Audio processing in a virtual environment
AssigneeAdept Reality, LLC
InventorsDavid John Smith, Brennan McTernan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The various systems and methods disclosed herein provide an enhanced audio experience in a virtual environment. In some implementations of the system and method for enhancing audio, a user forms a group with one or more desired audio sources in a virtual environment, and audio coming from sources outside of the group are filtered to become less obtrusive. In some implementations, causing non-group audio to become less obtrusive is accomplished by lowering its perceived volume.
Claims11
A method of audio processing in a multi-user virtual environment having a plurality of audio sources, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a group status of a user;
- receiving an audio object at the user;
- classifying the received audio object as a primary audio object or a secondary audio object based upon the determined group status of the user;
- processing the received audio object at a first sound processor if classified as a primary audio object and at a second sound processor if classified as a secondary audio object, wherein the first sound processor applies a first set of filters to audio objects processed therethrough, and the second sound processor applies a second set of filters to audio objects processed therethrough that are different from said first set of filters.
A system for processing audio in a virtual environment comprising:
- a virtual reality apparatus having a control unit, a sensory processing unit, and a non-transitory storage unit having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the control unit and the sensory processing unit, causes the control unit and sensory processing unit to perform at least the following:
- determining a group status of a user;
- receiving an audio object at the user;
- classifying the received audio object as a primary audio object or a secondary audio object based upon the determined group status of the user;
- processing the received audio object at a first sound processor if classified as a primary audio object and at a second sound processor if classified as a secondary audio object, wherein the first sound processor applies a first set of filters to audio objects processed therethrough, and the second sound processor applies a second set of filters to audio objects processed therethrough that are different from said first set of filters.
A method of processing audio in a virtual environment comprising the steps of:
- defining a group status of a user;
- receiving group status and audio output data of an audio object coming from an audio source, wherein the audio output data includes default audio output parameters;
- comparing object class data of the audio object with object class data of the user;
- calculating, at a first sound processor with a first filter, filtered audio output parameters of the audio output data of audio objects having the same object class data as the user;
- calculating, at a second sound processor with a second filter, filtered audio output parameters of the audio output data of audio objects not having the same object class data of the user;
- and
- transmitting the audio output data with filtered audio output parameters to an audio output device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.