Audio coding selection based on device operating condition

• US 8,615,398 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampat, Kuntal Dilipsinh, Choy, Eddie L. T., Linsky, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Saint Cyr, Leonard
• Application Number:
  US12/362,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 704500-504
• US Class Current: 704/501
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/22 Mode decision, i.e. based on audio signal content versus external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A sensor is configured to determine at least one operating condition of a device and a selector is configured to select an audio coding process for the device, based on the operating condition. The operating condition may include remaining battery life of the device and/or ambient noise level. The selected audio coding process may consume less power than another possible audio coding process during audio processing. The audio may include voice and/or audio playback, e.g., music playback.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor configured to determine an ambient noise level at a device; and

a selector implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to select a first audio coding process for the device if the ambient noise level is above a threshold noise level, the first audio coding process consuming less power than a second audio coding process during audio processing at the device, the selector selecting the second audio coding process if the ambient noise level is below the threshold noise level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector selects either the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process based on a combination of a remaining battery energy capacity of the device and the ambient noise level.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector selects either the first audio coding process or second audio coding process based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) determined from the ambient noise level.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a detector configured to detect one or more boundaries in an audio stream;

wherein the selector is further configured to switch between the first audio coding process and the second audio coding process at one of the boundaries.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the boundaries include a period of silence.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface, included in the device, configured to transfer the ambient noise level to another device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor and selector are included in the device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is included in the device and the selector is included in a wireless communication device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a wireless headset.

10. A method, comprising:

determining an ambient noise level at a device;

selecting a first audio coding process for the device if the ambient noise level is above a threshold noise level, the first audio coding process consuming less power than a second audio coding process during audio processing at the device; and

selecting the second audio coding process if the ambient noise level is below the threshold noise level.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring a remaining battery energy capacity of the device, wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on the remaining battery energy capacity.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring a remaining battery energy capacity; and

measuring the ambient noise level;

wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on the remaining battery energy capacity and the ambient noise level.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring the ambient noise level; and

measuring an audio signal;

wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the audio signal to the ambient noise level.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting one or more boundaries in an audio stream; and

switching between the first audio coding process and the second audio coding process at one of the boundaries.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the boundaries include a period of silence.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transferring the ambient noise level from the device to another device.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is a wireless headset.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining an ambient noise level at a device;

means for comparing the ambient noise level to a threshold noise level; and

means for selecting a first audio coding process for the device if the ambient noise level is above the threshold noise level and selecting a second audio coding process consuming more power than the first audio coding process if the ambient noise level is below the threshold noise level.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for measuring a device remaining battery energy capacity, wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on the device remaining battery energy capacity.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for measuring the ambient noise level.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for measuring a device remaining battery energy capacity; and

means for measuring the ambient noise level;

wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on the device remaining battery energy capacity and the ambient noise level.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for measuring the ambient noise level; and

means for measuring an audio signal;

wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the audio signal to the ambient noise level.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for detecting one or more boundaries in an audio stream; and

means for switching between the first audio coding process and the second audio coding process at one of the boundaries.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the boundaries include a period of silence.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for transferring the ambient noise level from the device to another device.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the device is a wireless headset.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a set of instructions executable by one or more processors, comprising:

code for determining an ambient noise level at a device; and

code for selecting a first audio coding process for the device if the ambient noise level is above a threshold noise level, the first audio coding process consuming less power than a second audio coding process during audio processing at the device; and

code for selecting the second audio coding process if the ambient noise level is below the threshold noise level.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

code for measuring a remaining battery energy capacity, wherein selecting the first audio coding process or second audio coding process is based on the remaining battery energy capacity.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

code for measuring a remaining battery energy capacity; and

code for measuring an ambient noise level;

wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on the remaining battery energy capacity and the ambient noise level.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

code for measuring an ambient noise level; and

code for measuring an audio signal;

wherein selecting the first audio coding process or the second audio coding process is based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the audio signal to the ambient noise level.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

code for detecting one or more boundaries in an audio stream; and

code for switching between the first audio coding process and the second audio coding process at one of the boundaries.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the boundaries include a period of silence.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

code for transferring the ambient noise level from the device to another device.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the device is a wireless headset.