Audio Packet Loss Concealment Using Look-Ahead Side Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio encoding methods in packet loss scenarios, such as CELP encoding, suffer from increased algorithmic delay and adaptive codebook inconsistency, leading to degraded audio quality due to packet loss in IP and mobile communication networks.

Innovation Solution

An audio encoding device that generates and transmits side information, including pitch lag and gain, for a look-ahead signal, allowing for immediate packet loss concealment without additional delay, thereby reducing adaptive codebook inconsistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If packet loss concealment technology without using side information is used, then the receiving end can perform concealment independently, but the concealment effect is insufficient when audio properties change suddenly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket loss concealment capabilityVSAvoidconcealment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The encoder performs preliminary encoding of the previous frame using both main encoding (at normal bit rate) and redundant encoding (at lower bit rate) before transmission. This preliminary action ensures that when packet loss occurs, the decoder already has backup encoded data available immediately, eliminating the need for complex real-time concealment algorithms and achieving both independence and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If redundant encoding at lower bit rate is performed for the previous frame, then packet loss concealment can be achieved, but the transmission bandwidth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket loss concealment capabilityVSAvoidtransmission data volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the bit rate parameter for redundant encoding, using a lower bit rate for the previous frame's redundant encoding compared to the main encoding. This parameter change reduces the amount of backup data needed while still providing sufficient information for effective packet loss concealment, thus balancing reliability with transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the receiving end waits for the arrival of two or more temporally successive packets before decoding, then packet loss concealment can be performed, but the algorithmic delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidalgorithmic delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The encoder prepares redundant encoded data of the previous frame in advance and transmits it with the current frame. This preliminary preparation allows the decoder to immediately use the redundant data for concealment when packet loss is detected, without needing to wait for subsequent packets to arrive, thus reducing algorithmic delay while maintaining audio quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If packet loss concealment is performed by copying decoded audio signal on pitch-by-pitch basis with attenuation, then the process is simple, but the concealment effect cannot be obtained when audio properties differ from previous audio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcealment process complexityVSAvoidconcealment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of copying the decoded audio signal, the system copies the encoded data (codebooks and parameters) of the previous frame through redundant encoding. This copying approach at the encoding level allows the decoder to regenerate the audio signal using the same synthesis process, ensuring consistency and accuracy even when audio properties change, while keeping the concealment process relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3579228B1Audio coding device
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3579228B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(c)
  • EP3579228B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3579228B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

An objective of the present invention is, when packet loss occurs in audio encoding, to recover audio quality without increasing algorithmic delay. An audio signal transmission device for encoding an audio signal includes an audio encoding unit that encodes an audio signal and a side information encoding unit that calculates and encodes side information from a look-ahead signal. On the other hand, an audio signal receiving device for decoding an audio code and outputting an audio signal includes an audio code buffer that detects packet loss based on a received state of an audio packet, an audio parameter decoding unit that decodes an audio code when an audio packet is correctly received, a side information decoding unit that decodes a side information code when an audio packet is correctly received, a side information accumulation unit that accumulates side information obtained by decoding a side information code, an audio parameter missing processing unit that outputs an audio parameter when audio packet loss is detected, and an audio synthesis unit that synthesizes a decoded audio from an audio parameter.