Method for identifying a device transmitting an echo signal, echo source identifying method for identifying echo source, measuring apparatus for identifying a source of an echo, and echo source identifying apparatus

An echo source identifying method for identifying an echo source on a voice transmission path on which voice communication data is transmitted, comprising:

• measuring a transmission delay amount required to come back from each of a plurality of portions on the voice transmission path;
• estimating a delay amount of the echo based on transmission data transmitted to the voice transmission path and reception data received from the voice transmission path;
• and
• comparing the transmission delay amount of each of the plurality of portions with the delay amount of the echo to identify a portion in which an echo occurs.

A measuring apparatus for identifying a source of an echo of a voice transmitted from a transmission device connected with a voice transmission path, comprising:

• a transmission delay measuring section for transmitting a predetermined signal to the voice transmission path and receiving the predetermined signal sent back from the transmission device to measure a transmission delay at the transmission device;
• an echo delay measuring section for measuring a delay time of the echo based on data transmitted in one direction on the voice transmission path and data transmitted in the other direction;
• and
• an identifying section for identifying the transmission device which generates the echo based on the transmission delay and the delay time of the echo.

An echo source identifying apparatus for identifying an echo source on a voice transmission path for transmitting voice communication data comprising:

• a transmission delay amount measuring section for measuring a transmission delay amount corresponding to a time required for the data to come back from each of a plurality of portions at which an echo potentially occurs an echo, the plurality of portions being on the voice transmission path;
• an echo delay amount estimating section for estimating a delay amount of the echo based on transmission data transmitted to the voice transmission path and reception data received from the voice transmission path;
• and
• a delay amount comparison section for comparing the transmission delay amount of each of the plurality of portions with a delay amount of the echo estimated by the echo delay amount estimating section to identify an echo source among the plurality of portions.