Scalable coding method for high quality audio

A scalable coding process, the process using a standard data channel that has a plurality of layers, the process comprising:

• receiving a plurality of subband signals;
• generating a perceptual coding and a second coding of the subband signals;
• generating a residue signal that indicates a residue of the second coding relative to the perceptual coding;
• and
• outputting the perceptual coding in a first layer and the residue signal in a second layer.

A processing system for a multi-layer data channel, wherein a first layer of the data channel carries a perceptual coding of an audio signal and a second layer of the data channel carries augmentation data for increasing the resolution of the perceptual coding of the audio signal, the processing system comprising:

• signal routing circuitry that receives the perceptual coding and augmentation data via the data channel;
• a memory unit that stores a program of instructions;
• and
• a program-controlled processor coupled to the signal routing circuitry for receiving the perceptual coding and augmentation data, and coupled to the memory unit for receiving the program, and responsive to the program, generating a decoded signal.

A medium readable by a machine, the medium carrying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a coding process, the coding process using a standard data channel that has a core layer and an augmentation layer, the process comprising:

• receiving a plurality of subband signals;
• determining a respective first quantization resolution for each subband signal in response to a first desired noise spectrum and quantizing each subband signal according to the respective first quantization resolution to generate a first coded signal;
• determining a respective second quantization resolution for each subband signal in response to a second desired noise spectrum and quantizing each subband signal according to the respective second quantization resolution to generate a second coded signal;
• generating a residue signal that indicates a residue between the first and second coded signals;
• and
• outputting the first coded signal in the core layer and the residue signal in the augmentation layer.

A machine readable medium that carries encoded audio information, the encoded audio information generated according to a coding process that comprises:

• receiving a plurality of subband signals;
• determining a respective first quantization resolution for each subband signal in response to a first desired noise spectrum and quantizing each subband signal according to the respective first quantization resolution to generate a first coded signal;
• determining a respective second quantization resolution for each subband signal in response to a second desired noise spectrum and quantizing each subband signal according to the respective second quantization resolution to generate a second coded signal;
• generating a residue signal that indicates a residue between the first and second coded signals;
• and
• outputting the first coded signal in the core layer and the residue signal in the augmentation layer.