Multi-Channel Audio Encoding with Identical Timestamps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio coding standards, such as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, do not efficiently support synchronized transmission of individual multi-channel audio components, leading to quality degradation when signals are re-encoded multiple times, especially in limited bandwidth scenarios, and require either proprietary equipment or high data rates for uncompressed audio.
Innovation Solution
A method of encoding and decoding that assigns identical time stamps to temporally co-located audio signals, aligns them into frames, and compresses them using dual-mono audio components within the MPEG-2 transport stream, maintaining synchronization across multiple channels without converting them into a single component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If surround-sound compression methods are used to reduce bit rate, then data rate requirements are reduced, but audio quality degrades when signals are re-encoded multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the multi-channel audio into separate individual audio components (e.g., left, right, center, surround channels) that are encoded and transmitted independently rather than as a single pre-mixed surround sound component. This allows each channel to be processed separately, maintaining higher quality when re-encoded multiple times while still achieving bit rate reduction through selective compression of individual channels based on their specific characteristics.
2Reliability
If uncompressed audio format is used to maintain audio quality, then audio quality is preserved, but data rate requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different compression strategies to different audio channels based on their local characteristics. Some channels may be compressed more aggressively while others maintain higher fidelity, allowing the system to achieve acceptable overall audio quality at reduced bit rates compared to uncompressed transmission, while still providing better quality than uniform surround-sound compression.
3Reliability
If individual multi-channel audio components are transmitted separately, then audio quality and flexibility are improved, but synchronization between channels becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements preliminary synchronization actions by embedding timing information and synchronization markers within each individual audio component during the encoding phase. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the separate channels are transmitted and potentially re-encoded multiple times, they can be automatically resynchronized at the decoder without requiring complex post-processing or proprietary equipment.
4Reliability
If proprietary compression techniques are used to maintain quality, then audio quality is preserved, but equipment cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs universal encoding and decoding algorithms that are compatible with standard MPEG audio decoders already widely deployed in consumer equipment. By making the system multi-functional and compatible with existing standards rather than requiring proprietary equipment, it achieves good audio quality without increasing device complexity or operational costs.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
There is provided a method of encoding audio and including said encoded audio into a digital transport stream, comprising receiving at an encoder input a plurality of temporally co-located audio signals, assigning identical time stamps per unit time to all of the plurality of temporally co-located audio signals and incorporating the identically time stamped audio signals into the digital transport stream. There is also provided a method decoding said encoded data, and encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus.