Spatial Audio Playback System for AR Head Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems struggle to provide immersive spatial audio in augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) applications, particularly in out-loud settings, due to limitations in dynamically adjusting audio levels and orientation in response to user head position changes.
Innovation Solution
A media playback system that receives position data of playback devices relative to a user and transmits this data to a media content provider, which generates virtual media audio content with audio cues to enable spatial perception of virtual objects within the listening environment, allowing playback devices to play back synchronized audio signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional media playback systems are used in AR/MR applications, then basic audio playback is achieved, but immersive spatial audio experience is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts audio parameters including spatial position, orientation, and level based on real-time head position data. The audio experience transitions from static to adaptive, allowing users to perceive virtual objects in three-dimensional space while moving their heads, thereby achieving immersive spatial audio without requiring complex headset hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple audio parameters simultaneously including spatial position, orientation, and audio level based on head position data. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system creates realistic spatial audio cues that enable users to perceive the location and orientation of virtual objects in the augmented or mixed reality environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If headsets are used to provide spatial audio, then immersive audio experience is achieved, but social interaction is reduced and computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the audio processing functionality from the headset hardware and relocates it to the media playback system. By processing spatial audio cues through the existing playback system rather than requiring dedicated headset processing, the solution maintains immersive audio capability while reducing computational load and preserving social interaction through out-loud playback.
3Measurement precision
If audio levels are not dynamically adjusted, then system simplicity is maintained, but spatial perception accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring head position data and using it to adjust audio parameters in real-time. This closed-loop approach ensures that audio cues accurately reflect the user's spatial orientation and movement, maintaining high spatial perception accuracy while managing processing complexity through efficient feedback mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing spatial audio are disclosed herein. In one example, the method includes receiving a first position of a first playback device relative to a user in a listening environment; receiving a second position of a second playback device relative to the user in the listening environment; transmitting, to a media content provider, location data corresponding to the first and second positions; receiving, from the media content provider, virtual media audio content associated with a virtual environment, the virtual media audio content comprising first and second audio signals generated based on the transmitted location data, wherein the generated first and second audio signals include one or more audio cues configured to enable the user to spatially perceive a location of a virtual object within the listening environment; and playing back the first audio signal via the first playback device in synchrony with playing back the second audio signal via the second playback device.