Abstract: The present invention relates to a block partitioning structure in video coding technology, and a video encoding and decoding method and apparatus using the same, wherein the video encoding and decoding method includes the steps of: acquiring quad-partitioning information of a block; acquiring bi-partitioning information of the block when the acquired quad-partitioning information of the block does not indicate four partitions; acquiring partitioning direction information for bi-partitioning of the block when the acquired bi-partitioning information of the block indicates two partitions; acquiring information on whether to perform any other type of partitioning, when the acquired bi-partitioning information of the block does not indicate two partitions; and acquiring additional information required for the any other type of partitioning, when the acquired information on whether to perform any other type of partitioning indicates that the any other type of partitioning is performed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for translating a first plurality of audio input channels to a second plurality of audio output channels. This includes determining that there is pair-wise coding among any of the first plurality of audio input channels, determining an input/output-mapping matrix for mapping at least a first set of the first plurality of audio input channels to at least a second set of the second plurality of audio output channels; and deriving the second plurality of audio output channels based on first plurality of audio input channels, the input/output-mapping matrix and the determined pair-wise coding. The first plurality of audio input channels represent the same soundfield represented by the second plurality of audio output channels.

Abstract: Dual and multi-modulator projector display systems and techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a projector display system comprises a light source; a controller, a first modulator, receiving light from the light source and rendering a halftone image of said the input image; a blurring optical system that blurs said halftone image with a Point Spread Function (PSF); and a second modulator receiving the blurred halftone image and rendering a pulse width modulated image which may be projected to form the desired screen image. Systems and techniques for forming a binary halftone image from input image, correcting for misalignment between the first and second modulators and calibrating the projector system—e.g. over time—for continuous image improvement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first reshaping mapping is performed on a first image represented in a first domain to generate a second image represented in a second domain. The first domain is of a first dynamic range different from a second dynamic range of which the second domain is. A second reshaping mapping is performed on the second image represented in the second domain to generate a third image represented in the first domain. The third image is perceptually different from the first image in at least one of: global contrast, global saturation, local contrast, local saturation, etc. A display image is derived from the third image and rendered on a display device.

Abstract: Methods and systems to adjust differently brightness and contrast for dark and bright pictures on a display are provided. Given a tone-mapping curve mapping an input dynamic range to a display comprising a minimum and maximum display luminance value, the maximum display luminance value is lowered to an adjusted luminance value according to user defined parameters. The input dynamic range is tone-mapped to the display dynamic range using the adjusted luminance value. For brightness control, the tone mapped image is stretched linearly back to the maximum display luminance value. For contrast control, a gamma or power EOTF of the display is adjusted according to the adjusted luminance. For displays with global backlight control, the global backlight is adjusted only when contrast is adjusted.

Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.

Abstract: Some headphone systems include two ear cups, a headband assembly, an interface system and a control system. Each ear cup may include an ear cup enclosure, an ear pad assembly, a speaker system and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly may be disposed within the ear cup enclosure such that it is not visible from outside the ear cup. The headband assembly may connect with each of the ear cups via the hinge assembly. The interface system may include at least one interface and a plurality of input source buttons disposed on at least one of the ear cups. Each of the input source buttons may be configured for selecting a source of audio data received via the at least one interface. The control system may be configured for controlling the speaker system to reproduce audio data received via the interface and selected by one of the input source buttons.

Abstract: The present document relates to methods and apparatus for rendering input audio for playback in a playback environment. The input audio includes at least one audio object and associated metadata, and the associated metadata indicates at least a location of the audio object. A method for rendering input audio including divergence metadata for playback in a playback environment comprises creating two additional audio objects associated with the audio object such that respective locations of the two additional audio objects are evenly spaced from the location of the audio object, on opposite sides of the location of the audio object when seen from an intended listener's position in the playback environment, determining respective weight factors for application to the audio object and the two additional audio objects, and rendering the audio object and the two additional audio objects to one or more speaker feeds in accordance with the determined weight factors.

Abstract: A novel high efficiency image projection system includes a beam-steering modulator, an amplitude modulator, and a controller. In a particular embodiment the controller generates beam-steering drive values from image data and uses the beam-steering drive values to drive the beam-steering modulator. Additionally, the controller utilizes the beam-steering drive values to generate a lightfield simulation of a lightfield projected onto the amplitude modulator by the beam-steering modulator. The controller utilizes the lightfield simulation to generate amplitude drive values for driving the amplitude modulator in order to project a high quality version of the image described by the image data.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to audio object clustering. A method for metadata-preserved audio object clustering is disclosed. The method comprises classifying an audio object into at least a category based rendering mode information metadata. The method further comprises assigning a predetermined number of clusters to the categories and rendering the audio object based on the rendering mode. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an adaptive scheme is applied to an image encoding apparatus that includes an inter-predictor, an intra-predictor, a transformer, a quantizer, an inverse quantizer, and an inverse transformer, wherein input images are classified into two or more different categories, and two or more modules from among the inter-predictor, the intra-predictor, the transformer, the quantizer, and the inverse quantizer are implemented to perform respective operations in different schemes according to the category to which an input image belongs. Thus, the invention has the advantage of efficiently encoding an image without the loss of important information as compared to a conventional image encoding apparatus which adopts a packaged scheme.

Abstract: Novel methods and systems for adapting a voice cloning synthesizer for a new speaker using real speech data are disclosed. Utterances from one or more target speakers are parameterized and are used to initialize an embedding vector for use with a voice synthesizer, by means of clustering the utterance data and determining the centroid of the data, using a speaker identification neural network, and/or by finding the closest stored embedded vector to the utterance data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of blind detection of binauralized audio. If the input content is detected as binaural, a second binauralization may be avoided. In this manner, the user experience avoids audio artifacts introduced by multiple binauralizations.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of low-bitrate coding of audio data and generating enhancement metadata for controlling audio enhancement of the low-bitrate coded audio data at a decoder side, including the steps of: (a) core encoding original audio data at a low bitrate to obtain encoded audio data; (b) generating enhancement metadata to be used for controlling a type and/or amount of audio enhancement at the decoder side after core decoding the encoded audio data; and (c) outputting the encoded audio data and the enhancement metadata. Described is further an encoder configured to perform said method. Described is moreover a method for generating enhanced audio data from low-bitrate coded audio data based on enhancement metadata and a decoder configured to perform said method.

Abstract: A method of processing audio content including a plurality of audio elements comprises: clustering the plurality of audio elements into a plurality of clusters of audio elements; and for a cluster among the plurality of clusters: for each audio element in the cluster, determining a measure of energy that the audio element contributes to the cluster; for at least one audio element in the cluster, determining a compensation gain based at least in part on the measures of energy for the audio elements in the cluster; and applying the compensation gain to the at least one audio element in the cluster.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer, comprising a supporting frame, a magnet assembly with an annular yoke surrounding a magnet a diaphragm attached to the front edge of the supporting frame, a voice coil suspended by the diaphragm in a gap formed between the magnet and the annular yoke, the voice coil being axially movable with respect to the magnet, and an annular damper arranged to stabilize the diaphragm. The transducer further comprises a damper holder having a substantially flat annular portion attached to the diaphragm, and a conical wall portion surrounding the voice coil, wherein an inner perimeter of the damper is attached to a rear region of the conical wall portion.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for training a neural network, as well as for implementing audio encoders and decoders via trained neural networks, are provided. The neural network may receive an input audio signal, generate an encoded audio signal and decode the encoded audio signal. A loss function generating module may receive the decoded audio signal and a ground truth audio signal, and may generate a loss function value corresponding to the decoded audio signal. Generating the loss function value may involve applying a psychoacoustic model. The neural network may be trained based on the loss function value. The training may involve updating at least one weight of the neural network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.

Abstract: Methods for generating an object based audio program, renderable in a personalizable manner, and including a bed of speaker channels renderable in the absence of selection of other program content (e.g., to provide a default full range audio experience). Other embodiments include steps of delivering, decoding, and/or rendering such a program. Rendering of content of the bed, or of a selected mix of other content of the program, may provide an immersive experience. The program may include multiple object channels (e.g., object channels indicative of user-selectable and user-configurable objects), the bed of speaker channels, and other speaker channels. Another aspect is an audio processing unit (e.g., encoder or decoder) configured to perform, or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame (or other segment) of an object based audio program (or bitstream thereof) generated in accordance with, any embodiment of the method.