Audio buffer configuration

• US 7,376,475 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Geist, James F. Jr., Schmidt, Brian L., Porter, Dugan O., Fay, Todor J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanders; Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US10/093,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,268 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 719/328, 719/321, 710/52, 710/53, 710/56, 710/310
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/235 Flanging or phasing effects, i.e. creating time and frequency dependent constructive and destructive interferences, obtained, e.g. by using swept comb filters or a feedback loop around all-pass filters with gradually changing non-linear phase response or delays
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/291 Reverberator using both direct, i.e. dry, and indirect, i.e. wet, signals or waveforms, indirect signals having sustained one or more virtual reflections
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/056 MIDI or other note-oriented file format
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

An audio buffer configuration file is a data structure of configuration information that includes an audio buffer identifier to uniquely identify audio buffers that are instantiated from the configuration information. The information can include a buffer identifier to identify the buffer as a sink-in audio buffer that receives a stream of audio data from an audio data source, or as a mix-in audio buffer that receives one or more streams of audio data from other audio buffers. Further, the information can include logical bus identifiers to uniquely identify one or more logical buses that correspond to the audio buffer, where an individual logical bus streams audio data to the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created. The configuration information can also include an audio effects list to identify one or more audio effects that are instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable storage media encoded with computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct an audio generation system component to:

instantiate an audio buffer configuration object;

load audio buffer configuration information into the audio buffer configuration object, to include configuration information for one or more audio effect resources that are instantiated as components of an audio buffer;

create the audio buffer by duplicating the audio buffer configuration object to include at least a first audio effect resource and a second audio effect resource;

modify audio data with the first audio effect resource to generate modified audio data that is routed to at least one additional audio buffer that generates an additional modified audio data output, and the modified audio data routed to the second audio effect resource in the audio buffer; and

further modify the modified audio data with the second audio effect resource to generate a modified audio data output of the audio buffer;

wherein the one or more computer readable storage media are further encoded with the audio buffer configuration information, comprising;

an audio buffer identifier to uniquely identify the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated according to the configuration information;

an audio buffer type identifier to identify a type of the audio buffer;

one or more logical bus identifiers to uniquely identify one or more logical buses that correspond to the audio buffer, an individual logical bus configured to stream the audio data to the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

2. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio buffer identifier uniquely identifies the audio buffer in the audio generation system.

3. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio buffer type identifier identifies that the audio buffer be instantiated as a sink-in audio buffer configured to receive a stream of the audio data from an audio data source.

4. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio buffer type identifier identifies that the audio buffer be instantiated as a mix-in audio buffer configured to receive one or more streams of the audio data from one or more audio buffers.

5. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising an audio buffer channels identifier to identify a number of logical audio data communication paths in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

6. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising an audio buffer channels identifier to identify a number of logical audio data communication paths in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated, and wherein the audio buffer type identifier identifies that the audio buffer be instantiated as a mix-in audio buffer configured to receive one or more streams of the audio data on the logical audio data communication paths.

7. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising a volume parameter to identify an initial volume setting for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

8. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising a stereo pan parameter to identify an initial stereo pan setting for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

9. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising a position parameter to identify an initial three-dimensional position for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

10. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising three-dimensional parameters for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

11. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising:

a position parameter to identify an initial three-dimensional position for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated; and

three-dimensional parameters to process the audio data received in the audio buffer.

12. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

13. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated, the one or more audio effect resources configured to process the audio data received in the audio buffer.

14. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated, the audio effects list including:

an audio effect identifier to uniquely identify an audio effect resource; and

an audio effect type identifier to identify how the audio effect resource is configured to process the audio data received in the audio buffer.

15. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with audio buffer configuration information comprising an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated, the audio effects list including:

an audio effect identifier to uniquely identify the first audio effect resource;

an audio effect type identifier to identify how the first audio effect resource is configured to process the audio data received in the audio buffer; and

an input audio buffer identifier to identify the at least one additional audio buffer that receives a stream of the modified audio data from the first audio effect resource.

16. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further encoded with computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the audio generation system component to:

combine the modified audio data output from the audio buffer with the additional modified audio data output from the at least one additional audio buffer in an output mixing component that generates a stream of combined modified audio data; and

communicate the stream of combined modified audio data to an audio rendering component that produces an audio rendition corresponding to the combined modified audio data.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media encoded with an audio buffer configuration file that includes the audio buffer configuration information as recited in claim 1.

18. An audio generation system, comprising:

one or more processors;

an audio buffer configuration file configured to maintain audio buffer configuration information, the audio buffer configuration file including configuration information for one or more audio effect resources that are instantiated as components of an audio buffer when the audio buffer is created;

an audio buffer configuration object instantiated according to the audio buffer configuration file;

a software component comprising computer-executable instructions encoded on one or more computer-readable storage media that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause request of the audio buffer having a configuration that corresponds to the configuration information maintained in the audio buffer configuration file, the audio buffer being created from the audio buffer configuration object to include at least a first audio effect resource and a second audio effect resource;

the first audio effect resource of the audio buffer being configured to receive audio data from an audio data source and modify the audio data to generate modified audio data that can be routed to at least one additional audio buffer; and

the second audio effect resource of the audio buffer being configured to receive the modified audio data from the first audio effect resource and further modify the modified audio data to generate a modified audio data output of the audio buffer.

19. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer is created from the audio buffer configuration object and is configured to receive a stream of the audio data from the audio data source.

20. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer is duplicated from the audio buffer configuration object when the audio buffer is created.

21. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration object has an interface that is callable by the software component, and wherein the software component is further configured to call a clone method of the interface to create the audio buffer.

22. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio buffer identifier to uniquely identify the audio buffer in the audio generation system, and further includes an audio buffer type identifier to identify a type of the audio buffer.

23. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes a logical bus identifier to uniquely identify one or more logical buses that correspond to the audio buffer, an individual logical bus configured to stream the audio data to the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created.

24. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio buffer type identifier to identify that the audio buffer be created as a sink-in audio buffer configured to receive a stream of the audio data from the audio data source.

25. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio buffer type identifier to identify that the audio buffer be created as a mix-in audio buffer configured to receive one or more streams of additional audio data from one or more audio buffers.

26. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio buffer channels identifier to identify a number of logical audio data communication paths in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created.

27. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes a volume parameter to identify an initial volume setting for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created.

28. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes a stereo pan parameter to identify an initial stereo pan setting for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is instantiated.

29. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes:

a position parameter to identify an initial three-dimensional position for the audio data processed in the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created; and

three-dimensional parameters to process the audio data received in the audio buffer.

30. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created, the one or more audio effect resources configured to process the audio data received in the audio buffer.

31. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created, the audio effects list including:

an audio effect identifier to uniquely identify an audio effect resource; and

an audio effect type identifier to identify how the audio effect resource is configured to process the audio data received in the audio buffer.

32. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration file includes an audio effects list to identify the one or more audio effect resources instantiated as components of the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created, the audio effects list including:

an audio effect identifier to uniquely identify first audio effect resource;

an audio effect type identifier to identify how the first audio effect resource is configured to process the audio data received in the audio buffer; and

an input audio buffer identifier to identify the at least one additional audio buffer that receives a stream of the modified audio data from the first audio effect resource.

33. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration object includes an audio effect resource instantiated as a programming object having an interface that is callable by the software component, the programming object configured to implement software resources to modify the audio data received by the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created.

34. An audio generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein the audio buffer configuration object includes an audio effect resource instantiated as a programming object having an interface that is callable by the software component, the programming object configured to manage hardware resources to modify the audio data received by the audio buffer when the audio buffer is created.

35. One or more computer-readable storage media encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing-based device, cause acts to be performed for creating an audio buffer in an audio generation system, the acts comprising:

instantiating an audio buffer configuration object;

loading configuration information maintained in an audio buffer configuration file into the audio buffer configuration object, the audio buffer configuration file including configuration information for one or more audio effect resources that are instantiated as components of an audio buffer when the audio buffer is created;

receiving a request to route a stream of audio data to the audio buffer having a configuration that corresponds to the configuration information maintained in the audio buffer configuration file;

creating the audio buffer by duplicating the audio buffer configuration object to include at least a first audio effect resource and a second audio effect resource;

modifying the audio data with the first audio effect resource to generate modified audio data that is routed to at least one additional audio buffer that generates an additional modified audio data output, and the modified audio data routed to the second audio effect resource in the audio buffer; and

further modifying the modified audio data with the second audio effect resource to generate a modified audio data output of the audio buffer.

36. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing-based device, cause performance of an act comprising instantiating the one or more audio effect resources as individual component objects of the audio buffer configuration object when loading the configuration information.

37. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein loading the configuration information includes instantiating at least one of the audio effect resources as a component object of the audio buffer configuration object, the audio effect resource being instantiated according to the configuration information.

38. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing-based device, cause performance of acts comprising:

combining the modified audio data output from the audio buffer with the additional modified audio data output from the at least one additional audio buffer in an output mixing component that generates a stream of combined modified audio data; and

communicating the stream of combined modified audio data to an audio rendering component that produces an audio rendition corresponding to the combined modified audio data.

39. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing-based device, cause performance an act comprising receiving the stream of audio data from a second audio buffer.

40. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing-based device, cause performance of an act comprising receiving the stream of audio data from an audio effect resource in a second audio buffer.

41. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein instantiating the audio buffer configuration object includes instantiating the audio buffer configuration object with an interface that is callable by a software component of the audio generation system to request creating the audio buffer.

42. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein creating the audio buffer includes the audio buffer having an audio buffer identifier to uniquely identify the audio buffer in the audio generation system.

43. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein creating the audio buffer includes the audio buffer corresponding to one or more logical buses that stream the audio data to the audio buffer.

44. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein creating the audio buffer includes the audio buffer having one or more logical audio data communication paths to receive one or more streams of the audio data.