Patent ID: 9661145
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: G10L,H04L,H04M

Claim:
1. A method for switching between a first encoder and a second encoder for an audio data connection existing between the first encoder and a decoder, comprising: creating encoded audio data by the first encoder associated with a first group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within a first pre-selected threshold, the first encoder using encoder parameters to encode a first audio input signal fed to the first encoder; feeding the decoder the encoded audio data by the first encoder; forming encoder parameters of a second encoder associated with a second group of at least one audio signal having classification information of at least one audio quality that is within a second pre-selected threshold that differs from the first pre-selected threshold at a current time segment based on a fed audio input signal of the current time segment fed to the first encoder as well as by the audio input signal of at least one previous time segment fed to the first encoder to synchronize the encoder parameters of the second encoder with the encoder parameters of the first encoder such that the encoder parameters of the second encoder are identical to the encoder parameters of the first encoder and the second encoder utilizes a same encoding algorithm as the first encoder and is in a state that matches a state of the first encoder so that a switchover from the first encoder to the second encoder can occur without discontinuities in a signal waveform of encoded audio data sent to the decoder; and switching over the audio data connection from the first encoder to the second encoder after the encoder parameters of the second encoder are synchronized with the encoder parameters of the first encoder such that during the switchover the audio connection is switched over from the first encoder to the second encoder at an onset of synchronization of the encoder parameters of the first and second encoders, the second encoder having the audio connection with the decoder after the switching over of the audio connection such that the first encoder is no longer needed for providing encoded audio data to the decoder for reducing a number of encoders needed for encoding audio data for an audio conference.