Method And System For Improving Real-Time Data Communications
First Claim
1. A system for adjusting a playback sampling rate for real-time data communications over a data packet network, comprising:
- a data interface for receiving data packets from the data packet network;
a buffer coupled to the data interface and configured to temporarily store the data packets;
a digital to analog converter coupled to the buffer and configured to convert the data packets to an analog signal;
a clocking mechanism coupled to the digital to analog converter and configured to provide the digital to analog converter with variable frequencies;
a buffer monitor for monitoring the buffer'"'"'s activity during the real-time audio data communications, wherein the buffer monitor is configured to adjust the playback sampling rate; and
a timer for preventing the adjustment of the playback sampling rate by the buffer monitor until after the expiration of a pre-determined period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for improving real-time data communications by accounting for sampling rate mismatches between a transmitter and a receiver. Based on an analysis of the average number of packets received at a receiver over a period of time, a buffer monitor cooperating with the receiver can trigger an adjustment to the playback sampling rate to account for mismatches in the sampling rates of the transmitter and receiver. The buffer monitor may adjust the playback sampling rate more dramatically if the average is dangerously high or low, adjust the playback sampling rate less dramatically if the average is near satisfactory conditions, and not adjust the playback sampling rate if the average falls is satisfactory.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for adjusting a playback sampling rate for real-time data communications over a data packet network, comprising:
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a data interface for receiving data packets from the data packet network; a buffer coupled to the data interface and configured to temporarily store the data packets; a digital to analog converter coupled to the buffer and configured to convert the data packets to an analog signal; a clocking mechanism coupled to the digital to analog converter and configured to provide the digital to analog converter with variable frequencies; a buffer monitor for monitoring the buffer'"'"'s activity during the real-time audio data communications, wherein the buffer monitor is configured to adjust the playback sampling rate; and a timer for preventing the adjustment of the playback sampling rate by the buffer monitor until after the expiration of a pre-determined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for accounting for variances in sampling rates in a transmitter and a receiver communicating over a packet network, comprising:
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an interface at the receiver for receiving and decoding data packets transmitted over the packet network; a digital to analog converter at the receiver configured to convert the data packets to an analog signal; a clocking mechanism at the receiver for providing a frequency to the digital to analog converter that establishes the receiver'"'"'s playback sampling rate, wherein the clocking mechanism is configured to provide varying frequencies to the digital to analog converter; a buffer at the receiver that temporarily stores the data packets; and a buffer monitor at the receiver configured to; determine the average number of data packets stored in the buffer over a given time period; and based on the determination, trigger an adjustment in the playback sampling rate for the receiver to account for the variances between the receiver'"'"'s sampling rate and the transmitter'"'"'s sampling rate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for adjusting a playback sampling rate, comprising the steps of:
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receiving packets over the packet network at a network interface; forwarding the packets from the network interface to a buffer for temporary storage; querying the buffer with a buffer monitor to determine the average number of packets stored in the buffer over a specified time interval; determining whether the capacity of the buffer is approaching capacity or depletion based on the average number of packets stored in the buffer; and adjusting the playback sampling rate for the receiver based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. The method of 15, further comprising the step of determining the amount to increase or decrease the playback sampling rate according to the duration of time in which the buffer took to approach capacity or to approach depletion.
Specification