move observer proxies to FrameProcessor

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -11,8 +11,26 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 - Added support to `RimeHttpTTSService` for the `arcana` model.
 
+### Changed
+
+- Observers `on_push_frame()` now take a single argument `FramePushed` instead
+  of multiple arguments.
+
+### Removed
+
+- `StartFrame.observer` has been replaced by `StartFrame.observers`. This allows
+  a user to pass all observers instead of a single proxy one.
+
+### Deprecated
+
+- Observer `on_push_frame(src, dst, frame, direction, timestamp)` is now
+  deprecated, use `on_push_frame(data: FramePushed)` instead.
+
 ### Fixed
 
+- Fixed a `UltravoxSTTService` issue that would cause the service to generate
+  all tokens as one word.
+
 - Remove custom audio tracks from `DailyTransport` before leaving.
 
 ## [0.0.66] - 2025-05-02

examples/foundational/30-observer.py

@@ -14,16 +14,15 @@ from pipecat.audio.vad.silero import SileroVADAnalyzer
 from pipecat.frames.frames import (
     BotStartedSpeakingFrame,
     BotStoppedSpeakingFrame,
-    Frame,
     StartInterruptionFrame,
 )
-from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver, FramePushed
 from pipecat.observers.loggers.llm_log_observer import LLMLogObserver
 from pipecat.pipeline.pipeline import Pipeline
 from pipecat.pipeline.runner import PipelineRunner
 from pipecat.pipeline.task import PipelineParams, PipelineTask
 from pipecat.processors.aggregators.openai_llm_context import OpenAILLMContext
-from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
+from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection
 from pipecat.services.cartesia.tts import CartesiaTTSService
 from pipecat.services.deepgram.stt import DeepgramSTTService
 from pipecat.services.openai.llm import OpenAILLMService
@@ -46,14 +45,13 @@ class DebugObserver(BaseObserver):
     Log format: [EVENT TYPE]: [source processor] → [destination processor] at [timestamp]s
     """
 
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        src = data.source
+        dst = data.destination
+        frame = data.frame
+        direction = data.direction
+        timestamp = data.timestamp
+
         # Convert timestamp to seconds for readability
         time_sec = timestamp / 1_000_000_000
 

src/pipecat/frames/frames.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from typing import (
     Literal,
     Mapping,
     Optional,
+    Sequence,
     Tuple,
 )
 
@@ -449,12 +450,12 @@ class StartFrame(SystemFrame):
 
     clock: BaseClock
     task_manager: BaseTaskManager
+    observers: Sequence["BaseObserver"]
     audio_in_sample_rate: int = 16000
     audio_out_sample_rate: int = 24000
     allow_interruptions: bool = False
     enable_metrics: bool = False
     enable_usage_metrics: bool = False
-    observer: Optional["BaseObserver"] = None
     report_only_initial_ttfb: bool = False
 
 

src/pipecat/observers/base_observer.py

@@ -5,9 +5,38 @@
 #
 
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from typing_extensions import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from pipecat.frames.frames import Frame
-from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
+
+
+@dataclass
+class FramePushed:
+    """Represents an event where a frame is pushed from one processor to another
+    within the pipeline.
+
+    This data structure is typically used by observers to track the flow of
+    frames through the pipeline for logging, debugging, or analytics purposes.
+
+    Attributes:
+        source (FrameProcessor): The processor sending the frame.
+        destination (FrameProcessor): The processor receiving the frame.
+        frame (Frame): The frame being transferred.
+        direction (FrameDirection): The direction of the transfer (e.g., downstream or upstream).
+        timestamp (int): The time when the frame was pushed, based on the pipeline clock.
+
+    """
+
+    source: "FrameProcessor"
+    destination: "FrameProcessor"
+    frame: Frame
+    direction: "FrameDirection"
+    timestamp: int
 
 
 class BaseObserver(ABC):
@@ -19,26 +48,15 @@ class BaseObserver(ABC):
     """
 
     @abstractmethod
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
-        """Abstract method to handle the event when a frame is pushed from one
-        processor to another.
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        """Handle the event when a frame is pushed from one processor to another.
+
+        This method should be implemented by subclasses to define specific
+        behavior (e.g., logging, monitoring, debugging) when a frame is
+        transferred through the pipeline.
 
         Args:
-            src (FrameProcessor): The source frame processor that is sending the frame.
-            dst (FrameProcessor): The destination frame processor that will receive the frame.
-            frame (Frame): The frame being transferred between processors.
-            direction (FrameDirection): The direction of the frame transfer.
-            timestamp (int): The timestamp when the frame was pushed (based on the pipeline clock).
-
-        This method should be implemented by subclasses to define specific behavior
-        when a frame is pushed.
+            data (FramePushed): The event data containing details about the frame transfer.
 
         """
         pass

src/pipecat/observers/loggers/llm_log_observer.py

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from pipecat.frames.frames import (
     LLMMessagesFrame,
     LLMTextFrame,
 )
-from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver, FramePushed
 from pipecat.processors.aggregators.openai_llm_context import OpenAILLMContextFrame
 from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
 from pipecat.services.llm_service import LLMService
@@ -38,14 +38,13 @@ class LLMLogObserver(BaseObserver):
 
     """
 
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        src = data.source
+        dst = data.destination
+        frame = data.frame
+        direction = data.direction
+        timestamp = data.timestamp
+
         if not isinstance(src, LLMService) and not isinstance(dst, LLMService):
             return
 

src/pipecat/observers/loggers/transcription_log_observer.py

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from pipecat.frames.frames import (
     InterimTranscriptionFrame,
     TranscriptionFrame,
 )
-from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver, FramePushed
 from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
 from pipecat.services.stt_service import STTService
 
@@ -29,14 +29,11 @@ class TranscriptionLogObserver(BaseObserver):
 
     """
 
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        src = data.source
+        frame = data.frame
+        timestamp = data.timestamp
+
         if not isinstance(src, STTService):
             return
 

src/pipecat/pipeline/task.py

@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ from pipecat.metrics.metrics import ProcessingMetricsData, TTFBMetricsData
 from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
 from pipecat.pipeline.base_pipeline import BasePipeline
 from pipecat.pipeline.base_task import BaseTask
-from pipecat.pipeline.task_observer import TaskObserver
 from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
 from pipecat.utils.asyncio import BaseTaskManager, TaskManager
 
@@ -184,6 +183,7 @@ class PipelineTask(BaseTask):
         self._idle_timeout_secs = idle_timeout_secs
         self._idle_timeout_frames = idle_timeout_frames
         self._cancel_on_idle_timeout = cancel_on_idle_timeout
+        self._observers = observers
         if self._params.observers:
             import warnings
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class PipelineTask(BaseTask):
                     "Field 'observers' is deprecated, use the 'observers' parameter instead.",
                     DeprecationWarning,
                 )
-            observers = self._params.observers
+            self._observers = self._params.observers
         self._finished = False
 
         # This queue receives frames coming from the pipeline upstream.
@@ -229,11 +229,6 @@ class PipelineTask(BaseTask):
         # PipelineTask and its frame processors.
         self._task_manager = task_manager or TaskManager()
 
-        # The task observer acts as a proxy to the provided observers. This way,
-        # we only need to pass a single observer (using the StartFrame) which
-        # then just acts as a proxy.
-        self._observer = TaskObserver(observers=observers, task_manager=self._task_manager)
-
         # These events can be used to check which frames make it to the source
         # or sink processors. Instead of calling the event handlers for every
         # frame the user needs to specify which events they are interested
@@ -347,8 +342,6 @@ class PipelineTask(BaseTask):
             self._process_push_queue(), f"{self}::_process_push_queue"
         )
 
-        await self._observer.start()
-
         return self._process_push_task
 
     def _maybe_start_heartbeat_tasks(self):
@@ -367,8 +360,6 @@ class PipelineTask(BaseTask):
             )
 
     async def _cancel_tasks(self):
-        await self._observer.stop()
-
         await self._task_manager.cancel_task(self._process_up_task)
         await self._task_manager.cancel_task(self._process_down_task)
 
@@ -425,7 +416,7 @@ class PipelineTask(BaseTask):
             audio_out_sample_rate=self._params.audio_out_sample_rate,
             enable_metrics=self._params.enable_metrics,
             enable_usage_metrics=self._params.enable_usage_metrics,
-            observer=self._observer,
+            observers=self._observers,
             report_only_initial_ttfb=self._params.report_only_initial_ttfb,
         )
         start_frame.metadata = self._params.start_metadata

src/pipecat/pipeline/task_observer.py

@@ -1,103 +0,0 @@
-#
-# Copyright (c) 2024–2025, Daily
-#
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD 2-Clause License
-#
-
-import asyncio
-from typing import List
-
-from attr import dataclass
-
-from pipecat.frames.frames import Frame
-from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
-from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
-from pipecat.utils.asyncio import BaseTaskManager
-
-
-@dataclass
-class Proxy:
-    """This is the data we receive from the main observer and that we put into
-    a queue for later processing.
-
-    """
-
-    queue: asyncio.Queue
-    task: asyncio.Task
-    observer: BaseObserver
-
-
-@dataclass
-class ObserverData:
-    """This is the data we receive from the main observer and that we put into a
-    proxy queue for later processing.
-
-    """
-
-    src: FrameProcessor
-    dst: FrameProcessor
-    frame: Frame
-    direction: FrameDirection
-    timestamp: int
-
-
-class TaskObserver(BaseObserver):
-    """This is a pipeline frame observer that is meant to be used as a proxy to
-    the user provided observers. That is, this is the observer that should be
-    passed to the frame processors. Then, every time a frame is pushed this
-    observer will call all the observers registered to the pipeline task.
-
-    This observer makes sure that passing frames to observers doesn't block the
-    pipeline by creating a queue and a task for each user observer. When a frame
-    is received, it will be put in a queue for efficiency and later processed by
-    each task.
-
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, *, observers: List[BaseObserver] = [], task_manager: BaseTaskManager):
-        self._observers = observers
-        self._task_manager = task_manager
-        self._proxies: List[Proxy] = []
-
-    async def start(self):
-        """Starts all proxy observer tasks."""
-        self._proxies = self._create_proxies(self._observers)
-
-    async def stop(self):
-        """Stops all proxy observer tasks."""
-        for proxy in self._proxies:
-            await self._task_manager.cancel_task(proxy.task)
-
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
-        for proxy in self._proxies:
-            await proxy.queue.put(
-                ObserverData(
-                    src=src, dst=dst, frame=frame, direction=direction, timestamp=timestamp
-                )
-            )
-
-    def _create_proxies(self, observers) -> List[Proxy]:
-        proxies = []
-        for observer in observers:
-            queue = asyncio.Queue()
-            task = self._task_manager.create_task(
-                self._proxy_task_handler(queue, observer),
-                f"TaskObserver::{observer.__class__.__name__}::_proxy_task_handler",
-            )
-            proxy = Proxy(queue=queue, task=task, observer=observer)
-            proxies.append(proxy)
-        return proxies
-
-    async def _proxy_task_handler(self, queue: asyncio.Queue, observer: BaseObserver):
-        while True:
-            data = await queue.get()
-            await observer.on_push_frame(
-                data.src, data.dst, data.frame, data.direction, data.timestamp
-            )

src/pipecat/processors/frame_processor.py

@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
 #
 
 import asyncio
+import inspect
 from enum import Enum
-from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Coroutine, Optional
+from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Coroutine, List, Optional, Sequence
 
 from loguru import logger
 
@@ -21,8 +22,9 @@ from pipecat.frames.frames import (
     SystemFrame,
 )
 from pipecat.metrics.metrics import LLMTokenUsage, MetricsData
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver, FramePushed
 from pipecat.processors.metrics.frame_processor_metrics import FrameProcessorMetrics
-from pipecat.utils.asyncio import BaseTaskManager
+from pipecat.utils.asyncio import BaseTaskManager, TaskManager
 from pipecat.utils.base_object import BaseObject
 
 
@@ -31,6 +33,52 @@ class FrameDirection(Enum):
     UPSTREAM = 2
 
 
+class FrameObserverProxy:
+    def __init__(self, task_manager: TaskManager, observer: BaseObserver) -> None:
+        self._task_manager = task_manager
+        self._observer = observer
+        self._queue = asyncio.Queue()
+        self._task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
+        self._warning_reported = False
+
+    def start(self):
+        if not self._task:
+            self._task = self._task_manager.create_task(
+                self._observer_task_handler(), f"ObserverProxy::{self._observer.__class__.__name__}"
+            )
+
+    async def stop(self):
+        if self._task:
+            await self._task_manager.cancel_task(self._task)
+            self._task = None
+
+    async def observe(self, data: FramePushed):
+        await self._queue.put(data)
+
+    async def _observer_task_handler(self):
+        while True:
+            data = await self._queue.get()
+
+            signature = inspect.signature(self._observer.on_push_frame)
+            if len(signature.parameters) > 1:
+                if not self._warning_reported:
+                    import warnings
+
+                    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+                        warnings.simplefilter("always")
+                        warnings.warn(
+                            "Observer `on_push_frame(source, destination, frame, direction, timestamp)` is deprecated, use `on_push_frame(data: FramePushed)` instead.",
+                            DeprecationWarning,
+                        )
+                    self._warning_reported = True
+                await self._observer.on_push_frame(
+                    data.source, data.destination, data.frame, data.direction, data.timestamp
+                )
+            else:
+                await self._observer.on_push_frame(data)
+            self._queue.task_done()
+
+
 class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -55,7 +103,7 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
         self._enable_metrics = False
         self._enable_usage_metrics = False
         self._report_only_initial_ttfb = False
-        self._observer = None
+        self._observer_proxies: List[FrameObserverProxy] = []
 
         # Cancellation is done through CancelFrame (a system frame). This could
         # cause other events being triggered (e.g. closing a transport) which
@@ -77,10 +125,16 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
         self.__input_frame_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
 
         # Every processor in Pipecat should only output frames from a single
-        # task. This avoid problems like audio overlapping. System frames are the
-        # exception to this rule. This create this task.
+        # task. This avoids problems like audio overlapping. System frames are
+        # the exception to this rule.
         self.__push_frame_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
 
+        # The observers task will push observed frames to the observers'
+        # proxies. This task avoids the pipeline to block. Then, there is one
+        # proxy per observer and each proxy has its own task. This way each
+        # observer is independent to the rest.
+        self.__observers_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
+
     @property
     def id(self) -> int:
         return self._id
@@ -170,6 +224,7 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
         await super().cleanup()
         await self.__cancel_input_task()
         await self.__cancel_push_task()
+        await self.__cancel_observers_task()
 
     def link(self, processor: "FrameProcessor"):
         self._next = processor
@@ -232,7 +287,9 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
             self._enable_metrics = frame.enable_metrics
             self._enable_usage_metrics = frame.enable_usage_metrics
             self._report_only_initial_ttfb = frame.report_only_initial_ttfb
-            self._observer = frame.observer
+            self._observer_proxies = self._create_observer_proxies(
+                frame.task_manager, frame.observers
+            )
             await self.__start(frame)
         elif isinstance(frame, StartInterruptionFrame):
             await self._start_interruption()
@@ -255,6 +312,7 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
             await self.__push_queue.put((frame, direction))
 
     async def __start(self, frame: StartFrame):
+        self.__create_observers_task()
         self.__create_input_task()
         self.__create_push_task()
 
@@ -262,6 +320,7 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
         self._cancelling = True
         await self.__cancel_input_task()
         await self.__cancel_push_task()
+        await self.__cancel_observers_task()
 
     #
     # Handle interruptions
@@ -294,17 +353,25 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
             timestamp = self._clock.get_time() if self._clock else 0
             if direction == FrameDirection.DOWNSTREAM and self._next:
                 logger.trace(f"Pushing {frame} from {self} to {self._next}")
-                if self._observer:
-                    await self._observer.on_push_frame(
-                        self, self._next, frame, direction, timestamp
-                    )
+                data = FramePushed(
+                    source=self,
+                    destination=self._next,
+                    frame=frame,
+                    direction=direction,
+                    timestamp=timestamp,
+                )
+                await self.__observe_frame(data)
                 await self._next.queue_frame(frame, direction)
             elif direction == FrameDirection.UPSTREAM and self._prev:
                 logger.trace(f"Pushing {frame} upstream from {self} to {self._prev}")
-                if self._observer:
-                    await self._observer.on_push_frame(
-                        self, self._prev, frame, direction, timestamp
-                    )
+                data = FramePushed(
+                    source=self,
+                    destination=self._prev,
+                    frame=frame,
+                    direction=direction,
+                    timestamp=timestamp,
+                )
+                await self.__observe_frame(data)
                 await self._prev.queue_frame(frame, direction)
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception(f"Uncaught exception in {self}: {e}")
@@ -368,3 +435,36 @@ class FrameProcessor(BaseObject):
             (frame, direction) = await self.__push_queue.get()
             await self.__internal_push_frame(frame, direction)
             self.__push_queue.task_done()
+
+    def _create_observer_proxies(
+        self, task_manager: TaskManager, observers: Sequence[BaseObserver]
+    ) -> List[FrameObserverProxy]:
+        result = []
+        for observer in observers:
+            proxy = FrameObserverProxy(task_manager, observer)
+            proxy.start()
+            result.append(proxy)
+        return result
+
+    def __create_observers_task(self):
+        if not self.__observers_task:
+            self.__observers_queue = asyncio.Queue()
+            self.__observers_task = self.create_task(self.__observers_task_handler())
+
+    async def __cancel_observers_task(self):
+        if self.__observers_task:
+            for proxy in self._observer_proxies:
+                await proxy.stop()
+            await self.cancel_task(self.__observers_task)
+            self.__observers_task = None
+
+    async def __observe_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        await self.__observers_queue.put(data)
+
+    async def __observers_task_handler(self):
+        while True:
+            data = await self.__observers_queue.get()
+            # Proxy observation to all observers.
+            for observer in self._observer_proxies:
+                await observer.observe(data)
+            self.__observers_queue.task_done()

src/pipecat/processors/frameworks/rtvi.py

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ from pipecat.metrics.metrics import (
     TTFBMetricsData,
     TTSUsageMetricsData,
 )
-from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver, FramePushed
 from pipecat.processors.aggregators.openai_llm_context import (
     OpenAILLMContext,
     OpenAILLMContextFrame,
@@ -445,14 +445,7 @@ class RTVIObserver(BaseObserver):
         self._frames_seen = set()
         rtvi.set_errors_enabled(self._params.errors_enabled)
 
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
         """Process a frame being pushed through the pipeline.
 
         Args:
@@ -462,6 +455,10 @@ class RTVIObserver(BaseObserver):
             direction: Direction of frame flow in pipeline
             timestamp: Time when frame was pushed
         """
+        src = data.source
+        frame = data.frame
+        direction = data.direction
+
         # If we have already seen this frame, let's skip it.
         if frame.id in self._frames_seen:
             return

src/pipecat/services/google/rtvi.py

@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ from typing import List, Literal, Optional
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from pipecat.frames.frames import Frame
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import FramePushed
 from pipecat.processors.frame_processor import FrameDirection, FrameProcessor
-from pipecat.processors.frameworks.rtvi import RTVIObserver
+from pipecat.processors.frameworks.rtvi import RTVIObserver, RTVIProcessor
 from pipecat.services.google.frames import LLMSearchOrigin, LLMSearchResponseFrame
 
 
@@ -27,18 +28,13 @@ class RTVIBotLLMSearchResponseMessage(BaseModel):
 
 
 class GoogleRTVIObserver(RTVIObserver):
-    def __init__(self, rtvi: FrameProcessor):
+    def __init__(self, rtvi: RTVIProcessor):
         super().__init__(rtvi)
 
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
-        await super().on_push_frame(src, dst, frame, direction, timestamp)
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        await super().on_push_frame(data)
+
+        frame = data.frame
 
         if isinstance(frame, LLMSearchResponseFrame):
             await self._handle_llm_search_response_frame(frame)

src/pipecat/tests/utils.py

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from pipecat.frames.frames import (
     StartFrame,
     SystemFrame,
 )
-from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver
+from pipecat.observers.base_observer import BaseObserver, FramePushed
 from pipecat.pipeline.pipeline import Pipeline
 from pipecat.pipeline.runner import PipelineRunner
 from pipecat.pipeline.task import PipelineParams, PipelineTask
@@ -42,14 +42,10 @@ class HeartbeatsObserver(BaseObserver):
         self._target = target
         self._callback = heartbeat_callback
 
-    async def on_push_frame(
-        self,
-        src: FrameProcessor,
-        dst: FrameProcessor,
-        frame: Frame,
-        direction: FrameDirection,
-        timestamp: int,
-    ):
+    async def on_push_frame(self, data: FramePushed):
+        src = data.source
+        frame = data.frame
+
         if src == self._target and isinstance(frame, HeartbeatFrame):
             await self._callback(self._target, frame)