Spatial Audio via UWB User Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surround sound systems face challenges in accurately determining a user's location within a room for synchronized audio playback, as existing GPS technologies are ineffective indoors and require costly, cumbersome installations.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) communication chips in user devices to measure distances to distributed speakers, determining the user's location through intersection points and maximum likelihood estimation, and communicating this information for spatialized audio playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS technology is used to identify user position, then absolute position can be determined, but it does not operate well indoors and cannot provide accurate indoor location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces UWB communication as an intermediary technology between the user device and distributed speakers. UWB enables precise distance measurement indoors through signal transmission time, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap where GPS fails. The system uses UWB to measure distance between the user device and multiple speakers, then calculates indoor position through trilateration, thereby solving the indoor location accuracy problem without relying on GPS.
2Adaptability or versatility
If distributed speakers are placed around the room for surround sound, then immersive audio experience is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing smartphones and wearable devices serve multiple functions: they not only communicate audio signals but also act as UWB transceivers for precise location tracking. By utilizing the universal capability of modern devices to integrate both audio playback and UWB communication, the system eliminates the need for specialized expensive equipment, thereby achieving spatial audio with standard consumer devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to create their own distributed audio environment using existing personal devices. Each user's smartphone or wearable device automatically performs UWB distance measurement, position calculation, and coordinates with surrounding speakers without requiring professional installation or configuration. The system serves itself by leveraging already-deployed infrastructure (speakers and user devices) rather than requiring new specialized equipment.
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 accurate, cost-effective, and seamless spatialized audio experiences without the need for expensive installations, allowing audio to adapt to the user's location and movement within a room.
Implementation Method 1
compute, for each response received, based on a time of the transmitting and a time of the receiving, the distance between the user device and the audio playback device
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a mechanism to synchronously drive distributed speakers around a user based on localization outputs of ultra wideband (UWB) communication chips already existing in devices. Distances may be determined between a user device, such as a phone or wearable, and a plurality of distributed speakers or other devices. Based on an intersection point of such distances, the user's location can be identified. Such location can be used to modify how audio is played on each of the plurality of distributed speakers.