Patent Publication Number: US-9905238-B2

Title: Backward-compatible communication system components

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to backward-compatible communication systems and, in particular, backward-compatible communication system base stations and end units. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Communication systems typically have multiple end units able to receive and/or transmit audio signals. The audio signals received and/or transmitted by and/or to the end units of a communication system may be voice signals from users of the communication system. Communication systems may be analogue and/or digital, wherein the communication systems are configured to transmit analogue and/or digital audio signals. Communication systems can be either wired or wireless. Wireless communication systems allow for the transmission of audio signals between the various components of a communication system without having to also connect the communication system components with wires to carry the audio signals. Wireless communication components may transmit audio signals between the wireless communication systems in analogue and/or digital format. 
     Digital voice communication systems may typically convert speech signals from a user of the communication components into digital signals. These digital signals may then be transmitted via radio or over wires from one point on the digital voice communication system to another. The speech from the user may be received by the communication system component through a microphone associated with the communication system component used by the user, the transmitting communication system component. The microphone may convert the speech into a signal representing the speech, and the signal representing the speech may be digitized into digital data. The digital data may be transmitted from the transmitting communication system component to a receiving communication system component. At the receiving communication system component, the digital data may be converted back to a signal representing the speech of the user. The signal representing the speech may be sent to a speaker near a second user of the digital communication system, and the speaker may convert the speech signal into speech audible to the second user. 
     Digital signals may be transmitted with less degradation than analogue signals because digital communication systems are often simpler and easier to implement than equivalent analogue systems. Data representing speech must be transmitted serially. When raw digitized speech is transmitted serially, the data rate can be so high that channel spectral efficiency is poor. It is thus advantageous to process the raw digitized speech to reduce the data rate prior to transmission. 
     Typical digital voice communication systems use encoders and/or decoders to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The encoders and/or decoders may also reduce the amount of data that is to be transmitted, thus saving spectrum bandwidth. 
     The transmitting communication system component may digitize the speech signal and then encode the speech signal into encoded digital speech signals for digitally transmitting to the receiving communication system component. The receiving communication system component may decode the encoded digital speech signals back to digitized speech signals, which may then be converted to analogue audible speech signals for transmission by the receiving communication system component. 
     Encoding and decoding digital speech signals is typically performed by voice encoders (vocoders) or coder/decoders (codecs). As used herein, the term codec will be used to refer to codecs, vocoders, and/or other encoders and/or decoders. For the encoded digital speech data transmitted by the transmitting digital communication component to be decoded by the receiving digital voice communication component, the codecs used by the transmitting and receiving digital voice communication components must agree on the type of encoding to use and the transmission data rate. 
     Digital voice communication components typically contain a codec for encoding and/or decoding speech. Typically, each of the communication components in a digital voice communication system must contain the same type of codec. Due to codecs being configured to process speech signals in individualized ways, different types of digital voice communication components having different codecs are typically incompatible. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure relates to a base station for use in a communication system. The base station may comprise an audio processor configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The digital audio signals may be encoded and/or decoded using codecs stored on the base station. The codec(s) may be stored in the audio processor. The audio processor may be hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The base station may store and use multiple codecs. The base station may be configured to select, from the multiple codecs stored on the base station, a codec(s) that corresponds to a codec(s) that are used by one or more communication end units. The selection may be performed by software, firmware, hardware, and/or a combination thereof. 
     In a communication system designed to support multiple codecs, additional information may have to be transmitted between communication system end units informing them of the codec in use for that audio signal. Where the communication system is a wireless communication system, transmitting additional information typically consumes additional channel bandwidth in the system. 
     The radio communication spectrum is limited. Therefore, there is a desire to find ways of transmitting speech while using lower data rates and thus less radio spectrum. The same can be true of wired network communications as well. The desire to transmit speech while using lower data rates drives the development of codecs which code speech to provide encoded digital speech signals requiring less data to be transmitted, thereby lowering the data rates associated with the speech and freeing up channel bandwidth. The freed channel bandwidth may be used for transmitting additional information, additional speech signals, and/or for other uses. New codecs are typically incompatible with previously existing codecs. Incompatible codecs lead to incompatible communication system components. When an owner of a communication system wishes to upgrade one or more of the communication system components, such as the base station or an end unit, the owner may be required to upgrade all of the communication system components to ensure compatibility. 
     As an example, a first digital communication system may use a first codecs, such as G.726 speech codec. The end units of such a digital communication system are configured to decode speech data they receive from other components using the G.726 speech codec. A second digital communication system might be provided using a second codec, such as BV32 speech codec. The end units of the second system would be configured to encode and/or decode the digital speech data using the second codec, i.e., the BV32 speech codec. The first and second digital communication systems may use the same radio or network technology. However, the end units designed for each system may be incompatible with the components of the other system. 
     Where a communication system has sufficient bandwidth in its data stream, it may be possible to communicate to an end unit the type of encoding that is being used for the speech. In such systems, an end unit may be configured to select an appropriate codec based on information contained in the data stream about the encoding. Where a communication system has insufficient bandwidth in its data stream, whether wired or wireless, it may not be possible for such communications systems to communicate to an end unit the type of encoding that is being used for the speech data. End units that are incapable of detecting which codec was used to encode the speech would be incompatible with systems using different codecs from those end units. 
     Owners of communication systems may not wish to replace all of their communications equipment at one time. Owners may desire to replace only certain components such as a base station or some number of end units. It is therefore desirable for new communications end units to work with older systems and for old communications end units to work with newer systems. Base stations and end units may be provided that are configured to communicate with communication components that may not be capable of selecting appropriate codecs based on an indication of the codec used that accompanies the speech data transmitted to them. 
     The base station may comprise a registration component. The registration component may be software, firmware, hardware, and/or a combination thereof. The registration component may be configured to receive registration requests. The registration requests may be received from communication system end units. The communication system end units may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using one or more codecs. The communication system end units may comprise access information. The access information may be provided with the registration request from the communication system end unit. For example, a first communication system end unit may comprise a first set of access information. The first communication system end unit may provide the first set of access information with the registration request to the base station. The access information provided by the communication system end units may facilitate the identification, by the base station, of the codec(s) used by the communication system end unit to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     Access information can be any type of information associated with the communication system end unit, the communication system base station and/or other components of the communication system. Access information may include an access code. The access code may provide an indication of the identity of the communication system end unit. The access code may provide an indication of the type or model of the communication system end unit. The access code may provide an indication of the codec used by the communication system end unit to encode and/or decode audio signals. 
     The base station may comprise a verification component. The verification component may be configured to determine whether the access information provided by the end unit is acceptable to the base station. The base station may only accept selected access information corresponding to one or more codec(s) stored on the base station. 
     The registration component may be configured to record the access information provided by the communication system end unit. The registration component may be configured to record an indication of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units that correspond to one or more codec(s) stored on the base station. The registration component may be configured to record such information in response to the verification component determining that the set of access information supplied by the communication system end units corresponds to one of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. 
     Recording an indication of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units may facilitate communication between the communication system end units and the base station using the recorded codec(s). 
     The one or more components of the base station may be software, hardware, firmware and/or a combination thereof. The functions performed by the components may be performed by a single component or a combination of components. 
     The codec(s) stored on the base station may comprise a codec configured to support wideband audio. The codec(s) stored on the base station may comprise a codec configured to support narrowband audio signals. 
     The base station may be configured to manage multiple communication channels. The base station may comprise a communication channel manager. The communication channel manager may be configured to assign communication channels to the communication system end units. The registration component may be configured to associate the codec(s) used by the communication system end units. The registration component may be configured to associate the access information provided by the communication system end units with the assigned communication channels. For example, the first communication system end unit may be assigned to a first communication channel managed by the base station. The codec(s) used by the first communication system end unit may be associated with the first communication channel. The first set of access information provided by the first communication system end unit may be associated with the first communication channel. 
     The codec(s) used by the first communication system end unit to encode and/or decode audio signals may be a first codec(s). The registration component may be configured to receive registration requests from a second communication system end unit. The second communication end unit may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using a second codec(s) different from the first codec(s). The second communication system end unit may comprise a second set of access information. The second communication system end unit may provide the second set of access information with the registration request to the base station. The second set of access information provided by the second communication system end unit may facilitate the identification, by the base station, of the codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     The verification component may be configured to determine whether the second set of access information supplied by the second communication system end unit corresponds to one of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. 
     The registration component may be configured to record the second set of access information provided by the second communication system end unit. The registration component may be configured to record an indication of the second codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit that corresponds to one or more codec(s) stored on the base station. The registration component may perform such functions in response to the verification component determining that the second set of access information supplied by the second communication system end unit corresponds to one of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. 
     Recording an indication of the second codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit may facilitate communication between the communication system end unit and the base station using the second codec(s). 
     The transceiver of the base station may be configured to receive digital audio signals originating from the first end unit. The audio processor of the base station may be configured to decode the digital audio signals using the first codec(s). The audio processor may be configured to encode the digital audio signals using the second codec(s). The transceiver may be configured to transmit the digital audio signals to the second end unit. 
     A communication system may comprise a base station and at least two end units of the type herein described, such as a first end unit and a second end unit. The first end unit may be configured to encode and/or decode audio signals using a first codec(s). The second end unit may be configured to encode and/or decode audio signals using a second codec(s). The base station may be configured to receive the audio signals transmitted by the first end unit that have been encoded using the first codec. The base station may be configured to decode the audio signals using the first codec. The base station may be configured to encode the audio signals using the second codec for transmission by the base station to the second end unit. 
     In some implementations, the one or more codecs used by base station may include a first codec and a second codec different from the first codec. In response to a registration request received from a communication system end unit using the first set of access information, the base station may be configured to set the first codec as the codec to use by the base station. 
     A user may configure the registration component to accept only the first set of access information. A user may configure the registration component to accept only the second set of access information. A user may configure either set of access information. In response to a registration request received from a communication system end unit using the first set of access information, the registration component may be configured to accept only the first set of access information. In response to being configured to accept only the first set of access information, the base station may be configured to set the first codec as the codec to be used by the base station. 
     The registration component may be configured to receive registration requests from a second communication system end unit. The second communication system end unit may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using a second codec(s) different from the first codec(s). The second communication system end unit may comprise a second set of access information. The second communication system end unit may provide the second set of access information with the registration request to the base station. The second set of access information provided by the second communication system end unit may facilitate the identification by the base station of the codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     The verification component may be configured to determine whether the second set of access information supplied by the second communication system end unit corresponds to the first set of access information used by the first communication system end unit and stored on the base station. The verification component may be configured to reject the registration of the second communication system end unit in response to determining that the second set of access information does not correspond with the first set of access information. 
     The access information provided by the communication system end units may facilitate determination of the capabilities of the communication system end units. The registration component may be configured to identify the capabilities of the communication system end units based on the access information provided by the communication system end units. 
     The communication system end units may comprise one or more capabilities. The one or more capabilities of the communication system end units may include triggering one or more functions of the communication system base unit. A first communication system end unit may comprise a first capability configured to trigger a first function of the communication system base station. A second communication system end unit may comprise a second capability configured to trigger a second function of the communication system base station. 
     The access information provided by the first communication system end unit may facilitate a determination of capabilities of the first communication system end unit. The access information provided by the second communication system end unit may facilitate a determination of capabilities of the second communication system end unit. The registration component may be configured to record an indication of the capabilities of the first communication system end unit and the second communication system end unit. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a communication system end unit. The communication system end unit may comprise an audio processor. The audio processor may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using codecs stored on the end unit. Individual ones of the codecs may be associated with individual sets of access information. 
     The communication system end unit may comprise a communication component. The communication component may be configured to facilitate communication with a communication system base station. The base station may comprise a base station audio processor configured to encode and/or decode audio signals using one or more codecs. 
     The communication system end unit may comprise an access selector. The access selector may be configured to select a set of access information. The access information may facilitate a determination, by the base station, of compatibility of the communication system end unit with the base station. The access selector may select a first set of access information. 
     The access selector may be configured to select a set of access information automatically. The access selector may be configured to select a set of access information automatically in response to a user request to register with one or more other communication system elements. The one or more other communication system elements may comprise a base station, an end unit, or other communication system elements. The access selector may be configured to be set by an operator of the communication system and/or communication system component. The access selector may facilitate selection and/or entry by the user of an indication to use a desired set of access information. For example, the access selector may facilitate selection and/or entry by a user of the system an indication to use the first set of access information, the second set of access information and/or another set of access information. 
     Having the access selector configured to facilitate selection and/or entry by the user may provide utility to a user who desires to register the communication system element to another communication system element of a particular known type. The user may select and/or enter an indication to use a known corresponding set of access information. 
     The communication system end unit may comprise a registration component. The registration component may be configured to provide a registration request to the base station. The registration request may comprise the selected set of access information. 
     The communication system end unit may comprise a verification component. The verification component may be configured to determine whether the base station has accepted the registration request from the communication system end unit using the selected set of access information. 
     In response to a determination that the base station accepted the registration request from the communication system end unit using the selected set of access information, the registration component may be configured to record an indication to use the corresponding codec when communicating with the base station. For example, in response to a determination that the base station accepted the registration request from the first communication system end unit using the first set of access information, an indication may be recorded to use the first codec when communicating with the base station. 
     In response to a determination that the base station has rejected the registration request from the communication system end unit using the selected set of access information, the access selector may be configured to select a different set of access information. For example, the access selector may select a second set of access information, and the registration component may provide a registration request to the base station, wherein the registration request comprises the second set of access information. 
     The communication system end unit may use the first codec(s) to encode and/or decode speech. The communication system end unit may be configured to receive digital audio signals through a base station. The digital audio signals may be encoded using the first codec(s) by a second end unit. The encoded digital audio signals may be transmitted from the second end unit to the base station. The digital audio signals may be transmitted from the base station to the first end unit. 
     The communication system end units may be configured to transmit and receive digital audio signals from one or more other end units, wherein the audio signals are encoded using the first codec(s). 
     The end unit may further comprise a speaker. The end unit may be configured to convert the decoded digital audio signals to analogue audio signals. The end unit may be configured to send the analogue audio signals to the speaker. 
     The end unit may comprise a microphone. The microphone may be configured to receive audio signals. The end unit may be configured to digitize the audio signals from the microphone. The end unit may be configured to encode the digital audio signals. The end unit may be configured to transmit the encoded digital audio signals to the base station. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of registering communication system end units to a base station. The method may comprise receiving registration requests at the base station from communication system end units. The communication system end units may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using one or more codecs. The communication system end units may comprise access information that is provided with the registration request. For example, a first communication system end unit may comprise a first set of access information. The first communication system end unit may provide the first set of access information with the registration request to the base station. The access information provided by the communication system end units may facilitate the identification by the base station of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     The method may comprise verifying whether the set of access information supplied by the communication system end units correspond to one of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. 
     The method may comprise recording the access information provided by the communication system end units. The method may comprise correlating the access information provided by the communication system end units with one or more codecs stored on the base station. The method may comprise recording an indication of the codec(s) that correlates with the access information provided by the communication system end units, wherein the codec(s) are stored on the base station. 
     Recording an indication of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units may facilitate communication between the communication system end units and the base station using the recorded codec(s). 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a communication system end unit and a communication system base station. The communication system end unit and the communication system base station may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using multiple codecs. The registration component of the base station may be configured to register the communication system end unit. The registration component of the base station may be configured to record an indication that the communication system end unit is configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using multiple codecs. The communication system end unit may be configured to communicate with the base station over a first channel using a first codec. The communication system end unit may be configured to communicate with the base station over a second channel using a second codec. Communications over the first channel may have a first characteristic. Communications over the second channel may have a second characteristic different from the first characteristic. As an example, the first characteristic may be that the communication is public communication. The second characteristic may be that the communication is private communication. 
     These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a voice communication system, in accordance with one or more implementations; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates base station, in accordance with one or more implementations; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates processing systems for use in communication system components, in accordance with one or more implementations; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an end unit, in accordance with one or more implementations; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates processing systems for use in communication system end units, in accordance with one or more implementations; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a method of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a method of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations; and, 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a method of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a communication system  100 , in accordance with one or more implementations. The communication system  100  may comprise a base station  102  and one or more communication end units  104 ,  106 . The end units  104 ,  106  may have one or more connections  108  with the base station  102 . The one or more connections  108  may comprise one or more of a radio link, a wire, an optical connection, and other connections. The base station  102  may include inputs from auxiliary information sources  110 . The inputs may be direct inputs. The auxiliary information sources  110  may include microphones, telephone interfaces, computers, audio inputs, and/or other information sources. The base station  102  may also include outputs to auxiliary destinations  112 . The outputs may include direct outputs. Auxiliary destinations  112  may include speakers, telephone interfaces, computers, audio outputs, and/or other destinations. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the base station  102  may comprise an audio processor  117  configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The audio processor  117  may be a computer processor configured to implement one or more computer-readable instructions. The audio processor  117  may be hardware. The audio processor  117  may be firmware. The audio processor  117  may be a combination of one or more of software, hardware, and/or firmware. The base station  102  may comprise a transceiver. The transceiver may comprise a transmitter  114  configured to transmit audio signals. The audio signals transmitted by the transmitter  114  may include encoded digital audio signals. The transceiver may comprise a receiver  116  configured to receive audio signals. The received audio signals may include encoded digital audio signals. The audio processor  117  of the base station  102  may comprise a decoder  118  configured to decode encoded digital audio signals. The audio processor  117  of the base station  102  may comprise an encoder  120  configured to encode digital audio signals. In some implementations, the functions herein described as occurring in the audio processor  117  may be performed by the transceiver. In some implementations, the transceiver may include the audio processor  117 . The functions may be performed by software, hardware, firmware and/or a combination thereof. 
     The digital audio signals may be encoded and/or decoded using codecs stored on the base station  102 . In some implementations, the codecs may be stored in the audio processor  117 . In some implementations, the codecs may be implemented with hardware. The base station  102  may store and use multiple codecs. The base station  102  may be configured to select, from the multiple codecs stored on the base station  102 , a codec(s) that corresponds to a codec(s) that is used by one or more communication end units  104 ,  106 . The one or more codecs may consist of speech encoder(s) and speech decoder(s). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the end units  104 ,  106  may include one or more inputs  122 ,  124 . The first end unit  104  may comprise a first input  122 . The second end unit  106  may comprise a second input  124 . The inputs  122 ,  124  may be microphones. The end units  104 ,  106  may include one or more outputs  126 ,  128 . The first end unit  104  may comprise a first output  126 . The second end unit  106  may comprise a second output  128 . The first output  126  and the second output  128  may comprise speakers, earpieces and/or other audio outputs. 
     The end units  104 ,  106  may comprise a transceiver  130 ,  132 . The transceivers  130 ,  132  may comprise a receiver  134 . The transceivers  130 ,  132  may comprise a transmitter  136 . The transceivers  130 ,  132  may be configured to transmit and/or receive audio signals between the end units and the base station  102 . The transceivers  130 ,  132  may be configured to transmit and/or receive audio signals between end units. The audio signals may be encoded digital audio signals. The first end unit  104  may be configured to transmit and/or receive audio signals to and/or from the second end unit  106 . The audio signals may be transmitted through the base station  102 . The audio signals may be transmitted through the base station  102  to direct output destinations  112 . 
     The end units  104 ,  106  may include one or more end unit audio processors  138 . The end unit audio processors  138  may comprise encoder(s)  140  and/or decoder(s)  142 . The encoder(s) and/or decoder(s) may be configured to encode and decode digital audio signals using one or more codecs. Audio speech signals may be transmitted from an end unit  104 . The audio speech signals may be received by the microphone  122  and digitized using an analogue to digital converter  146 . The digital audio signal may be encoded by an encoder  140 . The digital audio signal may be encoded using a codec(s). The encoded digital audio signal may be transmitted by transmitter  136 . Digitizing and encoding the audio signal using a codec(s) may reduce the amount of data to be transmitted. This encoded digital audio signal may be transmitted by the transmitter  136  of the first end unit to the base station  102 . In some implementations, the encoded digital audio signal may be transmitted by the transmitter  136  of the first end unit to the second end unit  106 . In some implementations, the audio signals may be encoded and/or decoded using hardware, software, firmware and/or a combination thereof. The codecs may be provided by hardware configured to encode and/or decode audio signals. It is to be understood that while only two codecs are shown in decoder  142  and encoder  140 , this is not limiting and any number of codecs could be provided. 
     The base station  102  may receive the encoded digital audio signal from the first end unit  104  through the receiver  116  of the base station  102 . The base station  102  may be configured to decode the encoded digital audio signal using one or more codecs  118  stored on the base station  102 . The codec(s)  118  may be configured to decode the encoded digital audio signals into linear digital audio. The base station  102  may perform processing on the speech. The base station  102  may be configured to encode the linear audio signals. The audio signals may be encoded by encoder  120 . The base station  102  may be configured to transmit the encoded audio signals to other end units. The encoded audio signals may be transmitted by a transmitter  114  of the base station  102 . For example, the base station  102  may be configured to transmit the digital audio signals to the second end unit  106 . 
     Upon receiving encoded digital audio signals, the end units  104 ,  106  may be configured to decode the encoded digital audio signals. The encoded digital audio signals may be decoded by an audio processor  138 . The audio processor  138  may comprise a decoder(s)  142 . The end units  104 ,  106  may be configured to convert the digital audio signals to an analogue form. The digital audio signals may be converted to an analogue form using a digital to analogue converter  148 . The end units  104 ,  106  may be configured to transmit the analogue audio signals through the speaker and/or earpiece  124  of the end units  104 ,  106 . The speaker and/or earpiece  124  may comprise the digital to analogue converter. The microphone  122  may comprise the analogue to digital converter. 
     Such base stations and/or end units may be compatible with other end units and/or base stations. The base stations and/or end units may be configured to select codec(s) to use based on information obtained at the time the end units are registered to the system. By determining which codec(s) to use at the time the end units are registered to the system, there is no need to transmit additional information regarding the codec(s) through communications channels associated with the end units. 
     In some implementations, the base station  102  may be configured to register a first end unit  104  that uses a first codec. Subsequently, the base station  102  may be configured to register additional end units that use the first codec. The base station  102  may be configured to reject registration of an end unit that uses a codec different from the first codec. 
     In some implementations, the base station  102  may be configured to register a first end unit  104  that uses a first codec. Subsequently, the base station  102  may be configured to register additional end units that use codecs comprising the first codec, a second codec, and/or other codecs. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a processing system  300  for use in communication systems, in accordance with one or more implementations. The processing system  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be implemented by a computer processor configured to execute commands provided by machine-readable instructions. The processing system  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be a physical processing system configured to execute commands using hardware. The components described herein may be functionality provided by software, hardware, firmware, other processes, and/or a combination thereof. 
     In some implementations, the base station  102  may comprise a transceiver  302 . The base station  102  may comprise one or more physical computer processors  304 . The one or more physical computer processors  304  may be co-located in the base station. The one or more physical computer processors  304  may be located in different elements of the base station  102 . For example, one or more of the processors  304  may be included in the transceiver  302 . 
     The physical computer processors  304  may be configured by machine-readable instructions to perform one or more functions. The machine-readable instructions may be conceptually thought of as components configured to perform functions. The processors may be configured to execute one or more computer components. The one or more components may comprise a registration component  306 , a verification component  308 , and/or other components. It is to be understood that while these components are shown separately, it is possible to combine these functions into fewer components. For example, some implementations may combine the functions of the registration component  306  and the verification component  308  into a single component. 
     The registration component  306  may be configured to receive registration requests from one or more end units. The communication system end units may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using one or more codecs. The communication system end units may comprise access information. The access information may be transmitted to the base station with the registration request. For example, a first communication system end unit may comprise a first set of access information. The first set of access information may be transmitted to the base station with the registration request. The access information may provide an indication of the identity of an individual communication system end unit. The access information may provide an indication of the type, capabilities, and/or other parameters of the communication system end unit. 
     The access information provided by the communication system end units may facilitate the identification by the base station of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     The verification component  308  may be configured to determine whether the set of access information supplied by the communication system end unit corresponds to of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. 
     The registration component  306  may be configured to record the access information provided by the communication system end units. The registration component  306  may be configured to record an indication of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units that corresponds to one or more codec(s) stored on the base station. The registration component  306  may perform such functions in response to the verification component  308  determining that the set of access information supplied by the communication system end units corresponds to one of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. 
     Recording an indication of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units may facilitate communication between the communication system end units and the base station using the recorded codec(s). 
     The codec(s) used by the first communication system end unit to encode and/or decode audio signals may be a first codec(s). The registration component  306  may be configured to receive registration requests from a second communication system end unit. The second communication end unit may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using a second codec(s) different from the first codec(s). The second communication system end unit may comprise a second set of access information. The second communication system end unit may provide the second set of access information with the registration request to the base station. The second set of access information provided by the second communication system end unit facilitates the identification by the base station of the codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     The verification component  308  may be configured to determine whether the second set of access information provided by the second communication system end unit corresponds to one of the sets of access information accepted by the base station. The registration component  306  may be configured to record the second set of access information provided by the second communication system end unit. The registration component  306  may be configured to record an indication of the second codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit that corresponds to one or more codec(s) stored on the base station. The registration component  306  may be configured to perform such functions in response to the verification component determining that the second codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit corresponds to one or more of the codecs stored on the base station. 
     Recording an indication of the second codec(s) used by the second communication system end unit may facilitate communication between the communication system end unit and the base station using the second codec(s). 
     The base station may be configured to manage multiple communication channels. The processor(s)  304  may comprise a communication channel manager  310 . In some implementations, the functionality of the communication channel manager  310  may be provided by hardware. In some implementations, the functionality of the communication channel manager  310  may be provided individually or by a combination of software, hardware, firmware, and/or other elements. 
     The communication channel manager  310  may be configured to assign communication channels to the communication system end units. The registration component  306  may be configured to associate the codec(s) used by the communication system end units and the access information provided by the communication system end units with the assigned communication channels. For example, the first communication system end unit may be assigned to a first communication channel managed by the base station. The codec(s) used by the first communication system end unit and the first set of access information provided by the first communication system end unit may be associated with the first communication channel. 
     The transceiver  302  of the base station may be configured to receive digital audio signals originating from the first end unit. The audio processor of the base station may be configured to decode the digital audio signals using the first codec(s). The base station audio processor may be configured to encode the digital audio signals using the second codec(s). The transceiver  302  may be configured to transmit the digital audio signals to the second end unit. 
     The access information provided by the communication system end units may facilitate a determination of the capabilities of the communication system end units. The registration component  306  may be configured to identify the capabilities of the communication system end units based on the access information provided by the communication system end units. The access information provided by the first communication system end unit may facilitate a determination of capabilities of the first communication system end unit. The access information provided by the second communication system end unit may facilitate a determination of capabilities of the second communication system end unit. The registration component  306  may be configured to record an indication of the capabilities of the first communication system end unit. The registration component  306  may be configured to record an indication of the capabilities of the second communication system end unit. 
     The processing system  300  may comprise external resources  312 . The external resources  312  may provide information regarding capabilities of one or more of elements of the communication system, such as the base station, communication system end units, and/or other elements. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates processing systems  500  for use in communication system end units, in accordance with one or more implementations. The processing system  500  may comprise a transceiver  502 . The transceiver  502  may be configured to receive and/or transmit digital audio signals. The processing system  500  may comprise one or more processors  504 . The processor(s)  504  may be configured to execute one or more computer components. The computer components may comprise a communication component  506 , an access selector  508 , a registration component  510 , a verification component  512 , and/or other components. The functionality of the processing system  500  may be provided by hardware, software, firmware, and/or a combination thereof. It is to be understood that while these components are shown separately, it is possible to combine these functions into fewer components. For example, some implementations may combine the functions of the access selector  508 , the verification component  512 , and the registration component  510  into a single component. 
     The communication component  506  may be configured to facilitate communication with a base station. The base station may comprise a base station configured to encode and/or decode audio signals using one or more codecs. In some implementations, the base station may store and use fewer codecs than the communication end unit. 
     The access selector  508  may be configured to select a set of access information. The access selector  508  may be configured to automatically select a set of access information. The access selector  508  may be configured to automatically select a set of access information in response to receipt of an indication to register with another communication system element and/or component. In some implementations, the access selector  508  may facilitate selection and/or entry of an indication to use a desired set of access information. The access selector  508  may select the desired set of access information indicated. The access information may facilitate a determination, by the base station, of compatibility of the communication system end unit with the base station. For example, the access selector may select a first set of access information from the access information of the communication system end unit. 
     The registration component  510  may be configured to provide a registration request to the base station. The registration request may comprise the selected set of access information. 
     The verification component  512  may be configured to determine whether the base station accepted the registration request from the communication system end unit using the selected set of access information. 
     In response to a determination that the base station accepted the registration request from the communication system end unit using the selected set of access information, the registration component  510  may be configured to record an indication to use the corresponding codec when communicating with the base station. For example, in response to a determination that the base station accepted the registration request from the first communication system end unit using the first set of access information, an indication is recorded to use the first codec when communicating with the base station. 
     In response to a determination that the base station rejected the registration request from the communication system end unit using the selected set of access information, the access selector  508  may be configured to select a different set of access information. The access selector  508  may be configured to select a different set of access information automatically. The access selector  508  may be configured to facilitate selection and/or entry of a different set of access information by a user. For example, the access selector may select a second set of access information, and the registration component  510  may provide a registration request to the base station, wherein the registration request comprises the second set of access information. 
     As used herein, the term codec may refer to a codec, multiple codecs, and/or combinations of codecs. For example, the first codec may be a combination of one or more codecs. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in some implementations, the base station  102  may be configured to receive registration requests from end units that are configured to encode and/or decode audio signals using a first codec, a second codec, and/or any number of codecs (not shown). 
     The base station may comprise a decoder  118  and an encoder  120 . The decoder  118  and encoder  120  may be the same item in the base station  102 . The decoder  118  and encoder  120  may be separate items in the base station  102 . The decoder  118  may use the same codecs to decode audio signals as the encoder  120  does to encode audio signals. The decoder  118  and encoder  120  being illustrated separately in  FIG. 2  is not limiting, and the present disclosure is intended to cover any conceivable encoding and decoding system. Encoded audio signals received from the base station  102  may be routed to a decoder  118 . The decoder may comprise two or more different codecs. Codecs as used herein are intended to cover decoders, encoders, and/or other manipulators of information. The decoder  118  of the base station may comprise a first codec  152  and a second codec  154 . In some implementations, the decoder  118  may comprise a switch  156  that is configured to selectively allow the appropriate codec to supply decoded speech to the audio processing processor  146 . The switch  156  may be a mechanical switch, an electrical switch, a semiconductor, a microprocessor, a transistor, and/or other type of switching device. It is to be understood that while only two codecs are shown in the encoder and in the decoder, this is not limiting and any number of codecs could be provided. 
     The processed audio and speech may be routed from the audio processing processor  146  to the encoder  120 . The encoder may comprise one or more encoders. The encoder may comprise a first codec  152  and a second codec  154 . The encoder  120  may comprise a switch  156  configured to selectively allow the appropriately encoded speech from the first codec  152  or the second codec  154  to be transmitted by the transmitter  114 . Such a base station  102  may be configured to work with an end unit configured to encode and/or decode speech using either the first codec or the second codec. 
     The processors as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5  may be configured to execute computer program components. The processors may be configured to execute the computer program modules via one or more of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Processor(s)  304  and  504  may be configured to provide information processing capabilities in a communication system. As such, processors  304  and  504  may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processors  304  and  504  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  as single entities, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processors  304  and  504  may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processors  304  and  504  may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method  700  of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. The operations of method  700  presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method  700  may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method  700  are illustrated in  FIG. 6  and described below is not intended to be limiting. 
     In some embodiments, method  700  in  FIG. 6  illustrates a method of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. Method  700  may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method  700  in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method  700 . 
     At an operation  701 , a registration request may be received from a communication system end unit. Operation  701  may be facilitated by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  702 , a determination may be made whether or not the end unit is the first end unit to register to the base station. Operation  702  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  704 , a determination may be made of which set of access information the end unit supplied as part of its registration request. Operation  704  may be performed by a verification component, such as verification component  308 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  706 , in response to determining that the end unit used the first set of access information when registering, the base station may be set to only accept the first set of access information for further registrations. Operation  706  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  707 , in response to setting the first set of access information, the base station may be set to use the first codec for all audio encoding and decoding. Operation  707  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  708 , in response to determining that the end unit used the second set of access information when registering, the base station may be set to only accept the second set of access information for further registrations. Operation  708  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. It is to be understood that the disclosure of a first and second set of access information in this description is not intended to be limiting. The communication system herein contemplated is capable of using any number of sets of access information as well as codecs. 
     At an operation  709 , in response to setting the second set of access information, the base station may be set to use the second codec for all audio encoding and decoding. Operation  709  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  710 , in response to setting the codec of the base station based on the codec of the end unit, the end unit may be registered to the base station. Operation  710  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  712 , in response to determining that the end unit is not the first end unit to be registered to the base station, a determination is made as to whether the end unit supplied the same set of access information as the base station has been set to accept. Operation  712  may be performed by a verification component, such as verification component  308 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  710 , in response to determining that the end unit supplied the same access information as the base station has been set to accept, the end unit is registered to the base station. Operation  710  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  714 , in response to determining that the end unit supplied a different set of access information than the base station is accepting, the end unit is rejected and not registered to the base station. Operation  714  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a method  800  of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. The operations of method  800  presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method  800  may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method  800  are illustrated in  FIG. 7  and described below is not intended to be limiting. 
     In some embodiments, method  800  in  FIG. 7  illustrates a method of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. Method  800  may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method  800  in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method  800 . 
     At an operation  802 , a registration request is received from a communication system end unit. Operation  802  may be facilitated by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     The communication system end units may be configured to encode and/or decode digital audio signals using one or more codecs. The communication system end units may comprise access information that is provided with the registration request. For example, a first communication system end unit may comprise a first set of access information and may provide the first set of access information with the registration request to the base station. The access information provided by the communication system end units may facilitate the identification by the base station of the codec(s) used by the communication system end units to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. 
     At an operation  804 , a determination of the set of access information used by the end unit is made. At an operation  804 , a verification of whether the set of access information used by the communication system end unit corresponds to one or more of the sets of access information accepted by the base station may be made. The function(s) at operation  804  may be performed by a verification component, such as verification component  308 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  806 , in response to determining that the end unit uses a first set of access information, an indication that the end unit uses the first set of access information may be recorded by the base station. Operation  806  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  807 , in response to recording the use of the first set of access information, an indication that the end unit uses a first codec may be recorded by the base station. The codec may be any type of codec. Operation  807  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  808 , in response to determining that the end unit uses a second set of access information, an indication that the end unit uses the second set of access information may be recorded by the base station. Operation  808  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  809 , in response to recording the use of the second set of access information, an indication that the end unit uses a second codec may be recorded by the base station. The codec may be any type of codec. Operation  809  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  810 , in response to determining that the end unit uses an unrecognized set of access information, the base station may reject the registration of the end unit. Operation  810  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  812 , in response to recording the type of codec used by the end unit, the end unit may be registered to the base station. Operation  812  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  306 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     After registration of a first end unit to the base station, a second end unit may be registered to the base station using the same or similar method to method  800 . The second end unit may use a codec different from the codec used by the first end unit. For example, the first end unit may use the first codec to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The second end unit may use a second codec, different from the first codec, to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. After registration of the end units at the operation  812 , the base station may be configured to receive from, and transmit to, the first end unit audio signals encoded by the first codec, and the base station may be configured to receive from, and transmit to, the second end unit audio signals encoded by the second codec. It is to be understood that the disclosure of a first and second set of access information in this description is not intended to be limiting. The communication system herein contemplated is capable of using any number of sets of access information as well as codecs. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a method  900  of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. The operations of method  900  presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method  900  may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method  900  are illustrated in  FIG. 8  and described below is not intended to be limiting. 
     In some embodiments, method  900  in  FIG. 8  illustrates a method of registering an end unit to a base station, in accordance with one or more implementations. Method  900  may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method  900  in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method  900 . 
     At an operation  904 , a first set of access information may be selected by the end unit to provide with the registration request. In some implementations, at an operation  904 , selection and/or entry of a desired set of access information to provide with the registration request may be facilitated. Selection and/or entry of the desired set of access information may be done by a user and/or operator of the communication system. The first set of access information may facilitate a determination, by the base station, that the communication system end unit is configured to use a first codec(s) to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The operations performed at operation  904  may be performed by an access selector, such as access selector  508 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  905 , in response to selecting a first set of access information, the end unit may send a registration request to the base using the first set of access information. The operations performed at operation  905  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  510 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  906 , the end unit may determine whether registration with the base station was successful. The operations performed at operation  906  may be performed by a verification component, such as verification component  512 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  908 , in response to a successful registration of the end unit to the base station using the first set of access information, the end unit may be configured to set the first codec as the codec to use for encoding and/or decoding digital audio signals sent between the end unit and the base station. The operations performed at operation  908  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  510 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  910 , in response to an unsuccessful registration of the end unit to the base station using the first set of access information, a second set of access information may be selected by the end unit to provide with the registration request. The second set of access information may facilitate a determination, by the base station, that the communication system end unit is configured to use a second codec(s) to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The operations performed at operation  910  may be performed by an access selector, such as access selector  508 , in accordance with one or more implementations. The access selector  508  may perform its functions automatically and/or may facilitate manual selection and/or entry of a desired set of access information to use by a user and/or operator of the communication system component. 
     At an operation  911 , in response to selecting a second set of access information, the end unit may send a registration request to the base using the second set of access information. The operations performed at operation  911  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  510 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  912 , the end unit may determine whether registration with the base station was successful. The operations performed at operation  912  may be performed by a verification component, such as verification component  512 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  914 , in response to a successful registration of the end unit to the base station using the second set of access information, the end unit may be configured to set the second codec as the codec to use for encoding and/or decoding digital audio signals sent between the end unit and the base station. The operations performed at operation  914  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  510 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  916 , in response to an unsuccessful registration of the end unit to the base station using the first set of access information and the second set of access information, a third set of access information may be selected by the end unit to provide with the registration request. In some implementations, selection and/or entry of a desired set of access information to provide with the registration request may be facilitated. Selection and/or entry of the desired set of access information may be done by a user and/or operator of the communication system. The third set of access information may facilitate a determination, by the base station, that the communication system end unit is configured to use a third codec(s) to encode and/or decode digital audio signals. The operations performed at operation  916  may be performed by an access selector, such as access selector  508 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  917 , in response to selecting a third set of access information, the end unit may send a registration request to the base using the third set of access information. The operations performed at operation  917  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  510 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  918 , the end unit may determine whether registration with the base station was successful. The operations performed at operation  918  may be performed by a verification component, such as verification component  512 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At an operation  920 , in response to a successful registration of the end unit to the base station using the third set of access information, the end unit may be configured to set the third codec as the codec to use for encoding and/or decoding digital audio signals sent between the end unit and the base station. The operations performed at operation  920  may be performed by a registration component, such as registration component  510 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     In response to a failed registration attempt at the operation  918 , the end unit may be configured to provide an indication that the end unit cannot register with the base station. In response to the failed registration attempt at the operation  918 , the end unit may be configured to repeat the operations of method  900 . 
     The codec(s) herein disclosed may refer to a single codec and/or multiple individual codecs. The systems herein described may be capable of encoding and/or decoding digital audio speech using one or more codecs. 
     Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.