical methods, the computational burden is dramatically reduced for mobile devices
2Productivity
If real-time reverberation time estimation is implemented on mobile devices, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to limited audio capture resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables mobile devices to perform self-sufficient reverberation time estimation using only their built-in audio capture capabilities. The method processes ambient audio signals directly on the device without requiring external measurement equipment or additional hardware resources, achieving both real-time processing and acceptable measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from requiring high-fidelity impulse responses to using standard audio capture with spectral analysis. This allows mobile devices with limited audio resources to achieve real-time estimation by analyzing the statistical properties of the power spectral density rather than requiring precise temporal measurements
3Reliability
If accurate reverberation time estimation is achieved, then reliability is improved for augmented reality applications, but use of energy increases due to computational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes energy-intensive time-domain signal processing with frequency-domain spectral analysis. By replacing complex mechanical computation with statistical spectral flatness measurements, the method maintains reliable reverberation estimation while significantly reducing processor power consumption for mobile devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the computational parameters from requiring extensive temporal analysis to using spectral density statistics. This parameter change enables reliable reverberation time estimation with much lower energy consumption by leveraging the statistical properties of the frequency spectrum rather than performing computationally expensive time-domain operations
Data Source
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AI summary
A method comprising determining a reverberation time estimate for an audio signal from a first part of an encoded audio signal representing the audio signal.