Positioning an output element within a three-dimensional environment

1. A method for positioning an output element within a three-dimensional environment including one or more output devices, the method comprising:

obtaining movement data relating to movement of a mobile device along and/or about one or more of an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis thereof, wherein the movement of the mobile device relates to manipulation of the orientation of the mobile device relative to its x-axis, y-axis and z-axis by a user wishing to control the positon of an output element;

mapping the movement data to movement of a simulated output element along any one of the three axes in a virtual environment, the virtual environment simulating the three-dimensional environment; and

associating the movement of the simulated output element with movement of an output element within the three-dimensional environment, so as to control the position of the output element within the three-dimensional environment by controlling output of the one or more output devices,

wherein associating the movement of the simulated output element with movement of an output element within the three-dimensional environment includes:

generating time-stamped coordinates based on a position of the simulated output element in the virtual environment; and

associating the time-stamped coordinates with an output file arranged to control the position of the output element within the three-dimensional environment by controlling output of the one or more output devices, and

wherein associating the movement of the simulated output element with movement of an output element within the three-dimensional environment further includes:

determining speaker amplitude data, as matrix cross-point data, based on time-stamped coordinates and output device location data; and

transmitting the speaker amplitude data to networked devices for amplified output of the sound source by speakers so as to position the sound source within the three-dimensional environment.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including generating the virtual environment, the virtual environment simulating the three-dimensional environment and including one or more simulated output devices and the simulated output element.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein obtaining movement data relating movement of the mobile device includes obtaining the movement data from one or both of an accelerometer and a gyroscope of the mobile device, wherein the accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer and wherein the gyroscope is a three-axis gyroscope.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including periodically recording a set of coordinates based on the position of the simulated output element within the virtual environment.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the output element is the sound source in an immersive sound environment in which the one or more output devices are speakers.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the output element is one of a light beam or focal point of one or more light beams in a theatrical environment in which the one or more output devices are spot lights.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein associating the movement of the simulated output element with movement of an output element within the three-dimensional environment includes mapping movement of the simulated output element to movement of the output devices.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , including generating time-stamped orientation coordinates of the output devices, and associating the time-stamped orientation coordinates of the output devices with a digital multiplex (DMX) signal.

9. A system for positioning an output element within a three-dimensional environment including one or more output devices, the system comprising:

an obtaining component for obtaining movement data relating to movement of a mobile device along and/or about one or more of an x-axis, y-axis and z-axis thereof, wherein the movement of the mobile device relates to manipulation of the orientation of the mobile device relative to its x-axis, y-axis and z-axis by a user wishing to control the position of an output element;

a mapping component for mapping the movement data to movement of a simulated output element along any one of three axes in a virtual environment, the virtual environment simulating the three-dimensional environment; and

an associating component for associating the movement of the simulated output element with movement of an output element within the three-dimensional environment, so as to control the position of the output element within the three-dimensional environment by controlling output of the one or more output devices,

wherein the associating component includes:

a time-stamping component for generating time-stamped coordinates based on a position of the simulated output element in the virtual environment;

wherein the associating component is configured to associate the time-stamped coordinates with an output file arranged to control the position of the output element within the three-dimensional environment by controlling output of the one or more output devices, and

wherein the associating component further includes:

an amplitude determining component for determining speaker amplitude data, as matrix cross-point data, based on time-stamped coordinates and output device location data; and,

a transmitting component for transmitting the speaker amplitude data to networked devices for amplified output of the sound source by speakers so as to position the output element within the three-dimensional environment.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , including a mobile device which provides the obtaining component and mapping component and which further includes:

a recording component for recording a set of coordinates based on the position of the simulated output element within the virtual environment; and

a communication component for transmitting the set of coordinates to a server computer.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the mobile device includes a movement sensor for sensing movement of the mobile device, wherein the movement sensor includes one or both of a gyroscope and an accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer, wherein the gyroscope is a three-axis gyroscope, and wherein the obtaining component obtains movement data from the movement sensor.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the recording component periodically records a set of coordinates based on the position of the simulated output element within the virtual environment.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 , including the server computer which provides the associating component and further includes:

a communication component for receiving a set of coordinates from the mobile device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the output element is the sound source in an immersive sound environment in which the one or more output devices are speakers.

15. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the output element is one of a light beam or focal point of one or more light beams in a theatrical environment in which the output devices are spot lights.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the associating component maps movement of the simulated output element to movement of the output devices, wherein the associating component includes a time-stamping component for generating time-stamped orientation coordinates of the output devices, and wherein the associating component associates the time-stamped orientation coordinates of the output devices with a digital multiplex (DMX) signal.