Non-Linear Echo Path Detection
First Claim
1. A user terminal comprising;
- a loudspeaker component;
a microphone component; and
an audio signal processing module, the audio signal processing module comprising;
an audio reference signal generator configured, prior to establishment of a communication event over a communications network with at least one further user terminal, to generate an audio reference signal, and output the audio reference signal to the loudspeaker component for playout;
an echo removal module configured to perform echo removal on audio signals received via the microphone component during the communication event; and
a detector configured, prior to establishment of the communication event, to;
determine characteristics of the audio reference signal;
receive an audio signal output from the microphone component, wherein the received audio signal includes echo resulting from the outputted audio reference signal;
determine characteristics of the received audio signal;
compare the determined characteristics of the audio reference signal with the determined characteristics of the received audio signal to detect a nonlinear echo path of the echo, andconfigure a component of the audio signal processing module based on said detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user terminal comprising; a loudspeaker; a microphone; and an audio signal processing module comprising: a reference signal generator configured, prior to establishment of a communication event over a network with at least one further terminal, to generate and output an audio reference signal to the loudspeaker for playout; an echo removal module configured to perform echo removal on audio signals received via the microphone during the communication event; and a detector configured, prior to establishment of the communication event, to: determine characteristics of the reference signal; receive an audio signal output from the microphone which includes echo resulting from the outputted reference signal; determine characteristics of the received audio signal; compare the determined characteristics of the reference signal with determined characteristics of the received audio signal to detect a nonlinear echo path of the echo, and configure a component of the audio signal processing module based on this detection.
160 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A user terminal comprising;
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a loudspeaker component; a microphone component; and an audio signal processing module, the audio signal processing module comprising; an audio reference signal generator configured, prior to establishment of a communication event over a communications network with at least one further user terminal, to generate an audio reference signal, and output the audio reference signal to the loudspeaker component for playout; an echo removal module configured to perform echo removal on audio signals received via the microphone component during the communication event; and a detector configured, prior to establishment of the communication event, to; determine characteristics of the audio reference signal; receive an audio signal output from the microphone component, wherein the received audio signal includes echo resulting from the outputted audio reference signal; determine characteristics of the received audio signal; compare the determined characteristics of the audio reference signal with the determined characteristics of the received audio signal to detect a nonlinear echo path of the echo, and configure a component of the audio signal processing module based on said detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. At least one computer readable medium storing a communication client application which, when executed on one or more processors of a user terminal causes the one or more processors to:
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generate an audio reference signal prior to establishment of a communication event over a communications network with at least one further user terminal, and supply the audio reference signal to a loudspeaker component of the user terminal; perform echo removal on audio signals received via a microphone component of the user terminal during the communication event; and prior to establishment of the communication event; determine characteristics of the audio reference signal; receive an audio signal output from the microphone component, wherein the received audio signal includes echo resulting from the outputted audio reference signal; determine characteristics of the received audio signal; compare the determined characteristics of the audio reference signal with the determined characteristics of the received audio signal to detect a nonlinear echo path of the echo; and configure a component of the communication client application based on said detection.
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20. A computer-implemented method performed by a communication client application when executed on one or more processors of a user terminal, the method comprising:
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generating an audio reference signal prior to establishment of a communication event over a communications network with at least one further user terminal; supplying the audio reference signal to a loudspeaker component of the user terminal; prior to establishment of the communication event; determining characteristics of the audio reference signal, receiving an audio signal output from the microphone component, wherein the received audio signal includes echo resulting from the outputted audio reference signal; determining characteristics of the received audio signal, comparing the determined characteristics of the audio reference signal with the determined characteristics of the received audio signal to detect a nonlinear echo path of the echo, and configuring a component of the communication client application based on said detection.
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Specification