Speakerphone Room Acoustics Characterization via Impulse Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of accurate and convenient technologies for characterizing the acoustics of environments in speakerphones, leading to suboptimal echo cancellation and background noise reduction, which degrades communication quality.
Innovation Solution
A speakerphone system that includes an interface, a speaker, one or more microphones, and a processor, capable of determining environment parameters and an environment score by analyzing impulse responses, allowing for improved acoustics characterization and feedback for setup adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If signal processing blocks are tuned based on assumptions about environment acoustics, then echo cancellation and noise reduction can be performed, but the accuracy of acoustics characterization remains insufficient due to lack of precise environment knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary acoustic characterization by playing test signals through the speaker before actual communication. The processor captures the room impulse response by analyzing how the environment modifies these test signals, establishing accurate baseline parameters for echo cancellation and noise reduction processing blocks before they are needed during communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The speakerphone system characterizes its own acoustic environment autonomously using its own speaker and microphone. The processor generates test signals, captures the acoustic response through the microphone, and automatically computes room impulse response and acoustic parameters without external intervention or additional specialized equipment.
2Reliability
If the speakerphone operates without accurate environment acoustics knowledge, then it can function in any environment, but echo cancellation and background noise reduction performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary acoustic characterization by playing test signals through the speaker before actual communication. The processor captures the room impulse response by analyzing how the environment modifies these test signals, establishing accurate baseline parameters for echo cancellation and noise reduction processing blocks before they are needed during communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different acoustic environments by continuously characterizing the room impulse response and updating acoustic parameters. The processor can re-characterize the environment when conditions change, allowing the echo canceller and noise reduction algorithms to maintain optimal performance across diverse settings from small offices to large conference rooms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances audio quality by providing precise environment acoustics characterization, enabling better echo cancellation and noise reduction, thus improving communication quality in speakerphone setups.
Implementation Method 1
The speakerphone is configured to output, such as using the speaker and based on the internal output signal, the internal audio output signal in the environment. The speakerphone is configured to obtain, such as using the first microphone, a microphone input signal. The speakerphone is configured to determine, such as using the processor and based on the internal output signal and the microphone input signal, an impulse response associated with the environment.
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 determine an environment score indicative of suitability of a conference setup in the environment. The speakerphone is configured to output the environment score.