Patent ID: 7650422

Claim:
An audio playback apparatus comprising: a playback means for playing audio back; a buffer means for temporarily storing-voice data to be played back; a switch for on/off switching transmission of the voice data from said buffer means to said playback means; at least one threshold judgment means for judging whether an amount of voice data buffered in said buffer means is equal to or smaller than at least one threshold value, said at least one threshold judgment means providing a true output when the buffered voice data amount is equal to or smaller than said at least one threshold value; a timer triggered by the true output from said at least one threshold judgment means to output a trigger pulse, which is part of a pulse train which alternates between a first value of the trigger pulse and a second value, each of the first value and second value having a predetermined duration of time, said pulse train being output when the at least one threshold judgment means provides the true output; and a first control means for controlling on/off of said switch to prevent transmission of the voice data in said buffer means to said playback means for the predetermined duration of time of said trigger pulse when the true output is provided from said at least one threshold judgment means.