Method for Carrying Out an Audio Conference, Audio Conference Device, and Method for Switching Between Encoders

An audio conference device comprising:

• a first encoder associatable with a first group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within a first pre-selected threshold;
• and
• a second encoder associatable with a second group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within a second pre-selected threshold that differs from the first pre-selected threshold;
• the first encoder configured to encode audio data associated with the first group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within the first pre-selected threshold, the first encoder configured to utilize encoder parameters to encode a first audio input signal fed to the first encoder, the first encoder configured to feed a decoder the encoded audio data via an audio data connection between the first encoder and the decoder;
• the second encoder configured such that encoder parameters for the second encoder are formable at a current time segment based on a fed audio input signal of a current time segment fed to the first encoder as well as by an audio input signal of at least one previous time segment fed to the first encoder to synchronize the encoder parameters of the second encoder with the encoder parameters of the first encoder such that the encoder parameters of the second encoder are identical to the encoder parameters of the first encoder;
• and
• the audio conference device configured to switch over the audio data connection from the first encoder to the second encoder after the encoder parameters of the second encoder are synchronized with the encoder parameters of the first encoder such that during the switchover the audio data connection is switched over from the first encoder to the second encoder at an onset of synchronization of the encoder parameters of the first and second encoders and the second encoder has the audio data connection with the decoder after the switching over of the audio data connection.

An audio conference device comprising:

• a first encoder associated with a first group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within a first pre-selected threshold;
• and
• a second encoder associated with a second group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within a second pre-selected threshold that differs from the first pre-selected threshold;
• wherein the audio conference device is configured to facilitate performance of a method for switching between the first encoder and the second encoder for an audio data connection existing between the first encoder and a decoder, the method comprising:
• creating encoded audio data via the first encoder using encoder parameters to encode a first audio input signal fed to the first encoder;
• feeding the decoder the encoded audio data via the first encoder;
• forming encoder parameters of a second encoder at a current time segment based on a fed audio input signal of the current time segment fed to the first encoder as well as by the audio input signal of at least one previous time segment fed to the first encoder to synchronize the encoder parameters of the second encoder with the encoder parameters of the first encoder such that the encoder parameters of the second encoder are identical to the encoder parameters of the first encoder;
• and
• switching over the audio data connection from the first encoder to the second encoder after the encoder parameters of the second encoder are synchronized with the encoder parameters of the first encoder such that during the switchover the audio connection is switched over from the first encoder to the second encoder at an onset of synchronization of the encoder parameters of the first and second encoders, the second encoder having the audio connection with the decoder after the switching over of the audio connection.