Communication Device, Signal Encoding/Decoding Method

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a decoding section that decodes an information source code obtained through coding at an apparatus of a communicating party;
• a transmission mode determining section that determines a transmission mode for controlling a transmission bit rate of an input signal according to a level of ambient noise in the signal decoded at said decoding section;
• and
• a coding section that performs coding on said input signal at a transmission bit rate corresponding to the transmission mode determined at said transmission mode determining section and transmits the information source code obtained through the coding and said transmission mode to the apparatus of the communicating party.

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a decoding section that decodes an information source code obtained through coding at an apparatus of a communicating party;
• a transmission mode determining section that determines a transmission mode for controlling a transmission bit rate of said input signal based on a level of ambient noise included in an input signal and a level of ambient noise of the signal decoded at said decoding section;
• and
• a coding section that performs coding on said input signal at a transmission bit rate corresponding to the transmission mode determined at said transmission mode determining section and transmits the information source code obtained through the coding and said transmission mode to the apparatus of the communicating party.

A signal coding/decoding method whereby a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus carry out radio communication, said second communication apparatus transmits an information source code obtained by coding an input signal to said first communication apparatus and said first communication apparatus decodes said information source code, the method comprising:

• at the first communication apparatus, determining a transmission mode for controlling a transmission bit rate of a signal transmitted from the second communication apparatus according to a level of ambient noise included in the input signal and transmitting said transmission mode to said second communication apparatus;
• at the second communication apparatus, coding the input signal at a transmission bit rate corresponding to the transmission mode determined by said first communication apparatus and transmitting the information source code obtained through the coding to said first communication apparatus;
• and
• at the first communication apparatus, decoding the information source code at said transmission bit rate transmitted from said second communication apparatus.