US 5,742,773 AGranted

Method and system for audio compression negotiation for multiple channels

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsChristopher Blomfield-Brown, Robert David Donner, Jeffrey Eames Taylor

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Abstract

Modem-equipped computers which can initiate an audio channel using the modem data connection. The connection is initiated with a new protocol called the voice-over-data protocol. The new protocol does not require any additional modem hardware or telephone line features, and is not tied to any proprietary hardware/software compression or transmission schemes. The voice-over-data protocol negotiates an audio compression/decompression scheme and then sets up an audio channel over an existing data connection using a socket. Compressed audio data is then delivered to the remote computer where it is decompressed and output. The voice-over-data protocol significantly reduces the latency which disrupts normal speech patterns when voice data is sent over a data connection. This protocol also reduces the bandwidth required to send voice over a data connection.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In a computer system having a first computer in communications with a remote second computer over a data link, a method of creating a virtual two channel audio connection over the data link, the two channel connection including a higher quality audio channel, and a lower quality audio channel, the method comprising the following steps:

maintaining on the first computer a first list of available audio data compression and decompression processes, the first list including higher quality, and lower quality audio data compression and decompression processes;
maintaining on the remote second computer a second list of available audio data compression and decompression processes, the second list including higher quality, and lower quality audio data compression and decompression processes;
negotiating between the remote second computer and the first computer a high quality audio compression and decompression process to be used for the higher quality audio channel and a low quality audio compression and decompression process to be used for the lower quality audio channel;
sending higher quality audio data from the first computer to the remote second computer over the data link using the negotiated high quality audio compression process, the data link thereby serving as a high quality, virtual audio channel;
and
sending lower quality audio data from the remote second computer to the first computer over the data link using the negotiated low quality audio compression process, the data link thereby also serving as a low quality virtual audio channel.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.