Spatial Audio Metadata Merging Without Format Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parametric spatial audio processing systems face challenges in efficiently merging multiple audio streams without converting them to a common non-parametric format, leading to computational complexity and quality degradation during synthesis and analysis operations, especially in bandwidth-constrained environments like mobile communication.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves combining multiple audio streams in the parametric domain through direct mixing or merging of spatial metadata parameters, which can be implemented as part of the capture processing apparatus or within the audio codec, reducing the need for conversion to a common non-parametric format and minimizing computational complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple audio streams are merged by converting to a common non-parametric format, then the merging process is simplified, but computational complexity increases and audio quality degrades due to repeated synthesis and analysis operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter domain from non-parametric (traditional audio format) to parametric representation. By representing audio streams in the parametric domain, the system avoids repeated synthesis and analysis operations, thereby reducing computational complexity while maintaining merging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial metadata as an intermediary representation that bridges multiple audio streams. Instead of directly converting streams to a common non-parametric format, the system uses parametric spatial metadata to represent and merge the streams, reducing computational overhead.
2Ease of operation
If multiple audio streams are merged by converting to a common non-parametric format, then the merging process is simplified, but audio quality degrades due to repeated synthesis and analysis operations
Solution Approach 1:
By representing audio streams in the parametric domain rather than converting to non-parametric format, the patent preserves audio quality. The parametric representation allows direct merging without repeated synthesis and analysis operations that would otherwise degrade audio fidelity.
3Productivity
If audio streams are transmitted in parametric format, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the need for efficient parameter merging becomes critical to maintain processing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging operations directly in the parametric domain to combine multiple audio streams. This approach maintains the efficiency gains of parametric transmission while avoiding the computational overhead that would result from converting to non-parametric format for merging.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus comprising means for determining for at least one first audio signal (201) of an audio signal format, at least one metadata parameter; determining for at least one further audio signal (211) of a further audio signal format; at least one further metadata parameter; controlling combining of the at least one metadata parameter with the at least one further metadata parameter to generate a combined metadata (421), wherein the combined metadata is configured to be associated with a combined audio signal formed from the at least one first audio signal and the at least one further audio signal in such a way that the combined metadata comprises at least one spatial audio parameter.