Concept for Generating an Enhanced Sound Field Description or a Modified Sound Field Description Using a Multi-Point Sound Field Description

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a new system and method for generating, transmitting, and modifying 3D spatial (sound field) audio that allows for improved movement of the listener (including both rotations and position changes) within the audio scene—enabling genuinely interactive, immersive audio experiences suitable for 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) environments. The invention enhances standard audio formats like Ambisonics by incorporating spatial metadata (such as distances and locations), or by using multi-point recordings, so that as a listener moves anywhere in a virtual environment, the sound is accurately re-rendered to match their new position and orientation.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Virtual reality (VR) with full user movement and immersive audio.
• Augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality experiences with dynamic spatial audio.
• Next-generation gaming where player movement is matched by corresponding spatial sound changes.
• Professional audio production for 3D cinema, installations, or exhibitions with moving audiences.
• 360° video with interactive soundscapes on mobile or headset devices.
• Simulations and training environments needing realistic sound navigation (e.g., flight or military training).
• Teleconferencing and telepresence with accurate spatial representation of remote participants.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables true 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) audio, allowing users to move freely in 3D space with consistent and realistic sound changes.
• Overcomes limitations of traditional Ambisonics and similar formats that only support head rotation (3DoF) without position-based audio changes.
• Provides a more immersive and realistic spatial audio experience crucial for next-generation VR/AR applications.
• Backward compatibility with existing spatial audio systems and formats, enabling gradual adoption and reuse of current infrastructure.
• Facilitates more flexible and powerful audio editing, manipulation, and rendering in production environments.
• Improves realism in telepresence and remote collaboration applications.
• Enhances user engagement and presence by tightly matching audio perspective to visual and positional cues.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

Apparatus for generating an enhanced sound field description, comprising: a sound field generator (100, 250, 260) for generating at least one sound field description indicating a sound field with respect to at least one reference location; and a meta data generator (110) for generating meta data relating to spatial information of the sound field, wherein the at least one sound field description and the meta data constitute the enhanced sound field description. The at least one sound field description comprises in a certain case a first sound field description related to the at least one reference location and a second sound field description related to a further reference location being different from the reference location, and the meta data relating to the spatial information indicates the reference location and the further reference location or one of both reference locations and a vector extending between both reference locations.