Sidetone Signal Modification for Transmit-Path Quality Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users in telecommunications, especially in VoIP and cellular networks, often experience transient asymmetric voice quality impairments without immediate feedback, leading to frustration and repeated speech due to unawareness of transmission issues.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced sidetone mechanism that continuously samples the input speech signal and obtains signal quality statistics to modify the traditional sidetone signal, providing immediate audio feedback to users through delayed or distorted sounds when transmission impairments occur, such as hollow sounds, noise, or amplitude drops, indicating the quality of the signal being transmitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional sidetone is provided to users, then users can monitor their own speech volume and clarity, but users remain unaware of transmission path impairments until informed by the other party
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the sidetone signal based on measured transmit-path signal quality characteristics. When degradation is detected, the system introduces audible artifacts (delayed echoes, distortion, noise) into the sidetone to provide immediate feedback to the user about transmission quality, enabling real-time awareness without requiring feedback from the remote party
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that sits between the user's speech input and the sidetone output. This intermediary measures signal quality characteristics and conditionally modifies the sidetone signal, acting as a mediator that translates transmit-path quality into perceptible audio feedback for the user
2Reliability
If sidetone is modified to indicate transmission degradation, then users receive immediate feedback about signal quality, but the sidetone fidelity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different parts of the audio signal. The primary sidetone path maintains high fidelity for normal operation, while a separate feedback path introduces controlled degradation artifacts only when transmission impairment is detected. This allows localized modification of sidetone quality without affecting overall system performance
Solution Approach 2:
The sidetone modification is dynamic and conditional rather than static. The system continuously monitors transmit-path signal quality and adjusts the sidetone signal in real-time, introducing artifacts only when degradation thresholds are exceeded. This dynamic approach maintains sidetone accuracy during normal conditions while providing reliable feedback during impaired conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If enhanced sidetone monitoring is implemented, then users can adjust speech and location in real-time, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing sidetone infrastructure for multiple purposes: normal self-monitoring of speech volume and quality, and conditional indication of transmit-path transmission impairments. By making the sidetone mechanism multi-functional, the system achieves enhanced user adaptability without requiring entirely separate feedback systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An enhanced sidetone system is disclosed which provides the user of a telecommunications terminal, while speaking, with immediate audio feedback that corresponds to what the far-end party is probably hearing. The sidetone system continuously samples the input speech signal from the user and also obtains signal quality statistics of the transmission path. These statistics can include descriptions of network quality-of-service characteristics (e.g., packet loss rate, etc.) and/or media quality characteristics (e.g., audio distortion due to echo cancellation, etc.). These statistics enable the disclosed technique to determine whether the transmitted signal quality is acceptable. When an unacceptable condition in transmit-path signal quality is detected, the technique modifies the traditional (main) sidetone signal. For example, a delayed sidetone signal can be transmitted back to the user's terminal, in addition to the main sidetone signal generated, so that the user perceives the combination of sidetone signals as a hollow-sounding, objectionable sound.