Lesson 2 - Digitizing and Packetizing Voice
Lesson 2 - Digitizing and Packetizing Voice
Objectives
Describe the process of analog to digital conversion. Describe the process of digital to analog conversion. Explain how sampling rates are determined using the Nyquist Theorem. Explain how quantization can lead to noise. Explain how MOS is used to judge voice quality.
Quantization
Quantization is the representation of amplitudes by a certain value (step). A scale with 256 steps is used for quantization.
Quantization Techniques
Linear quantization:
Lower SNR on small signals (worse voice quality) Higher SNR on large signals (better voice quality)
Required bandwidth for one call is 64 kbps (8000 samples per second, 8 bits each). Circuit-based telephony networks use TDM to combine multiple 64-kbps channels (DS-0) to a single physical line.
Companding
Companding compressing and expanding There are two methods of companding:
Mu-law, used in Canada, U.S., and Japan
Both methods have eight positive and eight negative segments, with 16 steps per segment. An international connection needs to use A-law; mu-toA conversion is the responsibility of the mu-law country.
Coding
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
Digital representation of analog signal Signal is sampled regularly at uniform levels Basic PCM samples voice 8000 times per second Basis for the entire telephone system digital hierarchy
Codec
64
G.726
ADPCM
16, 24, 32
G.728
16
G.729
G.729A
Transcoding: Translates between voice streams that use different, incompatible codecs
2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Self Check
1. What sampling frequency is recommended by the Nyquist Theorem for reconstruction of a signal? 2. What is the Hz range for traditional telephone systems? 3. What is the implication of using 8 bits for quantization? 4. What is the purpose of logarithmic quantization? 5. What is MOS?
Summary
Voice-enabled routers convert analog voice signals to digital format for encapsulation in IP packets and transport over IP networks. These packets are converted back to analog at the other end. Quantization is the process of selecting binary values to represent voltage levels of voice samples. Quantization errors arise when too few samples are taken.
There are two methods of companding: Mu-law, used in Canada, U.S., and Japan, and A-law, used in other countries.
The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) provides a numerical indication of the perceived quality of received media after compression and/or transmission.
2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Q and A
Resources
Voice Codec Bandwidth Calculator (requires CCO login)
http://tools.cisco.com/Support/VBC/do/CodecCalc1.do
DSP Calculator
http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Support/DSP/dsp-calc.pl