Method and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding digital data using bandwidth extension technology

A method of encoding audio data, the method comprising:

• bandwidth-extension-encoding the audio data, outputting bandwidth-limited audio data, and generating bandwidth extension information;
• encoding the bandwidth-limited audio data into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer so as to control a bit rate;
• and
• multiplexing the encoded bandwidth-limited audio data and the bandwidth extension information.

A method of decoding digital data, the method comprising:

• demultiplexing an input bitstream and sampling bandwidth-limited data that is encoded into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer and bandwidth extension information;
• decoding at least a portion of the bandwidth-limited data corresponding to the base layer;
• and
• generating digital data in at least a portion of a band that is not covered by the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited data based on the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited data and with reference to the bandwidth extension information, and then patching the generated digital data to the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited data.

A method of decoding audio data, the method comprising:

• demultiplexing an input audio bitstream and sampling bandwidth-limited audio data that is encoded into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer and bandwidth extension information;
• decoding at least a portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data corresponding to the base layer;
• and
• generating audio data in at least a portion of a band that is not covered by the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data based on the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data and with reference to the bandwidth extension information, and then patching the generated digital data to the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data.

An apparatus for encoding digital data, the apparatus comprising:

• a bandwidth extension encoder that bandwidth-extension-encodes the digital data, outputs bandwidth-limited data, and generates bandwidth extension information;
• a fine grain scalability encoder that encodes the bandwidth-limited data into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer so as to control a bit rate;
• and
• a multiplexer that multiplexes the encoded bandwidth-limited data and the bandwidth extension information.

An apparatus of encoding audio data, the apparatus comprising:

• a bandwidth extension encoder that bandwidth-extension-encodes the audio data, outputs bandwidth-limited audio data, and generates bandwidth extension information;
• a fine grain scalability encoder that encodes the bandwidth-limited audio data into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer so as to control a bit rate;
• and
• a multiplexer that multiplexes the encoded bandwidth-limited audio data and the bandwidth extension information.

An apparatus for decoding digital data, the apparatus comprising:

• a demultiplexer that demultiplexes an input bitstream and samples bandwidth-limited data that is encoded into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer and bandwidth extension information;
• a fine grain scalability decoder that decodes at least a portion of the sampled bandwidth-limited data corresponding to the base layer;
• and
• a bandwidth extension decoder that generates digital data in at least a portion of a band that is not covered by the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited data based on the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited data and with reference to the bandwidth extension information and the patches the generated digital data to the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited data.

An apparatus for decoding audio data, the apparatus comprising:

• a demultiplexer that demultiplexes an input audio bitstream and samples bandwidth-limited audio data that is encoded into a hierarchical structure having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer and bandwidth extension information;
• a fine grain scalability decoder that decodes at least a portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data corresponding to the base layer;
• and
• a bandwidth extension decoder that generates audio data in at least a portion of a band that is not covered by the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data based on the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data and with reference to the bandwidth extension information and then patches the generated audio data to the decoded portion of the bandwidth-limited audio data.