Online Conversation Sound Image Localization Across Diverse Reproduction Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
In online conversations, users face difficulties in distinguishing between multiple speakers due to concentrated voices, and existing sound image localization techniques fail to appropriately localize sound images for all users when their sound reproduction environments differ.
Innovation Solution
An online conversation management apparatus and program that acquires and utilizes reproduction environment and azimuth information to generate sound image filter coefficients for each user, allowing for personalized sound image localization, even across different sound reproduction environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sound image localization is applied using a fixed reproduction environment assumption, then sound images can be localized for users with matching equipment, but sound images cannot be appropriately localized for users with different reproduction environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the sound image localization parameters based on the user's reproduction environment. Instead of using fixed localization settings, the system adjusts the localization parameters in real-time according to the detected reproduction device type and environment characteristics, enabling accurate sound image localization across diverse reproduction environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the localization parameters according to the reproduction environment information. Different reproduction environments (headphones, earphones, loudspeakers) have different acoustic characteristics, and the system modifies the localization parameters to match these characteristics, thereby achieving accurate sound image localization for each specific environment
2Ease of operation
If multiple speakers are reproduced in the same direction, then the online conversation can be simple to implement, but users cannot distinguish between multiple speakers
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sound reproduction space by assigning different localization directions to different speakers. Instead of concentrating all speaker voices in a single direction, the system distributes them across multiple directions in the sound field, enabling users to distinguish between speakers while maintaining simple implementation through automated directional assignment
Data Source
AI summary
An online conversation management apparatus includes a processor. The processor acquires, across a network, reproduction environment information from at least one terminal that reproduces a sound image via a reproduction device. The reproduction environment information is information of a sound reproduction environment of the reproduction device. The processor acquires azimuth information. The azimuth information is information of a localization direction of the sound image with respect to a user of the terminal. The processor performs control for reproducing a sound image of each terminal based on the reproduction environment information and the azimuth information.