Dynamic Echo Cancellation for Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in echo cancellation when connected to various external devices, as configuration values for echo cancellation differ across devices, making it difficult to achieve optimal speech transmission and reception during calls.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a communication module, sensor module, sound input and output modules, and a processor that determines the most suitable external device for speech transmission and reception by comparing speech signals and selecting appropriate devices to enable or disable microphone and speaker functions, and acquires an echo reference signal to calculate and cancel echo path delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If echo cancellation is performed using default configuration values, then the echo cancellation process can be initiated, but the echo cancellation effect is poor due to device-specific variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts echo cancellation parameters (such as echo path delay values) based on the specific external device being used. Instead of using fixed default configuration values, the system modifies parameters like EPD to match the acoustic characteristics of different devices, thereby improving echo cancellation effectiveness while adapting to device variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection of the external device's speech transmission and reception capabilities before establishing the call. This preliminary action includes identifying device types (speakerphone, headset, car kit) and determining appropriate echo cancellation configurations in advance, which enables optimized echo cancellation from the start of the call rather than attempting adjustment during the call.
2Reliability
If speech signals are transmitted using all connected external devices, then speech coverage is maximized, but echo interference increases due to multiple active microphones and speakers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the speech transmission and reception functions by selectively activating specific microphones and speakers based on the identified speech transmission device and speech reception device. Instead of keeping all microphones and speakers active, the system divides and controls them separately, enabling only the necessary components to reduce echo interference while maintaining speech quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful echo interference caused by multiple active devices into a beneficial selection process. By detecting which external device is most suitable for speech transmission and reception, the system uses the presence of multiple devices as an opportunity to identify the optimal configuration, thereby transforming the echo problem into a means for optimizing device selection and control.
3Reliability
If the electronic device automatically detects and selects the most suitable external device for speech transmission and reception, then call quality is improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs device detection and capability assessment as a preliminary action before the actual call begins. By identifying the external device type and determining speech transmission/reception capabilities in advance, the system prepares the optimal configuration beforehand, which reduces the time required during the call setup and minimizes the impact on call quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic device detection and selection that operates autonomously without requiring manual user input. The system self-determines which external device is most suitable for speech transmission and reception by analyzing device capabilities and call conditions, thereby improving call quality while avoiding the time loss associated with manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a communication module, a sensor module, a sound input module, a sound output module, a memory including a buffer, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine whether an external electronic device has at least one speaker and/or microphone, select, a speech reception device from among the electronic device and the external electronic device based on sensing information received when a call is connected, select a speech transmission device, from among the electronic device and the external electronic device based on a comparison of a speech signal received from the electronic device with a speech signal received from the external electronic device when a call is connected, and if the speech transmission device and the speech reception device are different devices, enable at least one microphone included in the speech transmission device, disable at least one speaker included in the speech transmission device, disable at least one microphone included in the speech reception device, and enable at least one speaker included in the speech reception device, acquire an echo reference signal related to reception speech received from the speech reception device and store the echo reference signal in the buffer, determine, based on comparison of the stored echo reference signal to transmission speech received from the speech transmission device, an EPD value relating to an echo signal included in the transmission speech, and cancel the echo signal by using the echo reference signal and the determined EPD value.