Wireless Speaker Audio Control Using Room Image-Based Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems, such as those described in Patent Literature 2, require users to wait for test signals to finish playing before adjusting output characteristics and cannot change settings while music is playing, making them inconvenient, especially in dynamic environments like wireless speakers that can be easily moved.
Innovation Solution
An audio controller that identifies the usage environment of a speaker through picked-up image data, allowing for the selection and setting of suitable output characteristics without interrupting music playback, by using a program with image acquisition, environment identification, and output characteristic determination functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If test signals are played back to automatically select acoustic characteristics, then the acoustic characteristic selection is automated, but music data playback must be interrupted and the system shows poor usability when installation position changes frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs acoustic environment measurement and analysis in advance before music playback begins. The controller measures the acoustic characteristics of the playback environment using test signals, analyzes the results to determine optimal output characteristics, and stores these settings for later use. This preliminary action allows the system to automatically adapt to the installation environment without interrupting music playback when the speaker is moved, thereby improving usability while maintaining automation.
2Measurement precision
If test signals are played back for all channels, then optimal acoustic characteristics are selected, but the process takes time and prevents immediate music playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs acoustic environment measurement and analysis in advance before music playback begins. The controller measures the acoustic characteristics of the playback environment using test signals, analyzes the results to determine optimal output characteristics, and stores these settings for later use. This preliminary action allows the system to automatically adapt to the installation environment without interrupting music playback when the speaker is moved, thereby improving usability while maintaining automation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual searching for suitable output characteristics is required, then the user can customize settings, but the process is troublesome and time-consuming especially for multiple speaker groups
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically measures the acoustic environment using test signals, analyzes the characteristics of the playback space, and independently determines optimal output characteristics without requiring manual user adjustment. The controller stores these automatically determined settings and applies them when music playback begins. This self-service approach maintains adaptability to different installation environments while eliminating the troublesome manual searching process, especially beneficial for multiple speaker groups.
4Adaptability or versatility
If output characteristics are changed frequently to adapt to different installation environments, then the system adapts well to various positions, but the setting process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs acoustic environment measurement and analysis in advance before music playback begins. The controller measures the acoustic characteristics of the playback environment using test signals, analyzes the results to determine optimal output characteristics, and stores these settings for later use. This preliminary action allows the system to automatically adapt to the installation environment without interrupting music playback when the speaker is moved, thereby improving usability while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically measures the acoustic environment using test signals, analyzes the characteristics of the playback space, and independently determines optimal output characteristics without requiring manual user adjustment. The controller stores these automatically determined settings and applies them when music playback begins. This self-service approach maintains adaptability to different installation environments while eliminating the troublesome manual searching process, especially beneficial for multiple speaker groups.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a technology capable of changing an output characteristic of music data more efficiently with a simpler operation irrespective of whether or not the music data is being played back, an audio controller (2) identifies a usage environment of a wireless speaker (1) from picked-up image data on an installation room of the wireless speaker (1). Then, an output characteristic suitable for the identified usage environment is selected, and the selected output characteristic is set as an output characteristic of music data to be output from the wireless speaker (1). In this case, a ratio between a width of a wall behind the wireless speaker (1) and a width of the speaker is obtained from the picked-up image data obtained by picking up an image of the installation room of the wireless speaker (1) so that boundaries between the wall behind the wireless speaker (1) and both sides thereof are aligned with both edges of an angle of view, and a size of the installation room of the wireless speaker (1) is identified based on this ratio to be used as the usage environment. Further, an installation position of the speaker is identified based on a display position of the speaker in the picked-up image data to be also used as the usage environment.