Discontinuous transmission on short-range packet-based radio links
Described herein are systems and methods for discontinuous transmission on short-range packet-based radio links. As one option, during a communication session with a far-end system on a short-range packet-based radio link, an audio stream received on an audio line in is monitored for voice-based signals. Based on monitoring the audio stream for the voice-based signals, a voice activity estimation signal is generated. While the voice activity estimation signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, one or more voice packets are generated based on the audio stream, and transmitted to the far-end system at one or more times. Also, in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is below the predetermined threshold, one or more zero-payload packets are transmitted to the far-end system at one or more subsequent times.
1. A method, comprising:
during an isochronous communication session of a communication master with a far-end system operating as a communication slave on a short-range packet-based radio link, monitoring for voice-based signals in an audio stream received on an audio line in,
wherein the isochronous communication session comprises a plurality of event windows, the plurality of event windows comprising a first event window;
based on monitoring the audio stream for the voice-based signals, generating a voice activity estimation signal;
while the voice activity estimation signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, generating one or more voice packets based on the audio stream, and transmitting the one or more voice packets to the far-end system at one or more times; and
in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is below the predetermined threshold:
transmitting a first zero-payload packet to the communication slave in a first subevent of the first event window,
receiving, in response to the first zero-payload packet, a voice packet from the communication slave in the first subevent of the first event window, and
acknowledging the voice packet by transmitting a second zero-payload packet to the communication slave in a second subevent of the first event window.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the short-range packet-based radio link includes a Bluetooth link.
3. The method of claim 1 , comprising transmitting to the far-end system at least one packet including comfort noise parameters.
4. The method of claim 1 , comprising, while the voice activity estimation signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, extracting from the audio stream comfort noise parameters.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio stream on the audio line in originates from a microphone.
6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of event windows further comprises a second event window, and
wherein the method further comprises, in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is below the predetermined threshold:
transmitting a third zero-payload packet to the communication slave in a first subevent of the second event window, and
receiving, in response to the third zero-payload packet, a fourth zero-payload packet from the communication slave in the first subevent of the second event window.
7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of event windows further comprises a second event window, and
wherein the method further comprises, in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is above the predetermined threshold:
generating a second voice packet based on the audio stream,
transmitting the second voice packet to the communication slave in a first subevent of the second event window, and
receiving, in response to the second voice packet, a third zero-payload packet from the communication slave in the first subevent of the second event window.
8. A method, comprising:
during an isochronous communication session of a communication slave with a far-end system operating as a communication master on a short-range packet-based radio link:
receiving a first zero-payload packet from the communication master in a first subevent of a first event window of the isochronous communication session;
receiving an audio stream on an audio line in;
generating a voice packet based on the audio stream;
transmitting, in response to the first zero-payload packet, the voice packet to the communication master in the first subevent of the first event window;
receiving a second zero-payload packet from the communication master in a second subevent of the first event window, the second zero-payload packet acknowledging the voice packet;
monitoring for voice-based signals in the audio stream;
based on monitoring the audio stream for the voice-based signals, generating a voice activity estimation signal;
receiving a third zero-payload packet from the communication master in a first subevent of a second event window of the isochronous communication session; and
in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is below a predetermined threshold:
transmitting, in response to the third zero-payload packet, a fourth zero-payload packet to the communication master in the first subevent of the second event window.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising generating comfort noise in response to receiving the first zero-payload packet.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving from the far-end system at least one packet including comfort noise parameters.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the audio stream on the audio line in originates from a microphone.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the short-range packet-based radio link includes a Bluetooth link.
13. A method, comprising:
during an isochronous communication session of a communication slave with a far-end system operating as a communication master on a short-range packet-based radio link:
receiving a first zero-payload packet from the communication master in a first subevent of a first event window of the isochronous communication session;
receiving an audio stream on an audio line in;
generating a voice packet based on the audio stream;
transmitting, in response to the first zero-payload packet, the voice packet to the communication master in the first subevent of the first event window;
receiving a second zero-payload packet from the communication master in a second subevent of the first event window, the second zero-payload packet acknowledging the voice packet;
monitoring for voice-based signals in the audio stream;
based on monitoring the audio stream for the voice-based signals, generating a voice activity estimation signal;
receiving a second voice packet from the communication master in a first subevent of a second event window of the isochronous communication session;
in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is below a predetermined threshold:
transmitting, in response to the second voice packet, a third zero-payload packet to the communication master in the first subevent of the second event window.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating comfort noise in response to receiving the first zero-payload packet.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving from the far-end system at least one packet including comfort noise parameters.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the audio stream on the audio line in originates from a microphone.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the short-range packet-based radio link includes a Bluetooth link.