A self-configurable, wireless audio system with user-tracking ability

Abstract

Multichannel audio systems are often installed in arbitrary layouts, which are completely different from predefined positions in audio standards Automatic identification techniques for loudspeaker layouts and user locations have been developed for various audio systems, but many of them utilize microphones positioned near the user's side. In this work, we propose a method for constructing smart audio systems that automatically identify loudspeaker layouts and user locations using a microphone embedded in itself. The identification of loudspeaker layout is done under asynchronous condition, in which each loudspeaker is connected via a wireless network with non-identical time references, and a user location is identified using acoustic scattering characteristics of human body.