Patent ID: 7636390

Claim:
A method for reducing input frames of a signal, the input frames comprising successive groups of N values that represent characteristics of the signal, the method comprising: A. finding the largest X values of each group of N values utilizing a processor and memory, wherein X is a pre-selected integer and the largest X values of each group of N values are stored in the memory; B. setting all but the largest X values of each group equal to zero in the memory; C. averaging W respective ones of the N values produced in A. and B., to produce N average values in the memory, wherein W is a pre-selected integer; D. finding the largest Y of the N average values, where Y is less than X, wherein Y is a pre-selected integer; E. setting the largest Y of the N average values equal to a first binary value, and a remainder of the N average values equal to a second binary value, wherein the setting sets N average values in the memory; and F. outputting output frames comprising the N average values.