The Thirteenth Annual Interactive Audio Conference PROJECT BAR-B-Q 2008 |
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Group Report: Smart Ambient Sound Sensor |
Participants: | |||||||||||||
Kymberly Christman, Maxim |
James Wihardja, Conexant |
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Doug Peeler, Dell |
David Roach, Optimal Sound | ||||||||||||
David Gough, HP | Lloyd Daniel, HP | ||||||||||||
Devon Worrell, Intel | Dan Bogard, IDT | ||||||||||||
Whit Hutson, IDT | Steve Ball, Microsoft | ||||||||||||
Dave Rossum, E-Mu Systems | Keith Kowal, Dolby Labs | ||||||||||||
Facilitator: Scott Snyder, Edge of Reality | |||||||||||||
Goal Problems to Solve
Potential Outcomes
Steps to Implementation
The Problem In addition, modern notebook PCs suffer from the perception and often the reality of poor audio quality. The group identified a number of issues such as speaker physical limitations, poor design practices at many PC OEMs/ODMs, and a lack of a standardized “in air” testing standards. Each audio usage model has implicit expectations which are typically not met on a laptop platform. PCs have not kept up with ‘quality experience’ precedents set by consumer electronic devices, including performance, real-time communications, and content playback. Solution The group envisioned a two stage approach. Stage One would be primarily used by components in the existing audio ecosystem (HDA driver, APOs, & existing digital microphones). The Ambient Sound Sensor would monitor the audio environment either in real time or periodically, and send an audio stream with information on crucial audio characteristics of the audio environment (loudness levels, active frequency bands, etc) with potential for additional metadata. The standards for this audio stream would be driven by the HD Audio working group with input from key stakeholders such as IHVs, audio infrastructure vendors, and APO stakeholders. Issues identified to be solved by the stage one solution include volume control depending on room noise conditions, inverse filtering based on speaker characteristics, and more advanced IHV tools for testing and configuring systems before shipment. Stage Two envisions making the Ambient Audio Sensor Stream available
to the system. The group identified a number of steps needed to be taken,
such as defining an Ambient Sensor Class, which will have different characteristics
then today’s audio endpoints. By making the stream available to
the system we envision a number of additional problems that could be addressed,
such as home stereo tuning through the innovation of third party software
developers. Privacy of captured audio streams can be protected by converting captured data to a form which cannot be reconstructed into a listenable audio stream. This can be accomplished in many ways, including converting into frequency domain information and possibly throwing out the phase information. This conversion can take place at the following points in the system, shown in descending order of security: Government agencies may require capture to be permanently disabled. Cost of implementation and offsetting ROI. How to measure success in business case? Action Items
section 7 |
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