Virtual Sound (SSPressing-Vound ) is based on experience gained in the DiscoSound project. Specifically, that project focused on the development of sound control and reproduction systems in local environments for distributed acoustic networks. Also high performance algorithmic solutions based on general-purpose multicore and manycore hardware platforms were addressed. Those results are extended to the objectives of Smart Sound Processing for the Digital Living project. In particular, this project deals with the design of smart sound systems based on distributed and collaborative nodes in urban and domestic environments, and algorithms that solve algebraic problems in a centralized or distributed manner are considered as well.

(A) Centralized and (b) distribued ASN.

The main aim is to develop sound interaction systems that contribute to the well-being of people at home, in the workplace, in the place of entertainment and in the city.

The sound interaction systems designed are displayed in schematic form as a network of nodes comprised of acoustic sensors and actuators. The physical layer of the network comprises: 1) an acoustic network dependent on the basic principles of sound propagation, and 2) a communication ad-hoc network. These two layers are driven by an upper level, which manages the data provided by the lower layers, along with other relevant data (type of environment, type of application, sensor and actuator location, etc.). Management is understood in the sense of data storage, processing, re-sending and analysis, and decision making as well. The design of smart acoustic systems when the network is provided with capacity for analyzing, making decisions and proper management of resources, poses a novel challenge. The Acoustic Sensor Network (ASN) is comprised of nodes that are linked to sensor and actuators located in positions dependent on the application. It is a matter of priority to determine the information to share among the nodes and how to use it. The aim is to identify relevant paramenters, to obtain tools and design criteria in order to optimize the sound systems for the different ULL and HLL applications.

Acoustic sensor network with ring topology.