Object Audio Encoding for Creator-Controlled Distance Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack the ability to reproduce a sense of distance based on the content creator's intention, as gain control and filter processing for frequency characteristics are predetermined.

Innovation Solution

An encoding device encodes audio data with metadata and sense-of-distance control information, which is multiplexed with the audio data, and a decoding device decodes and performs sense-of-distance control processing to reproduce the audio data based on the content creator's intended control rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If predetermined gain control and filter processing are used for distance reproduction, then the audio processing is simple and efficient, but the sense of distance cannot be customized according to content creator's intention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesense-of-distance control flexibilityVSAvoidaudio processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple sense-of-distance control settings (first setting and second setting) that encode different gain control and filter processing parameters. These settings are prepared in advance and selected based on content creator's intention, allowing customized distance reproduction without real-time complex processing. The encoded audio data includes metadata indicating which preset setting to apply, enabling flexible adaptation while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If customized sense-of-distance control is implemented, then the audio reproduction accuracy matches content creator's intention, but the processing complexity and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio reproduction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by encoding multiple sense-of-distance control settings with different parameter configurations (gain values, filter characteristics) into the audio data metadata. The decoding device selects and applies the appropriate preset parameters based on content creator's intention indicators, achieving accurate customized distance reproduction without requiring complex real-time calculation. This allows high reproduction accuracy while keeping processing manageable through parameter selection rather than generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4089673B1Encoding device and decoding device
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4089673B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4089673B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4089673B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology relates to an encoding device and method, a decoding device and method, and a program capable of realizing sense-of-distance control based on intention of a content creator. The encoding device includes: an object encoding unit that encodes audio data of an object; a metadata encoding unit that encodes metadata including position information of the object; a sense-of-distance control information determination unit that determines sense-of-distance control information for sense-of-distance control processing to be performed on the audio data; a sense-of-distance control information encoding unit that encodes the sense-of-distance control information; and a multiplexer that multiplexes the coded audio data, the coded metadata, and the coded sense-of-distance control information to generate coded data. The present technology can be applied to a content reproduction system.