Method and apparatus for providing echo cancellation

A network element comprising:

• an adaptive echo detector operatively responsive to a decoded current near end audio packet associated with a first communication unit and a far end decoded audio packet associated with an echo generating second communication unit and operative to detect an echo condition;
• an adaptive background noise floor estimator operatively responsive to the current near end decoded audio packet and operative to produce a background noise encoded packet storage control signal;
• a circular encoded packet buffer containing previously received encoded near end audio packets determined to be background noise packets and operative to store a current near end encoded audio packet in response to the background noise encoded packet storage control signal;
• and
• a packet selector operatively coupled to the adaptive echo detector and to the circular encoded packet buffer and operatively coupled to receive the current near end encoded audio packet wherein the packet selector substitutes at least one previous near end encoded audio packet stored in the circular encoded packet buffer as a next encoded audio packet for transmission.

A method for providing echo cancellation between at least a first and second communication unit wherein each of the first and second communication units are in operative communication with at least one network element comprising:

• detecting an echo condition between the first and second communication units based on a decoded current near end audio packet associated with the first communication unit and a far end decoded audio packet associated with an echo generating second communication unit;
• determining whether the decoded current near end audio packet is a background noise packet based on a background noise floor energy estimation;
• when the decoded current near end audio packet is determined to contain suitable background noise, storing the current near end encoded audio packet in a circular buffer;
• and
• when an echo condition is detected with respect to a current near end encoded audio packet, substituting at least one previous near end encoded audio packet stored in the circular buffer as a next encoded audio packet for transmission.