Patent ID: 8121714
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: G10L,H04R,H04S

Abstract:
1. An audio processing apparatus which reproduces a plurality of audio signals concurrently, comprising; an audio processing unit operative to perform a predetermined processing on respective input audio signals so that a user hears the signals separately via auditory sense, the audio processing unit comprising a frequency-band-division filter operative to: (i) allocate a block selected from plurality of blocks made by dividing a frequency band for each of the plurality of input audio signals using a predetermined rule that employs a boundary frequency of Bark's critical bands, and (ii) extract a frequency component belonging to the allocated block from each input audio signal, a characteristic-band-extracting unit operative to determine a block to be allocated with priority, among the plurality of blocks, for each of the plurality of input audio signals, and an output unit operative to mix the plurality of input audio signals on which the processing is performed, and to output as an output audio signal having a predetermined number of channels, wherein the frequency-band-division filter allocates a noncontiguous plurality of blocks to at least one of the plurality of input audio signals, and allocates blocks other than the block which is allocated to a certain input audio signal predetermined by the characteristic-band-extracting unit with priority, to other input audio signals.