Separate Audio Video Environment Geometries for Accurate Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio rendering systems using ray-tracing techniques often require high computational resources and may not accurately simulate audio environments due to the shared geometry with video rendering, leading to unrealistic audio effects.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that generate separate geometrical representations for video and audio environments, where the audio environment is iteratively modified to meet specific audio criteria, potentially using machine learning to ensure accurate audio propagation and reflection properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a shared geometrical representation is used for both video and audio rendering, then device complexity is reduced, but audio rendering accuracy deteriorates leading to unrealistic audio effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the environment representation into separate geometrical models: one for video rendering and another for audio rendering. This segmentation allows each representation to be optimized for its specific purpose, with the audio geometry accurately reflecting acoustic properties while the video geometry handles visual rendering, thereby resolving the contradiction between complexity and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different levels of detail and properties to different parts of the environment representation. The audio-specific geometrical representation includes local acoustic properties such as reflection coefficients, absorption characteristics, and spatial relationships that are tailored to audio propagation, while maintaining overall environmental consistency. This local quality enhancement improves audio rendering accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ray-tracing techniques are used for audio rendering with shared geometry, then visual and audio environments remain consistent, but computational resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the rendering pipeline into separate video and audio geometry processing streams, the patent enables independent optimization of computational resources. The audio-specific geometry can be pre-processed and cached, reducing real-time computational load while maintaining environmental consistency through coordinated updates between the two representations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing of the audio-specific geometrical representation, including pre-calculating acoustic properties, reflection paths, and spatial relationships. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during real-time audio rendering, as the pre-processed data can be quickly queried and applied without performing full ray-tracing calculations from scratch.
3Manufacturing precision
If the audio environment geometry is modified to improve audio accuracy, then audio rendering quality improves, but the complexity of generating and maintaining separate geometries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where the audio-specific geometrical representation serves multiple purposes: it accurately models acoustic propagation, reflects the physical environment structure, and can be used for both real-time audio rendering and offline audio processing. This universality reduces the need for entirely separate processing pipelines, thereby managing complexity while improving audio accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises generating a first environment representation for rendering a video representation of a virtual environment; and generating a second environment representation for rendering an audio output at a virtual listening position within the virtual environment in response to sounds generated by one or more virtual sound sources within the virtual environment; in which the first and second environment representations comprise respective different geometrical representations of the virtual environment; in which the step of generating the second environment representation comprises: generating a starting version of the second environment representation; and modifying the starting version of the second environment representation.