Out-of-head localization filter determination system, out-of-head localization filter determination method, and computer readable medium

An out-of-head localization filter determination method in a system comprising:

• an output unit configured to be worn on a user and output sounds to an ear of the user;
• a microphone unit configured to be worn on the ear of the user and pick up the sounds output from the output unit;
• a data storage unit configured to store first preset data related to spatial acoustic transfer characteristics from a sound source to an ear of a person being measured and second preset data related to ear canal transfer characteristics of the ear of the person being measured in association with each other, the data storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of first and second preset data acquired for a plurality of persons being measured, the method comprising:
• an output step for outputting a measurement signal to each output unit worn on the user;
• a signal acquisition step for acquiring a pickup signal when the measurement signal output from the output unit toward the user's ear is picked up by a microphone unit worn on the ear of the user;
• a frequency characteristics acquisition step for converting the sound pickup signal into a frequency domain and acquiring frequency characteristics;
• an extreme value extraction step for extracting a local maximum value and a local minimum value of the frequency characteristics;
• a calculation step for calculating first envelope data which is based on the local maximum value and second envelope data which is based on the local minimum value by interpolating each of the local maximum value and the local minimum value;
• a comparing step for comparing a user feature quantity which is based on the first and second envelope data with each of a plurality of feature quantities which are based on a plurality of pieces of second preset data;
• an extraction step for extracting the first preset data based on a comparison result in the comparing step;
• and
• a determination step for determining a filter in accordance with the extracted first preset data.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an out-of-head localization filter determination method, wherein

• the computer is able to access a data storage unit configured to store first preset data related to spatial acoustic transfer characteristics from a sound source to an ear of a person being measured and second preset data related to ear canal transfer characteristics of the ear of the person being measured in association with each other, the data storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of first and second preset data acquired for a plurality of persons being measured, and
• the out-of-head localization filter determination method comprises:
• an output step for outputting a measurement signal to each output unit worn on a user;
• a signal acquisition step for acquiring a pickup signal when the measurement signal output from the output unit toward the user's ear is picked up by a microphone unit worn on the ear of the user;
• a frequency characteristics acquisition step for converting the sound pickup signal into a frequency domain and acquiring frequency characteristics;
• an extreme value extraction step for extracting a local maximum value and a local minimum value of the frequency characteristics;
• a calculation step for calculating first envelope data which is based on the local maximum value and second envelope data which is based on the local minimum value by interpolating each of the local maximum value and the local minimum value;
• a comparing step for comparing a user feature quantity which is based on the first and second envelope data with each of a plurality of feature quantities which are based on a plurality of pieces of second preset data;
• an extraction step for extracting the first preset data based on a comparison result in the comparing step;
• and
• a determination step for determining a filter in accordance with the extracted first preset data.