Sound Space Representation via Acoustic Parameter Image Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently representing and rendering sound spaces in mediated reality applications, particularly in virtual and augmented reality, due to the large amount of data required to recreate realistic sound environments with varying acoustic parameters.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that obtain acoustic parameters for multiple locations within a sound space and generate an image file where pixel intensity values represent these parameters, allowing for efficient data compression and storage, enabling the sound space to be rendered effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic parameters are recorded for multiple locations to create realistic sound spaces, then sound quality is improved, but data size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual representations (images) that copy and represent acoustic parameter data. Instead of storing raw acoustic parameter values directly, the system generates image files where pixel intensity values correspond to acoustic parameter values at different spatial locations. This copying approach allows the acoustic space to be represented in a compact visual format that can be stored and transmitted efficiently while preserving the essential acoustic information for realistic sound reproduction.
2Manufacturing precision
If acoustic parameter data is stored in detailed format, then rendering accuracy is improved, but storage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/data storage approach with an optical representation system. Acoustic parameter data is transformed into visual image data where spatial and acoustic information is encoded in pixel intensity values. This substitution allows the use of efficient image compression algorithms and standard image storage formats to achieve compact representation while maintaining the ability to accurately reconstruct acoustic parameters for rendering.
3Productivity
If image compression is applied to reduce file size, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but data fidelity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies of acoustic data in image format that can be efficiently compressed using standard image compression techniques. The image representation serves as an intermediate copy that preserves acoustic information while enabling compression. When decompression is applied to the image file, the acoustic parameters can be recovered with sufficient fidelity for realistic sound reproduction, achieving a balance between compression efficiency and data fidelity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured to: obtain one or more values for one or more acoustic parameters for a plurality of positions within a sound space; generate an image representing the sound space, wherein a value for a pixel of the image is associated with an acoustic parameter at a position, of the plurality of positions, corresponding to the pixel such that data in the image comprises information configured to enable the sound space to be rendered; code the image to obtain a coded image; and provide the coded image and metadata associated with the image.