Device-initiated codec rate change during a voice call

A wireless device comprising:

• one or more antennas;
• a transceiver configurable to transmit signals to and receive signals from a wireless network via the one or more antennas;
• and
• one or more processors communicatively coupled with memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to:
• establish a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with a second wireless device via the wireless network;
• use a first codec rate for encoding voice data transmitted to the second wireless device;
• measure a channel quality at the physical layer while using the first codec rate;
• determine the channel quality satisfies a first threshold at an intermediary layer between the physical layer and a real-time transport (RTP) layer;
• provide an indication from the intermediary layer to the RTP layer when the channel quality satisfies the first threshold;
• send a request to the second wireless device to change from the first codec rate to a second codec rate in response to receipt of the indication by the RTP layer from the intermediary layer;
• switch to use the second codec rate in response to receipt of a positive indication from the second wireless device permitting the requested change from the first codec rate to the second codec rate;
• and
• continue to use the first codec rate in response to receipt of a negative indication from the second wireless device denying the requested change from the first codec rate to the second codec rate.

An apparatus configurable for operation in a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry including one or more processors communicatively coupled with memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to:
• establish a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with a second wireless device via a wireless network;
• use a first codec rate for encoding voice data transmitted to the second wireless device;
• measure a channel quality at a physical layer while using the first codec rate;
• determine the channel quality satisfies a first threshold at an intermediary layer between the physical layer and a real-time transport (RTP) layer;
• provide an indication from the intermediary layer to the RTP layer when the channel quality satisfies the first threshold;
• send a request to the second wireless device to change from the first codec rate to a second codec rate in response to receipt of the indication by the RTP layer from the intermediary layer;
• switch to use the second codec rate in response to receipt of a positive indication from the second wireless device permitting the requested change from the first codec rate to the second codec rate;
• and
• continue to use the first codec rate in response to receipt of a negative indication from the second wireless device denying the requested change from the first codec rate to the second codec rate.