Audio Bit Allocation via Spatial Feature Priorities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing three-dimensional audio encoding and decoding technologies fail to adapt bit allocation to the spatial features of audio signals, leading to inefficient encoding and decoding.

Innovation Solution

A bit allocation method that determines priorities for audio signals based on spatial features such as movement, loudness, spread, diffuseness, status, and priority grading parameters, allocating bits accordingly to enhance encoding and decoding efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If uniform bit allocation is used for all audio signals, then encoding and decoding simplicity is maintained, but encoding and decoding efficiency deteriorates due to inability to adapt to spatial features of audio signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding and decoding efficiencyVSAvoidbit allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allocating different bit quantities to different audio signals based on their individual spatial features. Each audio signal receives a customized bit allocation determined by its movement, loudness, spread, diffuseness, and other spatial characteristics, rather than uniform allocation. This allows the encoding system to adapt locally to the specific requirements of each audio signal, improving overall encoding efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized evaluation criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If bit allocation adapts to spatial features of audio signals, then encoding and decoding efficiency improves, but system complexity increases due to multiple grading parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding and decoding efficiencyVSAvoidparameter evaluation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bit allocation process into distinct evaluation dimensions: movement grading, loudness grading, spread grading, diffuseness grading, and other spatial feature gradings. Each dimension is evaluated independently and contributes to the overall bit allocation decision. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex spatial features through modular, manageable components rather than attempting to process all features simultaneously, thus improving efficiency while controlling system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting bit allocation based on varying spatial feature parameters of audio signals. The system evaluates multiple parameters including movement speed, loudness level, spread angle, diffuseness degree, and other spatial characteristics, then transforms these parameter evaluations into optimized bit allocation decisions. This approach allows efficient adaptation to different audio scenarios while maintaining a structured evaluation framework that prevents excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4131259B1Bit allocation method and apparatus for audio signal
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4131259B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4131259B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2
  • EP4131259B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are a bit allocation method and apparatus for an audio signal. The bit allocation method (400) for an audio signal includes: obtaining T audio signals in a current frame, where T is a positive integer (401); determining a first audio signal set based on the T audio signals, where the first audio signal set includes M audio signals, M is a positive integer, the T audio signals include the M audio signals, T ≥ M (402); determining M priorities of the M audio signals in the first audio signal set (403); and performing bit allocation on the M audio signals based on the M priorities of the M audio signals (404). The method can adapt to a feature of audio signals. In addition, different audio signals match different quantities of bits for encoding. This improves encoding and decoding efficiency of the audio signals.