Spatial Audio Codec for Bandwidth-Efficient VR Rendering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in effectively transmitting and processing immersive spatial audio content, particularly in virtual reality environments where real-time interactions and realistic audio scenes are crucial, but are limited by bandwidth restrictions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus for immersive spatial audio modeling and rendering is developed, comprising an acoustical space model representation unit, a spatial audio modeling unit, a spatial audio codec unit, a spatial audio processing unit, and a spatial audio reproduction unit, which work together to model, encode, transmit, and render spatial audio in real-time, optimizing for bandwidth efficiency and immersive experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of audio data and metadata is transmitted to represent various audio objects in a virtual audio scene, then the realism and immersion of the spatial audio experience is improved, but the bandwidth consumption increases and transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the essential spatial audio parameters (such as position, velocity, and acoustic characteristics) rather than transmitting complete audio data for all objects. This selective extraction of critical information maintains spatial audio realism while significantly reducing bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The spatial audio scene is segmented into multiple audio objects, each represented by a compact set of parameters. This segmentation allows the system to transmit parameter sets for only the relevant or active objects in the scene, reducing overall data transmission requirements while preserving the immersive experience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complete spatial audio scene data is transmitted for real-time interaction, then the immersion and interactivity of the virtual reality experience is improved, but the transmission time and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encoding of spatial audio parameter sets in advance, organizing them in a structured format that enables rapid transmission and decoding during real-time interactions. This pre-processing reduces the time required for data transmission and processing during actual use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits spatial audio information in the form of compact parameter sets rather than complete audio signals. By changing the representation from full audio data to essential parameters, the system achieves real-time interaction capability with reduced transmission time and processing requirements.
3Measurement precision
If detailed spatial audio parameters are transmitted for accurate spatial rendering, then the spatial audio quality is improved, but the data transmission load and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates simplified parameter-based representations (copies) of the actual spatial audio scene. These parameter sets serve as compact models that capture the essential spatial characteristics needed for accurate rendering, reducing processing complexity while maintaining spatial audio accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for immersive spatial audio modeling and rendering for effectively transmitting and playing immersive spatial audio content. The apparatus for immersive spatial audio modeling and rendering disclosed herein may model a spatial audio scene, generate and transmit parameters necessary for spatial audio rendering, and generate various spatial audio effects using the spatial audio parameters, to provide an immersive three-dimensional (3D) audio source coinciding with visual experience in a virtual reality space in response to free changes in the position and direction of a remote user in the space.