Telephone Terminal Codec Negotiation for Inter-System Voice Quality

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing telephone communication systems are limited by the restricted range of coding and decoding methods, which restrict inter-system communication capabilities and result in suboptimal voice quality when users from different systems communicate.

Innovation Solution

A telephone terminal with a codec selection processor that negotiates and transfers codec programs with partner terminals over a network, enabling the use of the best available codec for voice communication, thereby expanding the range of coding systems and improving service quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If codec programs are limited to those stored in the device, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of coding systemsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a codebook as an intermediary component that can be downloaded from a system file server. This codebook acts as a mediator between different communication systems, enabling terminals to access additional coding methods without permanently storing them in the device. The codebook is loaded into memory only when needed, providing adaptability while maintaining low device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically loads codebooks into memory based on communication needs. Instead of having fixed, pre-installed codec programs, the terminal can download and load appropriate codebooks from a server or receive them from partner terminals during communication sessions. This dynamic approach allows the range of coding systems to expand on-demand without increasing permanent device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If codebook is downloaded only within the communication system, then system reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-system communication capabilityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The codebook is designed with universal compatibility to work across different communication systems. The patent enables the terminal to use the same codebook structure and format regardless of which communication system it operates in. This universality allows the terminal to communicate with partner terminals from different systems by selecting appropriate coding methods from the shared codebook, achieving both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows codebooks to be copied and transferred between terminals. When a terminal receives a codebook from a partner terminal or downloads it from a server, it creates a local copy that can be used independently. This copying mechanism enables inter-system communication because each terminal can have the necessary codebook locally available, ensuring reliable operation without continuous connection to the original system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If codec programs are transferred between terminals, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of coding systemsVSAvoiddata transmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary coding information from the codec program and places it in a separate codebook structure. This extracted codebook contains the essential coding methods and parameters needed for communication, which can be transferred independently of the full codec program. By separating the codebook from the complete codec implementation, the system reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP1909470B1Telephone terminal, telephone communication system, and telephone terminal configuration program
Publication Date: 2015.10.14 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO LTD
  • EP1909470B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1909470B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1909470B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A telephone terminal executes voice communication with a partner telephone terminal by using a selected codec program to code and decode voice signals. Both telephone terminals have facilities for storing codec programs and transferring codec programs over a communication network. During a voice call, one of the two telephone terminals may transfer a codec program to the other telephone terminal, and the call may then proceed by use of the transferred codec program. This enables voice communication to take place with the best codec program that either telephone terminal can provide, even if the two telephone terminals are associated with different communication systems.