Audio Encoding Device Silent Channel Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multichannel audio encoding technologies, such as MPEG AAC, face inefficiencies in transmitting audio signals, particularly when dealing with silent channels, leading to deteriorated sound quality and increased bit usage, which hampers the transmission of multiple sound materials and surround reproduction.
Innovation Solution
An encoding device and method that determines whether to encode audio signals on a per-channel or per-frame basis, generating identification information to indicate silent channels, thereby reducing unnecessary data transmission and allocating bits more efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio signals of all channels are encoded using MPEG AAC standard, then complete audio reproduction is achieved, but transmission efficiency deteriorates due to encoding silent channels unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies silent channels from multichannel audio signals using identification information, then excludes these silent channels from the encoding process. This selective extraction allows the encoding system to process only active audio channels, thereby improving transmission efficiency without compromising the reproduction of actual audio content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically determines which channels require encoding by analyzing identification information for each channel in each frame. The encoding process adapts to the actual audio content by adjusting the number of channels to be encoded based on silence detection, making the system flexible and efficient rather than statically encoding all channels regardless of content.
2Device complexity
If scalar encoding is used for high bandwidth audio signals, then encoding simplicity is maintained, but sound quality deteriorates significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multichannel audio signal into individual channels and processes each channel independently based on its activity status. By dividing the audio signal into separable channel units with identification information, the system can apply encoding selectively to only those channels containing actual audio content, thereby maintaining both simplicity and quality.
3Reliability
If bits are allocated for encoding silent frames, then encoding completeness is maintained, but bit usage increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts identification information indicating channel activity status and uses this to exclude silent channels from encoding. By removing silent channel data from the encoding pipeline, the system eliminates unnecessary bit allocation for silent frames, thereby reducing overall bit usage while maintaining completeness for active channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the encoding parameter by adjusting the number of active channels based on silence detection results. When silent channels are detected, the system modifies the encoding configuration to process fewer channels, dynamically changing the encoding parameters to match the actual audio content requirements and reduce bit consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology relates to an encoding device and method, a decoding device and method, and a program therefor capable of improving audio signal transmission efficiency. An identification information generation unit determines whether or not an audio signal is to be encoded on the basis of the audio signal, and generates identification information indicating the determination result. An encoding unit encodes only audio signals determined to be encoded. A packing unit generates a bit stream containing the identification information and encoded audio signals. As a result of storing only encoded audio signals in the bit stream and storing the identification information indicating whether or not the respective audio signals are to be encoded in the bit stream in this manner, the transmission efficiency of audio signals can be improved. The present technology can be applied to an encoder and a decoder.