Compatible multi-channel coding/decoding by weighting the downmix channel

US7447317B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Jürgen Herre · Buckenhof, DE
• Johannes Hilpert · Nuremberg, DE
• Stefan Geyersberger · Erlangen, DE
• Andreas Holzer · Erlangen, DE
• Claus Spenger · Nuremberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 2, 2003
• Grant date: Nov 4, 2008
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04S2420/03
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

In processing a multi-channel audio signal having at least three original channels, a first downmix channel and a second downmix channel are provided, which are derived from the original channels. For a selected original channel of the original channels, channel side information are calculated such that a downmix channel or a combined downmix channel including the first and the second downmix channels, when weighted using the channel side information, results in an approximation of the selected original channel. The channel side information and the first and second downmix channels form output data to be transmitted to a decoder, which, in case of a low level decoder only decodes the first and second downmix channels or, in case of a high level decoder provides a full multi-channel audio signal based on the downmix channels and the channel side information.