How Audio Systems Prioritize Sounds for Better Playback
This patent describes how audio systems can sort sounds into important and less important categories, then use different processing power for each to make complex audio, like movie soundtracks, sound better on various speakers.
Original patent title: “Methods and systems for rendering audio based on priority”
This patent describes how audio systems can sort sounds into important and less important categories, then use different processing power for each to make complex audio, like movie soundtracks, sound better on various speakers. Granted to Dolby Laboratories Licensing in 2023 with 10 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for an audio system to handle complex audio efficiently. It receives an "input audio bitstream" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) that contains both "static channel-based audio" (like traditional stereo or surround sound tracks) and at least one "dynamic object" (individual sounds that can move, like a buzzing bee or a gunshot). Each dynamic object has a "priority value." The system then checks this priority value against a "priority threshold value" to decide if the dynamic object is "low-priority" or "high-priority." High-priority objects, like a character's dialogue, are sent to a "second rendering process" (Claim 1) that uses more powerful resources, such as a processor with "increased memory bandwidth" (Claim 5). Low-priority objects, like background ambient sounds, go to a "first rendering process" (Claim 1) that uses different, potentially less demanding, memory processing. The static channel-based audio is processed separately. After rendering, the audio can go through "post-processing" (Claim 2), including "virtualization" (Claim 4) to make sounds seem like they're coming from above, even on speakers without height channels, like a soundbar.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Audio systems that do not classify dynamic audio objects based on a priority value.
- Systems that process all dynamic audio objects using the same rendering process or memory resources.
- Audio rendering where static channel-based audio is processed dependently on dynamic object classification.
- Systems that do not include dynamic audio objects alongside channel-based audio in the input bitstream.
- Systems that do not perform virtualization for height cues on limited-height speakers.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The core innovation is intelligently assigning different processing resources based on the *priority* of individual dynamic audio elements. By dedicating more powerful processing to crucial sounds and less to background elements, the system can achieve high-quality immersive audio efficiently without needing a supercomputer for every playback device.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Dolby Atmos enabled soundbars
Home theater receivers with object-based audio support
Streaming services delivering adaptive audio content (e.g., Netflix, Apple TV+)
Gaming consoles with advanced audio engines
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Modern immersive audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, use many individual "audio objects" in addition to traditional channels. This patent provides a way to manage the computational load of these complex soundtracks, ensuring that the most important sounds are always rendered with the highest fidelity, especially on devices with limited processing power. This helps deliver a consistent, high-quality audio experience across various playback systems, from full home theaters to compact soundbars.
Filed
November 24, 2021
Granted
September 19, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp. itself is the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → and a leader in this field. Companies like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio integrate Dolby's adaptive audio technologies into their soundbars and home theater systems. Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ deliver content using these advanced audio formats.
Market impact
This technology helps enable the widespread adoption of immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos by making them more efficient to process. It allows manufacturers to create more affordable sound systems that can still deliver a premium 3D audio experience, even with limited hardware. This has driven innovation in home entertainment and streaming audio, making advanced sound accessible to more consumers.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for an audio system to handle complex audio efficiently. It receives an "input audio bitstream" (Claim 1) that contains both "static channel-based audio" (like traditional stereo or surround sound tracks) and at least one "dynamic object" (individual sounds that can move, like a buzzing bee or a gunshot). Each dynamic object has a "priority value." The system then checks this priority value against a "priority threshold value" to decide if the dynamic object is "low-priority" or "high-priority." High-priority objects, like a character's dialogue, are sent to a "second rendering process" (Claim 1) that uses more powerful resources, such as a processor with "increased memory bandwidth" (Claim 5). Low-priority objects, like background ambient sounds, go to a "first rendering process" (Claim 1) that uses different, potentially less demanding, memory processing. The static channel-based audio is processed separately. After rendering, the audio can go through "post-processing" (Claim 2), including "virtualization" (Claim 4) to make sounds seem like they're coming from above, even on speakers without height channels, like a soundbar.
The clever bit
The core innovation is intelligently assigning different processing resources based on the *priority* of individual dynamic audio elements. By dedicating more powerful processing to crucial sounds and less to background elements, the system can achieve high-quality immersive audio efficiently without needing a supercomputer for every playback device.
What it does not cover
- Audio systems that do not classify dynamic audio objects based on a priority value.
- Systems that process all dynamic audio objects using the same rendering process or memory resources.
- Audio rendering where static channel-based audio is processed dependently on dynamic object classification.
- Systems that do not include dynamic audio objects alongside channel-based audio in the input bitstream.
- Systems that do not perform virtualization for height cues on limited-height speakers.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$34K – $108K
Midpoint $68K · 15.1 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
10 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Seefeldt, A. J., Lando, J. B., & Sanchez, F. (2023). How Audio Systems Prioritize Sounds for Better Playback (U.S. Patent No. 11,765,535). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11765535/methods-and-systems-for-rendering-audio-based-on-priority
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Audio Systems Prioritize Sounds for Better Playback cover?
This patent describes how audio systems can sort sounds into important and less important categories, then use different processing power for each to make complex audio, like movie soundtracks, sound better on various speakers.
Who owns patent US 11765535?
Dolby Laboratories Licensing owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 24, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Modern immersive audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, use many individual "audio objects" in addition to traditional channels. This patent provides a way to manage the computational load of these complex soundtracks, ensuring that the most important sounds are always rendered with the highest fidelity, especially on devices with limited processing power. This helps deliver a consistent, high-quality audio experience across various playback systems, from full home theaters to compact soundbars.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Audio systems that do not classify dynamic audio objects based on a priority value.
Same assignee
More from Dolby Laboratories Licensing
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