System and method for control of audio field based on position of user
First Claim
1. A system for audio reproduction comprising:
- means for obtaining one or more audio signals that are representative of sounds occurring at a first location;
means for communicating the audio signals from the first location to a second location of a person;
means for determining a position of the head of the person in at least two dimensions at the second location by imaging the person; and
plural means for reproducing an audio field at the second location from the audio signals, wherein sounds emitted by each means for reproducing are controlled based on the position of the head of the person, wherein the plural means for reproducing are arranged spaced apart and directed toward a center and wherein a particular one of the audio signals applied to a particular one of the means for reproducing is time delayed based on the position of the person to maintain equal arrival times of the sounds to the person as the person moves around to different locations at the second location, wherein a perceived volume of the sound by the person is equal and independent of the position of the head of the person as the person moves around the second location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for control of an audio field based on the position of the user. In one embodiment, a system and a method for audio reproduction are provided. One or more audio signals are obtained that are representative of sounds occurring at a first location. The audio signals are communicated from the first location to a second location of a person. A position of the head of the person is determined in at least two dimensions at the second location by obtaining at least one image of the person. An audio field is reproduced at the second location from the audio signals, wherein sounds emitted by each means for reproducing are controlled based on the position of the head of the person. This may include controlling the volume of reproduction by each of a plurality of sound reproductions means based on the position of the head of the person. In another embodiment, delay associated with of reproduction may be controlled based on the position of the head of the person.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for audio reproduction comprising:
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means for obtaining one or more audio signals that are representative of sounds occurring at a first location; means for communicating the audio signals from the first location to a second location of a person; means for determining a position of the head of the person in at least two dimensions at the second location by imaging the person; and plural means for reproducing an audio field at the second location from the audio signals, wherein sounds emitted by each means for reproducing are controlled based on the position of the head of the person, wherein the plural means for reproducing are arranged spaced apart and directed toward a center and wherein a particular one of the audio signals applied to a particular one of the means for reproducing is time delayed based on the position of the person to maintain equal arrival times of the sounds to the person as the person moves around to different locations at the second location, wherein a perceived volume of the sound by the person is equal and independent of the position of the head of the person as the person moves around the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for audio reproduction comprising:
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obtaining one or more audio signals that are representative of sounds occurring at a first location; communicating the audio signals from the first location to a second location of a person; determining a position of the head of the person in at least two dimensions at the second location by imaging the person; reproducing an audio field at the second location from the audio signals, wherein sounds emitted by each of plural means for reproducing are controlled based on the position of the head of the person, wherein a particular one of the audio signals is multiplied by a factor related to the position to determine a desired signal level for the particular one of the audio signals and when the desired signal level is substantially different from a current signal level gradually adjusting the current signal level toward the desired signal level; and modifying the audio signals to achieve a time delay of the sounds emitted by the plural means for reproducing to maintain equal arrival times of the sounds to the person as the person moves around to different locations at the second location, wherein the audio signals applied to the plural means for reproducing are multiplied by a ratio of a horizontal distance between the plural means for reproducing and the head of the person to a horizontal distance between the plural means for reproducing and a center. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A telepresence system comprising:
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a display booth having a plurality of cameras for obtaining images of a person within the display booth; a computer system for determining a position of the head of the person in at least two dimensions from the images of the person; and a plurality of speakers for reproducing an audio field at the display booth, wherein the audio field is controlled based on the position of the head of the person, wherein the plurality of speakers are arranged spaced apart and directed toward a center and wherein audio signals applied to the plurality of speakers are multiplied by a ratio of a horizontal distance between the plurality of speakers and the head of the person to a horizontal distance between the plurality of speakers for reproducing and the center. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification