Audio Decoder Window Switching for Transient Frame Reproduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio decoding systems face challenges in achieving improved performance, quality, and efficiency in reproducing audio signals, particularly in handling transient frames and varying resolution modes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves retrieving audio data from a bit stream by applying codebooks to specified ranges of quantization indexes and identifying sequences of windows within a frame based on window information, allowing for efficient decoding and improved reproduction of audio signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single resolution mode is used for audio decoding, then the system complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different audio content (transient vs. steady-state) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding system complexityVSAvoidadaptability to transient frames
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The filter bank resolution is made dynamic by switching between different resolution modes based on transient detection. The system transitions from a static single-resolution design to a dynamic multi-resolution design where the resolution adapts to the audio content characteristics, specifically switching to higher resolution for transient frames and lower resolution for steady-state frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the resolution parameter of the filter bank based on the detected audio content type. By monitoring transient characteristics and adjusting the filter bank resolution accordingly, the system optimizes decoding performance for different audio scenarios without requiring a completely different decoder architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If higher resolution filtering is applied to all frames, then the audio quality is improved, but the computational efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio reproduction qualityVSAvoiddecoding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different resolution levels are applied to different portions of the audio signal based on local characteristics. Transient frames receive higher resolution filtering to preserve detail, while steady-state frames use lower resolution filtering to reduce computational load. This local adaptation of quality levels optimizes the overall efficiency-quality tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying full high-resolution filtering to all frames, the system applies partial high-resolution processing only where necessary (transient frames). This partial action approach maintains audio quality where needed while avoiding the excessive computational cost of universal high-resolution processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If variable resolution modes are implemented, then the adaptability to different audio content is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling of varying resolution modesVSAvoidfilter bank switching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Transient detection is performed in advance of the filtering operation, allowing the system to pre-determine the appropriate resolution mode before processing the audio frame. This preliminary analysis simplifies the overall system architecture by separating the detection and filtering stages, with the detection results guiding the subsequent filtering operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The filter bank is designed to perform multiple resolution modes using a unified structure. Rather than implementing separate filter banks for different resolutions, the system uses a single filter bank that can operate in multiple resolution modes, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2054881B1Audio decoding
Publication Date: 2010.10.27 DIGITAL RISE TECH CO LTD
  • EP2054881B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2054881B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3C
  • EP2054881B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for decoding an audio signal from a frame-based bit stream. Each frame includes processing information pertaining to the frame and entropy-encoded quantization indexes representing audio data within the frame. The processing information includes: (i) code book indexes, (ii) code book application information specifying ranges of entropy-encoded quantization indexes to which the code books are to be applied, and (iii) window information. The entropy-encoded quantization indexes are decoded by applying the identified code books to the corresponding ranges of entropy-encoded quantization indexes. Subband samples are then generated by dequantizing the decoded quantization indexes, and a sequence of different window functions that were applied within a single frame of the audio data is identified based on the window information. Time-domain audio data are obtained by inverse-transforming the subband samples and using the plural different window functions indicated by the window information.