Device-initiated codec rate change during a voice call

A wireless communication device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to transmit data and receive data via a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;
• and
• processing circuitry coupled with the transceiver, the processing circuitry configured to control the wireless communication device to at least:
• establish a first codec rate for use in a voice over LTE (VoLTE) call during a call establishment phase;
• use the first codec rate to encode voice data for transmission during a first portion of the VoLTE call;
• determine a channel quality while using the first codec rate;
• determine that the channel quality satisfies a threshold for requesting a codec rate change;
• request a codec rate change from the first codec rate to a second codec rate in response to the channel quality satisfying the threshold;
• and
• use the second codec rate to encode voice data for transmission during a second portion of the VoLTE call.

A computer program product for initiating a codec rate change during a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call by a wireless communication device, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code comprising:

• program code for establishing a first codec rate for use in the VoIP call during a call establishment phase, wherein the VoIP call is supported over a wireless connection between the wireless communication device and a wireless network access point;
• program code for using the first codec rate to encode voice data for transmission during a first portion of the VoIP call;
• program code for determining a channel quality while using the first codec rate;
• program code for determining that the channel quality satisfies a threshold for requesting a codec rate change;
• program code for requesting a codec rate change from the first codec rate to a second codec rate in response to the channel quality satisfying the threshold;
• and
• program code for using the second codec rate to encode voice data for transmission during a second portion of the VoIP call.