System and method for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference

• US 20030224780A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey, Drell, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,227,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6025 implemented as integrated speech networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference is disclosed. A connection with one or more remote communication devices is initially established. An available data rate associated with the connection is then determined. Next, a bandwidth is assigned based on the available data rate. Finally, the assigned bandwidth is adjusted according to the available data rate.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference, comprising:

establishing a connection with one or more remote communication devices for conducting the audio conference;

determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

assigning a bandwidth based on the available data rate; and

adjusting the bandwidth according to changes to the available data rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting further comprises decreasing the bandwidth as the available data rate decreases.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting further comprises increasing the bandwidth as the available data rate increases.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting occurs at the beginning of the audio conference.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting occurs during the audio conference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote communication devices is a conferencing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote communication devices is a bridge.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote communication devices is a telephone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is an analog connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a digital connection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the bandwidth further comprises adjusting a training time associated with the bandwidth.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the bandwidth is adjusted in response to received audio quality feedback.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the bandwidth is adjusted to narrowband.

14. A system for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality, comprising:

an interface for communicating via a connection with one or more remote communication devices;

a data rate module for determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

a codec for assigning a bandwidth based on the available data rate; and

a bandwidth adjustment module for instructing the codec to adjust the bandwidth according to changes to the available data rate.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the connection is via a POTS line.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the connection is via a digital communications line.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a modem coupled to the interface.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a modem training module for adjusting a training time associated with the modem.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the bandwidth adjustment module instructs the codec to increase the bandwidth as the available data rate increases.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the bandwidth adjustment module instructs the codec to decrease the bandwidth as the available data rate decreases.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising an audio quality feedback module for indicating an audio quality associated with the audio conference.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising a transmission standard module for providing compatible bandwidth and data rate information.

23. An apparatus for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference comprising:

means for establishing a connection with one or more remote communication devices for conducting the audio conference;

means for determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

means for assigning a bandwidth based on the available data rate; and

means for adjusting the bandwidth according to changes to the available data rate.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the assigned bandwidth is adjusted to decrease as the available data rate decreases.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the, assigned bandwidth is adjusted to increase as the available data rate increases.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein assigning the bandwidth further comprises adjusting a training time associated with the bandwidth.

27. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference by performing the steps of:

establishing a connection with one or more remote communication devices for conducting the audio conference;

determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

assigning a bandwidth based on the available data rate; and

adjusting the bandwidth according to changes to the available data rate.

28. A method for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference, comprising:

establishing a connection with one or more remote communication devices for conducting the audio conference;

determining a data rate associated with the audio conference;

assessing audio quality associated with the data rate;

adjusting the data rate according to the assessment of the audio quality; and

adjusting a bandwidth according to the adjustment to the data rate.