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GoogleGranted patentAudio & voiceInterest 6/10

Google patents echo removal for stereo speakers in meeting rooms

This patent describes a method for reducing echo in video conference rooms that use multiple stereo speakers. The system tracks where a participant is standing relative to the speakers and uses that location data to adjust how the microphone filters out the sound coming from the speakers.

Why it mattersThis could make group video calls in office spaces sound clearer by preventing the microphone from picking up the room's own speakers.

In the filing’s own words

A stereo audio output signal is obtained based on position information indicative of a position of a participant of a teleconference relative to a plurality of audio output devices, wherein both the participant and the plurality of audio devices are located within a teleconferencing space. Playback of the stereo audio output signal is caused at the plurality of audio output devices located within the teleconferencing space. An audio input signal captured at an audio capture device located within the teleconferencing space is received, wherein at least a portion of the audio input signal comprises audio caused by playback of the stereo audio output signal by the plurality of audio output devices. The position information is used to perform an Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) process to the at least the portion of the audio input signal.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: obtaining, by a teleconference computing system comprising one or more computing devices, a stereo audio output signal; receiving, by the teleconference computing system, an audio input signal captured at an audio capture device located within a teleconferencing space, wherein at least a portion of the audio input signal comprises audio caused by playback of the stereo audio output signal by a plurality of audio output devices, wherein both the plurality of audio output devices and a participant of a teleconference are located within the teleconferencing space; using, by the teleconference computing system, position information to perform an Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) process to the at least the portion of the audio input signal, wherein the position information is indicative of a position of the participant of the teleconference relative to the plurality of audio output devices; processing, by the teleconference computing system, the audio input signal with a linear portion of an AEC module of the teleconference computing system; and processing, by the teleconference computing system based on the position information, the audio input signal with a non-linear portion of the AEC module, comprising: assigning, by the teleconference computing system, the position information to a first position cluster of a plurality of position clusters wherein the first position cluster is associated with a first linear portion performance estimate of a plurality of linear portion performance estimates respectively associated with the plurality of position clusters; and processing, by the teleconference computing system, the audio input signal with the non-linear portion of the AEC module based on the first linear portion performance estimate.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Minimizing echo caused by stereo audio via position-sensitive acoustic echo cancellation
Patent number
US12750633B2
Application number
18297299
Filed
Apr 7, 2023
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
17

Classified under

H04S 7/305 Electricity & electronicsH04S 1/007 Electricity & electronicsH04S 7/303 Electricity & electronicsH04S 2400/11 Electricity & electronicsH04S 2400/15 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.