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

• US 7,903,588 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey, Drell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/757,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 370/229, 370/335, 370/260, 709/203
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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 of conducting an audio conference, comprising:

establishing a connection between a local communication device and one or more remote communication devices for conducting the audio conference;

determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

assigning an audio quality based on the available data rate; and

adjusting the audio quality in response to changes to the available data rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the audio quality is proportional to the changes to the available data rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting is in response to received audio quality feedback.

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, a bridge or a telephone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises changing the band of frequencies encoded by an audio encoder.

8. A method of conducting an audio conference, comprising:

establishing a connection between a local communication device and one or more remote communication devices for conducting the audio conference;

determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

encoding audio having a bandwidth of frequencies wherein the bandwidth is selected based on the data rate;

transmitting the encoded audio via the connection; and

adjusting the bandwidth in response to a change in the available data rate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more remote communication devices is a conferencing system, a bridge or a telephone.

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

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

determining an available data rate associated with the connection;

assigning an audio bandwidth based on the available data rate; and

adjusting the audio bandwidth proportionally to changes to the available data rate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting occurs at the beginning of the audio conference.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting occurs during the audio conference.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more remote communication devices is a conferencing system, a bridge or a telephone.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the connection is an analog connection or a digital connection.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio bandwidth is adjusted in response to received audio quality feedback.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio bandwidth is adjusted to narrowband.