Echo Reduction via Time-Aligned Audio Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional echo reduction methods in voice communication systems are inefficient due to delays in audio signal propagation and device associations, leading to residual echoes despite processing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves obtaining current audio data from an audio-acquisition device and previously transmitted audio data from a sender, performing time alignment, and using an echo-reduction algorithm to generate improved echo-reduced audio data, incorporating techniques such as synchronous queues and circular queues to synchronize and process audio data effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional echo reduction methods are used with current audio data and previous audio data, then echo reduction processing is performed, but residual echoes remain due to propagation delays and device delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using audio data from a time unit before the current time unit (third audio data) instead of only previous audio data. This anticipatory approach compensates for propagation delays by preparing the echo reduction processing with appropriately timed audio data, ensuring that the echo reduction can effectively cancel echoes even after accounting for the time it takes for audio to travel from the audio-playback device to the audio-acquisition device.
2Productivity
If audio data is processed without time alignment, then processing is simplified, but echo reduction efficiency is reduced due to delay factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs time alignment as a preliminary action before echo reduction processing. By aligning the current audio data with the appropriately timed previous audio data (third audio data from a time unit before current time), the system prepares the data in advance to account for propagation and device delays, enabling efficient echo reduction without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the echo cancellation process.
3Reliability
If audio signals are processed without accounting for propagation delays, then processing is faster, but echo cancellation is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses audio data from a time unit before the current time unit (third audio data) as a preliminary input for echo reduction. This approach pre-compensates for propagation delays by selecting audio data that is already appropriately timed relative to the current audio data, ensuring complete echo cancellation while avoiding the need for complex real-time delay compensation algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for echo reduction. For example, first audio data associated with a current time unit is obtained, the first audio data being generated by an audio-acquisition device of a receiver based on at least information associated with a first audio signal acquired by the audio-acquisition device and a second audio signal output from an audio-playback device of the receiver, the second audio signal being output from the audio-playback device of the receiver based on at least information associated with second audio data transmitted previously by a sender before the current time unit; third audio data transmitted by the sender during a second time unit preceding the current time unit is obtained; and fourth audio data is obtained by performing echo reduction on the first audio data based on at least information associated with the third audio data.