A Framework for Context-Aware Acoustic Source Localization

In this paper the state-of-the-art acoustic source localization techniques are overviewed at first, followed by an analysis of the interactive relationship between the performance and various acoustic context related factors. The suitable application scenarios of these techniques are summarized from which one can easily identify the most suitable method for a specific application. It is concluded based on the discussion that generally there is no single method to be omnipotent. Motivated by this conclusion, the concept of the context-aware acoustic source localization is proposed. The underlying idea is that the source localization scheme should strategically adapt from time to time based on the acoustic context, such as the varying sound fields, relative source-to-array positions, and many other factors. A preliminary framework to systematically implement such a concept is finally proposed and the future work is briefly discussed