Automatic length-reducing audio delay line

Abstract

An electronic system and a method substantially eliminates any delays caused by buffering of a signal containing speech. The electronic system comprises a receiver for receiving signals, a buffer, coupled to the receiver, a buffer controller coupled to the buffer, and an audio section for presenting signals received to a listener. The method comprises the following steps. The receiver receives an input signal representing speech, and produces an output signal representing the input signal after a delay intentionally introduced in the system. The delay corresponds to the length of the buffer. The buffer stores the input signal in the buffer at an input rate, and produces the output signal at an output rate. The buffer controller determines whether the delay or buffer length is greater than a predetermined threshold, and analyzes at least a portion of the input signal stored in the buffer to determine which parts of the input signal may be removed without substantial deterioration of the signal quality according to at least one predetermined criterion, when the buffer length is greater than a predetermined length. The buffer controller then deletes at least some of the parts of the input signal stored in the buffer that comply with the predetermined criterion.