Audio decoding device, audio decoding method, and audio encoding method

Abstract

The present invention provides an audio decoding method, comprising: obtaining an encoded bit stream by an audio decoder, the encoded bit stream including audio data and signal data, the signal data indicating that the loudness value of a target object is included in the encoded bit stream; obtaining the loudness value of the target object from the encoded bit stream by the audio decoder; and processing the audio data according to the loudness value of the target object by the audio decoder.

Description

[Technical Field] This invention relates to and claims priority and interest in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 558,286, "Adaptive Processing with Multimedia Processing Nodeses," filed November 10, 2011, by Jeffrey Riedmiller, Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Marvin Pribadi, Farhad Farhani, and Mickael Smithers, which has been assigned to the assignee of this application. This invention relates to and claims priority and benefits to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 419,747, "END-TO-END METADATA PRESERVATION AND ADAPTIVE PROCESSING," filed December 3, 2010, by Jeffrey Riedmiller, Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Marvin Pribadi, Farhad Farhani, and Mickael Smithers, which has been assigned to the assignee of this application. The present invention relates generally to media processing systems, and in particular to adaptively processing media data based on the media processing status of the media data. [Previous Technology] Media processing units typically operate blindly, disregarding the processing history of media data prior to its reception. This can occur within a media processing framework where a single entity performs all media processing techniques and encodes the media for numerous target media presentation devices, while a single target media presentation device performs all decoding and presentation of the encoded media data. However, this blind approach is unsuitable (or completely ineffective) when multiple media processing units are distributed across different networks or front-end / back-end configurations (e.g., in a chain) and are expected to ideally perform their respective types of media processing. For example, some media data may be encoded for high-performance media systems and must be converted into a scaled-down form suitable for mobile devices along with the media processing chain. Accordingly, a media processing unit may not need to perform a processing type on media data that has already been processed. For example, a volume adjustment unit performs processing on the input audio material regardless of whether volume adjustment was previously performed on the input audio material. As a result, the volume adjustment unit performs volume adjustment even when it is not needed. This unnecessary processing also causes certain characteristics to age and / or be removed when presenting the media content within the media data. [Summary of the Invention] The methods described in this section are feasible, but not methods that were previously conceivable or achievable. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, none of the methods described in this section should be considered prior art. Similarly, issues concerning the identification of one or more methods should not be considered prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise stated. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram] This invention is illustrative and not limited to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary media processing chain according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary enhanced media processing chain according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary encoder / transcoder according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary decoder according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary post-processing unit according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an encoder / transcoder according to one of the feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary evolutionary decoder control mode of operation of a volume adjustment unit based on the effectiveness of processing state metadata and / or associated loudness metadata according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary configuration of using data hiding to transmit media processing information according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention; Figures 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplary process according to one feasible embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary hardware platform on which a computer or computing device described herein may be implemented according to one feasible embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 illustrates the media frame, through which processing status metadata associated with the media data within the media frame is transmitted; and Figures 12A to 12L illustrate block diagrams of some exemplary media processing nodes / apparatus according to some feasible embodiments of the present invention.

Implementation Method

Claims

1. An audio decoding method, comprising: receiving an encoded bitstream, the encoded bitstream including encoded input audio data and processing status data, the processing status data including a loudness value indicating program loudness; decoding the encoded input audio data; receiving signal data indicating whether loudness processing should be performed on the decoded input audio data; when the signal data indicates that loudness processing should be performed on the decoded input audio data: obtaining the loudness value from the processing status data; obtaining a target loudness value, wherein... The target loudness value is controlled via an interface; and the loudness of the decoded input audio data is normalized based on the loudness value and the target loudness value to provide output audio data normalized to the target loudness value.

2. As in request item 1, where, The processing status metadata further indicates whether dynamic range processing should be performed. The method also includes: when the processing status metadata indicates that dynamic range processing should be performed: obtaining a dynamic range value from the processing status metadata; and normalizing the dynamic range of the decoded input audio data based on the dynamic range value.

3. As in request item 1, where, The loudness value is calculated on the dialogue portion of the input audio data.

4. As in request item 1, where, The loudness value is selected by the user.

5. An audio decoding system, comprising: a decoder configured to: receive an encoded bitstream, the encoded bitstream including encoded input audio data and processing status data, the processing status data including a loudness value indicating program loudness; and decode the encoded input audio data; and a post-processing unit configured to: receive signal data indicating whether loudness processing should be performed on the decoded input audio data; and when the signal data indicates that loudness processing should be performed on the decoded input audio data: obtain the loudness value from the processing status data; and obtain a target loudness value, wherein... The target loudness value is controlled via an interface; and the loudness of the decoded input audio data is normalized based on the loudness value and the target loudness value to provide output audio data normalized to the target loudness value.

6. The system as described in request item 5, wherein, The processing status metadata further indicates whether dynamic range processing should be performed, and the post-processing unit is further configured to: when the processing status metadata indicates that dynamic range processing should be performed: obtain a dynamic range value from the processing status metadata; and normalize the dynamic range of the decoded input audio data based on the dynamic range value.

7. The system as described in request item 5, wherein, The loudness value is calculated on the dialogue portion of the input audio data.

8. The system as described in request item 5, wherein, The loudness value is selected by the user.

9. A software program adapted to be executed on a processor and, when executed on a computing device, to perform the method steps of any one of requests 1 to 4.

10. A storage medium comprising software adapted to execute on a processor and, when executed on a computing device, to perform a method of any one of requests 1 to 4.

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