Parameter-Domain Audio Stream Mixing Without Decode-Reencode Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio coding techniques lack the ability to efficiently combine multiple parametrically coded audio streams without requiring decoding and subsequent re-encoding, leading to high computational complexity and delay, especially in real-time scenarios like teleconferencing.
Innovation Solution
An audio signal generator that combines parametrically coded audio signals by directly mixing down-mix channels and associated parameters within the parameter domain, using simple arithmetic operations such as summation and weight calculations, without reconstructing the individual audio signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple parametrically coded audio streams are combined by decoding and re-encoding, then audio quality is preserved, but computational complexity and processing delay increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential parametric information (spatial parameters, channel parameters) from the coded audio streams without performing full decoding. This selective extraction of necessary parameters enables direct combination in the parameter domain, avoiding the computational burden of complete decoding and re-encoding while maintaining audio quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio combination process into independent parameter manipulation operations rather than holistic decoding. By treating spatial parameters, channel parameters, and audio data as separable entities that can be combined independently in the parameter domain, the system reduces computational complexity while preserving audio quality
2Measurement precision
If multiple parametrically coded audio streams are combined by decoding and re-encoding, then audio quality is preserved, but processing delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary combination of parametric information at the receiver end before audio reconstruction. By pre-combining spatial parameters and channel parameters from multiple coded streams in the parameter domain, the system eliminates the need for sequential decoding and re-encoding operations, significantly reducing processing delay while maintaining audio quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical decoding-re-encoding process with direct parameter-domain operations. Instead of converting coded streams to time-domain audio and back, the system operates directly on parametric representations, replacing complex mechanical processing with simpler mathematical operations that preserve quality while reducing delay
3Device complexity
If multiple parametrically coded audio streams are combined directly in parameter domain, then computational complexity is reduced, but compatibility with different reference channels becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms spatial parameters from different reference channel systems into a common reference channel framework. By applying parameter transformation operations that convert parameters relative to different reference channels into a unified reference system, the patent enables direct combination of parametric information while maintaining compatibility across different audio streams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a common reference channel as an intermediary framework for combining parametric information from streams with different reference channels. This intermediary reference system acts as a mediator that enables consistent parameter combination while preserving the original spatial relationships relative to each stream's native reference channel
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention, multiple parametrically encoded audio signals can be efficiently combined using an audio signal generator, which generates an audio output signal by combining the down-mix channels and the associated parameters of the audio signals directly within the parameter domain, i.e. without reconstructing or decoding the individual input audio signals prior to the generation of the audio output signal. This is achieved by direct mixing of the associated down-mix channels of the individual input signals. It is one key feature of the present invention that the combination of the down-mix channels is achieved by simple, computationally inexpensive arithmetic operations.