Audio Dequantization Using Non-Uniform Stereo Parameter Quantization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parametric stereo coding methods face challenges in balancing bit stream compression to achieve acceptable audio quality, as high compression leads to sound quality issues due to information loss, while low compression results in capacity problems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing non-uniform scalar quantization schemes for audio parameters based on human sound perception sensitivity, using smaller step-sizes where perception is most sensitive and larger step-sizes where perception is less sensitive, with a scaling function to adapt quantization for stereo parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high compression is applied to the bit stream, then the amount of information transferred is reduced, but sound quality deteriorates due to information loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quantization step-sizes to different ranges of stereo parameters based on human sound perception sensitivity. Smaller step-sizes are used in ranges where perception is most sensitive, while larger step-sizes are used where perception is less sensitive. This local adaptation of quantization quality maintains sound quality in critical regions while reducing bit stream size in less critical regions, resolving the contradiction between compression and quality.
2Reliability
If low compression is applied to the bit stream, then sound quality is maintained, but capacity problems occur due to excessive data volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the quantization parameters (step-sizes) based on the specific ranges of stereo parameters being encoded. By adapting the quantization fineness to the perceptual importance of different parameter ranges, the system achieves efficient compression without sacrificing perceived sound quality, thus resolving the capacity problem while maintaining quality.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform quantization step-sizes are used for all parameter ranges, then the encoding process is simple, but sound quality suffers in sensitive perception ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements non-uniform quantization where different step-sizes are applied to different ranges of stereo parameters. This allows the encoding process to allocate more precision to perceptually sensitive ranges while using coarser quantization in less sensitive ranges, improving sound quality without requiring overly complex encoding mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the quantization step-size parameter based on the range of the stereo parameter being encoded. This adaptive approach allows the system to optimize sound quality for each parameter range while maintaining a relatively simple encoding structure, resolving the contradiction between encoding simplicity and sound quality.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods, devices and computer program products for non-uniform quantization of parameters. The disclosure further relates to a method and apparatus for reconstructing an audio object in an audio decoding system taking the non-uniformly quantized parameters into account. According to the disclosure, such an approach renders it possible to reduce bit consumption without substantially reducing the quality of the reconstructed audio object.