Online Single-Channel Audio-Based Sound Speed Estimation for Robust Multi-Channel Audio Control

2026-02-18

AI Summary

This work addresses the degradation of spatial audio performance caused by mismatches in acoustic propagation models due to variations in sound speed. To resolve this issue without requiring additional calibration or multi-microphone arrays, the paper proposes an online sound speed estimation method that operates with only a single microphone observation. The approach continuously refines its estimate by minimizing the discrepancy between the measured signal and a parameterized acoustic model. This is the first method to enable single-channel, online sound speed tracking in resource-constrained systems. Simulations demonstrate that the technique accurately adapts to diverse input signals and significantly enhances the robustness and performance of sound field control.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Search and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Search
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Neural Spike Coding

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: On-Device user modeling, personalization, and recommendation
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments

Abstract

Robust spatial audio control relies on accurate acoustic propagation models, yet environmental variations, especially changes in the speed of sound, cause systematic mismatches that degrade performance. Existing methods either assume known sound speed, require multiple microphones, or rely on separate calibration, making them impractical for systems with minimal sensing. We propose an online sound speed estimator that operates during general multichannel audio playback and requires only a single observation microphone. The method exploits the structured effect of sound speed on the reproduced signal and estimates it by minimizing the mismatch between the measured audio and a parametric acoustic model. Simulations show accurate tracking of sound speed for diverse input signals and improved spatial control performance when the estimates are used to compensate propagation errors in a sound zone control framework.

Problem

• sound speed estimation
• single-channel audio
• acoustic propagation model
• spatial audio control
• online estimation

Innovation

• sound speed estimation
• single-channel audio
• online estimation
• spatial audio control
• acoustic modeling