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[To: mad-dev@lists.mars.org]

On 28 Aug 2002, Joe Drew wrote:

So, Fraunhofer et al have decided to charge $0.75 per mp3 decoder. I am not positive on how this affects users of MAD, but I have a feeling that given the choice they would go after both people like me (users of MAD) and people like Rob (developers of mp3 decoders.)

I'm very curious as to what patents refer to audio decoding. Examining the titles in the Patent Portfolio http://www.mp3licensing.com/patents/index.html, only two titles seem to be relevant to decoding

1. Process for the detecting of errors in the transmission of frequency-coded digital signals. US #5,455,833

2. Determination of coding type US #5,736,943

(somebody else want to look though the list of patents?)

2 turns out be be releted to encoding, and doesn't apply to mad.

1 might http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='5,455,833'.WKU.&OS=PN/5,455,833&RS=PN/5,455,833

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for the detection of errors, respectively perceptible disturbances, in the transmission of frequency-coded digital signals and, in particular, audio signals transmitted in blocks by a transmitter to a receiver. The present invention is distinguished by that from the frequency coefficients of earlier and, if need be, future blocks, a decision function is formed, on the basis of which the occurrence of an error is determined, and that the frequency coefficient containing an error is not longer utilized for the evaluation of subsequent blocks.

Does madlib do anything like this? If so, how can I disable such error-correction.

It would be good if someone could find out what patents you get licence to if you purchase an mp3 decoding patent licence.

- -- Russell O'Connor roconnor@math.berkeley.edu http://www.math.berkeley.edu/~roconnor/ ``Any time you skip a commercial [...] you're actually stealing the programming'' -- Jamie Kellner, CEO of TBS