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US5278909A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System and method for stereo digital audio compression with co-channel steering

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-06-08
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Granted: 1994-01-11
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Expires: 2012-06-08
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Abstract

Abstract Left right and surround components of a stereo signal are coded into a monaural and small co-channel providing volume steering for recreating a stereo effect with a substantially reduced bit rate. The signal is split into a sum and difference signal, the difference signal is randomized and the sum is added to the randomized difference to comprise the single audio channel. A functional relationship is solved for left and right volumes which is then transmitted for intervals on the co-channel. Decoding of the single transmission channel directs it to left, right, or surround channels based on decoding on the logic co-channel. The co-channel updates left and right volume levels which are interpolated through time to effect smooth volume change. Surround gain is determined from left and right channel gains to maintain unity total volume, with the sum of the squares of the three volume controls being unity.

Inventors

  • 👤 Albert D. Edgar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 11:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/86; H04H20/88; H04S; H04S1/00; H04S1/007

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 120 words
A method for encoding multiple channels of audio information comprising generating at least one encoded channel numbering less than said multiple channels from said multiple channels; and generating a co-channel of volume steering information for each of said multiple channels from said multiple channels comprised of at least one first co-channel and at least one second co-channel; wherein each of said multiple channels comprises at least one first channel and at least one second channel; wherein the ratio of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the ratio of the magnitude of said first and second channels; and said magnitude of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the correlation of said first and second channels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 120 words
A method for encoding multiple channels of audio information comprising generating at least one encoded channel numbering less than said multiple channels from said multiple channels; and generating a co-channel of volume steering information for each of said multiple channels from said multiple channels comprised of at least one first co-channel and at least one second co-channel; wherein each of said multiple channels comprises at least one first channel and at least one second channel; wherein the ratio of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the ratio of the magnitude of said first and second channels; and said magnitude of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the correlation of said first and second channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the number of said multiple channels is four and the number of said at least one encoded channels is two.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the number of said multiple channels is two and the number of said at least one encoded channels is one.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 62 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said two multiple channels comprise a first and a second channel of audio information; and said at least one encoded co-channel is a function of magnitude of said first channel of audio information; magnitude of said second channel of audio information; and magnitude of a correlation between said first and said second channels of audio information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the frequency of said first and second channels of audio information is limited to preselected ranges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1 further including executing a summing process of said multiple channels and wherein said at least one encoded channel is generated from said summing process of said multiple channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the phase of said multiple channels is randomized in said summing process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said randomizing of said phase comprises the steps of deriving first and second signals comprising the sum and difference of said multiple channels, respectively; delaying said second signal to produce a third signal; and summing said third with said first signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein frequency of said multiple channels is limited to preselected ranges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one co-channel is derived substantially only from high frequency components of said multiple channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one co-channel is derived from information in the low frequency component of said multiple channels; and said at least one encoded channel is generated from the high frequency components of said multiple channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one encoded channel is functionally related to the magnitudes of said co-channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said high frequency component is above about 1 kilohertz.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 128 words
Apparatus for encoding multiple channels of audio information comprising means for generating at least one encoded channel numbering less than said multiple channels from said multiple channels; and means for generating a co-channel of volume steering information for each of said multiple channels from said multiple channels comprised of means for generating at least one first co-channel and at least one second co-channel; wherein of each said multiple channels comprises means for at least one first channel and at least one second channel; wherein the ratio of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the ratio of the magnitude of said first and second channels; and said magnitude of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the correlation of said first and second channels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 128 words
Apparatus for encoding multiple channels of audio information comprising means for generating at least one encoded channel numbering less than said multiple channels from said multiple channels; and means for generating a co-channel of volume steering information for each of said multiple channels from said multiple channels comprised of means for generating at least one first co-channel and at least one second co-channel; wherein of each said multiple channels comprises means for at least one first channel and at least one second channel; wherein the ratio of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the ratio of the magnitude of said first and second channels; and said magnitude of said first and second co-channels varies in relation to the correlation of said first and second channels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the number of said multiple channels is four and the number of said at least one encoded channels is two.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the number of said multiple channels is two and the number of said at least one encoded channels is one.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 50 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said two multiple channels comprise a first and a second channel; and said at least one encoded co-channel is a function of magnitude of said first channel; magnitude of said second channel; and magnitude of a correlation between said first and said second channels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the frequency of said first and second channels is limited to preselected ranges.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 14 including summing means for generating said at least one channel encoded from a summing process of said multiple channels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 19 including randomizing means for randomizing the phase of said multiple channels in said summing process.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 58 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said randomizing means includes means for deriving first and second signals comprising the sum and difference of said multiple channels, respectively; means for delaying one of said first or second signals to produce a third signal; and means for summing said third with the remaining one of said first or second signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein frequency of said multiple channels is limited to preselected ranges.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one co-channel is derived substantially only from high frequency components of said multiple channels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one co-channel is derived from information in the low frequency component of said multiple channels; and said at least one encoded channel is generated from the high frequency components of said multiple channels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said high frequency component is above about 1 kilohertz.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB871992A Cited
US3789144A Cited
US4486076A Cited
US4485483A Cited
US4815132A Cited
US4680796A Cited
US4825305A Cited
US4769841A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-01-10 1997-07-12 1998-01-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-01-10 2001-07-12 2002-01-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-01-10 2005-07-12 2006-01-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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