Multichannel Audio Signal Coding And Decoding, I.e., Using Interchannel Correlation To Reduce Redundancies, E.g., Joint-stereo, Intensity-coding, Matrixing, Etc. (epo) Patents (Class 704/E19.005)
  • Patent number: 9014377
    Abstract: An audio signal is processed in the frequency domain to convert an input signal format to an output signal format. That is, a multichannel audio signal intended for playback over a predefined speaker layout can be formatted to achieve spatial reproduction over a different layout comprising a different number of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael M. Goodwin, Jean-Marc Jot
  • Patent number: 8861739
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a processor configured to receive a first audio signal and first location data, the first location data relating to a location of a source of the first audio signal; receive a second audio signal and second location data, the second location data relating to a location of a source of the second audio signal; receive selected location data relating to a selected location; and generate a multichannel signal in dependence on the first and second audio signals, the first and second location data and the selected location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Juha P. Ojanpera
  • Patent number: 8824690
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of processing a multi-channel audio signal using space information. The apparatus includes: a main coding unit down mixing a multi-channel audio signal by applying space information to surround components included in the multi-channel audio signal, generating side information using the multi-channel audio signal or a stereo signal of a down-mixed result, coding the stereo signal and the side information, and transmitting the coded result as a coding signal; and a main decoding unit receiving the coding signal, decoding the stereo signal and the side information using the received coding signal, up mixing the decoded stereo signal using the decoded side information, and restoring the multi-channel audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junghoe Kim, Sangchul Ko, Shihwa Lee, Eunmi Oh, Miao Lei
  • Patent number: 8812141
    Abstract: An system, method, and method of encoding/decoding a multi-channel audio signal, including a decoding level generation unit producing decoding-level information that helps a bitstream including a number of audio channel signals and space information to be decoded into a number of audio channel signals, wherein the space information includes information about magnitude differences and/or similarities between channels, and an audio decoder decoding the bitstream according to the decoding-level information. Accordingly, even a single input bitstream can be decoded into a suitable number of channels depending on the type of a speaker configuration used. Scalable channel decoding can be achieved by partially decoding an input bitstream. In the scalable channel decoding, a decoder may set decoding levels and outputs audio channel signals according to the decoding levels, thereby reducing decoding complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junghee Kim, Mino Lei, Eunmi Oh
  • Patent number: 8793132
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and program for dividing a conversational dialog into utterance. The apparatus includes: a computer processor; a word database for storing spellings and pronunciations of words; a grammar database for storing syntactic rules on words; a pause detecting section which detects a pause location in a channel making a main speech among conversational dialogs inputted in at least two channels; an acknowledgement detecting section which detects an acknowledgement location in a channel not making the main speech; a boundary-candidate extracting section which extracts boundary candidates in the main speech, by extracting pauses existing within a predetermined range before and after a base point that is the acknowledgement location; and a recognizing unit which outputs a word string of the main speech segmented by one of the extracted boundary candidates after dividing the segmented speech into optimal utterance in reference to the word database and grammar database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Itoh, Gakuto Kurata
  • Patent number: 8781134
    Abstract: A method of encoding stereo audio that minimizes a number of pieces of side information required for parametric-encoding and parametric-decoding of the stereo audio. The side information may include parameters about interchannel intensity difference (IID), interchannel correlation (IC), overall phase difference (OPD), and interchannel phase difference (IPD), which are required to restore the mono audio to the stereo audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-gil Moon, Chul-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8613038
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention discloses a system and method for decoding multiple independent encoded audio streams using a single decoder. The system includes one or more parsers, a preprocessor, an audio decoder, and a renderer. The parser extracts individual audio frames from each input audio stream. The preprocessor combines the outputs of all parsers into a single audio frame stream and enables sharing of the audio decoder among multiple independent encoded audio streams. The audio decoder decodes the single audio frame stream and provides a single decoded audio stream. And the renderer renders the individual reconstructed audio streams from the single decoded audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics International N.V., STMicroelectronics (Grenoble) SAS
    Inventors: Rahul Bansal, Philippe Monnier, Shiv Kumar Singh, Kausik Maiti, Nitin Jain
  • Patent number: 8498421
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal are provided. In the encoding method, spatial information is calculated based on a multi-channel audio signal and a down-mix signal, and a compensation parameter that compensates for the down-mix signal is calculated based on the multi-channel audio signal and the down-mix signal. Thereafter, a bitstream is generated by encoding the spatial information, the compensation parameter, and the down-mix signal and combining the results of the encoding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of sound regarding a multi-channel audio signal by compensating for the multi-channel audio signal using a compensation parameter that compensates for a down-mix signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yang-Won Jung, Hee Suk Pang, Hyen-O Oh, Dong Soo Kim, Jae Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 8488819
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a media signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which the media signal can be converted to a surround signal by using spatial information of the media signal. The present invention provides a method of processing a signal, the method comprising of generating source mapping information corresponding to each source of multi-sources by using spatial information indicating features between the multi-sources; generating sub-rendering in formation by applying filter information giving a surround effect to the source mapping in formation per the source; generating rendering information for generating a surround signal by integrating the at least one of the sub-rendering information; and generating the surround signal by applying the rendering information to a downmix signal generated by downmixing the multi-sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Suk Pang, Dong Soo Kim, Jae Hyun Lim, Hyen O Oh, Yang-Won Jung
  • Patent number: 8473302
    Abstract: Provided are parametric audio encoding and decoding apparatuses and methods thereof. In the parametric audio encoding method, an audio signal is segmented into a plurality of segments. At least one sine wave is extracted from each of the segments, and the extracted sine waves are connected. It is determined whether an extracted sine wave is a birth sine wave. If the extracted sine wave is a birth sine wave, a bit stream is generated by encoding the phase of the birth sine wave on the basis of the frequency of the birth sine wave, wherein the number of bits allocated to encode the phase of the birth sine wave is adjusted according to the frequency of the birth sine wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Geon-hyoung Lee, Jong-hoon Jeong, Nam-suk Lee
  • Patent number: 8457319
    Abstract: There is disclosed a stereo encoding device capable of accurately encoding a stereo signal at a low bit rate and suppressing delay in audio communication. The device performs monaural encoding in its first layer (110). In a second layer (120), a filtering unit (103) generates an LPC (Linear Predictive Coding) coefficient and generates a left channel drive sound source signal. A time region evaluation unit (104) and a frequency region evaluation unit (105) perform signal evaluation and prediction in both of their regions. A residual encoding unit (106) encodes a residual signal. A bit distribution control unit (107) adaptively distributes bits to the time region evaluation unit (104), the frequency region evaluation unit (105), and the residual encoding unit (106) according to a condition of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Woei Teo, Sua Hong Neo, Koji Yoshida, Michiyo Goto
  • Patent number: 8428267
    Abstract: A method for processing an audio signal, comprising: receiving a downmix signal, a first multi-channel information, and an object information; processing the downmix signal using the object information and a mix information; and, transmitting one of the first multi-channel information and a second multi-channel information according to the mix information, wherein the second channel information is generated using the object information and the mix information is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyen-O Oh, Yang-Won Jung
  • Patent number: 8422689
    Abstract: A system, and an apparatus of speaker, and a method for forming a virtual audio is provided. An audio source is processed by a second audio source processing program according to parameters which are entered by the user, and filtered to be a high frequency audio signal. The audio source with orientation is outputted by the orientation speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Neng-Wen Yeh, Po-Yu Li, Ruey-Ching Shyu, Lai-Shi Huang
  • Publication number: 20130066639
    Abstract: A signal processing method performed by an encoding apparatus that down-mixes first through n channel signals to a mono-signal, an encoding apparatus, a decoding apparatus, and a decoding method are provided. The signal processing method includes: generating a spatial parameter between a reference channel signal that is from among the first through n channel signals, and residual channel signals from among the first through n channel signals except for the reference channel signal; and encoding and transmitting the spatial parameter to a decoding apparatus, whereby a down-mixed mono-signal may be exactly restored to original channel input signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nam-suk LEE, Han-gil MOON
  • Patent number: 8379868
    Abstract: The present invention provides a frequency-domain spatial audio coding framework based on the perceived spatial audio scene rather than on the channel content. In one embodiment, time-frequency spatial direction vectors are used as cues to describe the input audio scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael Goodwin, Jean-Marc Jot
  • Patent number: 8345899
    Abstract: A frequency domain method for phase-amplitude matrixed surround decoding of 2-channel stereo recordings and soundtracks, based on spatial analysis of 2-D or 3-D directional cues in the recording and re-synthesis of these cues for reproduction on any headphone or loudspeaker playback system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Juha Merimaa, Jean-Marc Jot, Michael M. Goodwin, Arvindh Krishnaswamy, Jean Laroche
  • Publication number: 20120314874
    Abstract: A digital audio interface may include two signal inputs to transmit audio data. A first signal line may carry digital serial audio data. The second signal line may carry a word clock signal to differentiate the serial audio data transmitted over the first signal line. In the case of stereo audio data, the word clock signal may correspond to a left-right clock signal and may differentiate audio data intended for a right channel from that intended for a left channel. The audio data may also be differentiated differently depending on the configuration, such as in the case that the transmitted audio data include audio for more than two channels. The word clock signal may be scaled to regenerate a bit clock signal used to encode the serial audio data over the first signal line. The encoding bit clock signal need not be transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jie FU, Yang PAN, Yongyi WU, Khiem Quang NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 8331572
    Abstract: In summary, this application describes a psycho-acoustically motivated, parametric description of the spatial attributes of multichannel audio signals. This parametric description allows strong bitrate reductions in audio coders, since only one monaural signal has to be transmitted, combined with (quantized) parameters which describe the spatial properties of the signal. The decoder can form the original amount of audio channels by applying the spatial parameters. For near-CD-quality stereo audio, a bitrate associated with these spatial parameters of 10 kbit/s or less seems sufficient to reproduce the correct spatial impression at the receiving end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Steven Leonardus Josephus Dimphina Elisabeth Van De Par
  • Publication number: 20120275277
    Abstract: An audio mixing method includes: performing an audio processing operation upon a first audio input derived from at least one decoded audio input to generate a processed audio output, and generating a mixed audio signal by mixing at least a second audio input and the processed audio output. An audio mixing apparatus includes an audio processing circuit and an audio mixing circuit. The audio processing circuit is utilized for performing an audio processing operation upon a first audio input derived from at least one decoded audio input and accordingly generating a processed audio output. The audio mixing circuit is coupled to the audio processing circuit, and utilized for generating a mixed audio signal by mixing at least a second audio input and the processed audio output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Yi-Ju Lien
  • Patent number: 8300833
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Publication number: 20120226506
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a coded audio signal based on a multiple channel audio input signal. A balance factor having balance factor components each associated with an audio signal of the multiple channel audio signal is generated. A gain value to be applied to the coded audio signal to generate an estimate of the multiple channel audio signal based on the balance factor and the multiple channel audio signal is determined, with the gain value configured to minimize a distortion value between the multiple channel audio signal and the estimate of the multiple channel audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventors: James P. Ashley, Udar Mittal
  • Patent number: 8233629
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing audio data comprising an interaural time delay correction factor unit for receiving a plurality of channels of audio data and generating an interaural time delay correction factor. An interaural time delay correction factor insertion unit for modifying the plurality of channels of audio data as a function of the interaural time delay correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8204261
    Abstract: An input audio signal having an input temporal envelope is converted into an output audio signal having an output temporal envelope. The input temporal envelope of the input audio signal is characterized. The input audio signal is processed to generate a processed audio signal, wherein the processing de-correlates the input audio signal. The processed audio signal is adjusted based on the characterized input temporal envelope to generate the output audio signal, wherein the output temporal envelope substantially matches the input temporal envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Allamanche, Sascha Disch, Christof Faller, Juergen Herre
  • Publication number: 20120078641
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to a compression coding and decoding method, a coder, a decoder and a coding device. The compression coding method includes: extracting sign information of an input signal to obtain an absolute value signal of the input signal; obtaining a residual signal of the absolute value signal by using a prediction coefficient, where the prediction coefficient is obtained by prediction and analysis that are performed according to a signal characteristic of the absolute value signal of the input signal; and multiplexing the residual signal, the sign information and a coding parameter to output a coding code stream, after the residual signal, the sign information and the coding parameter are respectively coded, so as to improve compression efficiency of a voice and audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fengyan QI, Lei MIAO, Qing ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8111829
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a stereo signal or a multi-channel signal. According to the method and apparatus, a stereo signal or a multi-channel signal can be encoded and/or decoded by generating parameters based on a mono signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-hyun Choo, Eun-mi Oh, Jung-hoe Kim, Boris Kudryashov, Sergey Petrov
  • Patent number: 8046217
    Abstract: An audio decoder which reproduces original signals from a bit stream including (i) a downmix signal of the original signals, and (ii) supplementary information indicating a gain ratio D and phase difference ? between the original signals. The audio decoder includes: a decoding unit extracting the downmix signal; a transformation unit transforming the extracted downmix signal into a frequency domain signal; a phase rotator determination unit determining two phase rotators having, as the phase rotation angles, angles ? and ? respectively obtained by dividing a contained angle by a diagonal of a parallelogram; a separation unit separating the frequency domain signal into two separation signals respectively indicating angles ? and ? as phase differences between the signals and the decoded downmix signal; and an inverse transformation unit inversely transforming the respective two separation signals into time domain signals so as to reproduce the two audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Miyasaka, Yoshiaki Takagi, Naoya Tanaka, Mineo Tsushima
  • Patent number: 8027479
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Coding Technologies AB
    Inventor: Lars Villemoes
  • Publication number: 20110224993
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of processing a multi-channel audio signal using space information. The apparatus includes: a main coding unit down mixing a multi-channel audio signal by applying space information to surround components included in the multi-channel audio signal, generating side information using the multi-channel audio signal or a stereo signal of a down-mixed result, coding the stereo signal and the side information, and transmitting the coded result as a coding signal; and a main decoding unit receiving the coding signal, decoding the stereo signal and the side information using the received coding signal, up mixing the decoded stereo signal using the decoded side information, and restoring the multi-channel audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Junghoe KIM, Sangchul Ko, Shihwa Lee, Eunmi Oh, Miao Lei
  • Patent number: 8014535
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Publication number: 20110200198
    Abstract: An audio encoder has a common preprocessing stage, an information sink based encoding branch such as spectral domain encoding branch, a information source based encoding branch such as an LPC-domain encoding branch and a switch for switching between these branches at inputs into these branches or outputs of these branches controlled by a decision stage. An audio decoder has a spectral domain decoding branch, an LPC-domain decoding branch, one or more switches for switching between the branches and a common post-processing stage for post-processing a time-domain audio signal for obtaining a post-processed audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Bernhard Grill, Stefan Bayer, Guillaume Fuchs, Stefan Geyersberger, Ralf Geiger, Johannes Hilpert, Ulrich Kraemer, Jeremie Lecomte, Markus Multrus, Max Neuendorf, Harald Popp, Nikolaus Rettelbach, Frederik Nagel, Sascha Disch, Juergen Herre, Yoshikazu Yokotani, Stefan Wabnik, Gerald Schuller, Jens Hirschfeld
  • Publication number: 20110196687
    Abstract: An apparatus for decoding an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving the audio signal and spatial information, identifying a type of modified spatial information, generating the modified spatial information using the spatial information, and decoding the audio signal using the modified spatial information, wherein the type of the modified spatial information includes at least one of partial spatial information, combined spatial information and expanded spatial information. Accordingly, an audio signal can be decoded into a configuration different from a configuration decided by an encoding apparatus. Even if the number of speakers is smaller or greater than that of multi-channels before execution of downmixing, it is able to generate output channels having the number equal to that of the speakers from a downmix audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hee Suk Pang, Hyeon O. Oh, Dong Soo Kim, Jae Hyun Lim, Yang Won Jung
  • Patent number: 7974847
    Abstract: A parameter calculator calculates lower resolution parametric information and interpolation information. On a decoder-side, an upmixer is used for generating the output channels. The upmixer uses high resolution parametric information generated by a parameter interpolator using the low resolution parametric information and decoder-side derived interpolation information or encoder-generated interpolation information for selecting one of a plurality of different interpolation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Coding Technologies AB
    Inventors: Kristofer Kjoerling, Heiko Purnhagen, Jonas Engdegard, Jonas Roeden
  • Patent number: 7965848
    Abstract: An intermediate channel representation of a multi-channel signal can be reconstructed highly efficient and with high fidelity, when upmix parameters for upmixing a transmitted downmix signal to the intermediate channel representation are derived that allow for an upmix using the same upmixing algorithms as within the multi-channel reconstruction. This can be achieved when a parameter re-calculator is used to derive the upmix parameters that takes into account also parameters having information on channels that are not included in the intermediate channel representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Dolby International AB, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Lars Villemoes, Kristofer Kjoerling, Jeroen Breebaart
  • Patent number: 7965849
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Patent number: 7961889
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of processing a multi-channel audio signal using space information. The apparatus includes: a main coding unit down mixing a multi-channel audio signal by applying space information to surround components included in the multi-channel audio signal, generating side information using the multi-channel audio signal or a stereo signal of a down-mixed result, coding the stereo signal and the side information, and transmitting the coded result as a coding signal; and a main decoding unit receiving the coding signal, decoding the stereo signal and the side information using the received coding signal, up mixing the decoded stereo signal using the decoded side information, and restoring the multi-channel audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junghoe Kim, Sangchul Ko, Shihwa Lee, Eunmi Oh, Miao Lei
  • Patent number: 7917369
    Abstract: An audio encoder implements multi-channel coding decision, band truncation, multi-channel rematrixing, and header reduction techniques to improve quality and coding efficiency. In the multi-channel coding decision technique, the audio encoder dynamically selects between joint and independent coding of a multi-channel audio signal via an open-loop decision based upon (a) energy separation between the coding channels, and (b) the disparity between excitation patterns of the separate input channels. In the band truncation technique, the audio encoder performs open-loop band truncation at a cut-off frequency based on a target perceptual quality measure. In multi-channel rematrixing technique, the audio encoder suppresses certain coefficients of a difference channel by scaling according to a scale factor, which is based on current average levels of perceptual quality, current rate control buffer fullness, coding mode, and the amount of channel separation in the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20110054916
    Abstract: An audio encoder and decoder use architectures and techniques that improve the efficiency of multi-channel audio coding and decoding. The described strategies include various techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or independently. For example, an audio encoder performs a pre-processing multi-channel transform on multi-channel audio data, varying the transform so as to control quality. The encoder groups multiple windows from different channels into one or more tiles and outputs tile configuration information, which allows the encoder to isolate transients that appear in a particular channel with small windows, but use large windows in other channels. Using a variety of techniques, the encoder performs flexible multi-channel transforms that effectively take advantage of inter-channel correlation. An audio decoder performs corresponding processing and decoding. In addition, the decoder performs a post-processing multi-channel transform for any of multiple different purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Naveen Thumpudi, Wei-Ge Chen
  • Publication number: 20110046963
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-channel audio decoding method and apparatus therefor, the method involving decoding filter bank coefficients of a plurality of bands from a bitstream having a predetermined format; performing frequency transformation on the decoded filter bank coefficients of the plurality of bands, with respect to each of the plurality of bands; compensating for a phase of each of the plurality of bands according to a predetermined phase compensation value, and serially band-synthesizing the frequency-transformed coefficients of each of the plurality of phase-compensated bands on a frequency domain; and decoding a multi-channel audio signal from the band-synthesized frequency-transformed coefficients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun-wook KIM, Jong-hoon JEONG, Han-gil MOON
  • Publication number: 20110004466
    Abstract: A technique of improving the degree of freedom of controlling the accuracy of encoding a stereo signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Morii
  • Patent number: 7864966
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Patent number: 7864964
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Patent number: 7864965
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Publication number: 20100324915
    Abstract: Provided is an encoding apparatus for a High Quality Multi-channel Audio Codec (HQMAC) and a decoding apparatus for the HQMAC. The encoding/decoding apparatuses for the HQMAC may perform a High Quality Multi-channel Audio Codec-Channel Based (HQMAC-CB) encoding or an HQMAC-CB decoding in accordance with characteristics of inputted audio signals to provide compatibility with a lower channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Electronic and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeongil Seo, Jae-Hyoun Yoo, Kyeongok Kang
  • Patent number: 7840411
    Abstract: A multi-channel audio encoder (10) encodes an N-channel audio signal. A first unit (110) generates a first encoded M-channel signal, e.g. a spatial stereo down-mix, for the N-channel signal (N>M). Down-mixers (115, 116, 117) generate first enhancement data for the signal relative to the N-channel audio signal. A second M-channel signal, such as an artistic stereo mix, is generated for the N-channel signal. A processor (123) then generates second enhancement data for the second M-channel signal relative to the first M-channel signal. A second unit (120) generates an output signal comprising the second M-channel signal, the first enhancement data and the second enhancement data. The generator (123) can dynamically select between generating the second enhancement data as absolute enhancement data or as relative enhancement data relative to the second encoded M-channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gerard Herman Hotho, Francois Philippus Myburg, Arnoldus Werner Johannes Oomen
  • Publication number: 20100280822
    Abstract: A stereo sound decoding apparatus wherein lost-frame compensation performance has been improved to enhance the quality of decoded sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100268541
    Abstract: An audio processing method includes: after the terminal accesses the control server, the control server obtains audio capabilities of the terminal through capability negotiation; and the control server forwards the coded audio data to each terminal according to the audio capabilities. An audio processing system and a control server are disclosed. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the audio data does not need to undergo an operation of audio coding and decoding every time when the audio data passes through a control server, and the number of coding and decoding operations performed by the control server are reduced drastically. Especially, in the case that only one control server exists, the audio delay between terminals only derives from network transmission, coding of the sending terminal and decoding of the receiving terminal, and the control server extracts and reassembles the packets of the audio data only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Yingbin Li
  • Patent number: 7804954
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve media communications. In one embodiment, a media server receives a media communication with a first quality from a personal computer with VoIP telephone capabilities. The media server translates the media (e.g., audio, visual, etc.) communication into a second quality, and forwards the media communication to a communication gateway. The translation to improve communications can also be done when receiving the media communication from the communication gateway for forwarding to the personal computer having VoIP telephone capability. In some embodiments, a media server sits in the communication channel between a personal computer with VoIP telephone capabilities and a communication gateway and is able to translate communications into codec protocols they each understand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mu Han, Warren Vincent Barkley, Wei Zhong, Gurdeep S. Pall
  • Publication number: 20100241434
    Abstract: The multi-channel decoding device (20) according to the present invention is a multi-channel decoding device which converts a monaural frequency signal (106) of an input channel count that is at least one into adjustment frequency signals (109) of an output channel count that is greater than the input channel count. The multi-channel decoding device (20) includes a channel expansion unit (102) which generates expansion frequency signals (107) of the output channel count by expanding the channel count of the monaural frequency signal (106) of the input channel count, and a sound quality adjustment unit (132) which generates the adjustment frequency signals (109) of the output channel count by adding, at a predetermined ratio, one of the expansion frequency signals (107) of the output channel count and the monaural frequency signal (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Kojiro Ono
  • Patent number: 7796765
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard
  • Patent number: 7792305
    Abstract: A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Terry D. Beard