Spatial Audio Reproduction Using Directional Room Impulse Response Interpolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in generating a three-dimensional room impulse response at a desired listener location to faithfully reproduce six degrees of freedom (6DoF) spatial audio in virtual reality and augmented reality environments, especially when the user is moving.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves selecting measurement points around a listener, calculating a directional room impulse response (D-RIR) by interpolating multiple D-RIRs, and reproducing spatial audio based on the calculated D-RIR, allowing for efficient reproduction of spatial audio corresponding to the current location of a moving user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple directional room impulse responses (D-RIRs) are measured at different measurement points to accurately represent spatial audio for a moving user, then the quality and accuracy of spatial audio reproduction is improved, but the complexity and computational burden of processing and interpolating multiple D-RIRs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores D-RIRs at multiple measurement points before the user actually moves through the space. By performing the computationally intensive measurement and calculation work in advance, the system avoids real-time computational complexity while maintaining high spatial audio accuracy during user movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the spatial environment into multiple discrete measurement points, each with its own pre-calculated D-RIR. This segmentation allows the complex continuous spatial problem to be broken into manageable discrete components that can be independently processed and then interpolated when needed.
2Measurement precision
If D-RIRs are calculated in real-time for every user position to maintain high spatial audio quality, then the accuracy of spatial representation is improved, but the processing time and computational resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates D-RIRs at multiple measurement points before the user needs them. This preliminary computation stores the spatial acoustic characteristics in advance, eliminating the need for real-time calculation during user movement and significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of calculating unique D-RIRs for every possible user position, the patent creates copies of D-RIR data at discrete measurement points and uses interpolation to generate intermediate values. This copying approach reduces computational time while preserving spatial representation accuracy.
3Productivity
If a simple interpolation method is used to generate D-RIR at listener location, then the processing speed and efficiency are improved, but the accuracy of spatial audio reproduction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the interpolation from simple spatial coordinates to include directional information dimensions. By considering not just position but also reflection directions and attenuation levels as separate dimensions, the interpolation maintains higher spatial audio quality while still being computationally efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for interpolation from basic spatial coordinates to include directional attributes (reflection direction, attenuation level, delay). This parameter expansion allows the simple interpolation process to produce more accurate spatial audio results by accounting for additional physical characteristics of sound propagation.
4Measurement precision
If directional information of reflections is incorporated into the interpolation process to capture spatial features, then the fidelity of spatial audio reproduction is improved, but the complexity of the interpolation algorithm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates directional parameters (reflection direction, attenuation, delay) into the interpolation algorithm. By changing the parameter set to include these physical acoustic characteristics, the algorithm maintains fidelity to the actual spatial features while using a relatively straightforward interpolation approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The directional information for reflections (direction, attenuation level, delay) is extracted and prepared in advance from the pre-measured D-RIRs at measurement points. This preliminary extraction organizes the directional data in a structured format that simplifies the subsequent interpolation process while preserving spatial feature fidelity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method for spatial audio reproduction based on D-RIRs includes: selecting measurement points around a listener based on the location of the listener; calculating a D-RIR for the location of the listener based on D-RIRs for the measurement points around the listener; and reproducing spatial audio at the location of the listener based on the D-RIR at the location of the listener.