Speech-encoding rate decision apparatus and method in a variable rate vocoder

摘要

An apparatus and method for determining a speech-encoding rate in a variable rate vocoder are disclosed. A set of thresholds are computed based on background noise energy and its variation. A signal energy value of an input signal is computed, and a rate decision is made based on comparisons of the computed signal energy value with the computed thresholds. In one embodiment, a preliminary rate and a hangover interval are first computed based on the comparisons. The preliminary rate decision is then modified to take into account hangover constraints, a long term prediction gain and minimum and maximum rate constraints.