Adaptive Speech Frame Dropping for Voice Link Power and Capacity

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies face challenges in managing frame erasure rates, leading to inefficient power consumption and network capacity utilization, particularly in scenarios with varying voice activity levels and channel conditions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method to selectively drop certain packets at the encoder based on channel conditions and frame erasure rates, using partial redundancy to maintain communication quality while reducing transmission power and increasing network capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If additional margin (dropped frames) is introduced to improve communications while maintaining the same voice quality as AMR-WB at two percent frame erasure rate, then power gains are improved, but frame erasure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower gainsVSAvoidframe erasure rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the frame erasure rate threshold based on channel conditions and voice activity. The system transitions from a fixed erasure rate (2%) to a variable threshold that adapts to current network conditions, allowing the system to operate at higher erasure rates when channels are poor while maintaining quality when channels are good, thus achieving power savings without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements dynamics by making the frame erasure rate threshold adaptive rather than static. The threshold dynamically responds to channel quality indicators and voice activity detection, allowing the system to flexibly adjust the number of dropped frames based on real-time conditions. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize between power consumption and communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If frame erasure rate is increased to improve power efficiency, then power consumption is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the receiving device sends channel quality information back to the transmitting device. This feedback loop enables the transmitter to adjust the frame erasure rate threshold based on actual channel conditions, ensuring that power savings are achieved without compromising communication reliability. The feedback-driven adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of frame erasure rate threshold dynamically based on feedback channel conditions. When channels are poor, the threshold is lowered to reduce dropped frames and maintain reliability. When channels are good, the threshold is raised to maximize power savings. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between power consumption and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If selective packet dropping is implemented to increase network capacity, then network capacity is improved, but frame erasure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidframe erasure rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the frame erasure rate threshold based on channel conditions and voice activity. The system transitions from a fixed erasure rate (2%) to a variable threshold that adapts to current network conditions, allowing the system to operate at higher erasure rates when channels are poor while maintaining quality when channels are good, thus achieving power savings without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements dynamics by making the frame erasure rate threshold adaptive rather than static. The threshold dynamically responds to channel quality indicators and voice activity detection, allowing the system to flexibly adjust the number of dropped frames based on real-time conditions. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize between power consumption and communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4369338B1Improved power gains and capacity gains for a relaxed frame erasure rate

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

A method of controlling frame transmissions includes determining, at a first device, a frame erasure rate for a communication session between the first device and at least a second device. The method also includes comparing the frame erasure rate to an erasure threshold. The method further includes discarding an active speech frame if the frame erasure rate satisfies the erasure threshold.