Echo Canceler with Two Echo Path Models

An adaptive echo canceler with two echo path models is proposed to overcome the false adaptation problem for double-talking. The echo canceler possesses two separate echo path models (EPMs), one (background EPM) for adaptively identifying echo path transfer characteristics and the other (foreground EPM) for synthesizing an echo replica to cancel out echo. The parameter values of the foreground EPM are refreshed by those of the background EPM, according to a transfer control logic, when the logic determines that the background EPM is giving a better approximation of echo path transfer characteristics than the foreground EPM. Completely digital hardware implementation is described. Using the hardware, it is shown that virtually complete double-talking protection is actually realizable by the new method.