Spatial Cue Rendering Control in Multi-Channel Audio Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for rendering multi-object or multi-channel audio signals lack flexibility in controlling the spatial positioning of audio signals during decoding, relying on fixed positions and limited control over spatial cues.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that includes a decoder and a spatial cue renderer, which decodes down-mixed audio signals and controls spatial cues like Channel Level Difference (CLD), Channel Prediction Coefficient (CPC), and Inter-Channel Correlation (ICC) to dynamically adjust the rendering of multi-object or multi-channel audio signals, allowing for flexible positioning based on user input or external control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional SAC decoding is used, then audio signals can be decoded from down-mixed signals, but the spatial positioning of audio signals is fixed and cannot be dynamically controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial positioning control flexibilityVSAvoiddecoder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decoding system is segmented into independent functional modules: a decoder for basic signal recovery, and a separate spatial cue renderer for independent control of spatial parameters. This segmentation allows flexible spatial positioning control without complicating the core decoding structure, as each module performs its specialized function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control of spatial cues (CLD, CPC, ICC) that were previously fixed during decoding. The spatial cue renderer dynamically adjusts these parameters based on input signals, enabling real-time spatial positioning control while maintaining the stability of the core decoding process through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If spatial cue information is transmitted from encoder, then sound quality is improved, but control over rendering positions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial cue control flexibilityVSAvoidspatial cue information completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The encoder performs preliminary extraction and transmission of spatial cue information (CLD, CPC, ICC) during the encoding phase. This preliminary action preserves complete spatial information for later use, enabling flexible control during decoding without losing spatial cue data, as the information is prepared in advance and transmitted separately from the audio signal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multi-channel audio signals are down-mixed and transmitted, then transmission efficiency is improved, but rendering control flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidrendering control flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Spatial cue information acts as an intermediary between the down-mixed audio signal and the original multi-channel rendering. The spatial cues (CLD, CPC, ICC) carry the necessary spatial information that mediates between the compressed transmission format and the flexible rendering control, enabling high transmission efficiency while maintaining full rendering flexibility through this intermediate information layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2528058B1Method and apparatus for controling rendering of multi-object or multi-channel audio signal using spatial cue
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST
  • EP2528058B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2528058B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2528058B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present research relates to controlling rendering of multi-object or multi-channel audio signals. The present research provides a method and apparatus for controlling rendering of multi-object or multi-channel audio signals based on spatial cues in a process of decoding the multi-object or multi-channel audio signals. To achieve the purpose, the method suggested in the research controls rendering in a spatial cue domain in the process of decoding the multi-object or multi-channel audio signals.