Positional Audio in a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Network

• US 20090226001A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tederoff, Theodore Spencer, Grigsby, Travis M., Miller, Steven Michael, Harter, William Wood JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

In a vehicle-to-vehicle network, a driver may listen to audio generated by other drivers participating in the network. The usability of the audio is enhanced by determining the relative positions of the providing and the receiving vehicles and then distributing received audio to specific speakers in the audio system of the receiving vehicle to create an impression that the sound originates from a source on the line between the two vehicles. The audio distributed to different speakers in the vehicle changes as the relative positions of the two vehicles changes. Volume changes and Doppler effects can be added to the audio if the two vehicles are converging or diverging.

Claims

1. A method for controlling distribution of audio data to speakers in a first vehicle participating in a vehicle-to-vehicle network in which participating vehicles generate audio data that is transmitted to other participating vehicles, said method comprising:

receiving an input from a user of said first vehicle selecting a second vehicle from which audio data is to be received;

establishing the geographic bearing of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle and

distributing audio data received from said second vehicle to selected speakers in said first vehicle in accordance with the said established geographic bearing.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein distributing audio data further comprises distributing stronger audio data signals to speakers in said set of selected speakers in said first vehicle that are close to said established geographic bearing.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein distributing audio data further comprises balancing the strength of the audio data distributed to different speakers in said first vehicle to establish a virtual audio source lying along said established geographic bearing.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein distributing audio data further comprises changing the level of audio data signals distributed to different speakers as the established geographic bearing changes.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising:

determining whether said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging or diverging; and

increasing the levels of the audio data signals if said first vehicle and said second vehicle are determined to be converging; and

decreasing the levels of the audio data signals if said first vehicle and said second vehicle are determined to be diverging.

6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising modifying distributed audio data using a first Doppler effect if it is determined said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging and a second Doppler effect if it is determined that said first vehicle and said second vehicle are diverging.

7. A method according to claim 5 further comprising modifying distributed audio data using a first Doppler effect if it is determined said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging and a second Doppler effect if it is determined that said first vehicle and said second vehicle are diverging.

8. A computer program product for controlling distribution of audio data to speakers in a first vehicle participating in a vehicle-to-vehicle network in which participating vehicles generate audio data that is transmitted to other participating vehicles, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, said computer usable program code comprising:

computer usable program code configured to receive an input from a user of said first vehicle selecting a second vehicle from which audio data is to be received;

computer usable program code configured to establish the geographic bearing of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle; and

computer usable program code configured to distribute audio data received from said second vehicle to selected speakers in said first vehicle in accordance with the said relative geographic bearing.

9. A computer program product according to claim 8 wherein said computer usable program code configured to distribute audio data further comprises computer usable program code configured to distribute stronger audio data signals to speakers in said set of selected speakers in said first vehicle that are close to said relative geographic bearing.

10. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein said computer usable program code configured to distribute audio data further comprises computer usable program code configured to balance the strength of the audio data signals distributed to selected speakers in said first vehicle to establish a virtual audio source lying along said relative geographic bearing.

11. A computer program product according to claim 10 wherein said computer usable program code configured to distribute audio data further comprises computer usable program code configured to change the strength of audio data distributed to said selected speakers as said relative geographic bearing changes.

12. A computer program product according to claim 11 further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to determine whether said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging or diverging; and

computer usable program code configured to increase the strength of audio data signals if said first vehicle and said second vehicle are determined to be converging; and

computer usable program code configured to decrease the strength of audio data signals if said first vehicle and said second vehicle are determined to be diverging.

13. A computer program product according to claim 11 further comprising computer usable program code configured to modify audio data distributed to said selected speakers using a first Doppler effect if it is determined said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging and a second Doppler effect if it is determined that said first vehicle and said second vehicle are diverging.

14. A computer program product according to claim 12 further comprising computer usable program code configured to modify audio data distributed to said selected speakers using a first Doppler effect if it is determined said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging and a second Doppler effect if it is determined that said first vehicle and said second vehicle are diverging.

15. A system for controlling distribution of audio data to speakers in a first vehicle participating in a vehicle-to-vehicle network in which participating vehicles generate audio data that is transmitted to other participating vehicles, said system comprising:

a user input system for receiving an input from a user of said first vehicle selecting a second vehicle from which audio data is to be received;

global positioning logic for establishing the geographic bearing of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle; and

an audio control system for distributing audio data received from said second vehicle to selected speakers in said first vehicle in accordance with the said relative geographic bearing.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said audio control system further comprises logic for causing distribution of stronger audio data signals to speakers in said set of selected speakers in said first vehicle that are close to said relative geographic bearing.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said audio control system further balances the strength of audio data signals distributed to selected speakers in said first vehicle to establish a virtual audio source lying along said relative geographic bearing.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said audio control system further changes the strengths of audio data signals distributed to said selected speakers as said relative geographic bearing changes.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein:

said global positioning logic determines whether said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging or diverging; and

said audio control system increases the strength of audio data signals if said first vehicle and said second vehicle are determined to be converging and decreases the strength of the audio data signals if said first vehicle and said second vehicle are determined to be diverging.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said audio control system modifies audio data distributed to said selected speakers using a first Doppler effect if it is determined said first vehicle and said second vehicle are converging and a second Doppler effect if it is determined that said first vehicle and said second vehicle are diverging.