Speech Signal Peak Limiting for VoIP Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speech processing systems face challenges in peak limiting speech signals without introducing processing delay, particularly in Voice over IP (VoIP) communication, where transient increases in audio levels can exceed the dynamic range, causing distortion and requiring minimal delay to maintain signal quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for peak limiting speech signals that quickly identifies and attenuates transient peaks to below a predefined threshold without adding delay, using block-level processing to compute and apply a gain factor that updates the signal power level, incorporating a peak-release process to restore the original signal level, and leveraging pitch period characteristics to determine the attenuation rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If signal delay is introduced to anticipate and attenuate future transients, then transient peaks are reduced below threshold, but processing delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent computes the maximum signal value and determines the required attenuation gain in advance before applying it to the entire block of signal values. This preliminary calculation allows the system to prepare the attenuation factor based on future transients in the block without introducing additional processing delay, as the gain computation and application occur within the same processing block.
2Productivity
If block-level processing is used to maintain signal flow in voice communication systems, then processing efficiency is improved, but transient peaks may exceed dynamic range within a block
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous signal into discrete blocks or frames for processing, where each block is independently analyzed for peak values and attenuation factors. This segmentation allows efficient block-level processing while ensuring that transient peaks within each block are captured and attenuated appropriately, maintaining signal quality without requiring continuous sample-by-sample processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Within each block, the patent performs preliminary computation of the maximum signal value and determines the attenuation gain before applying it to all samples in the block. This preliminary action ensures that transient peaks are handled correctly within the block structure, maintaining both processing efficiency and signal quality.
3Reliability
If attenuation is applied to reduce transient peaks, then signal level is maintained below threshold, but signal quality distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the attenuation parameter (gain factor) based on the actual maximum signal value detected in each block. By computing the gain as threshold divided by maximum value, the system applies precise attenuation that maintains signal levels below the threshold while minimizing distortion. This parameter adaptation ensures optimal balance between peak control and signal quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for peak limiting of speech signals for delay sensitive voice communication is disclosed. In an embodiment, a position of a sample with highest magnitude within a current block of samples is determined. Further, a peak gain to be applied for the current block of samples to bring down the highest magnitude to a predetermined threshold value is determined. Furthermore, a gain delta by which an old gain is updated to the peak gain is computed. Then, a gain factor is computed for the current block of samples based on the position of the sample with highest magnitude and the gain delta. Subsequently, the gain factor is set to a predetermined minimum gain factor when the computed gain factor is less than the predetermined minimum gain factor. In addition, gain is applied to the current block of samples using the gain factor.