Abstract: A method of detecting voice in an audio signal comprises the steps of determining an average peak value representing an envelope of the audio signal, determining a running instance of audio signal standard deviation, which corresponds to one of a number of overlapping time intervals, and updating a power density function (PDF) by adding instances of noise to the PDF if the average peak of the audio signal exceeds the current level of the audio signal by a certain amount and if the current standard deviation value fails below a threshold for a predetermined time interval. A noise floor is located based on the mean value of the PDF, and, if the audio signal sustains a power level exceeding the noise floor, voice activity is determined to be present in the audio signal.

Abstract: An audio system for multimedia computer systems and method for use are provided including an audio module having speakers, a microphone and associated circuitry. The audio module is adapted to be interposed between a monitor and a monitor pedestal such that the audio module swivels and tilts in concert with the monitor. The circuitry is adapted to drive the audio module speakers and to drive only one speaker and the microphone in a speaker phone mode.

Abstract: A radiotelephone (101) comprises a receiver (217), a transmitter (215), an attenuator (305), a loudspeaker (203) and a microphone (201). The receiver (217) receives a forward audio signal (257) on a forward signal path (256) coupled to the loudspeaker (203) for producing a first acoustic signal (263). The transmitter (215) transmits a reverse audio signal (243) generated by the microphone (201) on a reverse signal path (248). A portion of the first acoustic signal (263) is coupled to the microphone (201) for producing a feedback audio signal (337) on the reverse signal path (248). The attenuator (305) attenuates the reverse audio signal (337) responsive to a measure of the feedback audio signal (339). The measure of the feedback audio signal (339) preferably comprises a signal to noise ratio measurement of the feedback audio signal (337). The attenuator (305) is further responsive to the first audio signal (257), and an acoustic audio signal (239) which may also be coupled to the reverse signal path (248).

Abstract: A line conditioner system is provided for use with an in-line wire terminating base for terminating a plurality of telephone line pairs. The line conditioner system includes an electrical grounding, earthing bar and an integral module for conditioning a single telephone line pair. The electrical grounding, earthing bar extends along the length of the in-line wire terminating base and includes a pair of electrical grounding terminals received in electrical and mechanical contact engagement with an electrical grounding member of the in-line wire terminating base. The electrical grounding, earthing bar includes an elongated straight plate portion extending between the pair of electrical grounding terminals. The electrical grounding earthing bar is configured for easy assemble, manufacture and cleanability. The integral module includes a printed wiring board carrying protection circuitry for conditioning the single telephone line pair.

Abstract: An echo canceling loudspeaker telephone includes a loudspeaker which produces a sound pressure wave in response to an input signal which is applied to an audio input thereof. This sound pressure wave includes a desired linear component which is a linear function of the input signal, and an undesired non-linear component which is a non-linear function of the input signal, and the sound pressure wave is transmitted along an acoustic path. A microphone is positioned in the acoustic path and converts the sound pressure wave into an output signal. An echo filter is responsive to the input signal and generates an estimated echo signal. This echo filter includes a loudspeaker model which generates an estimate of the sound pressure wave including an estimate of the linear component and an estimate of the non-linear component. This echo filter also includes an acoustic path model which generates an estimate of the acoustic path from the loudspeaker to the microphone.

Abstract: An audio signal processor (209) comprises a forward signal path (256) having a forward audio signal (257) coupled to a loudspeaker (203) for producing a first acoustic signal (263), and a reverse signal path (248) coupled to a microphone (201) for producing a reverse audio signal (243), wherein at least a portion of the first acoustic signal (263) is coupled to the microphone (201) for producing a feedback audio signal (337) on the reverse signal path (248). An attenuator (305), coupled to the microphone (201), attenuates the reverse audio signal (243) responsive to a measure of the feedback audio signal (339). The measure of the feedback audio signal (339) preferrably comprises a signal to noise ratio measurement of the feedback audio signal (337). The attenuator (305) is further responsive to at least one of the first audio signal (257), and a third audio signal (239) which may also be coupled to the reverse signal path (248).

Abstract: Resistive circuits are provided at the tip and ring of the battery feed circuit as a method of alleviating the need for bulky DC transformers or complex integrated circuitry. The voltage is monitored through a set of comparators eliminating the expense of maintaining fused resistors. The voltages for voice or data transmission is amplified prior to being transmitted. Received signals are AC coupled, with proper biasing, onto the tip and ring lines. Any AC noise on the tip and ring line is shifted 180 degrees out of phase and re-inserted on the line to cancel the noise. As an enhancement to the battery feed circuit, another voltage comparator is added to check the line for DC current signifying an off hook condition.

Abstract: A cordless telephone has receive (12) and transmit (14) signal paths for passing voice signals. Sidetones normally appear in the receive signal path from the near party's voice. A signal strength comparator (34) monitors the transmit signal path and the receive signal path and asserts a gain control signal when the transmit path signal strength exceeds a threshold set to a predetermined value below the receive path signal strength. The gain control signal decreases the gain (42) in the receive signal path to reduce undesirably loud sidetones in the speaker earpiece. When the transmit path signal strength is less than the predetermined threshold, the gain control signal is not asserted allowing maximum amplification in the receive signal path as the sidetone is sufficiently small as to not interfere with the main received voice signal, or otherwise become noticeably loud in the speaker earpiece.

Abstract: A speech circuit is disclosed which solves the serious problem of the degradation of the articulation of received speech voice in conventional circuits and permits pleasant communications at places where the background noise level is high. The circuit has a construction in which an input signal from a microphone is attenuated in correspondence to the background noise level to form a sidetone signal and a received speech signal from a speech channel is amplified in correspondence to the background noise level to form a new received speech signal.

Abstract: In a telephone line interface circuit, a first transistor (Q1) is arranged in series in the signal line (3) and a second transistor (Q2) is arranged in parallel across the telephone line (3, 4), both transistors being controlled from a control circuit (5), so that, when the voltage across the telephone line falls below that required to keep the first transistor (Q1) in normal conduction, the second transistor (Q2) maintains the signal path. In order to reduce cross-over distortion, a negative feedback loop (Q5, R1, Q3, Q1) and supply voltage sensing means (6) controls the first transistor (Q1) so that it conducts only sufficient quiescent current to power the circuit, any remaining current being conducted by the second transistor (Q2), thereby maintaining both transistors in conduction down to low quiescent line current levels.

Abstract: A facility is provided in a telecommunications network which causes Digital Speech Interpolation (DSI) apparatus to transmit noise signals toward a destination if the level of the noise signals at least equals a predetermined threshold value, in which the predetermined threshold value is selected, in accord with an aspect of the invention, as a function of a type of telephone service subscribed to by the telephone station set involved in the associated telephone call.

Abstract: A sign bit integrator and method for generating a signal to correct an offset in a signal processing system that can distort the output from the system. A charge pulse is generated when the sign of a input signal is sampled in order to provide an offset correction signal with a polarity opposite that of offsets in the system. The charge pulse is provided to a pair of transistors whose size ratio sets the magnitude of the charge pulse. The polarity of the charge pulse is set responsive to a sign bit in the input signal. An integrator capacitor provides the offset correction signal to the signal processing system. A third transistor may be switchably substituted for one of the pair of transistors to change the ratio of sizes and thus change the magnitude of the charge pulse to thereby change the speed with which the offset correction is made. The sign bit integrator and method may be used to correct distortion in a voice signal in a telephone system.

Abstract: An off-hook disconnect and reconnect ringer device will detect if a telephone is off-hook and will receive incoming telephone calls through the off-hook telephone. The off-hook disconnect and reconnect ringer device includes at least one relay, an audio amplifier or first transistor, a switch or second transistor, a timer, a first comparator, a second comparator, a relay driver or third transistor, and a ringer device. The off-hook disconnect and reconnect ringer device may be integrally formed with the telephone or may be connected to the telephone by at least one wire. During operation of the device, if an audio signal is not detected, then the timer is actuated and begins to time the period of time that the telephone is off-hook. After a preset period of time, the relay temporarily disconnects the telephone from the telephone line, allowing the off-hook disconnect and reconnect ringer device to signal through the ringer device that an incoming call is being received, even though the telephone is off-hook.

Abstract: An indicator lamp identifies the status of telephone calls both transmitted and received from a hands-free telephone headset. The indicator lamp is either automatically activated by a signal from a telephone line or manually activated by a switch. Manual activation provides an additional means for the operator to prevent interruptions regardless of telephone status. The indicator lamp is located at various locations on the headset next to the mouthpiece or, alternatively, along the entire length of the headset arm.

Abstract: An on-line indicator (40) for the multipurpose headset amplifier comprises a holder in two parts (45) arranged to be snapped onto the ascending, holder (10) which is mounted on the housing (5) of the multipurpose headset amplifier. The on-line indicator has a rotatable indicator or light emitting diode (41) which is coupled to the multipurpose headset amplifier by means of a cable (42). The light diode will light up when the headset is in use to indicate to others that the user of the headset is on the line.

Abstract: A method of playing a recorded message to a caller when a called line is busy without actual connection of the call is disclosed. Utilization of the Advanced Intelligent Network is used to place calls attempting to reach a busy line into a queue in a service control point. The call is then connected to an intelligent peripheral, such as a service node, and plays a recorded message of the called party's choice. When the called party's line become idle, a call chosen from the established queue is then connected to it based upon a prioritization system established by the called party.

Abstract: A method of detecting voice in an audio signal comprises the steps of determining an average peak value representing an envelope of the audio signal, determining a running instance of audio signal standard deviation, which corresponds to one of a number of overlapping time intervals, and updating a power density function (PDF) by adding instances of noise to the PDF if the average peak of the audio signal exceeds the current level of the audio signal by a certain amount and if the current standard deviation value falls below a threshold for a predetermined time interval. A noise floor is located based on the mean value of the PDF, and, if the audio signal sustains a power level exceeding the noise floor, voice activity is determined to be present in the audio signal.

Abstract: A signal processor for, e.g., a telephonic communication system interconnecting a near location and at least one far location includes an echo canceller for suppressing the re-transmission of received signals. The operation of the echo canceller is controlled according to whether the near location is transmitting or receiving, and whether the far location is transmitting or receiving. The signal processor includes means for detecting doubletalk, and for controlling the echo canceller in response to the detection of doubletalk, such that doubletalk is permitted. In one method of operation, a delay is applied to the inputs to the echo canceller from the near and far ends, such that each of these signals is used for determining the operating state of the echo canceller before being used to operate an adaptive filter of the echo canceller. In another method of operation, doubletalk detection is carried out, in part, by evaluating the performance of an auxiliary adaptive filter.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting convergence in an echo canceller prevent false convergence from occurring as a result of receiving only tones in an input signal. An adaptive filter is used in an echo canceller to estimate an echo signal produced by an unknown echo channel. The estimated echo signal is subtracted from the return signal to remove the echo produced by the unknown echo channel. To prevent the echo canceller from falsely converging on a signal which contains only tones a system and method are provided for detecting the presence of tones in the absence of other frequencies. Filter taps of the adaptive filter are filtered to produce a filtered signal. The amount of energy in the filtered signal is compared to the amount of energy in the unfiltered filter taps to determine whether only tones have been present. If only tones have been present, the echo canceller is not allowed to reduce the adaptation step size of the adaptive filter.

Abstract: A power conservation system for a modem in a computer system having a primary power supply and an auxiliary power supply, including a ring detect circuit coupled to a telephone ring signal line for generating a ring detect signal in response to detection of a ring signal on the telephone ring signal line, a power management system having an input coupled to the ring detect circuit and an output coupled to the primary power supply, the power management system being responsive to the ring detect signal for switching the primary power supply from a first level corresponding to a power conservation mode of operation of the computer system to a second level corresponding to a normal mode of operation, wherein the auxiliary power supply is coupled to the ring detect circuit for supplying power thereto when the computer system is in the power conservation mode of operation, whereby the ring detect circuit is maintained in an active state even during the power conservation mode of operation of the computer system.