Continuous backup audio

A digital audio decoding method, comprising

• receiving first audio information encoded with a first type of digital audio coding and second audio information encoded with a second type of audio coding, wherein the first audio information and the second audio information each have self-contained data units and corresponding pairs of self-contained data units in the first and second audio information represent the same underlying audio information,
• receiving an error signal indicating errors and omissions in the first audio information or detecting errors and omissions in the first audio information, and
• providing a PCM audio output and/or an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding, wherein
• a PCM audio output is provided by decoding the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by decoding the second audio information instead of the first audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information, and/or
• an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding is derived from the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by transcoding the second audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information.

An apparatus for encoding digital audio, comprising

• an audio encoder configured to:
• receive PCM encoded audio information comprising PCM audio data samples,
• encode said audio information with a first type of digital audio coding, the encoded audio information having self-contained data units, and
• encode said audio information with a second type of digital audio coding, the encoded audio information having self-contained data units, wherein corresponding pairs of self-contained data units encoded with the first type and second type of digital audio coding represent the same PCM audio data samples, such that the first and second audio information represent the same underlying audio information.

An apparatus for decoding digital audio, comprising

• an audio decoder configured to:
• receive first audio information encoded with a first type of digital audio coding and second audio information encoded with a second type of audio coding, wherein the first audio information and the second audio information each have self-contained data units and corresponding pairs of self-contained data units in the first and second audio information represent the same underlying audio information,
• receiving an error signal indicating errors and omissions in the first audio information or detecting errors and omissions in the first audio information, and
• provide a PCM audio output and/or an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding, wherein
• a PCM audio output is provided by decoding the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by decoding the second audio information instead of the first audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information, and/or
• an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding is derived from the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by transcoding the second audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information.

A digital audio decoder, comprising

• means for receiving first audio information encoded with a first type of digital audio coding and second audio information encoded with a second type of audio coding, wherein the first audio information and the second audio information each have self-contained data units and corresponding pairs of self-contained data units in the first and second audio information represent the same underlying audio information,
• means for receiving an error signal indicating errors and omissions in the first audio information or for detecting errors and omissions in the first audio information, and
• means for providing a PCM audio output and/or an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding, wherein
• a PCM audio output is provided by decoding the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by decoding the second audio information instead of the first audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information, and/or
• an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding is derived from the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by transcoding the second audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information.

A machine-readable medium, having encoded thereon program code, wherein, when the program code is executed by a machine, the machine implements a digital audio decoding method, comprising

• receiving first audio information encoded with a first type of digital audio coding and second audio information encoded with a second type of audio coding, wherein the first audio information and the second audio information each have self-contained data units and corresponding pairs of self-contained data units in the first and second audio information represent the same underlying audio information,
• receiving an error signal indicating errors and omissions in the first audio information or detecting errors and omissions in the first audio information, and
• providing a PCM audio output and/or an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding, wherein
• a PCM audio output is provided by decoding the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by decoding the second audio information instead of the first audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information, and/or
• an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding is derived from the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by transcoding the second audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information.

A digital audio encoding and decoding method, comprising

• receiving PCM encoded audio information comprising PCM audio data samples,
• encoding said audio information with a first type of digital audio coding, the encoded audio information having self-contained data units,
• encoding said audio information with a second type of digital audio coding, the encoded audio information having self-contained data units, wherein corresponding pairs of self-contained data units encoded with the first type and second type of digital audio coding represent the same PCM audio data samples, such that the first and second audio information represent the same underlying audio information,
• receiving the audio information encoded with said first type of digital audio coding and the audio information encoded with a second type of audio coding,
• receiving an error signal indicating errors and omissions in the first audio information or detecting errors and omissions in the first audio information, and
• providing a PCM audio output and/or an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding, wherein
• a PCM audio output is provided by decoding the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by decoding the second audio information instead of the first audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information, and/or
• an encoded audio output complying with said first type of digital audio coding is derived from the first audio information when no error or omission is detected in the first audio information and by transcoding the second audio information when an error or omission is detected in the first audio information.