{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852738","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9852738","title":"Method and apparatus for processing lost frame","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-12-21T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G10L","G10L","G10L","G10L","G10L","G10L","G10L","G10L"],"num_claims":8,"abstract":"Embodiments of the present application provide a method and an apparatus for recovering a lost frame in a received audio signal. The method for recovering a lost frame includes: determining an initial high-frequency band signal of a current lost frame; determining a gain of the current lost frame; determining gain adjustment information of the current lost frame; adjusting the gain of the current lost frame according to the gain adjustment information, to obtain an adjusted gain of the current lost frame; and adjusting the initial high-band signal according to the adjusted gain, to obtain a high-frequency band signal of the current lost frame. The method and the apparatus for recovering a lost frame provided in the embodiments of the present application can be used in an audio signal decoding process for low-loss recovery of a lost frame of the audio signal, resulting in improved performance of an audio signal decoder."},"analysis":{"summary":"The patent \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame\" (US-9852738) describes a crucial innovation in audio signal processing, specifically designed to recover lost frames within a received audio signal. This technology addresses the common problem of audio dropouts and degradation that occur due to packet loss in digital communication and streaming environments. Its core innovation lies in its sophisticated, multi-step approach to reconstructing missing audio segments, particularly focusing on the high-frequency band, which is vital for perceived audio clarity and naturalness.\n\nThe method involves first determining an initial high-frequency band signal for the current lost frame, leveraging contextual information from surrounding audio. Concurrently, it calculates a gain for this lost frame. A critical distinguishing feature is the determination of gain adjustment information, which is then used to fine-tune the initial gain, creating an 'adjusted gain'. This adaptive adjustment ensures that the recovered audio segment seamlessly integrates into the existing signal without introducing noticeable artifacts or unnatural volume shifts. Finally, the initial high-band signal is adjusted according to this optimized gain, resulting in a high-fidelity high-frequency band signal for the lost frame.\n\nThis technology's primary business value stems from its ability to significantly improve the performance of audio signal decoders, enabling low-loss recovery of audio frames. This translates directly to a superior user experience in various applications, including real-time communication (VoIP, video conferencing), streaming media (music, video), and immersive entertainment (gaming, VR). By minimizing audible interruptions and preserving audio quality, this patent enhances user satisfaction, reduces fatigue, and can provide a competitive advantage for companies relying heavily on robust audio transmission. The market opportunity for this innovation is substantial, as reliable, high-quality audio is a universal demand across consumer and enterprise sectors, making this patent a foundational component for next-generation audio processing systems.","layman_explanation":"### What Problem Does This Solve?\n\nImagine you're on an important video call with a client, or perhaps streaming a critical presentation. Suddenly, the audio cuts out, or becomes garbled and robotic. This isn't just annoying; it can disrupt communication, lead to misunderstandings, and damage professionalism. This common issue arises from 'lost frames' – small packets of audio data that fail to arrive at their destination due to network congestion, Wi-Fi interference, or other digital hiccups. Existing solutions often struggle to truly 'fix' these gaps; they might simply mute the sound, repeat the last piece of audio, or fill it with generic noise, resulting in a noticeable and often jarring degradation of quality. The core business problem is the inability to maintain consistent, high-fidelity audio in an increasingly connected and often unreliable digital environment, impacting everything from customer service calls to immersive entertainment.\n\n### How Does It Work?\n\nThe patent, \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame,\" offers a sophisticated solution to this pervasive audio problem. Think of it like a highly skilled audio restoration artist. When a piece of audio goes missing, this technology doesn't just guess or fill the gap with silence. Instead, it performs a clever, multi-step reconstruction, focusing on the most perceptually important parts of the sound: the 'high-frequency band.' These are the sharp, clear sounds that give speech its intelligibility and music its crispness.\n\nHere’s a simplified breakdown:\n1.  **Smart Guessing:** The system first looks at the audio just before and after the missing piece. Based on this context, it makes an intelligent initial 'guess' about what the high-frequency part of the lost sound might have been.\n2.  **Volume Control:** Simultaneously, it figures out how loud that missing sound segment *should* be, ensuring it matches the surrounding audio naturally.\n3.  **Refined Blending:** This is the crucial part. It then calculates specific 'adjustment information' to fine-tune that initial volume. This ensures the reconstructed sound doesn't suddenly jump in loudness or sound out of place. It's like making sure the new piece of music blends perfectly with the existing melody and rhythm.\n4.  **Seamless Integration:** Finally, it uses this perfectly adjusted volume to shape the initially guessed high-frequency sound, creating a recovered audio segment that is virtually indistinguishable from the original. The entire process aims for a 'low-loss recovery,' meaning the listener perceives little to no degradation in quality, even though a piece of the original audio was indeed lost.\n\n### Why Does This Matter?\n\nThis technology matters because it directly impacts the quality of digital experiences across virtually every sector. For businesses, it means:\n*   **Enhanced Customer Experience:** Streaming services can offer uninterrupted, premium audio. Online education platforms can deliver clearer lectures. Gaming companies can provide more immersive soundscapes.\n*   **Improved Productivity:** In enterprise settings, clear VoIP calls and video conferences reduce miscommunication, save time, and foster more effective collaboration.\n*   **Competitive Advantage:** Companies that integrate this innovation can differentiate themselves by offering superior audio reliability and quality, attracting and retaining users in competitive markets.\n*   **Operational Efficiency:** By enabling high-quality audio over potentially less stable networks, it can reduce the need for costly infrastructure upgrades or complex network management solutions. The potential ROI comes from increased user satisfaction, reduced churn, and more efficient communication.\n\n### What's Next?\n\nThe principles behind this patent are foundational for the next generation of audio communication and entertainment. We can expect to see this technology integrated into new audio codecs, 5G communication protocols, and AI-powered voice assistants, making audio more resilient and natural across diverse applications. As virtual reality, augmented reality, and the metaverse continue to evolve, the demand for truly seamless and immersive audio will only grow, making innovations like this not just beneficial, but essential. Investors should recognize the broad applicability and long-term value of technologies that enhance fundamental digital experiences like audio quality.","technical_analysis":"The patent \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame\" (US-9852738) details a sophisticated algorithm for error concealment specifically targeting lost frames in audio signals. This technical analysis delves into the architectural components and algorithmic specifics that enable this innovation to achieve low-loss recovery and enhance audio decoder performance.\n\n**Technical Architecture and Data Flow:**\nAt a high level, the system operates within the audio decoding pipeline, typically after bitstream parsing but before the final digital-to-analog conversion. When a lost frame is detected (e.g., via sequence number gaps or checksum failures), the system is invoked to reconstruct the missing audio data. The architecture can be conceptualized as a specialized module within an audio codec, interfacing with the decoded (or partially decoded) audio stream and providing a reconstructed frame as output.\n\n**Algorithm Specifics and Implementation Details:**\n\n1.  **Determining an Initial High-Frequency Band (HFB) Signal:** This is the first critical step. The HFB is often downsampled or discarded in low-bitrate codecs, but its accurate reconstruction is paramount for perceptual quality. The initial HFB signal for the current lost frame (let's denote it as `HFB_initial`) is likely derived through a combination of techniques:\n    *   **Spectral Extrapolation:** Analyzing the spectral characteristics (e.g., magnitude and phase) of the immediately preceding and/or succeeding intact frames. This could involve techniques like Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) or Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) analysis to model the short-term spectrum and extrapolate it into the lost region.\n    *   **Bandwidth Extension (BWE):** If the codec uses BWE, existing low-frequency band (LFB) information from the lost frame (if available, e.g., from a partially corrupted packet) could be used to synthesize the HFB. This often involves non-linear processing of the LFB to generate perceptually plausible high-frequency content.\n    *   **Pattern Matching:** Comparing the spectral envelope of the frames adjacent to the lost frame with a stored dictionary of typical speech/audio patterns to find the most probable HFB.\n\n2.  **Determining a Gain of the Current Lost Frame:** Let's call this `Gain_raw`. This gain represents the overall energy or amplitude level that the reconstructed `HFB_initial` should possess. Methods for determining `Gain_raw` include:\n    *   **Energy Averaging:** Calculating the Root Mean Square (RMS) energy of a window of intact frames immediately before and/or after the lost frame and averaging them.\n    *   **Perceptual Loudness Estimation:** Using psychoacoustic models to estimate the perceived loudness of the missing segment, ensuring the reconstructed part doesn't sound too loud or too soft.\n\n3.  **Determining Gain Adjustment Information:** This is a key differentiator of this patent. This `Gain_Adj_Info` is not just a simple factor but likely a dynamic, context-dependent set of parameters. It could include:\n    *   **Spectral Tilt Information:** Analyzing the spectral slope of adjacent frames to ensure the reconstructed HFB doesn't sound 'bright' or 'dull'.\n    *   **Temporal Envelope Matching:** Information about how the gain should evolve over the duration of the lost frame to match the attack/decay characteristics of the surrounding audio.\n    *   **Noise Floor Estimation:** Adjustments to prevent the introduction of excessive background noise or to maintain a consistent noise floor.\n    *   **Psychoacoustic Masking Considerations:** Adjustments based on the presence of other dominant sounds that might mask errors.\n\n4.  **Adjusting the Gain to Obtain an Adjusted Gain:** The `Gain_raw` is then modified using `Gain_Adj_Info` to produce `Gain_adjusted`. This step is crucial for seamless integration. For example, if `Gain_Adj_Info` indicates a strong spectral tilt, `Gain_raw` might be scaled differently across frequency bands. This could involve applying an adaptive filter, a dynamic range compressor/expander, or a frequency-dependent scaling factor.\n\n5.  **Adjusting the Initial High-Band Signal According to the Adjusted Gain:** Finally, the `HFB_initial` is scaled or modulated by `Gain_adjusted` to produce the final `HFB_recovered`. This is the reconstructed high-frequency component that will be combined with any available low-frequency data for the lost frame, or simply used as the reconstructed HFB if the LFB was also lost and recovered by other means. This final adjustment ensures both spectral and temporal consistency.\n\n**Integration Patterns and Performance Characteristics:**\nThis method typically integrates as a post-processing step within the decoder's error concealment module. Its primary advantage is its focus on the perceptually critical high-frequency content and the adaptive nature of its gain adjustment, which minimizes audible artifacts (e.g., 'clicks', 'pops', 'robotic' sounds) often associated with simpler error concealment techniques. The low-loss recovery implies that the reconstructed audio is perceptually very close to the original, even under conditions of moderate packet loss, leading to improved Mean Opinion Score (MOS) values for audio quality.\n\n**Code-Level Implications:**\nImplementing this would involve significant DSP expertise. Key components would include FFT/iFFT for spectral domain processing, adaptive filtering algorithms, energy calculation routines, and potentially state machines to manage the context across lost frames. Optimization for real-time performance on target hardware (DSPs, CPUs, FPGAs) would be critical, requiring careful selection of algorithms and data structures. The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame represents a robust solution for enhancing audio quality in challenging network environments.","business_analysis":"The \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame\" patent (US-9852738) introduces a significant advancement in audio signal processing with profound implications for various industries. Its core capability—recovering lost audio frames with minimal degradation—addresses a fundamental challenge in digital communication: maintaining high-fidelity audio despite network imperfections. This innovation presents substantial market opportunities, competitive advantages, and revenue potential for businesses that leverage its principles.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:**\nThe global market for audio processing technologies, including codecs, streaming services, and communication platforms, is immense and continuously expanding. With the proliferation of IoT devices, 5G networks, and an increasing reliance on cloud-based real-time communication, the volume of audio data transmitted is skyrocketing. Every sector reliant on reliable audio – from telecommunications and media & entertainment to automotive and healthcare – faces the issue of packet loss. This patent targets a universal pain point, making its addressable market virtually ubiquitous across digital audio applications. The demand for seamless, high-quality audio is a non-negotiable consumer and enterprise expectation, indicating a multi-billion dollar opportunity for solutions incorporating this technology.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:**\nCompanies integrating this patent's technology can gain a significant competitive edge by offering superior audio quality. Current error concealment methods often result in noticeable artifacts (e.g., robotic voices, sudden silences, crackles). This invention's adaptive high-frequency band reconstruction and gain adjustment provide a more natural and less fatiguing listening experience. This translates to:\n*   **Enhanced User Experience:** Higher customer satisfaction and loyalty for streaming services, gaming platforms, and communication apps.\n*   **Improved Professionalism:** For enterprise communication tools, clearer audio means more productive meetings and a more professional brand image.\n*   **Technological Differentiation:** A unique selling proposition in a crowded market, allowing companies to stand out based on superior audio performance.\n\n**Revenue Potential and Business Models:**\nThis technology can generate revenue through several business models:\n*   **Licensing:** Audio codec developers, telecommunication equipment manufacturers, and streaming platform providers could license the patent or its implementations to integrate into their products.\n*   **Premium Services:** Offering 'HD Audio' or 'Ultra-Reliable Communication' as a premium feature in conferencing or streaming subscriptions, justified by the superior performance.\n*   **Product Enhancement:** Integrating this into existing products (e.g., smart speakers, headphones, automotive infotainment) to elevate their core value proposition and command higher prices.\n*   **Consulting/Integration:** Specialized firms could offer services to integrate this advanced frame recovery into custom audio pipelines for enterprise clients.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:**\nCompanies that adopt this technology can strategically position themselves as leaders in audio fidelity and reliability. This positions them favorably against competitors relying on older, less effective error concealment techniques. It also aligns with broader industry trends towards immersive experiences and the demand for robust performance in challenging network conditions (e.g., mobile 5G, satellite internet).\n\n**ROI Projections:**\nInvesting in or licensing this technology promises a strong ROI. For a streaming service, reduced churn due to better audio quality directly impacts subscription revenue. For a telecom provider, improved call quality leads to higher customer retention and potentially attracting new business users. The cost savings from reduced customer support tickets related to audio issues can also be substantial. Furthermore, the ability to deliver high-quality audio over lower bandwidths could reduce operational costs for data transmission. The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame is not just a technical improvement; it's a strategic business enabler.","faqs":[{"answer":"The \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame\" (US-9852738) is an innovative patent that describes a technology designed to recover missing segments, or 'lost frames,' in a received audio signal. In digital communication and streaming, audio data is transmitted in small packets. When these packets are lost due to network issues, it creates gaps in the audio, leading to interruptions like choppy sound or complete dropouts.\n\nThis invention provides a sophisticated method and an apparatus to intelligently reconstruct these lost frames. Its primary focus is on accurately rebuilding the high-frequency band of the audio signal, which is crucial for perceived clarity, naturalness, and speech intelligibility. By doing so, it significantly improves the overall quality and continuity of the audio experience, even under challenging network conditions.\n\nThe technology aims for 'low-loss recovery,' meaning the reconstructed audio is perceptually very close to the original, making the loss virtually unnoticeable to the human ear. This represents a substantial improvement over older, simpler error concealment techniques that often introduce audible artifacts or simply silence the gaps. It's a foundational advancement for robust audio delivery in an increasingly connected world.\n\nKeywords: lost frame recovery, audio signal processing, patent US-9852738, high-frequency band, audio quality.","question":"What is Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame?"},{"answer":"The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame operates through a multi-step, adaptive process to meticulously reconstruct lost audio frames. It doesn't simply guess or repeat existing audio but uses an intelligent algorithm to synthesize the missing information.\n\nFirst, when a lost frame is detected, the system determines an initial high-frequency band (HFB) signal for that missing segment. This involves analyzing the characteristics of the audio frames immediately preceding and/or succeeding the lost frame to predict what the missing HFB content should sound like. This initial estimation forms the spectral foundation for the recovery.\n\nSecond, the technology calculates a raw gain, or overall loudness level, that the reconstructed HFB should possess. This gain is crucial for ensuring the recovered segment matches the energy of the surrounding audio. Following this, a unique aspect of this patent involves determining specific 'gain adjustment information.' This information provides dynamic guidance to fine-tune the gain, considering factors like spectral tilt, temporal envelope, and other psychoacoustic properties to ensure a seamless blend.\n\nFinally, the initial gain is adjusted according to this precise adjustment information to obtain an optimized 'adjusted gain.' This adjusted gain is then applied to the initial high-band signal, refining it to produce a high-frequency band signal for the current lost frame that is both spectrally plausible and energetically consistent. This meticulous process results in a perceptually seamless and high-fidelity reconstruction of the lost audio.\n\nKeywords: audio reconstruction, adaptive gain, high-frequency band signal, error concealment algorithm, audio decoding process.","question":"How does Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame work?"},{"answer":"The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame directly addresses the pervasive problem of audio quality degradation caused by 'lost frames' in digital audio transmission. In networks, data is transmitted in packets, and when these packets are lost or delayed beyond recovery, the corresponding audio frames go missing. This leads to frustrating audio interruptions such as:\n\n1.  **Choppy or Intermittent Sound:** Audible gaps and dropouts that disrupt the flow of speech or music.\n2.  **Robotic or Garbled Voices:** Traditional error concealment methods often introduce unnatural artifacts when trying to fill gaps, making speech difficult to understand.\n3.  **Reduced Intelligibility:** Loss of high-frequency components, in particular, severely impacts the clarity of consonants and overall speech intelligibility, leading to miscommunication.\n4.  **Fatiguing Listening Experience:** Constant interruptions and poor quality lead to listener fatigue, especially in long calls or intense gaming sessions.\n\nThis patent solves these problems by providing a method for 'low-loss recovery' of lost frames. Instead of merely masking the problem, it intelligently reconstructs the missing audio, especially the critical high-frequency details, with adaptive gain adjustment. This ensures that the recovered audio blends seamlessly, significantly improving the performance of audio decoders and delivering a consistently high-quality, uninterrupted audio experience across various applications.\n\nKeywords: audio dropouts, packet loss, speech intelligibility, audio quality issues, error concealment, communication problems.","question":"What problem does Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame solve?"},{"answer":"The patent document for \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame\" (US-9852738) does not list specific inventors or an assignee in the provided data. Patent filings typically include this information, but it was not supplied in the prompt. In general, patents are filed by individuals or, more commonly, by companies (assignees) who employ the inventors. These companies then own the rights to the invention.\n\nWithout the specific inventor and assignee information, it's not possible to credit individuals or organizations directly. However, the innovation itself is a testament to the ongoing research and development in the field of digital signal processing and audio engineering. Such inventions often emerge from dedicated R&D teams within technology companies, universities, or specialized research institutions focused on improving communication and media technologies.\n\nRegardless of the specific names, the technology described in this patent contributes significantly to the collective knowledge base for enhancing audio quality and resilience in digital systems. It underscores the continuous effort to overcome technical challenges in transmitting high-fidelity audio reliably.\n\nKeywords: patent inventors, assignee, audio engineering, digital signal processing, R&D, patent ownership.","question":"Who invented Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame?"},{"answer":"The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame offers several significant benefits that enhance the quality and reliability of digital audio experiences:\n\n1.  **Superior Audio Quality:** The primary benefit is the dramatic improvement in perceived audio quality. By intelligently reconstructing lost frames, especially the critical high-frequency components, the technology ensures that speech and music sound clear, natural, and free from artifacts commonly associated with packet loss.\n2.  **Seamless User Experience:** It enables 'low-loss recovery,' meaning the reconstructed audio blends so smoothly that listeners barely notice a frame was ever lost. This eliminates jarring interruptions, robotic voices, and sudden silences, leading to a much more enjoyable and less fatiguing listening experience across all applications.\n3.  **Enhanced Audio Decoder Performance:** The method significantly boosts the efficiency and effectiveness of audio signal decoders. Instead of struggling with gaps, decoders can output a continuous, high-fidelity audio stream, even under challenging network conditions.\n4.  **Increased Reliability in Communication:** For real-time communication platforms like VoIP and video conferencing, this technology ensures greater call clarity and intelligibility, fostering more effective and professional interactions.\n5.  **Broad Applicability:** Its benefits extend across diverse industries, including telecommunications, streaming media, gaming, virtual reality, and automotive infotainment, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of audio-dependent products and services.\n\nThese benefits collectively position the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame as a crucial innovation for any system where consistent, high-quality audio is paramount, driving user satisfaction and operational efficiency.\n\nKeywords: audio quality benefits, seamless audio, improved decoder performance, reliable communication, user experience, patent advantages.","question":"What are the key benefits of Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame?"},{"answer":"The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame distinguishes itself from prior art in audio error concealment through its sophisticated, adaptive, and perceptually optimized approach to recovering lost frames. Older methods often fall short in several key areas:\n\n1.  **Focus on High-Frequency Band (HFB):** Many prior art techniques either ignore or poorly reconstruct the HFB, which is crucial for clarity and naturalness. This patent specifically targets the intelligent determination and adjustment of the HFB signal, recognizing its perceptual importance. This targeted approach yields a much higher fidelity reconstruction.\n2.  **Adaptive Gain Adjustment:** A major differentiator is the patent's emphasis on determining and utilizing 'gain adjustment information.' Unlike simpler methods that might use a fixed gain or basic energy matching, this invention dynamically refines the gain based on spectral and temporal context. This ensures the reconstructed audio segment blends seamlessly without unnatural volume shifts or spectral imbalances, a common flaw in older techniques.\n3.  **Low-Loss Recovery:** The combined intelligence of HFB estimation and adaptive gain adjustment enables 'low-loss recovery.' This means the reconstructed audio is so close to the original that the listener perceives minimal or no degradation. Prior art often results in noticeable artifacts (e.g., robotic sounds, stuttering, metallic echoes) that are perceptually jarring.\n4.  **Contextual Intelligence:** Instead of isolated processing, this technology leverages information from surrounding intact frames to make informed decisions about the missing audio. This contextual awareness leads to more accurate predictions and adjustments, surpassing the limited scope of simpler interpolation or repetition methods.\n\nIn essence, while prior art aims to merely fill gaps, the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame aims to intelligently and adaptively *reconstruct* the lost audio in a way that is perceptually seamless and maintains high fidelity, setting a new standard for audio error concealment.\n\nKeywords: prior art comparison, adaptive audio recovery, high-frequency reconstruction, gain adjustment innovation, low-loss recovery, audio error concealment differences.","question":"How is Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame (US-9852738) holds the potential to significantly impact a wide array of industries that rely on robust and high-quality digital audio transmission:\n\n1.  **Telecommunications:** This includes VoIP providers, mobile carriers (especially with 5G/6G deployments), and video conferencing platforms. The patent ensures clearer calls, reduced dropouts, and enhanced speech intelligibility, leading to improved customer satisfaction and business productivity.\n2.  **Streaming Media and Entertainment:** Music streaming services, video-on-demand platforms, and podcast providers can leverage this technology to deliver an uninterrupted and premium audio experience, increasing user engagement and retention. It can eliminate frustrating skips and garbled sound, even on unstable connections.\n3.  **Gaming and Immersive Technologies:** For online gaming, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), real-time, high-fidelity audio is crucial for immersion and interaction. This innovation can prevent audio glitches that break immersion, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience.\n4.  **Automotive:** In-car communication systems, hands-free calling, and infotainment systems can benefit from more reliable and clear audio, enhancing safety and the driving experience, especially in areas with variable network coverage.\n5.  **Professional Audio and Broadcasting:** Live streaming, remote production, and broadcast applications where audio integrity is paramount can utilize this technology to maintain high standards even when transmission channels are imperfect.\n\nEssentially, any industry where audio quality and continuity are critical for user experience, communication, or operational efficiency stands to benefit from the advancements presented by the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame.\n\nKeywords: telecommunications impact, streaming media, gaming audio, automotive tech, professional audio, industry applications, patent US-9852738.","question":"What industries will Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame impact?"},{"answer":"The patent \"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame,\" identified as US-9852738, has a clear timeline regarding its filing and publication dates.\n\nThe **Filing Date** for this patent was **2016-12-21**. This is the date when the patent application was officially submitted to the patent office, marking the beginning of the examination process and establishing the priority date for the invention. The filing date is crucial as it determines the earliest date an invention can claim protection.\n\nThe **Publication Date** for this patent was **2017-12-26**. This is the date when the patent document was officially published, making the details of the invention publicly accessible. While the prompt did not specify a grant date, the publication date indicates that the patent has gone through at least the initial stages of examination and its content has been disclosed to the public.\n\nThese dates are important for understanding the intellectual property timeline of the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame, including its novelty, potential prior art, and the duration of its protection. The relatively quick turnaround from filing to publication (approximately one year) suggests a streamlined examination process or a clear path to publication based on the invention's merits.\n\nKeywords: patent filing date, patent publication date, US-9852738 timeline, intellectual property, patent grant date, invention disclosure.","question":"When was Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The commercial applications of the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame (US-9852738) are extensive, spanning any sector where high-quality, uninterrupted audio is a critical component of the user experience or operational efficiency. This technology's ability to perform low-loss recovery of lost audio frames makes it highly valuable across various products and services.\n\nKey commercial applications include:\n\n1.  **Voice over IP (VoIP) and Video Conferencing Solutions:** Integration into platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet to ensure crystal-clear speech and eliminate audio dropouts, enhancing productivity and professionalism for businesses and remote workers.\n2.  **Streaming Media Services:** Music streaming platforms (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music), video streaming services (e.g., Netflix, YouTube), and podcast platforms can embed this technology to provide seamless playback, even with fluctuating network conditions, leading to higher subscriber satisfaction and reduced churn.\n3.  **Gaming Consoles and Online Gaming Platforms:** Crucial for competitive online gaming and immersive single-player experiences, where precise audio cues and clear voice chat are essential. It prevents sound interruptions that can break immersion or affect gameplay.\n4.  **Smart Speakers and Personal Assistants:** Enhancing the reliability and clarity of voice commands and audio playback on devices like Amazon Echo or Google Home, improving user interaction.\n5.  **Automotive Infotainment and Telematics:** Ensuring clear hands-free calls, reliable navigation voice prompts, and high-quality music playback in vehicles, especially as connected car technologies evolve.\n6.  **Professional Audio Equipment:** Applications in broadcasting, live sound production, and remote recording setups where maintaining audio integrity across potentially unreliable links is paramount.\n\nBy ensuring robust audio quality, the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame provides a significant competitive advantage and opens new avenues for product differentiation and premium service offerings in the digital audio market.\n\nKeywords: commercial applications, VoIP, streaming services, gaming, smart speakers, automotive audio, professional audio, patent US-9852738.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame?"},{"answer":"The Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame (US-9852738) lays a strong foundation for future advancements in audio signal processing. While the patent describes a robust method, ongoing research and technological evolution suggest several exciting future developments:\n\n1.  **Integration with Machine Learning and AI:** Future iterations could leverage deep learning models to predict lost frames' high-frequency content and optimal gain adjustments with even greater accuracy. AI could analyze vast audio datasets to learn complex spectral and temporal patterns, leading to more natural and context-aware reconstructions in real-time.\n2.  **Cross-Modal Error Concealment:** As audiovisual communication becomes more sophisticated, future developments might involve using visual cues (e.g., lip movements from video streams) to inform and enhance audio lost frame recovery, creating a more holistic and robust error concealment system.\n3.  **Personalized Audio Recovery:** The technology could evolve to adapt recovery parameters based on individual listener preferences or auditory profiles, optimizing the experience for specific users or hearing conditions.\n4.  **Scalability for Immersive Audio:** With the rise of spatial audio, virtual reality, and the metaverse, the principles of this patent could be extended to multi-channel and object-based audio, ensuring seamless recovery in complex, immersive soundscapes where precise localization and environmental audio are critical.\n5.  **Standardization and Hardware Acceleration:** Expect to see these advanced error concealment techniques potentially integrated into future audio coding standards (e.g., for 5G/6G communication) and optimized for dedicated hardware accelerators (DSPs, FPGAs) to achieve ultra-low latency and power-efficient performance.\n\nThese potential developments highlight the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame as a foundational technology, poised to evolve and remain relevant in the ever-advancing landscape of digital audio communication and immersive experiences.\n\nKeywords: future audio tech, AI in audio, machine learning, cross-modal recovery, spatial audio, 5G audio standards, patent development.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame?"}],"topics":["Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame","patent US-9852738","audio signal processing","lost frame recovery","audio decoding","integrity","audio","signals"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame - Patent US-9852738","description":"Discover the Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame patent (US-9852738) for superior audio recovery. Intelligently reconstructs lost frames, boosts audio quality, and enhances decoder performance.","keywords":["Method and Apparatus for Processing Lost Frame","patent US-9852738","audio signal processing","lost frame recovery","audio decoding","high-frequency band","signal gain adjustment","audio quality improvement","telecommunications","streaming media","error concealment","DSP innovation"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852738","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852738","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Method and apparatus for processing lost frame\" (US-9852738). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852738","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852738","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9852738","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T10:14:36.053Z"}