Discontinuous Transmission on Short-Range Packed-Based Radio Links

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communication by a communication master, the method comprising:
 during an isochronous communication session of the 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, and 
   receiving, in response to the first zero-payload packet, a second zero-payload packet from the communication slave in the first 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 . A method for communication by a communication master, the method comprising:
 during an isochronous communication session of the 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 above the predetermined threshold:
 generating a first voice packet based on the audio stream, 
 transmitting the first voice packet to the communication slave in a first subevent of the first event window, and 
 receiving, in response to the first voice packet, a first zero-payload packet from the communication slave in the first subevent of the first event window. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the short-range packet-based radio link includes a Bluetooth link. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising transmitting, to the far-end system, at least one packet including comfort noise parameters. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising, while the voice activity estimation signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, extracting from the audio stream comfort noise parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the audio stream on the audio line in originates from a microphone. 
     
     
         11 . A method for communication by a communication slave, comprising:
 during an isochronous communication session of the communication slave with a far-end system operating as a communication master on a short-range packet-based radio link:
 receiving a first voice 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; 
 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; 
 in response to determining that the voice activity estimation signal is below a predetermined threshold:
 transmitting, in response to the first voice packet, a first zero-payload packet to the communication master in the first subevent of the first event window. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the far-end system, at least one packet including comfort noise parameters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the audio stream on the audio line in originates from a microphone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the short-range packet-based radio link includes a Bluetooth link.