Spatial Audio Adjustment for Notification Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio technologies lack effective methods to dynamically manage audio signals within a user's three-dimensional acoustic soundstage, particularly in scenarios where high-priority notifications need to be distinguished from ongoing audio content without distracting the user.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts interaural level differences (ILD) and interaural time differences (ITD) to move the apparent source location of audio signals around the user, allowing high-priority notifications to be played in a distinct soundstage zone while attenuating or ducking lower-priority audio, such as music, to improve notification recognition and reduce distractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audio signals are played back through speakers or headphones to create a three-dimensional soundstage, then the user experience is enhanced with apparent source locations, but it becomes difficult to distinguish high-priority notifications from ongoing audio content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acoustic soundstage into multiple zones (front, rear, left, right, center) and assigns different audio signals to different zones. High-priority notifications are played in the front center zone while ongoing audio content is played in rear zones, creating spatial separation that allows users to distinguish between different types of audio content without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different spatial processing qualities to different audio signals based on their priority. High-priority notifications receive focused spatial placement in the front center with higher apparent loudness, while lower-priority ongoing audio is placed in rear zones with reduced apparent loudness, creating local quality differences that enhance notification recognition.
2Loss of information
If high-priority notifications are played at full volume, then notification recognition is improved, but ongoing audio content becomes disrupted or drowned out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the competition for user attention from a single dimension (volume level) to multiple dimensions by utilizing spatial positioning. Instead of increasing volume to make notifications audible, the system positions notifications in the front center zone while placing ongoing audio in rear zones, allowing both to coexist at similar volume levels without disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies differential spatial quality to notification audio versus ongoing audio. Notifications are rendered with higher apparent loudness and focused spatial placement in the front center, while ongoing audio is rendered with lower apparent loudness in rear zones, enabling clear notification recognition without disrupting the ongoing audio experience.
3Loss of information
If manual ducking is performed as a post-processing step, then voice track intelligibility is improved, but the process is time-consuming and not suitable for realtime applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary spatial arrangement of audio signals before they are played back. By pre-positioning high-priority notification signals in the front center zone and ongoing audio signals in rear zones with reduced apparent loudness, the system ensures voice track intelligibility is maintained without requiring post-processing ducking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical post-processing ducking system with a spatial processing system. Instead of manually attenuating ongoing audio after mixing, the system uses spatial positioning and interaural level/time difference adjustments to naturally separate notification audio from ongoing audio in the soundstage, achieving the same intelligibility improvement without time-consuming post-processing.
4Loss of information
If automatic ducking is implemented in audio playback systems, then communication clarity is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal spatial processing framework that handles multiple audio signal types (notifications, ongoing audio, voice tracks) using the same spatial zone assignment and interaural level/time difference adjustment mechanisms. This multi-functional approach improves communication clarity without requiring separate complex processing paths for different audio types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves automatic ducking效果 through parameter changes in spatial positioning rather than direct volume control. By adjusting the apparent source location, interaural level differences, and interaural time differences of ongoing audio signals, the system creates natural spatial separation that improves communication clarity while maintaining simpler control logic compared to traditional volume-based ducking systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to managing audio signals within a user's perceptible audio environment or soundstage. That is, a computing device may provide audio signals with a particular apparent source location within a user's soundstage. Initially, a first audio signal may be spatially processed so as to be perceivable in a first soundstage zone. In response to determining a high priority notification, the apparent source location of the first audio signal may be moved to a second soundstage zone and an audio signal associated with the notification may be spatially processed so as to be perceivable in the first soundstage zone. In response to determining user speech, the apparent source location of the first audio signal may be moved to a different soundstage zone.