Spatial Audio Rendering Control via Heartbeat Pattern Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spatial audio rendering in electronic devices consumes significant power, leading to challenges in conserving battery life, particularly when determining user presence and engagement, as existing methods may result in false detections or privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
The use of a combination of sensors, such as a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor and a millimeter wave (mmWave) radar sensor, to compare heartbeat patterns and determine user presence, enabling or disabling spatial audio rendering based on alignment, thereby conserving power and ensuring user privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spatial audio rendering is continuously enabled to improve user listening experience, then user enjoyment is enhanced, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts spatial audio rendering based on real-time user presence detection. The processor continuously monitors sensor data (camera, microphone, accelerometer) to determine whether the user is present and actively listening, enabling spatial audio rendering only during these periods. This dynamic on-demand approach maintains high user experience quality while significantly reducing unnecessary power consumption during periods when the user is absent or not engaged with the media content.
2Use of energy by moving object
If sensor-based methods are used to detect user presence for power saving, then power consumption is reduced, but false detections occur (e.g., user moving on treadmill)
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple different sensor types to detect user presence. The processor analyzes camera data (to detect user position relative to display), microphone data (to detect user speech or presence), and accelerometer data (to detect user motion patterns). By combining these diverse sensor inputs, the system creates a more robust and accurate determination of user presence, reducing false positives that would occur with any single sensor type alone, while still maintaining power savings by disabling spatial audio rendering only when confidence is high that the user is absent.
3Measurement precision
If camera-based methods are used to detect user presence, then user presence can be determined, but privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the user presence detection function across multiple sensor types rather than relying solely on the camera. The camera provides one input among several (along with microphone and accelerometer data), dividing the detection task to reduce dependence on any single privacy-sensitive component. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate presence detection while mitigating privacy concerns by not making the camera the primary or sole method of user detection.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If spatial audio rendering is disabled to conserve power, then battery life is extended, but user experience deteriorates when user is actually present
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data is constantly monitored and analyzed to determine user presence. The processor uses camera, microphone, and accelerometer inputs to provide real-time feedback about whether the user is present and engaged with the media. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically controls the spatial audio rendering function, ensuring it remains enabled when the user is present (maintaining high listening experience) and is disabled only when the user is confidently determined to be absent (maximizing battery life).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces power consumption by accurately determining user presence and engagement, minimizing false positives and negatives, and addressing privacy concerns associated with vision-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor type (e.g., a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor) to generate a first heartbeat pattern of the user
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor type (e.g., a millimeter wave (mmWave) radar sensor) to generate a second heartbeat pattern of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling spatial audio rendering includes comparing a first heartbeat pattern to a second heartbeat pattern to generate a comparison result. The first heartbeat pattern is based on sensor information associated with a first sensor of a first sensor type, and the second heartbeat pattern is based on sensor information associated with a second sensor of a second sensor type. The method also includes, based on the comparison result, controlling a spatial audio rendering function associated with media playback.