Audio user interface with cylindrical audio field organisation
First Claim
1. An audio user-interfacing method in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field, the rendering positions associated with the sound sources being distributed over an at least part-cylindrical notional surface; and
(b) generating, using audio output devices, an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The sound sources are arranged in a cylindrical organization in the audio field and the field is preferably both displaceable along, and rotatable about, the axis of this organization. In one embodiment, the sound sources are arranged as on discrete floors of a building with only the sound sources on the current floor being audible; in this case, summary sound sources are provided in the audio field to indicate what sound sources are available above and below the current floor.
58 Citations
63 Claims
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1. An audio user-interfacing method in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field, the rendering positions associated with the sound sources being distributed over an at least part-cylindrical notional surface; and
(b) generating, using audio output devices, an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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15. An audio user-interfacing method in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field;
(b) generating, using audio output devices, an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned;
(c) exploring the audio field by rotating it about a predetermined axis; and
(d) exploring the audio by displacing it in a direction parallel to said axis;
with steps (c) and (d) being effected in any order or together.
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28. Apparatus for providing an audio user interface in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the apparatus comprising:
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rendering-position determining means for determining, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field, the rendering positions associated with the sound sources being distributed over an at least part-cylindrical notional surface; and
rendering means, including audio output devices, for generating an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned.
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37. Apparatus for providing an audio user interface in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the apparatus comprising:
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rendering-position determining means for determining, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field, the rendering-position determining means comprising;
means for setting the location of each said sound source relative to an audio-field reference;
offset means for controlling an offset between the audio-field reference and a presentation reference determined by a mounting configuration of the audio output devices, the offset means including user input means and being operative to enable a user both;
to set a rotation of the audio field about a predetermined axis, and to set a displacement of the audio field relative to the presentation reference in a direction parallel to said axis; and
means for deriving the rendering position of each sound source based on the location of the sound source in the audio field and said offset; and
rendering means, including audio output devices, for generating an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned.
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46. Apparatus for providing an audio user interface in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the apparatus comprising:
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a rendering-position determining arrangement operative to determine, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field, the rendering positions associated with the sound sources being distributed over an at least part-cylindrical notional surface; and
a rendering subsystem, including audio output devices, arranged to generate an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned.
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55. Apparatus for providing an audio user interface in which each of a plurality of items is represented in an audio field by at least one respective synthesized sound source from where sounds related to the item appear to emanate, the apparatus comprising:
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a rendering-position determining arrangement operative to determine, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field, the rendering-position determining means comprising;
a setting arrangement for setting the location of each said sound source relative to an audio-field reference;
a control arrangement for controlling an offset between the audio-field reference and a presentation reference determined by a mounting configuration of the audio output devices, the control arrangement including a user input device and being operative to enable a user both;
to set a rotation of the audio field about a predetermined axis, and to set a displacement of the audio field relative to the presentation reference in a direction parallel to said axis; and
a deriving arrangement for deriving the rendering position of each sound source based on the location of the sound source in the audio field and said offset; and
a rendering subsystem, including audio output devices, operative to generate an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions to provide sounds related to the items concerned. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification