Media (voice) playback (de-jitter) buffer adjustments based on air interface

Abstract

Systems and methods for adapting a de-jitter buffer to conform to air link conditions. An air link characteristic may be detected before that characteristic begins to affect packet delivery, such as by slowing or speeding delivery delay at a subscriber station. A receiver-side de-jitter buffer, which adds delay to received packets, may adaptively adjust its size based upon the detected air link characteristic, such that the de-jitter buffer is appropriately sized for anticipated data packets before they are received at the subscriber station.

1 . A method for adapting a de-jitter buffer prior to a handoff event, the method comprising:
 scheduling the handoff event;   sending, by a subscriber station, a signal to a base station and to a de-jitter buffer at the subscriber station to inform the base station and the de-jitter buffer of the scheduled handoff event;   predicting a future packet delay based on the scheduled handoff event; and   adapting the de-jitter buffer based on the predicted future packet delay.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the de-jitter buffer is adapted by increasing its size. 
     
     
         3 . A subscriber station, comprising:
 a processor configured to send a signal to a base station and to a de-jitter buffer at the subscriber station to inform the base station and the de-jitter buffer of a scheduled handoff, predict a future packet delay as a function of the scheduled handoff, and calculate a de-jitter buffer size as a function of the predicted future packet delay; and   the de-jitter buffer configured to have an adaptable size, wherein the de-jitter buffer is capable of conforming to the calculated size.   
     
     
         4 . A computer readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of adapting a de-jitter buffer prior to a handoff event, the method comprising:
 scheduling the handoff event; and   sending, by a subscriber station, a signal to a base station and to a de-jitter buffer at the subscriber station to inform the base station and the de-jitter buffer of the scheduled handoff event, wherein in response to receiving the signal the de-jitter buffer predicts a future packet delay based on the scheduled handoff event and adapts the de-jitter buffer based on the predicted future packet delay.   
     
     
         5 . A subscriber station, comprising:
 means for receiving information about a scheduled handoff;   means for sending a signal to a base station and to a de-jitter buffer at the subscriber station to inform the base station and the de-jitter buffer of the scheduled handoff;   means for predicting a future packet delay as a function of the scheduled handoff;   means for calculating a de-jitter buffer size as a function of the predicted future packet delay; and   means for conforming the de-jitter buffer to the calculated size.