Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD FOR SIGNALING OF SPLITTING INFORMATION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a signaling method,
and more particularly to a method for dividing a signal
into several signals, and effectively representing division
information (also called "splitting information") of the
divided signals.
Background Art
Generally, signals may be configured in various ways
(e.g., a block, a band, and a channel.). The above-
mentioned signals can be processed without being divided
into several units within in a stationary period in which
signals can maintain predetermined statistical
characteristics because it is an advantage to compress
the signals.
It is preferable for the signal to be divisionally
processed in a transient period in which signal
characteristics are abruptly changed, because of the
prevention of signal distortion.
However, if a user desires to divisionally process
the above-mentioned signals, there is no detailed method
for signaling the divided information. Therefore, it is
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difficult to effectively process the above-mentioned signals.
Disclosure of Invention
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for signaling
division information that, in some embodiments, may substantially obviate one
or
more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of some embodiments of the present invention devised to
solve the problem lies on a method for effectively signaling divided signals.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
signaling method for signal division information, comprising: assigning lower
nodes
corresponding to a division number to a lower layer if an upper node of an
upper
layer is represented by a division identifier (ID), the lower node being
assigned to the
lower layer; and un-assigning lower nodes to the lower layer if the upper node
of the
upper layer is represented by a non-division identifier (ID), wherein the
signal division
information includes the division ID and the non-division ID, the division ID
and the
non-division ID indicating a presence or an absence of a signal division at a
node of a
layer respectively.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a signaling apparatus for signal division information, comprising: a first
channel
configuration unit assigning lower nodes corresponding to a division number to
a
lower layer if an upper node of an upper layer is represented by a division
identifier
(ID), the lower node being assigned to the lower layer; and a second channel
configuration unit un-assigning lower nodes to the lower layer if the upper
node of the
upper layer is represented by a non-division identifier (ID), wherein the
signal division
information includes the division ID and the non-division ID, the division ID
and the
non-division ID indicating a presence or an absence of a signal division at a
node of a
layer respectively.
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Another aspect provides a signaling method for signal division
information comprising: assigning number of lower nodes equal to the number of
divisions to a lower layer if an node of an upper layer is represented by a
division
identifier (ID); and un-assigning any lower node to the lower layer if the
node of the
upper layer is represented by a non-division identifier (ID), wherein the
signal division
information includes the division ID and the non-division ID indicating the
presence or
absence of a signal division at a node of a layer.
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Brief Description of Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are included to
provide a further understanding of the invention,
illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with
the description serve to explain the principle of the
invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
signaling method for block division information according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are conceptual diagram
illustrating a signaling method for band and channel
division information according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method
for creating a multi-channel signal according to another
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
signaling method for channel division information
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
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illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A signaling method for division information
according to the present invention will hereinafter be
described with reference to the annexed drawings.
The signaling method for the division information
according to the present invention is classified
according to signal categories.
Prior to describing the present invention, it should
be noted that the above-mentioned signal is configured in
various ways, for example, a block, a band, and a channel.
The above-mentioned "Signaling method" may include
the meaning of "Signaling" or the meaning of "Recognition
of the signaled signal".
The term "Node" is a point indicating whether the
signal is divided or not.
The term "Spatial Information" is information
capable of downmixing or upmixing a multi-channel signal.
It should be noted that the spatial information is
indicative of spatial parameters, however, it is not
limited to the above-mentioned examples, and can be
applied to other examples as necessary.
The above-mentioned spatial parameters are a Channel
Level Difference (CLD) indicating a difference in energy
between two channels, Inter-Channel Coherences (ICC)
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indicating correlation between two channels, and Channel
Prediction Coefficients (CPC) used for creating three
channels from two channels.
Block division, band division, and channel division
will hereinafter be described in detail.
1) Block Division
A block processing is required to compress
consecutive data of a time domain in the same manner as
in audio signals.
The term "Block Processing" indicates that an input
signal is divisionally processed at intervals of a
predetermined distance.
In this case, the above-mentioned interval is
defined as a block, and one or more blocks are combined
to configure a frame.
The above-mentioned frame is indicative of a unit
for transmitting/storing data.
The term "Block Division" or "Block Splitting" is
indicative of a specific process in which an input signal
is changed to different-sized blocks during the signal
processing.
The term "Block Size Information" is specific
information indicating a block size acquired when the
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input signal is processed while being changed to
different-sized blocks.
Generally, if the signal is configured in the form
of a block, the signal processing is performed using a
long block or a short block.
In the case of using the short block, several short
blocks are combined, and the combined blocks correspond
to a single long block.
However, the signal has various characteristics for
every interval, such that it is difficult to conclusively
determine that all the signals can be processed according
to the long-block signal processing scheme and the short-
block signal processing scheme.
Preferably, a specific-sized block is selected from
among different-sized blocks suitable for signal
characteristics within a specific interval, and the block
division is then performed on the selected block.
In more detail, blocks are configured to have two or
more different sizes. A predetermined-sized block from
among the two or more different-sized blocks can be
selected from the frame in various ways.
For this purposes, there is a need to indicate which
blocks are contained in a current frame, such that the
signaling method is required for the above-mentioned
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operations.
The above-mentioned signaling method is classified
into a sequential signaling method and a hierarchical
signaling method.
The sequential signaling method pre-defines the
frame size (i.e., length denoted by "N"), and performs
the signaling process using the number of minimum-sized
blocks M.
In this case, the frame length "N" is a multiple of
a specific M. The frame size may be a fixed value, or may
be a specific value capable of being transmitted to a
destination as additional information.
For example, provided that N is 2048 (N=2048), M is
256 (M=256), and the blocks are arranged in the order of
256 - 256 -) 1024 - 512, block size information may be
signaling-processed in the order of M*1, M*1, M*4, M*2 4
1, 1, 4, 2 4 0, 0, 3, 1.
The hierarchical signaling method'may be classified
into a method for transmitting layer's depth information
and a method for not transmitting the layer's depth
information and a detailed description thereof will
hereinafter be described with reference to the annexed
drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
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signaling method for block division information according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, each layer is denoted by a
layer, and the depth of the layer is set to "5".
A "Layer 1" includes a first block 210, which is the
longest block used as a basic unit for block division,
and the length of the first block 210 is N.
Reference numbers (1), (2), ..., (a), (b), (c) , and
(d) indicate exemplary binary signaling sequences.
According to the present embodiment, the block
division information indicating whether the block is
divided or not is represented by a division ID
(identifier) and a non-division ID. A specific number "1"
is used as the division ID, and a specific number "0" is
used as the non-division ID.
The above-mentioned division ID and the non-division
ID are represented in nodes for each layer.
The division ID indicates that a predetermined block
contained in an upper layer is divided into equal halves
in a lower layer, and also indicates that a lower node is
assigned to the lower layer.
The non-division ID indicates that a predetermined
block of the upper layer is not divided by the lower
layer, and also indicates that any lower node
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corresponding to a node which is represented by the non-
division ID is not assigned to the lower layer. To un-
assign the lower node means that there is no performing
additional signaling operations.
Since the block division information (1) of the
first block 210 has the value of 1 in the uppermost layer
(i.e., the Layer 1), the block division of the first
block 210 is performed.
Layer 2 acting as the lower layer of the Layer 1
includes two blocks 220 and 221, each of which has the
length of N/2.
Block division information (2) of the block 220
contained in the Layer 2 has the value of "1", and block
division information (3) of the block 221 has the value
of "1", such that Layer 3 acting as a lower layer of the
Layer 2 includes four blocks 230, 231, 232, and 233, each
of which has the length of N/4..
The block division information (4) associated with
the block 230 contained in the Layer 3 has the value of
"0". The block division information (5) associated with
the block 231 3 has the value of "1". The block division
information (6) associated with the block 232 has the
value of "1". The block division information (7)
associated with the block 233 contained in the Layer 3
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has the value of "0".
Therefore, according to the block division
information of the Layer 3, the block division is not
performed on the blocks 230 and 233 of the Layer 3, but
is performed on the blocks 231 and 232 of the Layer 3.
In this case, a lower node is not assigned to a
Layer 4 acting as a lower layer of the above-mentioned
non-block-divided blocks 230 and 233 of the Layer 3.
The block-divided blocks 231 and 232 of the Layer 3
assign a lower node to a lower layer. And the presence or
absence of block division is represented in the lower
node.
Layer 4 has the length of N/8, and includes blocks
240 and 241 which are divided on block 231 of the Layer 3,
and also includes other blocks 242 and 243 are divided on
block 232 of the Layer 3.
The block division information (8) associated with
the block 240 of the Layer 4 has the value of "0". The
block division information (9) associated with the block
241 of the Layer 4 has the value of "1". The block
division information (a) associated with the block 242 of
the Layer 4 has the value of "0". The block division
information (b) associated with the block 243 of the
Layer 4 has the value of "0".
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Therefore, according to the block division
information of the Layer 4, the block division is not
performed on the blocks 240, 242, and 243 of the Layer 4,
but is performed on the block 241 of the Layer 4.
In this case, a lower node is not assigned to a
Layer 5 acting as a lower layer of the above-mentioned
non-block-divided blocks 240, 242, and 243 of the Layer 4.
The block-divided block 241 of the Layer 4 assigns a
lower node to the Layer 5, such that it indicates the
presence or absence of block division in the above-
mentioned lower node.
The Layer 5 has the length of N/16, and includes
blocks 250 and 251 which are divided on block 241 of the
Layer 4.
The block division information (c) associated with
the block 250 of the Layer 5 has the value of "0". The
block division information (d) associated with the block
251 of the Layer 5 has the value of "0".
Therefore, each of the blocks contained in the Layer
4 has the value of "0', such that the hierarchical block
division is not performed any more, and a block division
depth of the block can be recognized.
The layout structure of blocks capable of being
hierarchically-block-divided includes an N/4 block (i.e.,
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a block having the length of N/4), an N/8 block, an N/16
block, an N/16 block, an N/8 block, an N/8 block, and an
N/8 block.
If the signal length is N, block-divided blocks have
any one of the lengths (i.e., N/2, N/4, N/8, N/16, and
N/32....), as represented by "N/xl" (where i = 1, 2, ..., P, P
is an integer, and x=2).
In the case of representing block division
information capable of being denoted by a binary number
according to binary signaling sequences (1)
(2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (a) (b) (c) (d), the block division
information can be denoted by 13 bits "1110110010000".
The above-mentioned description has disclosed an
exemplary case in which the layer's depth information is
not additionally represented, and can be recognized by
only block division information denoted by the division
ID and non-division ID.
However, it should be noted that the other block
division information for additionally representing the
layer's depth information can also be signaling-processed.
For example, the layer's depth information is
represented by a division-termination ID and a division-
continuation ID.
The above-mentioned division-termination ID is
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indicative of the lowermost layer in which block division
is not performed any more. The above-mentioned division-
continuation ID is indicative of the remaining layers
except the lowermost layer. In this case, the division-
continuation ID is denoted by "1", and the division-
termination ID is denoted by "0".
The depth of the layer depicted in FIG. 1 is "5",
and can also be represented by "11110" using the
division-termination ID "0" and the division-continuation
ID "I".
The size of a sub-block can be recognized by the
above-mentioned signaling method.
In this way, in the case of additionally
representing the depth information, only the non-division
ID can be represented at a node assigned to the lowermost
layer, such that the signaling process can be performed
in the range from a current layer to a previous layer of
the lowermost layer.
For example, provided that the division ID is
denoted by "l" and the non-division ID is denoted by "0"
and the division-continuation ID is denoted by "1" and
the division-termination ID is denoted by "0", a specific
value indicating whether the node assigned to the
lowermost layer is divided may be represented by "0"
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indicating the division termination.
2) Band Division
Band division will hereinafter be described with
reference to FIGS. 2-3.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method
for signaling band division information according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows hierarchical band division configured
in the structure of a tree in a sub-band filterbank. A
frequency resolution of the sub-band can be defined in
various ways, and a detailed description thereof will
hereinafter be described in detail.
Compared with the block division of FIG. 1, the band
division of FIG. 2 includes a plurality of bands in the
uppermost layer, whereas an uppermost layer of FIG. 1 is
composed of a single long block.
According to the present embodiment, the band
division information indicating whether the band is
divided or not is represented by the division ID and the
non-division ID. The value of "1" is used as the division
ID, and the value of "0" is used as the non-division ID.
The division ID and the non-division ID can be
indicated at nodes for each layer.
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The division ID indicates that a band of an M-th
layer is divided into equal halves at an (M+1)-th layer.
The non-division ID indicates that a band of the M-
th layer is not divided at the (M+1)-th layer and also
indicates that that any lower node corresponding to a
node which is represented by the non-division ID is not
assigned to the lower layer. To un-assign the lower node
means that there is no performing additional signaling
operations.
The Layer 1 acting as the uppermost layer includes
first to sixth bands 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315.
Band division information (1) of the first band 310
is denoted by "1". Band division information (2) of the
second band 311 is denoted by "1". Band division
information (3) of the third band 312 is denoted by "0".
Band division information (4) of the fourth band 313 is
denoted by "0". Band division information (5) of the
fifth band 314 is denoted by "0". Band division
information (6) of the fourth band 313 is denoted by "0".
The above-mentioned band division information is
indicated at the node assigned to the Layer 1.
According to the band division information (1) and
(2), the first band 310 creates a signal conversion
module 310T, and the second band 311 creates a signal
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conversion module 311T, such that lower bands 320, 321,
322, and 323 are created in the Layer 2. Lower nodes are
assigned to the lower bands 320, 321, 322, and 323. It
should be noted that the above-mentioned signal
conversion module can also be called a "band conversion
module" in the present embodiment.
In the meantime, the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth
band 312, 313, 314, or 315 at which there is no band
division does not create the band conversion module.
Lower bands corresponding to the Layer 2 are not also
created in the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth band 312,
313, 314, or 315. Therefore, any lower node corresponding
to 312, 313, 314 and 315 is not assigned to the layer 2.
The Layer 2 includes two bands 320 and 321 which are
divided on the band 310 of the layer 1, and also includes
two bands 322 and 323 which are divided on the band 311
of the layer 1.
Band division information (7) of the band 320 is
denoted by "1". Band division information (8) of the band
321 is denoted by "1". Band division information (9) of
the band 322 is denoted by "0". Band division information
(10) of the band 323 is denoted by "0".
According to the above-mentioned band division
information (7) and (8), the band 320 creates a band
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conversion module 320T, and the band 321 creates a band
conversion module 321T, such that lower bands 330, 331,
332, and 333 are created in the Layer 3. Lower nodes are
assigned to the lower bands 330, 331, 332, and 333.
In the meantime, the bands 322 and 323 at which
there is no band division does not create the band
conversion module. Lower bands corresponding to the Layer
3 are not also created in the bands 322 and 323.
Therefore, a lower node is also not assigned to the bands
322 and 323.
The Layer 3 includes two bands 330 and 331 which are
divided on the band 320 of the layer 2, and also includes
two bands 332 and 333 which are divided on the band 321
of the layer 2.
Band division information (11) of the band 330 is
denoted by "1". Band division information (12) of the
band 331 is denoted by "0". Band division information
(13) of the third band 332 is denoted by "0". Band
division information (14) of the band 333 is denoted by
"0".
According to the above-mentioned band division
information (11), the band 330 creates a signal
conversion module 330T, and the lower bands 340 and 341
are created in the Layer 4. Lower nodes are assigned to
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the lower bands 340 and 341.
In the meantime, the bands 331, 332, and 333 at
which there is no band division does not create the band
conversion module. Lower bands corresponding to the Layer
4 are not also created in the bands 331, 332, and 333.
Therefore, a lower node is also not assigned to the bands
322 and 323. Therefore, a lower node is also not assigned
to the bands 331, 332, and 333.
The Layer 4 includes two bands 340 and 341 331 which
are divided on the band 330 of the layer 3.
Band division information (15) of the band 340 is
denoted by "0". Band division information (16) of the
band 341 is denoted by "0".
Therefore, there is no lower layer capable of
performing the band division, and the signaling process
is terminated. In this case, the lowermost layer is equal
to the Layer 4.
In the case of representing block division
information capable of being denoted by a binary number
according to binary signaling sequences (1)
(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16), the
block division information can be denoted by 16 bits
"1100001100100000".
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a signaling
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method for band division information according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
Compared with FIG. 2, the band division of FIG. 3 is
similar to that of FIG. 2 in light of a method for
performing the band division.
However, as shown in FIG. 3, a binary signaling
sequence of the band division information in FIG. 3 is
different from that of FIG. 2.
Therefore, in the case of representing block
division information capable of being denoted by a binary
number according to binary signaling sequences (1)
(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16), the
block division information can be denoted by 16 bits
"1110001001000000".
The above-mentioned description has disclosed an
exemplary case in which the layer's depth information is
not additionally represented, and can be recognized by
only band division information denoted by the division ID
and non-division ID.
However, it should be noted that the other band
division information for additionally representing the
layer's depth information can also be signaling-processed.
For example, the layer's depth information is
represented by a division-termination ID and a division-
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continuation ID.
The above-mentioned division-termination ID is
indicative of the lowermost layer in which band division
is not performed any more. The above-mentioned division-
continuation ID is indicative of the remaining layers
except the lowermost layer. In this case, the division-
continuation ID is denoted by "1", and the division-
termination ID is denoted by "0".
The depth of the layer depicted in FIGS. 2--3 is "4",
and can also be represented by "1110" using the division-
termination ID "0" and the division-continuation ID "1".
The size of a sub-band can be recognized by the
above-mentioned signaling method.
In this way, in the case of additionally
representing the depth information, only the non-division
ID can be represented at a node assigned to the lowermost
layer, such that the signaling process can be performed
in the range from a current layer to a previous layer of
the lowermost layer.
For example, provided that the division ID is
denoted by "1" and the non-division ID is denoted by "0"
and the division-continuation ID is denoted by "1", and
the division-termination ID is denoted by "0", a specific
.value indicating whether the node assigned to the
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lowermost layer is divided may be represented by "0"
indicating the division termination.
3) Channel Division
Channel division information relates to channel
configuration information used for channel configuration,
such that a detailed description of channel division will
hereinafter be described with reference to the above-
mentioned channel configuration information.
Particularly, an example of channel configuration
acquired when a multi-channel audio signal is encoded or
decoded will be described in detail.
Basic spatial information is required for coding the
multi-channel audio signal. The above-mentioned basic
spatial information includes basic configuration
information capable of indicating configuration
information associated with basic environments and basic
data corresponding to the basic configuration information.
Also, the multi-channel audio coding selectively
requires extension spatial information. The above-
mentioned extension spatial information includes
extension configuration information indicating
configuration information associated with extension
environments and extension data corresponding to the
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extension configuration information. The configuration
information of the above-mentioned extension environment
may exist one or more. The above-mentioned extension
environment can be identified by a type ID.
In the meantime, the channel configuration referred
by the above-mentioned multi-channel signal coding is
mainly classified into two channel configurations, i.e.,
a basic channel configuration and an extension channel
configuration.
One or more channel configuration information is
used as the above-mentioned basic channel configuration
information. Particularly, the basic channel
configuration information indicates a single channel
configuration information selected from among several
channel configuration information.
For the convenience of description, the basic
channel configuration information is referred to as
"fixed channel configuration information", and multiple
channels (i.e., a multi-channel) created by the fixed
channel configuration information is referred to as a
"fixed output channel".
Fixed channel configuration information and
associated channel configuration data are required to
create the above-mentioned fixed output channel.
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The fixed channel configuration information is
indicative of a single channel configuration component
from among several pre-established channel configuration
components. The above-mentioned pre-established channel
configuration may be represented in various ways. For
example, the channel may be configured in the form of "5-
1-5", ""5-2-5", "7-2-7", or "7-5-7".
The above-mentioned "5-2-5" configuration is
indicative of a specific channel structure in which six
input channels are down-mixed in two channels, and the
down-mixed channels is outputted to six channels. The
remaining channel configurations other than the "5-2-5"
configuration have the same channel structure as that of
the "5-2-5" configuration.
The above-mentioned fixed channel configuration
information is contained in the basic configuration
information, and data associated with the fixed channel
configuration information is contained in basic data.
A variety of parameters may be used as the above-
mentioned basic data, for example, a Channel Level
Difference (CLD) parameter indicating a difference in
energy between two channels, an Inter-Channel Coherences
(ICC) parameter indicating correlation between two
channels, and a Channel Prediction Coefficients (CPC)
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parameter used creating three channels from two channels.
The above-mentioned extension channel configuration
indicates a channel configuration formed after the fixed
channel configuration.
The above-mentioned extension channel configuration
is arbitrarily formed by encoded signals. For the
convenience of description, the extension channel
configuration information is referred to as arbitrary
channel configuration information, and the multi-channel
created by the arbitrary channel configuration
information is referred to as an arbitrary output channel.
The above-mentioned arbitrary channel configuration
information is contained in the extension configuration
information, and is identified by a type ID called a
channel ID.
The arbitrary channel configuration data
corresponding to the arbitrary channel configuration
information is contained in the extension data.
If required, the above-mentioned arbitrary channel
configuration data may use only the CLD parameter
indicating a difference in energy between two channels
for a simple operation.
The arbitrary channel configuration information is
represented by the division ID and the non-division ID.
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The division ID acting as a constituent element of the
above-mentioned arbitrary channel configuration
information indicates the increase the number of channels.
The non-division ID indicates a specific case in which
there is no change in the number of channels.
For example, the division ID indicates that one
input channel is converted to two output channels. Non-
division ID indicates that an input channel is outputted
without any change of number of channels.
In the case of representing the division ID at an
node of an upper layer assigned to the channel of the
upper layer, lower channels are created in the lower
layer, and lower nodes corresponding to the created
channels are assigned to the lower layer.
However, in the case of representing the non-
division ID at the node of the upper layer assigned to
the channel of the upper layer, the lower channels are
not created in the lower layer, such that lower nodes
corresponding to the lower channels are not assigned to
the lower layer.
A method for representing the above-mentioned
arbitrary channel configuration information using the
division ID and the non-division ID will hereinafter be
described with reference to FIGS. 2-3.
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FIGS. 2-3 show not only the above-mentioned band
division but also channel division.
Detailed description of FIG. 2 will be firstly
described as follows.
The Layer 1 acting as the uppermost layer includes
six bands 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315. The
aforementioned bands 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 may
serve as the above-mentioned fixed multi-channels,
respectively. According to the present invention, the
division ID is denoted by "1", and the non-division ID is
denoted by "0".
A method for representing the arbitrary channel
configuration information sequentially indicates the
value "0" or 1" contained in the nodes assigned to the
channels 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 of the Layer 1.
The method- for representing the arbitrary channel
configuration information sequentially indicates the
value "0" or 1" contained in the nodes assigned to the
channels 320, 321, 322, and 323 of the Layer 2.
The method for representing the arbitrary channel
configuration information sequentially indicates the
value "0" or 1" contained in the nodes assigned to the
channels 330, 331, 332, and 333 of the Layer 3.
The method for representing the arbitrary channel
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configuration information sequentially indicates the
value "0" or 1" contained in the nodes assigned to the
channels 340 and 341 of the Layer 4.
In other words, the above-mentioned method
sequentially indicates whether the number of channels
increases at nodes of the upper layer, and then
sequentially indicates whether the number of channels
increases at nodes of the lower layer.
The arbitrary channel configuration information
according to the above-mentioned method is represented by
16 bits "1100001100100000".
For the convenience of description, the method for
representing the arbitrary channel configuration
information is referred to as a "hierarchical priority
method".
According to the method for representing the
arbitrary channel configuration information as shown in
the FIG. 3, if a first node of a upper layer is denoted
by "1" when the signaling result is acquired from the
first node of the upper layer, lower nodes corresponding
to the first node of the upper layer indicate whether the
number of channels sequentially increases. If the first
node of the upper layer is denoted by "0" when the
signaling result is acquired from the first node of the
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upper layer, a current node moves to a second node of the
upper, such that the second node indicates that the
number of channels sequentially increases. Therefore, the
arbitrary channel configuration information acquired by
the above-mentioned method is represented by 16 bits
"1110001001000000".
For the convenience of description, the method for
representing the arbitrary channel configuration
information is referred to a "branch priority method".
A method for creating the fixed output channel and
the arbitrary output channel will hereinafter be
described with reference to FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method
for creating a multi-channel signal according to the
present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, an arbitrary output channel (y)
is created by calculation between a down-mix signal (x)
and a basic matrix (ml), and another arbitrary output
channel (z) is created by calculation between a fixed
output channel (y) and a post matrix (m2). Two or more
basic matrixes (ml) may exist as necessary.
Configuration elements of the basic matrix (ml) may
be acquired by using at least one of CLD, ICC, CPC and
the above-mentioned fixed channel configuration
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information.
Configuration elements of the post matrix (m2) may
be acquired by using CLD and the above-mentioned
arbitrary channel configuration information.
A method for creating the arbitrary output channel
will hereinafter be described in detail.
Firstly, a method for configuring an arbitrary
channel using the arbitrary channel configuration
information will be described in detail.
An exemplary method for representing the above-
mentioned arbitrary channel configuration information
using the above-mentioned branch priority method will be
described.
The above-mentioned exemplary method sequentially
recognizes the division ID and the non-division ID, which
act as the configuration components of the arbitrary
channel configuration information, and performs the
signal processing according to the recognized ID.
If the recognized ID is determined to be the
division ID, a single input channel is connected to the
channel conversion module which is an example of the
signal conversion, resulting in the creation of two lower
channels.
Otherwise, if the recognized ID is determined to be
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the non-division ID, the above-mentioned input channel is
outputted without any change of the number of channels.
A detailed description thereof will hereinafter be
described.
At a first stage, an initial value of the number of
IDs to be decoded is set to "1", and an initial value of
the number of arbitrary output channels is set to "0",
and an initial value of the number of channel conversion
modules is set to "0".
At a second stage, an ID to be decoded is recognized.
At a third stage, if the recognized ID is determined
to be the division ID, the number of channel conversion
modules increases by 1, and the number of IDs to be
recognized increases by 1.
If the recognized ID is determined to be the non-
division ID, the number of arbitrary output channels
increases by 1, and the number of IDs to be recognized is
decreased by 1.
Until the number of IDs to be decoded reaches "0",
the above-mentioned second and third stages are repeated.
The above-mentioned signal processing method is
repeated according to the number of fixed output channels.
For example, the arbitrary channel configuration
acquired when the arbitrary channel configuration
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information is denoted by "11100010010000" is shown in
FIG. 3. In this case, the "1" means the division ID, and
"0" means the non-division ID.
The number of "1"s indicates the number of channel
conversion modules (i.e., a signal conversion module of
FIG. 3), and the number of "0"s indicates the number of
arbitrary output channels.
In the meantime, the fixed output channels may be
rearranged (i.e., re-mapped) in different orders, and the
arbitrary output channel may be then created, as shown in
FIG. 5.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method
for signaling channel division information according to
the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, the fixed output channels 310,
311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 are re-arranged by the re-
mapping module 100. The re-arranged fixed output channels
310', 311', 312', 313', 314', and 315' act as the channels
of the uppermost layer, such that the above-mentioned
arbitrary output channel is created. Needless to say, the
above-mentioned arbitrary output channels may be re-
arranged or re-mapped in different orders.
In the meantime, if channel mapping information for
mapping the channels of the arbitrary channel configuration
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information to a speaker is contained in the arbitrary
channel configuration information, the arbitrary output
channel may also be mapped to the speaker.
The above-mentioned description has disclosed an
exemplary case in which the layer's depth information is
not additionally represented, and can be recognized by
the arbitrary channel configuration information denoted
by the division ID and non-division ID.
However, it should be noted that the other arbitrary
channel configuration information for additionally
representing the layer's depth information can also be
represented.
For example, the layer's depth information is
represented by a division-termination ID and a division-
continuation ID.
The above-mentioned division-termination ID is
indicative of the lowermost layer in which channel
division is not performed any more. The above-mentioned
division-continuation ID is indicative of the remaining
layers except the lowermost layer. In this case, the
division-continuation ID is denoted by "1", and the
division-termination ID is denoted by "0".
The depth of the layer depicted in FIGS. 2-3 is "4",
and can also be represented by "1110" using the division-
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termination ID "0" and the division-continuation ID "1".
In this way, in the case of additionally
representing the depth information, only the non-division
ID can be represented at a node assigned to the lowermost
layer, such that the signaling process can be performed
in the range from a current layer to a previous layer of
the lowermost layer.
For example, provided that the division ID is
denoted by "1" and the non-division ID is denoted by "0"
and the division-continuation ID is denoted by "1", and
the division-termination ID is denoted by "0", a specific
value indicating whether the node assigned to the
lowermost layer is divided may be represented by "0"
indicating the division termination.
Although the above-mentioned situation actually
occurs, the lowermost layer can be recognized by the above-
mentioned depth information, and it is assumed that the
omitted value "0" exists, such that the above-mentioned
arbitrary output channel can be configured.
In the meantime, although the above-mentioned
arbitrary channel configuration information is transmitted
to the decoder, it should be noted that the decoder may not
use the received arbitrary channel configuration
information as necessary. The above-mentioned operations
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of the decoder may occur in an exemplary case in which the decoder recognizes
the
arbitrary channel configuration information and the size of the arbitrary
channel
configuration information, but skips over a predetermined range corresponding
to the
above-mentioned size.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications
and variations can be made to the embodiments described herein. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of
this
invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their
equivalents.
Industrial Applicability
A signaling method for division information according to the present
invention has the following effects.
Firstly, if a predetermined-sized long block is divided into different-sized
short blocks, the above-mentioned signaling method according to the present
invention can perform the signaling of the hierarchical block division
information using
minimum number of bits.
Secondly, the signaling method according to the present invention need
not additionally transmit specific information indicating the number of bits
used for the
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signaling process, and can recognize not only the depth of
a divided layer by a signaled signal but also the end of
the signaled signal.
Thirdly, the signaling method according to the
present invention can divide a plurality of sub-bands into
number of different-sized sub-bands (e.g., sub-bands having
different frequency bandwidths) using a minimum number of
bits.
Fourthly, the signaling method according to the
present invention can perform the signaling of specific
information associated with an upmixing process, which
allows a signal received in input channel(s) to be
outputted via many more output channels than the input
channel(s).
