Method and system for adjusting digital audio playback sampling rate
First Claim
1. An apparatus for real-time audio data communication over a data packet network comprising:
- a data interface for receiving data packets from the data packet network;
a buffer coupled to the data interface and operable for temporarily storing the data packets;
a digital to analog converter coupled to the buffer and operable for converting digital audio data in the data packets to an analog signal;
a clocking mechanism coupled to the digital to analog converter and operable for providing the digital to analog converter with variable frequencies; and
a buffer monitor for monitoring the buffer'"'"'s activity during the real-time audio data communication, wherein the buffer monitor is operable for adjusting the playback sampling rate when the buffer approaches a capacity trigger value or a depletion trigger value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a packet communication network, to compensate for rate mismatches between transmitting and receiving devices, an apparatus and method provides for adjusting the playback sampling rate and for monitoring the buffer. The receiving device will monitor its buffer; relevant buffer data can comprise whether the buffer is approaching capacity or approaching depletion and the speed in which the buffer is approaching capacity of approaching depletion. The receiving device will then trigger an adjustment to the playback sampling rate to attune the rates of the transmitting and receiving devices or to compensate for jitters from any number of network complications. The receiving device may also store the buffer data for later action, for example, to formulate specific adjustment procedures or to compile specific conference profiles. The present invention may function alone or function in conjunction with other known methods in the art.
35 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for real-time audio data communication over a data packet network comprising:
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a data interface for receiving data packets from the data packet network;
a buffer coupled to the data interface and operable for temporarily storing the data packets;
a digital to analog converter coupled to the buffer and operable for converting digital audio data in the data packets to an analog signal;
a clocking mechanism coupled to the digital to analog converter and operable for providing the digital to analog converter with variable frequencies; and
a buffer monitor for monitoring the buffer'"'"'s activity during the real-time audio data communication, wherein the buffer monitor is operable for adjusting the playback sampling rate when the buffer approaches a capacity trigger value or a depletion trigger value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for real-time data networking of audio data over a network comprising:
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a transmitter comprising;
an analog to digital converter operable for converting an analog audio signal to digital data;
a clocking mechanism for providing a frequency to the analog to digital converter that establishes the analog to digital converter'"'"'s sampling rate; and
an interface coupled to the analog to digital converter and operable for transmitting the digital data over the packet network;
a receiver comprising;
an interface for receiving digital data transmitted over the packet network;
a digital to analog converter operable for converting the digital data to an analog signal;
a clocking mechanism for providing a frequency to the digital to analog converter that establishes the receiver'"'"'s playback sampling rate, wherein the clocking mechanism is operable for providing varying frequencies to the digital to analog converter;
a buffer that temporarily stores the digital data; and
a buffer monitor operable to;
query the buffer for determining the buffer'"'"'s activity; and
trigger an adjustment in the playback sampling rate of the receiver if the query of the buffer satisfies certain criteria. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of adjusting playback sampling rate to facilitate real-time audio communication over a packet network comprising the steps of:
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receiving packets at a network interface;
forwarding packets from the network interface to a buffer for temporary storage;
monitoring the buffer'"'"'s activity;
forwarding packets from the buffer to a digital to analog converter for conversion to an analog signal for playback at a sampling rate; and
determining whether to adjust the playback sampling rate based on the buffer'"'"'s activity. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36)
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33. The method of 27, further comprising the step of determining the amount to increase or decrease the playback sampling rate according to the buffer'"'"'s proximity to full capacity or to depletion.
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34. The method of 27, further comprising the step of determining the amount to increase or decrease the playback sampling rate according to the duration of time in which the buffer took to approach capacity or to approach depletion.
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37. A method for adjusting a playback sampling rate of a receiver to compensate for variations in buffering, sampling, and clock accuracy during real-time audio communication sessions over a packet network comprising the steps of:
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receiving packets over a packet network at a network interface;
forwarding the packets from the network interface to a buffer for temporary storage;
querying the buffer to determine the number of packets that are stored in the buffer;
summing the number of packets that are stored in the buffer;
summing the total number of packets received; and
determining whether to adjust the playback sampling rate according to the query results. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. The method of 37, further comprising the steps of:
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if the buffer approaches capacity, increasing the playback sampling rate; and
if the buffer approaches depletion, decreasing the playback sampling rate. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A method of transmitting audio data to a receiver comprising the step of:
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transmitting audio data to the receiver in data packets wherein the receiver is operable for;
receiving the data packets at a network interface;
storing the data packets in a buffer;
determining an average number of data packets in the buffer; and
determining a receiver'"'"'s playback sampling rate for the audio data based on the average number of data packets in the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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Specification