Recording and playback of multi-channel digital audio having different resolutions for different channels

• US 20010046199A1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wea Manufacturing Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wea Manufacturing Inc.
• Inventors: Thagard, Gregory, Cookson, Christopher, McPherson, Alan, Outwater, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 6,567,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/59.21
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00992 Circuits for stereophonic or quadraphonic recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for recording on DVD-like recording media in which audio content is stored in a high-capacity multi-channel (e.g., six-channel) format are provided. Various channels may use various resolutions. A two-channel audio output may be derived from the multi-channel audio data stream during playback. To facilitate an accurate derivation, the mixing coefficients to be used in generating the derivation can be supplied along with the six-channel audio data.

Claims

1. A method for providing multi-channel digital audio signal samples on a software carrier comprising:

sampling a first plurality of channels of audio data;

sampling a second plurality of channels of audio data;

selectively encoding said first plurality of channels of audio data in a single stream in a first track on said software carrier; and

selectively encoding said second plurality of channels of audio data in a single stream in a second track on said software carrier.

2. A method for providing multi-channel digital audio signal samples on a software carrier comprising:

sampling a first plurality of channels of audio data;

sampling a second plurality of channels of audio data;

selectively encoding said first plurality of channels of audio data in a single stream in a first track on said software carrier; and

providing weighting information for deriving second plurality of channels of audio data from said first plurality of channels of audio data.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein said providing further comprises:

storing said weighting information on a second track on said software carrier.

4. The method of

claim 2

wherein said providing further comprises:

storing said weighting information along with first plurality of channels of audio data in said single stream in said first track on said software carrier.

5. A method for providing multi-channel digital audio signal samples on a software carrier comprising:

sampling a plurality of channels of audio data;

selectively encoding at least two of said plurality of channels of audio data in a single stream in a first track on said software carrier; and

selectively encoding system initialization data on said software carrier.

6. The method of

claim 5

wherein said system initialization data is provided in said first track on said software carrier interspersed with said audio data.

7. The method of

claim 5

wherein said system initialization data is provided in a second track on said software carrier.

8. The method of

claim 5

wherein said at least two of said plurality of channels of audio data are encoded at different resolutions in said first track on said software carrier.

9. The method of

claim 5

further comprising:

arranging the samples of said plurality of channels of audio data in most nearly the order needed during playback.

10. The method of

claim 5

further comprising:

providing weighting information for deriving two-channel stereo from said plurality of channels of audio data.

11. The method of

claim 5

further comprising:

providing an additional two-channel audio track on said software carrier.