Sound Data Encoding Loop Transition Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sound data playback methods often disturb the tone quality at loop parts due to audio codec delays, which affect the continuity of sound waveforms during playback.

Innovation Solution

A sound data encoding apparatus that divides sound data into blocks and encodes them in groups, using sound data samples before or after the loop start/end positions to ensure seamless looping, and a decoding apparatus that adjusts output accordingly to minimize audio codec delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sound data are compressed using block-based orthogonal transform with overlapping groups, then compression efficiency is improved, but audio codec delay occurs causing disturbance at loop parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidtone quality at loop parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adding dummy data blocks before the sound data start position and after the sound data end position during the encoding process. This preliminary preparation ensures that when looping occurs, the decoded blocks have sufficient data available at loop transition points, preventing audio distortion while maintaining the efficient block-based compression structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If dummy data blocks are added before sound start and after sound end, then data availability at loop points is improved, but data processing volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availability at loop pointsVSAvoiddata processing volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding dummy data blocks only at specific critical locations (before the sound start position and after the sound end position) rather than throughout the entire data stream. This localized approach ensures data availability at loop transition points while minimizing the overall increase in data processing volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Duration of action of stationary object

If decoded blocks are output with audio codec delay, then continuous sound output is achieved, but loop transition timing becomes misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous sound outputVSAvoidloop transition timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compensates for audio codec delay by preliminarily adding dummy data blocks that account for the delay duration. This allows the decoded blocks to be output with the necessary delay for continuous sound reproduction while the loop transition timing remains accurately synchronized, as the dummy blocks provide the temporal buffer needed for proper alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7479594B2Sound data encoding apparatus and sound decoding apparatus

Publication Date: 2009.01.20 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

Tone quality is improved at the time of playing back sound data having a loop part.A sound data encoding apparatus encodes sound data in groups of a plurality of consecutive blocks. In the case where the sound start position is equal to the loop start position, encoding is performed using samples of sound data (for example, sound data just before the loop end) relating to the sound data at the sound start position from the viewpoint of music. In the case where the sound end position is equal to the loop end position, encoding is performed using samples of sound data (for example, sound data just after the loop start) relating to the sound data at the sound end position from the viewpoint of music.