Automatic length-reducing audio delay line
First Claim
1. In an electronic system comprising a buffer having an input for receiving an input signal and an output for providing an output signal representing the input signal after a delay corresponding to a buffer length of the buffer, and a buffer controller coupled to the buffer, a method for substantially eliminating any delays in providing the output signal, comprising the steps of:
- with the buffer;
(a) storing the input signal in the buffer at an input rate;
(b) producing the output signal at an output rate;
with the buffer controller;
(c) determining whether the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold;
(d) analyzing at least a portion of the input signal stored in the buffer to determine which parts of the input signal can be removed from the input signal without significant loss of quality, when the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold; and
(e) deleting at least some of the parts of the input signal stored in the buffer that can be removed from the input signal without significant loss of quality, thus decreasing the length of the delay in providing the output signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic system and a method substantially eliminates any delays caused by buffering of a signal containing speech. The electronic system comprises a receiver for receiving signals, a buffer, coupled to the receiver, a buffer controller coupled to the buffer, and an audio section for presenting signals received to a listener. The method comprises the following steps. The receiver receives an input signal representing speech, and produces an output signal representing the input signal after a delay intentionally introduced in the system. The delay corresponds to the length of the buffer. The buffer stores the input signal in the buffer at an input rate, and produces the output signal at an output rate. The buffer controller determines whether the delay or buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold, and analyzes at least a portion of the input signal stored in the buffer to determine which parts of the input signal may be removed without substantial deterioration of the signal quality according to at least one predetermined criterion, when the buffer length is greater than a predetermined length. The buffer controller then deletes at least some of the parts of the input signal stored in the buffer that comply with the predetermined criterion.
31 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. In an electronic system comprising a buffer having an input for receiving an input signal and an output for providing an output signal representing the input signal after a delay corresponding to a buffer length of the buffer, and a buffer controller coupled to the buffer, a method for substantially eliminating any delays in providing the output signal, comprising the steps of:
-
with the buffer; (a) storing the input signal in the buffer at an input rate; (b) producing the output signal at an output rate; with the buffer controller; (c) determining whether the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold; (d) analyzing at least a portion of the input signal stored in the buffer to determine which parts of the input signal can be removed from the input signal without significant loss of quality, when the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold; and (e) deleting at least some of the parts of the input signal stored in the buffer that can be removed from the input signal without significant loss of quality, thus decreasing the length of the delay in providing the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An electronic system comprising:
-
a buffer for storing an input signal, at an input rate, and for producing an output signal representing the input signal, after a delay corresponding to a buffer length, the output signal being produced at an output rate; a buffer controller coupled to the buffer, the buffer controller comprising; means for determining whether the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold; means for analyzing at least a portion of the input signal stored in the buffer to determine which parts of the input signal have a magnitude lesser than a predetermined energy level, when the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold; and means for deleting at least some of the parts of the input signal stored in the buffer having a magnitude lesser than the predetermined energy level, thus decreasing the length of the delay in providing the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An electronic device comprising:
-
a buffer for storing an input signal, at an input rate, and for producing an output signal representing the input signal, after a delay corresponding to a buffer length, the output signal being produced at an output rate; a buffer controller coupled to the buffer, the buffer controller comprising; means for determining whether the current buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold; comparison means for comparing a portion of the input signal stored in the buffer to plurality of portions of the input signal previously stored in the buffer and determining a pitch period based on the comparison; analyzer means for analyzing the pitch period determined by the comparison means, when the buffer controller determines that the current buffer length is greater than the predetermined threshold; and means for deleting at least some of the pitch periods of the signal to produce the output signal, thus decreasing the length of the delay in providing the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification