Methods, devices and systems for improved codebook search for voice codecs

Abstract

An electronic circuit () including a processor circuit () and a storage circuit establishing a speech coder () for execution by said processor (), the speech coder () for approximating speech by pulses having pulse positions selectable from a codebook (), the speech coder () operable to obtain () a set of estimated pulse positions having a first number of pulse tracks of the estimated pulse positions, use () a cost function (epsilon tilde {tilde over (ε)}) relating to approximation to speech to find a first subset including a second number of one or more pulse tracks fewer in number than the first number wherein the first subset of pulse tracks contributed a lower contribution to the cost function relative to a second subset of pulse tracks, and control () a subsequent pulse position search beginning with the lower-contributing subset of pulse tracks to yield pulse positions to provide a value of the cost function representing a better approximation to speech. Other forms of the invention involve systems, circuits, devices, processes and processes of operation, as disclosed and claimed.