System and method for multi-channel noise suppression

A method for suppressing noise in a primary input speech signal that comprises a first desired speech component and a first background noise component using a noise reference input speech signal that comprises a second desired speech component and a second background noise component, the method comprising:

• filtering the primary input speech signal in accordance with a first transfer function to estimate the second desired speech component;
• removing the estimate of the second desired speech component from the noise reference input speech signal to provide an adjusted second background noise component;
• filtering the adjusted second background noise component in accordance with a second transfer function to estimate the first background noise component;
• removing the estimate of the first background noise component from the primary input speech signal to provide a noise suppressed primary input speech signal;
• and
• determining a suppression gain to apply to the noise suppressed primary input speech signal, wherein the suppression gain is determined based on a difference between a level of the primary input speech signal, or a signal indicative of the level of the primary input speech signal, and a level of the noise reference input speech signal, or a signal indicative of the noise reference input speech signal.

A system for suppressing noise in a primary input speech signal that comprises a first desired speech component and a first background noise component using a noise reference input speech signal that comprises a second desired speech component and a second background noise component, the system comprising:

• a blocking matrix configured to filter the primary input speech signal to estimate the second desired speech component and to remove the estimate of the second desired speech component from the noise reference input speech signal to provide an adjusted second background noise component;
• an adaptive noise canceler configured to filter the adjusted second background noise component to estimate the first background noise component and to remove the estimate of the first background noise component from the primary input speech signal to provide a noise suppressed primary input speech signal;
• and
• a non-linear processor configured to apply a suppression gain to the noise suppressed primary input speech signal determined based on the primary input speech signal and the noise reference input speech signal.