US5859826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Information encoding method and apparatus, information decoding apparatus and recording medium
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-13
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Granted: 1999-01-12
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Expires: 2015-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An encoding method and apparatus for encoding multi-channel signals employed in, for example, a stereo system of a video disc player, a video tape recorder, a motion picture film picture system, or a so-called multi-surround acoustic system. Five channels, namely the center (C) channel, left (L) channel, right (R) channel, left surround (SL) channel and the right surround (SR) channel, for example, are handled in common depending upon frequency characteristic of digital audio signal and the targeted playback environment, and encoding is done while the combinations of the channels to be handled in common are altered. High compression may be achieved with the use of pre-existing encoding and decoding units by handling the channels in common without dependency upon the degree of correlation of multi-channel digital data.
Inventors
- 👤 Masatoshi Ueno
- 👤 Shinji Miyamori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/86; H04H20/88; G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; H04S; H04S2420/00; H04S2420/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An encoding method for encoding digital signals of plural channels, comprising the steps of: handling in common the digital signals of at least a part of the plural channels to generate a common digital signal; altering combinations of channels handled in common based upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment; outputting parameter information specifying the combinations of the channels handled in common; encoding the common digital signal; and multiplexing the parameter information and the encoded common digital signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An encoding method for encoding digital signals of plural channels, comprising the steps of: handling in common the digital signals of at least a part of the plural channels to generate a common digital signal; altering combinations of channels handled in common based upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment; outputting parameter information specifying the combinations of the channels handled in common; encoding the common digital signal; and multiplexing the parameter information and the encoded common digital signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The encoding method of claim 1, wherein the step of encoding the common digital signal comprises the step of: adaptively altering processing based upon at least one of contents of the digital signals and an advisable playback environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The encoding method of claim 2, wherein the step of adaptively altering the processing is performed on the basis of a pre-set time frame as a unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The encoding method of claim 1, wherein the step of altering the combinations of channels handled in common is performed on the basis of a pre-set time frame as a unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The encoding method of claim 4, wherein a plurality of the combinations of the channels handled in common are used in one frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The encoding method of claim 1, wherein the common digital signal is a digital signal of one channel split and arrayed in at least two channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The encoding method of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the digital signals of plural channels, information for regenerating the pre-common-handling signal is determined and the information for regenerating is included in the information concerning common handling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
An encoding apparatus for encoding digital signals of plural channels, comprising: means for handling in common the digital signals of at least a part of the plural channels to generate a common digital signal; means for altering combinations of channels handled in common based upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment; means for outputting parameter information specifying the combinations of the channels handled in common; means for encoding the common digital signal; and means for multiplexing the parameter information and the encoded common digital signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
An encoding apparatus for encoding digital signals of plural channels, comprising: means for handling in common the digital signals of at least a part of the plural channels to generate a common digital signal; means for altering combinations of channels handled in common based upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment; means for outputting parameter information specifying the combinations of the channels handled in common; means for encoding the common digital signal; and means for multiplexing the parameter information and the encoded common digital signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The encoding apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for encoding alter processing based upon at least one of contents of the digital signals and an advisable playback environment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The encoding apparatus of in claim 8, wherein said means for encoding controls the altering of the combinations of the channels handled in common from one pre-set frame to another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The encoding apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for encoding means employ different types of combinations of channels to be handled in common in one pre-set frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The encoding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for encoding means controls the altering of the combinations of the processing performed on signals to be handled in common from one pre-set frame to another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The encoding apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for encoding split and array the digital signals of an arbitrary channel among plural channels to be handled in common.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The encoding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for encoding analyzes information for regenerating the precommon-handling signals for at least a part of the digital signals of plural channels to be handled in common and includes said information for regenerating in the information on common handling.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
A decoding apparatus for decoding encoded digital signals using parameters for encoding, said encoded digital signals being signals in which at least a part of digital signals of plural channels are handled as one or more common signals, with combinations of channels for common handling being altered in dependence upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment, comprising: decoding means for decoding the common signals, distributing means for distributing the decoded common signals in dependence upon the combinations of common handling, and decoding means for restoring the decoded common signals of plural channels based upon the signals distributed and handled in common.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
A decoding apparatus for decoding encoded digital signals using parameters for encoding, said encoded digital signals being signals in which at least a part of digital signals of plural channels are handled as one or more common signals, with combinations of channels for common handling being altered in dependence upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment, comprising: decoding means for decoding the common signals, distributing means for distributing the decoded common signals in dependence upon the combinations of common handling, and decoding means for restoring the decoded common signals of plural channels based upon the signals distributed and handled in common.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The decoding apparatus of claim 15, wherein said decoding means alters the processing depending upon at least one of the contents of the digital signals and the advisable playback environment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The decoding apparatus of in claim 15, wherein said decoding means decodes encoded signals in which plural types of combinations of the channels handled in common are used a plurality of number of times in a same pre-set frame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The decoding apparatus of claim 17, wherein said decoding means adjusts the signals of respective channels using information for regenerating pre-common-handling signals contained in the information on common handling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The decoding apparatus of claim 15, wherein said decoding means decodes split and arrayed signals of an arbitrary channel among encoded plural common signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
A recording medium having recorded thereon such a signal in which part or all of digital signals of plural channels are handled as one or more encoded common signals, with combinations of channels for common handling being altered in dependence upon frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment, parameter information specifying the combinations of channels to be handled in common, and an encoded signal other than the common signals and the parameter information for encoding are recorded along with the parameter information concerning the encoding.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
A recording medium having recorded thereon such a signal in which part or all of digital signals of plural channels are handled as one or more encoded common signals, with combinations of channels for common handling being altered in dependence upon frequency characteristics of the digital signals and a targeted playback environment, parameter information specifying the combinations of channels to be handled in common, and an encoded signal other than the common signals and the parameter information for encoding are recorded along with the parameter information concerning the encoding.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The recording medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein the recording medium is one of is an optical disc and a motion picture film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
105 words
A recording medium having encoded digital signals recorded thereon, the recording medium being prepared by the steps of: handling in common the digital signals of at least a part of plural channels to generate a common digital signal; altering combinations of channels handled in common based upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals or a targeted playback environment; outputting parameter information specifying the combinations of the channels handled in common; encoding the common digital signal; multiplexing the parameter information and the encoded common digital signal; and recording the multiplexed parameter information and the encoded common digital signal onto the recording medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
105 words
A recording medium having encoded digital signals recorded thereon, the recording medium being prepared by the steps of: handling in common the digital signals of at least a part of plural channels to generate a common digital signal; altering combinations of channels handled in common based upon at least one of frequency characteristics of the digital signals or a targeted playback environment; outputting parameter information specifying the combinations of the channels handled in common; encoding the common digital signal; multiplexing the parameter information and the encoded common digital signal; and recording the multiplexed parameter information and the encoded common digital signal onto the recording medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The recording medium of claim 22, wherein the step of encoding the common digital signal comprises the step of: adaptively altering processing based upon at least one of contents of the digital signals and an advisable playback environment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The recording medium of claim 23, wherein the step of adaptively altering the processing is performed on the basis of a pre-set time frame as a unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The recording medium of claim 23, wherein, for at least one of the digital signals of plural channels, information for regenerating the pre-common-handling signal is determined and the information for regenerating is included in the information concerning common handling.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The recording medium of claim 22, wherein the step of altering the combinations of channels handled in common is performed on the basis of a pre-set time frame as a unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The recording medium of claim 26, wherein a plurality of the combinations of the channels handled in common are used in one frame.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The recording medium of claim 22, wherein the common digital signal is a digital signal of one channel split and arrayed in at least two channels.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-11 | 2002-07-13 | 2003-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-11 | 2006-07-13 | 2007-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-11 | 2010-07-13 | 2011-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |