Spatial Audio Rendering with Spatio-Temporal Sound Object Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current audio rendering technologies struggle to allow users to adapt and modify recorded sound scenes by changing the position and state of sound objects over time, limiting the ability to create alternative rendered sound scenes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the display of a spatio-temporal graph that visually represents the positions and states of sound objects over time, enabling user adaptation of these elements and rendering of spatial audio output based on the adapted graph.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a recorded sound scene is accurately reproduced as a rendered sound scene, then the fidelity of the original recording is improved, but the ability to adapt and modify the sound scene is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefidelity of sound scene reproductionVSAvoidability to adapt recorded sound scene
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sound scene is segmented into individual sound objects, each with independent position and state parameters. This allows the system to maintain accurate reproduction of the overall sound scene while enabling selective modification of individual objects, resolving the contradiction between fidelity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static recorded sound scene to a dynamic rendered sound scene where sound objects can be repositioned and their states modified over time. The spatio-temporal graph visually represents this dynamic capability, allowing users to adapt the sound scene while maintaining temporal accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple microphones are used to record a sound scene, then the spatial accuracy of the recorded sound scene is improved, but the complexity of rendering alternative sound scenes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial accuracy of recorded sound sceneVSAvoidcomplexity of rendering system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spatio-temporal graph serves as an intermediary representation between the multi-microphone recording data and the final rendered sound scene. It simplifies the complex spatial information from multiple microphones into a visual format that is easier to manipulate, reducing rendering complexity while preserving spatial accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy of the spatial-temporal relationships in the form of a spatio-temporal graph. This graphical representation allows users to interact with and modify sound object positions without directly manipulating the complex multi-channel audio data, reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If the position of sound objects is precisely tracked over time, then the accuracy of the rendered sound scene is improved, but the difficulty of user manipulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition tracking accuracyVSAvoidease of user manipulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces direct mechanical manipulation of audio parameters with visual manipulation of the spatio-temporal graph. Users can drag and drop visual representations of sound objects on the graph to reposition them in time and space, making precise position tracking accessible through intuitive visual interaction rather than complex technical manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3209033B1Controlling audio rendering
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3209033B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3209033B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~7
  • EP3209033B1 patent drawingFigure 8~13

AI summary

A method comprising: displaying a spatio-temporal graph that visually indicates the positions of a sound object at each time in a range of times and, in addition, simultaneously indicates a state of the sound object over the range of times; enabling user adaptation of the spatio-temporal graph to change a position of the sound object during at least a portion of the range of times and/or a state of the sound object over at least a portion of the range of times; and enabling rendering of spatial audio output using the position and state of the sound object indicated by the adapted spatio-temporal graph.