JP2003058194A - Encoder, transmitter, recorder, decoder, reproducing device, additional information adding device, recording medium, encoding method, transmitting method, recording method, decoding method, reproducing method and additional information adding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add additional information to encoded information itself without making recording efficiency or transmitting efficiency worse. SOLUTION: In each of sound frames of encoded data formed by being encoded by an ATRAC system by making all bit allocation information into '0' (zero), the target additional information is added to an unused part for 48 bits from the 1633-rd bit from the top to be excessive when storing encoded data formed by being encoded by an ATRAC 3 system in a free area so that the storage area of spectrum data can be utilized as a free area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coding apparatus for coding a digital signal such as a digital audio signal, a coding method, a transmission apparatus for transmitting a coded digital signal, a transmission method, and a coding method. Device for recording the digital signal recorded on the recording medium, recording method, decoding device for decoding the encoded digital signal, decoding method, reproducing device for reproducing the digital signal recorded on the recording medium, reproducing method, The present invention relates to a recording medium on which an encoded digital signal is recorded, an additional information adding device for adding additional information to encoded coded data, and an additional information adding method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to efficiently record or transmit a digital audio signal on a recording medium, various methods and devices for highly efficient encoding of the digital audio signal are used. In the following, a few examples of high efficiency coding methods and devices used for digital audio signals will be described.

One is to divide an audio signal in the time domain into blocks for each unit time, convert the signal on the time axis of each block into a signal on the frequency axis (orthogonal conversion), and divide it into a plurality of frequency bands. There is a transform coding method which is one of the blocked frequency band division methods for coding the signals of the respective divided bands.

The other is a non-blocking frequency band in which an audio signal in the time domain is not divided into blocks for each unit time, but is divided into a plurality of frequency bands and the divided signal for each band is encoded. Band division coding (sub-band coding (SBC)), which is one of the division methods.
Coding)) There is a method.

There is also a high-efficiency coding method in which the band division coding method and the transform coding method described above are combined. In this case, for example, after performing band division by the band division coding method described above, the signal for each band is orthogonally transformed into a signal in the frequency domain by the transformation coding method described above, and this orthogonal transformation is performed. Encoding will be performed for each band.

Here, the band division filter used in the above-mentioned band division encoding method or the like is, for example, Q.
There are filters such as MF (Quadrature Mirror filter), which are 1976 RECrochiere Digital coding of sp.
eech in subbands Bell Syst.Tech.J.vol.55, No.8 1976
Are described in.

Further, as a band division filter other than the QMF filter, there is an equal bandwidth filter division method and device such as a polyphase quadrature filter, which is ICASSP 83, B.
OSTON Polyphase Quadraturefi1ters-A new subband co
ding technique Joseph H. Rothwejle.

Further, in the above transform coding method and the like, as a concrete example of orthogonal transform for transforming a signal on the time axis into a signal on the frequency axis, an input audio signal is divided into blocks in a predetermined unit time (frame), A fast Fourier transform (FFT) method or a discrete cosine transform (DCT) for each block.
ine Transform), modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT: M
odified Discrete Cosine Transform) is used.

There are various references for each of these methods. For example, for MDCT, ICASSP 198
7 Subband / Transform Coding Using Filter Bank Desig
ns Based on Time Domain A1iasing Cance11ation JP
Princen ABBradley Univ.of Surrey Royal Melbourne
Inst. Of Tech.

Further, in each of the above-described encoding methods, the frequency division is performed in the case of quantizing each frequency-divided frequency component in consideration of human auditory characteristics. Has been. That is, an audio signal may be divided into a plurality of bands (for example, 25 band) with a bandwidth such that the higher the band, which is generally called a critical band, is, the wider the band is.

At this time, when encoding the data for each band, encoding is performed by predetermined bit allocation for each band or adaptive bit allocation for each band. For example,
When the MDCT coefficient data obtained by the above-mentioned MDCT processing is encoded by the above-mentioned bit allocation, it is adaptive to the MDCT coefficient data for each band obtained by the MDCT processing for each block described above. Encoding is performed by the number of distributed bits.

Furthermore, in each encoding method, when encoding each band, so-called block floating processing is realized in which normalization is performed and quantization is performed for each band to realize more efficient encoding. Is done. For example, when encoding the MDCT coefficient data obtained by the above-described MDCT processing, quantization is performed by performing normalization corresponding to the maximum absolute value of the MDCT coefficient for each band. As a result, more efficient encoding is performed.

In the normalization, numbering corresponding to information of a plurality of sizes is defined in advance, and this number is used as the normalization information. The information on the normalization magnitude prepared in advance is numbered at a fixed proportion. The following two methods are conventionally known as such a bit allocation method and a device therefor.

IEEE Transactions of Accoustics, Speech,
In andSjgnalProcessing, vol.ASSP-25, No.4, August 1977, bit allocation is performed based on the signal size of each band. Also, ICASSP 1980 The critical band code
r--digital encoding of the perceptual requirements
In the MAKransner MIT of the auditory system, a method is described in which auditory masking is used to obtain a necessary signal-to-noise ratio for each band and perform fixed bit allocation.

Then, as described above, the signal which has been subjected to the high efficiency coding by the high efficiency coding method in which the critical band is taken into consideration and the block floating process is also performed is decoded by the following method. The conversion is performed. Here, it is assumed that MDCT is used as the orthogonal transformation. First, the high-efficiency coded signal is calculated as MDCT coefficient data using bit allocation information, normalization information, etc. for each band.

The MDCT coefficient data is inverse orthogonal transform (I
MDCT), the data is converted into time domain data. If band division was performed by the band division filter at the time of encoding, synthesis is further performed using the band synthesis filter. By these operations, the original time domain data is decoded.

Further, as described above, in the signal which has been subjected to the high efficiency coding by the high efficiency coding method in which the critical band is taken into consideration and the block floating processing is also performed, the bit allocation information is all 0 ( If it is set to "0", the data after decoding is 0 (zero), that is, a silent state, regardless of what data is written in the part corresponding to the normalization information and MDCT coefficient data, which is the other information. Become. By utilizing this property, by setting all the bit allocation information to 0, the area corresponding to the normalization information and MDCT coefficient data can theoretically be regarded as a free area.

Recently, data coded by a more efficient new coding method is recorded in this free area, and the existing decoding apparatus performs silent decoding (reproduction) to perform decoding corresponding to the new coding method. In the device, a method of recording the encoded information in such a form that the music which is double or more than the existing music can be reproduced is also used. That is,
Without changing the physical format, conventional high efficiency coding,
It is also becoming possible to switch between a new encoding method and use.

[0019]

By the way, the coded information of music information coded by using various coding methods as described above basically includes music information (audio signal). However, other additional information is not recorded (added) in that area. However, there is a demand for adding various types of data (additional information) to the encoded information itself in order to identify the source of the encoded information and identify the encoded information itself.

Depending on the recording medium for recording the encoded information, for example, there is prepared in advance an area for recording the so-called title information of the music, information of the reproduction time, etc. This is in the format of the recording medium. It depends. That is, it is different from adding additional information to the encoded information itself.

Considering addition of additional information to the encoded information, simply, the capacity of the additional information that can be written is increased depending on the capacity of the additional information that is desired to be written. Therefore, as the amount of additional information increases, the recording efficiency of the entire recording medium tends to deteriorate.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an encoding apparatus capable of adding additional information to encoded information itself without deteriorating recording efficiency and transmission efficiency.
Coding method, transmission device for adding additional information to coded information for transmission, transmission method, decoding device for decoding coded information with additional information, decoding method, coding with additional information It is an object of the present invention to provide a reproducing apparatus for reproducing information, a reproducing method, and a recording medium on which encoded information added with additional information is recorded.

[0023]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an encoding apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a first compressed digital signal subjected to the first high-efficiency encoding with a predetermined unit length. A first compression processing means for forming blocks for each;
Dummy data is added to the second compressed digital signal when the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high efficiency coding having a higher compression rate than that of By adding a second compression processing means for aligning the data length to the predetermined length unit, and a superposition means for superimposing additional information on the dummy data portion added by the second compression processing means. Characterize.

According to the encoding device of the invention described in claim 1, the encoded data encoded by the first high efficiency encoding system in the first compression processing means and the second compression processing means. In the above, both the coded data coded by the second high-efficiency coding method and the same predetermined length unit are divided into blocks. That is, the physical format (data format size) of the encoded data encoded by the first high-efficiency encoding method and the encoded data encoded by the second high-efficiency encoding method is It is supposed to be the same.

In the block of the predetermined length unit, the first
The storage area of the coded data formed by being coded by the high-efficiency coding method is, for example, all bit allocation information is 0.
Thus, it can be regarded as a free area that can be freely used, rather than as a storage area of encoded data formed by being encoded by the first high efficiency encoding method.

By using this free area as a storage area of the coded data formed by being coded by the second high efficiency coding system, the coded data of the first high efficiency coding system and the second The compatibility with the high-efficiency coded data can be improved, and for example, coexistence and utilization on the same recording medium can be facilitated.

The second high-efficiency coding method is the first
Since the data compression rate is higher than that of the high efficiency encoding method of
When the coded data of the second high-efficiency coding method is stored in the free area, an unused portion is generated, and dummy data such as all 0 (zero) is added to this portion. The block size of the coded data of the first high efficiency coding system and the block size of the coded data of the second high efficiency coding system can be made the same.

In this case, the free area which can be freely used by setting all the bit allocation information to 0 is an area which is not regarded as the storage area of the coded data of the first high efficiency coding method. Furthermore, even if some data is added (superposed) to the unused portion in the free area where the above-mentioned dummy data is added, the encoded data of the second high efficiency encoding method It has no effect.

Therefore, the additional information is added by the superimposing means to an unused portion, which is a portion to which so-called dummy data is added when the digital signal is encoded using the second high efficiency encoding method. Secondly added (superimposed)
The additional information can be added to the compressed digital signal itself which is formed by being encoded by the high-efficiency encoding method.

In this case, as can be seen from the above description, the size (physical format) of the block of the predetermined length unit does not change, so that the encoded data of the second high efficiency system is Even if the additional information is added to the unused portion in each block, the total amount of the data does not exceed the total amount of encoded data formed by encoding the same digital signal by the first high efficiency encoding method. It is possible to prevent the recording efficiency and the transmission efficiency of the encoded data from being deteriorated.

An encoding apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the encoding apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the additional information includes image data, character data, and the second compressed digital signal. It is characterized in that it is at least one of a business operator identification code to be distributed, an identification code of the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device.

According to the encoding device of the second aspect, it is possible to output image data or character data directly used by the user as the additional information or various kinds of identification. At least one of the various identification codes for performing is added to the compressed digital signal encoded and formed by the second high efficiency encoding method.

As a result, desired additional information is added to the compressed digital signal coded by the second high efficiency coding method and transmitted without deteriorating the transmission efficiency and the recording efficiency. Alternatively, it can be provided to a general user by being recorded on a recording medium.

Further, in the decoding device of the invention described in claim 7, the first compressed digital signal subjected to the first high-efficiency coding divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit and dummy data are added. As a result, the decoding device that selectively decodes the second high-efficiency-encoded second compressed digital signal in which the data length is aligned in the predetermined length unit is added with the dummy data. Receiving means for receiving the second high-efficiency-encoded second compressed digital signal in which the data lengths are aligned in the predetermined length unit, and the predetermined length unit received by the receiving means. The additional information extracting means for extracting the additional information embedded in the dummy data portion from the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high-efficiency encoding in which the data lengths are aligned with each other, and the additional information extracting means. Based on the extracted additional information Characterized by comprising a control means for performing constant control.

According to the decoding device of the seventh aspect, the coded data coded by the first high-efficiency coding system and the coding data coded by the second high-efficiency coding system. Both the data and the data are divided into blocks of the same predetermined length. In the block of the predetermined length unit, the storage area of the coded data formed by being coded by the first high efficiency coding method can be freely used, for example, by setting all bit allocation information to 0. Can be considered as a free area.

That is, for example, the free area that can be freely used by setting all the bit allocation information to 0 becomes an area that is not regarded as the storage area of the coded data of the first high efficiency coding system, If it is an unused portion to which dummy data in the free area is added, it does not affect the coded data of the second high efficiency coding method at all, so it is added to this unused portion. Information is added (superimposed).

As described above, the second compressed digital signal encoded and formed by the second high-efficiency encoding method and having the additional information added to the unused portion is received by the receiving means,
The additional information is extracted by the additional information extracting means from the unused portion, which is a predetermined portion of the received second compressed digital signal. Based on the extracted additional information, the control means performs a predetermined process.

As a result, the additional information is extracted from each block of the second compressed digital signal encoded and formed by the second high efficiency encoding method, and various controls are performed according to the extracted additional information. It is possible to carry out the desired processing.

The decoding device according to claim 8 is the decoding device according to claim 7, wherein the additional information is
At least one of image data, character data, a provider identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. .

According to the decoding device of the eighth aspect, the additional information extracted by the additional information extracting means is the image data or the character data which is directly used by the user by outputting, Alternatively, it is at least one of various identification codes for enabling various types of identification.

As a result, when the extracted additional information is image data or character data, it is output and provided to the user, and when it is various identification codes, the additional information is output. Various processes according to the identification code can be performed, and executable processes can be limited.

[0042]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where an input digital signal such as an audio PCM signal is highly efficiently encoded by using band division encoding, adaptive transform encoding, and adaptive bit allocation techniques will be described as an example. .

There are various high-efficiency coding methods as described above, but in this embodiment, MD (Min
A used in i Disc (registered trademark)
TRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) method and A that is designed to have a higher compression rate than ATRAC.
The case of using the TRAC3 system will be described.

In the following, for ease of explanation, first, the encoding and decoding of the ATRAC system, the ATR
AC3 encoding and decoding will be explained, and then
Specific examples of various devices to which one embodiment of the device of the present invention that can selectively use both high efficiency coding schemes are applied will be described.

[About the encoding of the ATRAC system] FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a high-efficiency encoding apparatus 1 which is an example of an apparatus for performing a high-efficiency encoding process on a digital audio signal by using the ATRAC method adopted in the conventional MD format for audio.

In the specific high-efficiency coding apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, an input audio signal (audio PCM signal) is divided into a plurality of frequency bands, and orthogonal transformation is performed for each frequency band. In the low frequency range, the obtained spectrum data of the frequency axis (spectrum data) is used for each so-called critical bandwidth (critical band) that takes into account human auditory characteristics, which will be described later, and in the middle and high frequencies, the critical band considering the block floating efficiency. For each band of which the width is subdivided,
It is adaptively assigned and encoded. Normally, this block is the quantization noise generation block. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the block size (block length) is adaptively changed according to the input signal before the orthogonal transformation.

That is, in FIG. 1, the high-efficiency coding apparatus 1
The input terminal 100 of the
Audio PCM of 0 to 22 kHz at 4.1 kHz
Signal is supplied. The input signal from the input terminal 100 is
For example, a band-dividing filter 101 such as a QMF filter divides the signal into a band of 0 to 11 kHz and a signal of 11 kHz to 22 kHz. And 5.5 kHz to 11 kHz
It is split into signals with the z band.

11 kHz from band splitting filter 101
The signal in the band of up to 22 kHz is sent to the MDCT circuit 103 which is one of the orthogonal transformation circuits, and the band division filter 102
Signals from the 5.5kHz to 11kHz band from the MDCT
0 sent from the band division filter 102 to the circuit 104.
A signal in the band of up to 5.5 kHz is sent to the MDCT circuit 105, and MDCT processing (orthogonal transformation) is performed in each MDCT circuit. In addition, each MDCT circuit 103, 1
In 04 and 105, MDCT processing is performed based on the block size determined by the block determination circuits 109, 110, and 111 provided for each band.

Here, each MDCT circuit 103, 104,
FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the standard input signal for the block for each band supplied to the block 105. In the specific example of FIG. 2, the three filter output signals have a plurality of orthogonal transform block sizes independently for each band, and the time resolution can be switched depending on the time characteristics, frequency distribution, etc. of the signal. .

When the signal is quasi-stationary in time (when the change is not so drastic), the orthogonal transform block size is increased to 11.6 mS, that is, (A) Long Mode in FIG. , When the signal is non-stationary (when the signal has a relatively strong conversion), the orthogonal transform block size is further divided into two and four.

That is, (B) Short in FIG.
As in Mode, when all are divided into 4 and 2.9 mS, or (C) Middle Mode A in FIG.
As in (D) MiddleMode B, a part is divided into two, 5.8 mS, and one part is divided into four, and the time resolution is 2.9 mS, so that it is adapted to an actual complicated input signal.

This division of the orthogonal transform block size is more effective if more complicated division is performed if the scale of the processing device permits. This block size is determined by the block size determination circuits 109, 110 and 111 in FIG.
And the MDCT circuits 103, 104, 105,
And the output terminal 11 as block size information of the corresponding block while being supplied to the bit allocation calculation circuit 118.
It is output from 3, 115, 117.

Then, in FIG. 1, each MDCT circuit 1
The spectral data on the frequency axis or the MDCT coefficient data obtained by MDCT processing at 03, 104, and 105 are grouped into so-called critical bands (critical bands) in the low range, and block floating is effective in the middle and high ranges. In consideration of the above, the critical bandwidth is subdivided and supplied to the adaptive bit allocation coding circuits 106, 107, 108 and the bit allocation calculation circuit 118.

Here, the critical band is a frequency band divided in consideration of human auditory characteristics, and when a pure tone is masked by a narrow band noise having the same strength in the vicinity of the frequency of the pure tone, the noise is generated. It is the bandwidth of the. This critical band is
The higher the band is, the wider the bandwidth is.
Is divided into 25 critical bands, for example.

Bit allocation calculation circuit 118 in FIG.
Is based on the block size information and the spectrum data or MDCT coefficient data supplied thereto, considering the so-called masking effect and the like, the masking amount for each divided band in consideration of the critical band and block floating, Also, the energy or peak value of each divided band is calculated, and the number of allocated bits is calculated for each band based on the result, and the adaptive bit allocation encoding circuit 1 in FIG.
06, 107, 108.

These adaptive bit allocation encoding circuits 10
6, 107, and 108, according to the block size information described above and the number of bits allocated to each divided band in consideration of the critical band and the block floating,
Each spectrum data or MDCT coefficient data is requantized (normalized and quantized). The data encoded in this way is output to the output terminal 11 in FIG.
It is taken out through 2, 114 and 116.

In the following, for convenience of explanation, each divided band in consideration of the above-mentioned critical band and block floating, which is a unit of bit allocation, is referred to as a unit block. In the bit allocation calculation circuit 118 in FIG.
Analyze the state of tone components based on MDCT coefficients, and calculate the bit allocation amount for each unit block in consideration of so-called masking effect, existing audible curve for human hearing, and existing effects such as equal loudness curve. Then, the information distribution is decided.

At this time, the block size information described above is also taken into consideration. In addition, here, the scale factor value, which is the normalized data, indicating the block floating state of the unit block is also determined. Specifically, for example, some positive values are prepared in advance as candidates for the scale factor value, and among them, the minimum value among the spectral data in the unit block or the maximum absolute value of the MDCT coefficient is taken. Is used as the scale factor value of the unit block.

The scale factor value is numbered using a few bits in a form corresponding to the actual value,
The number may be stored in a ROM or the like (not shown). The scale factor values corresponding to the numbers are specified to have values at intervals of, for example, 2 dB in the numerical order. Here, the scale factor value determined by the above-described method in a certain unit block uses the above number corresponding to the determined value as sub information indicating the scale factor of the unit block.

Next, the encoding format of data that is actually encoded will be described with reference to FIG. Numerical values shown on the left side of FIG. 3 represent the number of bytes, and in this embodiment, 212 bytes (1696 bits) are used as a unit of one frame (one sound frame) (minimum unit of data in MD). In FIG. 3, the block size information of each band determined by the block determination circuits 109, 110, and 111 shown in FIG. 1 is recorded at the first 0th byte position.

Information on the number of unit blocks to be recorded is recorded at the position of the next 1st byte. This is because, for example, the higher the high frequency side by a series of bit allocation calculation circuits, the more often the bit allocation becomes 0, and recording is unnecessary. Many bits are allocated to the low and middle frequencies, which have a great influence.

At the position of the first byte, the number of unit blocks in which the bit allocation information is double written,
And the number of unit blocks for which scale factor information is double written. Double writing is a method of recording the same data as the data recorded at a certain byte position in another location for error correction. The more double-written information, the stronger the error resistance. However, the less this information, the more bits can be used for the spectrum data.

The number of unit blocks for which double writing is performed is set independently for each of the above-mentioned bit allocation information and scale factor information, and the strength against errors and the number of usable bits for spectrum data are adjusted. I am trying to do it. For each piece of information, the correspondence between the code within the specified bits and the number of unit blocks is defined in advance as a format.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, 3 bits of the 8 bits at the 1-byte position are used as information on the number of unit blocks to be actually recorded, and 2 bits of the remaining 5 bits are bit-allocated. The number of unit blocks in which information is double-written and the remaining 3 bits are the number of unit blocks in which scale factor information is double-written.

Bit allocation information of the unit block is recorded at the position from the second byte in FIG. For recording the bit allocation information, for example, 4 is recorded for one unit block.
It is specified as a format to use bits.
As a result, the bit allocation information for the number of unit blocks actually recorded in FIG. 3 described above is recorded in order from the 0th unit block.

The scale factor information of the unit block is recorded after the data of the bit allocation information recorded by the above method. Regarding the recording of the scale factor information, it is specified as a format that 6 bits are used for one unit block. As a result, just like the recording of the bit allocation information, the scale factor information is recorded in order from the 0th unit block by the number of unit blocks to be actually recorded.

The spectrum data of the unit block is recorded after the scale factor information thus recorded. As for the spectrum data, the number of unit blocks to be actually recorded is sequentially recorded from the 0th unit block. The number of spectrum data that exist in each unit block is determined in advance by the format, so that it is possible to correspond the data by the above-mentioned bit allocation information. It should be noted that recording is not performed for a unit block whose bit allocation is 0.

This spectrum information is followed by the above-mentioned double-writing of scale factor information and 2 of bit allocation information.
Overwrite. This recording method is the same as the recording of the scale factor information and the bit allocation information described above, except that the correspondence of the number is made to correspond to the double-written information shown in FIG.

As for the rearmost 2 bytes, as shown in FIG. 3, the information of the 0th byte and the information of the 1st byte are respectively double-written. The double writing for 2 bytes is defined as a format, and the variable setting of the double writing recording amount cannot be performed like the double writing of scale factor information and the double writing of bit allocation information.

That is, in the bit allocation calculation circuit 118 in FIG. 1, data obtained by processing the orthogonal transform output spectrum with sub information as main information, and as a sub information, a scale factor indicating a state of block floating and a word length indicating a word length. Is obtained, and based on this,
Adaptive bit allocation coding circuits 106 and 10 in FIG.
In steps 7 and 108, requantization is actually performed and coding is performed according to the coding format.

[About Decoding of Coded Data Coded by ATRAC System] FIG. 5 shows a signal decoded by the high efficiency coding device 1 described above with reference to FIG. 1 by a high efficiency coded by ATRAC system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a decoding device 2 which is an example of a device for doing so. The quantized MDCT coefficient of each band, that is, the data equivalent to the output signals of the output terminals 112, 114 and 116 in FIG.
It is supplied to the adaptive bit allocation decoding circuit 206 through the input terminal 207 of the decoding device 2 in FIG.

Further, the used block size information, that is, the data equivalent to the output signals of the output terminals 113, 115 and 117 in FIG. 1, is passed through the input terminal 208 of the decoding device 2 in FIG. (IMDCT
Circuit) 203, 204, 205.

Adaptive bit allocation decoding circuit 7 in FIG.
At 06, bit allocation is canceled using the adaptive bit allocation information. The output signal from the adaptive bit allocation decoding circuit 206 whose bit allocation has been released is the inverse orthogonal transform circuit 203,
204, 205. Inverse orthogonal transform circuit 203,
In each of 204 and 205, the output signal from the adaptive bit allocation decoding circuit 206 is subjected to inverse orthogonal transform using the block size information supplied thereto, and the signal on the frequency axis is converted to the signal on the time axis. Convert.

The signal on the time axis from the inverse orthogonal transform circuit 203 is supplied to the band synthesizing filter 201, and the signals on the time axis from the inverse orthogonal transform circuits 204 and 205 are supplied to the band synthesizing filter 202. Then, the band synthesis filters 202 and 201 decode the partial band signal, which is divided into three bands and processed, into a full band signal. That is, the audio signal in the original state before encoding is decoded (restored).

As described above, the high-efficiency encoding apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 can highly-efficiently encode an audio signal by the ATRAC system. Then, at the time of recording the audio signal in the MD deck, the ATRAC system high efficiency encoding is performed, and the encoded data is recorded in the MD. Then, at the time of reproducing the encoded data recorded in the MD, the encoded data recorded in the MD is read out, decoded by the decoding device 2 shown in FIG. 5, and reproduced.

[Encoding of ATRAC3 System] Next, high efficiency encoding of the ATRAC3 system adopted in the MDLP (MD Long Play) format developed as an extension format of the conventional MD format will be described.

The MDLP format is an upward compatible standard of the conventional audio MD, and the conventional MD (mini disk) is used as it is to double (LP2 mode).
It enables long-time recording of / 4 times (LP4 mode). The ATRAC3 method used in this MDLP format is 2 more than the conventional ATRAC method.
This is a high-efficiency coding method that achieves more than double compression performance with high sound quality.

The ATRAC3 high efficiency coding will be described below. FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a high-efficiency encoder 3 which is an example of an apparatus for highly-efficiently encoding an audio signal (PCM signal) by the ATRAC3 method.

An audio signal (audio PCM signal) to be encoded with high efficiency is supplied to a QMF filter 301 as a band division filter through an input terminal 300. The QMF filter 301 has the PCM supplied to it.
A signal in the band of 0 kHz to 11 kHz and 11 kHz
z to 22 kHz band signal and 0 kHz to 1
A signal in the band of 1 kHz is supplied to the QMF filter 302 in the subsequent stage, and a signal in the band of 11 kHz to 22 kHz is supplied to the QMF filter 303 in the subsequent stage.

The QMF filter 302 converts the signal supplied thereto into a signal in the band of 11 kHz to 16.5 kHz,
16.5 kHz to 22 kHz band signal and split,
A signal in the band of 16.5 kHz to 22 kHz is sent to the MDCT circuit 308 through the gain control circuit 304, and 11
A signal in the band of kHz to 16.5 kHz is supplied to the MDCT circuit 309 through the gain control circuit 305.

The QMF filter 303 converts the signal supplied thereto into a signal in the band of 0 kHz to 11 kHz and 11 kHz.
And a signal in the band from 1 Hz to 16.5 kHz,
The gain control circuit 3 outputs a signal in the band of Hz to 16.5 kHz.
MDCT circuit 310 through 06, and from 0 kHz to
A signal in the 11 kHz band is supplied to the MDCT circuit 311 through the gain control circuit 307.

As described above, in the high-efficiency coding apparatus 3 of this embodiment, the two-stage band division filter is used.
The input PCM signal is divided into four frequency band signals, and the MDCT circuit 30 is provided for each band.
8, 309, 310, 311. Note that each of the gain control circuits 304, 305, 306, and 307 controls the gain of the signal supplied thereto to a level suitable for the subsequent processing.

Then, the MDCT circuits 308, 309, 3
Each of 10 and 311 converts the signals on the time axis supplied thereto into MDCT conversion to convert the signals on the frequency axis (spectral signals) and supplies the signals to the spectral component separation circuit 312. The spectrum component separation circuit 312 separates the spectrum signal supplied thereto into tone components (independent steep spectra) and other non-tone components.

The tone component separated by the spectrum component separation circuit 312 is supplied to the tone component encoding unit 313, and the non-tone component is divided into the non-tone component encoding unit 31.
4 is supplied. In the tone component coding unit 313 and the non-tone component coding unit 314, the signals supplied thereto are coded. In this way, the tone component and the non-tone component are encoded separately in order to improve the S / N ratio (signal-to-noise ratio) of a signal in which energy is concentrated in a narrow frequency component.

The signals coded by the tone component coding section 313 and the non-tone component coding section 314 are supplied to a coded sequence generation section 315. The coded string generation unit 315 multiplexes the coded data of the tone component and the coded data of the non-tone component supplied thereto to generate a coded string. The coded sequence generated by the code generation unit 315 becomes high-efficiency coded data (spectrum data) by the ATRAC3 method, is output through the output terminal 316, and is supplied to the subsequent circuit.

In the case of encoded data of the ATRAC3 system, in order to avoid any inconvenience even if the data is decoded and reproduced by the conventional ATRAC system, a predetermined portion of each frame will be described as will be described later. (Bit allocation information part)
A predetermined value (all zeros) is added to. When a player that does not support MDLP reads the predetermined value of the predetermined portion, the encoded audio signal is determined to be silent data, and silent playback is performed to avoid the inconvenience.

[Decoding of Coded Data Encoded by ATRAC3 System] FIG. 7 is a diagram for decoding a signal highly efficient coded by the ATRAC3 system by the high efficiency coding apparatus 3 described above with reference to FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a decoding device 4 which is an example of a device for doing so. FIG. ATR
Coded data highly efficient coded by the AC3 system, that is,
Data equivalent to the output signal from the output terminal 316 in FIG. 6 is supplied to the coded sequence decomposing unit 401 through the input terminal 400 of the decoding device 4 in FIG.

As the coded sequence supplied to the coded sequence decomposing unit 401, the coded sequence of the tone component and the coded sequence of the non-tone component are multiplexed as described in the description of the high efficiency coding device 3. It has been transformed into For this reason, the coded sequence decomposition unit 401 supplies the coded sequence, which is the coded data formed by high-efficiency coding by the ATRAC3 system, supplied thereto, to the coded sequence of the tone component and the non-tone component. It is decomposed into a coded sequence.

Among the coded sequences decomposed by the coded sequence decomposing unit 401, the coded sequence of tone components is supplied to the tone component decoding unit 402, and the coded sequence of non-tone components is decoded by non-tone component decoding. It is supplied to the conversion unit 403. The tone component decoding unit 402 decodes the tone component coded sequence supplied thereto to restore the tone component signal before encoding, and supplies this to the spectrum data synthesis unit 404. Similarly, the non-tone component decoding unit 403 decodes the encoded sequence of the non-tone component supplied thereto to restore the signal of the non-tone component before encoding, and supplies this to the spectrum data synthesis unit 404. To do.

The spectrum data synthesizing unit 404 synthesizes the signal of the tone component and the signal of the non-tone component and is a signal composed of the tone component and the non-tone component, which is divided at the time of encoding. IMDCT circuits 405, 406, and 40, which are inverse orthogonal transform circuits provided for signals in each frequency band, as signals in one frequency band.
7, 408.

IMDCT circuits 405, 406, 407,
Each of 408 converts the signals on the frequency axis supplied thereto into an orthogonal signal by inverse orthogonal transform. As shown in FIG. 7, IMDCT circuits 405, 40
The signal on the time axis from 6 is supplied to the band synthesis filter 409, and the signals on the time axis from the IMDCT circuits 405 and 406 are supplied to the band synthesis filter 410.

Each of the band synthesizing filters 409 and 410 synthesizes the two signals on the time axis supplied thereto, and supplies the synthesized signal to the band synthesizing filter 411. The band synthesis filter 411 is the band synthesis filter 40.
The signal from 9 and the signal from the band synthesizing filter 410 are combined, and as described above, the signals on the time axis of the four frequency bands divided at the time of encoding become the original audio signal before encoding. It is decrypted (restored).

As described above, the high-efficiency encoder 3 shown in FIG. 6 can highly efficiently encode an audio signal by the ATRAC system. When the audio signal is recorded on the MD deck (MD recording / reproducing apparatus), A
High efficiency coding of the TRAC3 system is performed, and the coded data is recorded in the MD. Then, at the time of reproducing the encoded data recorded in the MD, the encoded data recorded in the MD is read out, decoded by the decoding device 4 shown in FIG. 7, and reproduced.

For example, in the MDLP standard MD deck, whether the audio signal is encoded in the conventional MD format and recorded in the MD, or whether the audio signal is encoded in the MDLP format LP2 mode and recorded in the MD. , MDLP format LP4 mode, it is possible to switch whether an audio signal is encoded and recorded in MD.

For this reason, when which of the above-mentioned modes (1) to (3) is used to perform the encoding is switched for each music, for example, the audio signal recorded in the conventional MD format on one MD and the MDLP. Format LP2
The audio signal recorded in the mode and the audio signal recorded in the LP4 mode of the MDLP format can be mixed and recorded.

Moreover, in the MD player not compatible with the MDLP format, the LP of the MDLP format is used.
Since the audio signal recorded in the 2 mode or the LP4 mode is reproduced as a silent sound, there is no inconvenience such that an unpleasant reproduced sound is reproduced.

[Structure of encoded data of ATRAC system and ATRAC3 system] Next, the data structure of MD format (frame structure) and the data structure of MDLP format (frame structure) having the same physical format will be described in detail. To do. First, the ATR mentioned above
Calculation of the number of bits required to represent the encoded data encoded by the AC method and the ATRAC3 method will be described. In addition, in order to simplify the explanation,
In the ATRAC system, a case where double writing of bit allocation information and scale factor information is not performed will be described as an example.

First, the case of encoded data formed by encoding by the ATRAC system will be described. As the part that is constantly generated during encoding, the block size mode information (0th byte) in the encoded data for one frame shown in FIG. 5, the number of unit blocks recorded and the double writing information (1 byte Eyes) and double writing information of each of these pieces of information (210th byte, 211th byte)
There is a 0th byte, 1st byte, 2
A total of 4 bytes of the 10th and 211th bytes, that is, 32 bits, is always used.

As described above, the information shown in FIG. 4 is recorded in the first byte of the encoded data for one frame shown in FIG. 3, but the unit block indicated by the information described here. Is M.

At this time, the number of bits used for the bit allocation information is 4 for one unit block.
Since it is a bit, it is 4 × M bits. In this specification, the symbol x is used as a multiplication symbol.
Similarly, the number of bits used for scale factor information is 6 × M bits because the number of bits used for one unit block is 6 bits.

Next, regarding the number of bits used for spectrum data, when the number of spectrum data of the k-th unit block is SPk and the bit allocation number of the k-th unit block is WLk, the spectrum is The total number of bits SPsum used for data is shown in FIG.
It can be obtained by the equation (1) shown in A.

In the equation (1) of FIG. 8A, when the bit allocation of a unit block is 0, the bit used for the spectrum of the unit block is also 0. If the total number of bits used for encoding is Bsum, then Bs
um can be obtained by the equation (2) shown in FIG. 8B based on the number of bits required for each piece of information described above.

The number M of unit blocks and the bit allocation number WLk of the kth unit block are calculated for each frame, and the number SPk of spectrum data of the kth unit block also has a value depending on the unit block number. Since they are different, the total Bsum of the actual number of bits used for the above-mentioned encoding does not always match the 1696 bits which is the size of one frame. The remainder generated at this time becomes the coded unused bits, and if the value is REM, the coded unused bits REM can be obtained by the equation (3) shown in FIG. 8C.

FIG. 9 shows that the encoding unused bit REM is 1
It is a figure for demonstrating what kind of form it exists in the coded data of a frame. As shown in FIG. 9, the coded unused bits REM are generated at the end of the area where the spectrum data is recorded.

As described above, in the case of encoded data of the ATRAC system, although some encoded unused bits REM are generated, the spectrum data is written in almost the entire portion allocated as the storage area of the spectrum data. It

Here, 20 is set so that the number M of unit blocks becomes the minimum from the values shown in FIG. In this case, it means that 20 unit blocks are recorded.
All bit allocations are set to be 0. By doing so, the total number of bits S shown in the equation (1) of FIG.
The value of Psum becomes 0.

Since the bit allocation is 0, no matter what value is shown in the scale factor information,
It is obvious that all the data calculated by the adaptive bit allocation decoding circuit 206 in the ATRAC decoding device 2 shown in FIG. That is, in a device that supports only ATRAC decoding, the total number of bits Bs that is the minimum number of bits required for decoding as silence is Bs.
um can be calculated by the following equation (4): Bsum = 32 + 4 × 20 (4)

When the encoding unused bit REM in this case is obtained, it can be obtained as REM = 1696−32 + 4 × 20 = 1584 (5) by the calculation formula shown in the following equation (5). That is, by setting 10 bytes (4 × 20 bits) from the 2nd byte of one frame to 0, no matter what is written in 1584 bits, in a device that only supports ATRAC decoding. It will be decoded as silence and this 1
The 584 bits can be used as a free area. FIG. 10 shows this state.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, in each frame of encoded data, block size mode information (0th byte), unit block recording number and double writing information (1st byte), bit allocation information (2 By setting the bit allocation information (10 bytes from the 2nd byte) to 0 in the 12-byte header part consisting of the 10th byte from the byte), no matter what is written in 1584 bits, A device that supports only decoding will be decoded as silence.

There are various possibilities of using this free area, but as described above, in the MDLP format, FIG. 10 shows the coded data of the ATRAC3 system formed by high efficiency coding by the ATRAC3 system. I try to record in the free area. That is,
In the high-efficiency encoding apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 6, the high-efficiency encoded ATRAC3 encoded data is recorded in the free area shown in FIG.

By recording coded data according to the ATRAC3 system in the portion shown as the free area shown in FIG. 10, even if the same recording medium is used, the audio signal (music composition) that is twice or more than that in the ATRAC system can be recorded. Data) can be recorded. For example, if the recording medium is MD, the so-called new MD deck is
It is also possible to select which method is used for recording at the time of recording by installing an encoding device for the AC system and the ATRAC3 system.

Regarding which method was used for recording, M
A discriminating bit is provided in the TOC portion which is the additional information area of D, and the disc is appropriately recorded. The new reproducing device is equipped with an ATRAC system and an ATRAC3 system decoding device so that the encoding system recorded by the discriminating bit can be discriminated at the time of reproduction and the decoding can be performed by an appropriate system. It becomes possible to At this time,
When decoding is performed by the ATRAC3 method, the portion other than the free area shown in FIG. 10 may be ignored.

As described above, in each frame of 212 bytes of encoded data, the so-called header bit allocation information portion is selectively used in the ATRAC method and the ATRAC3 method, so that the encoded data highly efficient encoded in the ATRAC3 method is obtained. When recorded on MD, AT
In a reproducing device having only a RAC type decoding device,
The encoded data of the ATRAC3 system is silent playback,
In a reproducing device including a TRAC3 type decoding device, it is possible to reproduce audio data which is twice as large as the ATRAC system or more.

As described above, the recording area of the coded data highly efficient coded by the conventional MD format ATRAC system is made a free area without changing the physical format, and the ATRAC3 system coding is performed here. Data can be recorded. However, the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system which is actually adopted in MDs at present is 1
The area size used for the frame is 1536 bits. This value is based on other purposes such as recording media other than MD and music distribution. Therefore,
Even if the coded data that has been highly efficiently coded by the ATRAC3 method is recorded in the free area shown in FIG. 10, the entire free area is not used.

Specifically, the difference is from the 1584 bits, which is the free area portion shown in FIG. 10, to the above-mentioned 1536 bits, which is the data amount for one frame of the coded data that has been highly efficient encoded by the ATRAC3 method. 48 bits (6
The (byte) minutes are unused. FIG. 11 shows this state.

That is, each frame of the coded data of the ATRAC3 system has the block size mode information (1 byte) in the ATRAC system, the unit block recording number and the double writing information (1 byte) at the head portion thereof. A so-called header portion for 12 bytes including bit allocation information (for 10 bytes) is provided, and an unused portion (for 6 bytes) and a double-written portion for the first byte are provided at the end of each frame. (1 byte) and 2 of the 0th byte
A so-called footer portion for 8 bytes including a double-written portion (for 1 byte) is provided.

Then, as described above, the ATRAC3
In the case of encoded data of the system, the bit allocation information portion for the 10th byte from the 3rd byte from the beginning of each frame is set to all zeros. In this way, by setting the bit allocation information to all zeros, 0 of each frame is
The value of the block size mode information at the 21st and 211th bytes has no effect on the silent reproduction, but at the 0th byte and 211th of each frame.
As the value of the byte, for example, all may be set such that the long mode described above is obtained.

Since the unused portion where the encoded data is not written when the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system is written is the portion in the free area shown in FIG. 10, the decoding of the ATRAC system is performed. In a playback device that has only a digitalization device, this is a part that produces silent playback.
It is clear that this is a part that does not have any influence on the decoding of the TRAC3 system. Therefore, ATRAC3
When the encoded data of the method is written, the unused portion shown in FIG. 11 which is unused is used as a recording area for various additional information.

Various data such as image data, character data, and numerical data can be recorded as the additional information to be written in the unused portion. Specific examples of the additional information include a music code (main data identifier) for identifying encoded data such as an audio signal, a generation source identifier for identifying a generation source of the encoded data, and a copyright holder of the encoded data. There is a copyright information identifier for identifying such as.

In recent years, audio signals (music data) are transmitted through networks such as the Internet.
It is becoming popular to receive the distribution of. Therefore, as the additional information to be written in the unused portion shown in FIG. 11, a distributor (business operator) identifier for identifying the distributor when the music data is distributed, a billing information identifier, a reproduction count identifier, and encoding. A device identifier for identifying the device that performed the operation, a URL that specifies a Web page that provides related information, or a predetermined UR
Various additional information such as a URL identifier associated with L can be added.

Further, by using the ATRAC3 system, for example, when twice as much data as in the ATRAC system is written, the music equivalent time of one sound frame is about 23 milliseconds. Therefore, the lyrics data and the like may be embedded in a form corresponding to the progression of the music. In addition, if the image is a very simple image, it is possible to embed the image data in a form like a moving image that follows the progress of the music to some extent.

Regarding the company code, the music code, etc., by referring to this part, for example, accessing the database server to realize various services and maintaining links with other additional information A method can be considered.

As a method of using the identification code indicating the recording device, for example, the music data on the hard disk is temporarily recorded on an external recording medium, and finally returned to the hard disk once again. It can be used for so-called check-in and check-out operations to be realized.

By using the method described above, AT
Utilizing the unused part of the data format in which the data of ATRAC3 system is embedded in the RAC system,
Various services can be realized.

When additional information is added to the unused portion shown in FIG. 11, in order to extract this additional information, the data of one sound frame is offset by 1632 bits from the beginning, and the target unused information is extracted. By reading the 48 bits, which is the used portion, it is possible to extract the additional information relatively easily. That is, the additional information extraction device can be configured with a very simple configuration.

[Concrete Example of Apparatus for Adding Additional Information and Apparatus for Extracting Additional Information] Next, additional information is added to an unused portion of each frame of the coded data highly efficient coded by the ATRAC3 method. Specific example of device and ATRA
The coded data is highly efficient coded by the C3 system,
A specific example of a device that extracts additional information from encoded data in which additional information is added to the unused portion of each frame will be described.

The device for adding the additional information may be an audio signal coding device, an audio signal transmitting device, an audio signal recording device, etc., and the additional information extracting device may be an audio signal decoding device. , An audio signal reproducing device and the like can be considered. Hereinafter, specific examples of each of these devices will be described.

[Regarding Encoding Device] FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining an example of an encoding device for highly efficient encoding of an audio signal, to which the encoding device according to the present invention is applied. Is. As shown in FIG. 12, an encoding apparatus 10 of this example includes an ATRAC high efficiency encoding apparatus 1 described with reference to FIG. 1 and an ATRAC3 high efficiency encoding apparatus 3 described with reference to FIG. In addition, it is possible to select which high-efficiency coding method is to be used, for example, by an instruction from the user (user).

Therefore, the ATRAC method and ATRAC3
The encoding device 10 is provided with a switch circuit 12 and a switch circuit 15 in order to switch which of the systems is used for processing and outputting. An additional information adding unit 13 for adding additional information to an unused portion of each frame of the coded data that has been high-efficiency-encoded by the ATRAC3 system is provided at the subsequent stage of the high-efficiency encoder 3 for the ATRAC3. ing. Further, the additional information generating unit 14 for supplying the additional information added to the encoded data to the additional information adding unit 13 is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the encoding device 1
At 0, a controller 17 for controlling the above-mentioned units is provided. Although not shown, the controller 17 is a CP
It is a microcomputer provided with U, ROM, RAM and the like. A key operation unit 18 that receives an instruction input from a user is connected to the controller 17. As a result, the controller 17 can control each unit according to the instruction input received through the key operation unit 18.

When the user inputs an instruction through the key operation unit 18 to instruct high-efficiency encoding of the audio signal by the ATRAC system, the controller 17 causes the switch circuit 12 and the switch circuit 15 to be connected to the ATRAC. The high-efficiency encoding apparatus 1 for ATRAC is controlled to be switched to the high-efficiency encoding apparatus 1 for ATRAC
To the operating state.

As a result, the audio signal (PCM signal) supplied to the input terminal 11 is supplied to the ATRAC high-efficiency encoding apparatus 1 through the switch circuit 12, where the ATRAC high-efficiency encoding process is performed. Be done.
Then, the coded data formed by the high-efficiency coding process in the high-efficiency coding apparatus 1 for ATRAC is output through the switch circuit 15 and the output terminal 16.

Further, when the user inputs an instruction for high-efficiency encoding of the audio signal by the ATRAC3 system through the key operation unit 18, the controller 17 causes the switch circuit 12 and the switch circuit 15 to be operated. As shown in FIG. 12, while controlling to switch to the high efficiency encoding device 3 side for ATRAC3,
The high-efficiency encoder 3 for 3, the additional information addition unit 13, and the additional information generation unit 14 are put into the operating state.

As a result, the audio signal (PCM signal) supplied to the input terminal 11 is supplied to the high-efficiency encoder 1 for ATRAC3 through the switch circuit 12. The high-efficiency encoding apparatus 3 for ATRAC3 performs high-efficiency encoding of the audio signal supplied thereto by the ATRAC3 system to form encoded data, and supplies this to the additional information adding unit 13 in the subsequent stage.

As described above, the additional information adding section 13 is supplied with the coded data from the high-efficiency coding apparatus 3 for ATRAC3, and the additional information generated by the additional information generating section 14 is added. Supplied. In this case, the additional information generation unit 14 responds to the control of the controller 17 by
This is to generate additional information to be added to the coded data formed by the high-efficiency coding processing by the ATRAC3 system, and to supply this to the additional information adding section 13.

As shown in FIG. 11, the unused portion of each frame to which additional information is added is 6 bytes (48 bytes).
There is a bit). Therefore, the additional information generation unit 14
Additional information is generated by using bytes as a unit. Of course, additional information with a relatively large amount of data, such as several tens of bytes, is added over multiple frames. Even in this case, addition and extraction should be performed as easily and accurately as possible. And the additional information is generated in such a manner that the extracted additional information can be accurately restored.

For example, in the case of adding a header or footer to the additional information, or in the case of additional information extending over a plurality of frames, number information indicating the connection order is added so that connection with the additional information of each frame can be easily established. The addition of additional information is also performed by the additional information generator 14.

Then, the additional information adding section 13 uses the ATRA.
163 offset by 1632 bits from the beginning of each frame for each frame of C3 encoded data
Additional information is added to the area of 48 bits from the third bit. The ATRAC3 encoded data to which the additional information is added is supplied from the additional information adding unit 13 to the output terminal 16 through the switch circuit 15 and output.

As described above, the encoding device 10 is
In the unused portion of each frame that occurs when high-efficiency encoding is performed by the RAC3 method, and when decoding and reproducing by the ATRAC method, additional information can be added to the silently reproduced portion. it can. That is, the additional information can be added to the encoded data itself without increasing the absolute amount of the encoded data and without adversely affecting the reproduction.

[Transmission Device] FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a transmission device for transmitting high-efficiency coded audio data, to which the transmission device according to the present invention is applied. . The transmission device 20 shown in FIG. 13 is used by, for example, an information distributor who distributes an audio signal through a network such as the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 13, the transmission apparatus 20 of this example has an input terminal 21 for encoded data formed by high efficiency encoding by the ATRAC system and an ATRAC3.
And an input terminal 22 for encoded data formed by high-efficiency encoding by a method, and for example, transmits encoded data formed by high-efficiency encoding by any method according to an instruction from a user ( It is possible to select whether to transmit). For this reason, a switch circuit 25 is provided for switching which method of encoded data is to be transmitted.

Further, an additional information adding section 23 is provided between the input terminal 22 for the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system and the switch circuit 25. This additional information adding unit 23
Is configured in the same manner as the additional information adding unit 13 described above with reference to FIG. 12, and adds the additional information to the unused portion of each frame of the coded data formed by high efficiency coding by the ATRAC3 method. It is something to add.

Further, the additional information generating section 2 which supplies the additional information adding section 23 with additional information to be added to the encoded data.
4 is provided. The additional information generating unit 24 is configured in the same manner as the additional information generating unit 14 described above with reference to FIG. 12, and generates additional information to be added to an unused portion of ATRAC3 encoded data. is there.

Further, receiving the supply of encoded data to be transmitted, forming a signal for transmission from this encoded data,
A transmission unit 26 for transmitting this is provided. In FIG. 13, the controller 27 controls the additional information generating unit 24, the switch circuit 25, and the transmitting unit 26.
It is a microcomputer provided with U, ROM, RAM and the like. An operation key unit 28 that receives an instruction input from the user is connected to the controller 27. Therefore, even in the case of this transmission device 20, the controller 27
The key operation unit 28 allows each unit of the transmission device 20 to be controlled in response to an instruction input from the user.

When the user gives an instruction to transmit the ATRAC encoded data through the key operation unit 28, the controller 27 causes the switch circuit 2 to operate.
5 is switched so as to output the encoded data from the input terminal 21 of the encoded data of the ATRAC system, and at the same time, the transmitting unit 26 is put into the operating state.

As a result, A supplied to the input terminal 21
The encoded data of the TRAC method is supplied to the transmission unit 26 via the switch circuit 25. The transmission unit 26 forms a transmission signal according to a predetermined protocol from the encoded data supplied thereto, sends it out to the network, and transmits the encoded data to the other party.

When the user gives an instruction to transmit the ATRAC3 encoded data through the key operation unit 28, the controller 27 causes the switch circuit 25 to switch the ATRAC3 encoded code as shown in FIG. The coded data is switched to output the coded data from the input terminal 22, and the additional information generating section 24, the additional information adding section 23, and the transmitting section 26 are put into operation.

As a result, A supplied to the input terminal 22
The encoded data of the TRAC3 system is the additional information adding unit 23.
Is supplied to. The additional information generated by the additional information generating section 24 is supplied to the additional information adding section 23 under the control of the controller 27.
3 adds additional information to the unused part of each frame of ATRAC3 encoded data.

Then, in the additional information adding section 23, the ATRAC3 encoded data to which the additional information is added is supplied to the transmitting section 26 through the switch circuit 25. As described above, the transmission unit 26 forms a transmission signal according to a predetermined protocol from the encoded data supplied thereto, sends it out to the network, and transmits the encoded data to the other party. .

As described above, the transmission device 2 shown in FIG.
0 is the same as in the case of the encoding device 10 shown in FIG.
When the frame is an unused part of each frame that occurs when high-efficiency encoding is performed by the ATRAC3 system and is decoded and reproduced by the ATRAC system, additional information may be added to a part that is silently reproduced. it can. That is, the additional information is added to the encoded data itself without increasing the absolute amount of the encoded data, and the reproduction data is not adversely affected. It can be transmitted to the other party.

The transmission device 20 described with reference to FIG. 13 is already in the ATRAC system or the ATRA system.
The description has been given on the assumption that the encoded data formed by high efficiency encoding by the C3 system is supplied and is transmitted.
However, it is not limited to this.

For example, as in the case of the coding apparatus 10 described above with reference to FIG. 12, a code formed by mounting a high-efficiency coding apparatus of a target system on the transmission apparatus and performing high-efficiency coding in the transmission apparatus. The encoded data may be transmitted. Therefore, in the encoding device 10 shown in FIG. 12, a transmission device having a high-efficiency encoding function can be configured by providing the transmitting unit 26 instead of the output terminal 16 in the subsequent stage of the switch circuit 15. .

Further, FIG. 13 shows encoded data which is highly efficient compressed by the ATRAC system and encoded data which is highly efficiently encoded by the ATRAC3 system, in which additional information is added to unused portions. Although the transmission device for transmitting data is shown, an additional information addition device without the transmission unit 26 may be configured.

Further, simply, the additional information adding section 23 for adding additional information to the coded data highly efficient coded by the ATRAC3 system, and the additional information generating for generating the additional information supplied to the additional information adding section 23 are generated. It is also possible to configure an additional information adding device including the unit 24 and the controller 27 that controls them.

By constructing such an additional information adding device, various kinds of devices such as a recording device, a recording / reproducing device, a transmission device, etc., can be used for coded data highly efficiently compressed by the ATRAC3 system. The function of adding additional information can be mounted relatively easily.

Of course, the additional information adding device is arranged between the encoding device having no additional information adding function and the recording device having no additional information adding function, which will be described later. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the device is used alone.

[Regarding Recording Device] FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a recording device to which the recording device according to the present invention is applied, which is a recording device for recording high-efficiency-encoded audio data on a recording medium. It is a figure. The recording apparatus shown in FIG. 14 is an MD recording apparatus.
In 4, the recording medium 100 is MD.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the recording device 3
0 has the same configuration as that of the encoding device 10 shown in FIG. 12 except for the recording unit 31. That is, in the encoding device 10 shown in FIG. 12, the recording unit 31 is provided in the subsequent stage of the switch circuit 15 instead of the output terminal 16.

For this reason, in FIG. 14, the same components as those of the encoding apparatus 10 of FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the recording device 30 shown in FIG. 14, the controller 3
2, the key operation unit 33 is the encoding device 10 shown in FIG.
The controller 17 and the key operation unit 18 have substantially the same configuration, but the controller 32 also controls the recording unit 31, and various instructions regarding the recording process, such as recording Start, stop recording,
The difference is that it accepts an instruction input such as designation of a recording position.

Then, the recording unit 31 is supplied with the encoded data of the ATRAC system or the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system in which the additional information is added to the unused part of each frame. There is something to do. The recording unit 31 forms a recording signal from the encoded data supplied thereto and records the signal on an MD, which is a recording medium loaded in the device. Therefore, in FIG. 14, the recording unit 31 also includes mechanical parts such as a recording magnetic head and an optical pickup.

As a result, the recording device 3 shown in FIG.
0 is an unused portion generated in each frame of encoded data when high efficiency encoding is performed by the ATRAC3 system, as in the case of the encoding apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 12 and the transmission apparatus 20 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the case of decoding and reproducing by the ATRAC system, the additional information can be added to the silently reproduced portion.

That is, the additional information is added to the encoded data itself without increasing the absolute amount of the encoded data, and the reproduction data is not adversely affected, and the code to which the additional information is added is added. The encoded data can be recorded on the MD, which is a recording medium.

Therefore, according to this recording device 30,
ATRA with additional information added to the unused part of each frame
Each frame is C3 encoded data, and each frame is shown in FIG.
It is possible to form a recording medium on which data having the format shown in FIG.

[About Decoding Device] Next, by using the above-described encoding device, transmission device, recording device, etc., the additional information added to the ATRAC3 system encoded data to which the additional information is added A decoding device and a reproducing device that extract the data and use the additional information will be described.

First, the decoding device will be described. Figure 1
Denoted at 5 is a decoding device for decoding coded data formed by highly efficient coding according to the ATRAC system or the ATRAC3 system, and an example of the decoding device to which the decoding device according to the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram for explaining.

The decoding device 40 shown in this FIG.
Using the ATRAC decoding device unit 2 described above,
The decoding device unit 4 of the ATRAC3 system described above with reference to FIG. 7 is provided, and the coded data formed by high efficiency coding by any system can be decoded.

For this reason, the switching information extracting section 42 for extracting information for detecting which of the ATRAC system encoded data and the ATRAC3 system encoded data is supplied is provided, and the switching information is also provided. A switch circuit 43 and a switch circuit 45 are provided for switching which method of encoded data is decoded and output according to the information extracted by the information extraction unit 42.

Furthermore, the switch circuit 43 and the ATRAC3
The additional information extraction unit 44 is provided between the decoding unit 4 and
The additional information added to the TRAC3 encoded data can be extracted. The controller 4
Reference numeral 6 is a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and controls each part of the decoding device 40.

Then, the data supplied through the input terminal 41 is converted into the switching information extracting section 42 and the switching circuit 43.
And supplied to. The switching information extraction unit 42, for example,
Information indicating the encoding system in the data supplied prior to the supply of the encoded data, or the ATRAC system or AT
The flag information indicating the RAC3 method is extracted and supplied to the controller 46.

The controller 46 is supplied to the decoding device 40 on the basis of the information from the switching information extracting section 42 and the coded data to be decoded is either ATRAC coded data or ATRAC3 coded data. Determine whether. This determination result indicates that the encoded data to be decoded is A
When it is determined that the data is encoded data of the TRAC system, the controller 46 switches the switch circuit 43 and the switch circuit 45 to the decoding device unit 2 side for ATRAC, and the decoding device unit 2 for ATRAC is operated. To

As a result, the encoded data supplied to the decoding device 40 is transmitted to the ATR through the switch circuit 43.
It is supplied to the decoding device unit 2 for AC. Decoding device unit 2
Decodes the encoded data of the ATRAC system to restore the original audio signal before encoding and outputs it through the switch circuit 45.

Further, the discrimination result based on the information from the switching information extracting section 42 indicates that the encoded data to be decoded is ATR.
When it is determined that the data is AC3 encoded data,
As shown in FIG. 15, the controller 46 switches the switch circuit 43 and the switch circuit 45 to the decoding device unit 4 side for the ATRAC3, and the additional information extraction unit 44,
The decoding device unit 4 for the ATRAC3 is put into operation.

As a result, the encoded data supplied to the decoding device 40 is supplied to the additional information extracting section 44 through the switch circuit 43. The additional information extraction unit 44 extracts 48 bits of additional information from a position offset by 1632 bits from the beginning in each frame of the encoded data supplied thereto, and supplies the extracted additional information to the controller 46. And the additional information extraction unit 4
The encoded data supplied to the decoder 4 is supplied to the decoding device unit 4 for the ATRAC3 in the subsequent stage.

Then, when the additional information from the additional information extracting section 44 prohibits the decoding, the controller 46 controls the decoding device section 4 to prohibit the decoding processing of the encoded data. To do. If the additional information does not prohibit the decoding, the decoding process is continued.

When the decoding process is made to continue, the decoding device unit 4 for ATRAC3 decodes the coded data supplied thereto to restore the original audio signal before coding. Then, this is output through the switch circuit 45.

In this way, the decoding device 40
Both the encoded data of the ATRAC system and the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system can be decoded and made available, and the encoded data to be decoded is ATR.
When the coded data is of the AC3 system, the additional information added to the coded data is extracted from the coded data,
The additional information can be made available. As described above, here, the additional information is, for example,
The case where the permission or prohibition of the decryption is shown has been described as one example, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, when the additional information is image information or character information, it may be supplied to the reproducing device so as to be displayed on a display element such as an LCD or printed out and provided. You can also do it.

Further, in FIG. 15, the coded data highly efficient compressed by the ATRAC system and the coded data highly efficiently coded by the ATRAC3 system, in which additional information is added to an unused portion, are shown. And a decoding device capable of receiving each of the encoded data and capable of decoding each of them and extracting additional information from the encoded data compressed by the ATRAC3 method. Although shown, it is also possible to configure an additional information extraction device that does not include the decoding unit 2 and the decoding unit 4.

Further, the additional information is simply composed of the additional information extracting section 44 for extracting the additional information added thereto from the coded data highly efficient coded by the ATRAC3 system, and the controller 46 for controlling the additional information. An extraction device can also be configured.

By constructing such an additional information adding device, various devices such as a decoding device, a recording / reproducing device, or a reproducing device can be efficiently compressed by the ATRAC3 system and unused parts can be used. The function of extracting the additional information from the encoded data in which the additional information is blown can be relatively easily installed.

Of course, it is also possible to arrange the additional information extracting device in the preceding stage of the decoding device having no additional information extracting function so that the additional information extracting device can be used alone.

[Reproducing Device] Next, a reproducing device for reproducing the encoded data recorded on the recording medium will be described. FIG. 16 shows the ATRAC method or the ATR method.
A reproducing apparatus for reproducing the coded data from a recording medium on which coded data formed by high efficiency coding by the AC3 system is recorded, and an example of the reproducing apparatus to which the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram for explaining.

The reproducing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 16 is an MD reproducing apparatus, and in FIG. 16, the recording medium 100 is an MD. As shown in FIG. 16, the reproducing device 50 includes a reproducing unit (reading unit) 51 that reads out data recorded on an MD loaded in the player, a D / A converter 52, an amplifier circuit 53, and a key. Except for providing the operation unit 56 and the LCD 57, the other parts are configured in substantially the same manner as the case of the decoding device 40 shown in FIG.

Therefore, the decoding device 40 shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals as those of the decoding device 40 shown in FIG. 15 are added to the portions configured in the same manner as the above, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Then, the controller 55
It is a microcomputer provided with U, ROM, RAM, etc., and controls each part of the reproducing apparatus 50. The controller 55 is connected with a key operation unit 56 that receives an instruction input from a user, and
An LCD 57 for displaying display information is connected.

When reproduction of an audio signal from the MD 100 is instructed through the key operation unit 56, the controller 55 first controls the reproduction unit 51 to record the signal from the MD 100 loaded in the own machine. Read the data. The read data is stored in the switching information extraction unit 42.
And the switch circuit 43.

Then, the additional information extracting unit 42 reads the encoded data to be read from the MD and reproduced,
Information for discriminating between the AC system and the ATRAC3 system is extracted and supplied to the controller 55. The controller 55 determines that the encoded data to be decoded is ATR based on the information from the switching information extracting unit 42.
Whether the AC system or the ATRAC3 system is used is discriminated, and each unit is controlled based on the discrimination result.

When the controller 55 determines that the coded data to be decoded is of the ATRAC system, the coded data from the reproducing unit 51 passes through the switch circuit 43 and the decoding device unit for ATRAC. 2 and is decoded here to restore the audio signal before encoding.

The audio signal decoded and formed in the ATRAC decoding section 2 is converted into a switch circuit 45.
Is supplied to the D / A conversion unit 52 through, is converted into an analog audio signal here, and this analog audio signal is supplied to the amplifier circuit 53.

The amplifier circuit 53 adjusts the level and sound quality of the supplied analog audio signal under the control of the controller 55, and supplies the adjusted analog audio signal to the headphone terminal 54. This allows the ATR
It is possible to decode and listen to the encoded data encoded by the AC method.

On the other hand, when the controller 55 determines that the encoded data to be decoded is the ATRAC3 system, the encoded data from the reproducing unit 51 is supplied to the additional information extracting unit 44 through the switch circuit 43. Monkey

The additional information extracting section 44 extracts the additional information added to the ATRAC3 encoded data supplied thereto, and the extracted additional information is stored in the controller 5
5, and also supplies the encoded data of the ATRAC system to the decoding device unit 4 for the ATRAC3 in the subsequent stage.

Then, as in the case of the above-described decoding device, the controller 55 controls the decoding device unit 4 when the additional information from the additional information extraction unit 44 prohibits decoding. Prohibits the decoding process of encoded data. If the additional information does not prohibit the decoding, the decoding process is continued.

When the decoding process is to be continued, the decoding device unit 4 for the ATRAC3 decodes the coded data supplied thereto to restore the original audio signal before coding. Through the switch circuit 45
The audio data corresponding to the audio signal obtained by decoding the ATRAC3 encoded data is supplied to the A / A converter 52.

Further, the additional information from the additional information extraction unit 44 is not so-called control information such as various identification codes,
When the information itself, such as image information and character information, is to be provided to the user, the controller 55 supplies the additional information to the LCD 57, for example, and displays the image or character based on the additional information on the LCD 57. To do so.

In this way, the reproducing apparatus 50 is
Both the encoded data of the TRAC system and the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system can be decoded and reproduced, and when the encoded data to be reproduced is the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system, the encoding The additional information added to this can be extracted from the data and used.

The recording apparatus shown in FIG. 14 and the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
It is of course possible to configure an MD recording / reproducing device including the reproducing device shown in FIG.

[Process for Adding Additional Information] Next, a process for adding additional information to the unused portion of each frame of the coded data which has been subjected to high efficiency coding by the ATRAC3 method will be described with reference to FIG. . The process of adding the additional information shown in FIG. 17 is a process performed in the above-described audio signal encoding device and audio signal recording device. In the following, for simplification of description, a case where the encoding device 10 performs the encoding process will be described as an example.

As described above, the controller 17 of the encoding apparatus 10 accepts the selection input of encoding by the ATRAC system or the ATRAC3 system prior to the encoding process (step S101). And
In the controller 17, the received selection input is ATRA.
It is determined whether or not the instruction is to encode in the C3 system (step S102).

When it is determined in the determination processing of step S102 that the ATRAC3 system is selected for encoding, the controller 17 controls the additional information generating section 14 to encode the encoded audio data (encoded data). To generate additional information to be added to the additional information adding section 13 (step S10).
3).

Further, the controller 17 switches the switch circuit 12 and the switch circuit 15 to the side of the high-efficiency encoder 3 for ATRAC3, puts the high-efficiency encoder 3 for ATRAC3 into the operating state, and through the input terminal 11. A process of encoding the supplied audio signal by the ATRAC3 system is started (step S104).

The coded data from the high-efficiency coding device 3 for ATRAC3 is supplied to the additional information addition section 13, and as described above, the additional information from the additional information generation section 14 is also added. The additional information adding unit 13 performs a process of adding additional information to an unused portion (a 48-bit area portion from the 1633th bit) of each frame of the encoded data supplied to the additional information addition portion 13 ( In step S105), additional information is added to the encoded data, and the process shown in FIG. 17 is finished.

In this case, additional information may be added to the entire encoded data, or a predetermined amount of additional information may be added to the encoded data.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the determination processing of step S102 that the encoding by the ATRAC3 system is not selected, the controller 17 sets the switch circuit 12 and the switch circuit 15 to the high-efficiency encoder for ATRAC. 17 is performed, the high-efficiency encoder 1 for ATRAC is activated, and the audio signal supplied through the input terminal 11 is encoded by the ATRAC system (step S106).
The process shown in is ended.

In this way, the audio signal supplied to the encoding device 10 is converted into the ATRAC system or the AT signal.
It encodes with the RAC3 system, and the audio signal is A
When encoded by the TRAC3 system, it becomes possible to add additional information to the unused part of each frame.

Note that the recording apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 14 also performs the same processing as that shown in FIG. 17 at the time of recording processing so that the MD100, which is a recording medium, can be processed.
The audio signal to be recorded on the recording medium can be encoded by the ATRAC system or the ATRAC3 system and recorded on the recording medium. When the audio signal is encoded by the ATRAC3 system, A
It becomes possible to add additional information to the unused portion of each frame of the TRAC3 encoded data.

Further, the transmission device 20 and the additional information adding device shown in FIG. 13 have been described as receiving the encoded audio signal. Therefore, the additional information addition processing in the transmission device 20 is not performed by the encoding processing in step S104 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, but other processing is performed as it is to add the additional information to the ATRAC3 encoded data. Information can be added.

Also, when the transmission device 20 receives the pre-encoding audio signal and performs a process for encoding the same, the process is exactly the same as the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. Thus, additional information can be added to the ATRAC3 encoded data.

[Process for Extracting Additional Information] Next, from the encoded data which is highly efficient coded by the ATRAC3 method and which has additional information added to the unused portion of each frame, The process of extracting information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process of extracting the additional information shown in FIG. 18 is a process performed in the above-described audio signal decoding device, audio signal reproducing device, or additional information extracting device. In the following, in order to simplify the description, the case where the decoding device 40 performs the decoding process will be described as an example.

As described above, when the decoding process is started in the decoding device 40 and the data is supplied to the decoding device 40, the switching information extracting section 42 performs the encoding supplied to the decoding device. Information indicating whether the data is encoded by the ATRAC method or the ATRAC3 method is extracted, and this is supplied to the controller 46 (step S201).

Based on the information from the switching information extraction unit 42, the controller 46 determines whether the encoded data supplied to the decoding device 40 is ATRAC3 encoded data (step S202).

When it is determined in the determination processing of step S202 that the supplied encoded data is of the ATRAC3 system, the controller 46 sets the switch circuit 43 and the switch circuit 45 to the decoding device section 4 side for ATRAC3. While switching, the additional information extraction unit 44, A
Since the TRAC3 decoding unit 4 is set in the operating state, the additional information extraction unit 44 extracts the additional information added from the 1633th byte of each frame of the supplied encoded data for ATRAC3, and extracts it from the controller 46. (Step S203).

Then, the controller 46 performs a predetermined control based on the additional information from the additional information extracting section 44 (step S204). For example, when the extracted additional information is image information or character information, the additional information is supplied to the display element of the own device or connected to the own device so as to be displayed, or the additional information is reproduced. When the control information is such as the number of times limit, control is performed according to the information.

Then, the controller 46 determines whether or not the additional information limits the decoding (step S205). In the determination process of step S205,
When it is determined that the extracted additional information does not limit the decoding, the decoding device unit 4 of the ATRAC3 system.
Then, the encoded data is decoded by the ATRAC3 system to output the decoded audio signal, and the process shown in FIG. 18 is ended.

When it is judged in the judgment processing of step S202 that the supplied encoded data is not of the ATRAC3 system, the controller 46 switches the switch circuit 43 and the switch circuit 45 to the decoding device section 2 for ATRAC. At the same time, since the decoding device unit 2 for ATRAC is put into an operating state, the decoding device unit 2 of the ATRAC system decodes the encoded data by the ATRAC system and outputs the decoded audio signal. The processing shown in FIG. 18 is terminated.

In this way, the encoded data supplied to the decoding device 40 is converted into the ATRAC system or the ATR system.
It is possible to extract the additional information added to the unused portion of each frame for the encoded data encoded by the ATRAC3 method while being decoded by the AC3 method, and use this.

The reproducing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 16 also performs the same processing as that shown in FIG. 18 at the time of reproducing processing, so that the MD100 which is a recording medium.
The encoded audio signal (encoded data) read from the ATRAC system or ATRA
It is made to be able to be decoded and reproduced by the C3 system. Then, with respect to the encoded data of the ATRAC3 system, the additional information added to the unused portion of each frame can be extracted and used.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the AT
In the case of encoding by the RAC method, it has been described that the additional information is not added to the encoded data, but the present invention is not limited to this. Even when encoded by the ATRAC system,
In FIG. 9, encoded unused bits REM may occur, and additional information may be added here. Also, by setting the upper limit of bit allocation, which is a parameter used at the time of encoding, to be smaller than usual,
It is also possible to secure a predetermined amount of coded unused bits REM.

In the above-described embodiment, the AT
Although it has been described that the additional information is always added to the encoded data encoded by the RAC3 method, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user may instruct whether to add or not to add. ATRAC
The same applies when the additional information is added to the encoded data of the method.

When music data is distributed through a network, a business operator identifier (business operator identification code) is added to the coded data so that the distribution source can be specified, whereby the distribution is received. If the encoded data, which is an audio signal, is destroyed for some reason, it will be free of charge from the original distributor.
Alternatively, it may be possible to receive the redelivery at a low price.

Further, by adding the business operator identifier to the encoded data, for example, the ATR that was previously distributed
The encoded data encoded by the AC method is converted into ATRAC3
Changing to the encoded data encoded by the method can be received at no charge or at an inexpensive charge. That is, by being able to specify the business operator, the business operator can provide a new service only to his / her own customer.

In addition to this, if the distributor (business operator) who distributes the music data is the music data distributed by itself and is properly recorded on the recording medium, the music data is not A service such as moving to a recording medium or copying to another recording medium can be provided free of charge or at a low charge.

The encoded music data distributed via the network can be recorded on a recording medium not only by a personal computer at home, but also by being installed automatically at a store such as a CD shop or a convenience store. It can be performed using a vending machine-type dedicated music distribution terminal.

When a dedicated music distribution terminal is used, the additional information of the encoded data recorded on the recording medium brought to the user is extracted at the terminal and distributed from a predetermined business. Whether or not it is a song, and if the music data distributed by a predetermined business is recorded, a new service such as moving (moving) music or copying (copying) music is provided. be able to.

Further, as additional information to be added to the encoded data, for example, restriction information about services to be provided such as service usage period and service usage amount, various control information, and other necessary various information are added. be able to.

As described above, the additional information added to the encoded data includes the copyright information identifier and the URL.
It is possible to add an identifier of each information such as an information identifier, a billing information identifier, a device information identifier, and a reproduction count identifier. Here, each identifier is summarized.

For example, the copyright information identifier can identify the person who owns the copyright of the content to be encoded and provided, such as music data, and can also identify the content itself. The copyright information identifier is
Many are created and used by content providers and industry groups. By including such a copyright information identifier, it is possible to confirm whether it was delivered via a legitimate route, confirm the copyright holder of the illegally copied coded data, etc. Can be used.

The URL information identifier is information for accessing a so-called Web page related to music data, or information for specifying the information for accessing. By adding this URL information identifier to the music data that is the encoded data, it is possible to obtain information through the Web page for each music data when reproducing the music data.

That is, when reproducing the music data recorded on the recording medium in the personal computer or the reproducing device connected to the personal computer, the URL identification information added to the music data is obtained and It is possible to provide a service such that a target Web page is automatically accessed through a personal computer based on the URL identification information, and information regarding music data is automatically obtained through the Internet.

In this case, the information obtained through the Web page for each song provides various information such as the lyrics and the score of the song, information about the artist, an image image, the concert schedule of the artist of the song and the release of a new song. be able to.

[0230] The charging information identifier can provide information about charging for the music data to which the charging information identifier is added. Can be used. The device information identifier can identify the device actually recorded in the recording medium. By using this device information identifier, when the coded data is illegally copied, it is possible to trace which device made it.

The reproduction number identifier can specify the number of times reproduction is possible. By using the reproduction number identifier and the billing information identifier in combination, it is possible to limit the number of reproductions according to the charge.

Further, the additional information added to the encoded data is not limited to the above-described various identifiers, but may be, for example, data for parity check or CRC (Cyclic R).
An error detection code such as data for edundancy check) may be added.

Further, the additional information to be added to the encoded data is not limited to one type, and it is needless to say that a plurality of types of additional information may be added. In this case, each additional information may be separated by inserting a predetermined code between different additional information.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the AT
The case where the RAC system and the high efficiency encoding system of the ATRAC3 system are used has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to the case of using various coding systems other than the ATRAC system and the ATRAC3 system.

That is, in the case where the first coding method and the second coding method which performs coding with a higher compression rate than the first coding method can be used, which coding method is used? Also in the case of the system, the present invention can be applied when the physical format of the encoded data does not change.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the AT
The case of having both the RAC type encoding device and the ATRAC3 type encoding device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. AT as a device for adding additional information
It is possible to add the additional information to the unused part of each frame in various devices having only the encoder for RAC3. Therefore, as a device for extracting the additional information, a device having only an ATRAC3 decoding device can be configured.

[0237]

As described above, according to the present invention, the additional information is written in the area which does not depend on the decoding of the first coded information and the decoding of the second coded information. As a result, the additional information can be efficiently written without increasing the existing data size.

Also, additional information is added to the encoded data,
By extracting the additional information at the time of decoding, it is possible to use the additional information to realize the provision of a new service that could not be performed conventionally.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an ATRAC system high-efficiency encoder.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of an orthogonal transform block at the time of bit compression.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a format of high-efficiency coded data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining details of data of a first byte in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an ATRAC decoding device.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a high-efficiency encoding apparatus of ATRAC3 system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an ATRAC3 scheme decoding device.

8 is a diagram showing a calculation formula for explaining a method of calculating the number of bits of coded unused bits (fractional part) generated in the coded data formed by the high efficiency coding device shown in FIG. 1; Is.

9 is a diagram for explaining a generation portion of coded unused bits (fractional portion) generated in the coded data formed by the high efficiency coding apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the positioning of a free area generated by setting bit allocation to 0.

FIG. 11 shows ATRAC3 in the free area shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the positioning of an unused part which arises after embedding the encoding data of a system.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of an encoding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a transmission device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a decoding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining a process of adding additional information to encoded data.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a process of extracting additional information from encoded data to which additional information is added.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... High-efficiency coding device for ATRAC, 101, 102 ...
Band division filter (QMF), 103, 104, 105
... Orthogonal transformation circuit (MDCT), 109, 110, 111
... block determination circuit, 118 ... bit allocation calculation circuit, 106, 107, 108 ... adaptive bit allocation coding circuit, 2 ... ATRAC decoding device, 201, 202 ... band synthesis filter (IQMF), 203, 204, 205
Inverse orthogonal transform circuit (IMDCT), 206 ... Adaptive bit allocation decoding circuit, 3 ... High efficiency coding device for ATRAC3, 301, 302, 303 ... Band division filter, 30
4, 305, 306, 307 ... Gain adjusting section, 308,
309, 310, 311 ... Orthogonal transform circuit (MDCT),
Reference numeral 312 ... Spectral component separation circuit, 313 ... Tone component encoding unit, 314 ... Non-tone component encoding unit, 315 ...
Encoding sequence generation unit, 4 ... High efficiency encoding device for ATRAC3, 401 ... Encoding sequence decomposition unit, 402 ... Tone component decoding unit, 403 ... Non-tone component decoding unit, 404 ... Spectral data combining unit, 405, 406, 407, 408 ...
Inverse orthogonal transform circuit (IMDCT), 409, 410, 41
1 ... band synthesis filter, 13, 23 ... additional information adding unit,
14, 24 ... additional information generating section, 44 ... additional information extracting section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H03M 7/30 G10L 9/00 EF term (reference) 5D044 AB06 BC04 CC04 DE11 DE17 DE27 DE49 EF05 FG18 GK08 GK11 5D045 DA08 5J064 AA02 BA16 BB12 BC11 BC23 BC25 BD03

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A first compression processing means for dividing a first compressed digital signal, which has been subjected to the first high-efficiency encoding, into blocks for each predetermined unit length, and compression more than the first high-efficiency encoding. When the second compressed digital signal, which has been subjected to the second highly efficient coding having a high rate, is divided into blocks for each of the predetermined length units, dummy data is added to the second compressed digital signal to increase the data length. An encoding apparatus comprising: second compression processing means for aligning the data in a predetermined length unit; and superimposing means for superimposing additional information on a dummy data portion added by the second compression processing means. 2. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. The encoding device according to claim 1, wherein the encoding device is at least one. 3. A first compressed digital signal subjected to a first high-efficiency coding divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit, and a second compressed digital signal having a higher compression rate than the first high-efficiency coding. Additional information generating means for generating additional information, in a transmission device which is subjected to high-efficiency coding and selectively transmits the second compressed digital signal to which dummy data is added in order to arrange the dummy data into the predetermined length unit. And a superimposing means for superimposing the additional information generated by the additional information generating means on the dummy data portion. 4. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. The transmission device according to claim 3, wherein there is at least one. 5. A first compression processing means for dividing the first compressed digital signal, which has been subjected to the first high-efficiency encoding, into blocks for each predetermined unit length, and compression more than the first high-efficiency encoding. When the second compressed digital signal, which has been subjected to the second highly efficient coding having a high rate, is divided into blocks for each of the predetermined length units, dummy data is added to the second compressed digital signal to increase the data length. Second compression processing means for aligning in a predetermined length unit, additional information generating means for generating additional information, superimposing means for superimposing additional information generated by the additional information generating means on the dummy data portion, the first A recording device for recording the compressed digital signal or the second compressed digital signal in which additional information is superimposed on the dummy data on a recording medium. 6. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. The recording device according to claim 5, wherein the recording device is at least one. 7. A first compressed digital signal, which has been block-coded for each predetermined length unit, and which has been subjected to the first high-efficiency coding, and dummy data are added so that the data length is aligned in the predetermined length unit. A decoding device for selectively decoding the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high-efficiency coding is arranged such that the dummy data is added to make the data length uniform in the predetermined length unit. Receiving means for receiving the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high-efficiency coding, and second high-efficiency code having a uniform data length in the predetermined length unit received by the receiving means. Additional information extracting means for extracting the additional information embedded in the dummy data portion from the second compressed digital signal subjected to digitization, and predetermined control is performed based on the additional information extracted by the additional information extracting means. Control means and Goka apparatus. 8. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 8. Decoding device according to claim 7, characterized in that there is at least one. 9. A first compressed digital signal subjected to a first high-efficiency coding, which is divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit, and dummy data are added, so that the data length is aligned in the predetermined length unit. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing a recording medium selectively recordable with the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high-efficiency encoding is provided from the recording medium to the first compressed digital signal or the first compressed digital signal. A reproducing means for reproducing the second compressed digital signal; and a second compressed digital signal which is reproduced by the reproducing means and which has been subjected to the second high efficiency encoding in which the data lengths are aligned in the predetermined length unit. A reproducing apparatus comprising additional information extracting means for extracting additional information embedded in the dummy data portion, and control means for performing predetermined control based on the additional information extracted by the additional information extracting means. 10. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 10. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein there is at least one. 11. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising display means for displaying the additional information. 12. A second high-efficiency coding having a compression rate higher than that of the first compressed digital signal subjected to the first high-efficiency coding divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit, and An additional information adding device for adding additional information to the second compressed digital signal added to arrange dummy data into the predetermined length unit, the additional information generating means generating additional information, and the additional information. An additional information adding device comprising: superimposing means for superimposing the additional information generated by the generating means on the dummy data portion. 13. A first compressed digital signal subjected to a first high-efficiency coding, which is divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit, and dummy data are added so that the data length is aligned in the predetermined length unit. A second compressed digital signal that has been subjected to the second high-efficiency encoding and a recording medium that can selectively record the second compressed digital signal that has been subjected to the second high-efficiency encoding. A recording medium having additional information embedded in a dummy data portion to be added. 14. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 14. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the recording medium is at least one. 15. A digital signal is coded using either a first high efficiency coding system or a second high efficiency coding system having a higher compression rate than the first high efficiency coding system. In the selection input receiving step of receiving another selection input, and in the selection input receiving step, when it is selected to encode by the second high efficiency encoding method, the second high efficiency encoding method is used. When the digital signal is encoded and the data is divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit, a compression processing step of adding dummy data to the blocked encoded data so that the data length is adjusted to the predetermined length unit, and the compression processing described above. And a superimposing step of superimposing additional information on a dummy data portion added in the step. 16. The additional information includes image data, character data, an identification code of a business operator distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code of the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 16. The encoding method according to claim 15, wherein there is at least one. 17. A first compressed digital signal subjected to a first high-efficiency coding, which is divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit, and dummy data, added to align the dummy data with the predetermined length unit. In the transmission method for selectively transmitting a second compressed digital signal that has been subjected to a second high-efficiency encoding having a higher compression rate than the high-efficiency encoding, the first compressed digital signal and the first compressed digital signal A selection input receiving step of receiving a selection input of which of the two compressed digital signals is to be transmitted, and a case where transmission of the second compressed digital signal is selected in the selection input receiving step, A transmission method comprising: an additional information generating step of generating additional information; and a superimposing step of superimposing the additional information generated in the additional information generating step on the dummy data portion. 18. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 18. The transmission method according to claim 17, wherein there is at least one. 19. Selection of which of a first high-efficiency encoding method and a second high-efficiency encoding method having a higher compression rate than the first high-efficiency encoding method for encoding a digital signal. A selection input receiving step of receiving an input; and in the selection input receiving step, when it is selected to encode by the second high efficiency encoding method, a digital signal is output by the second high efficiency encoding method. In addition to encoding, when compressing into blocks of a predetermined length unit, a compression processing step of aligning the data length in a predetermined length unit by adding dummy data to the blocked encoded data, and the compression processing step described above. A recording method including a superimposing step of superimposing additional information on a dummy data portion to be added, and a recording step of recording a second compressed digital signal on which the additional information is superposed in the superimposing step on a recording medium. 20. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for delivering the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 20. The recording method according to claim 19, wherein there is at least one. 21. A first high-efficiency-encoded first compressed digital signal divided into predetermined length units and dummy data are added to align the data lengths in the predetermined length units. A decoding method for selectively decoding the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high efficiency coding, wherein the compressed digital signal to be decoded is the first compressed digital signal, The determination step of determining whether it is the second compressed digital signal and the second digital signal supplied when it is determined that the compressed digital signal to be decoded in the determination step is the second compressed digital signal. A decoding method comprising: an additional information extracting step of extracting additional information from a dummy data portion of a compressed digital signal; and a control step of performing predetermined control based on the additional information extracted in the additional information extracting step. 22. The additional information includes image data, character data, an identification code of a business operator distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code of the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 22. Decoding method according to claim 21, characterized in that there is at least one. 23. A first high-efficiency-encoded first compressed digital signal divided into blocks of a predetermined length unit and dummy data are added to make the data length uniform in the predetermined length unit. A reproducing method for reproducing the first compressed digital signal or the second compressed digital signal from a recording medium capable of recording the second compressed digital signal subjected to the second high efficiency encoding. And a read step of reading out a target compressed digital signal from the recording medium, and whether the compressed digital signal read in the read step is the first compressed digital signal or the second compressed digital signal. And the compressed digital signal read in the judging step is judged to be the second compressed digital signal, the read second compressed digital signal Reproducing method and a control step of performing predetermined control on the basis of the additional information extracting step and, the additional information extracted by the additional information extracting step of extracting additional information from the dummy data portion of the item. 24. The additional information includes image data, character data, a carrier identification code for distributing the second compressed digital signal, an identification code for the second compressed digital signal, and an identification code indicating an encoding device. 24. The reproducing method according to claim 23, wherein there is at least one. 25. A second high-efficiency coding having a compression rate higher than that of the first compressed digital signal subjected to the first high-efficiency coding divided into units of a predetermined length is performed, and A method of adding additional information for adding additional information to the second compressed digital signal, which is added to align dummy data into the predetermined length unit, the additional information generating step of generating additional information, And a superimposing step of superimposing the additional information generated in the generating step on the dummy data portion.