Patent ID: 9659576
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: G10L

Claim:
1. An audio conferencing system comprising: an adaptive beamforming module with a beamforming adaptivity and a beamforming adaptation state, wherein the adaptive beamforming module is configured to receive one or more beamforming adaptation parameters to control the beamforming adaptivity and is configured to provide one or more beamforming status indicators that indicate the beamforming adaptation state, and wherein the adaptive beamforming module is configured to receive a plurality of input audio signals and to generate a beamformed audio signal based upon the beamforming adaptation parameters and a combination of the plurality of input audio signals; an adaptive acoustic echo cancellation module with an acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) adaptivity and an AEC adaptation state, wherein the adaptive acoustic echo cancellation module is configured to receive one or more AEC adaptation parameters to control the AEC adaptivity and is configured to provide one or more AEC status indicators that indicate the AEC adaptation state, and wherein the adaptive acoustic echo cancellation module is configured to receive the beamformed audio signal and to generate an echo-cancelled audio signal based upon the AEC adaptation parameters, the beamformed audio signal, and a far-end audio signal; and an adaptation control module that is configured to reduce the beamforming adaptivity when the AEC adaptation state is unsettled, to increase the AEC adaptivity when the beamforming adaptation state is unsettled, to restore the beamforming adaptivity when the AEC adaptation state is settled, and to restore the AEC adaptivity when the beamforming adaptation state is settled; wherein the adaptive beamforming module includes a tracking beamformer and wherein one of the beamforming adaptation parameters is an update rate of the tracking beamformer.