External jitter buffer in a packet voice system

摘要

A packet voice communication system having a jitter buffer external to a voice processor. The jitter buffer stores voice packets received from a packet network. The voice processor processes the voice packets from the jitter buffer. A jitter buffer processor may place an indicator in each voice packet it holds. The indicator can indicate a length of time the voice packet was held. The rate at which packets come from the jitter buffer may be based upon the indicator, a higher rate if holding times are high and a slower rate if low. The voice processor can store the voice packets in a packet queue prior to processing the voice packets. The rate voice packets come to the voice processor may be based upon how full the packet queue is, a higher rate if the packet queue is relatively empty and a slower rate if relatively full.