Reference Gain Adjustment for Mixer Echo Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conferencing systems face challenges with echo cancellation due to dynamic mixer gains, leading to low-quality audio transmission, as they require manual configuration and are computationally intensive, making them ineffective in adapting to changing environments.
Innovation Solution
A system with an automatic reference gain adjustment module that determines the gain amount for a reference input channel based on detected echo levels, using a coherence estimator and reference gain calculator to ensure the far end audio signal 'wins' over near end echoes, thereby preventing echo in the mixed audio signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic echo cancellation is performed on each microphone signal separately, then echo cancellation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple acoustic echo cancellers into a single shared AEC unit that processes the mixed audio signal from the mixer rather than separate processing for each microphone. This merging approach maintains echo cancellation effectiveness while significantly reducing device complexity and computational load by eliminating redundant processing across multiple independent cancellers.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared acoustic echo canceller is designed to handle multiple input channels from the mixer simultaneously, making it a universal processing unit that serves the function of multiple individual cancellers. This multi-functional design allows one AEC unit to perform the work of several while reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If acoustic echo canceller is placed after the mixer, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to dynamic mixer gains deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the acoustic echo canceller continuously monitors the mixed audio signal and dynamically adjusts its processing parameters in response to changing mixer gains. This feedback loop enables the shared AEC to adapt to real-time variations in the mixed signal characteristics, maintaining effectiveness despite dynamic gain changes in the mixer.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration is used for reference gain, then adaptability to dynamic environments is reduced, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic echo canceller is designed with automatic gain adjustment capabilities that allow it to self-regulate and optimize its performance without manual configuration. The system automatically detects environmental conditions and adjusts reference gain parameters in real-time, enabling the device to serve itself and adapt to dynamic environments without requiring external manual intervention or complex configuration systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting a reference gain of an audio mixer having a reference channel for receiving a far end audio signal from a remote location as a reference signal and a plurality of audio input channels for receiving audio signals captured by a plurality of microphone element. An exemplary method includes determining an echo level in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel, and automatically determining a gain amount for the reference channel based on the echo level. An exemplary system includes a reference gain adjuster configured to automatically determine a gain amount for the reference channel based on an echo level detected in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel.