WO2018202948A1

WO2018202948A1 - Systems, method and computer program product for controlling a loudspeaker system

Info

Publication number: WO2018202948A1
Application number: PCT/FI2018/050316
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aki Mäkivirta; Jussi Tikkanen; Juha Urhonen; Kari Pöyhönen
Original assignee: Genelec Oy
Current assignee: Genelec Oy
Priority date: 2017-05-03
Filing date: 2018-05-02
Publication date: 2018-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-03

Abstract

The invention relates to a server system, a customer system, a method, and a computer software product for controlling a loudspeaker system. The server system comprises communication means and processing means, whereby the communication means are arranged to receive over a network connection first data depicting the acoustic operation of the loudspeaker system from several customer computers connected to different loudspeaker systems, the processing means are arranged to store the said first data and/or to use the said first data for computing second data containing performance data or settings data of each loudspeaker system, and the communication means are arranged to send the said first data and/or the said second data over a network connection to a customer computer.

Description

Systems, method and computer program product for controlling a loudspeaker system

Field of invention

The invention relates to audio systems. In particular, the invention relates to the control of loudspeaker systems, especially to a server system, a customer system, a method, and a computer software product for controlling a loudspeaker system.

Background to the invention

Loudspeaker systems can be adjusted by using acoustic response data measured with the aid of the loudspeaker system in the operating environment of the system. The aim is to find acoustically the optimal setting parameters, which can be used in the loudspeaker system. Systems are known, in which the loudspeaker system is connected to a local computer, which comprises computation software for computing the settings data. A problem with these systems is that sufficient and up-to-date software must be installed in the computer. There are several operating systems that have to be supported and as operating systems develop continually and change frequently, as much as a few times each year, the maintenance of a computation service installation in a local machine demands continual investment to update the software to be compatible with the operating systems. Maintenance leads to costs and takes resources from the development and improvement of the functionality itself. On the other hand, optimization cannot be done at all using machines with an

unsupported operating system. An optimization program also demands a great deal of space and computation resources in the customer's computer. Thus the power of the user's computer affects the time required for computation.

There is also the problem of retaining the settings of the loudspeaker system when equipment and software change. If adjustments must be made again, e.g., when equipment is updated, the system's acoustic performance may also change, which is not desirable from the user's point of view. There is thus a need for improved solutions for controlling loudspeaker systems.

Summary of the invention

The system is intended to solve the aforementioned problems. In particular, the aim is to create new types of solution for controlling loudspeaker systems. One aim is to create solutions, using which the settings and/or performance data of loudspeaker systems can be controlled, and especially defined more efficiently than previously.

The aims are achieved according to various viewpoints of the invention, as is described in greater detail in the following.

The server system according to the invention for controlling several loudspeaker systems comprises communication means and processing means, when

- the communication means are arranged to receive over a network connection first data depicting the acoustic operation of a loudspeaker system from several customer computers connected to different loudspeaker systems,

- the processing means are arranged to store the said first data and/or use the said first data to compute second data containing the performance data or settings data of each loudspeaker system, and

- the communication means are arranged to send the said firs data and/or the said second data over the network connection to the customer computer.

The server system is typically a software system, so that the communication means and computation means are in the form of program code stored on a memory medium. The memory medium can be operationally connected to a processor, which is able to execute the said program code.

The customer system, according to the invention, for a loudspeaker system comprises digital data processing means, which are operationally connected, or can be connected to a loudspeaker system, and communication means for sending and receiving digital data over a network connection, when - the processing means are arranged to produce and/or store first data depicting the acoustic operation of a loudspeaker system,

- the communication means are arranged to send the first data to the server system over a network connection,

- the communication means are arranged to receive the first data or second data computed on the basis of the first data from the server system, and

- the processing means are arranged to store the received first or second data and to use the first or second data in order to adjust the loudspeaker system.

The customer system is typically a software system, when the said processing means and the said communications means are in the form of program code stored on memory medium, which program code can be executed by a computer.

The entire system according to the invention for controlling loudspeaker systems comprises a server system like that described above, typically installed on a server platform connected to the internet, and one or more customer systems, which are operationally connected to the sever system by means of an internet connection.

In the method according to the invention for controlling a loudspeaker system, i.e. in particular for adjusting a loudspeaker system, in order to determine its performance or to store its settings data,

- a network connection is formed to a customer system, which is connected to the loudspeaker system,

- first data, which depicts the acoustic operation of the loudspeaker system, is received from the customer system,

- the first data is stored and/or second data is computed on the basis of the first data, and contains

- settings data of the loudspeaker system, which is forwarded to the customer system, where they are stored to adjust the loudspeaker system, or

- performance data of the loudspeaker system, which are forwarded over a network connection or are stored to be available over a network connection. The computer software product according to the invention, stored on a data medium, for controlling a loudspeaker system comprises program code to be executed by a computer, which is arranged

- to control the loudspeaker system in order to perform acoustic response

measurements, or to read and store measured response data,

- to store settings data of the loudspeaker system for the use of the loudspeaker system in order to determine its acoustic operation,

- to send response data and/or settings data to the server system over a

network connection,

- to receive from the server system settings data and/or performance data

depicting the loudspeaker system, and

- to store settings data received from the server system for the use of the

loudspeaker system in order to adjust its acoustic operation.

More specifically, this consideration is characterized by what is stated in the independent Claims.

Significant advantages are achieved with the aid of the invention.

Particularly the connection of the control software of the loudspeaker system to a network server in the manner described above makes possible advantages relating to the operation and maintenance of the software and to the reliability and quality of the operation. By using cloud services computation can be maintained using a single computer and software platform. Thus, both resources of the loudspeaker-system supplier are released for the development of the quality of functions and service and the user's maintenance work in the case of updating equipment and customer software is also reduced. In the field of audio technology, and especially in the area of monitoring loudspeakers information relating to room acoustics has traditionally been measured, stored, and analysed using means on the location. The present invention permits the storing and analysis and use of information in a new way, independently of local means. Thus, for example, the computational power of the customer's equipment does not substantially affect the time required for the computation service. Control software can thus be brought to devices with lower computation power and even to mobile devices.

With the aid of embodiments of the invention, a user of the loudspeaker system can be provided with significant and in-depth additional information on the customer's audio system and room acoustics with possible improvement recommendations, without manual work. On the other hand, the invention also permits customer consultation by the system supplier on the basis of customer data collected in the network service. Thus, the accuracy of the consultation improves and the service is accelerated.

The dependent Claims relate to some selected embodiments of the invention.

In some embodiments, the server system's communication means are arranged to receive acoustic response data measured with the aid of the loudspeaker system. On the basis of the response data, the computation means are arranged to compute settings data of the loudspeaker system or performance data of the loudspeaker system and the communication means are further arranged to send these to the customer computer.

In some embodiments, the server system's communication means are arranged to receive a three-dimensional geometric model of the loudspeaker system's environment, and the computation means are arranged to compute, on the basis of the model, the loudspeaker system's settings data, performance data, or both as the said second data. Further, the communication means are arranged to send the said second data to the customer computer.

In some embodiments, the server system's computation means are arranged to perform the said computation automatically after receiving the first data.

In some embodiments, the communication means are arranged to send the said second data to the customer computer, to customer software, by means of email, or through a website. In some embodiments, the server system is arranged to store the received first data, which can be retrieved afterwards from the server system back to the customer system or elsewhere. According to one embodiment, the system comprises a user- control system, through which the first data can be retrieved or it can be used with the aid of the computation means by the action of the user.

In some embodiments, the customer system's processing means are arranged to produce the said first data by producing acoustic signals with the aid of the said loudspeaker system, by measuring the response of the acoustic signals in the environment in question, and by creating the said first data at least partly using the measured response. On the other hand, previously measured and stored response data can also be read for use by the customer software.

In some embodiments, the first data comprises a three-dimensional geometric model of the loudspeaker system's environment. Further, the server system is arranged to use the model for computing settings data or performance data, using suitable acoustic algorithms.

In some embodiments, the received first data and/or second data comprise the settings data of the loudspeaker system and the processing means are further arranged to transmit settings data to the said loudspeaker system in order to change its acoustic operation. Thus, the settings data previously stored (back-up copied) in the server system can be re-used in the customer system or alternatively the new settings data computed by the server system can be introduced in the server system.

In some embodiments, the second data received from the server system comprises performance data computed on the basis of the said first data and the system further comprises means for displaying the said performance data visually. Thus, the server system can provide an automatic performance analysis for the benefit of the user of the loudspeaker system.

In some embodiments, the first data comprises, in addition, identifier data of the loudspeaker system and/or the customer system. Identifier data can be used to support computation, presentation of the data, or communication. Thus, it is also possible to ensure that the sent first and received first or second data relate to the same loudspeaker system.

In some embodiments, the customer system's communications means are arranged, after sending the first data and before receiving the second data, to receive from the network server temporary data computed on the basis of the first data, which depicts the progression of the computation of the second data on the network server.

In the following, these and other embodiments and advantages of the invention are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 shows the components of the present entire system, according to one embodiment.

Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of a solution according to one embodiment of the invention, in which the optimal settings data of the loudspeaker system are defined by a cloud server. Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a solution according to one embodiment of the invention, in which the performance of the loudspeaker system is defined by a cloud server.

Detailed description of embodiments

Definitions The term loudspeaker system refers broadly to audio systems, particularly active loudspeaker systems. Particularly it refers to systems comprising at least one active loudspeaker and typically at least two active loudspeakers. The loudspeaker can be an open space loudspeaker or a headphone loudspeaker. The loudspeaker system can be, for example, an active audio-monitoring system, such as a studio monitoring system. The loudspeaker system can comprise a microphone for measuring the response of loudspeakers. The loudspeaker system can also comprise a control unit system for controlling a loudspeaker and optionally a microphone and connecting it to a sound source.

The term network or cloud service refers to a data service and computation service, which is located behind a WAN [Wide Area Network) network connection, typically behind an internet connection, on a network or cloud server.

Processing means and communication means refer to software, equipment, or a combination of software and equipment, which is arranged to perform tasks, which are referred to at the time. Especially they refer to program code stored on a memory medium, which can be executed by a computer.

Response data refer to acoustic measurement data, which has been obtained by producing acoustic signals using a loudspeaker system and measuring their response using a microphone. Response data can in particular comprise data losslessly stored from the output of a microphone, which has been obtained as response to excitation signals on several different frequencies.

The term settings data refers to data affecting the acoustic reproduction of a loudspeaker system. Settings data can comprise, for example, equalisation data and/or calibration data of loudspeakers, especially so-called normal calibration data. The settings data can be defined either using a customer computer, a computation server, or elsewhere. Settings data typically comprise several settings parameters. In the present document, particularly a solution is disclosed, in which the settings data are defined using a computation server and are transferred to a customer computer, but the invention is also suitable for using settings data defined in other ways, for instance, for back-up copying, for starting up, or for exploitation in the computation of the performance data of a system.

The term performance data refers to parameters, graphs, data series, or other data, defined on the basis of response information, with the aid of, for example,

standardized definition methods, or other standard definition methods, which data depict the performance of the loudspeaker system using specific settings data and used in a specific space.

The term identifier data refers to data depicting or individualizing a loudspeaker system or control equipment or software, such as model, type, or serial number data of loudspeakers, or corresponding data for control equipment, or other data partly or entirely individualizing the said devices or software, or data derived from these.

The term "first data" refers, depending on the embodiment, to response data, geometric modelling data of the loudspeaker-system room, or settings data of the loudspeaker system, or combinations of these, as well as optionally to identifier data further relating to them. In other words, the first data depict the acoustic operation of the loudspeaker system in the target space, in the form of response data, room- modelling data, or settings data, i.e. so-called acoustic environment data.

The term "second data" refers, depending on the embodiment, to the settings data or performance data of the loudspeaker system, or to a combination of them, as well as optionally to identifier data relating to them.

The term "control" of the loudspeaker system refers broadly, and particularly in the present document to more specifically defined collection, transfer, analysis, and startup operations of data relating to the loudspeaker system.

Description of embodiments In the following, several different detailed ways of exploiting the present system are described. These are the computation of the calibration of the loudspeaker system (settings data) as a cloud service, automation consultation data or a document (performance data) to be supplied by the user of the loudspeaker system, and backup copying of the settings data of the system. To start with, Figure 1 shows the components typically belonging to an entire system, i.e. a customer computer 10 that is operationally connected to the loudspeaker system 12, and a computation server 16 and a data store 18 connected to it. In the customer computer 10 there is customer software and in the computation server there is server software, which are connected to each other over an internet connection 14.

Computation of the calibration of a loudspeaker system as a cloud service (settings data)

With reference to Figure 2, according to one embodiment, the measured (Stage 22A, 22B) response data of the loudspeaker system are sent (Stage 24) through the internet to the computation server. Having received the data, the computation server automatically computes (Stage 26) the optimized settings for the loudspeaker system in question, using computation algorithms. The settings typically contain several settings parameters. After computation, the settings data (second data) are sent (Stage 28) to the customer's computer, where they can be used (Stage 30).

Along with the response data, identifier data can be sent, such individualizing information on the loudspeaker system and/or information on its type, when it is possible, for example, to select the correct computation algorithm for the system in question.

The response measurements can be performed by the user beforehand and the response data thus obtained entered for use by the customer program. On the other hand, the response measurement can be performed and the response data stored also when initiated by the present system. One example of a known response

measurement and adjustment made on its basis is disclosed in publication US

2009/0180632 Al.

The response data typically comprise at least unprocessed measurement data from the microphone used in the response measurement. In addition system settings and/or identifier data are added to the response data. The identifier data can contain, e.g. an identifier individualizing the system, type data on and/or customer-friendly names of the loudspeakers used, data on the measurement microphones, and/or other data facilitating communications. Once the response data have been stored for the use of the system, they are sent as a basis for computation to the computation server (upload-stage). When the

computation server has received the response data, computation starts and produces optimized settings for the loudspeakers (computation-stage). After this, the settings data are sent to the customer's computer (download-stage). In the final stage, the user's customer program begins to use the updated settings.

Once the original response data are transferred from the customers' computer, among others, all corrections to the impulse response estimate and the related microphone response etc. can be made as part of the cloud service. Thus, in the cloud service, the computation methods can be made more accurate and developed continuously, without needing to update the customer software.

The cloud-service alternative described can be part of optimization alternative to be done in the optimization implementation of the settings in the customer computer provided by the customer software, or it can be the only form of optimization provided by the customer software. In the latter case the size of the customer software is reduced considerably and the size of the installation package diminishes to a fraction of the size traditionally required. Thus the download time of the customer software is significantly shortened.

In addition to, or in place of the response data it is possible to exploit in the

computation process a three-dimensional geometric model of the room in which the loudspeaker system is used or in which it is planned to be used. In addition, the model can comprise material data or other acoustically significant data.

Automatic consultation information or document to be supplied to the customer (performance data)

With reference to Figure 3, according to one embodiment the measured (Stage 32A, 32B) response data of the loudspeaker system are sent (Stage 34) through the internet to the computation server. When it receives the data, the computation server automatically determines (Stage 36) the loudspeaker system's performance using previously defined estimation criteria. After computation, the performance data (second data) are sent to the customer or otherwise made available (Stage 38). The performance data can be delivered to the user of the loudspeaker system through the customer software or by email, or they can be retrieved, for example, through a website.

Thus in this embodiment, with the aid of response data, a mechanical "statement" is produced of the performance of the customer's loudspeaker system, i.e. of its sound reproduction ability and/or the acoustic properties of the listening room.

The computation server can be used to analyse the response data, for example, by comparing it with the standards and recommendations of the sound-reproduction field (e.g. ITU BS.1116-1). The result of the analysis is, for example a document containing performance data, in which there is a plain-text statement/comparison result and related analysis graphics, such as measurement graphs in a visually examinable form. On the other hand, the performance data can also be supplied as raw data in a suitable form.

In the customer software, at its simplest there can be a user interface component, selecting which starts the performance process, and optionally also the response- measurement process itself.

The response data and optionally the other identifier data relating to the user's system are sent to the cloud service. According to one embodiment, the server software detects that the statement request and the data file have arrived and makes on its basis processing, in which the necessary analysis data are formed from the measurement data, compared to the selected standards/recommendations, and an automatic document is created, to which the data are attached, for example, as figures and graphs, and statements relating to them are produced on the meeting of the standards/recommendations and sound quality with proposals for improvment.

The performance data can be sent back to the customer either through a mechanism contained in the customer program or possibly as email, or by storing the

performance in the cloud service's database, from where the customer can, for example using a website user interface retrieve the output or results using a personal identifier. Storing in the cloud service's database minimizes the data network traffic that is invisible to the customer. The identifier that is possibly needed can be returned to the customer either through the data-transfer functionality of the customer software or as email. The creation and use of the of the identifier can also be invisible to the customer and the identifier can be formed, for example, on the basis of the identifier data provided by the computer used by the customer (e.g.

processor ID, other ID data readable from the system, operating system, user data) and in this way an analysis request made using a specific computer can be read using the same computer (but not using other computers).

According to one embodiment, the completed analyses remain in the memory of the customer program, so that the customer can return to them later. For this purpose the customer program can maintain, for example, a page, in which there is a list of analyses made in and received from the network service. According to one embodiment, the computation server is arranged to make performance analyses on at least two different levels according to the user requests through the user interface of the customer software. The selection can be, for example, a basic analysis and a complete analysis.

Back-up copying settings data to the cloud

According to one embodiment, the network server is used for the back-up copying of the loudspeaker system's settings data. In addition to acoustic settings data, back-up copies can also be made of other system settings. The settings data are stored conventionally in the customer's computer that contains the customer software communicating with the server software. Thus the back-up copying of the settings data to the cloud server is simple and the customer can optionally return the settings data, for example, in the case of an equipment breakdown or if the equipment is changed. Thus the settings and especially the data linked to the room can be quickly obtained for use, without recalibrating the system. General

Data transfer between the customer software and the server software can be boosted by packing the response data, the settings data, and/or the performance data. For example, packing the response data can reduce the data-transfer need by up to 50%.

The server system can be divided into several different services or servers, which take care of different parts of the process, such as the reception, processing, storage, or sending of the data.

The intermediate results of the computation of the progression data, settings data and/or performance data, taking place on the computation server can also be sent to the customer software while computation is still under way. For example,

intermediate results of the optimization of the settings data can be sent to the customer software and displayed as a graph on the customer computer. On the other hand, for example, the progression data of the process (upload, processing, download) can be displayed, for example, as graphs or percentages.

Data transfer, login to the service, and if desired also the data to be transferred can be protected by cryptographic methods.

In addition to the aforementioned services and embodiments, a customer/server system like that described permits the provision of other services, such as tailored consultation services, such as services relating to a specific product or services relating to specific data properties. The first data sent from the customer system to the server system is then used and utilized in providing the service, and further the second data derived from the first data is sent to the customer.

The embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for the control of monitoring loudspeaker systems, including table/wall/pedestal loudspeaker systems and headphone systems, and particularly the control of active loudspeaker systems.

Claims

1. Server system for controlling several loudspeaker systems, which server system comprises communication means and processing means, whereby

- the communication means are arranged to receive over a network connection first data depicting the acoustic operation of the loudspeaker system from several customer computers connected to different loudspeaker systems,

- the processing means are arranged to store the said first data and/or use the said first data in order to compute second data containing performance data or settings data of each loudspeaker system, and

- the communication means are arranged to send the said first data and/or the said second data over a network connection to the customer computer.

2. Server system according to Claim 1, in which

- the communication means are arranged to receive the first data, which

contains acoustic response data measured with the aid of the loudspeaker system, and

- the computing means are arranged to compute, on the basis of the response data, settings data of the loudspeaker system, as the said second data,

- the communication means are arranged to send the said second data to the customer computer.

3. Server system according to Claim 1 or 2, in which

- the communication means are arranged to receive the first data, which

- the computing means are arranged to compute, on the basis of the response data, performance data of the loudspeaker system, as the said second data,

4. Server system according to any of the above Claims, in which

- the communication means are arranged to receive first data, which contains a geometric model, particularly a three-dimensional geometric model, of the environment of the loudspeaker system, and

- the computing means are arranged to compute, on the basis of the model, settings data and/or performance data of the loudspeaker system, as the said second data,

5. Server system according to any of the above Claims, in which the computing means are arranged to perform the said computation automatically after receiving the first data.

6. Server system according to any of the above Claims, which is arranged to store the said first data and the system comprises a user control system, through which the first data can be retrieved or can be used with the aid of the computing means, by the action of the user.

7. Server system according to any of the above Claims, in which the communication means are arranged to send the said second data to customer software in the customer computer, by means of email or through a website.

8. Server system according to any of the above Claims, in which the communication means and computing means are stored on a memory medium in the form of program code, which memory medium is operationally connected to a processor, which is able to execute the said program code.

9. Customer system for a loudspeaker system, which customer system comprises digital data processing means, which are operationally connected or can be connected to the loudspeaker system, as well as communication means for sending and receiving digital data over a network connection, whereby - the processing means are arranged to produce and/or store first data depicting the acoustic operation of the loudspeaker system,

- the communication means are arranged to send the first data over a network connection to the server system,

- the communication means are arranged to receive the first data, or second data computed on the basis of the first data, from the server system, and

- the processing means are arranged to store the first or second data and to use the first data or the second data in order to adjust the loudspeaker system.

10. Customer system according to Claim 9, in which the processing means are arranged to produce the said first data

- by producing acoustic signals with the aid of the said loudspeaker system,

- by measuring the response of the acoustic signals in the environment in

question,

- by creating the said first data at least partly by using the measured response.

11. Customer system according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the said first data and/or said second data comprises settings data of the loudspeaker system and the processing means are further arranged to transmit the settings data to the said loudspeaker system, in order to alter its acoustic operation.

12. Customer system according to any of the above Claims, in which the said second data comprises performance data computed on the basis of the said first data and the system further comprises means for displaying the said performance data visually.

13. Customer system according to any of the above Claims, in which the said first data comprises a geometric model, particularly a three-dimensional geometric model, of the environment of the loudspeaker system.

14. Customer system according to any of the above Claims, in which the first data comprises, in addition, identifier data of the loudspeaker system and/or the customer system.

15. Customer system according to any of the above Claims, in which the

communication means are arranged, after sending the first data and before receiving the second data, to receive from the network server temporary data computed on the basis of the first data, which depicts the progress of the computation of the second data on the network server.

16. Customer system according to any of the above Claims, in which the said processing means and the said communication means are in the form of program code stored on a memory medium, which program code can be executed on a computer.

17. Control system for loudspeaker systems, which comprises

- a server system according to any of Claims 1 - 8, and

- a customer system according to at least one of Claims 9 - 16, which is

operationally connected to the said server system for sending the said first data to the server system and for receiving the said first and/or second data from the server system.

18. Method for controlling a loudspeaker system, particularly for adjusting a loudspeaker system, in order to determine the performance of the loudspeaker system, or to store its settings data, in which method a network connection is formed to a customer system, which is connected to the loudspeaker system,

first data, which depicts the acoustic operation of the loudspeaker system, is received from the customer system,

the firs data is stored and/or second data is computed on the basis of the first data and contains

- settings data of the loudspeaker system, which is forwarded to the customer system, where they are stored, in order to adjust the said loudspeaker system, or - performance data of the loudspeaker system, which are forwarded over a network connection or stored for retrieval over a network connection.

19. Method according to Claim 18, which is implemented with the aid of a server system according to any of Claims 1 - 8.

20. Computer software product, stored on a data medium, for controlling a

loudspeaker system, which computer software product comprises program code to be executed on a computer, which is arranged

- to control the loudspeaker system in order to perform acoustic response

measurements, or to read response data and store the response data,

- to store settings data of the loudspeaker system for use by the loudspeaker system in order to determine its acoustic operation,

- to send the response data and/or the settings data over a network connection to a server system,

- to receive from the server system settings data and/or performance data

depicting the loudspeaker system, and

- to store the settings data received from the server system for use by the

loudspeaker system in order the adjust its acoustic operation.

21. Computer software product according to Claim 20, which comprises processing means and communication means according to any of Claims 9 - 16.