Adaptive coupling equalization in beamforming-based communication systems
AssigneeMitel Networks Corporation
InventorFranck Beaucoup
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for rapid adaptive coupling equalization in beamforming-based communication systems, particularly sector-based beamforming systems, provides smooth transitions for AEC when the look direction of the communication system changes and when the acoustic environment varies with time. The coefficients of inactive beamformers are modified in real-time, using adaptive beamforming techniques based on the real-time loudspeaker-coupling signal, in order to force the outputs of inactive beamformers to have the same response to the loudspeaker coupling signal as the active beamformer does.
Claims19
A method for adaptive coupling equalization in beamforming-based communication systems, comprising steps of:
- combining coupling signals from an active beamformer and an inactive beamformer;
- and
- substantially equalizing the coupling response of the inactive beamformer to the coupling response of the active beamformer using an adaptive beamforming technique in response to the combined signal,
- wherein the adaptive beamforminq technique is frozen during periods of double talk.
A system for adaptive coupling equalization in a beamforming-based communication system having one beamformer in a beamformer array designated as a active beamformer;
- and comprising, for each inactive beamformer in the array:
- means for generating an error signal substantially equal to the difference between a response of the active beamformer to a loudspeaker-coupling signal and a response of the inactive beamformer to the loudspeaker-coupling signal;
- and
- an adaptive equalization engine to generate adaptation coefficients for the inactive beamformer using an adaptive beamforming technique in response to the error signal, whereby the adaptive beamforming technique is frozen during periods of double talk.
An audio beamforming-based communication system, comprising:
- an input array for detecting near-end activity;
- a beamformer array for receiving near-end signals from the input array;
- a state machine to designate an active beamformer in response to the near-end signals and switching means to switch to the active beamformer;
- for each inactive beamformer in the array:
- means for generating an error signal substantially equal to the difference between a response of the active beamformer to a loudspeaker-coupling signal and a response of the inactive beamformer to the loudspeaker-coupling signal;
- and
- an adaptive equalization engine to apply an adaptive beamforming algorithm, in response to the error signal, to adaptively equalize the responses of the inactive beamformer and the active beamformer;
- and
- an acoustic echo canceller to apply acoustic echo cancellation to an output of the active beamformer,
- wherein the adaptive beamforming is frozen during periods of double talk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.