Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Warren Michael Lam

Hosam Adel Khalil

Hong Wang Sodoma

Sang Kun Choe

Vinod Prakash

Xiaoqin Sun

Karsten Vandborg Soerensen

A computing device is provided that may include a sound processing device configured to output sound output frames via a sound output device and capture sound input frames via a sound input device. The computing device further includes a processor configured to render a stream of sound output frames based on at least sound output data received from a remote computing device over a computer network, provide reference frames for each of the sound output frames to a reference frame buffer of an acoustic echo cancellation module. The processor may be further configured to detect a sound output frame rendering stall condition, and based on detecting the sound output frame rendering stall condition, suppress the acoustic echo cancellation module and send the stream of sound input frames to the remote computing device without being processed by the acoustic echo cancellation module.

Acoustic echo cancellation bypass

A continuous comfort noise is provided that is overlaid for the entire duration of a conference call scenario. The comfort noise may be adapted to match the levels of the actual background noise detected on one or more of the conference call participant's devices on the transmitting end(s) of a conference call as well as the participants' speech levels. The comfort noise may also be adapted to the type of listening device employed on the receiving end of a conference call. The comfort noise level may be customized to an appropriate and comfortable level for the type of listening device being used, and the system may continuously mix the comfort noise with incoming audio signals for the entire duration of a conference call, lowering the comfort noise level gradually during speaking periods for additional user experience improvement.

Adaptive conference comfort noise

Detecting at least one of an echo detector and a noise detector based on analysis of audio streams transmitted to and received from each endpoint of a conference. When certain characteristics of the respective audio streams for a given endpoint are classified as significant against certain criteria, a determination is made as to whether that endpoint is a source of echo and/or noise. Subsequent actions are taken to alert users and/or prevent broadcast of impaired signals.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Warren Michael Lam