US 12,002,166 B2
Method and device for communicating a soundscape in an environment
Samuel MacDermot, Salford (GB)
Assigned to INTER IKEA SYSTEMS B.V., Delft (NL)
Filed by Inter IKEA Systems B.V., Delft (NL)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/516,059.
Claims priority of application No. 20205126 (EP), filed on Nov. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0139048 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. G06T 19/00 (2011.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01); H04S 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G06T 19/006 (2013.01) [H04R 3/005 (2013.01); H04S 7/30 (2013.01); H04S 2400/15 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
10. An electronic device comprising:
an array of microphones configured to record a present soundscape of an environment of a real-world indoor scene,
a device configured to capture a digital representation of a physical structure of the environment,
circuitry configured to execute:
a soundscape recording function configured to record a present soundscape of the environment by analyzing sound recorded by the array of microphones,
an empty-area identifying function configured to identify an empty area in the environment from the digital representation of the physical structure of the environment,
a virtual-object selecting function configured to select a virtual object to be placed at the empty area in the environment,
wherein the soundscape recording function is further configured to render an updated soundscape in the environment using the present soundscape and sound-absorbing properties of the selected virtual object,
the electronic device further comprises:
a speaker configured to play the updated soundscape,
a display configured to display the selected virtual object placed at the empty area.