Audio Decoder Frame Smoothing With LPC Discontinuity Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio signal processing techniques using long-term prediction filters often introduce discontinuities between filtered frames, leading to artifacts like 'clicks' due to mismatched filter parameters, and conventional methods to remove these discontinuities can result in additional distortion, especially in harmonic audio signals with fast-changing pitch.

Innovation Solution

The method employs linear predictive filtering to remove discontinuities by modifying the beginning portion of the filtered current frame using a signal obtained from linear predictive filtering with initial states based on the last part of the unfiltered past frame, avoiding the use of past frame filter parameters and thus minimizing distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If long-term prediction filter is used to attenuate harmonics in audio signal, then the filtering effect is improved, but discontinuities are introduced between filtered frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering precisionVSAvoidcontinuity between frames
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A cross-fade operation is introduced as an intermediary process between consecutive filtered frames. The cross-fade gradually transitions between different filter parameter sets by blending the filtered past frame and filtered current frame over a transition period, thereby eliminating abrupt discontinuities while preserving the harmonic attenuation effect of the long-term prediction filter

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter parameters are made dynamic by allowing them to change between frames while applying a cross-fade transition. Instead of using static filter parameters throughout, the system dynamically adjusts parameters (gain g and pitch lag T) from one frame to the next, with the cross-fade smoothing the transition to maintain continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If filter parameters are changed between past frame and current frame, then the adaptability to different audio segments is improved, but discontinuities and artifacts are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter adaptabilityVSAvoiddiscontinuity artifacts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cross-fade operation serves as a mediator that smooths the transition between different filter parameter sets. By gradually blending the output of the past frame filter parameters with the current frame filter parameters, the system maintains adaptability to different audio segments while eliminating the harmful discontinuity artifacts that would otherwise result from abrupt parameter changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system intentionally changes filter parameters (gain g and pitch lag T) between frames to adapt to different audio characteristics, but applies a cross-fade transition to manage these parameter changes smoothly. This allows the system to exploit parameter variability for better adaptation while controlling the harmful effects through the transition mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If overlap-add or cross-fade operation is applied to remove discontinuities, then the continuity between frames is improved, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuity between framesVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cross-fade operation is applied only to a portion of the frame boundary region rather than the entire frame. By limiting the cross-fade to a specific transition period at the boundary between frames, the system achieves continuity improvement with minimal additional processing complexity, avoiding the need to process the entire frame with the cross-fade operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3654333B1Method for processing an audio signal and audio decoder
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP3654333B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3654333B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3654333B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method is described that processes an audio signal (100). A discontinuity between a filtered past frame and a filtered current frame of the audio signal is removed using linear predictive filtering (102, 110, 112).