Patent ID: 8019616

Claim:
A method of encoding an audio signal, the method comprising: dividing an input audio signal into a plurality of audio bands; selecting a coding method for each of the audio bands; encoding audio data included in each of the audio bands according to the coding method selected for each of the bands; and generating a bit stream including all of the encoded audio data included in each of the audio bands, wherein the selecting the coding method comprises selecting a coding method providing smaller encoded data from among a parametric coding method and a time-frequency coding method; wherein the selecting comprises determining which of the parametric coding method and the time frequency coding method would provide smaller encoded data for an audio band; wherein if it is determined that the parametric coding method would provide smaller encoded data for the audio band, selecting the parametric coding method for the audio band; wherein if it is determined that the time frequency coding method would provide smaller encoded data for the audio band, selecting the time frequency coding method for the audio band.