Estimation of background noise in audio signals

A method by an apparatus, the method comprising:

• performing by at least one processor of the apparatus,
• when an energy level of an audio signal segment is less than a threshold higher than a long term minimum energy level (lt_min) which is determined over a plurality of preceding audio signal segments and no pause is detected in the audio signal segment:
• reducing a current background noise estimate responsive to a determination that the audio signal segment comprises music and to a determination that the current background noise estimate satisfies a defined rule.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising:
• when an energy level of an audio signal segment is less than a threshold higher than a long term minimum energy level (lt_min) which is determined over a plurality of preceding audio signal segments and no pause is detected in the audio signal segment:
• reducing a current background noise estimate responsive to a determination that the audio signal segment comprises music and to a determination that the current background noise estimate satisfies a defined rule.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

• when an energy level of an audio signal segment is less than a threshold higher than a long term minimum energy level (lt_min) which is determined over a plurality of preceding audio signal segments and no pause is detected in the audio signal segment:
• reducing a current background noise estimate responsive to a determination that the audio signal segment comprises music and to a determination that the current background noise estimate satisfies a defined rule.