User-Location Audio Playback via Mutual Device Audibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems struggle with flexible rendering of audio data in environments where audio devices are arbitrarily located, lacking effective methods for geometric mapping and audibility calibration without the use of reference microphones.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control system that determines audio device locations and mutual audibility using direction of arrival (DOA) and time of arrival (TOA) data, and applies a decay law model to estimate output gains for each device, enabling automatic leveling and equalization based on user location audibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio devices are arbitrarily located in an environment, then device placement flexibility is improved, but audio playback quality and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by having each audio device emit test tones that are captured by other devices. This pre-calibration process establishes mutual audibility measurements and determines device locations before actual audio playback, enabling the system to compensate for arbitrary placements and achieve consistent audio quality across different device configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calibration processes with automated acoustic measurements and computational algorithms. Instead of physically adjusting device positions or manually configuring settings, the system uses DOA and TOA data combined with decay law models to automatically determine optimal playback parameters for arbitrarily placed devices
2Manufacturing precision
If manual calibration methods are used for audio devices, then audio playback quality can be maintained, but system complexity and calibration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system is self-service in that each audio device actively participates in the calibration process by emitting test tones and having its own location and audibility characteristics determined through acoustic measurements. The system automatically processes the collected data using decay law models to compute playback parameters without requiring external manual intervention or complex user configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes playback parameters including volume levels, equalization filters, and timing delays based on the computed mutual audibility measurements and determined device locations. These parameter adjustments are automatically calculated using decay law models that account for distance and environmental factors, eliminating the need for manual calibration while maintaining audio quality
3Measurement precision
If reference microphones are used for audibility calibration, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses each audio device's existing microphone to capture test tones emitted by other devices, creating a mutual audibility measurement network. Instead of requiring separate reference microphones, the system leverages the microphones already present in each device, with the understanding that each device's microphone characteristics are accounted for in the relative measurements and subsequent calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The microphones in each audio device serve multiple functions: they capture ambient audio during normal operation and simultaneously serve as measurement microphones during the calibration process. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated reference microphones, reducing system cost and complexity while maintaining measurement capability through the mutual measurement approach
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
Enables flexible and accurate audio playback across arbitrarily placed devices, providing satisfactory sound quality without manual calibration, and improving noise compensation through interpolated audibility mapping.
Implementation Method 1
determining audio device location data including an audio device location for each audio device of the plurality of audio devices
Implementation Method 2
determining audio device location data including an audio device location for each audio device of the plurality of audio devices
Implementation Method 3
applies a decay law model to estimate output gains for each device
Data Source
AI summary
Some methods involve causing a plurality of audio devices in an audio environment to reproduce audio data, each audio device of the plurality of audio devices including at least one loudspeaker and at least one microphone, determining audio device location data including an audio device location for each audio device of the plurality of audio devices and obtaining microphone data from each audio device of the plurality of audio devices. Some methods involve determining a mutual audibility for each audio device of the plurality of audio devices relative to each other audio device of the plurality of audio devices, determining a user location of a person in the audio environment, determining a user location audibility of each audio device of the plurality of audio devices at the user location and controlling one or more aspects of audio device playback based, at least in part, on the user location audibility.