Dolby Labs Patents

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. licenses its audio technologies, including its noise-reduction systems, to the media industry. Its product portfolio includes Dolby Digital Plus (DD+), Dolby Digital (DD), AAC and HE-AAC, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby AC-4, Dolby Voice and Dolby Vision. Products that incorporate Dolby technologies include televisions, set-top boxes, computers, DVD and Blu-ray devices, soundbars, smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, and automobile entertainment systems.

Dolby Labs Patents by Type
  • Publication number: 20230050950
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing software and hardware based solutions to the problem of synthesizing noise for a digital image. According to one aspect, a probability image is generated and noise blocks are randomly placed at locations in the probability image where the locations have probability values that are compared to a threshold criterion, creating a synthesized noise image. Embodiments include generating synthesized film grain images and synthesized digital camera noise images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harshad KADU, Bharath VISHWANATH, Guan-Ming SU, Samir N. HULYALKAR
  • Publication number: 20230049495
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a companding method and system for reducing coding noise in an audio codec. A compression process reduces an original dynamic range of an initial audio signal through a compression process that divides the initial audio signal into a plurality of segments using a defined window shape, calculates a wideband gain in the frequency domain using a non-energy based average of frequency domain samples of the initial audio signal, and applies individual gain values to amplify segments of relatively low intensity and attenuate segments of relatively high intensity. The compressed audio signal is then expanded back to the substantially the original dynamic range that applies inverse gain values to amplify segments of relatively high intensity and attenuating segments of relatively low intensity. A QMF filterbank is used to analyze the initial audio signal to obtain a frequency domain representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicants: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB, DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Per Hedelin, Arijit Biswas, Michael Schug, Vinay Melkote
  • Publication number: 20230052666
    Abstract: A method for adaptive streaming of media content with bitrate switching is described, wherein the media content comprising a plurality of consecutive media segments. The method comprising, at a media streaming server: transmitting a segment of the media content encoded in a first coding mode having a first bitrate; receiving an indication for a coding mode switch to a second coding mode having a second bitrate and in response transmitting a transition segment for transitioning between the first coding mode and the second coding mode; and transmitting another segment of the media content encoded in the second coding mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby International AB
    Inventor: Malte Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230047127
    Abstract: A method for providing media content within a media distribution network. The method comprises transforming source media content into an interim format, thereby providing transformed content. Furthermore, the method comprises storing the transformed content on at least one core storage unit. In addition, the method comprises receiving a request for the source media content from a client. The method further comprises encoding the transformed content or intermediate coded content derived therefrom into encoded content suitable for transmission over a core network and/or an edge network, as well as sending the encoded content via the core network and/or the edge network to the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicants: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Jason Michael CLOUD, Jeffrey RIEDMILLER, Kristofer KJOERLING, Janusz KLEJSA
  • Publication number: 20230049695
    Abstract: A method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving the encoded audio bitstream and decoding the audio data to generate a decoded lowband audio signal. The method further includes extracting high frequency reconstruction metadata and filtering the decoded lowband audio signal with an analysis filterbank to generate a filtered lowband audio signal. The method also includes extracting a flag indicating whether either spectral translation or harmonic transposition is to be performed on the audio data and regenerating a highband portion of the audio signal using the filtered lowband audio signal and the high frequency reconstruction metadata in accordance with the flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Kristofer KJOERLING, Lars VILLEMOES, Heiko PURNHAGEN, Per EKSTRAND
  • Publication number: 20230049358
    Abstract: A method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving the encoded audio bitstream and decoding the audio data to generate a decoded lowband audio signal. The method further includes extracting high frequency reconstruction metadata and filtering the decoded lowband audio signal with an analysis filterbank to generate a filtered lowband audio signal. The method also includes extracting a flag indicating whether either spectral translation or harmonic transposition is to be performed on the audio data and regenerating a highband portion of the audio signal using the filtered lowband audio signal and the high frequency reconstruction metadata in accordance with the flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Kristofer KJOERLING, Lars VILLEMOES, Heiko PURNHAGEN, Per EKSTRAND
  • Patent number: 11582574
    Abstract: In some embodiments, virtualization methods for generating a binaural signal in response to channels of a multi-channel audio signal, which apply a binaural room impulse response (BRIR) to each channel including by using at least one feedback delay network (FDN) to apply a common late reverberation to a downmix of the channels. In some embodiments, input signal channels are processed in a first processing path to apply to each channel a direct response and early reflection portion of a single-channel BRIR for the channel, and the downmix of the channels is processed in a second processing path including at least one FDN which applies the common late reverberation. Typically, the common late reverberation emulates collective macro attributes of late reverberation portions of at least some of the single-channel BRIRs. Other aspects are headphone virtualizers configured to perform any embodiment of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuan-Chieh Yen, Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Grant A. Davidson, Rhonda Wilson, David M. Cooper, Zhiwei Shuang
  • Patent number: 11582490
    Abstract: In a method to improve backwards compatibility when decoding high-dynamic range images coded in a wide color gamut (WCG) space which may not be compatible with legacy color spaces, hue and/or saturation values of images in an image database are computed for both a legacy color space (say, YCbCr-gamma) and a preferred WCG color space (say, IPT-PQ). Based on a cost function, a reshaped color space is computed so that the distance between the hue values in the legacy color space and rotated hue values in the preferred color space is minimized HDR images are coded in the reshaped color space. Legacy devices can still decode standard dynamic range images assuming they are coded in the legacy color space, while updated devices can use color reshaping information to decode HDR images in the preferred color space at full dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz
  • Patent number: 11580995
    Abstract: Audio objects are associated with positional metadata. A received downmix signal comprises downmix channels that are linear combinations of one or more audio objects and are associated with respective positional locators. In a first aspect, the downmix signal, the positional metadata and frequency-dependent object gains are received. An audio object is reconstructed by applying the object gain to an upmix of the downmix signal in accordance with coefficients based on the positional metadata and the positional locators. In a second aspect, audio objects have been encoded together with at least one bed channel positioned at a positional locator of a corresponding downmix channel. The decoding system receives the downmix signal and the positional metadata of the audio objects. A bed channel is reconstructed by suppressing the content representing audio objects from the corresponding downmix channel on the basis of the positional locator of the corresponding downmix channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Toni Hirvonen, Heiko Purnhagen, Leif Jonas Samuelsson, Lars Villemoes
  • Patent number: 11582459
    Abstract: Described is picture segmentation through columns and slices in video encoding and decoding. A video picture is divided into a plurality of columns, each column covering only a part of the video picture in a horizontal dimension. All coded tree blocks (“CTBs”) belonging to a slice may belong to one or more columns. The columns may be used to break the same or different prediction or in-loop filtering mechanisms of the video coding, and the CTB scan order used for encoding and/or decoding may be local to a column. Column widths may be indicated in a parameter set and/or may be adjusted at the slice level. At the decoder, column width may be parsed from the bitstream, and slice decoding may occur in one or more columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Horowitz
  • Patent number: 11582472
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Fangjun Pu, Sean Thomas McCarthy, Walter J. Husak, Tao Chen, Guan-Ming Su
  • Patent number: 11582432
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome Shields, Martin J. Richards, Juan P. Pertierra
  • Publication number: 20230041798
    Abstract: A method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving the encoded audio bitstream and decoding the audio data to generate a decoded lowband audio signal. The method further includes extracting high frequency reconstruction metadata and filtering the decoded lowband audio signal with an analysis filterbank to generate a filtered lowband audio signal. The method also includes extracting a flag indicating whether either spectral translation or harmonic transposition is to be performed on the audio data and regenerating a highband portion of the audio signal using the filtered lowband audio signal and the high frequency reconstruction metadata in accordance with the flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Lars Villemoes, Heiko Purnhagen, Per Ekstrand
  • Publication number: 20230042393
    Abstract: A method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving the encoded audio bitstream and decoding the audio data to generate a decoded lowband audio signal. The method further includes extracting high frequency reconstruction metadata and filtering the decoded lowband audio signal with an analysis filterbank to generate a filtered lowband audio signal. The method also includes extracting a flag indicating whether either spectral translation or harmonic transposition is to be performed on the audio data and regenerating a highband portion of the audio signal using the filtered lowband audio signal and the high frequency reconstruction metadata in accordance with the flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Lars Villemoes, Heiko Purnhagen, Per Ekstrand
  • Publication number: 20230039038
    Abstract: Given an input image in a high dynamic range (HDR) which is mapped to a second image in a second dynamic range using a reshaping function, to improve coding efficiency, a reshaping function generator may adjust the codeword range of the HDR input under certain criteria, such as for noisy HDR images with a relatively-small codeword range. An example of generating a scaler for adjusting the HDR codeword range based on the original codeword range and a metric of the percentage of edge-points in the HDR image is provided. The adjusted reshaping function allows for more efficient rate control during the compression of reshaped images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Harshad Kadu, Ji Qi, Guan-Ming Su
  • Publication number: 20230037824
    Abstract: Noise compensation method comprising: (a) receiving a content stream including content audio data; (b) receiving first microphone signals from a first device; (c) detecting ambient noise from a noise source location in or near the audio environment; (d) causing a first wireless signal to be transmitted from the first device to a second device, the first wireless signal including instructions for the second device to record an audio segment (e) receiving a second wireless signal from the second device; (f) determining a content stream audio segment time interval for a content stream audio segment; (g) receiving a third wireless signal from the second device, including a recorded audio segment captured via a second device microphone; (h) determining a second device ambient noise signal at the second device location; and (i) implementing a noise compensation method for the content audio data based, at least in part, on the second device ambient noise signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Alexander Jancovich, Timothy Alan Port, Andrew P. Reilly, Richard J. Cartwright
  • Publication number: 20230045090
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for an adaptive audio system that processes audio data comprising a number of independent monophonic audio streams. One or more of the streams has associated with it metadata that specifies whether the stream is a channel-based or object-based stream. Channel-based streams have rendering information encoded by means of channel name; and the object-based streams have location information encoded through location expressions encoded in the associated metadata. A codec packages the independent audio streams into a single serial bitstream that contains all of the audio data. This configuration allows for the sound to be rendered according to an allocentric frame of reference, in which the rendering location of a sound is based on the characteristics of the playback environment (e.g., room size, shape, etc.) to correspond to the mixer's intent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Q. ROBINSON, Nicolas R. TSINGOS, Christophe CHABANNE
  • Publication number: 20230040846
    Abstract: A method for estimating an audio device location in an environment may involve obtaining direction of arrival (DOA) data for each audio device of a plurality of audio devices in the environment and determining interior angles for each of a plurality of triangles based on the DOA data. Each triangle may have vertices that correspond with audio device locations. The method may involve determining a side length for each side of each of the triangles, performing a forward alignment process of aligning each of the plurality of triangles produce a forward alignment matrix and performing a reverse alignment process of aligning each of the plurality of triangles in a reverse sequence to produce a reverse alignment matrix. A final estimate of each audio device location may be based, at least in part, on values of the forward alignment matrix and values of the reverse alignment matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R.P. THOMAS, Glenn DICKINS, Alan SEEFELDT
  • Publication number: 20230044546
    Abstract: Some implementations involve receiving a content stream that includes audio data, receiving at least one type of level adjustment indication relating to playback of the audio data and controlling a level of the input audio data, based on the at least one type of level adjustment indication, to produce level-adjusted audio data. Some examples involve determining, based at least in part on the type(s) of level adjustment indication, a multiband limiter configuration, applying the multiband limiter to the level-adjusted udio data, to produce multiband limited audio data and providing the multiband limited audio data to one or more audio reproduction transducers of an audio environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy Alan PORT, Benjamin Alexander JANCOVICH
  • Publication number: 20230044872
    Abstract: Some implementations involve receiving a content stream that includes audio data, receiving at least one type of level adjustment indication relating to playback of the audio data and controlling a level of the input audio data, based on the at least one type of level adjustment indication, to produce level-adjusted audio data. Some examples involve determining, based at least in part on the type(s) of level adjustment indication, a multiband limiter configuration, applying the multiband limiter to the level-adjusted audio data, to produce multiband limited audio data and providing the multiband limited audio data to one or more audio reproduction transducers of an audio environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy Alan PORT, Benjamin Alexander JANCOVICH
  • Patent number: 11576004
    Abstract: Methods and systems for designing binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) for use in headphone virtualizers, and methods and systems for generating a binaural signal in response to a set of channels of a multi-channel audio signal, including by applying a BRIR to each channel of the set, thereby generating filtered signals, and combining the filtered signals to generate the binaural signal, where each BRIR has been designed in accordance with an embodiment of the design method. Other aspects are audio processing units configured to perform any embodiment of the inventive method. In accordance with some embodiments, BRIR design is formulated as a numerical optimization problem based on a simulation model (which generates candidate BRIRs) and at least one objective function (which evaluates each candidate BRIR), and includes identification of a best one of the candidate BRIRs as indicated by performance metrics determined for the candidate BRIRs by each objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Grant A. Davidson, Kuan-Chieh Yen, Dirk Jeroen Breebaart
  • Publication number: 20230034477
    Abstract: A wearable device for augmented media content experiences can be formed with a mountable physical structure that has removably mountable positions and component devices that are removably mounted through the removably mountable positions. The component devices can be specifically selected based on a specific type of content consumption environment in which the wearable device is to operate. The mountable physical structure may be subject to a device washing process to which the component devices are not subject to, after the wearable device including the mountable physical structure and the component devices is used by a viewer in a content consumption session in the specific type of content consumption environment, so long as the component devices are subsequently removed from the mountable physical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ajit NINAN, Neil MAMMEN
  • Publication number: 20230036258
    Abstract: A method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving the encoded audio bitstream and decoding the audio data to generate a decoded lowband audio signal. The method further includes extracting high frequency reconstruction metadata and filtering the decoded lowband audio signal with an analysis filterbank to generate a filtered lowband audio signal. The method also includes extracting a flag indicating whether either spectral translation or harmonic transposition is to be performed on the audio data and regenerating a highband portion of the audio signal using the filtered lowband audio signal and the high frequency reconstruction metadata in accordance with the flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Lars Villemoes, Heiko Purnhagen, Per Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 11570455
    Abstract: The precision of up-sampling operations in a layered coding system is preserved when operating on video data with high bit-depth. In response to bit-depth requirements of the video coding or decoding system, scaling and rounding parameters are determined for a separable up-scaling filter. Input data are first filtered across a first spatial direction using a first rounding parameter to generate first up-sampled data. First intermediate data are generated by scaling the first up-sampled data using a first shift parameter. The intermediate data are then filtered across a second spatial direction using a second rounding parameter to generate second up-sampled data. Second intermediate data are generated by scaling the second up-sampled data using a second shift parameter. Final up-sampled data may be generated by clipping the second intermediate data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Tao Chen
  • Patent number: 11570566
    Abstract: A method for generating loudspeaker signals associated with a target screen size is disclosed. The method includes receiving a bit stream containing encoded higher order ambisonics signals, the encoded higher order ambisonics signals describing a sound field associated with a production screen size. The method further includes decoding the encoded higher order ambisonics signals to obtain a first set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals representing dominant components of the sound field and a second set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals representing ambient components of the sound field. The method also includes combining the first set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals and the second set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals to produce a combined set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Jax, Johannes Boehm, William Redmann
  • Patent number: 11570480
    Abstract: In a method to improve backwards compatibility when decoding high-dynamic range images coded in a wide color gamut (WCG) space which may not be compatible with legacy color spaces, hue and/or saturation values of images in an image database are computed for both a legacy color space (say, YCbCr-gamma) and a preferred WCG color space (say, IPT-PQ). Based on a cost function, a reshaped color space is computed so that the distance between the hue values in the legacy color space and rotated hue values in the preferred color space is minimized HDR images are coded in the reshaped color space. Legacy devices can still decode standard dynamic range images assuming they are coded in the legacy color space, while updated devices can use color reshaping information to decode HDR images in the preferred color space at full dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz
  • Patent number: 11568881
    Abstract: Methods and audio processing units for generating an object based audio program including conditional rendering metadata corresponding to at least one object channel of the program, where the conditional rendering metadata is indicative of at least one rendering constraint, based on playback speaker array configuration, which applies to each corresponding object channel, and methods for rendering audio content determined by such a program, including by rendering content of at least one audio channel of the program in a manner compliant with each applicable rendering constraint in response to at least some of the conditional rendering metadata. Rendering of a selected mix of content of the program may provide an immersive experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Sripal S. Mehta, Thomas Ziegler, Stewart Murrie
  • Patent number: 11568880
    Abstract: The application relates to HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction/Regeneration) of audio signals. In particular, the application relates to a method and system for performing HFR of audio signals having large variations in energy level across the low frequency range which is used to reconstruct the high frequencies of the audio signal. A system configured to generate a plurality of high frequency subband signals covering a high frequency interval from a plurality of low frequency subband signals is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventor: Kristofer Kjoerling
  • Publication number: 20230021739
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an echo cancellation method which includes adaptation of at least one prediction filter, with adaptation step size controlled using gradient descent on a set of filter coefficients of the filter, where control of the adaptation step size is based at least in part on a direction of adaptation and a predictability of a gradient of adaptation (e.g., a gradient vector). Other aspects of embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling adaptation step size of adaptive (e.g., low-complexity adaptive) echo cancellation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke APPLETON, Jenean Jiaying LEE
  • Publication number: 20230023024
    Abstract: An audio processing unit (APU) is disclosed. The APU includes a buffer memory configured to store at least one frame of an encoded audio bitstream, where the encoded audio bitstream includes audio data and a metadata container. The metadata container includes a header and one or more metadata payloads after the header. The one or more metadata payloads include dynamic range compression (DRC) metadata, and the DRC metadata is or includes profile metadata indicative of whether the DRC metadata includes dynamic range compression (DRC) control values for use in performing dynamic range compression in accordance with at least one compression profile on audio content indicated by at least one block of the audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey RIEDMILLER, Michael WARD
  • Publication number: 20230022740
    Abstract: A method (900) for rendering audio in a virtual reality rendering environment (180) is described. The method (900) comprises rendering (901) an origin audio signal of an origin audio source (113) of an origin audio scene (111) from an origin source position on a sphere (114) around a listening position (201) of a listener (181). Furthermore, the method (900) comprises determining (902) that the listener (181) moves from the listening position (201) within the origin audio scene (111) to a listening position (202) within a different destination audio scene (112). In addition, the method (900) comprises applying (903) a fade-out gain to the origin audio signal to determine a modified origin audio signal, and rendering (903) the modified origin audio signal of the origin audio source (113) from the origin source position on the sphere (114) around the listening position (201, 202).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Leon Terentiv, Christof Fersch, Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20230024873
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for channel-based audio (CBA) (e.g., 22.2-ch audio) to object-based audio (OBA) conversion. The conversion includes converting CBA metadata to object audio metadata (OAMD) and reordering the CBA channels based on channel shuffle information derived in accordance with channel ordering constraints of the OAMD. The OBA with reordered channels is rendered in a playback device using the OAMD or in a source device, such as a set-top box or audio/video recorder. In an embodiment, the CBA metadata includes signaling that indicates a specific OAMD representation to be used in the conversion of the metadata. In an embodiment, pre-computed OAMD is transmitted in a native audio bitstream (e.g., AAC) for transmission (e.g., over HDMI) or for rendering in a source device. In an embodiment, pre-computed OAMD is transmitted in a transport layer bitstream (e.g., ISO BMFF, MPEG4 audio bitstream) to a playback device or source device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicants: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Michael C. WARD, Freddie SANCHEZ, Christof Joseph FERSCH
  • Publication number: 20230026347
    Abstract: Some noise compensation methods involve receiving microphone signals corresponding to ambient noise from a noise source location in or near an audio environment, determining or estimating a listener position in the audio environment and estimating at least one critical distance, which is a distance from the noise source location at which directly propagated sound pressure is equal to diffuse field sound pressure. Some examples involve estimating whether the listener position is within the at least one critical distance and implementing a noise compensation method for the ambient noise based, at least in part, on an estimate of whether the listener position is within the critical distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Alexander Jancovich, Timothy Alan Port, Andrew P. Reilly, Richard J. Cartwright
  • Publication number: 20230021624
    Abstract: Given a sequence of images in a first codeword representation, methods, processes, and systems are presented for integrating reshaping into a next generation video codec for encoding and decoding the images, wherein reshaping allows part of the images to be coded in a second codeword representation which allows more efficient compression than using the first codeword representation. A variety of architectures are discussed, including: an out-of-loop reshaping architecture, an in-loop-for intra pictures only reshaping architecture, an in-loop architecture for prediction residuals, and a hybrid in-loop reshaping architecture. Syntax methods for signaling reshaping parameters, and image-encoding methods optimized with respect to reshaping are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Taoran LU, Fangjun PU, Peng YIN, Tao CHEN, Walter J. HUSAK
  • Publication number: 20230026771
    Abstract: A projection system and method includes a light source configured to emit a light in response to an image data; a phase light modulator configured to receive the light from the light source and to apply a spatially-varying phase modulation on the light; and a controller configured to determine, for a frame of the image data, a plurality of phase configurations, respective ones of the plurality of phase configurations corresponding to solutions of a phase algorithm and representing the same image with a different modulation pattern, and provide a phase control signal to the phase light modulator, the phase control signal configured to cause the phase light modulator to modulate the plurality of phase configurations in a time-divisional manner within a time period of the frame, thereby to project a series of subframes within the time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicants: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Juan Pablo Pertierra, Martin J. Richards, Clement Luc Carol Le Barbenchon, Angelo Miguel Pires Arrifano
  • Publication number: 20230027660
    Abstract: The present invention relates to transposing signals in time and/or frequency and in particular to coding of audio signals. More particular, the present invention relates to high frequency reconstruction (HFR) methods including a frequency domain harmonic transposer. A method and system for generating a transposed output signal from an input signal using a transposition factor T is described. The system comprises an analysis window of length La, extracting a frame of the input signal, and an analysis transformation unit of order M transforming the samples into M complex coefficients. M is a function of the transposition factor T. The system further comprises a nonlinear processing unit altering the phase of the complex coefficients by using the transposition factor T, a synthesis transformation unit of order M transforming the altered coefficients into M altered samples, and a synthesis window of length Ls, generating a frame of the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Per EKSTRAND, Lars VILLEMOES
  • Patent number: 11562759
    Abstract: A method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving the encoded audio bitstream and decoding the audio data to generate a decoded lowband audio signal. The method further includes extracting high frequency reconstruction metadata and filtering the decoded lowband audio signal with an analysis filterbank to generate a filtered lowband audio signal. The method also includes extracting a flag indicating whether either spectral translation or harmonic transposition is to be performed on the audio data and regenerating a highband portion of the audio signal using the filtered lowband audio signal and the high frequency reconstruction metadata in accordance with the flag. The high frequency regeneration is performed as a post-processing operation with a delay of 3010 samples per audio channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Kristofer Kjoerling, Lars Villemoes, Heiko Purnhagen, Per Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 11564051
    Abstract: Multiple virtual source locations may be defined for a volume within which audio objects can move. A set-up process for rendering audio data may involve receiving reproduction speaker location data and pre-computing gain values for each of the virtual sources according to the reproduction speaker location data and each virtual source location. The gain values may be stored and used during “run time,” during which audio reproduction data are rendered for the speakers of the reproduction environment. During run time, for each audio object, contributions from virtual source locations within an area or volume defined by the audio object position data and the audio object size data may be computed. A set of gain values for each output channel of the reproduction environment may be computed based, at least in part, on the computed contributions. Each output channel may correspond to at least one reproduction speaker of the reproduction environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Antonio Mateos Sole, Nicolas R. Tsingos
  • Patent number: 11563941
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Ho Chan Ryu, Yong Jo Ahn
  • Patent number: 11562750
    Abstract: Some methods involve receiving an input audio signal that includes N input audio channels, the input audio signal representing a first soundfield format having a first soundfield format resolution, N being an integer ?2. A first decorrelation process may be applied to two or more of the input audio channels to produce a first set of decorrelated channels, the first decorrelation process maintaining an inter-channel correlation of the set of input audio channels. A first modulation process may be applied to the first set of decorrelated channels to produce a first set of decorrelated and modulated output channels. The first set of decorrelated and modulated output channels may be combined with two or more undecorrelated output channels to produce an output audio signal that includes O output audio channels representing a second and relatively higher-resolution soundfield format than the first soundfield format, O being an integer ?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: David S. McGrath
  • Patent number: 11562755
    Abstract: The present invention relates to transposing signals in time and/or frequency and in particular to coding of audio signals. More particular, the present invention relates to high frequency reconstruction (HFR) methods including a frequency domain harmonic transposer. A method and system for generating a transposed output signal from an input signal using a transposition factor T is described. The system comprises an analysis window of length La, extracting a frame of the input signal, and an analysis transformation unit of order M transforming the samples into M complex coefficients. M is a function of the transposition factor T. The system further comprises a nonlinear processing unit altering the phase of the complex coefficients by using the transposition factor T, a synthesis transformation unit of order M transforming the altered coefficients into M altered samples, and a synthesis window of length Ls, generating a frame of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Per Ekstrand, Lars Villemoes
  • Publication number: 20230008842
    Abstract: A projection lens system and method therefor relate to a Fourier lens assembly including a first attachment section, the Fourier lens assembly configured to form a Fourier transform of an object at an exit pupil of the Fourier lens assembly; an aperture configured to block a portion of 5 incident light, the aperture located approximately at a plane of the Fourier transform; and a zoom lens assembly including a second attachment section configured to be removably attached to the first attachment section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Scott Dewald, John David JACKSON, Darren HENNIGAN
  • Publication number: 20230010466
    Abstract: Some implementations involve determining a noise metric and/or a speech intelligibility metric and determining a compensation process corresponding to the noise metric and/or the speech intelligibility metric. The compensation process may involve altering a processing of audio data and/or applying a non-audio-based compensation method. In some examples, altering the processing of the audio data does not involve applying a broadband gain increase to the audio signals. Some examples involve applying the compensation process in an audio environment. Other examples involve determining compensation metadata corresponding to the compensation process and transmitting an encoded content stream that includes encoded compensation metadata, encoded video data and encoded audio data from a first device to one or more other devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Alan PORT, Daniel Steven TEMPLETON, Jack Gregory HAYS, David Matthew COOPER
  • Publication number: 20230009878
    Abstract: Some implementations involve determining a noise metric and/or a speech intelligibility metric and determining a compensation process corresponding to the noise metric and/or the speech intelligibility metric. The compensation process may involve altering a processing of audio data and/or applying a non-audio-based compensation method. In some examples, altering the processing of the audio data does not involve applying a broadband gain increase to the audio signals. Some examples involve applying the compensation process in an audio environment. Other examples involve determining compensation metadata corresponding to the compensation process and transmitting an encoded content stream that includes encoded compensation metadata, encoded video data and encoded audio data from a first device to one or more other devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Alan PORT, Daniel Steven TEMPLETON, Jack Gregory HAYS, David Matthew COOPER
  • Patent number: 11553296
    Abstract: A system and method of modifying a binaural signal using headtracking information. The system calculates a delay, a first filter response, and a second filter response, and applies these to the left and right components of the binaural signal according to the headtracking information. The system may also apply headtracking to parametric binaural signals. In this manner, headtracking may be applied to pre-rendered binaural audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: C. Phillip Brown, Joshua Brandon Lando, Mark F. Davis, Alan J. Seefeldt, David Matthew Cooper, Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Rhonda Wilson
  • Patent number: 11553198
    Abstract: A system for decoding a video bitstream includes receiving a bitstream and a plurality of enhancement bitstreams together with receiving a video parameter set and a video parameter set extension. The system also receives an output layer set change message including information indicating a change in at least one output layer set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventor: Sachin G. Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20230005243
    Abstract: A method for image segmentation includes (a) clustering, based upon k-means clustering, pixels of an image into first clusters, (b) outputting a cluster map of the first clusters (c) re-clustering the pixels into a new plurality of non-disjoint pixel-clusters, and (d) classifying the non-disjoint pixel-clusters in categories, according to a user-indicated classification. Another method for image segmentation includes (a) forming a graph with each node of the graph corresponding to a first respective non-disjoint pixel-cluster of the image and connected to each terminal of the graph and to all other nodes corresponding to other respective non-disjoint pixel-clusters that, in the image, are within a neighborhood of the first respective non-disjoint pixel-cluster, (b) setting weights of connections of the graph according to a user-indicated classification in categories respectively associated with the terminals, and (c) segmenting the image into the categories by cutting the graph based upon the weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Amirhossein KHALILIAN-GOURTANI, Neeraj J. GADGIL, Guan-Ming Su
  • Publication number: 20230007302
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros TOURAPIS, Athanasios LEONTARIS, Peshala V. PAHALAWATTA, Kevin J. STEC
  • Publication number: 20230007321
    Abstract: The present application describes a method (400) for providing personalized audio to a user. The method (400) comprises receiving (401) a manifest file (140) for a media element from which audio is to be rendered, wherein the manifest file (140) comprises a description (141) for a plurality of different presentations (152) of audio content of the media element. In addition, the method (400) comprises selecting (402) a presentation (152) from the plurality of presentations (152) based on the manifest file (140). The method (400) further comprises receiving (403) a list of audio track objects comprised within the media element, and selecting (404) an audio track object from the list of audio track objects, in dependence of the selected presentation (152).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schildbach, Malte Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230007294
    Abstract: A first predictor is applied to an input image to generate first-stage predicted codewords approximating prediction target codewords of a prediction target image. Second-stage prediction target values are created by performing an inverse cascade operation on the prediction target codewords and the first-stage predicted codewords. A second predictor is applied to the input image to generate second-stage predicted values approximating the second-stage prediction target values. Multiple sets of cascade prediction coefficients are generated to comprise first and second sets of cascade prediction coefficients specifying the first and second predictors. The multiple sets of cascade prediction coefficients are encoded, in a video signal, as image metadata. The video signal is further encoded with the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Harshad KADU, Guan-Ming SU