Adaptive Multi-Channel Audio Downmixing for Efficient Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio encoding technologies struggle to efficiently encode multi-channel audio signals with dominant and uncorrelated channels, leading to inefficient data usage and suboptimal regeneration of audio channels.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive downmixing process is employed to form an output multi-channel audio signal with a dominant primary channel and largely uncorrelated non-primary channels, using mixing and prediction gains to optimize encoding efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all multi-channel audio signals are encoded with equal data allocation, then each channel maintains full quality, but data usage becomes inefficient and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating data allocation across channels based on their individual importance and characteristics. The primary channel receives full encoding resources to maintain high quality, while secondary and tertiary channels receive reduced encoding resources. This selective quality approach reduces overall data requirements while preserving the most critical audio information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes encoding parameters selectively for different channels. The primary channel is encoded with standard high-quality parameters, while secondary and tertiary channels use modified parameters that reduce data rate. This parameter differentiation allows efficient data usage while maintaining acceptable quality for less critical channels.
2Quantity of substance
If multi-channel audio signals are downmixed to reduce data, then data requirements decrease, but channel regeneration and audio quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio encoding process into distinct treatments for different channel groups. The primary channel is encoded separately with full quality, while secondary and tertiary channels are processed together through a unified downmixing and encoding process. This segmentation allows efficient data reduction in less critical channels while preserving primary channel integrity for reliable regeneration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding process that creates a compressed representation of secondary and tertiary channels. This intermediary encoded data serves as a mediator that enables channel regeneration with reduced data requirements, balancing data efficiency with acceptable regeneration quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex encoding processes are used to maintain channel quality, then audio fidelity improves, but encoding complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using full complex encoding processes only for the primary channel where high fidelity is most critical. For secondary and tertiary channels, simplified encoding processes are used that reduce processing complexity while maintaining acceptable quality. This selective application of encoding complexity optimizes the balance between quality and processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for adaptive downmixing of audio signals with improved continuity. An audio encoding system receives an input multi-channel audio signal including a primary input audio channel and L non-primary input audio channels. The system determines a set of L input gains. For each of the channels and gains, the system forms a respective scaled non-primary input audio channel. The system forms a primary output audio channel from the sum of the primary input audio channel and the scaled non-primary input audio channels. The system determines a set of L prediction gains. The system forms a prediction channel from the primary output audio channel. The system forms L non-primary output audio channels. The system forms an output multi-channel audio signal from the primary output audio channel and the L non-primary output audio channels.