Spatial Audio Parameter Merging for Lower Bit-Rate Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spatial audio encoding methods require a high bit rate for representing spatial audio parameters, especially when multiple sound sources are present in a time-frequency tile, which is inefficient for immersive audio communications.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines spatial audio parameters associated with each direction into one or more combined spatial audio parameters on a per TF tile basis, reducing the number of bits required for representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spatial audio parameters are represented separately for each direction in a time-frequency tile, then the precision of spatial audio representation is improved, but the bit rate required for transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spatial audio parameters (direction, energy ratio, coherence) associated with different directions within the same time-frequency tile into a single unified parameter set. This merging approach reduces the total number of parameters that need to be transmitted, thereby lowering the bit rate while maintaining sufficient spatial audio representation quality.
2Reliability
If multiple spatial audio parameters are transmitted for each direction, then the spatial audio quality is improved, but the complexity of the encoding system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal parameter representation that can handle multiple directions within a single time-frequency tile using a unified parameter set. This multi-functional approach allows the system to represent spatial audio information for different directions without requiring separate independent parameter sets, thereby reducing encoding system complexity while maintaining spatial audio quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is inter alia disclosed an apparatus for spatial audio encoding comprising: means for determining a first spatial audio parameter of a frequency sub band of one or more audio signals and a second spatial audio parameter of the frequency sub band of the one or more audio signals; and means for combining the first spatial audio parameter and the second spatial audio parameter to provide a combined spatial audio parameter for the frequency sub band.