Adaptive Bandwidth Management for IBOC Audio Blending

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital radio broadcast receivers experience disruptions during transitions between analog and digital signals due to significant differences in audio quality, leading to an unpleasant listening experience.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive bandwidth management is implemented to smoothly blend digital and analog signals by controlling the digital audio bandwidth based on signal quality metrics, gradually expanding or reducing it to match the analog signal conditions, preventing abrupt changes and maintaining a seamless audio experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If digital and analog signals are blended during transitions, then seamless audio output is maintained, but audible disruptions occur when audio differences between signals are significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio output continuityVSAvoidaudible disruptions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the bandwidth parameter of the digital audio signal during transitions. By changing the bandwidth parameter to match the analog signal characteristics before blending, the system maintains audio continuity while avoiding audible disruptions caused by significant audio quality differences between analog and digital signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If digital audio bandwidth is expanded to match analog signal conditions, then smooth transitions are achieved, but transition time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransition smoothnessVSAvoidtransition duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary bandwidth adjustment of the digital audio signal before the actual blending transition occurs. By pre-matching the digital signal bandwidth to analog signal conditions in advance, the system achieves smooth transitions without requiring extended transition durations, as the bandwidth is already optimized when blending begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If digital signal bandwidth is dynamically adjusted, then audio quality is maintained during transitions, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio quality consistencyVSAvoidbandwidth management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors analog signal characteristics and automatically adjusts digital audio bandwidth accordingly. This closed-loop control maintains audio quality consistency during transitions while managing system complexity through automated feedback-based adjustment rather than manual or open-loop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9252899B2Adaptive bandwidth management of IBOC audio signals during blending

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus are provided for smoothly blending analog and digital portions of a composite digital audio broadcast signal by using look ahead metrics computed from previously received audio frames to dynamically adjust either stereo separation or bandwidth or both of the digital audio portion of the digital audio broadcast signal to produce an adjusted digital audio portion that is blended with the analog audio portion.