Patents by Inventor Ingo Hofmann

Ingo Hofmann 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).

  • Patent number: 12573409
    Abstract: An audio encoder is disclosed for providing an encoded representation of an audio information encodes a sequence of audio frames. The audio encoder provides one or more immediate playout frames including a representation of a current audio frame, preceding the current audio frame. The audio encoder provides the representations of the current frame and of the one or more audio frames preceding the current audio frame, such that these representations are decodable using a same decoder configuration. The audio encoder provides the representations of the one or more audio frames preceding the current audio frame, which are included into the immediate playout frame, using a modified encoding functionality, which encodes an audio frame using a smaller number of bits than a normal encoding functionality, which is used for the encoding of the current audio frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Max Neuendorf, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Christina Mittag, Daniel Richter, Agathe Deniau, Wahaj Aslam, Ingo Hofmann, Bernd Herrmann
  • Patent number: 12411648
    Abstract: There are disclosed techniques, systems, methods and instructions for a virtual reality, VR, augmented reality, AR, mixed reality, MR, or 360-degree video environment. In one example, the system includes at least one media video decoder configured to decode video signals from video streams for the representation of VR, AR, MR or 360-degree video environment scenes to a user. The system includes at least one audio decoder configured to decode audio signals from at least one audio stream. The system is configured to request at least one audio stream and/or one audio element of an audio stream and/or one adaptation set to a server on the basis of at least the user's current viewport and/or head orientation and/or movement data and/or interaction metadata and/or virtual positional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Adrian Murtaza, Harald Fuchs, Bernd Czelhan, Jan Plogsties, Matteo Agnelli, Ingo Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20250061906
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel FISCHER, Bernd CZELHAN, Max NEUENDORF, Nikolaus RETTELBACH, Ingo HOFMANN, Harald FUCHS, Stefan DOEHLA, Nikolaus FAERBER
  • Patent number: 12170093
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Bernd Czelhan, Max Neuendorf, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Ingo Hofmann, Harald Fuchs, Stefan Doehla, Nikolaus Faerber
  • Patent number: 12165664
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Bernd Czelhan, Max Neuendorf, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Ingo Hofmann, Harald Fuchs, Stefan Doehla, Nikolaus Faerber
  • Publication number: 20240404540
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Publication number: 20240395272
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Publication number: 20240395275
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Publication number: 20240395274
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Publication number: 20240395273
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Publication number: 20240395271
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Publication number: 20240395276
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Max NEUENDORF, Matthias FELIX, Matthias HILDENBRAND, Lukas SCHUSTER, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Nikolaus RETTELBACH
  • Patent number: 12149762
    Abstract: Audio video synchronization and alignment or alignment of audio to some other external clock are rendered more effective or easier by treating fragment grid and frame grid as independent values, but, nevertheless, for each fragment the frame grid is aligned to the respective fragment's beginning. A compression effectiveness lost may be kept low when appropriately selecting the fragment size. On the other hand, the alignment of the frame grid with respect to the fragments' beginnings allows for an easy and fragment-synchronized way of handling the fragments in connection with, for example, parallel audio video streaming, bitrate adaptive streaming or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Czelhan, Harald Fuchs, Ingo Hofmann, Herbert Thoma, Stephan Schreiner
  • Patent number: 12142286
    Abstract: An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio signal representation on the basis of an encoded audio signal representation is configured to adjust decoding parameters in dependence on a configuration information, to decode one or more audio frames using a current configuration information, to compare a configuration information in a configuration structure associated with one or more frames to be decoded by the current configuration information, and to make a transition to perform decoding using the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded as a new configuration information if the configuration information in the configuration structure associated with the one or more frames to be decoded, or a relevant portion thereof, is different from the current configuration information, and to consider a stream identifier information included in the configuration structure when comparing the configuration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Max Neuendorf, Matthias Felix, Matthias Hildenbrand, Lukas Schuster, Ingo Hofmann, Bernd Herrmann, Nikolaus Rettelbach
  • Publication number: 20240355340
    Abstract: A streaming client device receives a bitstream, which includes an encoded audio signal according to an encoded audio signal version selected among multiple selectable versions, each having at least one personalization option among multiple personalization options. The bitstream also includes side information with configuration information and capacity information. The streaming client device: defines a personalization, by choosing a preferred selectable version based on the capacity information and the configuration information; selects an encoded audio signal version based on a current state of the external resource and the personalization, so that the capacity required by the selected encoded audio signal version matches the current state of the external resource; and decodes the received encoded audio signal or transcodes it onto another bitstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Moritz FUCHS, Oliver Peter MAJOR, Ziad Marwan Daoud SHABAN, Bernd CZELHAN, Harald FUCHS, Ingo HOFMANN, Bernd HERRMANN, Max NEUENDORF, Stefan MELTZER
  • Patent number: 12094478
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Bernd Czelhan, Max Neuendorf, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Ingo Hofmann, Harald Fuchs, Stefan Doehla, Nikolaus Faerber
  • Patent number: 12094479
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Bernd Czelhan, Max Neuendorf, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Ingo Hofmann, Harald Fuchs, Stefan Doehla, Nikolaus Faerber
  • Patent number: 12080309
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Bernd Czelhan, Max Neuendorf, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Ingo Hofmann, Harald Fuchs, Stefan Doehla, Nikolaus Faerber
  • Publication number: 20240212697
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel FISCHER, Bernd CZELHAN, Max NEUENDORF, Nikolaus RETTELBACH, Ingo HOFMANN, Harald FUCHS, Stefan DOEHLA, Nikolaus FAERBER
  • Publication number: 20240203434
    Abstract: An audio decoder decodes a bit stream of encoded audio data, which bit stream represents a sequence of audio sample values and includes a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes associated encoded audio sample values. The audio decoder includes a determiner configured to determine whether a frame of the encoded audio data is a special frame including encoded audio sample values associated with the special frame and additional information, wherein the additional information include encoded audio sample values of a number of frames preceding the special frame, wherein the encoded audio sample values of the preceding frames are encoded using the same codec configuration as the special frame, wherein the number of preceding frames is sufficient to initialize the decoder to be in a position to decode the audio sample values associated with the special frame if the special frame is the first frame upon start-up of the decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel FISCHER, Bernd CZELHAN, Max NEUENDORF, Nikolaus RETTELBACH, Ingo HOFMANN, Harald FUCHS, Stefan DOEHLA, Nikolaus FAERBER