Method and apparatus for controlling the transition of an audio signal converter between two operative modes based on a certain characteristic of the audio input signal

A signal processor, comprising:

• input means for receiving an audio data signal conveying speech sound information;
• output means;
• signal converter means coupled to said input means for processing the audio data signal at said input means, said signal converter means capable to selectively acquire a first operative mode and a second operative mode, in said first operative mode said signal converter means converting the audio data signal from a first format to a second format and releasing the audio data signal in said second format from said output means, in said second operative mode said signal converter means permitting passage of the audio data signal to said output without conversion to said second format;
• control means coupled to said signal converter means for controlling the operative mode of said signal converter means, said control means being responsive to a first control signal representative of a certain characteristic of the audio data signal to enable said signal converter means from switching from said first operative mode to said second operative mode.

A transmission system, comprising:

• a first signal processor;
• a second signal processor;
• and
• a transmission facility linking said first signal processor to said second signal processor,
• said first signal processor being operable to convert an audio data signal from a first signal format to a second signal format for transmission on said transmission facility to said second signal processor,
• said second signal processor being operable to reconvert said audio data signal from said second signal format to said first signal format;
• said first signal processor including:
• a) an input for receiving the audio data signal;
• b) an output coupled to said transmission facility for transmitting the audio data signal in either one of the first and second format to said second signal processor;
• said second signal processor being operable to send a control signal to said first signal processor over said transmission facility;
• said first signal processor being responsive to the control signal and to a signal indicative of a certain characteristic of the audio data signal to interrupt conversion of said audio data signal from said first signal format to said second signal format so that the audio data signal is transmitted from said first signal processor to said second signal processor in said first signal format.

A signal processor, comprising:

• an input for receiving an audio data signal conveying speech sound information according to a certain condition, in a first condition the speech sound information being conveyed simultaneously in a first format and in a second format, in a second condition the speech sound information being conveyed according to the second format;
• an output;
• a signal converter coupled to said input for processing the audio data signal at said input, said signal converter capable to selectively acquire a first operative mode and a second operative mode, in said first operative mode said signal converter converting the audio data signal from the second format to the first format and releasing the audio data signal in said first format from said output, in said second operative mode said signal converter permitting passage of the audio data signal to said output without conversion to said first format;
• a control unit coupled to said signal converter for controlling the operative mode of said signal converter, said control unit being operative to process the audio data signal to determine the condition in which the speech sound information is conveyed, when said control unit determines that the speech sound information is conveyed according to the first condition said control unit enables said signal converter to acquire the second operative mode.

A signal processor, comprising:

• an input for receiving an audio data signal conveying speech sound information according to a certain condition, in a first condition the speech sound information being conveyed simultaneously in a first format and in a second format, in a second condition the speech sound information being conveyed according to the second format;
• an output;
• a signal converter coupled to said input for processing the audio data signal at said input, said signal converter capable to selectively acquire a first operative mode and a second operative mode, in said first operative mode said signal converter converting the audio data signal from the second format to the first format and releasing the audio data signal in said first format from said output, in said second operative mode said signal converter permitting passage of the audio data signal to said output without conversion to said first format;
• a control unit coupled to said signal converter for controlling the operative mode of said signal converter, said control unit being operative to process the audio data signal to determine the condition in which the speech sound information is conveyed, when said control unit determines that the speech sound information is conveyed according to the second condition said control unit enables said signal converter to acquire the first operative mode.

A signal processor, comprising:

• an input for receiving an audio data signal conveying speech sound information;
• an output;
• a signal converter coupled to said input for processing the audio data signal at said input, said signal converter capable to selectively acquire a first operative mode and a second operative mode, in said first operative mode said signal converter converting the audio data signal from a first format to a second format and releasing the audio data signal from said output in said second format, in said second operative mode said signal converter converting the audio data signal from said first format to said second format and releasing the audio data signal from said output is a condition such that the speech sound information is conveyed simultaneously in said first format and in said second format;
• a control unit coupled to said signal converter for controlling the operative mode of said signal converter, said control unit being responsive to a first control signal representative of a certain characteristic of the audio data signal to enable said signal converter from switching between said first operative mode and said second operative mode.