Methods and apparatus for providing echo suppression using frequency domain nonlinear processing

US6658107B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ) · SE

Inventors

• Patrik Sorqvist · Huddinge, SE
• Anders Eriksson · Sollentuna, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 23, 1998
• Grant date: Dec 2, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 23, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M9/082
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Frequency domain nonlinear processing techniques are applied in the context of echo suppression. According to exemplary embodiments, the filtering characteristic of a nonlinear processor is dynamically adjusted by comparing the power spectrum of a residual echo component of a communication signal with that of the overall communication signal itself. For example, the filtering characteristic can be adjusted so that the nonlinear processor blocks only those signal frequencies in which the residual echo is, in some sense, dominant. The disclosed techniques make full duplex communication possible during the entirety of a conversation, even while residual echo is being actively suppressed.