Audio Format Converter Internal Channel Generation

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of format conversion in decoders increases when dealing with immersive audio signals, particularly due to the high number of input channels being converted to a lower number of output channels, leading to increased operation complexity and battery consumption in mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating internal channel (IC) signals for a single channel pair element based on the received audio bitstream, using equalization and gain values, and determining whether the IC signal is generated based on the IC group of the channel pair, thereby reducing the number of channels input to the format converter and simplifying the covariance analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of input channels is increased to provide immersive audio, then the audio quality and spatial realism are improved, but the complexity of format conversion in the decoder increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidformat converter complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the format conversion process into two distinct stages: first, a downmixing stage that converts multiple input channels to a reduced number of intermediate channels, and second, a covariance analysis stage that processes these intermediate channels. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity of the covariance analysis by decreasing the number of input channels that need to be processed simultaneously, while still preserving the immersive audio quality through the intermediate channel representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate channels as a mediator between the multiple input channels and the final stereo output. These intermediate channels serve as a bridge that reduces the dimensionality of the problem before covariance analysis is performed. By using this intermediate representation, the system maintains the spatial information from the immersive audio while reducing the computational burden on the decoder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the number of input channels is increased to provide immersive audio, then the spatial realism is improved, but the operation speed of mobile devices decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial realismVSAvoidoperation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the format conversion process into two distinct stages: first, a downmixing stage that converts multiple input channels to a reduced number of intermediate channels, and second, a covariance analysis stage that processes these intermediate channels. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity of the covariance analysis by decreasing the number of input channels that need to be processed simultaneously, while still preserving the immersive audio quality through the intermediate channel representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs downmixing as a preliminary action before covariance analysis. By pre-converting the multiple input channels into a reduced set of intermediate channels, the system prepares the data in a form that requires less computational processing in the subsequent covariance analysis stage, thereby improving operation speed on mobile devices while maintaining spatial realism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the number of input channels is increased to provide immersive audio, then the audio immersion is improved, but the battery consumption of mobile devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio immersionVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the format conversion process into two distinct stages: first, a downmixing stage that converts multiple input channels to a reduced number of intermediate channels, and second, a covariance analysis stage that processes these intermediate channels. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity of the covariance analysis by decreasing the number of input channels that need to be processed simultaneously, while still preserving the immersive audio quality through the intermediate channel representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs downmixing as a preliminary action before covariance analysis. By pre-converting the multiple input channels into a reduced set of intermediate channels, the system prepares the data in a form that requires less computational processing in the subsequent covariance analysis stage, thereby reducing battery consumption on mobile devices while maintaining audio immersion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11810583B2Method and device for processing internal channels for low complexity format conversion

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method of processing an audio signal includes receiving an audio bitstream encoded via MPEG Surround 212 (MPS212); generating an internal channel (IC) signal for a single channel pair element (CPE), based on the received audio bitstream, equalization (EQ) values for MPS212 output channels defined in a format converter, and gain values for the MPS212 output channels; and generating stereo output channels, based on the generated IC signal.