Method, system and product for mixing of encoded audio signals

• US 5,864,820 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation), U S West Inc.
• Inventors: Case, Eliot M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZINTEL, HAROLD ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/777,724
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 704/208, 704/278, 704/233, 704/500, 704/501, 704/503, 704/504, 381/62, 381/119, 381/118
• US Class Current: 704/278
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/665 using psychoacoustic properties of the ear, e.g. masking effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal

Abstract

A method, system and product are provided for mixing of encoded audio signals. The method includes receiving a first encoded audio signal, the first signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level, and receiving a second encoded audio signal, the second signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level. The method also includes mixing the first and second signals to create a mixed encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level based on a masking effect relationship between the audio levels and sample data of corresponding subbands of the first and second signals. The system includes control logic for performing the method. The product includes a storage medium having computer readable programmed instructions recorded thereon for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method for mixing encoded audio signal, the method comprising:

receiving a first encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level;

receiving a second encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level; and

mixing the first and second signals to create a mixed encoded audio signal having a plurality of subbands, each subband having an audio level based on a masking effect relationship between the audio levels of corresponding subbands of the first and second signals, wherein mixing the first and second signals includes eliminating from the second signal a subband having an audio level sufficient to mask the audio level of a corresponding subband of the first signal, and performing frequency equalization, including generating a user notification signal if frequency equalization would result in destruction of a portion of the first or second encoded audio signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein mixed encoded audio signal includes a time delay generated effect.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein mixing the first and second signals includes prioritizing the audio levels of the subbands of the first signal over the audio levels of the subbands of the second signal throughout the plurality of the mixed signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein mixing the first and second signals is dependent upon a Haas fusion effect relationship.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein mixing the first and second signals is dependent upon a psychoacoustic model.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein mixing of the first and second signals by the control logic is dependent upon a psychoacoustic model.

6. A system for mixing encoded audio signal, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level;

a receiver for receiving a second encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level; and

control logic operative to mix the first and second signals to create a mixed encoded audio signal having a plurality of subbands, each subband having an audio level based on a masking effect relationship between the audio levels of corresponding subbands of the first and second signals, wherein to mix the first and second signals, the control logic is operative to eliminate from the second signal a subband having an audio level sufficient to mask the audio level of a corresponding subband of the first signal, and to perform frequency equalization, including generating a user notification signal if frequency equalization would result in destruction of a portion of the first or second encoded audio signal.

7. The system of claim 6 mixed encoded audio signal includes a time delay generated effect.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein, to mix the first and second signals, the control logic is further operative to prioritize the audio levels of the subbands of the first signal over the audio levels of the subbands of the second signal throughout the plurality of the mixed signal.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein mixing of the first and second signals by the control logic is dependent upon a Haas fusion effect relationship.

11. A product for mixing encoded audio signal, the product comprising a storage medium having computer readable programmed instructions thereon, the instructions operative to mix a first encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level, and a second encoded audio signal having a plurality of frequency subbands, each subband having an audio level, to create a mixed encoded audio signal having a plurality of subbands, each subband having an audio level based on a masking effect relationship between the audio levels of corresponding subbands of the first and second signals, wherein to mix the first and second signals, the programmed instructions are operative to eliminate from the second signal a subband having an audio level sufficient to mask the audio level of a corresponding subband of the first signal, and to perform frequency equalization, including generating a user notification signal if frequency equalization would result in destruction of a portion of the first or second encoded audio signal.

12. The product of claim 11 wherein mixed encoded audio signal includes a time delay generated effect.

13. The product of claim 11 wherein, to mix the first and second signals, the programmed instructions are further operative to prioritize the audio levels of the subbands of the first signal over the audio levels of the subbands of the second signal throughout the plurality of the mixed signal.

14. The product of claim 11 wherein mixing of the first and second signals by the programmed instructions is dependent upon a Haas fusion effect relationship.

15. The product of claim 11 wherein, mixing of the first and second signals, the programmed instructions independent unpon a psychoacoustic model.