Speakerphone Acoustic Impulse Response for Echo-Aware Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speakerphones lack accurate and convenient methods for determining environment acoustics, leading to degraded communication quality due to echo and background noise.
Innovation Solution
A speakerphone system that includes a processor to determine an impulse response and environment parameters based on internal output and microphone input signals, and optionally transmits this data to a server device for machine learning model training to improve acoustics determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If signal processing blocks are tuned based on assumptions concerning environment acoustics, then communication quality can be improved, but the accuracy of acoustics determination remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the microphone captures the actual acoustic environment (including echo and background noise) and feeds this information back to the processor. The processor then uses this feedback to automatically adjust and optimize signal processing parameters, replacing subjective assumptions with objective measurements of the actual acoustic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The speakerphone system performs self-characterization of its acoustic environment by having the processor analyze the impulse response derived from microphone inputs and speaker outputs. This self-service capability allows the system to automatically determine acoustic parameters without external intervention, enabling adaptive optimization of communication quality based on real environmental conditions.
2Loss of information
If the microphone picks up target sound in the near-end, then speech capture is achieved, but echo and background noise are also captured degrading quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful echo component from the microphone signal by characterizing the acoustic impulse response between the speaker and microphone. Once the echo path is identified through impulse response measurement, echo cancellation algorithms can selectively remove this extracted echo component from the composite microphone signal, separating the desired speech from the harmful echo.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful echo into a useful measurement tool. By intentionally analyzing the echo path through impulse response characterization, the system transforms the problematic echo into valuable information about the acoustic environment. This knowledge is then used to optimize signal processing and improve overall communication quality.
3Measurement precision
If environment parameters are determined based on impulse response, then acoustics characterization is achieved, but data transmission and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary characterization of the acoustic environment by determining the impulse response once, and then uses this pre-acquired information to derive multiple acoustic parameters (reverberation time, direct-to-reverberant ratio, early decay time). This preliminary action avoids the need for continuous complex measurements, reducing ongoing processing complexity while maintaining precise acoustic characterization.
Solution Approach 2:
The impulse response serves as a universal foundation for deriving multiple different acoustic parameters. A single impulse response measurement enables the calculation of reverberation time, direct-to-reverberant ratio, early decay time, and other acoustic characteristics, making the measurement process multi-functional and reducing the overall complexity of acoustic characterization.
Data Source
AI summary
A speakerphone is disclosed. The speakerphone comprises an interface, a speaker, one or more microphones including a first microphone, a processor, and a memory. The speakerphone is configured to obtain an internal output signal for provision of an internal audio output signal in an environment. The speakerphone is configured to output the internal audio output signal in the environment. The speakerphone is configured to obtain a microphone input signal. The speakerphone is configured to determine an impulse response associated with the environment. The speakerphone is configured to determine one or more environment parameters indicative of acoustics of the environment. The speakerphone is configured to transmit the impulse response and/or the first environment parameter to a server device.