Audio signal processing for certification enhancement in a handheld wireless communications device

Abstract

A handheld wireless communications device has an adjustable volume setting. The communications device also has an uplink audio processor and a downlink audio processor. One (or both) of the audio processors contains a noise suppressor. The noise suppressor attenuates its output signal in accordance with a delay parameter. The delay parameter controls how much the onset of the attenuation is delayed. The delay parameter is automatically set to indicate a short delay when the communications device is at a high volume setting, and a long delay when the device is at a low volume setting. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

1 . A handheld wireless communications device having an adjustable volume setting, comprising:
 an uplink audio processor; and   a downlink audio processor, at least one of the uplink and downlink audio processors has a noise suppressor, the noise suppressor to attenuate its output signal in accordance with a delay parameter, the delay parameter controls how much the onset of said attenuation is delayed,   wherein the delay parameter is automatically set to indicate a short delay when the communications device is at a higher volume setting, and a long delay when the device is at a lower volume setting.   
   
   
       2 . The handheld wireless communications device of  claim 1  wherein the long delay is at least as long as an artificial voice signal defined by a handheld wireless communications device certification process. 
   
   
       3 . The handheld wireless communications device of  claim 2  wherein the long delay is at least as long as an ITU-T Recommendation P.50 certification signal. 
   
   
       4 . The handheld wireless communications device of  claim 2  wherein the short delay is no more than three seconds. 
   
   
       5 . The handheld wireless communications device of  claim 2  wherein the lower volume setting is one that results in a receive loudness rating, RLR, defined by the certification process for the artificial voice signal. 
   
   
       6 . A method for operating a communications device having an adjustable volume setting, comprising:
 decoding the adjustable volume setting into a delay parameter;   detecting noise in an audio signal of the device; and   attenuating the audio signal based on the detected noise to suppress said noise, wherein the onset of said attenuation is delayed in accordance with the delay parameter.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the delay parameter indicates a short delay when the adjustable volume setting is high, and a long delay when the adjustable volume setting is low. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the audio signal is an artificial voice signal defined by a communications device certification process, and wherein the long delay is at least as long as said artificial voice signal. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the long delay is at least as long as an ITU-T P.50 certification signal. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the short delay is no more than three seconds. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein when the adjustable volume setting is low, the device outputs a received loudness rating, RLR, defined by a communications device certification process. 
   
   
       12 . A communications device comprising:
 an audio processor having a noise suppressor to provide an output data stream that is attenuated relative to an input data stream, wherein the onset of said attenuation is to be delayed in accordance with a delay parameter; and   a decoder to provide the delay parameter, based on having decoded an adjustable volume setting for the device.   
   
   
       13 . The communications device of  claim 12  wherein the decoder is to set the delay parameter to indicate a short delay when the adjustable volume setting is high, and a long delay when the adjustable volume setting is low. 
   
   
       14 . The communications device of  claim 13  wherein the long delay is at least as long as an artificial voice signal defined by a communications device certification process. 
   
   
       15 . The communications device of  claim 13  wherein the long delay is at least as long as an ITU-T Recommendation P.50 certification signal. 
   
   
       16 . The communications device of  claim 13  wherein the short delay is no more than three seconds. 
   
   
       17 . The communications device of  claim 13  further comprising a speaker coupled to an output of the audio processor, and wherein when the adjustable volume setting is high, the speaker outputs a receive loudness rating, RLR, defined by a communications device certification process.