One-bit run-length encoding and playback system

• US 5,941,936 A
• Filed: 10/30/1997
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Taylor Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Taylor Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Stephen Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Application Number:
  US08/961,316
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 704/212, 704/200, 704/500, 704/501, 704/502, 704/503, 704/504, 704/229, 704/230, 381/17, 381/18
• US Class Current: 704/503
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a one-bit run-length encoder system that encrypts and compresses a digital audio, and one-bit run-length playback system.

Claims

1. An audio recording system, comprising:

a one-bit converter for generating a plurality of channels of digital audio data from one or more external sources;

means for interleaving the plurality of channels into a run-length data stream, wherein the run-length data stream comprises a series of binary values indicating run-length lengths for each of the channels of digital audio data; and

an input interface for accepting timing and control data associated with the audio data;

means for inserting control and synchronization markers derived from the timing and control data into the run-length data stream, so that the digital audio data may be correctly located upon playback.

2. The audio recording system of claim 1, further comprising means for compressing the run-length data stream.

3. The audio recording system of claim 1, further comprising means for encrypting the run-length data stream.

4. The audio recording system of claim 1, further comprising means for storing the run-length data stream on a data storage device.

5. The audio recording system of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the run-length data stream.

6. The audio recording system of claim 1, wherein the one-bit converter accepts both analog and digital signals and generates the digital audio data therefrom.

7. The audio recording system of claim 1, wherein the one-bit converter generates pulse density modulated digital audio data.

8. The audio recording system of claim 1, wherein the digital audio data has only two levels comprising a logical one and a logical zero.

9. The audio recording system of claim 1, wherein the run-length data stream comprises a synchronizing portion and the run-length data portion.

10. An audio playback system, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of channels of digital audio data interleaved into a run-length data stream, wherein the run-length data stream comprises a series of binary values indicating run-length lengths for each of the channels of digital audio data;

means for removing control and synchronization markers from the run-length data stream and for using the removed control and synchronization markers to control the playback of the run-length data stream;

means for reconstructing the plurality of channels of digital audio data interleaved into the run-length data stream; and

means for transmitting the reconstructed plurality of channels of digital audio data to an one-bit decoder, wherein the one-bit decoder recreates analog signals from the digital audio data to drive a plurality of audio transducers.

11. The audio recording system of claim 10, further comprising means for de-compressing the run-length data stream.

12. The audio recording system of claim 10, further comprising means for de-encrypting the run-length data stream.

13. The audio recording system of claim 10, further comprising means for retrieving the run-length data stream from a data storage device.

14. The audio recording system of claim 10, further comprising means for receiving the run-length data stream from a transmitting device.

15. The audio recording system of claim 10, wherein the run-length data stream comprises a synchronizing portion and the run-length data portion.

16. The audio recording system of claim 15, wherein the synchronizing portion comprises inserted control and synchronization markers that a timeline for an audio program embedded in the run-length data stream.