18499455. AUDIO ZOOMING simplified abstract (Nokia Technologies Oy)

AUDIO ZOOMING

Organization Name

Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventor(s)

Miikka Tapani Vilermo of Tampere (FI)

[[:Category:Jussi Artturi Lepp�nen of Tampere (FI)|Jussi Artturi Lepp�nen of Tampere (FI)]][[Category:Jussi Artturi Lepp�nen of Tampere (FI)]]

Arto Juhani Lehtiniemi of Tampere (FI)

AUDIO ZOOMING - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18499455 titled 'AUDIO ZOOMING

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a system for audio zooming with variable latency based on the distance of an audio source from a user device.

• The apparatus determines the proximity of an audio source to a user device.
• Based on the distance, the system selects either a first audio zooming process (if the source is close) or a second audio zooming process (if the source is far).
• The second audio zooming process has a higher latency than the first process.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in:

• Video conferencing systems to enhance audio quality based on the location of the speaker.
• Virtual reality environments to adjust audio focus depending on the user's position.

Problems Solved

• Ensures optimal audio quality by adjusting the zooming process based on the distance of the audio source.
• Reduces latency for audio sources in close proximity to the user device.

Benefits

• Improved audio experience for users in various scenarios.
• Efficient use of resources by adjusting the zooming process dynamically.

Potential Commercial Applications

• Audio equipment manufacturers could integrate this technology into their products for enhanced user experience.
• Communication software developers could implement this feature to improve audio quality in their applications.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of audio beamforming technology in microphone arrays to focus on specific sound sources. However, the variable latency aspect based on distance may be a unique feature in this patent application.

How does the system determine the distance of the audio source from the user device?

The patent application does not specify the method used for distance calculation. It would be interesting to know if it relies on signal strength, location data, or other factors.

What are the specific use cases where the second audio zooming process with higher latency would be preferred?

The application mentions that the second process is used when the audio source is far from the user device, but it does not elaborate on the scenarios where this would be beneficial. It would be helpful to understand the practical implications of this decision.

Original Abstract Submitted

Examples of the disclosure relate to audio zooming with variable latency. In examples of the disclosure an apparatus is configured to determine if an audio source is within a given distance of a user device and select an audio zooming process for the audio source based on whether or not the audio source is within the given distance of the user device. The audio zooming process is selected such that, if the audio source is within the given distance of the user device a first audio zooming process is used and if the audio source is not within the given distance of the user device a second audio zooming process is used. The second audio zooming process has a higher latency than the first audio zooming process.