Method and system for managing time-sensitive packetized data streams at a receiver

• US 8,842,534 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hahn, Paul S., Knappe, Michael E., Dunlap, Richard A., Surazski, Luke K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US13/355,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20120120797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 370/231, 370/235, 370/252, 370/395.2, 704/214, 704/226, 709/235
• US Class Current: 370/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0632 Synchronisation of packets and cells, e.g. transmission of voice via a packet network, circuit emulation service [CES] queuing arrangements in packet switching elements H04L49/90; synchronising systems for the synchronous transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing time-sensitive packetized data streams at a receiver includes receiving a time-sensitive packet of a data stream, analyzing an energy level of a payload signal of the packet, and determining whether to drop the packet based on the energy level of the payload signal.

Claims

1. A method for managing time-sensitive packetized data streams at a receiver, comprising:

receiving a time-sensitive packet of a data stream for storage at a jitter buffer of packets;

monitoring the jitter buffer of packets;

detecting an overrun condition in the jitter buffer;

analyzing an energy level of a payload signal of the time-sensitive packet;

based on the analysis of the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet, determining whether the time-sensitive packet represents silence;

if the time-sensitive packet represents silence, dropping the packet;

if the time-sensitive packet does not represent silence, playing the packet; and

wherein analyzing the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet comprises;

determining a short term average energy of the payload signal;

determining a noise floor estimate; and

comparing the short term average energy and the noise floor estimate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an overrun condition in the jitter buffer comprises detecting that a number of packets in the jitter buffer is above a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet comprises comparing the energy level of the payload signal to an energy level of a payload signal of a previous packet.

4. A system for managing time-sensitive packetized data streams at a receiver, comprising:

an interface operable to receive a time-sensitive packet of a data stream for storage at a jitter buffer of packets;

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

monitor the jitter buffer of packets;

detect an overrun condition in the jitter buffer;

analyze an energy level of a payload signal of the time-sensitive packet;

based on the analysis of the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet, determine whether the time-sensitive packet represents silence;

if the time-sensitive packet represents silence, drop the packet;

if the time-sensitive packet does not represent silence, play the packet; and

wherein the processor operable to analyze the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet comprises the processor operable to;

determine a short term average energy of the payload signal;

determine a noise floor estimate; and

compare the short term average energy and the noise floor estimate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor operable to detect an overrun condition in the jitter buffer comprises the processor operable to detect that a number of packets in the jitter buffer is above a predetermined threshold.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor operable to analyze the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet comprises the processor operable to compare the energy level of the payload signal to an energy level of a payload signal of a previous packet.

7. A set of logic encoded in non-transitory computer-readable media for managing time-sensitive packetized data streams at a receiver, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:

receive a time-sensitive packet of a data stream for storage at a jitter buffer of packets;

monitor the jitter buffer of packets;

detect an overrun condition in the jitter buffer;

analyze an energy level of a payload signal of the time-sensitive packet;

based on the analysis of the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet, determine whether the time-sensitive packet represents silence;

if the time-sensitive packet represents silence, drop the packet;

if the time-sensitive packet does not represent silence, play the packet; and

wherein logic operable to analyze the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet comprises logic operable to;

determine a short term average energy of the payload signal;

determine a noise floor estimate; and

compare the short term average energy and the noise floor estimate.

8. The logic of claim 7, wherein logic operable to detect an overrun condition in the jitter buffer comprises logic operable to detect that a number of packets in the jitter buffer is above a predetermined threshold.

9. The logic of claim 7, wherein logic operable to analyze the energy level of the payload signal of the time-sensitive packet comprises logic operable to compare the energy level of the payload signal to an energy level of a payload signal of a previous packet.