Audio Signal Encoding for Independent Gain Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio processing systems struggle to provide a pleasing listening experience when multiple audio streams are present, such as during music playback and virtual assistant responses, due to bandwidth limitations and the inability to independently control audio signal characteristics like gain and latency.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for encoding and decoding multiple audio streams into a mixed stream, allowing for independent control of gain, latency, and masking capabilities, enabling flexible playback and privacy settings by separating and remixing audio signals at the playback device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple audio streams are transmitted over a channel limited link, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but independent control of audio signal characteristics is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio transmission process into separate encoding at the source device and decoding/separation at the playback device. Multiple audio streams are encoded separately into a mixed stream for efficient bandwidth utilization, then decoded and separated back into individual streams at the playback device, restoring independent control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mixed stream as a mediator between the source device and playback device. The mixed stream carries multiple audio streams efficiently over the channel limited link, while the playback device acts as an intermediary that separates the mixed stream back into individual controllable streams.
2Productivity
If audio streams are mixed for transmission, then transmission efficiency is improved, but processing latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by encoding multiple audio streams into a mixed stream before transmission, improving transmission efficiency. At the playback device, the mixed stream is decoded and separated, and audio processing operations are applied to the separated streams, allowing latency optimization for different stream types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by allowing different processing paths and latencies for different audio streams within the mixed stream. Real-time audio streams can bypass certain processing operations to minimize latency, while other streams can undergo full processing, enabling adaptive latency control based on stream requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If audio processing operations are applied to all streams, then audio quality is improved, but processing latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different audio processing operations to be applied to different audio streams based on their specific requirements. Real-time streams can receive minimal processing to maintain low latency, while other streams can undergo comprehensive processing for optimal audio quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making audio processing operations adaptive and configurable for different streams. The system can dynamically adjust the level and type of processing applied to each stream, balancing audio quality and latency requirements on a per-stream basis.
4Area of stationary object
If notifications are transmitted to multiple playback devices, then coverage is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different playback devices to receive and process the mixed stream differently based on local conditions and user preferences. Each playback device can selectively mask or unmask notifications, allowing coverage across multiple devices while protecting user privacy on a per-device basis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by encoding notification masking preferences at the source device before transmission. The mixed stream includes encoded masking information that allows playback devices to selectively apply masking based on pre-configured user preferences, ensuring privacy protection before the audio is actually played back.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to encode and decode multiple audio signals to provide independent control of the audio signals is provided. A host device may encode the audio signals to enable a complete separation of the constituent audio signals when the mixed stream is decoded on a playback device. The gains of the audio signals may be independently controlled before they are mixed to increase the intelligibility of one audio signal relative to another audio signal at the playback device. The ability to separate the constituent audio signals from the mixed signals at the playback device allows the processing operations performed on the constituent audio signals and the associated path latencies to be independently chosen. In addition, in applications where the mixed stream is transmitted from a single host device to multiple playback devices, the constituent audio signals may be selectively masked on a playback device to increase user privacy.