Sound field control device, sound field control method, program, sound control system and server

• US 9,510,126 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Naoya, Nishiguchi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US14/359,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20140321680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 381/303
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/11 Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field H04S2420/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/304 For headphones

Abstract

A sound field control device according to the present disclosure includes a display target object position information acquisition unit for acquiring position information of a viewer from information obtained by imaging, and a virtual sound source position control unit for controlling a virtual sound source position on the basis of the position information. Thus, it becomes possible to optimally adjust virtual sound source reproduction in consideration of size or orientation of a head. Accordingly, it becomes possible to provide a sound field without unnatural feeling to viewers.

Claims

1. A sound field control device comprising:

circuitry configured to

acquire position information of a display target object corresponding to a sound source;

control a virtual sound source position on the basis of position information of the display target object;

transmit, to an external computer, at least the position information of the display target object; and

receive, from the external computer, a virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object or information generated on the basis of the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor.

2. The sound field control device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

transmit, to the external computer, sound data together with the position information of the display target object, and

receive, from the external computer, sound data that is obtained by correcting the sound data with the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object.

3. A sound field control device comprising:

circuitry configured to

acquire position information of a display target object corresponding to a sound source;

control a virtual sound source position on the basis of position information of the display target object;

transmit, to an external computer, at least the position information of the display target object;

receive, from the external computer, a virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object or information generated on the basis of the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor;

acquire position information of a viewer from information obtained by imaging; and

control the virtual sound source position on the basis of the position information of the display target object and the position information of the viewer.

4. A sound field control device comprising:

circuitry configured to

acquire position information of a display target object corresponding to a sound source;

control a virtual sound source position on the basis of position information of the display target object;

acquire position information of a viewer;

transmit, to an external computer, at least the position information of the display target object and the position information of the viewer;

receive, from the external computer, a virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object and the position information of the viewer or information generated on the basis of the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor; and

control the virtual sound source position on the basis of the position information of the display target object and the position information of the viewer.

5. The sound field control device according to claim 4, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

transmit, to the external computer, sound data together with the position information of the display target object and the position information of the viewer, and

receive, from the external computer, sound data which is obtained by correcting the sound data with the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object and the position information of the viewer.

6. A sound field control method comprising:

acquiring position information of a display target object corresponding to a sound source;

controlling a virtual sound source position on the basis of the position information of the display target object;

transmitting, to an external computer, at least the position information of the display target object; and

receiving, from the external computer, a virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object or information generated on the basis of the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor.

7. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, control the computer to

acquire position information of a display target object corresponding to a sound source;

control a virtual sound source position on the basis of the position information of the display target object;

transmit, to an external computer, at least the position information of the display target object; and

receive, from the external computer, a virtual sound source reproduction correction factor computed on the basis of the position information of the display target object or information generated on the basis of the virtual sound source reproduction correction factor.