Methods and systems for determining audio loudness levels in programming

• US 7,398,207 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Interactive Video Group, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Riedl, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner; Martin
• Application Number:
  US10/647,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 704/200.1, 704/224, 704/225, 704/500, 704/503, 381/104, 381/107, 348/736, 348/738
• US Class Current: 704/225
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/001 Digital control of analog signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/007 of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 9/005 of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173

Abstract

An example of a method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset comprises retrieving a stored program asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting. Dialog of the audio of the asset is identified, a loudness of the dialog is determined and the determined loudness is compared to the first loudness setting. The asset is re-encoded at a second loudness setting corresponding to the determined loudness, if the first loudness setting and the second loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount. The determined loudness is preferably a DIALNORM of the dialog. The asset may be stored with the re-encoded loudness setting. The method may be applied to programs as they are being received from a source, as well. Aspects of the method may also be applied to programs to be provided by a source. Systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, comprising:

retrieving a stored program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting;

identifying dialog of the audio of the asset by;

diving the audio into time intervals;

determining a loudness of each time interval; and

identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses;

determining a loudness of the dialog;

comparing the determined loudness to the first loudness setting;

re-encoding the asset at a second loudness setting corresponding to the second loudness, if the first loudness setting and the determined loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount; and

discarding time intervals with high and low loudnesses.

2. A method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, comprising:

retrieving a stored program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting;

identifying dialog of the audio of the asset by;

dividing the audio into time intervals;

determining a loudness of each time interval; and

identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses by creating a histogram of the loudnesses of the intervals;

determining a loudness of the dialog;

comparing the determined loudness to the first loudness setting;

re-encoding the asset at a second loudness setting corresponding to the second loudness, if the first loudness setting and the determined loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount.

3. A method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, comprising:

retrieving a stored program asset, the asset comprising audio having an encoded DIALNORM setting;

demultiplexing the audio from the retrieved asset;

decompressing the audio;

identifying dialog of the audio by;

dividing the audio into time intervals;

determining a loudness of each time interval; and

identifying time intervals with high, intermediate and low loudnesses by creating a histogram;

determining a DIALNORM of the dialog;

comparing the determined DIALNORM to the encoded DIALNORM setting;

re-encoding the asset at the determined DIALNORM if the encoded DIALNORM and the determined DIALNORM are different by more than a predetermined amount; and

storing the asset with the re-encoded DIALNORM.

4. A system for correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, the system comprising:

memory to store the program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to;

retrieve a stored program asset,

identify dialog of the asset by;

dividing the audio into time intervals;

determining a loudness of each time interval; and

identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses;

determine a loudness of the dialog;

re-encode the asset at a second loudness selling corresponding to the determined loudness, if the first loudness and the second loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount; and

discard time intervals with high and low loudnesses.

5. A system for correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, the system comprising:

memory to store the program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to;

retrieve a stored program asset,

identify dialog of the asset by;

dividing the audio into time intervals;

determining a loudness of each time interval; and

identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses by creating a histogram of the loudnesses of the intervals;

determine a loudness of the dialog; and

re-encode the asset at a second loudness setting corresponding to the determined loudness, if the first loudness and the second loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount.