Acoustic Echo Cancellation Performance Monitoring via Secondary Algorithm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic echo cancellers in communication devices, such as VoIP systems, often fail to effectively remove echoes or noise, making it difficult to monitor their performance and necessitate the need for improved quality assessment and potential software updates.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a secondary acoustic echo cancellation algorithm to evaluate the performance of a primary algorithm by generating an audio output and determining performance metrics like signal and noise levels, echo return loss, and residual echo return loss, which are then stored for analysis and potential algorithm improvements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a primary acoustic echo cancellation algorithm is used to remove echo, then echo removal function is provided, but the performance and quality of echo cancellation cannot be monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary acoustic echo cancellation algorithm as an intermediary monitoring tool. This secondary algorithm independently processes the audio signal and compares its output with the primary algorithm's output to generate performance metrics. The intermediary monitoring mechanism enables performance assessment without directly modifying the primary echo cancellation function, thus resolving the contradiction between providing echo removal and enabling performance monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the echo cancellation process using a secondary algorithm. This copy processes the same audio input and allows performance measurement by comparing results. The copying approach enables independent verification of the primary algorithm's performance while maintaining the original echo cancellation functionality unchanged.
2Productivity
If acoustic echo canceller operates autonomously, then real-time echo removal is achieved, but performance degradation and failures cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous performance monitoring by continuously comparing the output of the primary and secondary echo cancellation algorithms. This continuous comparison generates ongoing performance metrics that enable real-time detection of performance degradation or failures, maintaining both real-time processing capability and performance measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where performance metrics generated by the secondary algorithm are used to assess the primary algorithm's performance. This feedback loop enables automatic detection of performance issues and can trigger alerts or adjustments, resolving the contradiction between autonomous real-time operation and the need for performance detection.
3Device complexity
If only a single echo cancellation algorithm is used, then device complexity is reduced, but quality assessment and noise detection capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a secondary echo cancellation algorithm that performs slightly more processing than the primary algorithm by comparing outputs and generating additional performance metrics. This partial excessive action provides enhanced quality assessment and noise detection capabilities while maintaining relatively simple device architecture. The additional processing is localized to the monitoring function rather than the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems monitoring performance of acoustic echo cancellation are described. An audio output is generated by applying a first acoustic echo cancellation algorithm to an audio input. One or more performance metrics for the first acoustic echo cancellation algorithm based on the audio output are determined via a second acoustic echo cancellation algorithm. The first acoustic echo cancellation algorithm is different from the second acoustic echo cancellation algorithm. The one or more performance metrics are provided for storage in a memory.