With Encoder Patents (Class 381/23)
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Patent number: 10904592Abstract: This is provided to achieve capability of avoiding hindrance of accurate reflection of intention at the time of production due to execution of frame interpolation on the reception side. A predetermined container including a video stream obtained by performing encoding operation on moving image data of a predetermined frame rate is transmitted. Information for restricting frame interpolation is inserted into one or both of a layer of the container and a layer of the video stream. For example, the information for restricting frame interpolation includes information for prohibiting frame interpolation. Moreover, for example, the information for restricting frame interpolation includes information indicating the number of times of frame repeats.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2016Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Ikuo Tsukagoshi
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Patent number: 10862941Abstract: To enable, on a receiving side, processing obtaining predetermined information to be performed easily and appropriately in a case the predetermined information is divided into a predetermined number of audio frames and transmitted. The predetermined information is inserted into an audio compressed data stream. The audio compressed data stream into which the predetermined information is inserted is transmitted. It is possible to insert each of the pieces of divided information obtained by dividing the predetermined information into the predetermined number of audio frames of the audio compressed data stream. Information indicating the overall size of the predetermined information is added to a first piece of divided information. It is possible to ensure space for storing the predetermined information in a storage medium on the basis of the information indicating the overall size of the predetermined information at a time point where the first piece of divided information is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2016Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Ikuo Tsukagoshi, Toru Chinen
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Patent number: 10841721Abstract: There are two representations for Higher Order Ambisonics denoted HOA: spatial domain and coefficient domain. The invention generates from a coefficient domain representation a mixed spatial/coefficient domain representation, wherein the number of said HOA signals can be variable. An aspect of the invention further relates to methods and apparatus decoding multiplexed and perceptually encoded HOA signals, including transforming a vector of PCM encoded spatial domain signals of the HOA representation to a corresponding vector of coefficient domain signals by multiplying the vector of PCM encoded spatial domain signals with a transform matrix and de-normalizing the vector of PCM encoded and normalized coefficient domain signals, wherein said de-normalizing comprises.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger
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Patent number: 10783893Abstract: An encoder and an encoding method for a multi-channel signal, and a decoder and a decoding method for a multi-channel signal are disclosed. A multi-channel signal may be efficiently processed by consecutive downmixing or upmixing.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Seung Kwon Beack, Tae Jin Lee, Jong Mo Sung, Jeong Il Seo, Kyeong Ok Kang, Dae Young Jang, Jin Woong Kim
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Patent number: 10764702Abstract: An audio content playback method for a portable terminal. The audio content playback method includes checking a channel that is supportable by audio content that is currently engaged in group's simultaneous playback, in group's simultaneous playback of the audio content. The method includes allocating a channel to each of devices included in a group based on position information of each device included in the group or based on an input state in a user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group, and transmitting the allocated channel information to each device included in the group to allow the device to select its allocated channel and play the audio content.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jung-Mi Lee, Kyu-Ok Choi, Ji-Hyun Um
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Patent number: 10714112Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. For coding, portions of the original HOA representation are predicted from the directional signal components. This prediction provides side information which is required for a corresponding decoding. By using some additional specific purpose bits, a known side information coding processing is improved in that the required number of bits for coding that side information is reduced on average.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger, Oliver Wuebbolt
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Patent number: 10672406Abstract: A device for processing audio signals includes an interchannel phase difference (IPD) mode selector and an IPD estimator. The IPD mode selector is configured to select an IPD mode based on at least a strength value associated with a temporal misalignment between a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The IPD estimator is configured to determine IPD values based on the first audio signal and the second audio signal. The IPD values have a resolution corresponding to the selected IPD mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Venkata Subrahmanyam Chandra Sekhar Chebiyyam, Venkatraman Atti
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Patent number: 10674302Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
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Patent number: 10657979Abstract: A decoder for generating a frequency enhanced audio signal, includes: a feature extractor for extracting a feature from a core signal; a side information extractor for extracting a selection side information associated with the core signal; a parameter generator for generating a parametric representation for estimating a spectral range of the frequency enhanced audio signal not defined by the core signal, wherein the parameter generator is configured to provide a number of parametric representation alternatives in response to the feature, and wherein the parameter generator is configured to select one of the parametric representation alternatives as the parametric representation in response to the selection side information; and a signal estimator for estimating the frequency enhanced audio signal using the parametric representation selected.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Frederik Nagel, Sascha Disch, Andreas Niedermeier
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Patent number: 10602293Abstract: The encoding and decoding of HOA signals using Singular Value Decomposition includes forming based on sound source direction values and an Ambisonics order corresponding ket vectors (|Y(?s)) of spherical harmonics and an encoder mode matrix (?OxS). From the audio input signal (|x(?s)) a singular threshold value (?s) determined. On the encoder mode matrix a Singular Value Decomposition is carried out in order to get related singular values which are compared with the threshold value, leading to a final encoder mode matrix rank (rfine). Based on direction values (?l) of loudspeakers and a decoder Ambisonics order (Nl), corresponding ket vectors (|Y(?l)) and a decoder mode matrix (?OxL) are formed. On the decoder mode matrix a Singular Value Decomposition is carried out, providing a final decoder mode matrix rank (rfind).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Dolby International ABInventors: Holger Kropp, Stefan Abeling
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Patent number: 10575094Abstract: The present subject matter provides a technical solution to the technical problems facing sound localization by separating sounds and reproducing the separated sounds using a set of loudspeakers and a set of headphones. A general soundtrack that is meant to be experienced throughout the room would play through the loudspeakers, and specific sounds that are meant to be experienced near the listener would be played through a binaural representation in the headphones. The headphones may be selected to avoid occluding the ear, allowing sound produced at the loudspeakers to be heard clearly. This separation and reproduction of sounds using a combination of a loudspeaker and headphone provides a technical solution to the technical problem facing typical surround sound systems by localizing sounds for listeners in any location within a room. This improves reproduction accuracy of location-specific audio objects, including audio objects above or below a coplanar speaker configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: DTS, Inc.Inventor: Brian Slack
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Patent number: 10553233Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. For coding, portions of the original HOA representation are predicted from the directional signal components. This prediction provides side information which is required for a corresponding decoding. By using some additional specific purpose bits, a known side information coding processing is improved in that the required number of bits for coding that side information is reduced on average.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger, Oliver Wuebbolt
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Patent number: 10468037Abstract: From an HOA signal representation (c(t)) of a sound field having an order of N and a number 0=(N+1)2 of coefficient sequences a mezzanine HOA signal representation (wMEZZ(t)) is generated that consists of an arbitrary number I<0 of virtual loudspeaker signals WMEZZ1(t), WMEZZ,2(t), . . . , WMEZZ,I(t). 0 directions are computed which are nearly uniformly distributed on the unit sphere. The mode vectors with respect to these directions are linearly weighted for constructing a matrix, of which the pseudo-inverse is used for multiplying the HOA signal representation (c(t)) in order to form (11) the mezzanine HOA signal representation (WME.ZZ(t)).Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Florian Keiler, Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger
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Patent number: 10438580Abstract: A method for using a loudspeaker array that is housed in a loudspeaker cabinet to present audio content to a listener in a room includes receiving (1) an audio channel that includes audio content and (2) acoustical characteristics of the room. The method also produces (1) a first beamformer input signal from the audio channel and (2) a second beamformer input signal and a third beamformer input signal by decorrelating the audio channel and adjusting the audio channel in accordance with the acoustical characteristics of the room. The second and third beamformer input signals are different de-correlated versions of the audio channel. The method also generates driver signals from the first, second, and third beamformer input signals to drive the loudspeaker array to produce a main beam, a first ambient beam, and a second ambient beam, respectively. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Simon K. Porter, Sylvain J. Choisel, John C. Stewart
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Patent number: 10424312Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. For coding, portions of the original HOA representation are predicted from the directional signal components. This prediction provides side information which is required for a corresponding decoding. By using some additional specific purpose bits, a known side information coding processing is improved in that the required number of bits for coding that side information is reduced on average.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger, Oliver Wuebbolt
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Patent number: 10412526Abstract: A multi-channel decoder for generating a binaural signal from a downmix signal using upmix rule information on an energy-error introducing upmix rule for calculating a gain factor based on the upmix rule information and characteristics of head related transfer function based filters corresponding to upmix channels. The one or more gain factors are used by a filter processor for filtering the downmix signal so that an energy corrected binaural signal having a left binaural channel and a right binaural channel is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Dolby International ABInventor: Lars Villemoes
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Patent number: 10412525Abstract: A multi-channel decoder for generating a binaural signal from a downmix signal using upmix rule information on an energy-error introducing upmix rule for calculating a gain factor based on the upmix rule information and characteristics of head related transfer function based filters corresponding to upmix channels. The one or more gain factors are used by a filter processor for filtering the downmix signal so that an energy corrected binaural signal having a left binaural channel and a right binaural channel is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Dolby International ABInventor: Lars Villemoes
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Patent number: 10382876Abstract: There are two representations for Higher Order Ambisonics denoted HOA: spatial domain and coefficient domain. The invention generates from a coefficient domain representation a mixed spatial/coefficient domain representation, wherein the number of said HOA signals can be variable. A vector of coefficient domain signals is separated into a vector of coefficient domain signals having a constant number of HOA coefficients and a vector of coefficient domain signals having a variable number of HOA coefficients. The constant-number HOA coefficients vector is transformed to a corresponding spatial domain signal vector. In order to facilitate high-quality coding, without creating signal discontinuities the variable-number HOA coefficients vector of coefficient domain signals is adaptively normalized and multiplexed with the vector of spatial domain signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger
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Patent number: 10368181Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
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Patent number: 10356545Abstract: Disclosed is an audio signal processing device for processing an audio signal. The audio signal processing device includes a receiving unit configured to receive the audio signal; a processor configured to determine whether to render the audio signal by reflecting a location of a sound image simulated by the audio signal on the basis of metadata for the audio signal, and render the audio signal according to a result of the determination; and an output unit configured to output the rendered audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: GAUDIO LAB, INC.Inventors: Sangbae Chon, Hyunoh Oh, Taegyu Lee
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Patent number: 10349191Abstract: The present disclosure regards a binaural hearing system configured to receive sound signals from the environment having two hearing instruments to be worn on respective sides of the head of a user and to generate a binaural signal using the received sound signals of both hearing instruments.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Pauli Minnaar
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Patent number: 10349197Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an audio generation method includes: receiving an audio signal through at least one microphone; generating an input channel signal corresponding to each of the at least one microphone based on the received audio signal; generating a virtual input channel signal based on the input channel signal; generating additional information including reproduction locations of the input channel signal and the virtual input channel signal; and transmitting a multi-channel audio signal and the additional information, the multi-channel audio signal including the input channel signal and the virtual input channel signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyun Jo, Sun-min Kim, Jae-ha Park, Sang-mo Son
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Patent number: 10244339Abstract: The encoding and decoding of HOA signals using Singular Value Decomposition includes forming based on sound source direction values and an Ambisonics order corresponding ket vectors (|Y(?s)) of spherical harmonics and an encoder mode matrix (?O×S). From the audio input signal (|x(?s)) a singular threshold value (?S) determined. On the encoder mode matrix a Singular Value Decomposition is carried out in order to get related singular values which are compared with the threshold value, leading to a final encoder mode matrix rank (rfins). Based on direction values (?l) of loudspeakers and a decoder Ambisonics order (Nl), corresponding ket vectors (|Y(?l)) and a decoder mode matrix (?O×L) are formed. On the decoder mode matrix a Singular Value Decomposition is carried out, providing a final decoder mode matrix rank (rfind).Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Dolby International ABInventors: Holger Kropp, Stefan Abeling
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Patent number: 10147437Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. For coding, portions of the original HOA representation are predicted from the directional signal components. This prediction provides side information which is required for a corresponding decoding. By using some additional specific purpose bits, a known side information coding processing is improved in that the required number of bits for coding that side information is reduced on average.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2018Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Alexander Krueger, Sven Kordon, Oliver Wuebbolt
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Patent number: 10121487Abstract: A signaling processor is provided. The signaling processor includes a frequency domain processing module configured to generate a cut-off frequency of an input signal and to generate level information for adjusting a level of a high frequency recovery signal and a time domain processing module configured to receive the cut-off frequency and the level information from the frequency domain processing module, to generate a signal having a frequency greater than or equal to the cut-off frequency using part of a signal of a frequency lower than the cut-off frequency in the input signal, to generate the high frequency recovery signal by adjusting a level of the generated signal using the level information, and to synthesize the high frequency recovery signal with the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Anant Baijal, Hyeon Sik Jeong, Byeong Seob Ko, Hyunjoo Chung, Sang Mo Son
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Patent number: 10070243Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Groeschel
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Patent number: 10032459Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an audio signal. Sections which are not used to output noise components near important spectral components and sub-bands which are not used to output noise components, are determined to be encoded or decoded, so that the efficiency of encoding and decoding an audio signal increases, and sound quality can be improved using less bits.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Eun-mi Oh, Anton Porov, Jung-hoe Kim
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Patent number: 10003907Abstract: Diffuse or spatially large audio objects may be identified for special processing. A decorrelation process may be performed on audio signals corresponding to the large audio objects to produce decorrelated large audio object audio signals. These decorrelated large audio object audio signals may be associated with object locations, which may be stationary or time-varying locations. For example, the decorrelated large audio object audio signals may be rendered to virtual or actual speaker locations. The output of such a rendering process may be input to a scene simplification process. The decorrelation, associating and/or scene simplification processes may be performed prior to a process of encoding the audio data.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Lie Lu, Nicolas R. Tsingos, Antonio Mateos Sole
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Patent number: 9955278Abstract: The present document relates to the field of encoding and decoding of audio. In particular, the present document relates to encoding and decoding of an audio scene comprising audio objects. A method (400) for encoding metadata relating to a plurality of audio objects (106a) of an audio scene (102) is described. The metadata comprises a first set (114, 314) of metadata and a second set (104) of metadata. The first and second sets (104, 114, 314) of metadata comprise one or more data elements which are indicative of a property of an audio object (106a) from the plurality of audio objects (106a) and/or of a downmix signal (112) derived from the plurality of audio objects (106a). The method (400) comprises identifying (401) a redundant data element which is common to the first and second sets (104, 114, 314) of metadata.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Dolby International ABInventors: Christof Fersch, Heiko Purnhagen, Jens Popp, Martin Wolters
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Patent number: 9883308Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-channel audio signal processing method and a multi-channel audio signal processing apparatus. The multi-channel audio signal processing method may generate N channel output signals from N/2 channel downmix signals based on an N-N/2-N structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Seung Kwon Beack, Jeong Il Seo, Jong Mo Sung, Tae Jin Lee, Dae Young Jang, Jin Woong Kim
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Patent number: 9847088Abstract: In general, techniques are directed to intermediate compression of higher order ambisonic audio data. For example, a device comprising a processor and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store an intermediately formatted audio data generated as a result of an intermediate compression of higher order ambisonic audio data. The one or more processors may be configured to process the intermediately formatted audio data.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Nils Günther Peters, Dipanjan Sen
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Patent number: 9818415Abstract: A method for selecting a subset of channels of (e.g., determined from) at least a segment of a multichannel audio program for watermarking and watermarking the selected subset of channels, and a system or device configured to implement any embodiment of the method, or including a buffer which stores at least one frame or other segment of a multichannel audio program generated by any embodiment of the method or steps thereof. Some embodiments generate watermarking metadata during program creation including by analyzing audio content to be included in segments of a multichannel program, determining at least one watermark suitability value for each channel of each of the segments, and including the watermark suitability values (or watermarking data determined therefrom) as metadata in the program. Some embodiments are implemented by a playback system which determines the selected subset of channels to be watermarked.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Dossym Nurmukhanov, Sripal S. Mehta, Dirk Jeroen Breebaart
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Patent number: 9686624Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Groeschel
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Patent number: 9685163Abstract: In general, techniques are described for transforming spherical harmonic coefficients. A device comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may be configured to parse the bitstream to determine transformation information describing how the sound field was transformed to reduce a number of the plurality of hierarchical elements that provide information relevant in describing the sound field. The processors may further be configured to, when reproducing the sound field based on those of the plurality of hierarchical elements that provide information relevant in describing the sound field, transform the sound field based on the transformation information to reverse the transformation performed to reduce the number of the plurality of hierarchical elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Dipanjan Sen, Martin James Morrell, Nils Günther Peters
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Patent number: 9681247Abstract: Disclosed is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium which receives, by an audio decoder (operating in a specific playback environment different from a reference channel configuration), an audio signal for the reference channel configuration. The audio signal includes audio sample data and encoder-generated loudness metadata which includes a plurality of portions of loudness metadata for a plurality of playback environments. The plurality of portions of loudness metadata includes one or more respective portions of loudness metadata for each playback environment in the plurality of playback environments. The medium also selects one or more portions of specific loudness metadata (based on the specific playback environment), from among the plurality of portions of loudness metadata for the plurality of playback environments.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Groeschel
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Patent number: 9654895Abstract: Diffuse or spatially large audio objects may be identified for special processing. A decorrelation process may be performed on audio signals corresponding to the large audio objects to produce decorrelated large audio object audio signals. These decorrelated large audio object audio signals may be associated with object locations, which may be stationary or time-varying locations. For example, the decorrelated large audio object audio signals may be rendered to virtual or actual speaker locations. The output of such a rendering process may be input to a scene simplification process. The decorrelation, associating and/or scene simplification processes may be performed prior to a process of encoding the audio data.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Lie Lu, Nicolas R. Tsingos, Antonio Mateos Sole
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Patent number: 9596544Abstract: A device having first means for directing a sound wave to a first side of a target head location; a first means for encircling the first directing means, being configured to phase focus the sound wave to a proximate center point of a left ear of the listener; a second means for directing the sound wave to a second side of the target head location of the listener; a second means for encircling the second directing means, being configured to phase focus the sound wave to a proximate center point of a right ear of the listener; and means for encapsulating the first and second encircling means, said encapsulating means being configured to proximately surround the target head location of the listener.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Inventor: Gregory Douglas Brotherton
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Patent number: 9584912Abstract: An encoder (501) generates data representing an audio scene by a first downmix and data characterizing audio objects. In addition, a direction dependent diffuseness parameter indicative of a degree of diffuseness of a residual downmix is provided where the residual downmix corresponds to a downmix of audio components of the audio scene with the audio objects being extracted. A rendering apparatus (503) comprises a receiver (701) receiving the data from the encoder (501). A circuit (703) generates signals for a spatial speaker configuration from the audio objects. A transformer (709) generates non-diffuse sound signals for the spatial speaker configuration by applying a first transformation to the residual downmix and another transformer (707) generates signals for the spatial speaker configuration by applying a second transformation to the residual downmix by applying a decorrelation to the residual downmix. The transformations are dependent on the direction dependent diffuseness parameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Jeroen Gerardus Henricus Koppens, Erik Gosuinus Petrus Schuijers, Arnoldus Werner Johannes Oomen, Leon Maria Van De Kerkhof
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Patent number: 9564142Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an audio signal. Sections which are not used to output noise components near important spectral components and sub-bands which are not used to output noise components, are determined to be encoded or decoded, so that the efficiency of encoding and decoding an audio signal increases, and sound quality can be improved using less bits.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Eun-mi Oh, Anton Porov, Jung-hoe Kim
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Patent number: 9521501Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Groeschel
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Patent number: 9489956Abstract: Received audio data may include a first set of frequency coefficients and a second set of frequency coefficients. Spatial parameters for at least part of the second set of frequency coefficients may be estimated, based at least in part on the first set of frequency coefficients. The estimated spatial parameters may be applied to the second set of frequency coefficients to generate a modified second set of frequency coefficients. The first set of frequency coefficients may correspond to a first frequency range (for example, an individual channel frequency range) and the second set of frequency coefficients may correspond to a second frequency range (for example, a coupled channel frequency range). Combined frequency coefficients of a composite coupling channel may be based on frequency coefficients of two or more channels. Cross-correlation coefficients, between frequency coefficients of a first channel and the combined frequency coefficients, may be computed.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Matthew Fellers, Vinay Melkote, Kuan-Chieh Yen, Grant A. Davidson, Mark F. Davis
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Patent number: 9478223Abstract: Provided are a multi-channel audio down-mixing method and apparatus for selecting down-mix target channels based on a calculation of correlations between channels and then down-mixing the down-mix target channels. The method includes: calculating correlations between channels of multi-channel audio; selecting a first channel and a second channel, among the channels of the multi-channel audio, that are to be down-mixed, based on the calculated correlations; and down-mixing the selected first channel and the selected second channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Han-Gil Moon, Chul-Woo Lee
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Patent number: 9460723Abstract: A decoding system reconstructs an audio signal based on an input signal representing the audio signal by parametric coding or by n discretely coded channels. Parametric decoding proceeds on the basis of a core signal and mixing parameters controlling a spatial synthesis stage, which is supplied with a downmix signal. A controller is responsible for controlling the components of the decoding system, whether in steady-state parametric mode, steady-state discrete decoding mode and transitions between these. In defective frames of the input signal, which do not allow the mixing parameters to be decoded, the controller is configured to perform various error handling procedures including: parametric decoding using previous values of the mixing parameters; continuing parametric decoding for a limited duration, and/or outputting the core signal without spatial synthesis.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Dolby International ABInventors: Tobias Friedrich, Tobias Ro Wagenblass, Karsten Linzmeier, Daniel Homm, Claus-Christian Spenger, Heiko Purnhagen
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Patent number: 9456286Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a binaural hearing system with two hearing devices (1, 1?) operationally interconnected by means of a bidirectional link (8) which improves hearing perception in windy listening situations. The method comprises determining the level of wind noise present at each of the two hearing devices (1, 1?) and sending the audio signal picked-up at the first hearing device (1) to the second hearing device (1?) via the link (8) and then providing an output signal derived from the received signal to the electrical-to-mechanical output converter (3?) of the second hearing device (1?) if the level of wind noise at the second hearing device (1?) exceeds the level of wind noise at the first hearing device (1) by a pre-set threshold value. Furthermore, a binaural hearing system capable of performing such a method is given.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Volker Kuhnel, Ralph Peter Derleth, Raphael Lamon, Alexander Reich
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Patent number: 9449604Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an encoding parameter for an audio channel signal of a multi-channel audio signal, the method comprising: determining for the audio channel signal a set of functions from the audio channel signal and a reference audio signal; determining a first set of encoding parameters based on a smoothing of the set of functions with respect to a frame sequence of the multi-channel audio signal, the smoothing being based on a first smoothing coefficient; determining a second set of encoding parameters based on a smoothing of the set of functions with respect to the frame sequence of the multi-channel audio signal, the smoothing being based on a second smoothing coefficient; and determining the encoding parameter based on a quality criterion with respect to the first set of encoding parameters and/or the second set of encoding parameters.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: David Virette, Yue Lang, Jianfeng Xu
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Patent number: 9449603Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an encoding parameter for an audio channel signal of a multi-channel audio signal, the method comprising: determining a frequency transform of the audio channel signal; determining a frequency transform of a reference audio signal; determining inter channel differences for at least each frequency sub-band of a subset of frequency sub-bands, each inter channel difference indicating a phase difference or time difference between a band-limited signal portion of the audio channel signal and a band-limited signal portion of the reference audio signal in the respective frequency sub-band the inter-channel difference is associated to; determining a first average based on positive values of the inter-channel differences and determining a second average based on negative values of the inter-channel differences; and determining the encoding parameter based on the first average and on the second average.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: David Virette, Yue Lang, Jianfeng Xu
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Patent number: 9368122Abstract: An apparatus for generating a decorrelated signal having a receiving unit for receiving phase information, a transient separator, a transient decorrelator, a second decorrelator and a combining unit, wherein the transient separator is adapted to separate an input signal into a first signal component and into a second signal component such that the first signal component has transient signal portions of the input signal and such that the second signal component has non-transient signal portions of the input signal. The transient decorrelator is adapted to apply the phase information received by the receiving unit to a transient signal component.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Achim Kuntz, Sascha Disch, Juergen Herre, Fabian Kuech, Johannes Hilpert
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Patent number: 9330671Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of audio encoding and/or decoding technologies, and thus concerns an overall encoding procedure and associated decoding procedure. The encoding procedure involves at least two signal encoding processes (S1-S3) operating on signal representations of a set of audio input channels, as well as residual encoding (S7-S8). It also involves a dedicated process (S4-S6) to estimate and encode energies of the audio input channels. Each encoding process is associated with a corresponding decoding process. In the overall decoding procedure the decoded signals from each encoding process are preferably combined such that the output channels are close to the input channels in terms of energy and/or quality. Normally, the combination step also adapts to the possible loss of one or more signal representation in part or in whole, such that the energy and quality is optimized with the signals at hand in the decoder. In this way, the overall quality of the output channels is improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)Inventors: Erik Norvell, Martin Sehlstedt, Anisse Taleb
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Patent number: 9253572Abstract: Methods and systems for providing synthetic audio placement are described herein. In different aspects, the methods and systems may include a connection port to receive a plurality of remote audio signals included in a conference call, at least one of the plurality of remote audio connections being a single channel audio signal, a processor configured with the connection port to provide a sound field for placing the plurality of audio signals, the sound field providing synthetic audio placement of each of the plurality of remote audio signals, and a rendering output configured with the processor to project the plurality of remote audio within the sound field to a listener.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., Larry D. Woodring
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Patent number: 9197964Abstract: An amplifier unit suitable for a wide variety of uses, which can flexibly support diverse sound recording scenarios, and a mobile electronic device provided with the amplifier unit. An amplifier unit has microphone/line input terminals respectively provided on the topside surface and the left side surface. When a connector is connected to a mobile electronic device, stereophonic sound is recorded using one of the terminals when the mobile electronic device is held in portrait orientation, and using the other terminal when the mobile electronic device is held in landscape orientation. It is possible to switch each of audio signals coming through the two terminals between monophonic and stereophonic.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: TEAC CorporationInventors: Hideaki Gotoh, Kazuki Ida