System and method for enhanced streaming audio

Abstract

A system and method for enhancement and management of streaming audio is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system provides a client-side decoder that is compatible with numerous audio formats, so that a user can enjoy relatively high-quality audio from various sources, even from sources that do not provide multi-channel or high-quality audio data. The system and method also include a management system for managing and controlling the use of licensed signal processing software to further enhance an audio stream. In one embodiment, the management system is used to manage a signal processing module that provides psychoacoustic audio processing to create a wider soundstage, an acoustic correction process to increase the perceived height and clarity of the audio image, and bass enhancement processing to create the perception of low bass from the small speakers or headphones typically used with multi-media systems and portable audio players.

1 . A method of enhancing an audio signal delivered over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving streaming audio;   obtaining at least two channels of receive audio from the streaming audio; and   enhancing the at least two channels of receive audio for playback with one or more processors, said enhancing comprising performing one or more of the following:
 applying a virtualization enhancement to spatially enhance the at least two channels of receive audio to thereby provide surround-sound effects in the at least two channels of receive audio, and 
 applying a sound stage enhancement to the at least two channels of receive audio, said applying the sound stage enhancement comprising:
 enhancing a listener-perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the at least two channels of receive audio to produce height-enhanced audio, 
 enhancing a bass response associated with the at least two channels of receive audio to produce bass-enhanced audio, and 
 enhancing a listener-perceived width of the apparent sound stage of the at least two channels of receive audio by at least equalizing a difference signal present in the at least two channels of receive audio. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoding the at least two channels of receive audio into a 5.1 channel audio output signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein that said enhancing the at least two channels of receive audio comprises enhancing the 5.1. channel audio output signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said decoding comprises decoding using a Circle Surround 5.1 decoder. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for enhancing an audio signal received over a network, the apparatus comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive streaming audio;   a converter configured to convert the streaming audio into at least two channels of receive audio;   a sound enhancement system comprising one or more processors, the sound enhancement system configured to enhance the at least two channels of receive audio for playback, the sound enhancement system comprising one or more of the following:
 a virtualization module configured to spatially enhance the at least two channels of receive audio to thereby provide surround-sound effects in the at least two channels of receive audio, and 
 a sound stage enhancement module comprising:
 an image enhancement module configured to enhance a listener-perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the at least two channels of receive audio to produce height-enhanced audio; 
 a bass enhancement module configured to enhance a bass response associated with the at least two channels of receive audio to produce bass-enhanced audio; and 
 an image enhancement module configured to enhance a listener-perceived width of the apparent sound stage of the at least two channels of receive audio by at least equalizing a difference signal present in the at least two channels of receive audio. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a decoder configured to decode the at least two channels of receive audio into a 5.1 channel audio output signal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sound enhancement system is further configured to enhancing the at least two channels of receive audio by at least enhancing the 5.1. channel audio output signal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the decoder comprises a Circle Surround 5.1 decoder.