Virtual Partitions for Dynamic Spatial Audio Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spatial audio rendering technologies fail to effectively control the user's auditory experience in virtual environments, particularly in response to changes in user orientation or position within a virtual space, leading to inconsistent and immersive sound scenes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing a virtual space using virtual partitions that adjust the perception of sound scenes based on user actions, such as gestures or movements, allowing for dynamic changes in audio rendering to match the user's position and orientation, thereby creating a more immersive and interactive auditory experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If spatial audio rendering is used to provide sound sources at respective positions in a virtual space, then the user can perceive the presence and location of sound sources, but the system fails to effectively control the user's auditory experience in response to changes in user orientation or position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to user actionsVSAvoidcomplexity of audio processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual space is divided into multiple zones using virtual partitions, where each zone can have independent audio rendering characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to manage complex audio processing by treating different spatial regions separately, improving adaptability to user actions while controlling system complexity through modular zone management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The audio rendering system dynamically adjusts sound scene parameters based on real-time detection of user actions, gestures, or movements. The system transitions from static spatial audio to dynamic audio rendering that automatically adapts to user behavior, enhancing versatility without requiring manual reconfiguration of the entire audio system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If virtual partitions are introduced to divide virtual space and affect perception, then the user experience becomes more immersive and interactive, but the processing complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of sound sceneVSAvoidcomplexity of virtual space management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Virtual partitions segment the virtual space into distinct zones with specific audio rendering rules, ensuring consistent sound scene perception within each zone. This segmentation approach maintains reliability by enforcing consistent audio behavior within partitions while managing complexity through hierarchical space organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Virtual partitions act as intermediary elements between the user and the audio rendering system. These partitions mediate the interaction by automatically adjusting audio parameters based on user position and orientation relative to partition boundaries, improving sound scene consistency without requiring direct complex processing of all user actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system dynamically adjusts audio rendering in response to user actions, then the auditory experience becomes more immersive, but the response time and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness to user actionsVSAvoidprocessing time for audio adjustments
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and prepares audio rendering parameters for different virtual space zones and user action types. By anticipating potential user actions and pre-computing appropriate audio responses, the system achieves rapid adaptation to user actions while minimizing real-time processing overhead and response delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where user actions trigger automated audio rendering adjustments based on detected gestures or movements. This feedback loop enables responsive adaptability to user actions while optimizing processing time through efficient detection and pre-established response protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3370133B1Audio processing
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3370133B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2B
  • EP3370133B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~3B
  • EP3370133B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5B

AI summary

A method comprising: dividing a virtual space using virtual partitions that affect perception of the virtual space by a user within the virtual space; in response to a first action in the virtual space relative to a first virtual partition by a user making a first change to how the first virtual partition affects the virtual space perceived by the user.