Friday, February 23, 2007

"B" said I, 1.5 Big ones (Jury rules against Microsoft)

Abstract of US5341457 A technique for the masking of quantizing noise in the coding of audio signals is adapted to include geometric interpolation between the thresholds for a tone masking noise and for noise masking a tone, in order to reduce use of bit-rate capability where it is not necessary for transparent or high quality. The technique is usable with the types of channel coding known as "noiseless" or Huffman coding and with variable radix packing. The stereophonic embodiment eliminates redundancies in the sum and difference signals, so that the stereo coding uses significantly less than twice the bit rate of the comparable monaural signal. The technique can be used both in transmission of signals and in recording for reproduction, particularly recording and reproduction of music. Compatibility with the ISDN transmission rates known as 1 B, 2 B and 3 B rates has been achieved. Claims of US5341457 We claim: ... 10. A storage medium manufactured in accordance with a process comprising the steps of: (a) processing an ordered time sequence of audio signals partitioned into a set of ordered blocks, each said block having a discrete frequency spectrum comprising a first set of frequency coefficients; and (b) for each of said blocks: (1) grouping said first set of frequency coefficients into at least one group, each group comprising at least one frequency coefficient; (2) generating at least one tonality value, each group having an associated tonality value, said at least one tonality value reflecting the degree to which said time sequence of audio signals comprises tone-like quality; (3) generating at least one noise masking threshold, each said at least one noise masking threshold being based upon at least one tonality value; (4) quantizing at least one frequency coefficient in said at least one group resulting in a set of quantized frequency coefficients, said quantizing based upon said at least one noise masking threshold; (5) applying a recording signal to said storage medium, said recording signal comprising signals representing said set of quantized frequency coefficients; and (6) recording said recording signal onto said storage medium.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Notes from the Underground:
http://www.dtgroup.com/expertwitness.pdf

"Lucent v. Gateway, Microsoft, Dell
I was retained by the firm Kirkland and Ellis representing Lucent Technologies in the
matter entitled: Case no. 02-CV-2060-B (CAB) consolidated with Case no. 03-CV-0699-
B (CAB) and Case no. 03-CV-1108-B (CAB) in U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of California. I am involved with the Patents 5,341,457 and 5,627,938 as well as
5,649,131. I am working as an expert in infringement as well as validity this case. This
case is pending and an active matter for me."

Anonymous said...

Notes from the Wired Underground:
5341457: Perceptual coding of audio signals
RE39080: Rate loop processor for perceptual encoder/decoder

Anonymous said...

Notes from the Underground:
As if Microsoft does not get codec patents of its own.

Anonymous said...

Notes from the Patent Monkey underground:
The case was originally filed in federal court in Virginia pitting Lucent against Gateway and Dell over patents related to color memory, video-search functions and controlling a computer with a stylus. Microsoft joined the case as it was obligated to indemnify and reimburse Gateway and Dell. Then Lucent, Dell, and Microsoft filed various other actions against one another in numerous jurisdictions ultimately leading to the cases being combined all in one jurisdiction - the Southern District Court for California. Judge Brewster then broke all the merged actions into several cases (all in his jurisdiction) based on technology. The case on the patented MP3 technology was the first one decided.

Step Back said...

Notes from the IP Law Student's Bar Exam underground

Click on link to follow exploits of an IP law student tackling the Patent Bar and his mother's illness at same time.

Athar A. Khan said...

@Step Back -- Wow! Your comment brought back some memories for me.