Adaptive Multi-rate Wideband Speech Codec Research Articles

A Search Complexity Improvement of Vector Quantization to Immittance Spectral Frequency Coefficients in AMR-WB Speech Codec

An adaptive multi-rate wideband (AMR-WB) code is a speech codec developed on the basis of an algebraic code-excited linear-prediction (ACELP) coding technique, and has a double advantage of low bit rates and high speech quality. This coding technique is widely used in modern mobile communication systems for a high speech quality in handheld devices. However, a major disadvantage is that a vector quantization (VQ) of immittance spectral frequency (ISF) coefficients occupies a significant computational load in the AMR-WB encoder. Hence, this paper presents a triangular inequality elimination (TIE) algorithm combined with a dynamic mechanism and an intersection mechanism, abbreviated as the DI-TIE algorithm, to remarkably improve the complexity of ISF coefficient quantization in the AMR-WB speech codec. Both mechanisms are designed in a way that recursively enhances the performance of the TIE algorithm. At the end of this work, this proposal is experimentally validated as a superior search algorithm relative to a conventional TIE, a multiple TIE (MTIE), and an equal-average equal-variance equal-norm nearest neighbor search (EEENNS) approach. With a full search algorithm as a benchmark for search load comparison, this work provides a search load reduction above 77%, a figure far beyond 36% in the TIE, 49% in the MTIE, and 68% in the EEENNS approach.

Modification of codebook search in adaptive multi-rate wideband speech codecs using intelligent optimization algorithms

In recognition of high-quality wideband speech codecs, several standardization activities have been conducted, resulting in the selection of a wideband speech codec called adaptive multi-rate wideband (AMR-WB). The algebraic code-excited linear prediction (ACELP) technique is recommended in AMR-WB, and it is noted that most of the complexity in the ACELP structure comes from the codebook search. In this paper, a new method is proposed for codebook search based on the behavior of backward filtered target signal, d(n), introduced in ITU-T G.722.2 recommendation. To optimize the proposed scheme, five optimization algorithms (i.e., modified genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization with dynamic inertia weight, bee colony optimization, modified differential evolution, and imperialist competition algorithm) are investigated. Experimental results show that the reduction in codebook search operations of the proposed method is able to reach up to 59 percent as compared with ITU-T G.722.2 recommendation. Meanwhile, BCO-based codebook search scheme has better convergence speed without significant degradation in quality metrics, such as segmental signal-to-noise ratio, mean opinion score, and perceptual evaluation of speech quality, when used in an AMR-WB speech codec.

An Investigation into the Performance Enhancement and Salient Features of AMR-WB Speech Codec Used in GSM Communication

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) along with European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI) recommended new speech coding scheme, called Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR) in 2000 and 2001. The proposed scheme has two variants: AMR-Narrowband (AMR-NB) and AMR-WB (AMR- Wideband). The speech quality of AMR-WB in GSM systems is remarkably high compared with that of AMR-NB speech codec because it encompasses wider bandwidth of the speech signal, 50-7000 Hz, instead of 200-3400 Hz in AMR-NB. But there are always possibilities for improvement. This paper investigates the salient features of AMR-WM codec and various possibilities for further enhancement in its speech quality. Two algorithms are recommended for incorporation into the standard AMR-WB to achieve this goal.

The adaptive multirate wideband speech codec: system characteristics, quality advances, and deployment strategies

Wideband speech is the major differentiation and attraction of third-generation network services in both the circuit and packet switched domain. Increased audio bandwidth introduces a significant leap in perceived quality of service compared to currently utilized narrowband telephony in second-generation mobile communications and the PSTN. The adaptive multirate wideband (AMR-WB) speech codec is the service enabler for improved user experience. It is an established 3GPP and ITU-T wideband speech codec standard and represents the state-of-the-art in speech quality as well as robustness in error prone radio channels. It is also the first codec algorithm standardized for wideband speech for mobile communications

The adaptive multirate wideband speech codec (AMR-WB)

This paper describes the adaptive multirate wideband (AMR-WB) speech codec selected by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for GSM and the third generation mobile communication WCDMA system for providing wideband speech services. The AMR-WB speech codec algorithm was selected in December 2000 and the corresponding specifications were approved in March 2001. The AMR-WB codec was also selected by the International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Sector (ITU-T) in July 2001 in the standardization activity for wideband speech coding around 16 kb/s and was approved in January 2002 as Recommendation G.722.2. The adoption of AMR-WB by ITU-T is of significant importance since for the first time the same codec is adopted for wireless as well as wireline services. AMR-WB uses an extended audio bandwidth from 50 Hz to 7 kHz and gives superior speech quality and voice naturalness compared to existing second- and third-generation mobile communication systems. The wideband speech service provided by the AMR-WB codec will give mobile communication speech quality that also substantially exceeds (narrowband) wireline quality. The paper details AMR-WB standardization history, algorithmic description including novel techniques for efficient ACELP wideband speech coding and subjective quality performance of the codec.