Encoding device and decoding device

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to encoding methods for compressing data by encoding signals obtained by transforming audio signals such sound and music signals in the time domain into those in the frequency domain with a smaller amount of encoded data stream, using a method such as an orthogonal transform, and decoding methods for expanding the data upon receipt of the encoded data stream and obtaining the audio signals.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A number of methods of encoding and decoding audio signals have been developed up to now. Particularly, in these days, IS13818-7, which is internationally standardized in ISO/IEC, is publicly known and highly appreciated as an encoding method for reproducing high quality sound with high efficiency. This encoding method is called Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). In recent years, the AAC is adopted to the standardization called MPEG 4, and a system called MPEG-4 AAC that has some extended functions added to the IS13818-7 has been developed. An example of the encoding procedure is described in the informative part of the MPEG-4 AAC.

[0003] The following is an explanation for an audio encoding device using the conventional encoding method referring to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram that shows the structure of a conventional encoding device <b>100</b>. The encoding device <b>100</b> includes a time-frequency transforming unit <b>101</b>, a spectrum amplifying unit <b>102</b>, a spectrum quantizing unit <b>103</b>, a Huffman coding unit <b>104</b> and an encoded data stream transfer unit <b>105</b>. A digital audio signal on the time axis obtained by sampling an analog audio signal at a predetermined frequency is divided into every predetermined number of samples at a predetermined time interval, transformed into data on the frequency axis through the time-frequency transforming unit <b>101</b>, and then given to the spectrum amplifying unit <b>102</b> as an input signal into the encoding device <b>100</b>. The spectrum amplifying unit <b>102</b> amplifies a spectrum included in every predetermined band with one certain gain. The spectrum quantizing unit <b>103</b> quantizes the amplified spectrum with a predetermined transform expression. In the case of AAC method, the quantization is conducted by rounding off frequency spectral data, which is expressed in floating points into an integer value. The Huffman coding unit <b>104</b> encodes the quantized spectral data in a set of certain pieces thereof according to Huffman coding, and encodes the gain in every predetermined band in the spectrum amplifying unit <b>102</b> and the data that specifies the transform expression for the quantization according to Huffman coding, and then transmits the codes of them to the encoded data stream transfer unit <b>105</b>. The Huffman-coded data stream is transferred from the encoded data stream transfer unit <b>105</b> to a decoding device via a transmission channel or a recording medium, and reconstructed as an audio signal on the time axis by the decoding device. The conventional encoding device operates as described above.

[0004] However, in the conventional encoding device <b>100</b>, a capability for compressing data amount depends on the performance of the Huffman coding unit <b>104</b> or the like, so when the encoding is conducted at a high compression rate, that is, with a small amount of data, it is necessary to increase the gain sufficiently in the spectrum amplifying unit <b>102</b> and encode the quantized spectrum stream obtained by the spectrum quantizing unit <b>103</b> so as to make it a smaller amount of data in the Huffman coding unit <b>104</b>. According to this method, if the encoding is carried out for making an amount of data smaller, the frequency bandwidth for reproduced sound and music practically becomes narrow. Therefore, it cannot be denied that the sound and music would be furry for human hearing. As a result, it is impossible to maintain the sound quality. That is a problem.

[0005] Also, within the conventional encoding device <b>100</b>, the input signal expressed on the time axis is transformed into the frequency spectrum expressed on the frequency axis by each predetermined interval (the number of samples) in the time-frequency transforming unit <b>101</b>. Therefore, the signal quantized for the encoding in this latter stage is the spectrum on the frequency axis. It is inevitable for a quantizing process to have some quantization errors through processing such as rounding off a decimal value in the frequency spectral data into an integer value. On contrary to a fact that assessment of the quantization error generated in the signal is easy on the frequency axis, it is difficult on the time axis. Because of this, it is not easy to improve time resolution ability of the encoding device through the assessment of the quantization error reflected on the time axis. Also, if the amount of data available to allocate to the encoding is sufficient, it is possible to improve both frequency resolution ability and time resolution ability. But if the amount of data allocated for the encoding is small, it is extremely difficult to improve both.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problem, the present invention aims at providing an encoding device, capable of encoding an audio signal at a high compression rate with an advanced level of the time resolution ability, and a decoding device capable of decoding frequency spectral data in a wide band.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0007] The encoding device according to the present invention is a encoding device that encodes a signal in a frequency domain obtained by transforming an input original signal according to time-frequency transformation, and generates an output signal comprising: a first band specifying unit operable to specify a band for a part of a frequency spectrum based on a characteristic of the input original signal; a time transforming unit operable to transform a signal in the specified band to a signal according to frequency-time transformation; and an encoding unit operable to encode the signal obtained by the time transforming unit and at least a part of the frequency spectrum, and generate an output signal from the encoded signal and the encoded frequency spectrum.

[0008] Also, the decoding device of the present invention is a decoding device that decodes an encoded data stream obtained by encoding an input original signal, and outputs a frequency spectrum, comprising: a decoding unit operable to extract a part of the encoded data stream contained in the input encoded data stream, and decode the extracted encoded data stream; a frequency transforming unit operable to transform a signal obtained by decoding the extracted encoded data stream to a frequency spectrum; and a composing unit operable to compose a frequency spectrum, which is obtained by decoding an encoded data stream extracted from other part of the input encoded data stream, and the frequency spectrum, which is obtained by the frequency transforming unit, on a frequency axis.

[0009] As mentioned above, according to the encoding device and the decoding device of the present invention, by adding the encoding in the time domain in addition to the encoding in the time domain, it becomes possible to select the encoding in a domain with a higher encoding efficiency and reduce a bit volume of an encoded data stream that is output. Furthermore, by adding the encoding in the time domain, it becomes easy to improve the time resolution ability as well as the frequency resolution ability.

[0010] Also, the encoding device and the decoding device according to the present invention can provide a wide-band encoded audio data stream at a low bit rate. For a component in a lower frequency region, its microstructure of the frequency is encoded by using a compression technique such as the Huffman coding. For a component in a higher frequency region, mainly data, which is reproduced by substituting the spectrum in the lower frequency region for the spectrum in the higher frequency region, is only encoded in stead of encoding its microstructure, so that the amount of data used for the encoding by the component in the high frequency can be minimized.

[0011] According to the decoding device of the present invention, since the component in the high frequency region is generated by processing a reproduction of a spectrum in the lower frequency region in a process of the decoding at the time of reproducing the audio signal, it can be achieved by a low bit rate easily and sound can be reproduced in a wider band than the one reproduced by the conventional decoding device at the same rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the conventional encoding device.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the decoding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of time-frequency transform by a time-frequency transforming unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0015]FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an audio signal in the time domain input to the time-frequency transforming unit. A signal in a part equivalent to an N-th frame is supposed to be transformed at a time according to frequency transform in the diagram.

[0016]FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a frequency spectrum obtained by execute the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in the N-th frame shown in FIG. 4A.

[0017]FIG. 5A is a diagram showing how the N-th frame for the audio signal on the same time axis as FIG. 4A is divided into a sub-frame <b>1</b> for its first half and a sub-frame <b>2</b> for its second half.

[0018]FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a frequency spectrum obtained by transforming the audio signal in the time domain in the sub-frame <b>1</b> shown in FIG. 5A into a signal in the frequency domain.

[0019]FIG. 5C is a diagram showing a frequency spectrum obtained by transforming the audio signal in the time domain in the sub-frame <b>2</b> shown in FIG. 5A into a signal in the frequency domain.

[0020]FIG. 6A is a diagram showing how the audio signal in the time domain (the N-th frame) same as FIG. 4A is divided into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames.

[0021]FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a frequency spectrum obtained by dividing the audio input signal in a frame into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames and executing the time-frequency transform by each sub-frame.

[0022]FIG. 7A is a diagram showing samples contained in a frequency band BandA on the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in a frame.

[0023]FIG. 7B is a diagram showing samples contained in a frequency band BandB on the frequency spectrum obtained by dividing the audio input signal in a frame into (M+1) pieces and executing the time-frequency transform to it by each sub-frame.

[0024]FIG. 8A is a diagram showing samples in a frequency band BandC on the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in a frame.

[0025]FIG. 8B is a diagram showing samples in a frequency band BandD on the frequency spectrum obtained by dividing the audio input signal in a frame into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames and executing the time-frequency transform to it by each sub-frame.

[0026]FIG. 9A is a diagram showing samples in a frequency band BandC on the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in a frame.

[0027]FIG. 9B is a diagram re-plotted for each sample (a frequency spectral coefficient) shown in FIG. 8B with using time on a horizontal axis and a frequency spectral coefficient on a vertical axis.

[0028]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the encoding of a time-frequency signal by an encoded data stream generating unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0029]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how an output signal of the time-frequency transforming unit is corresponded to data indicating bands transformed by a time transforming unit according to time transform.

[0030]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the structure of the decoding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of the encoding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a method generating an encoded data stream in a target band with reference to other band.

[0033]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of the method generating the encoded data stream in the target band with reference to other band.

[0034]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing other example of the method generating the encoded data stream in the target band with reference to other band.

[0035]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a method that a frequency spectrum in a target domain is composed in a frequency domain by using an encoded data stream in a referred band, which is already quantized and encoded.

[0036]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a method that a frequency spectrum in a target domain is composed in a time domain by using an encoded data stream in a referred band, which is already quantized and encoded.

[0037]FIG. 19A is a diagram showing a vector Ta indicating a signal obtained by transforming a signal in the frequency domain of a band A, which is a referred band, to the one in the time domain.

[0038]FIG. 19B is a diagram showing a vector Tb indicating a signal obtained by transforming a signal in the frequency domain of a band B, which is a referred band, to the one in the time domain.

[0039]FIG. 19C is a diagram showing an approximate vector Tb′ for the case of indicating a vector approximated to the vector Tb by having a gain control over the vector Ta.

[0040]FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the structure of the decoding device according to the second embodiment.

[0041]FIG. 21A is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of an encoded data stream generated by the encoded data stream generating unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0042]FIG. 21B is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of an encoded data stream generated by the encoded data stream generating unit shown in FIG. 13.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0043] The encoding devices and the decoding devices according to the embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to figures (FIG. 2-FIG. 20).

[0044] (First Embodiment)

[0045]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of an encoding device <b>200</b> according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The encoding device <b>200</b> is an encoding device that extracts a time characteristic of an audio input signal expressed on a time axis and encodes after partially transforming a part of a frequency spectrum into a frequency signal in a time domain based on the extracted time characteristic, which includes a time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, a frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b>, a time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b>, a time transforming unit <b>204</b> and an encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>.

[0046] The time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> transforms the audio input signal from a discrete signal on the time axis to frequency spectral data at regular intervals. To be more specific, the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> transforms the audio signal at a time in the time domain based on, for example, one frame (<b>1024</b> samples) as a unit, and generates a frequency spectral coefficient for the <b>1024</b> samples or the like as a result of the transform. The MDCT transform or the like is used as the time-frequency transform, and an MDCT coefficient or the like is generated as a result of the transform. A plural number of the frequency spectral coefficients in a band specified by the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> are output from them to the time transforming unit <b>204</b>, and the frequency spectral coefficients in the band other than that are output to the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b>.

[0047] The frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> extracts a frequency characteristic of the frequency spectrum, selects a band with a poor encoding efficiency for the case of the quantization and encoding in the frequency domain based on the extracted characteristic, divides it from the frequency spectrum output by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, and outputs it to the time transforming unit <b>204</b>. The frequency spectrum of the band other than that is input to the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>.

[0048] The time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> analyzes the time characteristic of the audio input signal, decides whether time resolution ability is prioritized or frequency resolution ability is prioritized when the quantization takes places in the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, and specifies a frequency band where the time resolution ability is decided to be prioritized. The time transforming unit <b>204</b> transforms the frequency spectrum in the band, where the time resolution ability is decided to be prioritized, and the spectrum in the band selected by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> into a time-frequency signal indicated as a temporal change in the frequency spectral coefficient, using a fully reversible transform expression. After consequently quantizing the frequency spectrum input from the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> and the time-frequency signal input from the time transforming unit <b>204</b>, the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> encodes them. Moreover, the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> attaches additional data such as a header to the encoded data, and generates an encoded data stream according to a predetermined format, and outputs the generated encoded data stream to an outside of the encoding device <b>200</b>.

[0049]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of time-frequency transform by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> shown in FIG. 2. The time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> divides, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the discrete signal on the time axis at regular time intervals allowing some overlap, and executes the transform. In contrast with the N-th frame (N is a positive integer), FIG. 3 shows the case for extracting the (N+1)th frame by allowing a half of its frame to be overlapped with the N-th frame, and transforming it. In general, the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> transforms data by Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT). However, a transform method by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> is not limited to the MDCT. It may be a polyphase filter or Fourier transform. Since anyone concerned is familiar with any of the MDCT, the polyphase filter and the Fourier transform, their explanation is omitted here.

[0050]FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an audio signal in the time domain input to the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>. Suppose the signal in the part equivalent to the N-th frame is frequency-transformed at a time in the same diagram. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in the N-th frame shown in FIG. 4A. This diagram is plotted by using the frequency on a vertical axis and the frequency spectral coefficient value for the frequency on a horizontal axis. As shown here, the signal in the time domain for the N-th frame is transformed to the signal in the frequency domain. The frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 4B indicates a characteristic of a frequency component contained in the audio signal within a frame time duration shown in FIG. 4A. When the MDCT is used for the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, the signal in the time domain and the signal in the frequency domain have the same number of effective samples. Regarding the number of the effective samples, in the case of the MDCT, if the number of samples in the N-th frame shown in FIG. 4A is <b>2048</b> samples, the number of independent frequency coefficients (MDCT coefficients) shown in FIG. 4B is <b>1024</b> samples. However, because the MDCT is an algorithm to overlap the frames by each half of the frames as shown in FIG. 3, the number of the samples newly input in FIG. 4A is <b>1024</b> samples. Therefore, the numbers of the samples in FIG. 4 A and FIG. 4B are considered to be the same in terms of each amount of data, so that the number of effective samples is regarded to be <b>1024</b> based on this. The number of the effective samples in the N-th frame may be <b>1024</b> as mentioned above, but it may be <b>128</b>, or any discretional value. This value is predetermined between the encoding device <b>200</b> and a decoding device of the present invention.

[0051] On the other hand, the audio input signal is also input to the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> besides the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>. The time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> analyzes a temporal change of a given audio input signal, and decides whether the time resolution ability should be prioritized or the frequency resolution ability should be prioritized is decided when the audio input signal is quantized. That is to say, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> decides whether the audio input signal should be quantized in the frequency domain or in the time domain. It means, when the quantization takes place in the time domain, the temporal change of the audio input signal is informed to the decoding device by the signal in the time domain. This is further based on the following facts: a) the quantization is accompanied with some quantization errors; and b) though the errors can stay in a specific range of values in the frequency domain when the quantization takes place in the frequency domain, it is difficult to grasp in what range of values the errors are distributed in the time domain. It is due to a reason that high frequency resolution ability can be performed when the quantization is carried out in the frequency domain, whereas high time resolution ability can be performed when the quantization takes place in the time domain. Also, in the case there is a big change in an average energy of the signal that belongs to each of the sub-frames as compared with the average energy of its adjacent sub-frames when a frame of the given audio input signal is divided into a plural number of temporal sub-frames, it assumes that there has been a rapid change in the sound volume of the audio input signal such as an attack. In such case, it is not preferable that quantization errors spread over the time domain. Because of this, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> decides to give the time resolution ability priority over the frequency resolution ability in the quantization in such band. A threshold value used by the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> when deciding the change in the average energy is big (e.g. a threshold value for a difference in the average energy between adjacent sub-frames) is defined according to an implementation method of the encoding device. Then, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> specifies a band for the audio input signal, for which the quantization should be done in the time domain. Selections of the band and the bandwidth are not limited to above. As to the method to specify the band, at first, a signal containing a sample that gives a maximum amplitude (a peak signal) in the time domain is specified, and a frequency of the peak signal is calculated. Furthermore, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b>, for example, decides a bandwidth according to size of the peak signal, and specifies a band of the decided bandwidth, including the frequency obtained as a result of the calculation or a frequency close to it. In the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b>, the decision result whether the time resolution ability is prioritized or the frequency resolution ability is prioritized, and the data indicating the specified band are output to the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> and the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>.

[0052] The frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> analyzes a characteristic of the frequency spectrum which is an output signal of the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, and specifies a band which is better to be quantized in the time domain. For example, considering the encoding efficiency in the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, there are many cases that the encoding efficiency is not improved in a band where the adjacent frequency spectral coefficients spread widely in the frequency spectrum, or a band where positive and negative codes of the adjacent frequency spectral coefficients are switched frequently or the like. Therefore, the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> samples a band applicable to these from the input frequency spectrum, outputs it to the time transforming unit <b>204</b>, and also outputs a band inapplicable to these to the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> as it is. Along with it, the data to specify the band output to the time transforming unit <b>204</b> is output to the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>.

[0053] In the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, the output signal of the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> (data to specify a frequency spectrum and a band), the decision result of the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> and the data to specify a band, and the output signal of the time transforming unit <b>204</b> (a frequency-time signal) are combined, and the encoded data stream is generated.

[0054]FIG. 5A is a diagram showing how an N-th frame is divided into a sub-frame <b>1</b> for its first half and a sub-frame <b>2</b> for its second half in the audio signal on the same time axis as one of FIG. 4A. Although the diagram shows the case the sub-frame <b>1</b> and the sub-frame <b>2</b> have the same length, their lengths do not have to be the same or can overlap each other. Hereinafter, just as illustrated in FIG. 5, the case the sub-frame <b>1</b> and the sub-frame <b>2</b> have the same length is used to simplify the explanation.

[0055]FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the frequency spectrum obtained by transforming the audio signal in the time domain of the sub-frame <b>1</b> shown in FIG. 5A into a signal in the frequency domain. FIG. 5C is a diagram showing the frequency spectrum obtained by transforming the audio signal in the time domain of the sub-frame <b>2</b> shown in FIG. 5A into a signal in the frequency domain. The transform from the time domain to the frequency domain is conducted by using only the audio signal in each sub-frame, and the signal in the frequency domain (the frequency spectrum) obtained by the transform is supposed to be completely restored to the original signal in the time domain by executing its inverse transform (frequency-time transform). There are discrete the Fourier transform and discrete cosine transform available as such a frequency transforming method. Since they are familiar to the people concerned, their explanation is omitted here. The MDCT transform mentioned previously is to transform a signal in the time domain in a frame having some temporal overlap each other into a signal in the frequency domain. However it causes a delay for reconstructing the signal in the time domain, so that it is not used for the case of deriving the frequency spectrum in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. Due to the same reason causing a delay, the polyphase filter or the like is not used.

[0056] Since the frequency spectrum in the N-th frame in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C is divided into the first half and the second half of the frame, the number of samples respectively contained in the sub-frame <b>1</b> and the sub-frame <b>2</b> equals to a half of the sample quantity in the frame. The number of samples for the frequency spectrum in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B respectively equals to a half of the sample quantity in the frame, so that these diagrams show a change in a ratio of frequency components in the same band as the band shown in FIG. 4B at double intervals of the samples in a frequency axis direction. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the time-frequency transform is executed to the audio input signal in the frame at a time, the frequency spectrum which shows a ratio of the frequency components contained in the entire audio input signal in the frame is obtained. But as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, if the audio input signal in the frame is divided into the first half and the second half they are respectively transformed according to the time-frequency transform, it becomes clear that the ratio of the frequency components contained in each part of the audio signal is different between the first half and the second half in the N-th frame of the audio input signal. That is to say, the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C indicates a temporal change in the ratio of the frequency components of the audio signal in the first half and the second half of the N-th frame.

[0057] The aforementioned FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C show the example of the frequency spectrum for the case of dividing the N-th frame into two sub-frames and executing the time-frequency transform to each of the sub-frames. The following describes a case that the N-th frame is further divided into (M+1) pieces of smaller sub-frames with reference to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing how the audio signal (the N-th frame) in the time domain same as FIG. 4A is divided into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the frequency spectrum obtained by dividing the audio input signal in a frame into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames and executing the time-frequency transform to each of the sub-frames. In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, a signal SubP in the time domain of the sub-frame at a discretional location (e.g. a P-th location (P is an integer)) is transformed to a frequency spectral coefficient Spect_SubP consisting of at least the same number of samples or more. The following supposes it is transformed to the frequency spectrum composing the same number of samples to simplify the explanation. In the way like this, when (M+1) pieces of the frequency spectra (a frequency spectral coefficient Spect_SubO˜a frequency spectral coefficient Spect_SubM) shown in FIG. 6B is compared with the frequency spectra shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, it indicates a temporal change in the frequency components of the N-th frame more in detail in the time axis direction though the sample intervals become wider in the frequency axis direction.

[0058] Next, the following describes how the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform to the audio input signal in a frame is corresponded to the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform by each sub-frame by using FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a sample contained in the frequency band BandA on the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in the frame. The frequency spectrum of FIG. 7A is the same as the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 4B. Also, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a sample contained in the frequency band BandB on the frequency spectrum obtained by dividing the audio input signal in the frame into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames and executing the time-frequency transform by each sub-frame. That is to say, the frequency spectrum in FIG. 7B is the same as the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 6B. The frequency band BandA for the frequency spectrum in FIG. 7A and the frequency band BandB for the frequency spectrum in FIG. 7B indicate the same frequency band region. That is to say, the number of samples contained in the frequency band BandA equals to the number of samples contained in the frequency band BandB in the entire frame. It indicates that data of the frequency spectral coefficient (black diamonds in the diagram) in the frequency band BandA of FIG. 7A is almost equivalent to the one of frequency spectral coefficients (black diamonds in the diagram) in all of the sub-frames in the frequency band BandB of FIG. 7B. Here, it is not necessary to obtain the frequency spectral coefficients, which are completely consistent with the frequency spectral coefficients in the frequency band BandB by executing the time transform to the frequency spectral coefficients in the frequency band BandA with a transform expression. It is important that the frequency spectral coefficient in the frequency band BandA is equivalent to the frequency spectral coefficient in the frequency band BandB. Therefore, it is possible to consider description of each sample (the frequency spectral coefficient) in the frequency BandA can be replaced by expressing the sample (the frequency spectral coefficient) in all of the sub-bands in the frequency band BandB. That is to say, in the encoding device <b>200</b> according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for the frequency band BandA where the time resolution ability is decided to prioritized, the frequency spectral coefficient in the frequency BandB is quantized and encoded instead of quantizing and encoding the frequency spectral coefficient of the frequency band BandA. That is to say, the time transforming unit <b>204</b> executes, for example, a transform expression, which is equivalent to an inverse transform (frequency-time transform) of DCT transform, to the frequency band BandA where the time resolution ability is decided to be prioritized among the frequency spectra obtained by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, and outputs a frequency spectral coefficient equivalent to all of the samples (the frequency spectral coefficients)in the frequency band BandB indicated in FIG. 7B.

[0059] In accordance with the bandwidths of the frequency band BandA and the frequency band BandB indicated with FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, for understanding the explanation better for the time transform method by the time transforming unit <b>204</b>, the following describes the case when a bandwidth of the frequency band BandD is selected to have just a piece of the samples, which belongs to the frequency band BandD, in each sub-band, by using FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a sample in the frequency band BandC on the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform to the audio signal in a frame. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a sample in the frequency band BandD on the frequency spectrum obtained by dividing the audio input signal in a frame into (M+1) pieces of sub-frames and executing the time-frequency transform by each sub-frame. The frequency spectrum in FIG. 8A is the same as the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 4B, and the frequency spectrum in FIG. 8B is the same as the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 6 B. Also, the frequency band BandC in the frequency spectrum in FIG. 8A and the frequency band BandD in the frequency spectrum in FIG. 8B show the same frequency band. In FIG. 8B, when the frequency band BandD is selected to have a piece of the sample ( the frequency spectral coefficient)that belongs to the frequency band BandD in each of (M+1) pieces of the sub-bands, the number of samples in the frequency band BandC, which is the same frequency band in the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 8A is (M+1) pieces. Because each sample that belongs to the frequency band BandD shown in FIG. 8B is selected from each of (M+1) pieces of the sub-frames, if each sample is plotted by using the time on a horizontal axis and the frequency spectral coefficient on a vertical axis, it is possible to say that it indicates a temporal change in a frequency spectral coefficient that belongs the frequency band BandC in a frame of the audio signal.

[0060] Similar to FIG. 8A, FIG. 9 A is a diagram showing a sample in the frequency band BandC on the frequency spectrum obtained by executing the time-frequency transform at a time to the audio signal in a frame. FIG. 9B is a diagram that each sample (a frequency spectral coefficient) shown in FIG. 8B is re-plotted by using the time on the horizontal axis and the frequency spectral coefficient value on the vertical axis. As already explained, the signal, which is made up of extracting one sample from each of (M+1) pieces of sub-frames in the same frequency band BandD, re-plotted as shown in FIG. 9B is equivalent to the time-frequency signal obtained by the time transform unit <b>204</b>, and is the time-frequency signal that indicates a temporal change of the frequency spectral coefficient of the concerned frequency band BandD. As described, each sample (the frequency spectral coefficient) in the frequency band BandC shown in FIG. 9A can be treated as data almost same as the time frequency signal (the frequency band BandD) in FIG. 9B. Therefore, in the explanation hereinafter, to quantize the frequency spectral coefficient in FIG. 9A is indicated as “perform Qf”, and to quantize the time-frequency signal in FIG. 9B is indicated as “perform Qt”.

[0061] In the time transforming unit <b>204</b> shown in FIG. 2 within the encoding device <b>200</b> according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a part of the frequency spectral coefficient of the frequency spectrum obtained by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, i.e. the frequency spectral coefficient stream contained in the frequency band BandC in FIG. 9A is transformed to the time-frequency signal in the time domain in FIG. 9B. Going through this transform is equivalent to the transform from the frequency spectral coefficient stream contained in the frequency band BandC in FIG. 8A to the frequency spectral coefficient stream contained in the frequency band BandD in FIG. 8B, which is explained before. Or, it is equivalent to the transform from the frequency spectral coefficient stream in the frequency band BandA in FIG. 7A to the frequency spectral coefficient stream in the frequency band BandB in FIG. 7B.

[0062] The encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> shown in FIG. 2 quantizes and encodes the output from the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> and the output from the time transforming unit <b>204</b>, which is transformed as above, and outputs the encoded data stream. As to a concrete method of quantization and encoding in the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, publicly known techniques such as the Huffman coding and the vector quantization are used.

[0063] Also, the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> may divide several pieces of samples of the time-frequency signal located in a part which has less fluctuation of amplitude into groups, and then quantize and encode its average gain for each of the groups. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing encoding of the time-frequency signal by the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 10, the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, for example, finds an average gain Gt<b>1</b> and an average gain Gt<b>2</b> respectively for a sample group from a frequency spectral coefficient Spec_Sub <b>0</b> to a frequency spectral coefficient Spec_Sub <b>2</b> and a sample group from a frequency spectral coefficient Spec_Sub <b>3</b> to a frequency spectral coefficient Spec_Sub M, and quantizes and encodes data specifying each of the sample groups and the average gain in each of the groups in stead of quantizing and encoding the time-frequency signal itself from the frequency spectral coefficient Spec_Sub <b>0</b> to the frequency spectral coefficient Spec_Sub M. In this case, if the time-frequency signal is predefined to express, for example, as “a number of a first sample in the sample group, a number of a last sample in the sample group, an average gain in the sample group” between the encoding device <b>200</b> and a decoding device that decodes an encoded data stream output from the encoding device <b>200</b>, the time-frequency signal shown in FIG. 10 can be expressed as two data groups, (<b>0</b>, <b>2</b>, Gt<b>1</b>) and (<b>3</b>, M, Gt<b>2</b>). Also, in this case, it is not necessary to group all of each sample for the time-frequency signal. It may group samples only in a part having less fluctuation of the amplitude. For the part having a radical fluctuation of the amplitude, the frequency spectral coefficient value itself in each sample may be quantized and encoded.

[0064] Moreover, in the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, data indicating which band is time-transformed is output with the encoded data stream among the output of the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how an output signal of the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> is corresponded to the data indicating the band time-transformed by the time transforming unit <b>204</b>. In the same diagram, the vertical axis shows the frequency and the horizontal axis shows the frequency spectral coefficient corresponding to the frequency on the vertical axis. In the case the MDCT transform is used in the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, the frequency spectral coefficient indicates the MDCT coefficient in the same diagram. Also, in the frequency spectrum, which is an output signal of the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, a part shown in a dotted line is the part that is not quantized and encoded by the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>. In stead, in the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b>, the time-frequency signal corresponding to this band is quantized and encoded. The same diagram describes an example for a case that a frequency axis direction is divided into 5 bands, and the quantization is carried out in an order of Qf, Qt, Qf, Qt and Qf from its low frequency. In this way, the encoded data stream output from the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> includes at least data indicating whether each of the bands is quantized and encoded in the time domain or in the frequency domain, and data quantized and encoded in each of the bands. The number of band divisions and the quantization method for each band (i.e. whether Qf or Qt) in the encoding device <b>200</b> are not fixed, and they are not limited to this example.

[0065]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the structure of a decoding device <b>1200</b> according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This decoding device <b>1200</b> is a decoding device that decodes the encoded data stream output by the encoding device <b>200</b>, and outputs an audio signal having an advanced level of the time resolution ability, which includes an encoded data stream separating unit <b>1201</b>, a time-frequency signal generating unit <b>1202</b>, a frequency transforming unit <b>1203</b>, a frequency spectrum generating unit <b>1204</b> and a frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b>. The encoded data stream separating unit <b>1201</b> separates encoded data in a band indicated as “Qf” and encoded data in a band indicated as “Qt” from an encoded data stream as an input signal, outputs the encoded data in the band indicated as “Qf” to the frequency spectrum generating unit <b>1204</b>, and outputs the encoded data in the band indicated as “Qt” to the time-frequency signal generating unit <b>1202</b>. The encoded data in the band indicated as “Qf” is data quantized and encoded in the frequency domain in the encoding device <b>200</b>. The encoded data in the band indicated as “Qt” is data quantized and encoded in the time domain in the encoding device <b>200</b>.

[0066] The frequency spectrum generating unit <b>1204</b> decodes the input encoded data, further inverse-quantizes it, and generates a frequency spectrum on the frequency axis. On the other hand, the time-frequency signal generating unit <b>1202</b> decodes the input encoded data, inverse-quantizes it, and temporally generates a time-frequency signal on the time axis. The temporally generated time-frequency signal is input to the frequency transforming unit <b>1203</b>. The frequency transforming unit <b>1203</b> transforms the input time-frequency signal from the frequency spectral coefficient in the time domain to the frequency spectral coefficient in the frequency domain based on a unit of a number of samples less than the ones in a frame by using a transform expression equivalent to inverse transform of the transform expression used by the time transforming unit <b>204</b> of the encoding device <b>200</b>. Data, which indicates a temporal change expressed in the time-frequency signal, is reflected on the frequency spectral coefficient obtained as a result of the partial transform to the frame according to above, and this frequency spectral coefficient is output to the frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b>. In the frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b>, the frequency spectrum in the frequency domain, which is an output signal from the frequency spectrum generating unit <b>1204</b> and the frequency transforming unit <b>1203</b>, is composed on the frequency axis, and transformed to an audio signal on the time axis. In this way, a time component expressed by the time-frequency signal can be reflected on the frequency spectrum output from the frequency spectrum generating unit <b>1204</b>, and an audio signal having high time resolution ability can be obtained. In the frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b>, a transform method, which is an inverse process of the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> conducted in the encoding device <b>200</b>, is used. For example, if the MDCT transform is used in the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b> in the encoding device <b>200</b>, inverse MDCT transform is used in the frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b>. The output of the frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b> obtained in this way is, for example an audio output signal expressed by a discrete temporal change in a voltage.

[0067] As mentioned above, according to the encoding device <b>200</b> and the decoding device <b>1200</b> in the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to select whether an audio signal in a certain time frame for a discretional band is encoded in the time domain or in the frequency domain. Therefore, this method provides possibility of more flexible and more efficient data encoding rather than the encoding method only in the frequency domain or the encoding method only in the time domain. As a result of it, it enables to encode a lot of data in a given amount of data and achieve a high quality of the audio signal reproduced.

[0068] Although the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b>, in the first embodiment, decides the time resolution ability should be prioritized when a change in the average energy between sub-frames (i.e. a difference between adjacent sub-frames) is bigger than the predefined threshold value, a decision criterion for the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> to decide whether the time resolution ability is prioritized or the frequency resolution ability is prioritized is not limited to the above method. Also, in the above embodiment, though the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> decides the quantization in the time domain should be carried out to the band where the adjoined frequency spectral coefficients spread widely in the frequency spectrum, or the band where negative and positive codes are frequently switched, a decision criterion for this decision is not limited to the above method, either.

[0069] (Second Embodiment)

[0070] The following describes a second embodiment of the present invention. Methods of the quantization and the encoding in the second embodiment are different from the ones in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, for the audio input signal transformed into the frequency domain by each frame, the one in a certain band in the frame is quantized as it is, but the one in another band is re-transformed into the time domain and then the signal in the time domain is quantized. In the second embodiment of the present invention, rather than carrying out quantization and encoding only with the signal in the selected band, quantization and encoding are performed by the signal in other band.

[0071]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of an encoding device <b>1300</b> according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The encoding device <b>1300</b> includes a time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b>, a frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b>, a time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b>, a quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b>, a reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b>, a time transforming unit <b>1306</b>, a time composing and encoding unit <b>1307</b>, a frequency composing and encoding unit <b>1308</b> and an encoded data stream generating unit <b>1309</b>. In the same diagram, the time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b>, the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b>, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b> and the time transforming unit <b>1306</b> are almost identical to the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b>, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> and the time transforming unit <b>204</b> respectively in the encoding device <b>200</b> shown in FIG. 2.

[0072] The audio input signal is input to the time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b> by each frame of a certain time length. The time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b> transforms the input signal in the time domain into a signal in the frequency domain. The time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b>, for example obtains an MDCT coefficient using the MDCT transform.

[0073] The frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> analyzes a frequency characteristic of the frequency spectral coefficient transformed by each frame, which is the output of the time-frequency transforming unit <b>201</b>, and specifies a band that is better to be quantized with giving the time resolution ability priority in the same way as the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> in FIG. 2.

[0074] In the same way as the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> in FIG. 2, the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b> decides whether the time resolution ability should be prioritized or the frequency resolution ability should be prioritized to quantize the audio signal input per each frame. In the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b>, because it is not necessary to quantize and encode all of the bands for the input signal with the same time resolution ability or the same frequency resolution ability, the decision can be made by each sub-frame or by each frequency band.

[0075] For the signal (the frequency spectral coefficient) in the frequency domain obtained by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b>, the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b> quantizes and encodes signal by each predefined band. This quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b> quantizes and encodes data using publicly known techniques that are familiar to the people concerned such as the vector quantization and the Huffman coding. The quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b> internally contains a memory not shown in a diagram, holds an encoded data stream that has been encoded already and a frequency spectrum before encoding in its memory, and outputs the encoded data stream or the frequency spectrum before encoding in the band decided by the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b> to the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b>.

[0076] According to decision results of the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b>, the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b> decides a band that should be referred for the band specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b> in the encoded data stream as the output of the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b>. To be specific, for the bands specified by the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b>, the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b> quantizes and encodes only the first specified band, without referring to other band, in the time domain and encodes the rest of the bands in the time domain with reference to the frequency spectrum in the band. Moreover, for the bands specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b>, if a frequency spectral coefficient equivalent to a signal component in multiples of an integer (i.e. in a relationship of harmonic overtone) is contained among the bands specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b>, the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b> quantizes and encodes, in the frequency domain, for example, only the band containing a component (the frequency spectral coefficient)in the lowest frequency among the bands including the frequency spectral coefficient. For example, if the frequency components of 8 kHz, 16 kHz and 24 kHz are contained respectively in the bands specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b>, only the band containing the frequency component of 8 kHz is quantized and encoded. Regarding any bands other than that, e.g. the band containing the frequency component of 16 kHz and the band containing the frequency component of 24 kHz, they are decided to be encoded in the frequency domain with reference to the band containing the component (the frequency spectral coefficient) of the lowest frequency (8 kHz) as a referred band. If the frequency spectral coefficient equivalent to harmonic overtone among the bands specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> is not contained, the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> decides to quantize and encode these bands in the time domain without reference to other band.

[0077] Next, actions of the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b> are described with reference to FIG. 14 to <b>16</b>. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a method for generating an encoded data stream of a target band with reference to other band. The vertical axis shows a frequency and the horizontal axis shows a frequency spectral coefficient value for the frequency on the diagram. In FIG. 14, both of a frequency band Base<b>1</b> and a frequency band Base<b>2</b> are a part of a band of which coefficient of its frequency domain signal (a frequency spectrum) has already been quantized and encoded by the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b>. On the other hand, the signal in the bands indicated as “Qt<b>1</b>” and “Qt<b>2</b>” are meant to be the ones quantized and encoded by using the frequency spectral coefficients of the frequency band Base<b>1</b> and of the frequency band Base<b>2</b> respectively. For example, “Qt<b>1</b>” means to be quantized and encoded according to the time domain transform using the signal of the frequency band Base<b>1</b>, and the band “Qf<b>2</b>” means to be quantized and encoded in the frequency domain using the signal of the Base<b>2</b>. Moreover, a parameter for expressing “Qt<b>1</b>” with use of the band signal of Base<b>1</b> is defined as a parameter Gt<b>1</b>, and a parameter for expressing “Qf<b>2</b>” with use of the band signal of the frequency band Base<b>2</b> is defined as a parameter Gf<b>2</b>. It means the signal in the band “Qt<b>1</b>” is quantized and encoded by the signal in the band of the frequency band Base<b>1</b> expressed in the time domain with the parameter indicated as the parameter Gt<b>1</b>, and the signal in the band “Qf<b>2</b>” is quantized and encoded by the signal in the band of Base<b>2</b> expressed in the frequency domain (but the transform is not needed because it is already expressed in the frequency domain), with the parameter indicated as the parameter Gf<b>2</b>. However, a method for dividing the band, its sequence and quantity are not limited to these.

[0078]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of the method for generating the encoded data stream of the target band with reference to other band. Just like the case of FIG. 15, a signal of “Qt” may be expressed by a sum of addition by using both of two bands (expressed in the time domain) of the frequency band Base<b>1</b> and the frequency band Base<b>2</b> that have already been quantized and encoded in the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b>, with the parameter Gt<b>1</b> and the parameter Gt<b>2</b> respectively. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing other examples of the method for generating the encoded data stream of the target band with reference to other band. Just as the case of FIG. 16, a signal of “Qf” may be expressed by a sum of addition by using both of two bands (expressed in the frequency domain) of the frequency band Base<b>1</b> and the frequency band Base<b>2</b> that have already been quantized and encoded in the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b> with the parameter Gf<b>1</b> and the parameter Gf<b>2</b> respectively. Either of the cases in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustrates the case a certain frequency band is quantized and encoded by using the signal in two bands that have already been quantized and encoded, but the number of bands is not limited to two. In the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b>, a band subject for quantization and encoding (the target band) specified by the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> among the frequency spectral coefficients in a frame is expressed by using either of the bands (the referred band) that are quantized and encoded by the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b>, and whether quantization and encoding are carried out to it or not is decided.

[0079] Next, the frequency composing and encoding unit <b>1308</b> is explained with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a method for which a frequency spectrum in a target domain is composed in the frequency domain by using the encoded data stream in the referred band that has already been quantized and encoded. As described above, suppose the signals in the referred band and in the target band have been selected by the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b>. In FIG. 17, a band A is the referred band and a band B is the target band. To simplify the explanation, the signal in the band A and the signal in the band B respectively consist of the same number of elements, and each is respectively described as a vector Fa and a vector Fb. Additionally, each vector is divided into two, i.e. the vector Fa=(Fa<b>0</b>, Fa<b>1</b>) and vector Fb=(Fb<b>0</b>, Fb<b>1</b>). Fa<b>0</b>, Fa<b>1</b>, Fb<b>0</b> and Fb<b>1</b> are a vector. The number of elements of Fa<b>0</b> is the same as the number of elements of Fb<b>0</b>, and the number of elements of Fa<b>1</b> is the same as the number of elements of Fb<b>1</b>. The number of elements of Fa<b>0</b> may or may not be the same as the number of elements of Fa<b>1</b>. A parameter Gb=(Gb<b>0</b>, Gb<b>1</b>) is defined. The parameter Gb is a vector, but Gb<b>0</b> and Gb<b>1</b> are a scalar value. A vector Fb′, which is an approximation of the vector Fb is defined as the following formula by using the vector Fa and the parameter Gb.

<i>Fb′=Gb*Fa=</i>(<i>Gb</i><b>0</b>*<i>Fa</i><b>0</b>,<i>Gb</i><b>1</b>*<i>Fa</i><b>1</b>)  [Formula 1]

[0080] In the way like this, the signal in the frequency domain for the target band B is composed by getting a product from the signal in the frequency domain for the target band A multiplied by the parameter Gb that controls a composing ratio. Moreover, the frequency composing and encoding unit <b>1308</b> quantizes and encodes data showing which referred band expresses a specific target band and the parameter Gb used for a gain control over the referred band. To simplify the explanation, the case that the target band and the referred band are divided into two vectors has been described. But they may be divided into less or more than two. And, dividing a band may or may not be even.

[0081] The following describes the time composing and encoding unit <b>1307</b> with reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a diagram show an example of a method for which the frequency spectrum for the target domain is composed in the time domain by using the encoded data stream in the referred band that has already been quantized and encoded. As mentioned above, suppose a signal in the referred band and a signal in the target band have been selected by the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b>. In FIG. 18, suppose a band A is the referred band and a band B is the target band. To simplify the explanation, the signal in the band A and the signal in the band B consist of the same number of elements respectively. The time transforming unit <b>1306</b> transforms the signals in the frequency domain in the band A and in the band B into signals in the time domain (Tt) in the same way as the time transforming unit <b>204</b> of the first embodiment. Here, suppose the signals obtained by transforming the signals in the frequency domain of the band A and the band B are respectively a vector Ta and a vector Tb. Additionally, the vector Ta and the vector Tb can be divided as follows: Ta=(Ta<b>0</b>, Ta<b>1</b>); and Tb=(Tb<b>0</b>, Tb<b>1</b>). Ta<b>0</b>, Ta<b>1</b>, Tb<b>0</b> and Tb<b>1</b> are a vector. The number of elements of Ta<b>0</b> are the same as the number of elements of Tb<b>0</b>, and the number of element of Ta<b>1</b> is the same as the number of elements of Tb<b>1</b>. However, the number of elements of Ta<b>0</b> may or may not be the same as the number of elements of Ta<b>1</b>. Also, the parameter Gb=(Gb<b>0</b>, Gb<b>1</b>) is defined here. Gb<b>0</b> and Gb<b>1</b> are respectively a scular value. FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B and FIG. 19C are diagrams showing an example of a method that approximates the vector Tb as the signal in the time domain of the band B by using the vector Ta as the signal in the time domain of the band A. FIG. 19A is a diagram showing the vector Ta expressing the signal obtained by transforming the signal in the frequency domain of the band A as the referred band into the one in the time domain. FIG. 19B is a diagram showing the vector Tb expressing the signal obtained by transforming the signal in the frequency domain of the band B as the target band into the one in the time domain. FIG. 19C is a diagram showing an approximate vector Tb′ for the case expressing a vector approximated to the vector Tb by performing a gain control over the vector Ta. As shown in FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B and FIG. 19C, a value of the parameter Gb is decided to have the vector Ta multiplied by Gb approximate to the vector Tb.

[0082] For example, the approximate vector Tb′ is defined as the following formula by using the vector Ta and the parameter Gb.

<i>Tb′=Gb*Ta=</i>(<i>Gb</i><b>0</b>*<i>Ta</i><b>0</b>,<i>Gb</i><b>1</b>*<i>Ta</i><b>1</b>)  [Formula 2]

[0083] In the way like this, the signal in the time domain for the target band B is composed by the signal in the time domain for the referred band A with the parameter Gb that performs the gain control. Therefore, in the time composing and encoding unit <b>1307</b>, the data that shows which referred band is used to express a certain target band and the parameter Gb used for the gain control over the referred band are quantized and encoded. To simplify the explanation, the case for dividing the target band and the referred band into two vectors has been described, but they may be divided less or more than two. Also, dividing a band may or may not be even.

[0084] In the encoded data stream generating unit <b>1309</b>, outputs of the quantizing and encoding unit <b>1304</b>, of the frequency composing and encoding unit <b>1308</b>, of the time composing and encoding unit <b>1307</b>, of the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> and of the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b> are packaged according to a predefined format and encoded data streams are generated along with them. Therefore, the encoded data stream, which is an output signal of the encoding device <b>1300</b>, contains following data: 1. Data obtained by quantizing and encoding signals in a referred band and in a band that is not a referred nor a target band; 2. Data indicating a relation between the referred band and the target band; 3. Data indicating how the target band is quantized and encoded by using the signal in the referred band; 4. Data indicating in which of the domains, the time domain or the frequency domain, the referred band, the target band and a band categorized as neither of them are quantized and encoded; and so forth. Also, the numbers of samples in the referred band and in the target band and the frequency relevant to each of the bands are contained directly or indirectly in the encoded data stream.

[0085] The following describes a decoding device <b>2000</b> according to the second embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the structure of the decoding device <b>2000</b> according to the second embodiment. This decoding device <b>2000</b> is a decoding device that decodes an encoded data stream generated by the encoding device <b>1300</b> and outputs an audio output signal, which includes an encoded data stream separating unit <b>2001</b>, a reference frequency signal generating unit <b>2002</b>, a time transforming unit <b>2003</b>, a time composing unit <b>2004</b>, a frequency transforming unit <b>2005</b>, a frequency composing unit <b>2006</b>, and a frequency-time transforming unit <b>2007</b>. The frequency-time transforming unit <b>2007</b>, the time transforming unit <b>2003</b> and the frequency transforming unit <b>2005</b> in the decoding device <b>2000</b> respectively have the same structure as the frequency-time transforming unit <b>1205</b>, the time transforming unit <b>1306</b> and the frequency transforming unit <b>1203</b> in the first embodiment. The encoded data stream separating unit <b>2001</b> reads a header and the like in the input encoded data stream, separates following data contained in the encoded data stream: 1. Data obtained by quantizing and encoding a signal in a referred band and in a band that is not a referred nor target band; 2. Data indicating a relation between the referred band and the target band; 3. Data indicating how the target band is quantized and encoded by using the signal of the referred band; 4. Data indicating in which of the domains, the time domain or the frequency domain, the referred band and the target band are quantized and encoded, and outputs them to each of the corresponding units. The reference frequency signal generating unit <b>2002</b> uses a publicly known decoding method, which is familiar to the people concerned, such as Huffman decoding, and encodes the signal in the frequency domain. It means that signals of Base<b>1</b> and Base<b>2</b> in FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 are decoded. Also, it means the signals in the frequency domain of the band A in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are decoded.

[0086] Actions of the frequency composing unit <b>2006</b> are explained with reference to FIG. 17. As shown in FIG. 17, the signal (the frequency spectrum) in the frequency domain expressed as the vector Fa in the band A is obtained by decoding and inverse-quantizing the data in the referred band, which is input to the reference frequency signal generating unit <b>2002</b> from the encoded data stream separating unit <b>2001</b>, in the reference frequency signal generating unit <b>2002</b>. On the other hand, the signal (the frequency spectrum) in the frequency domain expressed as the vector Fb in the band B is approximated by the approximate vector Fb′ composed by using the vector Fa and the parameter Gb according to the formula <b>1</b>. The parameter Gb for the gain control is obtained by separating from the encoded data stream in the encoded data stream separating unit <b>2001</b>, and the data indicating that the band A is the referred band of the band B is also obtained by separating from the encoded data stream in the encoded data stream separating unit <b>2001</b>. In this way, in the frequency composing unit <b>2006</b>, the signal Fb in the frequency domain of the band B as the referred band is generated by generating the approximate vector Fb′.

[0087] Next, actions of the time composing unit <b>2004</b> are explained with reference to FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, the signal (the time-frequency signal) in the time domain of the band A indicated as the vector Ta is obtained by executing the time transform (the process of Tf in FIG. 18) through the time transforming unit <b>2003</b> to the frequency spectrum indicated as the vector Fa obtained by the reference frequency signal generating unit <b>2002</b>. Also, the signal (the time-frequency signal) in the time domain indicated as the vector Tb in the band B as a target band is approximated by the approximate vector Tb′. This approximate vector Tb′ is composed by the vector Ta and the parameter Gb according to the formula <b>2</b>. In this way, in the time composing unit <b>2004</b>, the signal Tb in the time domain of the band B as a target band is generated by generating the approximate vector Tb′. The parameter Gb for the gain control and the data indicating that the band A is the referred band of the band B are obtained from the encoded data stream separating unit <b>2001</b>. The signal in the time domain indicated as the approximate vector Tb′ obtained by the time composing unit <b>2004</b> is transformed to a signal in the frequency domain by the frequency transforming unit <b>2005</b>. In the frequency-time transforming unit <b>2007</b>, outputs of the reference frequency signal generating unit <b>2002</b>, of the frequency composing unit <b>2006</b> and of the frequency transforming unit <b>2005</b> are composed as a signal component on a frequency axis. Moreover, the frequency-time transforming unit <b>2007</b> executes an inverse transform of the time-frequency transform to the composed frequency spectrum by the time-frequency transforming unit <b>1301</b> of the encoding device <b>1300</b>, and obtains the audio output signal in the time domain. The frequency-time transform (e.g. inverse MDCT transform) in the frequency-time transforming unit <b>2007</b> can be carried out easily by publicly known techniques, which is familiar to the people concerned.

[0088]FIG. 21A is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the encoded data stream generated by the encoded data stream generating unit <b>205</b> in FIG. 2. FIG. 21B is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the encoded data stream generated by the encoded data stream generating unit <b>1309</b> in FIG. 13. A bandwidth of each band indicated in FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B may or may not be a fixed bandwidth. In the encoding device <b>200</b> of the first embodiment, the frequency spectrum in the band specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> is quantized and encoded after it is further transformed to a time-frequency signal by the time transforming unit <b>204</b>. Any bands other than that are quantized and encoded as they are the frequency spectrum. For example, FIG. 21A shows the case that bands specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>202</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>203</b> are a band <b>1</b> and a band <b>4</b>. As shown in FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B, a header is described in the front of each band. In FIG. 21A, a flag is described in each header, which shows in which of the domains, the time domain or the frequency domain, the encoded data stream in the band is quantized and encoded. For example, a flag qm=t, which shows encoded data streams t_quantize in the band <b>1</b> and the band <b>4</b> are quantized and encoded in the time domain, is described respectively in the headers in the band <b>1</b> and the band <b>4</b>. Also, a flag qm=f, which shows an encoded data stream f_quantize in the band <b>2</b> and the band <b>3</b> is quantized and encoded in the frequency domain, is described in the headers in the band <b>2</b> and the band <b>3</b>. Here, the encoded data streams f_quantize and the encoded data streams t_quantize are an encoded data stream obtained by quantizing and encoding the frequency spectrum in the frequency domain and the time domain respectively.

[0089] Also, in the encoding device <b>1300</b> of the second embodiment, the frequency spectrum in the bands specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b> is encoded by the following four types of the encoding method:

[0090] 1. Quantize and encode in the frequency domain without reference to other band.

[0091] 2. Encode in the frequency domain with reference to other band.

[0092] 3. Quantize and encode in the time domain without reference to other band.

[0093] 4. Encode in the time domain with reference to other band.

[0094] Therefore, a flag whether the band refers to other band or not, a band number to show which band is referred if refers to, a parameter to control the gain of the referred band, and so on are described in the header for each band in the encoded data stream. As shown in FIG. 21B, for example, a flag qm=t showing the encoded data stream t_quantize in the band <b>1</b> is quantized and encoded in the time domain is described in the header of the band <b>1</b>. A flag qm=f showing the encoded data stream f_quantize in the band <b>2</b> is quantized and encoded in the frequency domain is described in the header of the band <b>2</b>. Moreover, the following elements are described in the band <b>3</b>: a flag qm=ref, which shows an encoded data stream obtained by quantizing and encoding the frequency spectrum in the time domain is not actually contained, and the band <b>3</b> is generated with reference to other band; a band number ref=1, which shows the band <b>1</b> is the referred band of the band <b>3</b>; a parameter Gain_info, which controls the gain of the referred band band <b>1</b>; and so on. Also, in the same way as the band <b>3</b>, in the band <b>4</b>, a flag qm=ref, which shows an encoded data stream obtained by quantizing and encoding the frequency spectrum is not actually contained, and the band <b>4</b> is generated with reference to other band, a band number ref=2 that shows the band <b>2</b> is the referred band for the band <b>4</b>, a parameter Gain_info to control the gain of the referred band band <b>2</b> and the like are described. In the band <b>3</b>, because the band number ref=1 shows the band <b>1</b> quantized and encoded in the frequency domain is referred, it implies that the band <b>3</b> is encoded in the frequency domain. In the band <b>4</b>, because the band number ref=2 indicates the band <b>2</b> quantized and encoded in the time domain is referred, it implies that the band <b>4</b> is encoded in the time domain.

[0095] In FIG. 21A, a flag showing in which of the domains, the time domain or the frequency domain, the encoded data stream in the band is quantized and encoded is described in the header of each band in the encoded data stream. But if which band is quantized and encoded in which domain is predetermined, this flag is not necessary. Also, in FIG. 21B, a flag showing whether the band refers to other band or not, and a band number specifying a referred band for the band are described in the header of each band in each encoded data stream. But if which band refers to which band is predetermined, these data is not necessary.

[0096] In the encoding device <b>1300</b> and the decoding device <b>2000</b> according to the second embodiment of the present invention, if the referred band is selected to a band with lower frequency components and the target band is selected to a band with higher frequency components than the referred band, the referred band is encoded by an existing encoding method, and a code to generate components in the target band is encoded as supplemental data, it is further possible to reproduce sound in a broad band by using the existing encoding method and a small volume of the supplemental data. When the AAC method is used as an existing audio encoding method, it is possible to decode the encoded data stream without making a noise even in a decoding method compatible to the AAC method as long as encoding data to generate components in the target band is included in Fill_element of the AAC method. It is also possible to reproduce sound in a wider band from a relatively small amount of data when the decoding method according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used.

[0097] When the encoding device and the decoding device in the present invention structured as above are used, data encoding in the time domain can be carried out in addition to the data encoding in the frequency domain. Therefore, by selecting an encoding method with a higher encoding efficiency, the frequency resolution ability and the time resolution ability can be efficiently improved for the decoded sound that is reproduced. Also, because it is possible to construct the encoded audio data stream with a small volume of data by reusing the signal in the band which has already been encoded, a bit rate for the encoded audio data stream can be kept in a low level. Additionally, if the same bit rate is used, an encoded audio data stream that can obtain an audio signal having a high level of sound quality can be provided. Furthermore, if an analysis-composition type of an orthogonal transform method, which does not require a temporal overlap for dividing the signal, is selected for the time transforming unit <b>1306</b>, the time transforming unit <b>2003</b> and the frequency transforming unit <b>2005</b>, any additional arithmetic delay in the encoding device and the decoding device can be removed, so that it has a merit in an application where consideration of the delay is required in the encoding and decoding processes.

[0098] In the second embodiment above, the reference band deciding unit <b>1305</b> decides four types of the encoding method for the band specified by the frequency characteristic extracting unit <b>1302</b> and the time characteristic extracting unit <b>1303</b>, but its actual decision method is not limited to the above.

[0099] Industrial Applicability

[0100] The encoding device according to the present invention is useful as an audio encoding device which is located in a broadcast station for a satellite broadcasting including BS and CS, as an audio encoding device for a content distribution server which distributes contents via a communication network such as the Internet, and further as a program for encoding audio signals which is executed by a general-purpose computer.

[0101] In addition, the decoding device according to the present invention is useful not only as an audio decoding device which is located in an STB at home, but also as a program for decoding audio signals which is executed by a general-purpose computer, a PDA, a cellar phone and the like, and a circuit board, an LSI or the like only for decoding audio signals which is included in an STB or a general-purpose computer, and further as an IC card which is inserted into an STB or a general-purpose computer.