Variable-to-fixed rate conversion of narrowband LPC speech

Variable data rate LPC speech compression schemes are employed to transmit LPC parameters only when speech characteristics have changed sufficiently since the last transmission, yielding improved speech quality relative to fixed-rate schemes for a given average transmission rate. Transmission of variable-rate LPC speech over fixed-rate channels is accomplished using transmit and receive buffers, with resulting transmission delays. Development of proper buffer control strategy is essential to minimize losses caused by exhausting either buffer, or by corrective actions, namely, forced or suppressed transmission. Certain aspects of such strategy and their impact on speech quality and data rate are discussed for a narrowband (2400 bps) speech transmission system.