Low-Frequency Sub-Band Envelope Tuning for Adaptive Bit Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing frequency domain encoding algorithms face performance bottlenecks due to inadequate bit allocation in low frequency sub-bands, leading to poor signal encoding and decoding quality.

Innovation Solution

Selecting low frequency sub-bands, determining modification parameters based on energy and spectral characteristics, and performing bit allocation using modified envelope values to better meet bit requirements of each sub-band.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bit allocation is performed directly according to frequency envelope size of each sub-band, then encoding process is simple, but low frequency sub-bands become bottlenecks leading to poor signal encoding and decoding quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal encoding qualityVSAvoidbit allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bit allocation process into multiple stages: first performing initial bit allocation based on frequency envelope, then identifying low frequency sub-bands that need improvement, and finally performing supplementary bit allocation specifically for those sub-bands. This segmentation allows targeted improvement of low frequency quality without completely redesigning the entire bit allocation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality improvement by performing supplementary bit allocation specifically for low frequency sub-bands rather than uniformly across all sub-bands. The method identifies which sub-bands have insufficient quality and allocates additional bits only to those specific regions, optimizing resources while improving overall signal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing frequency domain encoding algorithms are used, then encoding speed is fast, but bit allocation cannot well adapt to bit requirements of each sub-band especially low frequency sub-bands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit allocation adaptabilityVSAvoidencoding speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary identification of low frequency sub-bands and their bit requirements before performing supplementary bit allocation. By pre-calculating which sub-bands need improvement and how many additional bits they require, the method avoids complex real-time adjustments during encoding, thus maintaining encoding speed while improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback from the initial encoding process to guide supplementary bit allocation. By analyzing the frequency envelope and identifying which low frequency sub-bands have insufficient quality, the system dynamically adjusts bit allocation based on actual performance needs, improving adaptability without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If more bits are allocated to low frequency sub-bands, then signal encoding quality improves, but total bit rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal decoding qualityVSAvoidtotal bit rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves signal decoding quality by allocating additional bits specifically to low frequency sub-bands where quality is most critical, rather than uniformly increasing bits across all sub-bands. This localized approach improves perceived audio quality while minimizing the increase in total bit rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing supplementary bit allocation only for low frequency sub-bands that have insufficient quality, rather than reallocating bits across all sub-bands. This selective approach achieves quality improvement in critical regions while keeping the overall bit rate increase minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3079150B1Signal processing method and device
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3079150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3079150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3079150B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a signal processing method and device. The method includes: selecting M sub-bands from N sub-bands, where the N sub-bands are obtained by dividing a spectral coefficient of a current frame of a signal, and a frequency band of the M sub-bands is lower than a frequency band of K sub-bands in the N sub-bands except the M sub-bands; determining, according to performance information of the M sub-bands, to perform a modification operation on original envelope values of the M sub-bands, where the performance information is used to indicate an energy characteristic and a spectral characteristic that are of the M sub-bands; performing modification separately on the original envelope values of the M sub-bands, so as to acquire modified envelope values of the M sub-bands; and performing first bit allocation on the N sub-bands according to the modified envelope values of the M sub-bands and original envelope values of the K sub-bands. In the embodiments of the present invention, bit allocation better meets a bit requirement of each sub-band, and therefore, signal encoding and decoding performance can be improved.