Vocoder Frame Bit Embedding for Zero-Overhead Voice Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems that support voice transmissions, such as military combat net radios, face inefficiencies when incorporating situational awareness data, as adding this data either introduces delay or reduces system capacity by requiring additional channel time, especially when added at the start or end of voice transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A vocoder system that incorporates situational awareness data into the unused bits in the trailing bytes of vocoder frames, using synchronization signals to accurately identify these bits, allowing the receiving system to extract and reconstruct the data without increasing bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If situational awareness data is added at the start of voice transmission, then data can be transmitted, but delay is introduced between PTT activation and voice output

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesituational awareness data transmissionVSAvoiddelay between PTT and voice output

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges situational awareness data with voice transmission by embedding it within the voice data stream itself, specifically utilizing unused bits in vocoder frames. This combines two previously separate transmissions (voice and data) into a single integrated stream, eliminating the need to add data at the start or end which would cause delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests situational awareness data within the structure of vocoder frames by placing it in unused bits of the voice data stream. This nested structure allows data to be embedded within the voice transmission without affecting the voice output timing, as the data is contained within the existing frame structure rather than added externally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of information

If situational awareness data is added at the start or end of transmission, then data can be transmitted, but system capacity is reduced by requiring additional channel time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesituational awareness data transmissionVSAvoidsystem capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the voice transmission channel multi-functional by enabling it to carry both voice data and situational awareness data simultaneously through the same channel infrastructure. The vocoder frame structure is designed to serve dual purposes: carrying voice information in primary bits and embedding ancillary data in unused bits, thus increasing channel utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If unused bits in vocoder frames are utilized for data transmission, then system capacity is maintained, but synchronization and data extraction become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidsynchronization and data extraction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the structure and location of unused bits within vocoder frames before transmission occurs. The system establishes predetermined patterns for where situational awareness data will be embedded, allowing receiving systems to know in advance where to extract data without requiring complex real-time analysis of the entire data stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces synchronization signals as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the extraction of embedded data. These signals act as markers or delimiters within the data stream that help receiving systems identify and isolate situational awareness data from the voice transmission, simplifying the extraction process despite the embedded nature of the data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11250867B1Incorporating data into a voice signal with zero overhead

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A vocoder system incorporates situational awareness data into unused bits in the trailing bytes of the vocoder frames by dividing the situational awareness data according to the number of known blank bits in each vocoder frame and incorporating the data, in order, such that the receiving system can extract and reconstruct the situational awareness data. Synchronization signals of predefined bit streams are incorporated to allow the receiving system to more accurately identify situational awareness bits in the trailing byte.