Method and system for switching among independent packetized audio streams
First Claim
1. A method for noiselessly switching audio provided on an egress audio channel over a network, comprising:
- (a) generating a first audio stream of egress packets for the egress audio channel, wherein each egress packet includes a payload carrying audio and control header information;
(b) switching and delivering said first audio stream to a first network interface controller associated with the egress audio channel;
(c) generating a second audio stream of egress packets, wherein each egress packet includes a payload carrying audio and control header information;
(d) switching and delivering said second audio stream to the first network interface controller associated with the egress audio channel; and
(e) evaluating the relative priority of the first and second audio streams based on priority information in the control header information of the egress packets to determine which of the first and second audio streams is a higher priority audio stream to transmit on the egress audio channel over the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for noiselessly switching between independent audio streams. Such noiseless switching preserves valid RTP information at the time of switch over. For established VOIP calls, the present invention can noiselessly switch audio from one audio source to another. A switch directs audio data from multiple audio sources to a network interface controller. The switch can be a cell switch or a packet switch. The audio sources can be internal audio sources and/or external audio sources. An egress audio controller controls the operation of internal audio sources, the switch and the network interface controller to carry out noiseless switching according to the present invention. Certain call events which involve additional audio trigger a noiseless switch over.
45 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for noiselessly switching audio provided on an egress audio channel over a network, comprising:
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(a) generating a first audio stream of egress packets for the egress audio channel, wherein each egress packet includes a payload carrying audio and control header information;
(b) switching and delivering said first audio stream to a first network interface controller associated with the egress audio channel;
(c) generating a second audio stream of egress packets, wherein each egress packet includes a payload carrying audio and control header information;
(d) switching and delivering said second audio stream to the first network interface controller associated with the egress audio channel; and
(e) evaluating the relative priority of the first and second audio streams based on priority information in the control header information of the egress packets to determine which of the first and second audio streams is a higher priority audio stream to transmit on the egress audio channel over the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for noiselessly switching audio from a second audio source to an egress audio channel already carrying audio from a first audio source, comprising:
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generating an audio stream of egress packets at the second audio source;
converting the audio stream of egress packets into cells;
switching the converted cells to a switched virtual circuit (SVC) associated with the egress audio channel;
converting the switched cells back to the audio stream of egress packets;
packetizing the audio stream to create an output egress audio stream of packets with synchronized header information; and
transmitting the output egress audio stream of packets on the egress audio channel over a network in place of the audio from the first audio source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30)
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12. A method for introducing noiseless switch over audio for voice over the Internet (VOIP) telephone calls, comprising:
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establishing a VOIP telephone call between a destination device and a media server;
setting priority information for a first audio source;
delivering a first audio stream of egress packets that includes the set priority information;
determining a call status with respect to availability of receiving noiseless switch over audio; and
processing a call event that includes noiseless switch over audio when the call status determining step indicates the established VOIP telephone call is a candidate for receiving noiseless switch over audio.
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15. A system for noiselessly switching audio provided on an egress audio channel over a network, comprising:
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first and second audio sources;
a switch coupled to said first and second audio sources; and
a network interface controller coupled to said switch, wherein said first audio source generates a first audio stream of egress packets for the egress audio channel, wherein each egress packet includes a payload carrying audio and control header information, said second audio source generates a second audio stream of egress packets, wherein each egress packet includes a payload carrying audio and control header information, and said switch switches and delivers said first and second audio streams to said network interface controller.
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23. A system for noiselessly switching audio from a second audio source to an egress audio channel already carrying audio from a first audio source, comprising:
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means for generating an audio stream of egress packets at the second audio source;
means for converting the audio stream of egress packets into cells;
means for switching the converted cells to a SVC associated with the egress audio channel;
means for converting the switched cells back to the audio stream of egress packets;
means for packetizing the audio stream to create an output egress audio stream of packets; and
means for transmitting the output egress audio stream of packets on the egress audio channel over a network in place of the audio from the first audio source.
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24. A system for introducing noiseless switch over audio for voice over the Internet (VOIP) telephone calls, comprising:
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means for establishing a VOIP telephone call between a destination device and a media server;
means for setting priority information for a first audio source;
means for delivering a first audio stream of egress packets that includes the set priority information;
means for determining a call status with respect to availability of receiving noiseless switch over audio; and
means for processing a call event that includes noiseless switch over audio when the call status determining step indicates the established VOIP telephone call is a candidate for receiving noiseless switch over audio.
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27. A method for introducing noiseless switch over audio for voice over the Internet (VOIP) telephone calls, comprising:
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establishing a VOIP telephone call; and
transmitting noiseless switch over audio in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information in the established VOIP telephone call.
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28. A method for noiseless switching between audio sources in a VOIP network, comprising:
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(A) selecting one audio source;
(B) transmitting audio from the selected one audio source in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information on an egress audio channel to a destination device;
(C) selecting another audio source; and
(D) transmitting audio from the selected another audio source in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information on the same egress audio channel to the destination device.
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31. A method, comprising:
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(A) transmitting audio from one audio source in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information on an egress audio channel to a destination device; and
(B) transmitting audio from another independent audio source in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information on the same egress audio channel to the destination device, whereby a user at the destination device perceives a noiseless switch over between transmitted audio from independent audio sources in a VOIP network.
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32. A system, comprising:
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(A) means for transmitting audio from one audio source in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information on an egress audio channel to a destination device; and
(B) means for transmitting audio from another independent audio source in an output audio stream of packets with synchronized header information on the same egress audio channel to the destination device, whereby a user at the destination device perceives a noiseless switch over between transmitted audio from independent audio sources in a VOIP network.
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Specification