1. A method of encoding a speech signal comprising: (a) classifying the speech signal as either active or inactive speech; (b) classifying said active speech into one of a plurality of types of active speech; (c) selecting an encoder mode from a plurality of encoder modes based on whether the speech signal is active or inactive, and if active, based further on said type of active speech, wherein said plurality of encoder modes comprises a code excited linear prediction (CELP) encoder mode, a prototype pitch period (PPP) encoder mode, and a noise excited linear prediction (NELP) encoder mode; and (d) encoding the speech signal according to said selected encoder mode to form an encoded speech signal.
1. A method of encoding a speech signal comprising: (a) classifying the speech signal as either active or inactive speech; (b) classifying said active speech into one of a plurality of types of active speech; (c) selecting an encoder mode from a plurality of encoder modes based on whether the speech signal is active or inactive, and if active, based further on said type of active speech, wherein said plurality of encoder modes comprises a code excited linear prediction (CELP) encoder mode, a prototype pitch period (PPP) encoder mode, and a noise excited linear prediction (NELP) encoder mode; and (d) encoding the speech signal according to said selected encoder mode to form an encoded speech signal. 9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating initial parameters using a look ahead function.