WO2003063481A1 - Method for processing audio signals and audio processing system for applying this method - Google Patents

Method for processing audio signals and audio processing system for applying this method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003063481A1
WO2003063481A1 PCT/IB2002/005544 IB0205544W WO03063481A1 WO 2003063481 A1 WO2003063481 A1 WO 2003063481A1 IB 0205544 W IB0205544 W IB 0205544W WO 03063481 A1 WO03063481 A1 WO 03063481A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
signal stream
audio
audio signal
certain length
loudspeaker
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2002/005544
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Roy Irwan
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Publication of WO2003063481A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003063481A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/439—Processing of audio elementary streams
    • H04N21/4392—Processing of audio elementary streams involving audio buffer management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/27—Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/60—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for the sound signals
    • H04N5/607—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for the sound signals for more than one sound signal, e.g. stereo, multilanguages
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R3/12—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for processing audio signals in which an audio signal stream is passed to a loudspeaker and to an audio processing system for applying this method.
  • the method for processing audio signals in which an audio signal stream is passed to a loudspeaker is characterized in that a certain length of this audio signal stream is stored, while by operating a switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream can be retrieved and supplied to the loudspeaker.
  • the sound of the last time interval can be repeated.
  • said certain length of audio signal stream is repeatedly supplied to the loudspeaker, so that the sound of the last time interval can be heart a number of times. This number of times can be made adjustable.
  • the method according to the invention has the further advantage that a viewer/listener can recall important sound information while keeping the video-signal intact.
  • each of the stereo signal streams could be stored in separate memory means.
  • the stereo signal streams are encoded into a mono signal stream, and a certain length thereof is stored, while by operating switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeakers can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of mono signal stream after being retrieved and decoded in a stereosignal stream again is supplied to the loudspeakers.
  • the invention further relates to an audio processing system in which an audio signal stream is passed to at least one loudspeaker and in which audio processing system the above mentioned method can be applied.
  • this audio processing system is characterized in that memory means are provided to which said audio signal stream is supplied and in which a certain length thereof is stored, and a switching device by means of which the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted, whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream can be retrieved from said memory means and supplied to the loudspeaker. It may be possible that between the memory means and the switching device a repeater is provided to repeat the reproduction of said certain length of the audio signal stream. The number of times said certain length of the audio signal stream is repeated may be made adjustable.
  • the audio processing system may be characterized in that encoding means are provided to encode the stereo signal streams into a mono signal stream, a certain length thereof being stored in said memory means, and a decoder which, in response to the mono signal stream retrieved from the memory, provide for a stereo signal stream again, while by operating said switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeakers can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, the latter stereo signal streams can be supplied to the loudspeakers.
  • FIG. 1 shows a basic block diagram for an audio processing system according to the invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows the application of the invention in a stereo system.
  • FIG. 1 The basic block diagram of Fig. 1 shows memory means 1 and a switching device 2 in the form of a push button, operating between two positions A and B.
  • an audio signal stream to be reproduced is supplied, while continuously a certain length of this audio signal stream is stored therein.
  • an audio signal stream corresponding with a reproduction of audio signals during of 10 seconds may be a practical possibility.
  • position A of the switching device 2 the audio signal stream supplied to the memory means 1 is passed to a loudspeaker 3, while in position B of the switching device 2 only said certain length of the audio signal stream, stored at that moment in the memory means, is retrieved and supplied to the loudspeaker 3.
  • the switching device is operated by the listener or, when this audio processing system is applied in combination with a television system, by the viewer/listener and enables him or her to reproduce certain sound information when for example the television picture is frozen.
  • a repeater 4 is inserted at such a way that said certain length of the audio signal stream can be repeatedly reproduced.
  • Fig. 2 shows an embodiment in which stereo signal streams L and R or a certain length of this signals streams, L' and R', are supplied to loudspeakers 5 and 6.
  • the audio signal streams L and R are passed to the respective loudspeakers 5 and 6.
  • the system comprises an encoder 7 and a decoder 8.
  • the stereo audio signal streams L and R are encoded to a mono audio signal stream, a certain of which is continuously stored in the memory means 1.
  • All known encoding systems for encoding stereo signals into a mono signal for example systems based on Principle Component Analysis (PCA), can be applied.
  • PCA Principle Component Analysis
  • this embodiment can be applied in combination with a television system, so that for example a certain length of the audio signal streams can be heart when the television signal is frozen or can be applied in combination with a repeater to reproduce the certain length of the audio signal stream a number of times.
  • the invention is not restricted to the described embodiments; modifications are possible. Particularly, other applications, for example in enormous sounds are possible.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Television Receiver Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

In a method for processing audio signals in which an audio signal stream is passed to a loudspeaker, a certain length of this audio signal stream is stored, while by operating a switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted whereby, instead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream is retrieved and supplied, if desired a number of times, to the loudspeaker.

Description

METHOD FOR PROCESSING AUDIO SIGNALS AND AUDIO PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR APPLYING THIS METHOD
The present invention relates to a method for processing audio signals in which an audio signal stream is passed to a loudspeaker and to an audio processing system for applying this method.
In television systems the possibility already exists to "freeze" a picture in which case also no sound could be heart. Such a synchronization between audio and video signals is known from US-A-5,959,684. However, it may be desired that a viewer/listener can recall sound information while pictures are frozen.
Therefore, according to the invention, the method for processing audio signals in which an audio signal stream is passed to a loudspeaker, is characterized in that a certain length of this audio signal stream is stored, while by operating a switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream can be retrieved and supplied to the loudspeaker. By applying this method the sound of the last time interval can be repeated. If desired it may be possible that said certain length of audio signal stream is repeatedly supplied to the loudspeaker, so that the sound of the last time interval can be heart a number of times. This number of times can be made adjustable. The method according to the invention has the further advantage that a viewer/listener can recall important sound information while keeping the video-signal intact.
In case the audio signals are stereo signals to be passed to respective loudspeakers, a certain length of each of the stereo signal streams could be stored in separate memory means. However, it is of advantage that in the case of stereo signals the stereo signal streams are encoded into a mono signal stream, and a certain length thereof is stored, while by operating switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeakers can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of mono signal stream after being retrieved and decoded in a stereosignal stream again is supplied to the loudspeakers.
The invention further relates to an audio processing system in which an audio signal stream is passed to at least one loudspeaker and in which audio processing system the above mentioned method can be applied. According to the invention this audio processing system is characterized in that memory means are provided to which said audio signal stream is supplied and in which a certain length thereof is stored, and a switching device by means of which the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted, whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream can be retrieved from said memory means and supplied to the loudspeaker. It may be possible that between the memory means and the switching device a repeater is provided to repeat the reproduction of said certain length of the audio signal stream. The number of times said certain length of the audio signal stream is repeated may be made adjustable.
In case the audio signals are stereo signals to be passed to respective loudspeakers, the audio processing system may be characterized in that encoding means are provided to encode the stereo signal streams into a mono signal stream, a certain length thereof being stored in said memory means, and a decoder which, in response to the mono signal stream retrieved from the memory, provide for a stereo signal stream again, while by operating said switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeakers can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, the latter stereo signal streams can be supplied to the loudspeakers.
The invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the examples as described in the following and to the accompanying drawing. In this drawing Fig. 1 shows a basic block diagram for an audio processing system according to the invention; and
Fig. 2 shows the application of the invention in a stereo system.
The basic block diagram of Fig. 1 shows memory means 1 and a switching device 2 in the form of a push button, operating between two positions A and B. To the memory means 1 an audio signal stream to be reproduced is supplied, while continuously a certain length of this audio signal stream is stored therein. For example, an audio signal stream corresponding with a reproduction of audio signals during of 10 seconds may be a practical possibility. In position A of the switching device 2 the audio signal stream supplied to the memory means 1 is passed to a loudspeaker 3, while in position B of the switching device 2 only said certain length of the audio signal stream, stored at that moment in the memory means, is retrieved and supplied to the loudspeaker 3. The switching device is operated by the listener or, when this audio processing system is applied in combination with a television system, by the viewer/listener and enables him or her to reproduce certain sound information when for example the television picture is frozen. In Fig. 1, by interrupted lines, a repeater 4 is inserted at such a way that said certain length of the audio signal stream can be repeatedly reproduced.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment in which stereo signal streams L and R or a certain length of this signals streams, L' and R', are supplied to loudspeakers 5 and 6. When the switching device 2 is in the position A, the audio signal streams L and R are passed to the respective loudspeakers 5 and 6. In order to save memory capacity the system comprises an encoder 7 and a decoder 8. By means of the encoder 7 the stereo audio signal streams L and R are encoded to a mono audio signal stream, a certain of which is continuously stored in the memory means 1. All known encoding systems for encoding stereo signals into a mono signal, for example systems based on Principle Component Analysis (PCA), can be applied. By retrieving and decoding this certain length of the mono audio signal stream is converted again in stereo audio signal streams L' and R', which, when the switching device 2 is brought into the position B, are supplied to the respective loudspeakers 5 and 6. For example, a PCA- encoder is applied, the mono signal y can be represented by y = W * + WR*R, where WL and WR are weighting factors calculated by the PCA-encoder. Then, in the decoder 8 the inverse calculations L' = WL*y and R' = WR*y are performed.
It may be noted that in the encoding and decoding process some audio information will be lost. However, since the duration of the certain length of the audio signal stream will be relatively short, it would certainly not be a problem to listen to L' and R'.
It will be clear that also this embodiment can be applied in combination with a television system, so that for example a certain length of the audio signal streams can be heart when the television signal is frozen or can be applied in combination with a repeater to reproduce the certain length of the audio signal stream a number of times. The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments; modifications are possible. Particularly, other applications, for example in incredible sounds are possible.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. Method for processing audio signals in which an audio signal stream is passed to a loudspeaker, characterized in that a certain length of this audio signal stream is stored, while by operating a switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream can be retrieved and supplied to the loudspeaker.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said certain length of audio signal stream is repeatedly supplied to the loudspeaker.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the audio signals are stereo signals to be passed to respective loudspeakers, characterized in that the stereo signal streams are encoded into a mono signal stream, a certain length thereof is stored, while by operating said switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeakers can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of mono signal stream after being retrieved and decoded in a stereosignal stream again is supplied to the loudspeakers.
4. Audio processing system for applying the method of anyone of the claims 1-3 and in which an audio signal stream is passed to at least one loudspeaker, the audio processing system comprising memory means to which said audio signal stream is supplied and in which a certain length thereof is stored, and a switching device by means of which the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeaker can be interrupted, whereby, in stead thereof, said certain length of audio signal stream can be retrieved from said memory means and supplied to the loudspeaker.
5. Audio processing system according to claim 4, characterized in that between the memory means and the switching device a repeater is provided to repeat the reproduction of said certain length of the audio signal stream.
6. Audio processing system according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the audio signals are stereo signals to be passed to respective loudspeakers, characterized in that encoding means are provided to encode the stereo signal streams into a mono signal stream, a certain length thereof being stored in said memory means, and a decoder which, in response to the mono signal stream retrieved from the memory, provide for a stereo signal stream again, while by operating said switching device the audio signal stream passing to the loudspeakers can be interrupted whereby, in stead thereof, the latter stereo signal streams can supplied to the loudspeakers.
PCT/IB2002/005544 2002-01-22 2002-12-16 Method for processing audio signals and audio processing system for applying this method WO2003063481A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02075257 2002-01-22
EP02075257.2 2002-01-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003063481A1 true WO2003063481A1 (en) 2003-07-31

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4282606A (en) * 1979-04-12 1981-08-04 Eventide Clockworks, Inc. Broadcast delay line
EP0087320A2 (en) * 1982-02-23 1983-08-31 Stanley Daniels Digital sound storage system
JPS6354082A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-03-08 Pioneer Electronic Corp System for reroducing still picture with sound
JPH08154235A (en) * 1994-09-30 1996-06-11 Sony Corp Video processing unit
DE19920510A1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2000-11-16 Motorola Inc Message processing device with a device and a method for the permanent storage of data

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4282606A (en) * 1979-04-12 1981-08-04 Eventide Clockworks, Inc. Broadcast delay line
EP0087320A2 (en) * 1982-02-23 1983-08-31 Stanley Daniels Digital sound storage system
JPS6354082A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-03-08 Pioneer Electronic Corp System for reroducing still picture with sound
JPH08154235A (en) * 1994-09-30 1996-06-11 Sony Corp Video processing unit
DE19920510A1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2000-11-16 Motorola Inc Message processing device with a device and a method for the permanent storage of data

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