Echo canceller system with shared coefficient memory

Abstract

An echo canceller system includes first and second echo cancellers. Each echo canceller includes a foreground filter and an adaptive background filter, with the foreground filter providing the actual echo cancellation and the background filter updating the foreground filter. The echo canceller system also includes send and receive paths, a shared coefficient memory, and a controller for switching the shared coefficient memory between background filters in response to signals along the send and receive paths. The switching includes resetting the shared coefficient memory to prevent any transfer of filter coefficients between the background filters. The background filters operate one at a time, depending on which background filter has access to the shared coefficient memory, while the foreground filters operate simultaneously. The echo canceller system is well-suited for use in loudspeaking telephone sets, with the first echo canceller canceling a line echo through a hybrid transformer, and the second echo canceller canceling an acoustic echo between a loudspeaker and a microphone. The coefficient memory may be switched to the first background filter in response to a near-end signal without a far-end signal (i.e., transmit state), and switched to the second background filter in response to a far-end signal without a near-end signal (i.e., receive state).