Speakerphone with beamformer-based conference characterization and related methods

A speakerphone, the speakerphone comprising an interface, a speaker, and a plurality of microphones, the speakerphone comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the speakerphone is configured to:

• obtain, using the plurality of microphones, a first plurality of microphone input signals of a conference;
• determine, using the processor and based on the first plurality of microphone input signals, a first plurality of beamforming parameters;
• obtain, using the processor, a first internal output signal for provision of a first internal audio output signal in the conference;
• output, using the speaker and based on the first internal output signal, the first internal audio output signal in the conference;
• obtain, using the plurality of microphones, a third microphone input signal associated with the first internal audio output signal;
• obtain, using the processor, a second internal output signal for provision of a second internal audio output signal in the conference;
• output, using the speaker and based on the second internal output signal, the second internal audio output signal in the conference;
• obtain, using the plurality of microphones, a fourth microphone input signal associated with the second internal audio output signal;
• determine, using the processor and based on the first internal output signal and the third microphone input signal, a first impulse response associated with the conference;
• determine, using the processor and based on the second internal output signal and the fourth microphone input signal, a second impulse response associated with the conference;
• and
• determine, using the processor and based on the first plurality of beamforming parameters, the first impulse response, and the second impulse response, one or more conference parameters indicative of a conference configuration, the one or more conference parameters including a first conference parameter;
• and
• output the first conference parameter, and
• where the processor comprises a beamforming module configured to operate according to beamforming settings, and wherein the speakerphone is configured to control, based on the first conference parameter, the beamforming module.