Patent ID: 6023490
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: G11B,H04B,H04H,H04S

Abstract:
An apparatus for encoding a plurality of n digital information signals, havingfirst input means for receiving a first digital information signal,second input means for receiving a second digital information signal,third input means for receiving a third digital information signal,matrixing means for generating a first and a second digital composite signal from at least the first, second and third digital information signals,first and second data compression means for data compressing the first and second composite signals so as to obtain first and second data reduced digital composite signals, in response to first and second instruction signals respectively,first selection means for selecting at least one information signal from said plurality of n information signals so as to obtain at least a first auxiliary signal,at least a third data compression means for data compressing the at least first auxiliary signal so as to obtain a first data reduced auxiliary signal, in response to a third instruction signal,formatting means for combining the first and second data reduced composite signals and the at least first data reduced auxiliary signal into a transmission signal suitable for transmission via a transmission medium, wherein the apparatus further comprises:at least first, second and third masked threshold determining means for determining a first masked threshold from the first digital information signal, a second masked threshold from the third digital information signal and a third masked threshold from a combination of at least the first and the third digital information signals, respectively,second selection means for deriving one masked threshold from the third masked threshold and at least one other masked threshold so as to obtain a first selected masked threshold, said first selected masked threshold being derived from a smallest of said third masked threshold and said at least one other masked threshold, andfirst instruction signal generator means for generating the first instruction signal in response to said first selected masked threshold, wherein n is an integer for which holds that n is larger than 2.