Patents by Inventor Heiko Purnhagen

Heiko Purnhagen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190287541
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for encoding a stereo audio signal having a left channel and a right channel. The apparatus includes a prediction coefficient estimator, downmixer, and multiplexer. The downmixer is configured operate either in a prediction mode or a non-prediction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Lars Villemoes
  • Publication number: 20190287538
    Abstract: Methods and systems for advanced stereo processing of an audio signal are disclosed. The methods and systems include selecting a coding mode of either transform coding or linear predictive coding and performing advanced stereo processing when in the selected coding mode. Both encoding and decoding operations are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Kristofer Kjoerling
  • Patent number: 10418038
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices and computer program products for encoding and decoding of a vector of parameters in an audio coding system. The disclosure further relates to a method and apparatus for reconstructing an audio object in an audio decoding system. According to the disclosure, a modulo differential approach for coding and encoding a vector of a non-periodic quantity may improve the coding efficiency and provide encoders and decoders with less memory requirements. Moreover, an efficient method for encoding and decoding a sparse matrix is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Leif Jonas Samuelsson, Heiko Purnhagen
  • Publication number: 20190279648
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for stereo encoding and decoding using complex prediction in the frequency domain. In one embodiment, a decoding method, for obtaining an output stereo signal from an input stereo signal encoded by complex prediction coding and comprising first frequency-domain representations of two input channels, comprises the upmixing steps of: (i) computing a second frequency-domain representation of a first input channel; and (ii) computing an output channel on the basis of the first and second frequency-domain representations of the first input channel, the first frequency-domain representation of the second input channel and a complex prediction coefficient. The upmixing can be suspended responsive to control data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Lars Villemoes, Pontus Carlsson
  • Publication number: 20190267012
    Abstract: There are provided decoding and encoding methods for encoding and decoding of multichannel audio content for playback on a speaker configuration with N channels. The decoding method comprises decoding, in a first decoding module, M input audio signals into M mid signals which are suitable for playback on a speaker configuration with M channels; and for each of the N channels in excess of M channels, receiving an additional input audio signal corresponding to one of the M mid signals and decoding the input audio signal and its corresponding mid signal so as to generate a stereo signal including a first and a second audio signal which are suitable for playback on two of the N channels of the speaker configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Harald Mundt, Kristofer Kjoerling
  • Patent number: 10388296
    Abstract: On the basis of a bitstream (P), an n-channel audio signal (X) is reconstructed by deriving an m-channel core signal (Y) and multichannel coding parameters (?) from the bitstream, where 1?m<n. Also derived from the bitstream are pre-processing dynamic range control, DRC, parameters (DRC2) quantifying an encoder-side dynamic range limiting of the core signal. The n-channel audio signal is obtained by parametric synthesis in accordance with the multichannel coding parameters and while cancelling any encoder-side dynamic range limiting based on the pre-processing DRC parameters. In particular embodiments, the reconstruction further includes use of compensated post-processing DRC parameters quantifying a potential decoder-side dynamic range compression. Cancellation of an encoder-side range limitation and range compression are preferably performed by different decoder-side components. Cancellation and compression may be coordinated by a DRC pre-processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Jeffrey Riedmiller, Karl J. Roeden, Kristofer Kjoerling, Heiko Purnhagen, Vinay Melkote, Leif Sehlstrom
  • Publication number: 20190251976
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide encoding and decoding methods, and associated encoders and decoders, for encoding and decoding of an audio scene which is represented by one or more audio signals. The encoder generates a bit stream which comprises downmix signals and side information which includes individual matrix elements of a reconstruction matrix which enables reconstruction of the one or more audio signals in the decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Heiko PURNHAGEN, Lars VILLEMOES, Leif Jonas SAMUELSSON, Toni HIRVONEN
  • Patent number: 10383003
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices and computer program products for non-uniform quantization of parameters relating to parametric spatial coding of audio signals. The disclosure further relates to a method and apparatus for reconstructing an audio object in an audio decoding system taking the non-uniformly quantized parameters into account. According to the disclosure, such an approach renders it possible to reduce bit consumption without substantially reducing the quality of the reconstructed audio object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Per Ekstrand
  • Publication number: 20190228782
    Abstract: The application relates to audio encoder and decoder systems. An embodiment of the encoder system comprises a downmix stage for generating a downmix signal and a residual signal based on a stereo signal. In addition, the encoder system comprises a parameter determining stage for determining parametric stereo parameters such as an inter-channel intensity difference and an inter-channel cross-correlation. Preferably, the parametric stereo parameters are time- and frequency-variant. Moreover, the encoder system comprises a transform stage. The transform stage generates a pseudo left/right stereo signal by performing a transform based on the downmix signal and the residual signal. The pseudo stereo signal is processed by a perceptual stereo encoder. For stereo encoding, left/right encoding or mid/side encoding is selectable. Preferably, the selection between left/right stereo encoding and mid/side stereo encoding is time- and frequency-variant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Kristofer Kjoerling
  • Publication number: 20190230461
    Abstract: Described herein is a method (30) of rendering an audio signal (17) for playback in an audio environment (27) defined by a target loudspeaker system (23), the audio signal (17) including audio data relating to an audio object and associated position data indicative of an object position. Method (30) includes the initial step (31) of receiving the audio signal (17). At step (32) loudspeaker layout data for the target loudspeaker system (23) is received. At step (33) control data is received that is indicative of a position modification to be applied to the audio object in the audio environment (27). At step (38) in response to the position data, loudspeaker layout data and control data, rendering modification data is generated. Finally, at step (39) the audio signal (17) is rendered with the rendering modification data to output the audio signal (17) with the audio object at a modified object position that is between loudspeakers within the audio environment (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicants: DOLBY LABORATORY LICENSING CORPORATION, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Dirk Jeroen BREEBAART, Antonio MATEOS SOLE, Heiko PURNHAGEN, Nicolas R. TSINGOS
  • Patent number: 10360920
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for outputting a stereo audio signal having a left channel and a right channel. The apparatus includes a demultiplexer, decoder, and upmixer. The upmixer is configured operate either in a prediction mode or a non-prediction mode based on a parameter encoded in the audio bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Lars Villemoes
  • Patent number: 10347261
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide encoding and decoding methods, and associated encoders and decoders, for encoding and decoding of an audio scene which at least comprises one or more audio objects (106a). The encoder (108, 110) generates a bit stream (116) which comprises downmix signals (112) and side information which includes individual matrix elements (114) of a reconstruction matrix which enables reconstruction of the one or more audio objects (106a) in the decoder (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Lars Villemoes, Leif Jonas Samuelsson, Toni Hirvonen
  • Patent number: 10347260
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for stereo encoding and decoding using complex prediction in the frequency domain. In one embodiment, a decoding method, for obtaining an output stereo signal from an input stereo signal encoded by complex prediction coding and comprising first frequency-domain representations of two input channels, comprises the upmixing steps of: (i) computing a second frequency-domain representation of a first input channel; and (ii) computing an output channel on the basis of the first and second frequency-domain representations of the first input channel, the first frequency-domain representation of the second input channel and a complex prediction coefficient. The upmixing can be suspended responsive to control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Lars Villemoes
  • Patent number: 10325607
    Abstract: There are provided decoding and encoding methods for encoding and decoding of multichannel audio content for playback on a speaker configuration with N channels. The decoding method comprises decoding, in a first decoding module, M input audio signals into M mid signals which are suitable for playback on a speaker configuration with M channels; and for each of the N channels in excess of M channels, receiving an additional input audio signal corresponding to one of the M mid signals and decoding the input audio signal and its corresponding mid signal so as to generate a stereo signal including a first and a second audio signal which are suitable for playback on two of the N channels of the speaker configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Harald Mundt, Kristofer Kjoerling
  • Publication number: 20190172475
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an audio processing unit that includes a buffer, bitstream payload deformatter, and a decoding subsystem. The buffer stores at least one block of an encoded audio bitstream. The block includes a fill element that begins with an identifier followed by fill data. The fill data includes at least one flag identifying whether enhanced spectral band replication (eSBR) processing is to be performed on audio content of the block. A corresponding method for decoding an encoded audio bitstream is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Lars Villemoes, Heiko Purnhagen, Per Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 10304471
    Abstract: An audio signal (X) is represented by a bitstream (B) segmented into frames. An audio processing system (500) comprises a buffer (510) and a decoding section (520). The buffer joins sets of audio data (D1; D2, . . . , DN) carried by N respective frames (F1, F2, . . . , FN) into one decodable set of audio data (D) corresponding to a first frame rate and to a first number of samples of the audio signal per frame. The frames have a second frame rate corresponding to a second number of samples of the audio signal per frame. The first number of samples is N times the second number of samples. The decoding section decodes the decodable set of audio data into a segment of the audio signal by at least employing signal synthesis, based on the decodable set of audio data, with a stride corresponding to the first number of samples of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Kristofer Kjoerling, Alexander Groeschel, Heiko Purnhagen, Holger Hoerich, Kurt Krauss
  • Publication number: 20190158957
    Abstract: A method of processing audio data for replay on a mobile device with a first speaker and a second speaker, wherein the audio data comprises a respective audio signal for each of the first and second speakers, includes: determining a device orientation of the mobile device; if the determined device orientation is vertical orientation, applying a first processing mode to the audio signals for the first and second speakers; and if the determined device orientation is horizontal orientation, applying a second processing mode to the audio signals for the first and second speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicants: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Mark David de Burgh, Nicholas Luke Appleton, Heiko Purnhagen, Mark William Gerrard, David Matthew Cooper
  • Patent number: 10297259
    Abstract: The application relates to audio encoder and decoder systems. An embodiment of the encoder system comprises a downmix stage for generating a downmix signal and a residual signal based on a stereo signal. In addition, the encoder system comprises a parameter determining stage for determining parametric stereo parameters such as an inter-channel intensity difference and an inter-channel cross-correlation. Preferably, the parametric stereo parameters are time- and frequency-variant. Moreover, the encoder system comprises a transform stage. The transform stage generates a pseudo left/right stereo signal by performing a transform based on the downmix signal and the residual signal. The pseudo stereo signal is processed by a perceptual stereo encoder. For stereo encoding, left/right encoding or mid/side encoding is selectable. Preferably, the selection between left/right stereo encoding and mid/side stereo encoding is time- and frequency-variant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Kristofer Kjoerling
  • Patent number: 10290306
    Abstract: A better compromise between a too high bitstream and decoding overhead on the one hand and flexibility of frame element positioning on the other hand is achieved by arranging that each of the sequence of frames of the bitstream has a sequence of N frame elements and, on the other hand, the bitstream has a configuration block having a field indicating the number of elements N and a type indication syntax portion indicating, for each element position of the sequence of N element positions, an element type out of a plurality of element types with, in the sequences of N frame elements of the frames, each frame element being of the element type indicated, by the type indication portion, for the respective element position at which the respective frame element is positioned within the sequence of N frame elements of the respective frame in the bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V., DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Max Neuendorf, Markus Multrus, Stefan Doehla, Heiko Purnhagen, Frans De Bont
  • Patent number: 10290304
    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: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Toni Hirvonen, Heiko Purnhagen, Leif Jonas Samuelsson, Lars Villemoes