System, medium, and method of encoding/decoding multi-channel audio signals

• US 20070121954A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lei, Miao, Kim, Junghoe, Oh, Eunmi
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/22
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/008 Multichannel audio signal coding or decoding using interchannel correlation to reduce redundancy, e.g. joint-stereo, intensity-coding or matrixing
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/167 Audio streaming, i.e. formatting and decoding of an encoded audio signal representation into a data stream for transmission or storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 7/30 Compression speech analysis-synthesis for redundancy reduction G10L19/00; for image communication H04N; Expansion; Suppression of unnecessary data, e.g. redundancy reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/80 having frequencies in two or more frequency bands, e.g. medium wave and VHF
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/03 Application of parametric coding in stereophonic audio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

An system, method, and method of encoding/decoding a multi-channel audio signal, including a decoding level generation unit producing decoding-level information that helps a bitstream including a number of audio channel signals and space information to be decoded into a number of audio channel signals, wherein the space information includes information about magnitude differences and/or similarities between channels, and an audio decoder decoding the bitstream according to the decoding-level information. Accordingly, even a single input bitstream can be decoded into a suitable number of channels depending on the type of a speaker configuration used. Scalable channel decoding can be achieved by partially decoding an input bitstream. In the scalable channel decoding, a decoder may set decoding levels and outputs audio channel signals according to the decoding levels, thereby reducing decoding complexity.

Claims

1. A multi-channel audio signal decoding system, comprising:

a decoding level generation unit to generate decoding-level information to control a level of decoding of a bitstream having a predetermined number N of encoded audio channel signals and space information into a number L of audio channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels; and

an audio decoder to selectively decode, through different levels of decoding, the bitstream based on the decoding-level information and to generate the number L of audio channel signals.

2. A multi-channel audio signal decoding method, comprising selectively decoding a bitstream based upon decoding-level information to control a level of decoding of the bitstream having a predetermined number N of encoded audio channel signals and space information into a number L of audio channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or a similarities between corresponding channels.

51. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 2.

3. A multi-channel audio signal decoding system, comprising:

a first OTT decoder to decode a single audio channel signal and space information, with a corresponding bitstream comprising a corresponding encoded single audio channel signal, into two audio channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a TTT decoder to decode the two audio channel signals into three audio channel signals, as first, second, and third channel signals;

a second OTT decoder to decode the first channel signal into a first plural channel signals;

a third OTT decoder to decode the second channel signal into a second plural channel signals; and

a fourth OTT decoder to decode the third channel signal into a third plural channel signals.

4. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 3, wherein:

the two audio channel signals output by the first OTT decoder correspond to stereo audio channels;

the first, second, and third audio channel signals output by the TTT decoder correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )}, a right audio channel R, and a center audio channel C, respectively;

the first plural channel signals output by the second OTT decoder correspond to a left front audio channel LF and a left surround audio channel LS, respectively;

the second plural channel signals output by the third OTT decoder correspond to a right front audio channel RF and a right surround audio channel RS, respectively; and

the third plural channel signals output by the fourth OTT decoder correspond to a center audio channel C and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectively.

5. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 3, wherein the decoding system selectively decodes the bitstream based on decoding levels of at least the first OTT decoder and the TTT decoder, respectively.

6. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 5, further comprising a decoding level generation unit to generate decoding-level information to control decoding levels of the bitstream into a number of audio channel signals.

7. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 6, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream having the single encoded audio channel signal into the single audio channel signal;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the single audio channel signal output at the first decoding level into the two audio channel signals;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the two audio channel signals output at the second decoding level into the three audio channel signals corresponds to three audio channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )}; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of the three audio channel signals output at the third decoding level into signals of 5.1 audio channels LF, LS, RF, RS, C, and LFE.

8. A multi-channel audio signal decoding method, comprising:

a first OTT decoding of a single audio channel signal and space information, with a corresponding bitstream comprising a corresponding encoded single audio channel signal, into two audio channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a TTT decoding of the two audio channel signals obtained in the first OTT decoding into three audio channel signals, as first, second, and third channel signals;

a second OTT decoding of the first channel signal into a first plural channel signals;

a third OTT decoding of the second channel signal into a second plural channel signals; and

a fourth OTT decoding of the third channel signal into a third plural channel signals.

9. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 8, wherein:

the two audio channel signals output in the first OTT decoding correspond to stereo audio channels; and

the three audio channel signals output in the TTT decoding correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )}, a right audio channel R{acute over ( )}, a the center audio channel C, respectively;

the first plural channel signals obtained in the second OTT decoding correspond to a left front audio channel LF and a left surround audio channel LS, respectively;

the second plural channel signals obtained in the third OTT decoding correspond to a right front audio channel RF and a right surround audio channel RS, respectively; and

the third plural channel signals obtained in the fourth OTT decoding correspond to a center audio channel C and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectively.

10. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 8, wherein the decoding includes selectively decoding the bitstream based on decoding levels of at least the first OTT decoding and the TTT decoding, respectively.

11. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 10, wherein, during the selective decoding into a number of audio channel signals, decoding level information is used to identify the decoding levels so as to control the decoded number of audio channel signals.

12. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 11, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream having the single encoded audio channel signal into the single audio channel signal;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the single audio channel signal output at the first decoding level into the two audio channel signals;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the two audio channel signals output at the second decoding level into the three audio channel signals corresponding to three channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )}; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of the three audio channel signals output at the third decoding level into signals of 5.1 audio channels LF, LS, RF, RS, C, and LFE.

52. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 8.

13. A multi-channel audio signal decoding system, comprising:

a TTT decoder to decode two audio channel signals and space information, with a corresponding bitstream comprising corresponding two encoded audio channel signals, into three audio channel signals, as first, second, and third channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a first OTT decoder to decode the first channel signal into a first plural channel signals;

a second OTT decoder to decode the second channel signal into a second plural channel signals;

a third OTT decoder to decode the third channel signal into a third plural channel signals;

a fourth OTT decoder to decode one of the first plural channel signals output by the first OTT decoder into a fourth plural channel signals; and

a fifth OTT decoder to decode one of the second plural channel signals output by the second OTT decoder into a fifth plural channel signals.

14. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 13, wherein:

the three audio channel signals output by the TTT decoder correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )}, a right audio channel R{acute over ( )}, and a center audio channel C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

the first plural channel signals output by the first OTT decoder correspond to a front left audio channel FL{acute over ( )} and a back left audio channel BL, respectively;

the second plural channel signals output by the second OTT decoder correspond to a front right audio channel FR{acute over ( )} and a back right audio channel BR, respectively;

the third plural channel signals output by the third OTT decoder correspond to a center audio channel C and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectively;

the fourth plural channel signals output by the fourth OTT decoder correspond to a front left audio channel FL and a front left center audio channel FLC, respectively; and

the fifth plural channel signals output by the fifth OTT decoder correspond to a front right audio channel FR and a front right center audio channel FRC, respectively.

15. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 13, wherein the decoding system selectively decodes the bitstream based on decoding levels of at least the TTT decoder and collective decoding of the three audio channel signals, respectively.

16. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 15, further comprising a decoding level generation unit to generate decoding-level information to control decoding levels of the bitstream into a number of audio channel signals.

17. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 16, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream including the two encoded audio channel signals into the two audio channel signals;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the two audio channel signals output at the first decoding level into the three audio channel signals corresponding to three audio channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the three audio channel signals output at the second decoding level into signals of 5.1 audio channels FL{acute over ( )}, BL, FR{acute over ( )}, BR, C, and LFE; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of one channel FL{acute over ( )} signal into signals corresponding to audio channel FL and FLC and the another channel FR{acute over ( )} signal into signals corresponding to audio channels FR and FRC so that a total of 7.1 channel signals are generated.

18. A multi-channel audio signal decoding method, comprising:

a TTT decoding of two audio channel signals and space information, with a corresponding bitstream comprising corresponding two encoded audio channel signals, into three audio channel signals, as first, second, and third channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a first OTT decoding of the first channel signal into a first plural channel signals;

a second OTT decoding of the second channel signal into a second plural channel signals;

a third OTT decoding of the third channel signal into a third plural channel signals;

a fourth OTT decoding of one of the first plural channel signals output in the first OTT decoding into a fourth plural channel signals; and

a fifth OTT decoding of one of the second plural channel signals output in the second OTT decoding into a fifth plural channel signals.

19. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 18, wherein:

the three audio channel signals output in the TTT decoding correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )}, a right audio channel R{acute over ( )}, and a center audio channel C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

the first plural channel signals output in the first OTT decoding correspond to a front left audio channel FL{acute over ( )} and a back left audio channel BL, respectively;

the second plural channel signals output in the second OTT decoding correspond to a front right audio channel FR{acute over ( )} and a back right audio channel BR, respectively;

the third plural channel signals output in the third OTT decoding correspond to a center audio channel C and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectively; and

the fourth plural channel signals output in the fourth OTT decoding correspond to a front left audio channel FL and a front left center audio channel FLC, respectively; and

the fifth plural channel signals output in the fifth OTT decoding correspond to a front right audio channel FR and a front right center audio channel FRC, respectively.

20. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 18, wherein the decoding includes selectively decoding based on decoding levels of at least the TTT decoding and collective decoding of the three audio channel signals, respectively.

21. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 20, wherein, during the selective decoding into a number of audio channel signals, decoding level information is used to identify the decoding levels so as to control the decoded number of audio channel signals.

22. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 21, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream including the two encoded audio channel signals into the two audio channel signals;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the two audio channel signals output at the first decoding level into the three audio channel signals corresponding to three audio channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the three audio channel signals into signals of 5.1 audio channels LF, LS, RF, RS, C, and LFE; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of a front left audio channel FL{acute over ( )} signal into signals corresponding to two audio channels FL and FLC and a front right audio channel FR{acute over ( )} signal into signals corresponding to two audio channels FR and FRC so that a total of 7.1 channel signals are generated.

53. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 18.

23. A multi-channel audio signal decoding system comprising:

a TTT decoder decoding two audio channel signals and space information, with a corresponding bitstream comprising corresponding two encoded audio channel signals, into three audio channel signals, as first, second, and third channel signals, wherein the space information includes information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a first OTT decoder to decode the first channel signal into a first plural channel signals;

a second OTT decoder to decode the second channel signal into a second plural channel signals;

a third OTT decoder to decode the third channel signal into a third plural channel signals;

a fourth OTT decoder to decode one of the third plural channel signals of the third OTT decoder into a fourth plural channel signals;

a fifth OTT decoder to decode one of the fourth plural channel signals of the fourth OTT decoder into the fifth plural channel signals.

24. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 23, wherein:

the three audio channel signals output by the TTT decoder correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )}, a right audio channel R{acute over ( )}, and a center audio channel C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

the first plural channel signals output by the first OTT decoder correspond to a front left audio channel FL and a back left audio channel BL, respectively;

the second plural channel signals output by the second OTT decoder correspond to a front right audio channel FR and a back right audio channel BR, respectively;

the third plural channel signals output by the third OTT decoder correspond to a center audio channel C^˜

and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectively;

the fourth plural channel signals output by the fourth OTT decoder corresponds to a front center audio channel FC{acute over ( )} and a center audio channel C, respectively; and

the fifth plural channel signals output by the fifth OTT decoder correspond to a front left center audio channel FLC and a front right center audio channel FRC.

25. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 23, wherein the decoding system selectively decodes based on decoding levels of at least the TTT decoder and collective decoding of the three audio channel signals, respectively.

26. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 25, further comprising a decoding level generation unit to generate decoding-level information to control decoding levels of the bitstream into a number of audio channel signals.

27. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 26, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream including the two encoded audio channel signals into the two audio channel signals;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the two audio channel signals output at the first decoding level into the three audio channel signals corresponding to three audio channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the three audio channel signals output at the second decoding level into signals of 5.1 audio channels FL, BL, FR, BR, C^˜

, and LFE, respectively; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of the front center audio channel FC{acute over ( )} into signals corresponding to channel signals FLC and FRC so that a total of 7.1 channel signals are generated.

28. A multi-channel audio signal decoding method, comprising:

a TTT decoding of two audio channel signals and space information, with a corresponding bitstream comprising corresponding two encoded audio channel signals, into three audio channel signals, as first, second, and third channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a first OTT decoding of the first channel signal into a first plural channel signals;

a second OTT decoding of the second channel signal into a second plural channel signals;

a third OTT decoding of the third channel signal into a third plural channel signals;

a fourth OTT decoding of one of third plural channel signals output in the third decoding into a fourth plural channel signals; and

a fifth OTT decoding of one of fourth plural channel signals output in the fourth OTT decoding into a fifth plural channel signals.

29. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 28, wherein:

the three audio channel signals output in the TTT decoding correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )}, a right audio channel R{acute over ( )}, and a center audio channel C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

the first plural channel signals output in the first OTT decoding correspond to a front left audio channel FL and a back left audio channel BL, respectively;

the second plural channel signals output in the second OTT decoding correspond to a front right audio channel FR and a back right audio channel BR, respectively;

the third plural channel signals output in the third OTT decoding correspond to a center audio channel C^˜

and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectively;

the fourth plural channel signals output in the fourth OTT decoding correspond to a front center audio channel FC{acute over ( )} and a center audio channel C, respectively; and

the fifth plural channel signals output in the fifth OTT decoding are a front left center audio channel FLC and a front right center audio channel FRC, respectively.

30. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 28, wherein the decoding includes selectively decoding based on decoding levels of at least the TTT decoding and collective decoding of the three audio channel signals, respectively.

31. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 30, wherein, during the selective decoding into a number of audio channel signals, decoding level information is used to identify the decoding levels so as to control the decoded number of audio channel signals.

32. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 31, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream including the two encoded audio channel signals into two audio channel signals;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the two audio channel signals output at the first decoding level into the three audio channel signals corresponding to three audio channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the three audio channel signals into signals of 5.1 audio channels FL, BL, FR, BR, C^˜

, and LFE; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of a front center audio channel FC{acute over ( )} signal into signals corresponding to channels FLC and FRC so that a total of 7.1 channel signals are generated.

54. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 28.

33. A multi-channel audio signal decoding system, comprising:

a first OTT decoder to decode a bitstream including two encoded audio channel signals, as first and second audio channel signals, and space information so that the first audio channel signal is decoded into a first plural audio channel signals, wherein the space information includes information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a second OTT decoder to decode the second audio channel signal into a second plural audio channel signals, as first and second channel signals;

a third OTT decoder to decode one of the first plural channel signals output by the first OTT decoder into a third plural channel signals;

a fourth OTT decoder to decode the first channel signal into a fourth plural channel signals;

a fifth OTT decoder to decode the second channel signal into a fifth plural channel signals; and

a sixth OTT decoder to decode another of the first plural channel signals of the first OTT decoder into a sixth plural channel signals.

34. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 33, wherein:

the first plural audio channel signals output by the first OTT decoder correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )} and a center audio channel C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

the second plural audio channel signals output by the second OTT decoder correspond to a right audio channel R{acute over ( )} and a center audio channel C^˜

;

the third plural channel signals output by the third OTT decoder correspond to a front left center audio channel FL and a back left audio channel BL;

the fourth plural channel signals output by the fourth OTT decoder correspond to a front right audio channel FR and a back right audio channel BR;

the fifth plural channel signals output by the fifth OTT decoder correspond to a center audio channel C and a woofer audio channel LFE; and

the sixth plural channel signals output by the sixth OTT decoder correspond to a front left center audio channel FLC and a front right center audio channel FRC.

35. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 33, wherein the decoding system selectively decodes based on decoding levels of at least collectively the first and second OTT decoders and collectively third, fourth, and fifth OTT decoders, respectively.

36. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 35, further comprising a decoding level generation unit to generate decoding-level information to control decoding levels of the bitstream into a number of audio channel signals.

37. The multi-channel audio signal decoding system of claim 36, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream including the two encoded audio channel signals into the two audio channel signals;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the first plural audio channel signals output at the first decoding level into signals corresponding to four audio channels L{acute over ( )}, C{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C^˜

, respectively;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the audio channel L{acute over ( )} signal into two audio channels FL and BL signals, the audio channel R{acute over ( )} signal into two audio channels FR and BR signals, and the audio channel signal C^˜

into two audio channels C and LFE signals, respectively;

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of the audio channel C{acute over ( )} signal into two channel FLC and FRC signals.

38. A multi-channel audio signal decoding method comprising:

a first OTT decoding of a bitstream including two encoded audio channel signals, as a first audio channel signal and a second audio channel signal, and space information so that the first audio channel signal is decoded into a first plural audio channel signals, wherein the space information comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding channels;

a second OTT decoding of the second audio channel signal into a second plural audio channel signals, as first and second channel signals;

a third OTT decoding of one of the first plural channel signals obtained in the first OTT decoding into a third plural channel signals;

a fourth OTT decoding of the first channel signal into a fourth plural audio channel signals;

a fifth OTT decoding of the second channel signal into a fifth plural audio channel signals; and

a sixth OTT decoding another of the first plural audio channel signals obtained in the first OTT decoding into a sixth plural channel signals.

39. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 38, wherein:

the first plural channel signals output in the first OTT decoding correspond to a left audio channel L{acute over ( )} and a center audio channel C{acute over ( )}, respectively;

the second plural channel signals output in the second OTT decoding correspond to a right audio channel R{acute over ( )} and a center audio channel C^˜

, respectively;

the third plural channel signals output in the third OTT decoding correspond to a front left audio channel FL and a back left audio channel BL, respectively;

the fourth plural channel signals output in the fourth OTT decoding correspond to a front right audio channel FR and a back right audio channel BR, respectively;

the fifth plural channel signals output in the fifth OTT decoding correspond to a center audio channel C and a woofer audio channel LFE, respectfully; and

the sixth plural channel signals output in the sixth OTT decoding correspond to a front left center audio channel FLC and a front right center audio channel FRC, respectfully.

40. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 38, wherein the decoding includes selectively decoding based on decoding levels of at least collectively the first and second OTT decoders and collectively third, fourth, and fifth OTT decoders, respectively.

41. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 40, wherein, during the selective decoding into a number of audio channel signals, decoding level information is used to identify the decoding levels so as to control the decoded number of audio channel signals.

42. The multi-channel audio signal decoding method of claim 41, wherein the decoding level information comprises:

a first decoding level to control decoding of the bitstream including the two encoded audio channel signals into the two audio channel signals;

a second decoding level to control decoding of the first plural audio channel signals output at the first decoding level into signals corresponding to four audio channels L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, C{acute over ( )}, and C^˜

, respectively;

a third decoding level to control decoding of the audio channel L{acute over ( )} signal into two audio channel FL and BL signals, the audio channel R{acute over ( )} signal into two audio channel FR and BR signals, and the audio channel C^˜

signal into the C and LFE audio channel signals; and

a fourth decoding level to control decoding of the audio channel C{acute over ( )} signal into audio channel FLC and FRC signals.

55. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 38.

43. A multi-channel audio signal encoding system, comprising:

a first OTT encoder to generate a first OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a left front audio channel (LF) signal and a left surround audio channel (LS) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding LF and LS channels;

a second OTT encoder to generate a second OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a second OTT parameter from a right front audio channel (RF) signal and a right surround audio channel (RS) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding RF and RS channels;

a third OTT encoder to generate a third OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from a center audio channel (C) signal and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C and LFE channels;

a TTT encoder to generate plural TTT audio channel signals and a TTT parameter from the L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channel signals output by the first, second, and third OTT encoders, respectively, wherein the TTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channels;

a fourth OTT encoder to generate a fourth OTT audio channel signal and a fourth OTT parameter from the plural TTT audio channel signals output by the TTT encoder, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding plural TTT channels;

a bitstream generation unit to compress the OTT parameters generated by the first through fourth OTT encoders, the TTT parameter generated by the TTT encoder, and the fourth OTT audio signal generated by the fourth OTT encoder so as to generate a bitstream.

44. A multi-channel audio signal encoding system, comprising:

a first OTT encoder to generate a first OTT audio channel (FL{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a front left audio channel (FL) signal and a front left center audio channel (FLC) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL and FLC channels;

a second OTT encoder to generate a second OTT audio channel (FR{acute over ( )}) signal and a second OTT parameter from a front right audio channel (FR) signal and a front right center audio channel (FRC) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or a similarities between corresponding FR and FRC channels;

a third OTT encoder to generate a third OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from the audio channel (FL{acute over ( )}) signal produced by the first OTT encoder and a back left audio channel (BL) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL{acute over ( )} and BL channels;

a fourth OTT encoder to generate a fourth OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a fourth OTT parameter from the audio channel (FR{acute over ( )}) signal produced by the second OTT encoder and a back right audio channel (BR) signal, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR{acute over ( )} and BR channels;

a fifth OTT encoder to generate a fifth OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a fifth OTT parameter from a center audio channel (C) signal and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the fifth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C and LFE channels;

a TTT encoder producing plural TTT audio channel signals and a TTT parameter from the L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channel signals output by the third, fourth, and fifth OTT encoders, respectively, wherein the TTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channels; and

a bitstream generation unit to compress the parameters generated by the first through fifth OTT encoders and the TTT encoder and the plural TTT audio signals generated by the TTT encoder so as to generate a bitstream.

45. A multi-channel audio signal encoding system, comprising:

a first OTT encoder to generate a first OTT audio channel (FC{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a front left center audio channel (FLC) signal and a front right center audio channel (FRC) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FLC and FRC channels;

a second OTT encoder to generate a second OTT audio channel (C^˜

) signal and a second OTT parameter from the audio channel (FC{acute over ( )}) signal output by the first OTT encoder and a center audio channel (C) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FC{acute over ( )} and C channels;

a third OTT encoder to generate a third OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from a front left audio channel (FL) signal and a back left audio channel (BL) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL and BL channels;

a fourth OTT encoder to generate a fourth OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a fourth OTT parameter from an audio channel (FR) signal and a back right audio channel (BR) signal, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR and BR channels;

a fifth OTT encoder to generate a fifth OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a fifth OTT parameter from the audio channel (C^˜

) signal output by the second OTT encoder and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the fifth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C^˜

and LFE channels;

a TTT encoder to generate plural TTT audio channel signals and a TTT parameter from the L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channel signals output by the third, fourth, and fifth OTT encoders, respectively, wherein the TTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between the L′

, R′

, and C′

channels; and

a bitstream generation unit to compress the parameters generated by the first through fifth OTT encoders and the TTT encoder and the plural TTT audio channel signals generated by the TTT encoder so as to generate a bitstream.

46. A multi-channel audio signal encoding system, comprising:

a first OTT encoder to generate a first OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a front left center audio channel (FLC) signal and a front right center audio channel (FRC) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FLC and FRC channels;

a second OTT encoder to generate a second OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a second OTT parameter from a front left audio channel (FL) signal and a back left audio channel (BL) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL and BL channels;

a third OTT encoder to generate a third OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from a front right audio channel (FR) signal and a back right audio channel (BR) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR and BR channels;

a fourth OTT encoder to generate a fourth OTT audio channel (C^˜

) signal and a fourth OTT parameter from a center audio channel (C) signal and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C and LFE channels;

a fifth OTT encoder to generate a fifth OTT audio channel signal and a fifth OTT parameter from the audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal output by the second OTT encoder and the audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal output by the first OTT encoder, wherein the fifth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )} and C{acute over ( )} channels;

a sixth OTT encoder to generate a sixth OTT audio channel signal and a sixth OTT parameter from the audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal output by the third OTT encoder and the audio channel (C^˜

) signal output by the fourth OTT encoder, wherein the sixth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding R{acute over ( )} and C^˜

channels; and

a bitstream generation unit to compress the parameters generated by the first through sixth OTT encoders, the fifth OTT audio channel signal generated by the fifth OTT encoder, and the sixth OTT audio channel signal generated by the sixth OTT encoder so as to generate a bitstream.

47. A multi-channel audio signal encoding method comprising:

a first OTT encoding of a first OTT parameter and a first OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal from a left front audio channel (LF) signal and a left surround audio channel (LS) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding LF and LS channels;

a second OTT encoding of a second OTT parameter and a second OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal from a right front audio channel (RF) signal and a right surround audio channel (RS) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding RF and RS channels;

a third OTT encoding of a third OTT parameter and a third OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal from a center audio channel (C) signal and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C and LFE channels;

a TTT encoding of a TTT parameter and plural TTT audio channel signals from the L, R and C channel signals produced in the first, second, and third OTT encodings respectively, wherein the TTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C channels;

a fourth OTT encoding of a fourth OTT parameter and a fourth OTT audio channel signal from the plural TTT audio channel signals generated in the TTT encoding;

compressing the parameters generated in the first through fourth OTT encodings and the TTT encoding and the fourth OTT audio channel signal encoded in the fourth OTT encoding so as to generate a bitstream.

56. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 47.

48. A multi-channel audio signal encoding method, comprising:

a first OTT encoding of a first OTT audio channel (FL{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a front left audio channel (FL) signal and a front left center audio channel (FLC) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL and FLC channels;

a second OTT encoding of a second OTT audio channel (FR{acute over ( )}) signal and a second OTT parameter from a front right audio channel (FR) signal and a front right center audio channel (FRC) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR and FRC channels;

a third OTT encoding of a third OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from the front left audio channel (FL{acute over ( )}) signal generated in the first OTT encoding and a back left audio channel (BL) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL{acute over ( )} and BL channels;

a fourth OTT encoding of a fourth OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a fourth OTT parameter from the front right audio channel (FR{acute over ( )}) signal generated in the second OTT encoding and a back right audio channel (BR) signal, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR{acute over ( )} and BR channels;

a fifth OTT encoding of a fifth OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a fifth OTT parameter from a center audio channel (C) signal and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the fifth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C and LFE channels;

a TTT encoding of plural TTT (stereo) audio channel signals and a TTT parameter from the L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channel signals generated in the third, fourth, and fifth OTT encodings, respectively, wherein the TTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channels;

compressing the parameters generated in the first through fifth OTT encodings and the plural stereo audio channel signals generated in the TTT encoding so as to generate a bitstream.

57. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 48.

49. A multi-channel audio signal encoding method comprising:

a first OTT encoding of a first OTT audio channel (FC{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a front left center audio channel (FLC) signal and a front right center audio channel (FRC) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FLC and FRC channels;

a second OTT encoding of a second OTT audio channel (C^˜

) signal and a second OTT parameter from the audio channel (FC{acute over ( )}) signal generated in the first OTT encoding and a center audio channel (C) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FC{acute over ( )} and C channels;

a third OTT encoding of a third OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from a front left audio channel (FL) signal and a back left audio channel (BL) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL and BL channels;

a fourth OTT encoding of a fourth OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a fourth OTT parameter from a front right audio channel (FR) signal and a back right audio channel (BR) signal, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR and BR channels;

a fifth OTT encoding of a fifth OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a fifth OTT parameter from the audio channel (C^˜

) signal generated in the second OTT encoding and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the fifth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C^˜

and LFE channels;

a TTT encoding of plural TTT (stereo) audio channel signals and a TTT parameter from the L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channel signals generated in the third, fourth, and fifth OTT encodings, respectively, wherein the TTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )}, R{acute over ( )}, and C{acute over ( )} channels;

compressing the parameters generated in the first through fifth OTT encodings and the audio channel signals generated in the TTT encoding so as to generate a bitstream.

58. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 49.

50. A multi-channel audio signal encoding method, comprising:

a first OTT encoding of a first OTT audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal and a first OTT parameter from a front left center audio channel (FLC) signal and a front right center audio channel (FRC) signal, wherein the first OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FLC and FRC channels;

a second OTT encoding of a second OTT audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal and a second OTT parameter from a front left audio channel (FL) signal and a back left audio channel (BL) signal, wherein the second OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FL and BL channels;

a third OTT encoding of a third OTT audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal and a third OTT parameter from a front right audio channel (FR) signal and a back right audio channel (BR) signal, wherein the third OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding FR and BR channels;

a fourth OTT encoding of a fourth OTT audio channel (C^˜

) signal and a fourth OTT parameter from a center audio channel (C) signal and a woofer audio channel (LFE) signal, wherein the fourth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding C and LFE channels;

a fifth OTT encoding of a fifth OTT audio channel signal and a fifth OTT parameter from the audio channel (L{acute over ( )}) signal generated in the second OTT encoding and the audio channel (C{acute over ( )}) signal generated in the first OTT encoding, wherein the fifth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding L{acute over ( )} and C{acute over ( )} channels;

a sixth OTT encoding of a sixth OTT audio channel signal and a sixth OTT parameter from the audio channel (R{acute over ( )}) signal generated in the first OTT encoding and the audio channel (C^˜

) signal generated in the fourth OTT encoding, wherein the sixth OTT parameter comprises information of magnitude differences and/or similarities between corresponding R{acute over ( )} and C^˜

channels; and

compressing the parameters generated in the first through sixth OTT encodings, the fifth OTT audio channel signal generated in the fifth OTT encoding, and the sixth OTT audio channel signal generated in the sixth OTT encoding so as to generate a bitstream.

59. At least one medium comprising computer readable code to control at least one processing element to implement the method of claim 50.