Method and apparatus for multi-channel audio processing using single-channel components
Processing multi-channel audio streams using one or more arrangements of single-channel components. Components that only process the near-end, or capture stream, such as noise suppression (NS) components, are limited in how they can be suitably arranged for processing multi-channel streams. However, components that process the near-end stream using one or more inputs from the far-end, or render stream, such as acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) and automatic gain control (AGC) components, are arranged in one or more of the ways suitable for use with multiple channels.
1. A method for processing multi-channel audio streams comprising:
receiving at a first single-channel component located at a near-end channel of a signal transmission path, signal-processing input from a group of far-end channels of the signal transmission path, the first single-channel component being one of a group of first single-channel components each located at a different near-end channel of the signal transmission path and each receiving the signal-processing input from the group of far-end channels;
processing an audio signal at the first single-channel component using the signal processing input from the group of far-end channels; and
sending the processed audio signal from the first single-channel component to a second single-channel component located at the near-end channel, the second single-channel component being one of a group of second single-channel components each located at a different near-end channel of the signal transmission path and each receiving the signal-processing input from the group of far-end channels of the signal transmission path,
wherein the group of first single-channel components includes each of the first components of the near-end channels and the group of second single-channel components includes each of the second components of the near-end channels.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the signal-processing input from the group of far-end channels to further process the audio signal at the second single-channel component.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the group of first single-channel components and the group of second single-channel components is each a group of echo control components.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the group of first single-channel components and the group of second single-channel components is each a group of automatic gain control components.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
combining signal-processing inputs from each far-end channel in the group of far-end channels; and
sending the combined signal-processing inputs to the group of first single-channel components and the group of second single-channel components.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the combined signal-processing inputs is an average of the signal-processing inputs from all of the far-end channels in the group of far-end channels.
7. A method for processing multi-channel audio streams comprising:
receiving at a first single-channel component located at a near-end channel of a signal transmission path, signal-processing input from a group of far-end channels of the signal transmission path;
using the signal-processing input to process an audio signal at the first single-channel component; and
receiving at a second single-channel component located at the near-end channel, the processed audio signal from the first single-channel component and different signal-processing input from the group of far-end channels.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the signal-processing input received at the first single-channel component and the different signal-processing input received at the second single-channel component is each a combination of signal-processing inputs from the group of far-end channels.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each combination of signal-processing inputs is an average of the signal-processing inputs from the group of far-end channels.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first and second single-channel components are both echo control components.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first and second single-channel components are both automatic gain control components.
12. A system for processing multi-channel audio streams comprising:
a group of first single-channel components each located at a different near-end channel of a signal transmission path; and
a group of second single-channel components each located at a different near-end channel of the signal transmission path,
each of the first single-channel components configured to:
receive, at a near-end channel, signal-processing input from a group of far-end channels of the signal transmission path,
process an audio signal using the signal-processing input from the group of far-end channels, and
send the processed audio signal to a second single-channel component located at the near-end channel, the second single-channel component configured to receive the signal-processing input from the group of far-end channels of the signal transmission path,
wherein the group of first single-channel components includes each of the first components of the near-end channels and the group of second single-channel components includes each of the second components of the near-end channels.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the signal-processing inputs from the group of far-end channels is a combination of signal-processing inputs from each far-end channel in the group of far-end channels.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the combination of signal-processing inputs is an average of the signal-processing inputs from all of the far-end channels in the group of far-end channels.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the group of first single-channel components and the group of second single-channel components are each a group of echo control components.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the group of first single-channel components and the group of second single-channel components are each a group of automatic gain control components.