US5898696A
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Method and system for controlling an encoding rate in a variable rate communication system
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1997-09-05
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Granted: 1999-04-27
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Expires: 2017-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for controlling an encoding rate in a communication system utilizes feedforward rate information (48) and/or rate desirability information (50) sent from each of a plurality of variable rate vocoders (34) to a communication link output controller (24), such as a network arbitor. The communication link output controller (24) then sends a feedback control signal (32) to a selected variable rate vocoder to change the encoding rate of the selected variable rate vocoder to facilitate re-encoding of the speech packet when a bottleneck is detected. In another embodiment, the network arbitor (134) may additionally and independently modify speech packet data when it determines that a bottleneck may occur. The network arbitor (134) also communicates a packet modification control signal (132) for the variable rate vocoder that generated the dropped packet so that the corresponding variable rate vocoder can adjust its filter states to maintain convergence.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee Michael Proctor
- 👤 James Patrick Ashley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:46
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/04; G10L19/16; G10L19/18; G10L19/24; H; H04; H04W; H04W28/00; H04W28/16; H04W28/18; H04W28/22; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04B7/2643; H04B7/2659; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/16; H04J3/1682; H04J3/1688; H04W88/00; H04W88/18; H04W88/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of controlling an encoding rate in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders; determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data; comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder from the plurality of variable rate vocoders in response to the comparison.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of controlling an encoding rate in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders; determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data; comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder from the plurality of variable rate vocoders in response to the comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the rate data is feedforward projected rate data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving includes receiving the feedforward projected rate data transmitted from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to a network arbitor and wherein the step of determining includes summing the feedforward projected rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of comparing includes retrieving a stored available link bandwidth value and comparing the stored available link bandwidth value to the required link bandwidth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selectively controlling includes generating a vocoder rate control signal for selective control of at least one variable rate vocoder to modify a rate of encoding for the at least one variable rate vocoder to facilitate reduction in link bandwidth requirement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 5 further including a step of receiving rate confidence data from at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, representing a level of confidence that the rate data is indicative of a necessary variable rate vocoder rate for a given speech packet and selectively controlling at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders with a lower confidence level to decrease an encoding rate of a selected variable rate vocoder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders generates the rate confidence data and transmits the rate confidence data to a network arbitor to facilitate the reduction in link bandwidth requirement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders generates a projected arrival time data and transmits the projected arrival time data to a network arbitor to facilitate a reduction in link bandwidth requirement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders generates a signaling packet data and transmits the signaling packet data to a network arbitor to facilitate a reduction in link bandwidth requirement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the network arbitor receives the feedforward projected rate data for a speech packet from at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders prior to the at least one variable rate vocoder completing encoding of the speech packet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 5 wherein a network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder prior to the at least one variable rate vocoder completing encoding of a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step, to vary an encoding rate of the current packet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 5 wherein a network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder after the at least one variable rate vocoder has completed encoding of a packet, the packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step to vary an encoding rate of a subsequent packet to the packet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one variable rate vocoder, in response to the vocoder rate control signal, analyzes a current state of encoding to determine whether re-encoding at a lower encoding rate for a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step, may be suitably accomplished.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of controlling an encoding rate in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders by transmitting a rate control signal to a network arbitor; receiving rate confidence data from at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, representing a level of confidence that the rate data is indicative of a necessary variable rate vocoder rate for a given speech packet; determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data by summing rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth; comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder with lower rate confidence level data compared to rate confidence level data received from other of the plurality of variable rate vocoders to decrease the encoding rate of the selected variable rate vocoder, by generating a vocoder rate control signal to modify a rate of encoding for the at least one variable rate vocoder to facilitate a reduction in bandwidth requirement for the link, and wherein the network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder prior to the at least one variable rate vocoder completing encoding of a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step, to vary the encoding rate of the current packet.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of controlling an encoding rate in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders by transmitting a rate control signal to a network arbitor; receiving rate confidence data from at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, representing a level of confidence that the rate data is indicative of a necessary variable rate vocoder rate for a given speech packet; determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data by summing rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth; comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder with lower rate confidence level data compared to rate confidence level data received from other of the plurality of variable rate vocoders to decrease the encoding rate of the selected variable rate vocoder, by generating a vocoder rate control signal to modify a rate of encoding for the at least one variable rate vocoder to facilitate a reduction in bandwidth requirement for the link, and wherein the network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder prior to the at least one variable rate vocoder completing encoding of a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step, to vary the encoding rate of the current packet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the rate data is feedforward projected rate data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder after the at least one variable rate vocoder has completed encoding of a packet, the packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step, to vary an encoding rate of a subsequent packet to the packet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one variable rate vocoder, in response to the vocoder rate control signal, analyzes a current state of encoding to determine whether re-encoding at a lower encoding rate for a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the required link bandwidth is being determined at the determining step may, be suitably accomplished.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for controlling an encoding rate in a communication system comprising: means for receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders; means for determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data; means for comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and means, response to the comparison, for selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to facilitate a reduction in required link bandwidth.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for controlling an encoding rate in a communication system comprising: means for receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders; means for determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data; means for comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and means, response to the comparison, for selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to facilitate a reduction in required link bandwidth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the rate data is feedforward projected rate data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the means for receiving is section of a network arbitor and the plurality of variable rate vocoders transmits projected rate data to the network arbitor and wherein means for determining includes means for summing rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the means for selectively controlling includes means for generating a vocoder rate control signal for selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoded to modify rate of encoding for the at least one variable rate vocoder to facilitate a reduction in band width requirement for the link.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
258 words
A system for controlling an encoding rate in a communication system comprising: a network arbitor having, means for receiving projected rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders by transmitting projected rate data to a network arbitor; means for receiving rate confidence level data from at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, representing a level of confidence that the projected rate data is indicative of a necessary variable rate vocoder rate for a given speech packet; means for determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the projected rate data by summing projected rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth; means for comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and means, responsive to a vocoder rate control signal, for selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder having lower rate confidence level data compared to rate confidence level data received from other of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, to decrease an encoding rate of a selected variable rate vocoder to facilitate a reduction in bandwidth requirement for the link, and wherein the network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder prior to the at least one variable rate vocoder completing encoding of a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the means for determining is determining the required link bandwidth, to vary an encoding rate of the current packet.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
258 words
A system for controlling an encoding rate in a communication system comprising: a network arbitor having, means for receiving projected rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders by transmitting projected rate data to a network arbitor; means for receiving rate confidence level data from at least one of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, representing a level of confidence that the projected rate data is indicative of a necessary variable rate vocoder rate for a given speech packet; means for determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the projected rate data by summing projected rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth; means for comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; and means, responsive to a vocoder rate control signal, for selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder having lower rate confidence level data compared to rate confidence level data received from other of the plurality of variable rate vocoders, to decrease an encoding rate of a selected variable rate vocoder to facilitate a reduction in bandwidth requirement for the link, and wherein the network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder prior to the at least one variable rate vocoder completing encoding of a current packet, the current packet being encoded while the means for determining is determining the required link bandwidth, to vary an encoding rate of the current packet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the network arbitor generates the vocoder rate control signal to facilitate selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder after the at least one variable rate vocoder has completed encoding of a packet to vary an encoding rate of a subsequent packet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the at least one variable rate vocoder, in response to the vocoder rate control signal, analyzes a current state of encoding to determine whether re-encoding at a lower encoding rate for the current packet may be suitably accomplished.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of controlling an encoding rate in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders; determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data; comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder from the plurality of variable rate vocoders in response to the comparison; outputting encoded speech over the link; generating a packet modification control signal for a selected variable rate vocoder indicating whether the output encoded speech was modified prior to output; and controlling the selected variable rate vocoder, in response to the packet modification control signal, when output encoded speech was modified.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of controlling an encoding rate in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rate data from a plurality of variable rate vocoders; determining a required link bandwidth for transmission of encoded packets of speech based on the rate data; comparing the required link bandwidth with an available link bandwidth; selectively controlling the encoding rate of at least one variable rate vocoder from the plurality of variable rate vocoders in response to the comparison; outputting encoded speech over the link; generating a packet modification control signal for a selected variable rate vocoder indicating whether the output encoded speech was modified prior to output; and controlling the selected variable rate vocoder, in response to the packet modification control signal, when output encoded speech was modified.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of generating the packet modification control signal is based on a modification resulting from discarding speech packet information and/or reducing speech packet rate information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the step of controlling the selected variable rate vocoder includes recovering a previous speech packet that was discarded and updating filter state data for a subsequent speech packet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of controlling includes facilitating decaying of speech parameters for use in generating subsequent speech packets, in response to the packet modification control signal, when the modification resulted from discarding speech encoded information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of controlling includes varying a rate of encoding for use in generating the subsequent speech packet, in response to the packet modification control signal, when the modification resulted from reducing a speech packet output rate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the communication system is a CDMA system and a network arbiter generates the packet modification control signal for the selected variable rate vocoder indicating whether the output encoded speech was modified prior to output.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the step of receiving includes receiving projected rate data transmitted from the variable rate vocoder to a network arbitor and wherein the step of determining includes summing projected rate data from the plurality of variable rate vocoders to determine the required link bandwidth.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selectively controlling includes generating a vocoder rate control signal for selective control of the at least one variable rate vocoder to modify a rate of encoding for the at least one variable rate vocoder to facilitate a reduction in link bandwidth requirement.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |