User Localization via Spatial Likelihood Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for optimizing audio quality in multi-device setups, such as home theaters, face challenges in accurately determining the user's listening position and orientation, which affects the alignment and balance of sound stages and volume distribution among devices.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a combination of timing information (TDoA) and angle information (AoA) from multiple devices to generate spatial likelihood functions, allowing for precise determination of the user's location and orientation, and adjusts renderer coefficients for each device to optimize audio playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional single-device audio systems are used, then device complexity is low, but audio quality and user experience are insufficient for multi-device configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the audio optimization task into multiple segments, with each device independently determining its own TDoA and AoA measurements. Each device calculates renderer coefficients for its specific spatial position, allowing distributed processing that maintains high precision while managing system complexity through modular operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional 2D stereo audio to 3D spatial audio by incorporating vertical dimension measurements through AoA sensors and multi-element microphone arrays. This dimensional expansion enables precise user localization in three-dimensional space, improving audio quality while the automated coefficient calculation manages the increased complexity
2Ease of operation
If renderer coefficients are not optimized, then device complexity and processing requirements are lower, but audio quality and sound stage alignment are poor
Solution Approach 1:
Each audio device autonomously performs TDoA and AoA calculations using its own sensors and measurements, then automatically computes its renderer coefficients without requiring external intervention. This self-service approach simplifies system operation while the standardized calculation algorithms manage processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where each device continuously monitors its spatial measurements (TDoA, AoA) and adjusts renderer coefficients in real-time based on calculated user position and orientation. This automated feedback mechanism enables easy operation while the efficient algorithms keep processing requirements manageable
3Measurement precision
If precise TDoA and AoA measurements are implemented, then sound stage centering and volume balancing improve, but measurement and calculation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines TDoA measurements from multiple microphones with AoA measurements from sensors or microphone arrays to create a unified spatial localization approach. By merging these complementary measurement techniques, the system achieves high precision user positioning while the integrated calculation framework manages the complexity of processing both measurement types
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 enables improved audio quality by accurately centering the sound stage on the user and balancing volumes among devices, enhancing the overall listening experience in flexible home theater configurations.
Implementation Method 1
A system that uses a combination of timing information (TDoA) and angle information (AoA) from multiple devices
Implementation Method 2
A system that uses a combination of timing information (TDoA) and angle information (AoA) from multiple devices
Data Source
AI summary
A system configured to improve user localization used to determine a listening position and/or user orientation for a device map. Multiple devices may generate audio data representing user speech and the system may use the audio data to determine a first spatial likelihood function (SLF) based on angle measurements, determine a second SLF based on timing information, and determine a location of the user based on a combination of the two SLFs. The SLFs represent the environment using a grid comprising a plurality of grid cells, and each grid cell has a value indicating a likelihood that the grid cell corresponds to the location of the user. An individual device may generate a portion of the angle measurements based on multi-channel audio data generated using multiple microphones of the device, while the system may generate the timing information based on single-channel audio data received from each of the multiple devices.