JPH10302405A - Information encoding method and device, information decoding method and device and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable reproduction of an old specification signal by a reproducing device dealing with an old specification as well and also reproduction of both signals of the old specification and a new specification by means of a reproducing device dealing with the new specification when old specification and new specification codes are recorded in the same recording medium and to reduce deterioration of the signal in quality. SOLUTION: At the time of recording a multichannel signal in each frame incapable of controlling its size, a signal 190d of a channel to be reproduced by the reproducing device dealing with the new specification is encoded by a 2nd encoding circuit 119c, while a signal 190c of a channel to be reproduced by the reproducing device dealing with the old specification is encoded by a 1st encoding circuit 119b with the number of bits smaller than the max. number of bits to be allottable for this frame, and a code train 190f encoded by the 2nd encoding circuit 119c is disposed by a code train generating circuit 119d in a vacant area secured in the frame by encoding of the 1st encoding circuit 119b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information encoding method and apparatus suitable for extending the format of an encoded signal, a corresponding information decoding method and apparatus, and a method for encoding encoded information. The present invention relates to a recorded information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk has been proposed as a device capable of recording a signal such as encoded audio information or audio information (hereinafter referred to as an audio signal). Have been. There are various high-efficiency encoding methods for the audio signal. As the high-efficiency encoding method, for example, an audio signal on a time axis is divided into blocks in a predetermined time unit, and a signal on the time axis for each block is provided. Is converted into a signal on the frequency axis (spectral conversion), divided into a plurality of frequency bands, and so-called conversion encoding, which is a block frequency band division method for encoding for each band, and audio signals on the time axis. A so-called band division coding (sub-band coding: SBC), which is a non-blocking frequency band division method of dividing the data into a plurality of frequency bands and encoding the data without dividing into blocks, can be used. Further, a high-efficiency coding method combining the above-described band division coding and transform coding has been considered. In this case, for example, after band division is performed by the above-mentioned band division coding, the signal of each band is spectrally transformed into a signal on the frequency axis, and encoding is performed for each band that has undergone the spectrum transformation. Is done.

Here, as a filter for band division used in the above-mentioned band division coding, there is, for example, a filter such as a so-called QMF (Quadrature Mirror filter). "Digital coding of speech in subbands" REC
rochiere, Bell Syst. Tech. J., Vol. 55, No. 8 1976). This QMF filter divides a band into two equal bands, and is characterized in that so-called aliasing does not occur when the divided bands are combined later. In addition, the literature "Polyphase Quadrature Filters-New Band Division Coding Technology"("Polyphase Quadra
ture filters-A new subband coding technique ", Jose
ph H. Rothweiler, ICASSP 83, BOSTON) describes an equal bandwidth filter splitting technique. This polyphase quadrature filter is characterized in that a signal can be divided at a time when divided into a plurality of bands of equal bandwidth.

As the above-mentioned spectral transformation, for example, an input audio signal is divided into blocks in a predetermined unit time (frame), and a discrete Fourier transform (Di
screteFourier Transform: DFT, Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (Modified Discrete Cosine Transform: Modi)
There is a spectrum transformation that transforms a time axis into a frequency axis by performing fied Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT) or the like. The above MDCT is described in the document "Subband / Transform Coding Using Filter Bank Design Based on Time Domain Aliasing Cancellation"("Subb
and / Transform Coding Using Filter BankDesigns Base
d on Time Domain Aliasing Cancellation, "JPPrinc
en ABBradley, Univ. of Surrey Royal Melbourne In
st. of Tech. ICASSP 1987).

When the above-mentioned DFT or DCT is used as a method for spectrally transforming a waveform signal, for example, M
When conversion is performed on a time block including sample data (hereinafter, this block is referred to as a conversion block), M
Independent real number data are obtained. Here, in order to reduce the connection distortion between the transform blocks, usually, M1 sample data is overlapped between the transform blocks on both sides. Therefore, in these DFTs and DCTs, (M−M1) samples are averaged. M sample data can be obtained for the sample data of
Real number data will then be quantized and encoded.

On the other hand, when the above-described MDCT is used as a spectrum conversion method, independent M samples are obtained from 2M samples in which M sample data are overlapped between adjacent conversion blocks. Real number data is obtained. That is, when MDCT is used, M real data is obtained for M sample data by averaging, and these M real data are subsequently quantized and encoded. In the decoding device, it is possible to reconstruct a waveform signal from the code obtained by using the MDCT in this way by adding waveform elements obtained by performing inverse transform in each block while interfering with each other. it can.

By the way, in general, when the conversion block for the above-mentioned spectrum conversion is lengthened, the frequency resolution is increased and the energy is concentrated on a specific spectrum signal component. Therefore, spectrum conversion is performed with a long conversion block length in which sample data is overlapped by half each between conversion blocks on both sides, and the number of obtained spectrum signal components is smaller than the number of sample data on the original time axis. If the MDCT that does not increase is used, it is possible to perform more efficient coding than when the DFT or DCT is used. In addition, by providing a sufficiently long overlap between adjacent conversion blocks, connection distortion between the conversion blocks of the waveform signal can be reduced. However, increasing the length of the conversion block for conversion also means that a larger work area is required for conversion, which is an obstacle to reducing the size of the reproduction means and the like. Attention should be paid to adopting a long conversion block at a point where it is difficult to increase the integration degree, since this leads to an increase in cost.

As described above, by quantizing the signal components divided for each band by the filter and the spectrum conversion, the band in which the quantization noise is generated can be controlled, and therefore, the property such as the so-called masking effect can be obtained. , It is possible to perform audio coding with higher efficiency. Further, if the normalization of each sample data is performed for each band, for example, with the maximum value of the absolute value of the signal component in the band before the quantization is performed, more efficient encoding is performed. be able to.

Here, it is preferable to use, for example, a bandwidth in consideration of human auditory characteristics as a frequency division width when quantizing each signal component obtained by dividing an audio signal into frequency bands. That is, in general, a critical band (critical band) in which the bandwidth becomes wider as the frequency becomes higher.
It is preferable to divide the audio signal into a plurality of (for example, 25 band) bands with a bandwidth referred to as "band". When encoding data for each band at this time, predetermined bits are allocated to each band, or encoding is performed by adaptive bit allocation (bit allocation) for each band. For example, when the coefficient data obtained by the MDCT processing is encoded by the bit allocation, adaptive allocation is performed on the MDCT coefficient data for each band obtained by the MDCT processing for each transform block. The encoding is performed with the number of bits. The following two methods are known as bit allocation methods.

For example, the document "Adaptive Transform Coding of Speech Signal"
s ", R. Zelinski and P. Noll, IEEE Transactions of Ac
coustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, vol.ASSP-
25, No. 4, August 1977), bit allocation is performed based on the signal magnitude for each band. In this scheme,
Although the quantization noise spectrum becomes flat and the noise energy becomes the minimum, the actual feeling of noise is not optimal because the masking effect is not utilized in terms of auditory sense.

Also, for example, in the document “Critical band encoder—
Digital Coding for Perceptual Requirements of Auditory Systems "
("The critical band coder --digital encoding of
theperceptual requirements of the auditory syste
m ", MAKransner MIT, ICASSP 1980) describes a method for obtaining a required signal-to-noise ratio for each band and performing fixed bit allocation by using auditory masking. Even when the characteristics are measured with a sine wave input, the characteristic values are not so good because the bit allocation is fixed.

In order to solve these problems, all bits that can be used for bit allocation are divided into a fixed bit allocation pattern predetermined for each small block and a bit allocation depending on the signal size of each block. So that the division ratio at that time depends on the signal related to the input signal, and the smoother the spectrum pattern of the signal, the larger the division ratio into the fixed bit allocation pattern. Various efficient coding methods have been proposed.

According to this method, when energy is concentrated on a specific spectral signal component such as a sine wave input, a large number of bits are allocated to a block containing the spectral signal component, so that the entire signal-to-noise ratio is increased. Properties can be significantly improved. Generally, human hearing is extremely sensitive to a signal having a steep spectral signal component. Therefore, by using such a method, improving the signal-to-noise characteristic simply increases the numerical value measured. Not only that, it is effective in improving sound quality in terms of hearing.

Many other bit allocation methods have been proposed. Further, models relating to auditory sense have been refined, and if the capability of the encoder has been improved, more efficient encoding can be perceived in terms of auditory sense. Will be possible.

In these methods, it is common practice to obtain a real bit allocation reference value for realizing the signal-to-noise characteristic obtained by calculation as faithfully as possible, and to use an integer value approximating the reference value as the number of allocated bits. It is a target.

In constructing an actual code string, first, quantization accuracy information and normalization coefficient information are encoded with a predetermined number of bits for each band where normalization and quantization are performed. And quantized spectral signal components may be encoded. In addition, ISO standards (ISO / IEC 1
1172-3: 1993 (E), a993), describes a high-efficiency coding method in which the number of bits representing the quantization accuracy information is set differently depending on the band. It is standardized so that the number of bits representing quantization accuracy information is reduced.

Instead of directly encoding the quantization accuracy information, a method of determining the quantization accuracy information from, for example, the normalization coefficient information in a decoding device is also known. Since the relationship between the normalization coefficient information and the quantization accuracy information is determined, it will not be possible to introduce quantization accuracy control based on a more advanced auditory model in the future. Also, if there is a range in the compression rate to be realized, it is necessary to determine the relationship between the normalization coefficient information and the quantization accuracy information for each compression rate.

Also, for example, in the literature "A Method for Construction of Min.
imum Redundancy Codes "DAHuffman:, Proc.IRE, 4
0, p. 1098 (1952)), a method of encoding a quantized spectral signal component more efficiently by encoding using a variable length code is also known.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-50 by the applicant of the present invention.
No. 0482 proposes a method of separating a particularly perceptual tone component from a spectral signal component and encoding it separately from other spectral signal components. It is possible to efficiently encode a signal or the like at a high compression rate with almost no audible deterioration.

Each of the above-mentioned encoding methods can be applied to each channel of an audio signal composed of a plurality of channels. For example, the present invention may be applied to each of the L channel corresponding to the left speaker and the R channel corresponding to the right speaker. Also, the L channel,
It is also possible to apply to (L + R) / 2 signals obtained by adding the signals of the respective R channels. In addition, it is possible to perform efficient encoding on the (L + R) / 2 signal and the (LR) / 2 signal using the above-described methods. Note that the amount of data when encoding a one-channel signal is only half that when encoding two-channel signals independently, so when recording a signal on a recording medium, recording is performed with a one-channel monaural signal. It is a common practice to provide both a recording mode and a recording mode using a two-channel stereo signal, and to set a standard so that recording can be performed as a monaural signal when recording for a long time is required.

[0021]

By the way, as described above, techniques for improving the coding efficiency have been developed one after another. Therefore, if a standard incorporating a newly developed coding technique is adopted, it becomes more difficult. It is possible to record for a long time, or to record an audio signal with higher sound quality if the recording time is the same.

Here, when the above-described standard is determined, flag information and the like relating to the standard are previously written in the information recording medium in consideration of a case where the standard is changed or extended in the future. A common practice is to leave room for recording. That is, for example, when standardization is first performed, “0” is recorded as 1-bit flag information, and when standardization is changed, “1” is recorded in the flag information. The playback device corresponding to the changed standard checks whether the flag information is “0” or “1”. If the flag information is “1”, a signal is output from the information recording medium based on the changed standard. Is read and reproduced. When the flag information is “0”, if the playback device also supports the first set standard, a signal is read from the information recording medium based on the standard and played back, If not, no signal reproduction is performed.

However, a reproducing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as "old standard") capable of reproducing only a signal recorded according to a predetermined standard (hereinafter referred to as "old standard" or "first encoding method"). With the spread of the “standard-compliant playback device”, this older-standard-compliant playback device uses a higher-level standard (hereinafter referred to as “new standard” or “second encoding system”) that uses a more efficient encoding method. The information recording medium recorded using the method (referred to as “method”) cannot be reproduced, which causes confusion to the user of the apparatus.

In particular, the reproducing apparatus at the time when the old standard is determined (the old standard compliant reproducing apparatus) ignores the flag information recorded on the information recording medium and outputs the signal recorded on the information recording medium. Some of them are reproduced as being all encoded in the old standard. That is, even if the information recording medium is recorded on the basis of the new standard, not all the old standard-compliant playback devices can identify that fact. For this reason, in the playback device compatible with the old standard, for example, an information recording medium on which a signal based on the new standard is recorded is interpreted as an information recording medium on which a signal based on the old standard is recorded and played back. In such a case, there is a risk that the device will not operate normally or generate severe noise.

If signals of different standards, such as a signal of the old standard and a signal of the new standard, are simultaneously recorded in the same recording medium, the recording area allocated to each of them will decrease. This makes it difficult to maintain the quality of the signal to be recorded and reproduced.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and in the case where the codes of the old standard and the new standard are recorded in the same recording medium, the signal of the old standard is used. Is to enable playback with an old-standard playback device, and to use a playback device that can support a new standard so that both signals can be played back. In addition, signals of different standards can be recorded in the same recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information encoding method and apparatus, an information decoding method and apparatus, and an information recording medium that can also reduce signal quality deterioration caused by the above.

[0027]

According to a first information encoding method and an information encoding apparatus of the present invention, a signal of a part of a plurality of channels is encoded by a first encoding method. Generate one code string, generate a second code string by encoding the signals of the other channels by the second coding method, for each one or more frames of a fixed size, the first code string The above-mentioned problem is solved by arranging the second code string.

According to the first information decoding method and the information decoding apparatus of the present invention, for each of one or a plurality of frames of a fixed size,
A first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are encoded by the first encoding method, and a second code string in which signals of other channels are encoded by the second encoding method. From the encoded information in which the code string is arranged, the first code string and the second code string are separated, and the separated first code string is subjected to the first decoding corresponding to the first coding method. Method to generate a first decoded signal, the separated second code string is decoded by a second decoding method corresponding to the second encoding method, the second decoded signal By generating, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

The first information recording medium according to the present invention is characterized in that, for each one or a plurality of frames of a fixed size, a signal of some of the plurality of channels is encoded by a first encoding method. The above-mentioned problem is solved by recording the coding parameters together with the coding information in which the code string of the second channel and the signal of another channel are coded by the second coding method. I do.

Further, the second information encoding method and the information encoding apparatus of the present invention encode the signals of some of the plurality of channels by the first encoding method, Is generated, a signal of another channel is encoded by a second encoding method to generate a second code string, and a code of at least a part of the first code string and the second code string is generated in a frame. The above-described problem is solved by arranging the columns.

Further, according to the second information decoding method and the information decoding apparatus of the present invention, the signals of some of the plurality of channels are encoded by the first encoding method in one frame. The first code string and the second code string, at least a part of the second code string in which the signals of the other channels are encoded by the second encoding method, are encoded from the first code string and the second code string. And the separated first code string is decoded by the first decoding method corresponding to the first coding method to generate a first decoded signal, and the separated second code string is generated. The above-mentioned problem is solved by decoding the code string of the above with a second decoding method corresponding to the second encoding method to generate a second decoded signal.

Further, the second information recording medium of the present invention includes a first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are encoded by the first encoding method in one frame. Solves the above-described problem by recording encoding parameters together with encoding information in which signals of other channels are arranged with at least a part of a second code string encoded by a second encoding method. I do.

Further, according to the third information decoding method and the information decoding apparatus of the present invention, a signal of a partial channel among a plurality of channels arranged for each of one or a plurality of frames is obtained from the encoded information. The first code string encoded by one encoding method, the signal of the other channel separates the second code string encoded by the second encoding method, the separated first code string A code string is decoded by a first decoding method corresponding to the first coding method to generate a first decoded signal, and a separated second code string is converted to a second code string corresponding to the second coding method. The above-described problem is solved by generating the second decoded signal by performing decoding using the second decoding method.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a compressed data recording and / or reproducing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Hereinafter, the specific configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

In the compressed data recording and / or reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a magneto-optical disk 1 driven by a spindle motor 51 is used as a recording medium. When recording data on the magneto-optical disk 1,
For example, a so-called magnetic field modulation recording is performed by applying a modulation magnetic field corresponding to the recording data by the magnetic head 54 in a state where the laser light is irradiated by the optical head 53, and the data is recorded along the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1. . At the time of reproduction, a recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 is traced by a laser beam by the optical head 53, and reproduction is performed magneto-optically.

The optical head 53 includes, for example, a laser light source such as a laser diode, a collimator lens, an objective lens,
It is composed of optical components such as a polarizing beam splitter and a cylindrical lens, and a photodetector having a light receiving section having a predetermined pattern. The optical head 53 is provided at a position facing the magnetic head 54 via the magneto-optical disk 1. When data is recorded on the magneto-optical disk 1, the magnetic head 54 is driven by a recording-system head drive circuit 66, which will be described later, to apply a modulation magnetic field in accordance with the recording data. By irradiating the track with laser light, thermomagnetic recording is performed by a magnetic field modulation method. The optical head 53 detects the reflected light of the laser beam applied to the target track, detects a focus error by, for example, a so-called astigmatism method, and detects a tracking error by, for example, a so-called push-pull method. When reproducing data from the magneto-optical disk 1, the optical head 53 detects the focus error and the tracking error, and at the same time, detects the difference in the polarization angle (Kerr rotation angle) of the reflected light of the laser light from the target track and reproduces the data. Generate a signal.

The output of the optical head 53 is supplied to an RF circuit 55. The RF circuit 55 extracts the focus error signal and the tracking error signal from the output of the optical head 53 and supplies the focus error signal and the tracking error signal to the servo control circuit 56.
Feed to 1.

The servo control circuit 56 comprises, for example, a focus servo control circuit, a tracking servo control circuit, a spindle motor servo control circuit, a thread servo control circuit and the like. The focus servo control circuit performs focus control of the optical system of the optical head 53 so that the focus error signal becomes zero. Further, the tracking servo control circuit performs tracking control of the optical system of the optical head 53 so that the tracking error signal becomes zero. Further, the spindle motor servo control circuit controls the spindle motor 51 so as to rotate the magneto-optical disk 1 at a predetermined rotation speed (for example, a constant linear speed). The thread servo control circuit moves the optical head 53 and the magnetic head 54 to target track positions of the magneto-optical disk 1 specified by the system controller 57. The servo control circuit 56 that performs such various control operations sends information indicating the operation state of each unit controlled by the servo control circuit 56 to the system controller 57.

A key input operation unit 58 and a display unit 59 are connected to the system controller 57. The system controller 57 controls a recording system and a reproduction system based on operation input information based on operation input information from the key input operation unit 58. In addition, the system controller 57 determines the above-mentioned recording track traced by the optical head 53 and the magnetic head 54 based on the address information in sector units reproduced from the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 by the header time, the Q data of the subcode, and the like. Manage the upper recording and playback positions. Further, the system controller 57
Based on the data compression ratio of the compressed data recording / reproducing apparatus and the reproduction position information on the recording track, control is performed to display the reproduction time on the display unit 59.

This reproduction time display is based on the reciprocal of the data compression ratio (absolute time information) with respect to the sector-based address information (absolute time information) reproduced from the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 by the so-called header time or the so-called subcode Q data. For example, in the case of 1/4 compression, the actual time information is obtained by multiplying by 4), and this is displayed on the display unit 59. At the time of recording, if absolute time information is recorded in advance on a recording track of a magneto-optical disk or the like (preformatted), the preformatted absolute time information is read and the data compression ratio is adjusted. By multiplying the reciprocal, the current position can be displayed by the actual recording time.

Next, in the recording system of the disk recording / reproducing apparatus, an analog audio input signal AIN from an input terminal 60 is supplied to an A / D converter 62 via a low-pass filter 61, and the A / D converter 62 The analog audio input signal AIN is quantized. The digital audio signal obtained from the A / D converter 62 is
(Adaptive Transform Coding) is supplied to the encoder 63. The digital audio input signal DIN from the input terminal 67 is supplied to the ATC encoder 63 via the digital input interface circuit 68. A
The TC encoder 63 converts the input signal AIN to the A /
The digital audio PCM data of a predetermined transfer rate quantized by the D converter 62 is subjected to bit compression (data compression) processing according to a predetermined data compression ratio. The compressed data (ATC) output from the ATC encoder 63 Data) is supplied to the memory 64. For example, a case where the data compression rate is 1/8 will be described. Here, the data transfer rate is 1/8 of the data transfer rate (75 sectors / sec) of the standard CD-DA format.
(9.375 sectors / sec).

Next, the memory 64 is controlled by the system controller 57 to write and read data. The memory 64 temporarily stores the ATC data supplied from the ATC encoder 63 and records it on the disk as necessary. Used as a buffer memory. That is, for example, when the data compression ratio is 1/8,
The data transfer rate of the compressed audio data supplied from the ATC encoder 63 is 1/1 / the data transfer rate (75 sectors / second) of the standard CD-DA format.
8, or 9.375 sectors / sec.
This compressed data is continuously written to the memory 64.
This compressed data (ATC data) is 8 bits as described above.
It is sufficient to perform recording of one sector per sector, but such recording at every eight sectors is practically impossible. Therefore, continuous recording of sectors as described later is performed.
This recording is performed in bursts at the same data transfer rate (75 sectors / second) as a standard CD-DA format by using a cluster composed of a predetermined plurality of sectors (for example, 32 sectors + several sectors) as a recording unit through a pause period. It is done on a regular basis.

That is, in the memory 64, ATC audio data having a data compression rate of 1/8 continuously written at a low transfer rate of 9.375 (= 75/8) sectors / sec according to the bit compression rate is used. The recording data is read out in bursts at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / sec. For the data read and recorded,
The overall data transfer speed including the recording pause period is as low as 9.375 sectors / sec, but the instantaneous data transfer speed within the time of a burst recording operation is the same as the standard data transfer speed. 75 sectors / sec.
Therefore, when the disk rotation speed is the same speed (constant linear speed) as the standard CD-DA format, the CD-DA
Recording of the same recording density and storage pattern as the format is performed.

The ATC audio data, ie, recorded data, read from the memory 64 in a burst at the (instantaneous) transfer rate of 75 sectors / second is transferred to the encoder 65.
Supplied to Here, from the memory 64 to the encoder 65
In the data sequence supplied to the cluster, the unit continuously recorded in one recording is a cluster including a plurality of sectors (for example, 32 sectors) and several sectors for cluster connection arranged before and after the cluster. The cluster connection sector is set to be longer than the interleave length in the encoder 65, so that even if interleaved, data in other clusters is not affected.

The encoder 65 operates on the recording data supplied in bursts from the memory 64 as described above.
Encoding processing (parity addition and interleaving processing) for error correction, EFM encoding processing, and the like are performed. The recording data that has been subjected to the encoding process by the encoder 65 is supplied to the magnetic head drive circuit 66. The magnetic head drive circuit 66 is connected to the magnetic head 54,
The magnetic head 54 is driven so that a modulation magnetic field corresponding to the recording data is applied to the magneto-optical disk 1.

The system controller 57 controls the memory 64 as described above,
By this memory control, the recording position is controlled so that the recording data read out from the memory 64 in a burst manner is continuously recorded on the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1.
The recording position is controlled by controlling the recording position of the recording data read in a burst from the memory 64 by the system controller 57 and transmitting a control signal for designating the recording position on the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 to a servo control circuit. 56.

Next, the reproducing system will be described. This reproducing system is for reproducing the recorded data continuously recorded on the recording tracks of the magneto-optical disk 1 by the recording system described above.
A reproduction output obtained by tracing the recording track with a laser beam is binarized by the RF circuit 55 and supplied to the decoder 71. At this time, a so-called compact disk (CD:
The same read-only optical disk as Compact Disc (trademark) can also be read.

The decoder 71 corresponds to the encoder 65 in the recording system described above, and performs the above-described decoding processing for error correction and EFM decoding on the reproduced output binarized by the RF circuit 55. Processing such as processing is performed, and the above-mentioned ATC audio data having a data compression rate of 1/8 is reproduced at a transfer rate of 75 sectors / sec, which is faster than the normal transfer rate. The reproduction data obtained by the decoder 71 is supplied to the memory 72.

In the memory 72, data writing and reading are controlled by the system controller 57, and reproduced data supplied from the decoder 71 at a transfer rate of 75 sectors / second is written in burst at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / second. It is. Further, in the memory 72, the reproduced data written in a burst at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / second is continuously read at a transfer rate of 9.375 sectors / second corresponding to a data compression rate of 1/8. .

The system controller 57 writes the reproduced data to the memory 72 at a transfer rate of 75 sectors / sec.
Memory control is performed such that data is read continuously at a transfer rate of 5 sectors / second. Further, the system controller 57 performs the above-described memory control on the memory 72, and reproduces the reproduction data written in a burst from the memory 72 by the memory control from the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 continuously. Control the playback position. This playback position control is performed by the system controller 5.
7 controls the reproduction position of the reproduction data read out from the memory 72 in a burst manner, and supplies a control signal specifying the reproduction position on the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 or the optical disk 1 to the servo control circuit 56. Done.

ATC audio data obtained as reproduction data continuously read from the memory 72 at a transfer rate of 9.375 sectors / sec is supplied to the ATC decoder 73. The ATC decoder 73 is provided for the recording system A.
This corresponds to the TC encoder 63. For example, ATC data is expanded by 8 times (bit expansion) to 16 bits.
Plays digital audio data of bits. The digital audio data from the ATC decoder 73 is supplied to a D / A converter 74.

The D / A converter 74 includes an ATC decoder 73
Converts the digital audio data supplied from the analog audio signal into an analog signal, and outputs an analog audio output signal AOUT
To form The analog audio signal AOUT obtained by the D / A converter 74 is supplied to a low-pass filter 75.
Is output from the output terminal 76 via the.

Next, the high efficiency compression encoding will be described in detail. That is, refer to FIG. 2 et seq. For a technique of encoding an input digital signal such as an audio PCM signal using band division coding (SBC), adaptive conversion coding (ATC), and adaptive bit allocation. I will explain while.

An information encoding apparatus (an encoder 6 shown in FIG. 1) for executing the information (acoustic waveform signal) encoding method according to the present invention.
In 3), as shown in FIG.
0a is converted to a signal frequency component 110 by the conversion circuit 111a.
b, and the obtained frequency components 110b are encoded by a signal component encoding circuit 111b.
11b from the encoded signal 110c generated at 11b
Generate 10d.

In the conversion circuit 111a,
As shown in FIG. 3, an input signal 120a is divided into two bands by a band division filter 112a, and the obtained signals 120b and 120c of the two bands are converted into spectrum signals by forward spectrum conversion circuits 112b and 112c using MDCT or the like. The components are converted into components 120d and 120e. The input signal 120a corresponds to the signal waveform 110a in FIG.
0e corresponds to the signal frequency component 110b in FIG. In the conversion circuit 111a having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the signals 120b and 120 divided into the two bands are used.
The bandwidth of c is の of the bandwidth of the input signal 120a, and the input signal 120a is thinned to １ ／. Of course, a large number of conversion circuits 111a can be considered in addition to this specific example.
The signal may be converted into a spectrum signal by MDCT, or may be converted by DFT or DCT instead of MDCT. It is also possible to divide a signal into band components by a so-called band division filter, but in the information encoding method according to the present invention, the above-described spectrum conversion method enables a large number of frequency components to be obtained with a relatively small amount of calculation. It is convenient to adopt a method of converting the frequency component into frequency components.

In the signal component encoding circuit 111b, as shown in FIG. 4, each signal component 130a is normalized by a normalizing circuit 113a for each predetermined band.
The signal component 130a is output from the quantization precision determination circuit 113b.
, And the quantization circuit 113c quantizes the normalized signal 130b from the normalization circuit 113a based on the quantization accuracy information 130c. Each signal component 130a corresponds to the signal frequency component 110b in FIG. 2 and the quantization circuit 113c
Output signal 130d is the encoded signal 110c of FIG.
It corresponds to. However, this output signal 130d includes
In addition to the quantized signal components, the information includes normalization coefficient information at the time of the normalization and the quantization accuracy information.

On the other hand, in an information decoding device (decoder 73 in the example of FIG. 1) for reproducing an audio signal from a code sequence generated by the information coding device as described above, as shown in FIG. The code 140b of each signal component is extracted from the code string 140a by the decomposition circuit 114a, and the signal component decoding circuit 1 is extracted from the code 140b.
Each signal component 140c is restored by 14b, and an acoustic waveform signal 140d is reproduced from the restored signal component 140c by the inverse transform circuit 114c.

The inverse transform circuit 114c of this information decoding device
Is configured as shown in FIG. 6 and corresponds to the conversion circuit shown in FIG. In the inverse conversion circuit 114c shown in FIG. 6, the inverse spectrum conversion circuits 115a and 115b perform inverse spectrum conversion on the supplied input signals 150a and 150b to restore the signals in each band, and the band synthesis filter 115c The band signals are combined. The input signals 150a, 150
0b corresponds to the signal 140c in which each signal component is restored by the signal component decoding circuit 114b in FIG. The output signal 1 of the band synthesis filter 115c is
50e corresponds to the acoustic waveform signal 140d of FIG.

The signal component decoding circuit 114b shown in FIG.
Is configured as shown in FIG. 7, and performs inverse quantization and inverse normalization processing on the code 140b, that is, the spectrum signal from the code sequence decomposition circuit 114a in FIG. The signal component decoding circuit 114 shown in FIG.
In b, the inverse quantization circuit 116a inversely quantizes the input code 160a, and the inverse normalization circuit 116b inversely normalizes the signal 160b obtained by the inverse quantization to output a signal component 160c. The reference numeral 160a corresponds to FIG.
The output signal component 160c corresponds to the signal component 140c of FIG.
c.

It should be noted that FIG.
The spectral signal obtained by the conversion circuit shown in
For example, it is as shown in FIG. Each spectral component shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by converting the absolute value of the spectral component by MDCT into a level [dB]. That is, in this information coding apparatus, the input signal is converted into 64 spectral signals for each predetermined conversion block, and the converted signals are converted into eight bands (hereinafter, referred to as [1] to [8] in the figure). Are referred to as a coding unit). At this time, if the quantization accuracy is changed for each of the coding units depending on the manner of distribution of the frequency components, it is possible to perform audio-efficient coding with deterioration of sound quality minimized.

Next, FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a code string when the image data is encoded by the above-described method.

In the code sequence of this configuration example, information for restoring the spectrum signal of each transform block is arranged in such a manner that the data is encoded corresponding to a frame composed of a predetermined number of bits. At the beginning (header part) of each frame, first, information obtained by coding a control signal such as a synchronization signal and the number of coding units being coded with a fixed number of bits is used. The information obtained by encoding the data and the normalization coefficient data in order from the coding unit on the low frequency side is finally provided for each coding unit by normalization and quantization based on the above-described normalization coefficient data and quantization precision data. Information obtained by sequentially encoding the converted spectral coefficient data from the low band side is arranged.

The number of bits actually required for restoring the spectrum signal of the transform block is determined by the number of coding units which have been coded and the number of quantization bits indicated by the quantization accuracy information of each coding unit. And the amount may vary from frame to frame. Only the necessary number of bits from the beginning of each frame has meaning during reproduction, and the remaining area of each frame becomes an empty area, and does not affect the reproduction signal. Normally, more bits are effectively used to improve the sound quality so that the empty area of each frame is made as small as possible.

As in this example, each conversion block is encoded in correspondence with a frame having a fixed number of bits. For example, when this code string is recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk, an arbitrary conversion block Since the recording position can be easily calculated, it is possible to easily realize so-called random access in which reproduction is performed from an arbitrary position.

Next, FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example of a recording format when the data of the frame shown in FIG. 9 is arranged, for example, in a time series on a recording medium or the like. FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an example in which signals of two channels, for example, L (left) and R (right) are alternately arranged for each frame.
An example is shown in which one-channel signal (monaural signal generated from two channels of L and R) generated by (L + R) / 2 of two-channel signals of L and R is arranged for each frame.

By adopting these recording formats as shown in FIG. 10, two-channel signals of L and R can be recorded on the same recording medium, and as shown in FIG. In the case of adopting a recording format in which only one channel of (L + R) / 2 is arranged,
Compared to the recording format in which two channels of L and R are alternately arranged for each frame as shown in FIG. 10, recording and reproduction of a signal twice as long can be performed, and reproduction can be easily performed without complicating a reproduction circuit. It is also possible to do.

If the recording format as shown in FIG. 10 is called, for example, a standard time mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the recording format that enables recording and reproduction of a long time signal with a small number of channels is the standard time mode. It can be called a long time mode in which recording and reproduction can be performed for twice the time of the mode. Also in the example of FIG. 10, if only one monaural channel of either L or R is recorded instead of two channels of L and R for each frame, two channels of L and R can be recorded. Can be recorded for twice as long as the case of recording, and this case can also be called a long time mode.

In the above description, only the method described with reference to FIG. 9 has been described as a coding method. However, the coding method described with reference to FIG. 9 can be further enhanced in coding efficiency. .

For example, among the quantized spectrum signals, a relatively short code length is assigned to a signal having a high frequency of appearance, and a relatively long code length is assigned to a signal with a low frequency of appearance. By using the long coding technique, coding efficiency can be improved.

For example, if the predetermined transform block used for encoding an input signal, that is, the time block length for spectrum conversion is set to be long, sub-information such as quantization accuracy information and normalization coefficient information can be obtained. Since the amount can be relatively reduced per block and the frequency resolution is increased, the quantization precision on the frequency axis can be more finely controlled, and the coding efficiency can be increased.

Further, the applicant of the present invention has filed Japanese Patent Application No.
In the specification and the drawing of No. 500482, a method is proposed in which a signal component having a particularly important tone property is separated from a spectral signal component and is encoded separately from other spectral signal components. For example, it is possible to efficiently encode an audio signal or the like at a high compression ratio without causing any substantial deterioration in audibility.

Here, a method for separating and encoding the above-mentioned tone-like signal components will be described with reference to FIG. The example of FIG. 12 shows a state in which three tone components, which are grouped as tone signal components, are separated from the spectral signal components, and each signal component constituting each tone component is represented by each tone component. Is encoded together with the respective position data on the frequency axis.

In general, it is necessary to quantize each signal component of the above tone components, whose energy is concentrated in a small number of spectra, with very high precision in order not to degrade the sound quality. The spectral coefficients (spectral signal components having no tone) in the quantization unit can be quantized with a relatively small number of steps without deteriorating the audible sound quality.

In FIG. 12, for the sake of simplicity, only a relatively small number of spectral signal components are shown. However, in actual tone components, an encoding unit comprised of several tens of spectral signal components is used. Since the energy is concentrated on several signal components, the increase in data amount due to the separation of such tone components is relatively small, and the encoding efficiency is improved as a whole by separating these tone components. Can be.

Next, FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of a code string when encoding is performed by the method described with reference to FIG. In this configuration example, information obtained by encoding control data such as a synchronization signal and the number of encoded units with a predetermined number of bits is arranged as a header portion at the beginning of each frame. The information obtained by encoding the tone component data, which is the data of.

As the tone component data, first, information obtained by encoding the number of each signal component in the tone component, then, position information on the frequency axis of each tone component, and thereafter, quantization in the tone component is performed. Accuracy information, normalization coefficient information, and information obtained by encoding normalized and quantized tonal signal components (spectral coefficient data) are arranged.

After the above tone component data, the encoded information of the remaining signal data (also referred to as noise signal components) obtained by subtracting the above tone signal components from the original spectral signal components. Has been arranged. This includes quantization accuracy data and normalization coefficient data of each encoding unit, and spectral coefficient data normalized and quantized based on the above-described normalization coefficient data and quantization accuracy data for each encoding unit ( Information in which signal components other than tone components) are sequentially encoded from the encoding unit on the lower frequency side. Here, it is assumed that the spectral signal components (coefficient data) of tone characteristics and other signal components have been encoded with variable length.

FIG. 14 shows a specific example of the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 in the case of separating a tone signal component from each of the above signal components.

The signal component encoding circuit 11 shown in FIG.
In 1b, the signal component 170a (110b) supplied from the conversion circuit 111a in FIG. 2 is sent to the tone component separation circuit 117a. The signal component 170a is divided into a tone signal component and other signal components (non-tone signal components), and the tone signal component 170b is supplied to the tone component encoding circuit 117b. The component 170c is sent to the non-tone component encoding circuit 117c. The tone component encoding circuit 117b and the non-tone component encoding circuit 117c encode the supplied signal components, and output signals 170d and 1
70e is output. The tone component encoding circuit 117
In b, at the same time as the encoding of the tone signal components, the generation of each piece of information constituting the tone component data of FIG. 13 is also performed. The configurations for signal encoding in the tone component encoding circuit 117b and the non-tone component encoding circuit 117c are the same as those in FIG.

FIG. 15 shows a specific example of the signal component decoding circuit 114b of FIG. 5 in the case where the tone component is separated from each of the above signal components.

The signal component decoding circuit 1 shown in FIG.
14b, the code 140a supplied from the code string decomposition circuit 114a of FIG.
a and a non-tone signal component 180b. These data and signal components are sent to the corresponding tone component decoding circuit 118a and non-tone component decoding circuit 118b, respectively. The tone component decoding circuit 118a decodes the tone component from the tone component data as shown in FIG.
Output c. The non-tone component decoding circuit 11
At 8d, the non-tone signal component is decoded, and the obtained non-tone signal component 180d is output. The tonal signal component 180c and the non-tonal signal component 180c
Both d are sent to the spectrum signal synthesis circuit 118c. The spectrum signal synthesizing circuit 118c synthesizes the tone signal component and the non-tone signal component based on the position data, and outputs the obtained signal component 180e. The configuration for signal decoding in the tone component decoding circuit 118a and the non-tone component decoding circuit 118b is the same as that in FIG.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a format for recording the signal encoded as described above, for example, on a magneto-optical disk. In the example of FIG. 16, it is assumed that audio signal data of, for example, four pieces (four songs) is recorded in total.

In FIG. 16, the disc includes:
In addition to these four pieces of audio signal data in total, management data used when recording and reproducing the audio signal data are also recorded. 0 in the management data area
The first address and the last data number are recorded at the address 1 and the address 1, respectively. In the example of FIG. 16, 1 is recorded as the value of the first data number, and 4 is recorded as the value of the last data number. As a result, it can be seen that the first to fourth four audio signal data are recorded on this disc.

[0086] From address 5 to address 8 of the management data area, "data indicating where each audio signal data is recorded on the disc", that is, address information,
Information of an address storage position indicating where the information is recorded in the management data area is recorded. The information of the address storage position is recorded in the order of reproduction of the audio signal data (the order of performance of the music). The address storage position information for audio signal data to be reproduced at
And so on. By using such management data, for example, it is easy to change the order of the first and second reproductions by changing the contents of addresses 5 and 6 instead of changing the recording position of the actual audio signal data. Can be realized. In the management data area, a spare area is provided so that future expansion is possible, and 0 data is recorded therein.

Now, a coding method (hereinafter referred to as an old standard or A codec) has been developed, and the recording format on the disc has been standardized using this method. It is assumed that a more efficient coding method (hereinafter, referred to as a new standard or a B codec) that is an extension of the above has been developed. In such a case, the signal encoded by the B codec can be recorded on the same type of disc as the signal recorded by the A codec. If the signal by the B codec can be recorded in the same manner as in the case of the A codec as described above, it is possible to record a signal for a longer time on the disc or to record a signal with higher sound quality.
The use of the disc is expanded and convenient.

In the present embodiment described above, FIG.
If the encoding method described using is considered to be an A codec, for example, as described above, a relatively short code length is assigned to a quantized spectrum signal having a high appearance frequency, A coding method using a so-called variable length coding technique that allocates a relatively long code length to a low code length can be considered as a B codec. Similarly, for example, as described above, the amount of sub-information such as quantization accuracy information and normalization coefficient information is relatively reduced per block by increasing the transform block length when encoding an input signal. Such an encoding method can be considered as a B codec. Further, for example, as described above, a coding method of coding by dividing a spectrum signal component into a tone component and a non-tone component can be considered as a B codec. Further, a combination of these highly efficient encoding methods can be considered as a B codec.

As described above, when a signal encoded by the B codec, which is an extension of the A codec, is recorded on a disc, the old standard (A) as shown in FIG.
In a disc corresponding to only (codec), mode designation information as shown in FIG. 17 is recorded at address 2, which is a spare area. When the value of the mode designation information is 0, it indicates that recording based on the old standard (A codec) is performed, and when the value is 1, recording based on the A codec or B codec is performed. It shows that. Therefore, when the value of the mode designation information is 1 at the time of reproducing the disc, it can be determined that there is a possibility that recording based on the B codec is performed on the disc.

When the signal by the B codec is recorded on the disk, the address information (start address and end address) of each audio signal data shown in FIG. Is used as an area for codec designation information. The codec designation information is
When the value is 0, it indicates that the audio signal data specified by the address information including the start address and the end address is encoded based on the old standard (A codec). This indicates that the audio signal data specified by the address information is encoded based on the new standard (B codec). As a result, audio signal data encoded by the A codec and audio signal data encoded by the B codec can be mixed and recorded on the same disk, and the disk can be played back in accordance with the new standard (B codec). The playback can be performed by a device (hereinafter, referred to as a new-standard-compliant playback device).

However, as shown in FIG. 17, a disc on which data of the A codec and data of the B codec are mixedly recorded is recorded on the A codec, ie, the old standard, or on the B codec, ie, the new standard. It is not possible to visually determine whether the recording was made. Therefore, there is a possibility that the user will play this disc with an old-standard-compliant playback device. At this time, the old-standard-compliant playback apparatus does not check the contents of the address 2, which is always set to the value 0 as shown in FIG. Since an attempt is made to perform reproduction by interpreting it as being based on a codec, there is a high risk that the reproduction cannot be performed, or that random and random noise is generated, and that the user is confused.

In view of such circumstances, the applicant of the present application has described, in the specification and the drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 8-228968, "recorded signal A part of is not reproduced by the reproducing means corresponding only to this standard. "Is recorded based on the old standard (A codec), and when reproduced by the old standard reproducing apparatus, A method has been proposed in which a signal other than a signal recorded based on the old standard (A codec) is not reproduced to prevent confusion for a user of the apparatus or to generate noise. In the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 8-228968, a message signal according to the old standard (A codec) is recorded in advance on a recording medium. A method of allowing the recording to be easily performed by an inexpensive new-standard recording device by operating the contents so that the message signal is reproduced when the content is reproduced by the old-standard-compatible reproducing device, and In the case of playing back with the old standard compatible playback device, the message signal is played back corresponding to the part recorded in the new standard, so that it is possible to determine which song is actually recorded in the old standard. A proposal has also been made regarding a method for notifying the user of the standard-compliant playback device. That is, in the specification and the drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 8-228968, a message notifying erroneously reproducing data that cannot be reproduced by the old standard-compatible reproducing apparatus itself and informing the user of the contents of the recording medium is provided. To prevent users of the old-standard-compliant playback device from being confused.

Here, FIG. 18 shows the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
This shows an example in which recording is performed on a disc by the method described in the specification and drawings of No. 8968. In the example of FIG. 18, the management data related to the new standard (B codec) is recorded separately from the management data related to the old standard (A codec).

That is, in FIG. 18, for example, the old-standard-compatible reproducing apparatus first sets the old standard head data number of address 0 to 1
The old standard last data number of the address (these correspond to the leading data number and the last data number in FIG. 16) is read. In the example of FIG. 18, it can be interpreted that the data recorded on this disc is only one data number 1 to 1 from the old standard head data number and the old standard final data number. Next, in order to know where the one piece of data is recorded on the disc, the old-standard-compliant playback apparatus checks the contents of address 5 (that is, address storage position information) in accordance with the old standard. , The position in the management area where the address data is stored. Next, the old-standards-compliant playback device checks the contents from the address (address 116) indicated in the address storage position information of the address 5, and finds the position where the audio signal of data number 0 is recorded (address 200000). ).

Here, the playback device conforming to the old standard is 11
Although the codec designation information recorded at address 8 is ignored, in the method described in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 8-228968, the audio signal of data number 0 is actually encoded by the A codec. There is no problem. The content of the audio signal of data number 0 is a message stating "To reproduce the signal of this disc, use a B codec compatible player." Confusion of the user of the device can be avoided.

On the other hand, when a playback device that supports both the old standard and the new standard (that is, a playback device that supports the new standard) plays this disc, first, the mode designation at address 2 in FIG. 18 is performed based on the new standard. The content of the information is checked. Thereby, the new standard compliant playback device knows that this disc may be recorded based on the new standard (B codec) in which the value of the mode designation information is 1. Accordingly, the new standard-compatible playback apparatus ignores the old standard head data number of address 0 and the old standard final data number of address 1 based on the rule in the case where the mode designation information is 1, and ignores the new standard head address of address 3. Based on the data number and the contents of the new standard final data number of address 4, the data to be reproduced on this disc is interpreted as four data numbers 2 to 5, and reproduction is performed. That is, in this case, the message (signal of data number 0) for the old-standard-compliant playback device is not played back. However,
In order to pay attention to the user of this disc, this message can be reproduced by a new standard compatible reproducing apparatus. In this case, the value of the new standard head data number at address 3 may be set to 1.

As is clear from the above description, when the method described in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 8-228968 is used, a desired audio signal recorded on a disc by a new-standard-compliant reproducing apparatus can be obtained. Not only can data be reproduced, but also the old-standard-compliant reproducing apparatus reproduces only a caution message regarding disc reproduction, thereby avoiding unnecessary confusion to the user.

However, according to the above-described method, the message signal that can be reproduced by the old-standard-compliant reproduction apparatus is not the signal itself that is really desired to be reproduced.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the signals by the A codec and the B codec are recorded on the same disc by performing the following process, Is designed to be able to reproduce even an old standard compatible reproducing apparatus, and to reproduce both signals of the A codec and B codec by using a new standard compatible reproducing apparatus.

When signals of different standards such as a signal of the old standard (A codec) and a signal of the new standard (B codec) are simultaneously recorded in the same disc,
Since the recording area allocated to each of them is reduced, it may be difficult to maintain the quality of the signal to be recorded and reproduced (the sound quality in the case of an audio signal). However, in the present embodiment, This reduction in sound quality can be reduced.

In order to realize these, in the embodiment of the present invention, if the number of channels is small as in the recording format shown in FIG. 11 or the case of recording a monaural signal in FIG. For a code string that is defined in advance so that long-time recording and reproduction can be performed, a smaller number of bits than the total number of bits that can be allocated to each frame is allocated to the minority channel. In other words, for the A codec, for example, encoding is performed with a smaller number of bits than the total number of bits that can be allocated to each frame so that an empty recording area is formed in the frame. In the recording area, signals of channels that are not played back by
That is, by recording the signal of the B codec, multi-channel recording / reproduction (recording / reproduction of both signals of the A codec and the B codec) in the long time mode is enabled. As a method of creating the empty recording area, in addition to the adjustment of the number of allocated bits, it is possible to narrow the band of a channel to be encoded by the encoding method of the A codec.

Here, as in the present embodiment described above,
When the signals of the A codec and the B codec are encoded with a smaller number of bits than the number of bits that can be assigned to one frame, compared with the case where all the bits of one frame are assigned for the encoding of the A codec, Since the number of bits allocated for encoding by the A codec is reduced, the sound quality when reproduced by the old-standard-compliant reproduction circuit is degraded. However, in the present embodiment, B
Since a method with higher coding efficiency than that of the A codec is used, such as using a long transform block as the codec coding method, the number of bits used for the B codec coding method Is relatively small, and the number of bits that can be used for the coding method of the A codec can be relatively large, so that the degree of the sound quality deterioration can be kept to a slight degree.

That is, in the present embodiment, the signal of the channel that is not reproduced by the old standard reproducing apparatus,
The codec signal is coded by a method more efficient than the signal of the channel (A codec signal) reproduced by the old standard-compatible playback device, so that the multi-channel reproduction is performed as described above, thereby reproducing the old standard. It is possible to minimize a decrease in sound quality due to a decrease in the number of bits allocated to a signal reproduced by the device.

As a method for actually increasing the coding efficiency, as described above, there are various methods such as a longer conversion block, adoption of a variable length code, and separation of a tone signal component. These are all included in the method of the present invention,
In the following, for simplification of description, an example in which a longer time block length, a variable length code, and a tone component separation are employed will be described.

FIG. 19 shows a specific example of a code string obtained by applying the above-described method of the present invention.

In the example shown in FIG. 19, each frame composed of a fixed number of bits is divided into two regions, and regions 1 and 3 shown in FIG. 19 have (L + R) / 2, for example. Are encoded and recorded by the encoding method of the A codec, and (LR) / 2 are applied to areas 2 and 4 shaded in the figure.
Are encoded and recorded by the encoding method of the B codec. The areas 2 and 4 correspond to the empty recording areas.

The encoding method of the A codec is as follows.
For example, the encoding method described with reference to FIG. On the other hand, the coding method of the B codec may be, for example, a signal obtained by converting a signal converted into a spectrum signal component with a conversion block length twice that of the A codec by the coding method shown in FIG. . However, the conversion block length of the A codec at this time is twice as long as the conversion block length of the B codec, and therefore, it is assumed that the code corresponding to the conversion block is recorded over two frames.

In the example of FIG. 19, the coding method of the A codec employs a fixed-length coding method. Therefore, a code string (hereinafter, A code) obtained by the coding method of the A codec is used. Codec code string)
Can be easily calculated. If the number of bits used by the A codec code string can be calculated in this manner, the head position of a code string (hereinafter, referred to as a B codec code string) by the coding method of the B codec can be easily known. As another method, the B codec code string may be started from the last part of the frame. By doing so, even if, for example, a variable-length encoding method is adopted as the encoding method of the A codec,
The head position of the B codec code string can be easily known. If the head position of the B codec code string can be easily calculated in this way, a playback apparatus (a new-standard-compliant playback apparatus) supporting both the A codec and the B codec can quickly convert both code strings. Processing can be performed in parallel, and high-speed processing can be performed.

When the coding method of the A codec includes information on the number of coding units as shown in FIG. 9, as described above, an area for recording a signal of another channel (empty recording area) When the band of the channel to be coded by the coding method of the A codec is narrowed in order to secure, quantization accuracy data and normalization coefficient data on the high frequency side can be omitted, which is convenient. . Also in this case, the number of bits used for encoding by the encoding method of the A codec can be easily calculated.

In the example of FIG. 19, as described above, the signal of the (L + R) / 2 channel is recorded as an A codec code sequence, and the signal of the (LR) / 2 channel is recorded as a B codec code. Since the data is recorded as a column, for example, if only the area where the signal of the A codec is recorded is reproduced and decoded, a monaural signal of (L + R) / 2 can be reproduced, while the signal of the A codec is recorded. Both the area and the area where the signal of the B codec are recorded are reproduced and decoded, and if the sum of them is calculated, the signal of the R (right) channel can be generated. If the difference is calculated, the signal of the L (left) channel can be generated. Can be generated, and reproduction in stereo becomes possible.

[0111] For the recording medium on which the code string as shown in Fig. 19 is recorded, the old-standard-compliant playback apparatus ignores the area coded by the coding method of the B codec. A monaural signal can be reproduced from a recording medium on which the above-mentioned code string is recorded. on the other hand,
With respect to the recording medium on which the code sequence shown in FIG. 19 is recorded, a reproducing apparatus (a new standard-compatible reproducing apparatus) equipped with an A codec code decoding circuit and a B codec code decoding circuit outputs a stereo signal. It is possible to make it playable. As described above, after the old standard compatible playback device has already spread, even if the encoding method shown in FIG. 19 is introduced as a standard for stereo playback by the new standard compatible playback device, the old standard compatible playback device can be used. It is possible for the device to reproduce monaural signals. Since a decoding circuit for decoding the code of the A codec can be realized by relatively small-scale hardware, a reproducing apparatus equipped with such a decoding circuit can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Next, FIG. 20 shows a specific configuration of an encoding circuit that generates the code sequence shown in FIG. 19 using the above-described method of the present invention.

In FIG. 20, input signal 190a of the L channel and input signal 190b of the R channel are equivalent to signals 190c and (LR) / 2 corresponding to (L + R) / 2 by channel conversion circuit 119a. It is converted to a signal 190d. The above (L + R) / 2 signal 190
c is sent to the first encoding circuit 119b, and the (LR) / 2 signal 190d is sent to the second encoding circuit 119c.

The first encoding circuit 119b corresponds to the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. 4, and employs the encoding method of the A codec. On the other hand, the second encoding circuit 119c has a conversion block length twice that of the first encoding circuit 119b,
14 corresponds to the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. 14, and the encoding method of the B codec is applied. These first encoding circuits 119b
A codec code string 190e and the second encoding circuit 119
The B codec code string 190f of c is supplied to the code string generation circuit 119d.

The code string generation circuit 119d generates the code string shown in FIG. 19 from the code strings 190e and 190f, and outputs the code string as an output code string signal 190g.

FIG. 21 shows the code string generation circuit 11 of FIG.
9d shows the flow of processing when the code string of FIG. 19 is generated.

In FIG. 21, in step S101, the frame number F is initialized to 1, and in step S10
2 receives the A codec code string 190e from the first coding circuit 119b. In step S103, it is determined whether or not the frame number F is even. If it is not even, the process proceeds to step S106.
The process proceeds to 104.

In step S104, the second encoding circuit 1
It receives the B codec code string 190f from 19c.
In the next step S105, the code strings 190e and 19
0f, the code string of FIG. 19 is synthesized.

In step S106, it is determined whether or not the processing for all the frames has been completed. When the processing has been completed, the processing in FIG. 21 ends. When the processing has not been completed, the frame number F is set in step S107. After incrementing by one, the process returns to step S102, and the above-described processing is repeated.

In the processing shown in FIG. 21, the frame number F starts from 1, but the processing unit of the encoding method of the B codec is two frames, which is twice the encoding method of the A codec. Is also generated every two frames.

Next, FIG. 22 shows a specific configuration of a decoding circuit of a new-standard-compliant playback device that decodes the code sequence of FIG. 19 generated by using the above-described encoding method of the present invention.

In FIG. 22, an input code string 200a, which is the code string in FIG. 19, is separated into the A codec code string 200b and the B codec code string 200c by a code string separation circuit 120a. The A codec code string 200b is sent to the first decoding circuit 120b, and the B codec code string 200c is sent to the second decoding circuit 120c.

The first decoding circuit 120b corresponds to the signal component decoding circuit 114b of FIG. 5 having the configuration of FIG. 7, and decodes the code of the A codec. on the other hand,
The second decoding circuit 120c is a second decoding circuit 120b.
5 corresponds to the signal component decoding circuit 114b of FIG. 5 having the configuration of FIG. 15 and decodes the code of the B codec. The signal 200d decoded by the first decoding circuit 120b corresponds to the (L + R) / 2 signal 190c, and the signal 200e decoded by the second decoding circuit 120c is (L−R−2).
R) / 2 signal 190d.

Here, the (L + R) / 2 signal 200d
And the (LR) / 2 signal 200e have different conversion block lengths, so there is a difference in the processing delay time. Therefore, (L) from the first decoding circuit 120b
The + R) / 2 signal 200d is supplied to the memory circuit 120d by the (LR) / 2 signal 200e from the second decoding circuit 120c.
Is supplied to the memory circuit 120e, and these memory circuits 1
The processing delay time difference is absorbed by 20d and 120e. (L + R) / 2 signals 200f and (LR) passing through these memory circuits 120d and 120e, respectively.
The / 2 signal 200g is sent to the channel conversion circuit 120f.

The channel conversion circuit 120f is adapted to provide the (L + R) / 2 signal 200f and the (L−R) / 2 signal 20f.
0g is added to generate the L-channel signal 200h, and the (L + R) / 2 signal 200f is converted to (L-
An R channel signal 200i is generated by subtracting the R) / 2 signal 200g, and these L channel and R channel signals are output.

FIG. 23 shows the code string separation circuit 12 shown in FIG.
0a shows the flow of processing when the code string in FIG. 19 is separated.

In FIG. 23, in step S201, the frame number F is initialized to 1, and in step S20
In 2, the A codec code string to be sent to the first decoding circuit 120b is separated and transmitted. In step S203, it is determined whether or not the frame number F is an odd number. When the frame number F is not an odd number, the process proceeds to step S205, and when it is an odd number, the process proceeds to step S204.

In the step S204, the second decoding circuit 1
The separation and transmission of the B codec code string to be sent to 20c.

In step S205, it is determined whether or not the processing for all the frames has been completed. When the processing has been completed, the processing in FIG. 23 ends, and when not completed, the frame number F is set in step S206. After incrementing by one, the process returns to step S202, and the above-described processing is repeated.

In the processing shown in FIG. 23, the frame number F starts from 1, but the processing unit of the encoding method of the B codec is two frames, which is twice the encoding method of the A codec. Is also performed every two frames.

In the above description of the embodiment, an example in which only an additional channel signal (B codec signal) is recorded in the empty recording area of each frame has been described. If the content of the dummy data to be recorded is determined to be “0”, information indicating, for example, a channel configuration may be recorded in this empty recording area. When the channel configuration is recorded in the frame as described above, a standard extension that increases the number of channels without changing the content recorded in a so-called TOC (Table Of Contents) area when a disc is used as a recording medium is adopted. Can be. That is, in the above-described embodiment,
One frame is divided into areas for A codec and B codec. In such a case, for example, information indicating that such recording has been performed must be recorded in the TOC area. If information indicating the channel configuration is recorded in the empty recording area as in the embodiment, it is not necessary to change the contents of the TOC. Of course, this method can be used in combination with the other methods of the present invention already described, so that the TOC
Efficient encoding can be realized without changing the part, which is convenient.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention to which such a method is applied will be described. However, here, for simplicity of description, in the present embodiment, in the coding method of the A codec and the coding method of the B codec, the transform block has the same length, and the coding method of the B codec is used. 1
It is assumed that the data of the transform block is encoded in one frame. Of course, it goes without saying that the method of the present invention can be similarly applied when the conversion block length of the coding method of the B codec is longer than the conversion block length of the coding method of the A codec.

FIG. 24 shows a specific example of a code string corresponding to the other embodiment.

In the other embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, a channel of an A codec (referred to as an A channel) is used to record a (L + R) / 2 one-channel audio signal in the same manner as in FIG. However, the channel configuration data is recorded together with the audio signal of (LR) / 2 as a signal of the channel of the B codec (hereinafter referred to as B channel) in the empty recording area.

In this manner, the (L + R) / (L + R) /
Stereo reproduction of L and R can be performed from two channels of 2 and (LR) / 2. In the example of FIG. 24, for example, (L
-R) / 2 channel configuration data (flag) after the signal
Is secured, and its channel configuration data is set to 1. If the channel configuration data is 0, no free recording area is generated.

FIG. 25 shows a specific example of an encoding circuit according to the present embodiment for generating a code string as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 25, an input signal 210a is an L channel signal and an R channel signal.
10a is (L +) by the channel conversion circuit 121a.
R) / 2 signal 210b and (LR) / 2
Is converted to a signal 210c corresponding to The above (L + R)
The / 2 signal 210b is sent to the first encoding circuit 121b, and the (LR) / 2 signal 210c is sent to the second encoding circuit 121c.
Sent to

The first encoding circuit 121b corresponds to the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. 4, and employs the encoding method of the A codec. On the other hand, the second encoding circuit 121c is a signal component encoding circuit 1 of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG.
11b, to which the coding method of the B codec is applied. A of these first encoding circuits 121b
The codec code string 210d and the B codec code string 210e of the second encoding circuit 121c are both code string generation circuits 1
21d.

The code string generation circuit 121d generates the code string shown in FIG. 24 from the code strings 210d and 210e, and outputs the code string as an output code string signal 210h.

Here, a control circuit 121e is provided in the configuration of FIG. This control circuit 121e
According to the input signal 210f that specifies the mode of encoding,
From the channel conversion circuit 121a to the code string generation circuit 121d
With respect to the configuration described above, a control signal 210g for controlling the generation of the code string in FIG. 24 is generated as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 26 shows the configuration of FIG.
25 shows a flow of processing when generating a code string as shown in FIG. 24 based on a control signal 210g. Note that FIG.
In the example of, it is assumed that, for example, 200 bytes are allocated to each frame, and when recording and reproduction are performed in stereo as described above, 150 bytes are allocated to the (L + R) / 2 signal, and 49 bytes for the signal of -R) / 2 and 1 byte for the channel configuration data.

In FIG. 26, in step S301, it is determined whether or not recording and reproduction are to be performed in stereo as described above. When the mode designation signal 210f in FIG. 25 indicates the stereo mode, the process proceeds to step S302 and thereafter, and when the mode other than the stereo mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S302, the (L + R) / 2 signal is encoded by the A codec using 150 bytes. In the next step S303, the channel configuration data (= 1) is generated and encoded using one byte. Then, in step S304, the (L−R) / 2 signal is encoded by the B codec using 49 bytes.

On the other hand, in step S305, the (L + R) / 2 signal is encoded by the A codec using 200 bytes.

Next, FIG. 27 shows a specific example of a decoding circuit of the new standard-compatible reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment for decoding the code string as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 27, the input code string 220a, which is the code string in FIG. 24, is separated into a (L + R) / 2 code string 220b and a (LR) / 2 code string 220c by a code string separation circuit 122a. You. The (L + R) / 2 code sequence 220b corresponds to the (L + R) / 2 code sequence 210d, and the (LR) / 2 code sequence 220c corresponds to the (L-R) / 2 code sequence.
R) / 2 code string 210e. (L + R) /
The two code strings 220b are sent to the first decoding circuit 122b, and the (LR) / 2 code string 220c is sent to the second decoding circuit 122b.
c.

The first decoding circuit 122b corresponds to the signal component decoding circuit 114b of FIG. 5 having the configuration of FIG. 7 and decodes the code of the A codec. The second decoding circuit 122c corresponds to the signal component decoding circuit 114b of FIG. 5 having the configuration of FIG. 15 and decodes a codec of the B codec. The first decoding circuit 12
The (L + R) / 2 signal 220d decoded by 2b corresponds to the (L + R) / 2 signal 210b, and the (L−R) / 2 signal 220 decoded by the second decoding circuit 122c.
e corresponds to the (LR) / 2 signal 210c.

Here, the (L + R) / 2 signal 220d
And the (LR) / 2 signal 220e have a difference in processing delay time. Therefore, the first decoding circuit 122
(L + R) / 2 signal 220d from the memory circuit 12
2D, (LR) / 2 from the second decoding circuit 122c.
The signal 220e is supplied to a memory circuit 122e, and the memory circuits 122d and 122e absorb the processing delay time difference. These memory circuits 122d and 12d
2e, the (L + R) / 2 signal 220f and the (L−R) / 2 signal 220g pass through the channel conversion circuit 1
22f.

The channel conversion circuit 122f is provided with the (L + R) / 2 signal 220f and the (L−R) / 2 signal 22f.
0e is added to generate an L-channel signal, and the (L + R) / 2 signal 220f is converted to (LR) /
An R channel signal is generated by subtracting the two signals 220g, and these L channel and R channel signals are output.

In the configuration of FIG. 27, the code string decomposition circuit 1
At 22a, the channel configuration data is also separated from the input code string 220a. In the code string decomposition circuit 122a,
If the channel separation data corresponds to the stereo mode, a control signal 220h for performing the above-described decoding processing operation in the configuration from the code string separation 122a to the channel conversion circuit 122f is generated, Send to each component. On the other hand, if the channel separation data corresponds to the monaural mode, the code string separation 122a
, Only the (L + R) / 2 code 220b is output, and a monaural signal is reproduced by the configuration after the first decoding circuit 122b.

Next, FIG. 28 shows the flow when the code sequence separation 122a having the configuration shown in FIG. 27 generates the control signal 220g and controls each component.

In FIG. 28, in step S401, the number of bytes L1 of the first code string of the input code string 220a, ie, the (L + R) / 2 code string 220b is obtained by calculation. In step S402, the number of bytes L1
Is smaller than 200. L1 is 2
When it is smaller than 00, the process proceeds to the process after step S403, and when it is not smaller (L1 = 200), the process proceeds to step S405.

In step S403, it is determined whether or not the value of the channel configuration data is 1, and when it is 1, the flow proceeds to step S404, and when it is not 1, the flow proceeds to step S405.

In step S404, since the mode is the stereo mode, the control signal 220h for decoding the (L + R) / 2 and (LR) / 2 signals is generated and sent to each component as described above. In S405, since the mode is the monaural mode, a control signal 220h for decoding the (L + R) / 2 signal is generated and sent to each component.

The channel configuration data is omitted,
If the data amount of the code string of the signal coded by the coding method of the A codec is smaller than the data amount in the frame, it is specified that the code of another channel coded by the B codec is included. It is also possible. By doing so, the data amount for the channel configuration data can be allocated to the actual signal encoding. However, in this case, when recording only the channel encoded by the encoding method of the A codec, the data amount is made to match the data amount allocated to the frame,
It is necessary that signals of other channels encoded by the encoding method of the B codec are substantially silent data.

As described above, the configuration of the code string when the channel configuration data is omitted is as shown in FIG.

Even in the case of using the code string as shown in FIG. 29, the configuration of the encoding circuit can be the same as that of FIG. 25 and the decoding circuit can be the same as that of FIG. .

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a processing example when a code string as shown in FIG. 29 is generated.

In FIG. 30, in step S501, it is determined whether or not recording and reproduction are to be performed in stereo as described above. When the mode designation signal 210f indicates the stereo mode, the process proceeds to step S502 and thereafter, and when the non-stereo mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S504.

In step S502, the (L + R) / 2 signal is encoded by the A codec using 150 bytes. In the next step S503, the signal of (LR) / 2 is encoded by the B codec using 50 bytes.

On the other hand, in step S504, the (L + R) / 2 signal is encoded by the A codec using 200 bytes.

FIG. 31 shows a flowchart of a processing example when decoding a code string as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 31, at step S601, the number of bytes L1 of the first code string of the input code string 220a, ie, the (L + R) / 2 code string 220b is obtained by calculation. In step S602, the number of bytes L1
Is smaller than 200. L1 is 2
If it is smaller than 00, the process proceeds to the process after step S603, and if it is not smaller (L1 = 200), the process proceeds to step S604.

In step S603, (L + R) / 2 and (LR) / 2 signals are decoded because of the stereo mode. In step S604, (L + R) / 2 signals are decoded because of the monaural mode.

In the above description, the case where the (L + R) / 2 signal is encoded by the A codec and the (LR) / 2 signal is encoded by the B codec has been described as an example. Is the signal of (L + R) / 2, for example,
Even when encoding is performed by the encoding method of the codec and the L-channel signal is encoded by the encoding method of the B codec, monaural reproduction can be performed by the old standard-compatible reproducing apparatus, and stereo reproduction is performed by the new standard-compatible reproducing apparatus. It can easily be seen that the decoding circuit can be configured as such. In other words, the new standard compatible playback apparatus can generate an R channel signal by subtracting the L signal from a signal obtained by, for example, doubling (L + R) / 2, thereby obtaining both the L and R channels. Can be.

As described above, the encoding method and apparatus and the decoding method and apparatus allow reproduction of a small number of channels by the reproduction apparatus conforming to the old standard and reproduction of a large number of channels by the reproduction apparatus conforming to the new standard. , As well as encoded recorded media are all included in the method of the present invention.

Also, here, as the encoding method of the A codec, a method of dividing the whole into two bands, transforming the spectrum, normalizing and quantizing the spectral coefficients, and encoding the fixed-length code is adopted. As a coding method of the B codec, the whole is divided into two bands, spectrum conversion is performed, the spectral coefficients are separated into tone components and other components, and then each is normalized and quantized to be coded with a variable length. However, various other encoding methods can be considered, for example,
As a coding method of the A codec, a method of normalizing and quantizing a time-series signal that has been subdivided according to the bandwidth after band division and then coding with a fixed length is adopted. A method may be adopted in which the time series signal of the band is spectrally transformed, and the spectral coefficient is normalized, quantized, and coded. However,
As a coding method of the B codec, as described above, it is desirable to adopt a method with the highest possible coding efficiency, so as to minimize the sound quality deterioration when the reproduction device compatible with the old standard reproduces.

Further, in the above example, the case where an audio signal is used has been described as an example. However, the method of the present invention can be applied to a case where a signal reproduced by an old standard-compatible reproducing apparatus is, for example, an image signal. It is. That is, for example,
When a luminance signal is encoded as a code string of the old standard, it is possible to add a color difference signal and a hue signal to the code string by using the method of the present invention. The channel in the present invention includes a luminance signal, a color difference signal, or a hue signal in the case of an image.

In the above, the case where the coded bit stream is recorded on the recording medium has been described.
The method of the present invention is also applicable when transmitting a bit stream.

The recording medium is not limited to a recording medium such as an optical disk as long as it can be randomly accessed, and it goes without saying that a semiconductor memory or the like can be used.

[0171]

As is clear from the above description, by using the method of the present invention, when the code of the old standard and the code of the new standard are recorded in the same recording medium, the signal of the old standard is used. Can be played back by a playback device that supports the old standard, and if a playback device that can support the new standard can be used, both signals can be played back, and furthermore, signals generated by recording signals of different standards on the same recording medium Quality degradation can be reduced. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform multi-channel reproduction for a long time with a new-standard compliant playback device while enabling playback with an old-standard compliant playback device. Can be extended, and the effect of sound quality degradation caused by multi-channeling can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus as one embodiment of a compressed data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of an encoding circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of a signal component encoding circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of a conversion circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of a decoding circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of an inverse conversion circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of a signal component decoding circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a basic encoding method.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a code string of a frame encoded by a basic encoding method.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which L and R channels are arranged for each frame.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example in which (L + R) / 2 channels are arranged in a frame.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing an encoding method for encoding a signal component by dividing the signal component into a tone component and a noise component.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a code string encoded by an encoding method of encoding a signal component by dividing the signal component into a tone component and a noise component.

FIG. 14 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a signal component encoding circuit that encodes a signal component by dividing the signal component into a tone component and a noise component.

FIG. 15 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of a signal component decoding circuit that decodes an encoded signal by dividing a signal component into a tone component and a noise component.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a recording format when a code string of the A codec is recorded.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a recording format when recording code strings of A codec and B codec.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a recording format that realizes that a codec of an A codec and a B codec is not erroneously reproduced by a reproduction device compatible with the old standard when the codec is recorded.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a code string in which signals of A codec and B codec are arranged in a frame.

FIG. 20 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a signal component encoding circuit that generates a code sequence for arranging signals of the A codec and the B codec in a frame.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a signal component encoding circuit that generates a code string in which signals of the A codec and the B codec are arranged in a frame.

FIG. 22 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a signal component decoding circuit that decodes a code string that arranges signals of A codec and B codec in a frame.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a signal component decoding circuit that decodes a code string in which signals of A codec and B codec are arranged in a frame.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a code string in which channel configuration data is arranged in a frame.

FIG. 25 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a signal component encoding circuit that generates a code sequence for arranging channel configuration data in a frame.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a signal component encoding circuit that generates a code string that arranges channel configuration data in a frame.

FIG. 27 is a block circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a signal component decoding circuit that decodes a code string in which channel configuration data is arranged in a frame.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a signal component decoding circuit that decodes a code string in which channel configuration data is arranged in a frame.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a code string in which channel configuration data is not arranged in a frame.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a signal component encoding circuit that generates a code string in which channel configuration data is not arranged in a frame.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a signal component decoding circuit that decodes a code string in which channel configuration data is not arranged in a frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 magneto-optical disk, 63 ATC encoder, 6
5 encoder, 71 decoder, 73 ATC decoder, 80 ROM, 111a conversion circuit, 1
11b signal component encoding circuit, 111c code sequence generation circuit, 114a code sequence decomposition circuit, 114b signal component decoding circuit, 114c inverse transform circuit, 119a
Channel conversion circuit, 119b first encoding circuit,
119c second encoding circuit, 110d code sequence generation circuit, 120a code sequence separation circuit, 120b first decoding circuit, 120c second decoding circuit, 120d,
120e memory circuit, 120f channel conversion circuit, 121e control circuit

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 1, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 81

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 84

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0083

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The signal component decoding circuit 1 shown in FIG.
14b, the code 140b supplied from the code string decomposition circuit 114a of FIG.
a and a non-tone signal component 180b. These data and signal components are sent to the corresponding tone component decoding circuit 118a and non-tone component decoding circuit 118b, respectively. The tone component decoding circuit 118a decodes the tone component from the tone component data as shown in FIG.
Output c. The non-tone component decoding circuit 11
At 8d, the non-tone signal component is decoded, and the obtained non-tone signal component 180d is output. The tonal signal component 180c and the non-tonal signal component 180c
Both d are sent to the spectrum signal synthesis circuit 118c. The spectrum signal synthesizing circuit 118c synthesizes the tone signal component and the non-tone signal component based on the position data, and outputs the obtained signal component 180e. The configuration for signal decoding in the tone component decoding circuit 118a and the non-tone component decoding circuit 118b is the same as that in FIG.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0096

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

On the other hand, when a playback device that supports both the old standard and the new standard (that is, a playback device that supports the new standard) plays this disc, first, the mode designation at address 2 in FIG. 18 is performed based on the new standard. The content of the information is checked. Thereby, the new standard compliant playback device knows that this disc may be recorded based on the new standard (B codec) in which the value of the mode designation information is 1. Accordingly, the new standard-compatible playback apparatus ignores the old standard head data number of address 0 and the old standard final data number of address 1 based on the rule in the case where the mode designation information is 1, and ignores the new standard head address of address 3. Based on the data number and the contents of the new standard final data number of address 4, the data to be reproduced on this disc is interpreted as four data numbers 2 to 5, and reproduction is performed. That is, in this case, the message (signal of data number 0) for the old-standard-compliant playback device is not played back. However,
In order to pay attention to the user of this disc, this message can be reproduced by a new standard compatible reproducing apparatus. In this case, the value of the new standard head data number at address 3 can be set to 1. Good.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0101

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In order to realize these, in the embodiment of the present invention, if the number of channels is small as in the recording format shown in FIG. 11 or the case of recording a monaural signal in FIG. For a code string that is defined in advance so that long-time recording and reproduction can be performed, a smaller number of bits than the total number of bits that can be allocated to each frame is allocated to the minority channel. In other words, for the A codec, for example, encoding is performed with a smaller number of bits than the total number of bits that can be allocated to each frame so that an empty recording area is formed in the frame. In the recording area, signals of channels that are not played back by
That is, by recording the signal of the B codec, multi-channel recording / reproduction (recording / reproduction of both signals of the A codec and the B codec) in the long time mode is enabled. As a method of creating the empty recording area, it is also possible to narrow the band of a channel to be encoded by the encoding method of the A codec in order to adjust the number of allocated bits.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The encoding method of the A codec is as follows.
For example, the encoding method described with reference to FIG. On the other hand, the coding method of the B codec may be, for example, a signal obtained by converting a signal converted into a spectrum signal component with a conversion block length twice that of the A codec by the coding method shown in FIG. . However, it is assumed that the conversion block length of the B codec at this time is twice the conversion block length of the A codec, and therefore, the code corresponding to the conversion block is recorded over two frames.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The first encoding circuit 119b corresponds to an encoding circuit having the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. 4 and to which the encoding method of the A codec is applied. is there. On the other hand, the second encoding circuit 119c has a conversion block length twice that of the first encoding circuit 119b, and has the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. Correspondingly, the coding method of the B codec is applied. The A codec code string 190e of the first coding circuit 119b and the B codec code string 190f of the second coding circuit 119c are both supplied to the code string generation circuit 119d.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0123

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The first decoding circuit 120b corresponds to a decoding circuit having the signal component decoding circuit 114b shown in FIG. 5 having the configuration shown in FIG. 7, and decodes the code of the A codec. On the other hand, the second decoding circuit 120c has a conversion block length twice that of the second decoding circuit 120b, and
5 having the configuration shown in FIG.
And decodes the code of the B codec. The signal 200d decoded by the first decoding circuit 120b is the (L + R) / 2 signal 19
0c, and the signal 200e decoded by the second decoding circuit 120c corresponds to the (LR) / 2 signal 190d.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The first encoding circuit 121b corresponds to an encoding circuit having the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. 4 and to which the encoding method of the A codec is applied. is there. On the other hand, the second encoding circuit 121c corresponds to an encoding circuit having the signal component encoding circuit 111b of FIG. 2 having the configuration of FIG. 14 and to which the encoding method of the B codec is applied. is there.
A codec code string 2 of these first coding circuits 121b
Both 10d and the B codec code string 210e of the second coding circuit 121c are supplied to the code string generation circuit 121d.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0147

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The first decoding circuit 122b corresponds to a decoding circuit having the signal component decoding circuit 114b of FIG. 5 having the configuration of FIG. 7, and decodes the code of the A codec. The second decoding circuit 122c corresponds to a decoding circuit having the signal component decoding circuit 114b in FIG. 5 having the configuration in FIG. 15 and decodes a codec of the B codec. The (L + R) / 2 signal 220d decoded by the first decoding circuit 122b corresponds to the (L + R) / 2 signal 210b, and the (LR) / 2 signal 220e decoded by the second decoding circuit 122c. Is the above (LR)
/ 2 signal 210c.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0149

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The channel conversion circuit 122f is provided with the (L + R) / 2 signal 220f and the (L−R) / 2 signal 22f.
0g is added to generate an L-channel signal, and the (L + R) / 2 signal 220f is converted to (LR) /
An R channel signal is generated by subtracting the two signals 220g, and these L channel and R channel signals are output.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, FIG. 28 shows a flow when the code string separation 122a having the configuration shown in FIG. 27 generates a control signal 220h and controls each component.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG. 26

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 26

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

Claims (88)

[Claims] 1. The signal of some of the plurality of channels is
Encoding by the first encoding method to generate a first code string, encoding signals of other channels by the second encoding method to generate a second code string, one or An information encoding method, wherein the first code string and the second code string are arranged for each of a plurality of frames. 2. The information encoding method according to claim 1, wherein the first code string is a code string including actual bit rate determination information at the time of encoding. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first encoding method and the second encoding method are different encoding methods.
Described information encoding method. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second encoding method, the channel signal of the time-series signal is converted into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width and encoded. Information encoding method. 5. In the first encoding method, a channel signal of a time-series signal is converted into a spectrum signal component for each transform block shorter than the transform block length in the second encoding method, and encoded. 5. The information encoding method according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The information encoding method according to claim 4, wherein in the second encoding method, the spectral signal component of one transform block is encoded so as to extend over a plurality of frames. 7. The information encoding method according to claim 1, wherein in the second encoding method, the channel signal is variable-length encoded. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second encoding method, the channel signal is encoded by separating it into a tone component where energy is concentrated and other non-tone components.
Described information encoding method. 9. The bit rate assigned per channel in the first encoding method is different from the bit rate assigned per channel in the second encoding method. 2. The information encoding method according to 1. 10. In the first encoding method, a channel signal of a time-series signal is converted into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width, and the quantized data of the spectrum signal component is encoded in a predetermined unit. 2. The information encoding method according to claim 1, wherein encoding is performed with a fixed length for each encoding unit. 11. The information encoding method according to claim 10, wherein the number of encoding units is also encoded. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement direction of the first code string and the arrangement direction of the second code string arranged for each one or a plurality of frames of the fixed size are reversed. Information encoding method. 13. The information encoding method according to claim 1, wherein information indicating the existence of the second code string is also arranged. 14. A first encoding unit that encodes a signal of some of the plurality of channels by a first encoding method to generate a first code sequence, and a signal of another channel. A second encoding unit that encodes by a second encoding method to generate a second code sequence; and, for one or more frames of a fixed size, the first code sequence and the second code sequence An information encoding apparatus, comprising: a code string arranging unit for arranging the information. 15. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first code sequence is a code sequence including actual bit rate determination information at the time of encoding. 16. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first encoding method and the second encoding method are different encoding methods. 17. The second encoding means, wherein the conversion means divides the channel signal of the time-series signal into conversion blocks each having a predetermined time width and converts it into a spectrum signal component, and encodes the spectrum signal component. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: signal component encoding means; and code string generation means for generating the second code string from the encoded spectrum signal components. 18. The first encoding means divides a channel signal of a time-series signal into transform blocks shorter than a transform block length in the second encoding method, and converts them into spectral signal components. A conversion means, a signal component encoding means for encoding the spectrum signal component, and a code sequence generation means for generating the first code sequence from the encoded spectrum signal component. 18. The information encoding device according to item 17. 19. The information according to claim 17, wherein said signal component encoding means of said second encoding means encodes a spectrum signal component of one transform block so as to extend over a plurality of frames. Encoding device. 20. The information coding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second coding means performs variable length coding on the channel signal. 21. A tone component separating means for separating a channel signal into a tone component in which energy is concentrated and other non-tone components, and a tone component encoding device for encoding the tone component. Means, non-tone component encoding means for encoding the non-tone component, and code sequence generating means for generating the second code sequence from the encoded tone component and non-tone component. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein 22. The bit rate assigned per channel by said first encoding means and the bit rate assigned per channel by said second encoding means are different from each other. The information encoding device according to the above. 23. A first encoding unit, comprising: a conversion unit that divides a channel signal of a time-series signal into conversion blocks of a predetermined time width and converts them into spectral signal components; Signal component encoding means for encoding the quantized data in a fixed length for each predetermined encoding unit, and code string generating means for generating the first code string from the encoded spectrum signal component. The information encoding device according to claim 14, wherein: 24. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said signal component encoding means of said first encoding means also encodes said number of encoding units. 25. The code string arranging means for reversing the arrangement direction of the first code string and the arrangement direction of the second code string arranged for each of one or a plurality of frames of the fixed size. The information encoding device according to claim 14, wherein 26. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said code string arranging means also arranges information indicating presence of said second code string. 27. For each of one or a plurality of frames of a fixed size, a first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are coded by the first coding method, and a signal of another channel. From the encoded information in which the signal is arranged with the second code string encoded by the second encoding method, the first code string and the second code string are separated, and the separated first code string is separated. The code string is decoded by a first decoding method corresponding to the first coding method to generate a first decoded signal, and the separated second code string is converted to the second coding method. An information decoding method characterized by generating a second decoded signal by decoding with a corresponding second decoding method. 28. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein the first code string is a code string including actual bit rate determination information at the time of encoding. 29. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein said first decoding method and said second decoding method are different decoding methods. 30. The second decoding method, comprising decoding the second code string encoded by converting a channel signal of a time-series signal into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width. 28. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein the spectral signal component is restored by performing the conversion, and the spectral signal component is converted into a time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks and combined. 31. In the first decoding method, the channel signal of the time-series signal is converted into a spectrum signal component for each transform block shorter than the transform block length in the second encoding method and encoded. Said first code string,
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the spectral signal component is decoded to restore the spectral signal component, and the spectral signal component is converted into a time-series signal for each of the short transform blocks and synthesized.
0. An information decoding method according to item 0. 32. The second decoding method according to claim 30, wherein the second code string encoded so that a spectral signal component of one transform block spans a plurality of frames is decoded. The information decoding method described in the above. 33. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein in the second decoding method, the second code string in which a channel signal is variable-length coded is decoded. 34. In the second decoding method, the channel signal is decoded by separating the second code string into a tone component in which energy is concentrated and other non-tone components. 28. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein: 35. The first decoding method, wherein a channel signal of a time-series signal is converted into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width, and the quantized data of the spectrum signal component is encoded in a predetermined unit. Decoding the first code string coded with a fixed length for each unit to restore a spectrum signal component, converting the spectrum signal component into a time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks, and combining the time-series signals. 28. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein: 36. The information decoding method according to claim 35, wherein the encoded number of encoded units is decoded, and decoding is performed based on the number of encoded units. 37. Separating the first code string and the second code string from the coding information in which the arrangement direction of the first code string and the arrangement direction of the second code string are reversed. 28. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein: 38. The method according to claim 27, wherein information indicating the existence of the second code string is separated from the encoded information, and the decoding of the second code string is performed based on the information.
The information decoding method described in the above. 39. A data amount of the first code string is obtained from the encoded information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the presence of the second code string is indicated from the encoded information. 39. The information decoding method according to claim 38, wherein information is separated. 40. A data amount of the first code string is obtained from the encoded information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the second code string is separated from the encoded information. 28. The information decoding method according to claim 27, wherein decoding is performed. 41. For each of one or a plurality of frames of a fixed size, a first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are encoded by the first encoding method, and a signal of another channel. A code string separating unit that separates the first code string and the second code string from the encoded information in which the signal is arranged with the second code string encoded by the second encoding method, A first decoding means for decoding the separated first code string by a first decoding method corresponding to the first coding method to generate a first decoded signal; and And a second decoding means for decoding the code sequence of the above by a second decoding method corresponding to the second encoding method to generate a second decoded signal. apparatus. 42. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said first code sequence is a code sequence including actual bit rate determination information at the time of encoding. 43. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the first decoding method and the second decoding method are different decoding methods. 44. The second decoding means decodes the second code sequence, which is obtained by converting a channel signal of a time-series signal into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width and coding the spectrum signal component. Signal component decoding means for restoring the spectrum signal component by using the above-mentioned method, conversion means for converting the spectrum signal component into a time-series signal for each conversion block, and synthesis means for synthesizing the time-series signal for each conversion block. 42. The information decoding device according to claim 41, wherein: 45. The first decoding means converts the channel signal of the time-series signal into a spectral signal component for each transform block shorter than the transform block length in the second encoding method, and encodes the signal. Said first code string,
Signal component decoding means for decoding and restoring a spectrum signal component; converting means for converting the spectrum signal component into a time series signal for each of the short transform blocks; and synthesizing for synthesizing the time series signal for each of the short transform blocks. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising means. 46. The signal component decoding means of the second decoding means decodes the second code string encoded so that a spectrum signal component of one transform block extends over a plurality of frames. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 44, wherein: 47. An information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said second decoding means decodes said second code string in which a channel signal is variable-length coded. 48. The second decoding means, wherein the channel signal is coded from the second code string, which is coded by separating into a tone component where energy is concentrated and other non-tone components. Tone component separating means for separating a tone component and a non-tone component; tone component decoding means for decoding the separated coded tone component; and decoding the separated coded non-tone component 42. A non-tone component decoding means for performing the decoding, and a component synthesizing means for synthesizing the decoded tone component and the non-tone component.
The information decryption device according to the above. 49. The first decoding means converts a channel signal of a time-series signal into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width, and the quantized data of the spectrum signal component is encoded in a predetermined unit. Signal component decoding means for decoding the first code string coded with a fixed length for each unit and restoring a spectrum signal component, and converting the spectrum signal component into a time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks 42. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, comprising: a conversion unit; and a synthesis unit that synthesizes a time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks. 50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said first decoding means also decodes the coded number of coding units, and performs decoding based on the number of coding units. Information decryption device. 51. The code string separating means, based on the encoded information in which the arrangement direction of the first code string and the arrangement direction of the second code string are arranged in reverse, the first code string and the 42. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the information decoding apparatus separates the two code strings. 52. The code string separating means separates information indicating the existence of the second code string from the encoded information, and the second decoding means separates information indicating the presence of the second code string. 42. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the decoding of the second code string is performed based on: 53. The code string separating means obtains a data amount of the first code string from the coding information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, calculates the second code string from the coding information. 53. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 52, wherein information indicating the existence of the code string is separated. 54. The code string separating means obtains a data amount of the first code string from the coding information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, calculates the second code string from the coding information. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the code string is separated.
2. The information decoding device according to 1. 55. For each of one or a plurality of frames of a fixed size, a first code sequence in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are coded by the first coding method, and a signal of another channel. An information recording medium in which an encoding parameter is recorded together with encoded information in which a signal and a second code string encoded by a second encoding method are arranged. 56. A signal of some of the plurality of channels is encoded by a first encoding method to generate a first code sequence, and a signal of another channel is encoded by a second encoding method. An information encoding method, comprising: encoding to generate a second code string; and arranging the first code string and at least a part of the second code string in one frame. 57. A first encoding unit that encodes a signal of some of the plurality of channels by a first encoding method to generate a first code string, and a signal of another channel. A second encoding unit that encodes by a second encoding method to generate a second code sequence; and a code sequence of at least a part of the first code sequence and the second code sequence in one frame. And a code string arranging means for arranging the information. 58. Within one frame, a first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are encoded by a first encoding method, and a signal of another channel is a second code string. From the encoded information in which at least a part of the second code string encoded by the encoding method is arranged, the first code string and the second code string are separated, and the separated first code string is separated. Is decoded by a first decoding method corresponding to the first encoding method to generate a first decoded signal, and the separated second code string corresponds to the second encoding method. An information decoding method, wherein decoding is performed by a second decoding method to generate a second decoded signal. 59. Within one frame, a first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels are encoded by a first encoding method, and a signal of another channel is a second code string. A code string separating unit that separates the first code string and the second code string from the encoded information in which at least a part of the second code string encoded by the encoding method is arranged, A first decoding unit that decodes a first code string by a first decoding method corresponding to the first coding method to generate a first decoded signal; and the separated second code. An information decoding apparatus, comprising: a second decoding unit that decodes a column by a second decoding method corresponding to the second encoding method and generates a second decoded signal. 60. A frame in which a signal of one of a plurality of channels is encoded by a first encoding method and a signal of another channel is encoded by a second code in one frame. An information recording medium characterized by recording an encoding parameter together with encoded information in which at least a part of a second code string encoded by an encoding method is arranged. 61. A first code string in which signals of some of the plurality of channels, which are arranged for one or a plurality of frames, are coded by the first coding method from the coded information. ,
A signal of another channel is separated from a second code string encoded by a second encoding method, and the separated first code string is subjected to a first decoding corresponding to the first encoding method. Decoding to generate a first decoded signal, the separated second code string is decoded by a second decoding method corresponding to the second coding method, and a second decoding is performed. An information decoding method characterized by generating a signal. 62. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein the first code string is a code string including actual bit rate determination information at the time of encoding. 63. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein the first decoding method and the second decoding method are different decoding methods. 64. In the second decoding method, the second code string is decoded to generate a spectrum signal component, and the spectrum signal component is converted into a time-series signal conversion block having a predetermined time width. 62. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein the time-series signal conversion blocks are combined to generate a time-series signal channel signal. 65. In the first decoding method, the first code string is decoded to generate a spectrum signal component, and the spectrum signal component is calculated based on a transform block length in the second coding method. 65. The information decoding method according to claim 64, further comprising: converting a time-series signal conversion block having a short predetermined time width; and synthesizing the time-series signal conversion block to generate a time-series signal channel signal. . 66. The information decoding method according to claim 64, wherein in the second decoding method, the second code string spanning a plurality of frames is decoded to generate a spectrum signal component. 67. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein in the second decoding method, the second code string in which a channel signal is variable-length coded is decoded. 68. In the second decoding method, the coded tone component and the non-tone component are separated from the second code string, and the separated coded tone component is decoded. 62. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein the separated encoded non-tone component is decoded, and the decoded tone component and non-tone component are combined. 69. The first decoding method, wherein a channel signal of a time-series signal is converted into a spectrum signal component for each conversion block having a predetermined time width, and the quantized data of the spectrum signal component is encoded in a predetermined unit. Decoding the first code string coded with a fixed length for each unit to restore a spectrum signal component, converting the spectrum signal component into a time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks, and combining the time-series signals. 62. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein: 70. The information decoding method according to claim 69, wherein the encoded number of encoded units is decoded, and decoding is performed based on the number of encoded units. 71. The first code string and the second code string are separated from the encoded information in which the arrangement direction of the first code string and the arrangement direction of the second code string are reversed. 62. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein 72. The method according to claim 61, wherein information indicating the existence of the second code string is separated from the encoded information, and decoding of the second code string is performed based on the information.
The information decoding method described in the above. 73. A data amount of the first code string is obtained from the encoded information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the presence of the second code string is indicated from the encoded information. 73. The information decoding method according to claim 72, wherein the information is separated. 74. A data amount of the first code string is obtained from the encoded information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the second code string is separated from the encoded information. 62. The information decoding method according to claim 61, wherein decoding is performed. 75. A first code string in which signals of some channels among a plurality of channels arranged in one or a plurality of frames are encoded by a first encoding method from encoded information. ,
Code string separating means for separating a signal of another channel from a second code string coded by the second coding method, and the separated first code string corresponding to the first coding method A first decoding unit that generates a first decoded signal by decoding with the first decoding method, and a second code string corresponding to the second coding method, An information decoding apparatus, comprising: a second decoding unit that generates a second decoded signal by decoding by a decoding method. 76. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the first code string is a code string including actual bit rate determination information at the time of encoding. 77. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said first decoding method and said second decoding method are different decoding methods. 78. The second decoding means, a signal component decoding means for decoding the second code string to generate a spectrum signal component, and a time-series signal having a predetermined time width for the spectrum signal component. 76. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, further comprising: conversion means for converting the converted block of the time-series signal; and synthesis means for generating a channel signal of the time-series signal by synthesizing the conversion block of the time-series signal. . 79. A signal component decoding means for decoding the first code string to generate a spectrum signal component, and the second coding method for decoding the spectrum signal component. Conversion means for converting the time-series signal into a conversion block of a predetermined time width shorter than the conversion block length, and synthesis means for generating a time-series signal channel signal by synthesizing the time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks. 79. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 78, comprising: 80. The signal component decoding means according to claim 78, wherein said signal component decoding means of said second decoding means decodes said second code string spanning a plurality of frames to generate a spectrum signal component. Information decryption device. 81. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said second decoding means decodes said second code string in which a channel signal is variable-length coded. 82. The second decoding means includes: tone component separating means for separating the coded tone component and non-tone component from the second code string; and the separated coded component. Tone component decoding means for decoding a tone component; non-tone component decoding means for decoding the separated encoded non-tone component; and component synthesis for combining the decoded tone component and the non-tone component. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, further comprising means. 83. The first decoding means converts a channel signal of a time-series signal into a spectral signal component for each transform block having a predetermined time width, and the quantized data of the spectral signal component is encoded in a predetermined unit. Signal component decoding means for decoding the first code string coded with a fixed length for each unit and restoring a spectrum signal component, and converting the spectrum signal component into a time-series signal for each of the conversion blocks 76. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, further comprising: conversion means; and synthesis means for synthesizing the time-series signal for each conversion block. 84. The method according to claim 49, wherein said first decoding means also decodes the coded number of coding units, and performs decoding based on the number of coding units. Information decryption device. 85. The code string separating means, based on the encoded information in which the arrangement direction of the first code string and the arrangement direction of the second code string are arranged in reverse, the first code string and the The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the information decoding apparatus separates the two code strings. 86. The code string separating means separates information indicating the existence of the second code string from the encoded information, and the second decoding means separates information indicating the presence of the second code string. 76. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the decoding of the second code string is performed based on: 87. The code string separating means obtains a data amount of the first code string from the coding information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, calculates the second code string from the coding information. 89. The information decoding apparatus according to claim 86, wherein information indicating the existence of the code string is separated. 88. The code string separating means obtains a data amount of the first code string from the coding information, and when the data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the second code string separating means obtains the second code string from the coding information. 8. The code string of claim 7 is separated.
5. The information decoding device according to item 5.