Heterogeneous Speaker Node Allocation for Immersive Audio Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media systems with multiple speakers face inefficiencies in utilizing speaker capabilities, leading to suboptimal immersive audio experiences due to static speaker configurations and inadequate consideration of multimedia content properties, device capabilities, and dynamic environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for intelligent audio rendering that dynamically estimates speaker capabilities and environmental conditions to generate a media rendering profile, selecting the best speakers based on capability and node information, and adjusting audio paths for immersive experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of speakers are used to provide immersive audio experience, then audio quality and immersion are improved, but bandwidth usage increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speaker configuration where the system automatically adjusts which speakers are active based on content type, device capabilities, and environmental conditions. This allows the system to use more speakers for immersive content while reducing to fewer speakers for simpler content, optimizing both audio quality and system complexity dynamically
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting speaker allocation, audio frequency ranges, and rendering configurations based on detected conditions. This allows the same physical speaker system to adapt its effective complexity and performance characteristics to match the requirements of different multimedia content
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed speaker allocation is used based on audio frequency ranges, then device compatibility is improved, but immersive experience and speaker utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static frequency-range-based speaker allocation to dynamic allocation that considers real-time factors including content properties, speaker capabilities, and environmental conditions. This allows speakers to be assigned to different frequency ranges and roles dynamically, improving both compatibility and utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different allocation strategies to different speakers based on their individual capabilities and positions. Rather than using a fixed global allocation scheme, each speaker can be optimized for specific content types and environmental conditions, improving overall system efficiency while maintaining compatibility
3Device complexity
If static speaker configuration is used, then system simplicity is improved, but adaptability to environmental changes and content properties deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic environmental sensing and adaptive configuration. The system autonomously detects environmental conditions, determines optimal speaker allocations, and adjusts audio rendering without user intervention, maintaining simplicity while achieving high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from environmental sensors and content analysis to continuously adjust speaker configuration. This closed-loop approach allows the system to maintain simplicity in user interaction while achieving sophisticated adaptability through automatic feedback-driven reconfiguration
Data Source
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AI summary
For intelligent audio rendering using speaker nodes, a source device determines a spatial location and speaker capability based on information embedded in a corresponding node of media devices, selects a first speaker most suitable for each audio channel based on the speaker capability and the spatial location of speakers, generates speaker profiles for the speakers, maps an audio channel to speakers based on the speaker profile, estimates a media path between the source device and speakers, detects a change in the estimated media path, renders an audio on the speakers based on the speaker profiles.