RU2777613C1 - Audioplayback/simulation system and audio playback simulation method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: acoustics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to acoustics. The audio playback/simulation system (10) contains several audio playback devices controlled by one or more audio signals (AS), a processor (14) for processing the input audio stream (ST) to form one or more audio signals (AS). The processor (14) performs processing by using acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) that determine the sound characteristic of the target audio system (12', 12", 12"') for at least two different target audio systems (12', 12", 12"'), moreover, the mentioned parameters of the processing acoustic signal are performed with providing the ability to simulate the target audio system (12', 12", 12"') by using the device (12) to reproduce the sound. The audio playback/simulation system (10) contains a memory having a database (16) stored in it or is connected to a database (16) storing processing parameters (PP) for at least two different target audio systems (12', 12", 12"'), moreover, the target audio system (12', 12", 12"') contains a sound panel designed to play the surrounding three-dimensional (3D) content and/or immersive content. The processing parameter of the mentioned processing parameters describes the directivity of the sound played by the target audio system (12', 12", 12"'), or at the same time, the processing parameter from the mentioned acoustic signal processing parameters describes the configuration of the converters of the target audio system (12', 12", 12") as a sound characteristic; moreover, the configuration of the converters contains information about the number of converters per channel of the target audio system (12', 12", 12").

EFFECT: providing the possibility of simulating various acoustic systems, taking into account the characteristics of directivity, encoding format, number of channels.

18 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a sound reproduction/simulation system and a sound reproduction simulation method. In addition, the preferred embodiments provide a generalized device for reproducing audio, for example, for reproducing multi-channel audio.

For multi-channel audio, usually several separate speakers are installed not only in the front area of the listening environment, but additionally on the sides and rear. In addition to only placing the loudspeakers horizontally, installations with vertically raised loudspeakers are also used. Such playback systems provide an opportunity for spatial and immersive sound reproduction.

An alternative to such speaker setups are soundbars. Soundbars typically contain multiple drivers (i.e., "single speaker membranes") in a single package. Some of them are specially designed for installation under the display or above it. Most soundbars today come with (wireless) subwoofers, while there are also options that don't need external subwoofers.

Such devices, called for example a sound plate, sound base, etc., usually have deeper cabinets than a sound bar, as a result of which, for example, a TV set can be placed directly on them.

Currently, soundbars are mainly used in consumer sound reproduction systems. A soundbar is a sound reproduction device that usually combines all the connections/connectors, amplifiers, processors, loudspeakers, etc. that are needed to reproduce sound in one housing. There are many soundbar options on the market, and soundbars are available in different price ranges, features, and quality levels. Differences may include, for example, the size and shape of the cabinet, the number, size, quality, position and/or placement of the speaker drivers used, the type of processing applied to the input signals. Some soundbars simply act like a bunch of loudspeakers housed in a single cabinet (no additional signal processing other than amplification). Others use processing of varying degrees of sophistication to achieve realistic (spatial) sound reproduction from a single device.

Some soundbars do not take into account the specific geometry and acoustic properties of the playback room in which they are used, more sophisticated ones do so (for example, through calibration based on a measurement signal or a custom setting). Some soundbar devices use microphone(s) for calibration, for example, to adapt processing to the actual playback room and/or listening position.

The same concepts described below can also be applied to, for example, 3D soundbars, speaker frames (which are located around the display, for example), cylindrical speaker arrays, spherical speaker arrays, and boomboxes, playback devices like docking stations, or smart speakers.

Because soundbars are a very popular playback device in consumer homes, professionals and content producers would also like to track their products (eg, during production and/or in the making) on such devices.

This creates several problems because the result is highly dependent on, for example, the quality of the target device and the processing that is applied by the particular soundbar. This variability makes it difficult to pick one soundbar to keep track of. Choosing a range of soundbar products is also not a convenient solution. In addition, it is not easy to connect consumer devices to a professional environment without additional effort. Most consumer devices only have consumer connections/connectors (eg HDMI), while production environments use professional connectors (eg MADI). In addition, most consumer devices assume that content is packaged or encoded in (consumer) formats (eg MP3, AAC, etc.), while uncompressed audio is mostly used in professional environments. An important issue in this regard is also the ability of the system to provide real-time tracking on such a device. For production purposes, for example, real time may mean that the delay introduced must be at least short enough that any change applied to the content during production can be easily tracked on the audio device. Therefore, there is a need for an improved approach.

The object of the present invention is to provide a concept that can reproduce sound comparable or similar to a target system (from a plurality of target systems).

This problem is solved by the subject of the invention according to independent claims.

An embodiment provides an audio playback system comprising at least one audio playback device, such as a soundbar, and a processor. The audio playback device is controlled by one or more audio signals (for example, a two-channel stereo signal, or a 5.1 signal, or a 5.1+4H signal). The processor is configured to process the input audio stream to generate one or more audio signals. In this case, it performs processing based on the processing parameters that determine the audio characteristic of the target system.

Embodiments of the present invention are based on the fact that with a high quality audio playback device, such as a soundbar having high quality components and digital signal processing, the behavior of other soundbar systems/target systems can be simulated/simulated. The combination of a high-quality audio playback device with processing using processing parameters that determine the audio performance of the target system forms an audio playback system that is characterized by its ability to simulate a number of other/similar/related/additional audio playback systems, also called the target system, for example, of various sizes. , of varying quality, or using a different kind of basic processing. The processing parameters are adjustable parameters used to adapt the sound playback/simulation system to the target system, such as a consumer playback system/consumer soundbar. As a result, such a high quality universal soundbar allows the user to simulate different soundbar devices from just one device. This helps in keeping track of the expected performance of the consumer device during production. The system thus defined may find application, for example, in professional production environments where a content producer wishes to track during production (in real time) how the client/consumer can hear the produced content.

In accordance with preferred embodiments, the sound reproduction/tracking system is a sound bar, for example, comprising two or more transducers. This allows the audio playback device to produce one, two or more channels. Similarly, the target device can also be a soundbar. The audio characteristic of the target device can be described by the processing parameters. For example, one of the processing parameters describes the converter configuration of the target system. In this case, information regarding the number of individual channels and/or regarding the number of converters per channel may be included in the transducer configuration information. In addition, if directional beamforming is used, for example, the processing parameter describing the transducer configuration may contain the number of transducers used for different channels. In general, this processing parameter may describe the number of transducers of the target system. In case the number of transducers of the target system is known, the processor may use this processing parameter to determine the number of transducers of the sound reproduction/simulation system to be used. In more detail, sound reproduction/simulation system transducers can be selected based on this information such that there is a direct relationship between the selection and the corresponding processing parameter.

The processing parameters allow the modification of the sound reproduction in relation to various "metrics". Below is a small but not necessarily complete overview of properties/metrics.

- The first property/metric may refer to the playback functionality of the target device, which is mainly affected by the hardware. For example, the hardware of the target device has a given transmission characteristic with respect to frequency response. Thus, one of the processing parameters describes a characteristic of the hardware.

- Another processing parameter describes the encoding performed on the target device. The prerequisite for this is that some target devices perform certain decoding during playback, which affects the behavior of the sound. This encoding index may be represented by at least one processing parameter.

- The third property/indicator refers to the mode of operation, i.e. to the question of whether the target device is performing beamforming, dipole processing, or conventional reproduction.

- The fourth property/performance refers to whether the target system performs upmixing or downmixing.

- Another property/reproducibility factor relates to speaker placement. This processing parameter describes the different positions of the target system's signal converters or the size of the target system's enclosures.

It should be noted that a variety of other metrics may exist, with at least one, but preferably a plurality of, of these metrics describing the overall transmission behavior of the target system to provide the audio playback/tracking system described above by using a processing parameter including information about another metric for audio playback comparable to audio playback that would be performed by the target system. In other words, this means that the processing processes the audio stream ST with respect to one or preferably more of the indicators mentioned above, each of which is described by one or more processing parameters.

In accordance with further embodiments, the processing parameter may describe the frequency response of the converter, the impulse response of the converter, the phase response of the converter, the impedance of the converter of one or more converters of the target system. This transducer frequency response/transducer impulse response/transducer phase response/transducer impedance is used to process or filter audio signals before they are output by the processor described above. Another processing parameter may describe the performance of the enclosure, for example whether it is an open (eg ventilated, perforated, ...) or closed enclosure, or an enclosure equipped with passive radiators.

In accordance with a further embodiment, one of the processing parameters may describe the digital processing performed by the target system or the encoding format used. In addition to playing disc formats (eg CD, Blu-ray), consumer audio devices (target system) are typically used to play content that is received via broadcast or streaming. Predefined encoding formats are used to deliver such content. If the encoding format is known, processing may be performed by the processor of the audio playback/simulation system described above to simulate/emulate the behavior of the target system playing the encoded content.

In accordance with a further embodiment, one of the processing parameters may describe a mode of operation (eg, beamforming, forward free channel audio, dipole processing, crosstalk cancellation, HRTF filtering, etc.). Based on this processing parameter, the sound reproduction/simulation system can determine its processing.

According to a further embodiment, one or more processing parameters may describe additional audio enhancement features (e.g., multi-channel upmixing, bass boost, dynamics processing, etc.) Based on these processing parameters, the audio playback/simulation system may determine its processing for modeling the various stages of audio enhancement and processing that can be found in the (consumer) playback systems that make up the target devices.

In accordance with a further embodiment, all processing parameters that determine how the audio behavior of the target system can be modeled/emulated can be stored in a database (held in memory). This database may be an external database, a database associated with the processor, or a database connected to the processor. This database and processor can also be designed to be upgradeable to allow emulation of other target systems.

Another embodiment provides a method for modeling the performance of a target system. This method comprises two basic steps of processing an input audio stream to generate one or more audio signals, the processing being performed based on processing parameters that define the audio characteristic of the target system; and outputting one or more audio signals to control at least one audio playback device.

Another embodiment provides a method for parsing a target system to obtain processing parameters. In this case, the method may include the step of analyzing the target system through the use of test tones.

According to additional embodiments, this method or portions of the method may be executed using a computer. Thus, the embodiment relates to a computer program.

Embodiments of the present invention will be further described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a sound reproduction/simulation system in accordance with the basic embodiment;

Fig. 2a-2c show three exemplary target systems produced using an audio playback device belonging to an audio playback/simulation system according to an embodiment; and

Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a sound reproduction modeling method according to a further embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, like reference numerals indicate objects having the same or similar function, and their description is mutually applicable and interchangeable.

In FIG. 1 shows a sound reproduction/simulation system 10 comprising at least one sound reproduction device 12 controlled by a processor 14.

The sound reproducing device 12 may, for example, be a sound bar, preferably a high quality sound bar. The soundbar, for example, may have a plurality of transducers 12a-12c (for example, similar/equivalent or different transducers, i.e., transducers of the same type or different types and/or models), which can, for example, be selectively controlled, resulting in a sound panel 12 can play multiple channels, such as two channels or three channels. Transducers 12a, 12b and 12c have (nearly) ideal frequency response or generally identical behavior (eg with respect to their frequency response, phase response, etc.). Here, it should be noted that each of the transducers 12a-12c may be implemented with a single membrane transducer, or may be implemented as a transducer system such as a coaxial transducer system or other two-way transducer system, or a transducer system having a plurality of respective transducers for respective frequency ranges. Converters 12a, 12b and 12c are supplied with one or more AS audio signals. Preferably, each transducer or combination of transducers is controlled by its own audio AS output from processor 14.

This high quality soundbar allows one or more audio signals to be optimally reproduced so that the exact sonic characteristics included in the AS audio signals can be reproduced.

These audio characteristics, such as a particular sound coloration, are imprinted on the AS audio signals by the processor 14. The reproduction characteristics, for example, may be an imprinted frequency response generated by the processor, for example, by equalizing the AS audio signals, resulting in a particular frequency region being boosted or attenuated. Alternatively, the reproduction characteristics may result in a specific impulse response, i. e. to the impulse response causing harmonic distortion, or to a specific phase response. Another example of an audio characteristic is the number of parallel (independent) channels. The premise of this is that the characteristic of a sound system is the number of playback channels. The number of playback channels has a significant impact on the spatial effect created by sound reproduction. This spatial effect can also be a specific sound characteristic. For example, the spatial effect may be directly dependent on the so-called operating mode. Various operating modes are available on the market, such as dipole processing or using psychoacoustic effects to create virtual surround sound, beamforming to direct surround signals in a specific direction, or simple two-channel stereo.

It should be noted that the channel refers to independent playback elements, for example, issued by the loudspeaker in a certain direction. Each channel can have its own content. For example, stereo usually has two channels, with the content of the left channel different from the content of the right channel. 5.1 playback usually has 5+1 channels. The number of channels depends on the number of original channels and the means of the speaker system for parallel playback of different channels. The number of channels may be changed due to upmix or downmix processing. For example, downmixing allows a 5.1 performance to be reproduced using two converters, with two converters forming two channels. Conversely, a stereo signal may be upmixed for a soundbar capable of performing 5.1 playback. Here, upmixing may be performed with or without stereo information.

According to a further embodiment, the processor has upmixing means by which multi-channel signals can be generated from signals having at least one input channel but fewer channels than the desired multi-channel output.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the processor has downmixing means by which the input multi-channel signals can be processed to produce output signals having fewer channels than the input signals.

As described above, consumer sound reproduction devices such as conventional sound bars often change sound reproduction due to their sound characteristics. In other words, this means that by introducing (in the sense of modeling or simulating) a certain sound characteristic (of a particular target system), the sound reproduction of the target system can be simulated. This consequence is used by the processor 14, which processes the audio stream ST by embedding the target system's audio characteristic into the audio signals. This is intended to simulate the target system's audio playback so that it can be determined in real time how the audio will play on a different sound system or a different soundbar.

With regard to processing, it should be noted that all audio characteristics can be defined by processing parameters, such as filter parameters or a transducer configuration parameter. Based on these processing parameters, processor 14 processes the audio stream ST to generate one or more audio signals AS driving converters 12a-12c. According to further embodiments, the processing parameters are stored in an optional database 16 that is connected to the processor. This database 16 may store processing parameters for the first target system and, in accordance with further embodiments, for the second/additional target system. As described above, the target systems may differ from each other with respect to the frequency response of the converter, the impulse response of the converter, the phase response of the converter, or with respect to their configuration of the converter, or with respect to another property.

In the following, various sonic characteristics and their effects will be described. The first influencing factor, as already described, is the type of converters that have a characteristic with respect to their frequency response of the converter, the impulse response of the converter or the phase response of the converter. For example, different transducers have different operating ranges with respect to the frequency range they can operate in or the sound pressure level they can produce. As further examples, some transducers may characteristically amplify a certain frequency more than other frequencies. Alternatively or additionally, harmonic or non-harmonic distortion may be generated at some frequencies. For example, low frequency bands are often attenuated. Sometimes the middle frequencies can be amplified. In addition, the frequency band may be limited in terms of high frequency sections or low frequency sections depending on the intended use case and the frequency band for which the drivers have been optimized. Such a transmission characteristic may be actively shaped by equalizing or distorting the audio signal. In this case, information regarding the sound characteristic is stored as processing parameters, such as filter parameters. Starting with these processing parameters, the processor 14 processes the audio stream ST to output (align, distort, process) the audio signals AS. As a result, the performance of various types of loudspeakers and target systems can be modeled by simulating their performance (eg, frequency response, phase response, spatial response, virtualization, rendering).

In accordance with a further embodiment, the casing of the target audio device may have an effect on audio reproduction. For example, package size often changes the impulse response and radiation pattern. To represent this influence, appropriate processing parameters can be used to describe the properties of the cabinet or the acoustic effects introduced by the properties of the cabinet. In this case, these parameters may also describe the impulse response so that the processor 14 can process the audio stream ST appropriately. As a result, the performance of different packages can be simulated by digital simulation of their performance.

According to additional embodiments, processing parameters describing the transducer itself and processing parameters describing the package may be combined into a common processing parameter. For example, properties of given reference or consumer devices may be modeled based on measurements of given source devices. For such measurements, special test signals are used to allow the processor to simulate the performance of a given device.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the processing parameters may describe the placement of the speakers. The prerequisite for this is that various audio playback devices are available. For example, there are devices that have three independently controlled transducers to reproduce three independent (output) channels, with each channel, for example, directly connected to and reproduced by a dedicated transducer, while other devices reproduce three (output) channels using only two converters. It should be noted that sometimes several transducers are used to increase the sound pressure instead of one (controlled by the same AS signal). Other devices may use two or more independently controlled transducers to perform beamforming, and to reproduce one of (eg, three) independent (output) channels, several or all of the available drivers may be used together, for example, using array processing techniques. For example, if there are two or three transducers, a plurality of beams can be formed, such as five beams for five channels. This setting may be stored as processing parameters so that the processor 14 can process the audio stream ST appropriately to generate the audio signals AS. Alternatively or additionally, the transducer configuration information may include whether two or more transducers are used per channel, such as transducers for reproducing different frequency ranges (midrange speakers and tweeters). To reproduce such configurations, the soundbar 12 may comprise a plurality of tweeters and a plurality of midrange speakers, with each transducer being individually controlled. The processor can output for each transducer a corresponding AS audio signal. In such a case, the processor can perform the assignment of different channels to different converters, as well as active assignment of the frequency band. In other words, this means that processor 14 is configured to actively filter the audio stream and actively calculate different channels to generate a plurality of audio signals AS to control a plurality of transducers 12a-12c. This makes it possible to simulate a soundbar with a variable number of drivers included (for example, in a high-end version with a large number of speakers, only two can be selected to simulate a soundbar that has only two speakers). The processing may be appropriately adapted and, for example, may include different versions of the downmix and upmix or routing matrix to adapt to modeling systems with more or fewer drivers. In such a high quality system, properties of a lower quality consumer system (eg, modeling the frequency response and/or phase response and/or the variance of certain parameters) can be modeled. In addition, a generalized audio device may have a plurality of transducers configured for different frequency ranges (eg, woofer, midrange speaker, tweeter). This allows you to simulate multi-way systems (eg two-way systems with dedicated tweeters and woofers) or systems using full-range drivers only (ie no dedicated tweeters).

According to further embodiments, the processing parameters may determine the encoding format with which the audio stream is encoded/decoded. The premise of this is that it is quite common for audio playback devices such as soundbars to perform audio decoding, which can affect playback performance. By applying such coding in the processor, the corresponding playback in the target system can be simulated.

According to a further embodiment, the processing parameters describe a mode of operation, such as dipole processing, beamforming, or normal audio reproduction, especially when the target device is configured to operate using different modes of operation. This makes it possible to model various kinds of soundbar processing (eg, simple one-to-one mapping of input signals to speaker outputs, HRTF or crosstalk-based virtualization methods, beamforming methods, dipole systems, etc., and combinations thereof).

Next, with reference to FIG. 2a, 2b and 2c will describe three different target configurations along with an approach for modeling them.

In FIG. 2a shows the soundbar 12 having five 12am-12em mid-range drivers as well as 12at-12et tweeters. The 12am-12em midrange drivers are placed along the soundbar 12, while the 12at-12et tweeters are placed adjacent to the corresponding 12am-12em midrange driver. It should be noted that the number of transducers (midrange drivers, tweeters) is not limited to the number shown and may vary, and need not be the same for both types of transducers. Additionally, soundbar 12 may also include one or more additional woofers and one or more internal or external subwoofers (not shown).

In the embodiment of FIG. 2a, the soundbar 12 is used to simulate the simple soundbar 12' shown in the corner. As can be seen, the soundbar 12' contains only two transducers, namely the so-called full-range loudspeakers. To model such a soundbar 12', the processing parameters describe the soundbar 12' as having two channels, with each channel formed by a single transducer to reproduce the entire frequency range. Such full-range speakers often have limited reproduction quality for bass and treble. This information is stored using a processing parameter describing the frequency/reproduction characteristics.

The processor processes the described processing parameters and outputs audio signals to the transducer 12 such that the midrange speakers 12bm and 12dm are used, for example, for sound reproduction to model the target device 12'. In this case, the converters 12bm-12dm are driven by the respective audio signals containing the entire frequency range and output according to the corresponding frequency impulse response. Of course, the processor may use other transducers, such as 12am-12em transducers, or a combination of multiple transducers, such as 12bm+12bt and 12dm+12dt, or 12am+12bm, 12dm, and 12em.

While most low-cost soundbars available today are only capable of playing two-channel stereo, more sophisticated products can also play surround sound and 3D/immersive content. Referring to FIG. 2b, another configuration will be described.

In FIG. 2b shows the same soundbar 12, in which case a different target device 12'' is to be simulated. Target 12'' differs from target 12' in that target 12'' uses three output channels. For example, a processor (not shown) controls soundbar 12 such that it uses at least three transducers, such as 12am, 12cm, and 12em transducers. Because target 12'' is comparable in type (but not number) of transducers to target 12', transducers 12am, 12cm, 12em are used as full featured speakers having transmission characteristics that are typical of such speakers. As described above, full-range speakers can alternatively be emulated with a combination of midrange and tweeter, eg 12am+12at.

With regard to the target device 12'', it should be noted that it can be a target device reproducing three independent channels, or alternatively, for example, a target device configured to form a directional beam. Beamforming is a technique that can be used in playback using an array of sensors to direct sound in predetermined directions. In this case, using beamforming, the surround signals are directed to the side/back so that they reflect off the surrounding walls. In this way, virtual surround sound is reproduced without surround speakers using sound perceived from the side/rear. The corresponding mode of operation is used to control the playback device 12 properly. Just for the sake of completeness, it should be noted that another way to create virtual surround sound is to use psychoacoustic effects. This method can be applied to dual channel soundbars (12' target) or other soundbars such as 12'' target. Another class of devices uses dipole processing to generate spatial effects. In this case, dipole processing may be used on a target device having at least two channels (see target device 12'). Of course, combinations of these methods can also be defined in the mode of operation.

Target device 12''', as shown in FIG. 2c is comparable to the target device 12'', which in this case uses coaxial speakers instead of full-range speakers. To ensure good reproduction of these coaxial speakers, the processor controls the combination of midrange and tweeter for each coaxial speaker. Thus labeled transducers 12am, 12at, 12cm, 12ct, 12em and 12et are used to simulate a 12''' target device. In this case, not only the transducer configuration is different, but also the transmission characteristics, so different processing parameters are used compared to the processing parameters used to simulate the target device 12″. Of course, it is also possible that the playback/simulation system devices according to the method of the invention are equipped with coaxial speakers, which in this case can be used to simulate other woofer/tweeter combinations, or full featured drivers.

All processing parameters for the respective target device 12', 12'', 12''' can be stored in a database. In this case, it should be noted that there may be different sets of processing parameters, allowing you to play one target device 12', 12'' or 12'''.

Using these processing parameters allows the device 12 to emulate/simulate what other soundbar systems 12', 12'' or 12''' (target systems) would do if they were used to play the audio stream. This target device modeling method will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3 shows method 100 having three basic steps 110, 120, and 130. In addition, method 100 may include optional steps 115 and 140.

In the first basic step 110, an audio stream ST is received from, for example, a source. The ST audio stream can be a single-channel or multi-channel source, such as two-channel stereo, 5.1 surround, or 3D/immersive audio with even more channels.

This audio stream ST is processed using processing parameters PP to generate audio signals AS (see step 120). In this case, the processing parameters PP allow the target device's audio response to be modeled for AS audio signals, whereby the playback device used produces an audio signal as the target device would.

These AS audio signals are used to feed to the appropriate device (see soundbar 12) as shown in step 130. In response to the AS audio signal, the soundbar outputs sound (see step 140). This step 140 is the last step in target device simulation.

To make the method 100 universal, it may further comprise a step 115 for selecting a processing parameter PP depending on the target device to be simulated. The step is placed parallel to step 110 so that the correct processing parameters PP can be used in step 120.

With respect to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2a-2c, it should be noted that in this case, the playback device (soundbar) 12 has been described as a soundbar having transducers on the front side only. In accordance with additional embodiments, there may also be transducers located on other sides, for example, on the sides, on the top plane, on the back side or below.

According to embodiments, the soundbar of the present invention can reproduce signals based on professional uncompressed signals, and at the same time, different audio encoding methods/different audio codecs (encoder and/or decoder) can be provided so that a professional user can select them. and adjust their settings (such as bitrate) to test the performance of a differently encoded version of the content when listened to through a soundbar device.

Further embodiments will be described next. The first embodiment provides an audio playback device that can simulate other audio playback devices. This sound reproducing device, for example, may be formed by a sound bar 12 and includes a processor 14. In other words, this means that according to the embodiments, the sound reproducing device is of the sound bar type. Alternatively, the audio reproducing device may be of the speaker type, or may be formed by a speaker system containing a plurality of transducers, or by a speaker system having one or more speaker types or transducer types. Thus, the main idea is to create a device that has high quality components, contains many different connectors and has digital signal processing. With such a device, you can emulate/simulate the behavior of other soundbar systems or speaker systems.

According to an embodiment, the device can be configured in such a way that, through the use of processing parameters, the number of actually used drivers can be selected.

In accordance with further embodiments, the processor may process an input signal having at least one channel, the processing being applied to generate a surround sound reproduction from the device. According to further embodiments, the processor may process an input signal having at least one channel, the processing being used to model performance and/or process other devices. In accordance with a further embodiment, the processor may use dipole processing to generate a surround sound impression. In accordance with a further embodiment, the processor may use directional beamforming to generate a surround sound experience. In accordance with a further embodiment, the processor may use psychoacoustic processing to generate a surround sound experience.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the processor is configured to use different audio compression codecs that can be selected and configured by the user. It should be noted that the processor may, for example, receive the audio signal as an uncompressed or compressed audio signal, or extract the audio signal from a video stream. Thus, the processor has a video input. It should be noted that the processor may have multiple inputs for receiving signals of different types (different connectors (consumer and professional)).

Another processing parameter may describe the directivity (directivity pattern) of the sound reproduced by the target system. The directivity usually depends on the exact position of the different types of transducers in the target device and varies with frequency. Often the directionality changes horizontally and vertically. Such directional effects can be modeled by a high quality system/player/simulator, for example, the player can use an array to perform directional beamforming or different array processing for different frequency bands to model the directional behavior of the target system.

Another embodiment provides a method for analyzing one or more target devices to obtain processing parameters that describe the audio characteristic of the target device. In this case, the method may include the step of reproducing a set of single or multi-channel test tones and sequences, including, for example, sweeps over different channels and sweeps over different frequency bands to generate information about the entire processing. This method can be performed by a device that, for example, contains a sound source for different channels and an array of microphones for receiving a response from the reproduction of a test tone produced in different directions.

Although some aspects have been described in the context of a device, it is clear that these aspects are also a description of the corresponding method, in which the module or device corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Likewise, aspects described in the context of a method step are also descriptions of the corresponding module, element, or feature of the corresponding device. Some or all of the steps of the method may be executed by (or using) a hardware device such as, for example, a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, one or more of the most important steps of the method may be performed by such a device.

The encoded audio signal may be stored on a digital storage medium or may be transmitted on a transmission medium such as a wireless transmission medium or a wired transmission medium such as the Internet.

Depending on some implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium such as floppy disk, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc, compact disc (CD), read only memory (ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory having electronically readable signals stored thereon that interact (or are capable of interacting) with a programmable computer system, resulting in the execution of the corresponding method. Thus, the digital storage medium can be computer readable.

Some embodiments in accordance with the invention include a storage medium having electronically readable control signals that are capable of interacting with a programmable computer system, resulting in one of the methods described herein.

Typically, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product with program code, the program code performing one of the methods when the computer program product is executed on the computer. The program code may, for example, be stored on a computer-readable medium.

Other embodiments include a computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, stored on a computer-readable medium.

In other words, an embodiment of the method of the invention is thus a computer program having program code for performing one of the methods described herein when the computer program is running on a computer.

An additional embodiment of the methods of the invention, therefore, is a storage medium (or digital storage medium, or computer-readable medium) containing a computer program recorded thereon for performing one of the methods described herein. The storage medium, digital storage medium, or recorded data medium is typically a tangible and/or non-transitory medium.

An additional embodiment of the method of the present invention, therefore, is a data stream or signal sequence representing a computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or sequence of signals, for example, can be carried over a data connection, for example, over the Internet.

An additional embodiment comprises a processing means, such as a computer or programmable logic device, capable of or adapted to perform one of the methods described herein.

An additional embodiment comprises a computer having a computer program installed thereon for performing one of the methods described herein.

An additional embodiment in accordance with the invention comprises an apparatus or system capable of transferring to a receiver (eg, electronically or optically) a computer program to perform one of the methods described herein. The receiver, for example, may be a computer, mobile device, storage device, or the like. The device or system, for example, may include a file server for transferring a computer program to the receiver.

In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (eg, a field programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all of the functionality of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a user-programmable gate array may interface with a microprocessor to perform one of the methods described herein. In general, the methods are preferably performed by any hardware device.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It is intended that modifications and variations of the placements and details described herein will be apparent to others skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the following patent claims and not by the specific details provided by way of the description and explanation of the embodiments set forth herein.

Claims (32)

1. System (10) reproduction/simulation of sound, containing: at least one device (12) for reproducing sound, controlled by one or more audio signals (AS); and a processor (14) for processing the input audio stream (ST) to generate one or more audio signals (AS); wherein the processor (14) performs the processing by using the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) defining the sound characteristic of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') for at least two different target audio systems (12', 12'' , 12'''), wherein said parameters of the acoustic processing signal are made so as to be able to simulate the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') by using the device (12) for sound reproduction; moreover, the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) contains a memory having a data base (16) stored in it or is connected to a data base (16) storing processing parameters (PP) for at least two different target audio systems (12', 12' ', 12'''), wherein the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') comprises a soundbar configured to play 3D surround content and/or immersive content; wherein the processing parameter of said processing parameters describes the directivity of the sound reproduced by the target audio system (12', 12'', 12'''), or wherein the processing parameter of said acoustic signal processing parameters describes the transducer configuration of the target audio system (12', 12' ', 12'') as a sound characteristic; wherein the transducer configuration contains information regarding the number of transducers per channel of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''). 2. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, in which at least one sound reproduction device (12) comprises at least two transducers or more than two transducers. 3. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) is configured to reproduce at least two channels or more than two channels. 4. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the target system (12', 12'', 12''') comprises a soundbar having one or more transducers. 5. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, in which at least one processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the configuration of the transducers of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') in as a sound quality. 6. System (10) reproduction/simulation of sound according to claim 5, in which the configuration of the transducers contains information on multiple separated channels and/or on multiple transducers for each channel or for different channels and/or contains information on multiple transducers of the target audio system (12 ', 12'', 12'''). 7. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, in which the number and/or selection of used transducers of the device (12) for sound reproduction depends on the processing parameter from the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) and/or depends on the configuration of the transducers . 8. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the processing parameter from the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the frequency response of the transducer, the impulse response of the transducer, or the phase response of the transducer from the transducers of the target audio system (12', 12'' , 12''') as a sound characteristic; or wherein the processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the frequency response of the transducer, the impulse response of the transducer, or the phase response of the transducer of the transducers of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') as an audio response, and wherein one or more audio signals (AS) are processed and/or filtered to simulate the frequency response of the transducer and/or the impulse response of the transducer and/or the phase response of the transducer. 9. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the performance of the target audio system enclosure (12', 12'', 12''') as an audio characteristic. 10. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least a processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the digital processing of the target system (12', 12'', 12''') and/ or content encoding format as an audio characteristic; or wherein at least a processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the digital encoding of the target audio system processing (12', 12'', 12''') and/or the content encoding format as an audio characteristic, and wherein the processing performs such the same digital processing and/or digital encoding/decoding as the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') to output one or more audio signals (AS). 11. The sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, in which at least one processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the operation mode of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') and /or up/down mix mode as an audio characteristic. 12. The sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one processing parameter of the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) describes the directivity of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') as sound characteristic. 13. The system (10) playback/simulation of sound according to claim 1, and the system (10) playback/simulation of sound contains an input for receiving an input audio stream (ST); and/or wherein the input audio stream (ST) is a single-channel audio stream (ST); and/or wherein the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) comprises video data input for receiving an input audio stream (ST). 14. Sound reproduction/simulation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) comprises a memory storing a data base (16) or connected to a data base (16) storing acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) for the target audio system (12', 12'', 12'''); or moreover, the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) contains a memory having a data base (16) stored in it or connected to a data base (16) storing processing parameters (PP) for at least two target audio systems (12', 12'' , 12'''). 15. A device for determining one or more acoustic signal processing parameters, comprising an analysis unit configured to analyze the target audio system to obtain one or more acoustic signal processing parameters that determine the characteristic of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') to be simulated by the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) of claim 1, wherein the analysis is performed with respect to at least two properties. 16. A method for modeling the acoustic performance of a target audio system (12', 12'', 12'''), the method comprising the steps of: performing processing of the input audio stream (ST) to generate one or more audio signals (AS), and the processing is performed based on the acoustic signal processing parameters (PP) that determine the audio characteristic of the target system (12', 12'', 12''') of at least two different target audio systems (12', 12'', 12'''), moreover, the mentioned acoustic signal processing parameters are made with the possibility of simulating the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') by using the device ( 12) for sound reproduction; moreover, the sound reproduction/simulation system (10) contains a memory having a data base (16) stored in it or is connected to a data base (16) storing processing parameters (PP) for at least two different target audio systems (12', 12' ', 12'''), wherein the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''') comprises a soundbar configured to play 3D surround content and/or immersive content; wherein the processing parameter of said processing parameters describes the directivity of the sound reproduced by the target audio system (12', 12'', 12'''), or wherein the processing parameter of said acoustic signal processing parameters describes the configuration of the transducers of the target audio system (12', 12' ', 12'') as a sound characteristic; wherein the transducer configuration contains information regarding the number of transducers per channel of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12''). 17. A method for determining one or more acoustic signal processing parameters, the method comprising the steps of: analyzing the target audio system to obtain acoustic signal processing parameters defining the audio characteristic of the target system (12', 12'', 12''') to be simulated by the method of modeling the performance of the target audio system (12', 12'', 12'') according to 16, and the analysis is performed with respect to at least two indicators. 18. A computer-readable medium that stores program code that, when executed on a computer, performs the method of claim 16 or 17.

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