Abstract: The performance of digital communication over a noisy communication channel is improved. An encoder combines bit modulation with error control encoding to allow the decoder to use the redundancy in the error control codes to detect uncorrectable bit errors. This method improves the efficiency of the communication system since fewer bits are required for error control, leaving more bits available for data. In the context of a speech coding system, speech quality is improved without sacrificing robustness to bit errors. A bit prioritization method further improves performance over noisy channels. Individual bits in a set of quantizer values are arranged according to their sensitivity to bit errors. Error control codes having higher levels of redundancy are used to protect the most sensitive (highest priority) bits, while lower levels of redundancy are used to protest less sensitive bits.

Abstract: The quantized parameter bits are grouped into several categories according to their sensitivity to bit errors. More effective error correction codes are used to encode the most sensitive parameter bits, while less effective error correction codes are used to encode the less sensitive parameter bits. This method improves the efficiency of the error correction and improves the performance if the total bit rate is limited. The perceived quality of coded speech is improved. A smoothed spectral envelope is created in the frequency domain. The ratio between the actual spectral envelope and the smoothed spectral envelope is used to enhance the spectral envelope. This reduces distortion which is contained in the spectral envelope.

Abstract: The performance of speech coding in the presence of bit errors is improved. The quantized parameter bits are grouped into several categories according to their sensitivity to bit errors. More effective error correction codes are used to encode the most sensitive parameter bits, while less effective error correction codes are used to encode the less sensitive parameter bits. This method improves the efficiency of the error correction and improves the performance if the total bit rate is limited. The perceived quality of coded speech is improved. A smoothed spectral envelope is created in the frequency domain. The ratio between the actual spectral envelope and the smoothed spectral envelope is used to enhance the spectral envelope. This reduces distortion which is contained in the spectral envelope.

Abstract: The redundancy contained within the spectral amplitudes is reduced, and as a result the quantization of the spectral amplitudes is improved. The prediction of the spectral amplitudes of the current segment from the spectral amplitudes of the previous is adjusted to account for any change in the fundamental frequency between the two segments. The spectral amplitudes prediction residuals are divided into a fixed number of blocks each containing approximately the same number of elements. A prediction residual block average (PRBA) vector is formed; each element of the PRBA is equal to the average of the prediction residuals within one of the blocks. The PRBA vector is vector quantized, or it is transformed with a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and scalar quantized. The perceived effect of bit errors is reduced by smoothing the voiced/unvoiced decisions. An estimate of the error rate is made by locally averaging the number of correctable bit errors within each segment.

Abstract: The pitch estimation method is improved. Sub-integer resolution pitch values are estimated in making the initial pitch estimate; the sub-integer pitch values are preferably estimated by interpolating intermediate variables between integer values. Pitch regions are used to reduce the amount of computation required in making the initial pitch estimate. Pitch-dependent resolution is used in making the initial pitch estimate, with higher resolution being used for smaller values of pitch. The accuracy of the voiced/unvoiced decision is improved by making the decision dependent on the energy of the current segment relative to the energy of recent prior segments; if the relative energy is low, the current segment favors an unvoiced decision; if high, it favors a voiced decision.

Abstract: The pitch estimation method is improved. Sub-integer resolution pitch values are estimated in making the initial pitch estimate; the sub-integer pitch values are preferably estimated by interpolating intermediate variables between integer values. Pitch regions are used to reduce the amount of computation required in making the initial pitch estimate. Pitch-dependent resolution is used in making the initial pitch estimate, with higher resolution being used for smaller values of pitch. The accuracy of the voiced/unvoiced decision is improved by making the decision dependent on the energy of the current segment relative to the energy of recent prior segments; if the relative energy is low, the current segment favors an unvoiced decision; if high, it favors a voiced decision.

Abstract: The pitch estimation method is improved. Sub-integer resolution pitch values are estimated in making the initial pitch estimate; the sub-integer pitch values are preferably estimated by interpolating intermediate variables between integer values. Pitch regions are used to reduce the amount of computation required in making the initial pitch estimate. Pitch-dependent resolution is used in making the initial pitch estimate, with higher resolution being used for smaller values of pitch. The accuracy of the voiced/unvoiced decision is improved by making the decision dependent on the energy of the current segment relative to the energy of recent prior segments; if the relative energy is low, the current segment favors an unvoiced decision; if high, it favors a voiced decision.

Abstract: A class of methods and related technology for determining the phase of each harmonic from the fundamental frequency of voiced speech. Applications of this invention include, but are not limited to, speech coding, speech enhancement, and time scale modification of speech. Features of the invention include recreating phase signals from fundamental frequency and voiced/unvoiced information, and adding a random component to the recreated phase signal to improve the quality of the synthesized speech.