Apparatus and methods for including codes in audio signals
First Claim
1. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
- first masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of a first set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce a first masking evaluation;
second masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of a second set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components different from the first set thereof to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce a second masking evaluation;
amplitude assigning means for assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on a selected one of the first and second masking evaluations; and
code inclusion means for including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for including a code having at least one code frequency component in an audio signal are provided. The abilities of various frequency components in the audio signal to mask the code frequency component to human hearing are evaluated and based on these evaluations an amplitude is assigned to the code frequency component. Methods and apparatus for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal are also provided. A code frequency component in the encoded audio signal is detected based on an expected code amplitude or on a noise amplitude within a range of audio frequencies including the frequency of the code component.
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Citations
95 Claims
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1. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
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first masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of a first set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce a first masking evaluation;
second masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of a second set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components different from the first set thereof to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce a second masking evaluation;
amplitude assigning means for assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on a selected one of the first and second masking evaluations; and
code inclusion means for including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising the steps of:
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evaluating a masking ability of a first set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce a first masking evaluation;
evaluating a masking ability of a second set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce a second masking evaluation;
assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on a selected one of the first and second masking evaluations; and
including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
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a digital computer having an input for receiving the audio signal, the digital computer being programmed to evaluate respective masking abilities of first and second sets of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing to produce respective first and second masking evaluations, the second set of the plurality of audio signal frequency components differing from the first set thereof, the digital computer being further programmed to assign an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on a selected one of the first and second masking evaluations; and
means for including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for including a code having a plurality of code frequency components with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, the plurality of code frequency components including a first code frequency component having a first frequency and a second code frequency component having a second frequency different from the first frequency, comprising:
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first masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask a code frequency component having the first frequency to human hearing to produce a first respective masking evaluation;
second masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask a code frequency component having the second frequency to human hearing to produce a second respective masking evaluation;
amplitude assigning means for assigning a respective amplitude to the first code frequency component based on the first respective masking evaluation and for assigning a respective amplitude to the second code frequency component based on the second respective masking evaluation; and
code inclusion means for including the plurality of code frequency components with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for including a code having a plurality of code frequency components with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, the plurality of code frequency components including a first code frequency component having a first frequency and a second code frequency component having a second frequency different from the first frequency, comprising the steps of:
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evaluating a masking ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask a code frequency component having the first frequency to human hearing to produce a first respective masking evaluation;
evaluating a masking ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask a code frequency component having the second frequency to human hearing to produce a second respective masking evaluation;
assigning a respective amplitude to the first code frequency component based on the first respective masking evaluation and a respective amplitude to the second code frequency component based on the second respective masking evaluation; and
including the plurality of code frequency components with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for including a code having a plurality of code frequency components with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, the plurality of code frequency components including a first code frequency component having a first frequency and a second code frequency component having a second code frequency different from the first frequency, comprising:
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a digital computer having an input for receiving the audio signal, the digital computer being programmed to evaluate a masking ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask a code frequency component having the first frequency to human hearing to produce a first respective masking evaluation and to evaluate a masking ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask a code frequency component having the second frequency to human hearing to produce a second respective masking evaluation;
the digital computer being further programmed to assign a corresponding amplitude to the first code frequency component based on the first respective masking evaluation and to assign a corresponding amplitude to the second code frequency component based on the second respective masking evaluation; and
means for including the plurality of code frequency components with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal including a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
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masking evaluation means for evaluating an ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components within a first audio signal interval on a time scale of the audio signal when reproduced as sound during a corresponding first time interval to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing when reproduced as sound during a second time interval corresponding to a second audio signal interval offset from the first audio signal interval to produce a first masking evaluation;
amplitude assigning means for assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on the first masking evaluation; and
code inclusion means for including the at least one code frequency component with a portion of the audio signal within the second audio signal interval. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal including a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising the steps of:
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evaluating an ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components within a first audio signal interval on a time scale of the audio signal when reproduced as sound during a corresponding first time interval to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing when reproduced as sound during a second time interval corresponding to a second audio signal interval offset from the first audio signal interval to produce a first masking evaluation;
assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on the first masking evaluation; and
including the at least one code frequency component with a portion of the audio signal within the second audio signal interval. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal including a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
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a digital computer having an input for receiving the audio signal, the digital computer being programmed to evaluate an ability of at least one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components within a first audio signal interval on a time scale of the audio signal when reproduced as sound during a corresponding first time interval to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing when reproduced as sound during a second time interval corresponding to a second audio signal interval offset from the first audio signal interval, to produce a first masking evaluation;
the digital computer being further programmed to assign an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on the first masking evaluation; and
means for including the at least one code frequency component with a portion of the audio signal within the second audio signal interval. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
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tonal signal producing means for producing a first tonal signal representing a first substantially single one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components;
masking evaluation means for evaluating a masking ability of the first substantially single one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing based on the first tonal signal to produce a first masking evaluation;
amplitude assigning means for assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on the first masking evaluation; and
code inclusion means for including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising the steps of:
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producing a first tonal signal representing a first substantially single one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components;
evaluating a masking ability of the first substantially single one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing based on the first tonal signal to produce a first masking evaluation;
assigning an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on the first masking evaluation; and
including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. An apparatus for including a code having at least one code frequency component with an audio signal having a plurality of audio signal frequency components, comprising:
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a digital computer having an input for receiving the audio signal, the digital computer being programmed to produce a first tonal signal representing a first substantially single one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components and to evaluate a masking ability of the first substantially single one of the plurality of audio signal frequency components to mask the at least one code frequency component to human hearing based on the first tonal signal to produce a first masking evaluation, the digital computer being further programmed to assign an amplitude to the at least one code frequency component based on the first masking evaluation; and
code inclusion means for including the at least one code frequency component with the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. An apparatus for encoding an audio signal, comprising:
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means for generating a code comprising a plurality of code frequency component sets, each of the code frequency component sets representing a respectively different code symbol and including a plurality of respectively different code frequency components, the code frequency components of the code frequency component sets forming component clusters spaced from one another within the frequency domain, each of the component clusters having a respective predetermined frequency range and consisting of one frequency component from each of the code frequency component sets falling within its respective predetermined frequency range, component clusters which are adjacent within the frequency domain being separated by respective frequency amounts, the predetermined frequency range of each respective component cluster being smaller than the frequency amounts separating the respective component cluster from its adjacent component clusters; and
code inclusion means for combining the code with the audio signal.
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86. A method for encoding an audio signal, comprising:
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generating a code comprising a plurality of code frequency component sets, each of the code frequency component sets representing a respectively different code symbol and including a plurality of respectively different code frequency components, the code frequency components of the code frequency component sets forming component clusters spaced from one another within the frequency domain, each of the component clusters having a respective predetermined frequency range and consisting of one frequency component from each of the code frequency component sets falling within its respective predetermined frequency range, component clusters which are adjacent within the frequency domain being separated by respective frequency amounts, the predetermined frequency range of each respective component cluster being smaller than the frequency amounts separating the respective component cluster from its adjacent component clusters; and
combining the code with the audio signal.
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87. An apparatus for encoding an audio signal, comprising:
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a digital computer having an input for receiving the audio signal, the digital computer being programmed to produce a code comprising a plurality of code frequency component sets, each of the code frequency component sets representing a respectively different code symbol and including a plurality of respectively different code frequency components, the code frequency components of the code frequency component sets forming component clusters spaced from one another within the frequency domain, each of the component clusters having a respective predetermined frequency range and consisting of one frequency component from each of the code frequency component sets falling within its respective predetermined frequency range, component clusters which are adjacent within the frequency domain being separated by respective frequency amounts, the predetermined frequency range of each respective component cluster being smaller than the frequency amounts separating the respective component cluster from its adjacent component clusters; and
means for combining the code with the audio signal.
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88. An apparatus for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal including a plurality of audio frequency signal components and at least one code frequency component having an amplitude and an audio frequency selected for masking the code frequency component to human hearing by at least one of the plurality of audio frequency signal components, comprising:
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means for establishing an expected code amplitude of the at least one code frequency component based on the encoded audio signal; and
means for detecting the code frequency component in the encoded audio signal based on the expected code amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90)
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91. A method for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal including a plurality of audio frequency signal components and at least one code frequency component having an amplitude and an audio frequency selected for masking the code frequency component to human hearing by at least one of the plurality of audio frequency signal components, comprising the steps of:
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establishing an expected code amplitude of the at least one code frequency component based on the encoded audio signal; and
detecting the code frequency component in the encoded audio signal based on the expected code amplitude.
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92. A programmed digital computer for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal including a plurality of audio frequency signal components and at least one code frequency component having an amplitude and an audio frequency selected for masking the code frequency component to human hearing by at least one of the plurality of audio frequency signal components, comprising:
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an input for receiving the encoded audio signal;
a processor programmed to establish an expected code amplitude of the at least one code frequency component based on the encoded audio signal, to detect the code frequency component in the encoded audio signal based on the expected code amplitude and to produce a detected code output signal based on the detected code frequency component; and
an output coupled with the processor for providing the detected code output signal.
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93. An apparatus for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency components including a plurality of audio frequency signal components and at least one code frequency component having a predetermined audio frequency and a predetermined amplitude for distinguishing the at least one code frequency component from the plurality of audio frequency signal components, comprising:
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means for determining an amplitude of frequency components of the encoded audio signal within a first range of audio frequencies including the predetermined audio frequency of the at least one code frequency component;
means for establishing a noise amplitude for the first range of audio frequencies; and
means for detecting the presence of the at least one code frequency component in the first range of audio frequencies based on the established noise amplitude thereof and the determined amplitude of frequency components therein.
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94. A method for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency components including a plurality of audio frequency signal components and at least one code frequency component having a predetermined audio frequency and a predetermined amplitude for distinguishing the at least one code frequency component from the plurality of audio frequency signal components, comprising the steps of:
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determining an amplitude of a frequency component of the encoded audio signal within a first range of audio frequencies including the predetermined audio frequency of the at least one code frequency component;
establishing a noise amplitude for the first range of audio frequencies; and
detecting the presence of the at least one code frequency component in the first range of audio frequencies based on the established noise amplitude thereof and the determined amplitude of the frequency component therein.
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95. A digital computer for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency components including a plurality of audio frequency signal components and at least one code frequency component having a predetermined audio frequency and a predetermined amplitude for distinguishing the at least one code frequency component from the plurality of audio frequency signal components, comprising:
- an input for receiving the encoded audio signal;
a processor coupled with the input to receive the encoded audio signal and programmed to determine an amplitude of a frequency component of the encoded audio signal within a first range of audio frequencies including the predetermined audio frequency of the at least one code frequency component;
the processor being further programmed to establish a noise amplitude for the first range of audio frequencies and to detect the presence of the at least one code frequency component in the first range of audio frequencies based on the established noise amplitude thereof and the determined amplitude of the frequency component therein;
the processor being operative to produce a code output signal based on the detected presence of the at least one code frequency component; and
an output terminal coupled with the processor to provide the code signal thereat.
- an input for receiving the encoded audio signal;
Specification