Speech recognition using microphone antenna array

A method of improving voice communications in a wireless communications device having an adaptable audio filter, comprising:

• receiving audio input at a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones and generating a multi-channel output based thereon;
• detecting the presence or absence of a voice component in said multi-channel output;
• intermittently updating parameters associated with said adaptable audio filter in response to detection of the absence of a voice component in said multi-channel output;
• and
• subsequently processing said multi-channel output at said adaptable audio filter using said updated parameters to generate an improved audio signal.

A method of speech recognition, comprising:

• receiving audio input at a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones and generating a multi-channel audio signal;
• processing said multi-channel audio signal into a first single channel audio signal via a beamforming network;
• detecting voice activity in said first single channel audio signal;
• selectively updating parameters associated with an adaptable audio filter;
• and
• timing said updating of parameters based on said voice activity detection.

A system for speech recognition, comprising:

• a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones for receiving audio input, said microphone array generating a multi-channel audio signal;
• a beamforming network receiving said multi-channel audio signal and generating a first single channel audio signal;
• a voice activity detection module receiving said first single channel audio signal and generating a binary signal indicative of the presence or absence of a voice component in said first single channel audio signal;
• an adaptive noise cancellation filter having variable filter coefficients receiving said multi-channel audio signal and said binary signal, and generating a second single channel audio signal, said filter coefficients being updated in response to said binary signal;
• a speech recognition engine receiving said second single channel audio signal, operative to interpret speech in said second single channel audio signal in response to said binary signal.