System and method for adjusting an audio signal

1. A method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, said method comprising:

identifying a volume level associated with said audio signal and

identifying a set volume level within operating parameters of said communication device;

identifying a first set of adjustment parameters for said volume level to be used when said set volume level is exceeded;

identifying a second set of adjustment parameters for said volume level to be used when said set volume level is not exceeded; and

in said communication device:

obtaining a digitized signal value of said audio signal;

monitoring for a change in said volume level;

upon determining that implementing said change in said volume level would exceed said set volume level

processing said signal value to produce a first output signal value utilizing a digital signal processing (DSP) device in said communication device, a processing filter defined in said digital signal processing device, values of said first set of adjustment parameters and said signal value;

and

upon determining that implementing said change in said volume level would not exceed said set volume level

processing said signal value to produce a second output signal value utilizing said DSP, said processing filter, values of said second set of adjustment parameters and said signal value; and

generating said second output signal to implement said increased volume level utilizing said second set of adjustment parameters,

wherein said first output signal and said second output signal both implement said change in said volume level.

2. The method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said processing filter is a finite impulse response (FIR) filter;

said first set of adjustment parameters is a first set of coefficients for said FIR filter; and

said second set of adjustment parameters is a second set of coefficients for said FIR filter.

3. The method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said first set of adjustment parameters provides a set of coefficients to adjust said audio signal to comply with an audio frequency pass mask.

4. The method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said audio frequency pass mask is a mask compliant with GSM standards.

5. The method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said second set of adjustment parameters provides a set of coefficients to adjust said audio signal to roll off lower frequency components in said audio signal.

6. The method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said second set of adjustment parameters provides a set of coefficients to further adjust said audio signal to boost higher frequency components in said audio signal.

7. A system for adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, said system comprising:

a module to accept a request for change of volume for said audio signal;

a module to receive said audio signal and convert said audio signal to a digitized audio signal;

a microprocessor;

a digital signal processor for processing said digitized audio signal and producing a digital output signal utilizing a filter, said digitized audio signal and a set of parameters;

a first module providing a set of instructions operating on said microprocessor, said set of instructions:

determining when said request for change of volume occurs;

identifying a new volume level for said audio signal for said request;

upon determining that implementing said new volume level would exceed a set volume level within operating parameters of said communication device

processing said volume level to produce a first output volume level through said digital signal processing using a first set of adjustment parameters as said set of parameters and said new volume level;

and

upon determining that implementing said new volume level would not exceed said set volume level

processing said volume level to produce a second output volume level utilizing said digital signal processor and a second set of adjustment parameters as said set of parameters and said new volume level; and

providing said set of parameters to said digital signal processor if a current set of parameters in said digital signal processor is different than said selected set;

and

a second module to convert said digitized audio signal to an analog audio signal and to provide said analog audio signal to a speaker,

wherein said first output signal and said second output signal both implement said change in said volume level.

8. The system for adjusting an audio signal for a communication device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein:

said filter is a finite impulse response (FIR) filter;

said first set of adjustment parameters is a first set of coefficients for said FIR filter; and

said second set of adjustment parameters is a second set of coefficients for said FIR filter.

9. The system for adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said first set of adjustment parameters provides a set of coefficients to adjust said audio signal to comply with an audio frequency pass mask.

10. The system for adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said audio frequency pass mask is a mask compliant with GSM standards.

11. The system for adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said second set of adjustment parameters provides a set of coefficients to adjust said audio signal to roll off lower frequency components in said audio signal.

12. The system for adjusting an audio signal for a communication device, as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said second set of adjustment parameters provides a set of coefficients to further adjust said audio signal to boost higher frequency components in said audio signal.

13. A circuit for adjusting an output audio signal of a communication device, said circuit comprising:

a module for receiving a signal encoding an audio signal and convening said signal to a digitized signal;

a module to accept a request for an increase in a current volume setting to an increased volume level for said output audio signal;

a microprocessor provided with instructions to detect when said request for said increase occurs and to generate an adjusted version of digitized signal to implement said increased volume level utilizing a digital signal processor (DSP); a filter; and said digitized signal; and

a module to convert said adjusted version of the digitized signal to an analog audio signal and to provide said analog audio signal to a speaker,

the circuit

determining if said request for said increase at said increased volume level would generate an audio output signal which exceeds a predetermined quality threshold;

upon determining that said increased volume is within said quality threshold, selecting a first set of adjustment parameters to be used by said digital signal processor to generate an adjusted version of said digitized signal to implement said increased volume having a received loudness rating (RLR) level; and

upon determining that said increased volume would cause said output audio signal to exceed said quality threshold, selecting a second set of adjustment parameters to be used by said digital signal processor to generate another adjusted version of said digitized signal that provides different output levels for said digitized signal at different frequencies as compared to said adjusted version to have an acceptable characteristic for said quality threshold while implementing said increased volume at about said RLR level.

14. The circuit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:

said quality threshold is associated with an audio frequency pass mask;

said acceptable characteristic is a frequency response within an acceptable boundary of said audio frequency pass mask;

said filter is a finite impulse response (FIR) filter;

said first set of adjustment parameters is a first set of coefficients for said FIR filter; and

said second set of adjustment parameters is a second set of coefficients for said FIR filter.

15. The circuit as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said audio frequency pass mask is compliant with GSM standards.

16. The circuit as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said second set of adjustment parameters comprises a set of coefficients to roll off lower frequency components in said audio signal.

17. The circuit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said second set of adjustment parameters further comprises a set of coefficients to boost higher frequency components in said audio signal.

18. The circuit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:

said quality threshold is a boundary associated with one of the following attributes relating to said audio signal:

a signal boost for selected signals;

gain adjustment;

side tone frequency adjustment;

switching adjustments;

signal suppression; and

adjustments for a microphone in said communication device;

said filter is a finite impulse response (FIR) filter;

said first set of adjustment parameters is a first set of coefficients for said FIR filter; and

said second set of adjustment parameters is a second set of coefficients for said FIR filter.