Encoding device and encoding method, decoding device and decoding method, and program

Abstract

There is provided a decoding device including at least one circuit configured to acquire one or more encoded audio signals including a plurality of channels and/or a plurality of objects and priority information for each of the plurality of channels and/or the plurality of objects, and to decode the one or more encoded audio signals according to the priority information.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method executed by at least one processing circuit of a decoding device, the method comprising:
 acquiring encoded audio signals of a plurality of objects and priority information for each of the plurality of objects;   decoding at least one of the encoded audio signals; and   generating an audio signal based on the decoded signals,   wherein the priority information is capable of being used to adjust an output of the audio signal.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting the output of the audio signal based on the priority information. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting a gain of the audio signal based on the priority information. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by decreasing an amplitude of the audio signal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by decreasing the amplitude of the audio signal with time. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by increasing an amplitude of the audio signal. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by increasing the amplitude of the audio signal with time. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting the output of the audio signal by performing fade-out processing. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting the output of the audio signal by performing fade-in processing. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one numerical value of the priority information indicates at least one priority degree of at least one object of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one numerical value comprises a first numerical value indicating a high priority degree of a first object. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one numerical value comprises a second numerical value indicating a low priority degree of a second object, the high priority degree indicating a higher importance of the first object relative to the second object. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a numerical value of zero indicates a lowest priority degree of an object. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one numerical value is zero or a positive value over zero. 
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processing circuit of a decoding device, causes the at least one processing circuit to perform a method comprising:
 acquiring encoded audio signals of a plurality of objects and priority information for each of the plurality of objects;   decoding at least one of the encoded audio signals; and   generating an audio signal based on the decoded signals,   wherein the priority information is capable of being used to adjust an output of the audio signal.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting the output of the audio signal based on the priority information. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting a gain of the audio signal based on the priority information. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by decreasing an amplitude of the audio signal. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by increasing an amplitude of the audio signal. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting the output of the audio signal by performing fade-out processing. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting the output of the audio signal by performing fade-in processing. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein at least one numerical value of the priority information indicates at least one priority degree of at least one object of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one numerical value comprises a first numerical value indicating a high priority degree of a first object. 
     
     
         45 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one numerical value comprises a second numerical value indicating a low priority degree of a second object, the high priority degree indicating a higher importance of the first object relative to the second object. 
     
     
         46 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , wherein a numerical value of zero indicates a lowest priority degree of an object. 
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one numerical value is zero or a positive value over zero. 
     
     
         48 . A decoding device comprising:
 at least one processing circuit configured to:
 acquire encoded audio signals of a plurality of objects and priority information for each of the plurality of objects; 
 decode at least one of the encoded audio signals; and 
 generate an audio signal based on the decoded signals, 
 wherein the priority information is capable of being used to adjust an output of the audio signal. 
   
     
     
         49 . The decoding device of  claim 48 , wherein adjusting the output of the audio signal comprises adjusting a gain of the audio signal based on the priority information. 
     
     
         50 . The decoding device of  claim 49 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by decreasing an amplitude of the audio signal. 
     
     
         51 . The decoding device of  claim 49 , wherein adjusting the gain of the audio signal comprises adjusting the gain by increasing an amplitude of the audio signal.