IP Library Granted Patent US 9,544,702
Granted Patent B2
US 9,544,702 · App. 13/948,940 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Dynamic characterization of a communication device

Inventors: Dieter Schulz (Dunrobin, CA); Mirjana Popovic (Ottawa, CA); Chi Keung Leung (Kanata, CA); Edward P. Gancarcik (Ottawa, CA)
Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
H04R29/001H04R3/04H04M9/082H04R2430/03
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,544,702
App. No.
13/948,940
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Technology for dynamic characterization of a communication device is disclosed. One method comprises sending an acoustic characterization excitation signal to be output by an acoustic transducer in the communication device. A received acoustic coupling signal that is received by a microphone of the communication device in response to the output of the acoustic transducer is measured. An acoustic signal conditioning algorithm is applied to at least one of the microphone or the acoustic transducer to reduce an amplitude of the acoustic signal or the received acoustic coupling signal to a level below a selected threshold.

Claims (29)

1. A method for dynamic characterization of a communication device, comprising:

sending an acoustic characterization excitation signal to be output by an acoustic transducer in the communication device;

measuring a received acoustic coupling signal that is received by a microphone of the communication device in response to the output of the acoustic transducer;

applying an acoustic signal conditioning algorithm to at least one of the microphone or the acoustic transducer to reduce an amplitude of the received acoustic coupling signal to a level below a selected threshold to reduce feedback in full duplex communication of the communication device; and

applying a dynamic signal conditioning algorithm to compensate for changes in at least one of the acoustic transducer or the microphone that occur over time and identifying when a component has failed based on the changes in at least one of the acoustic transducer or the microphone to enable the components to be repaired or replaced.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the acoustic characterization excitation signal to be output by the acoustic transducer, wherein the acoustic transducer is a hands free speaker for the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the acoustic characterization excitation signal further comprises receiving a background noise signal to be measured at the microphone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the acoustic characterization excitation signal further comprises sending at least one of a speech signal or a predetermined acoustic signal to be output by the acoustic transducer and measured by the microphone.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm to provide a desired equalization of amplitude over a selected frequency band for an output of the acoustic transducer to reduce acoustic coupling between the acoustic transducer and the microphone.

6. The method of claim 1 , applying the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm to at least one of the microphone or the acoustic transducer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the signal conditioning algorithm further comprises reducing distortion output by the acoustic transducer.

8. A communication device comprising:

a speaker transducer operable to output an acoustic characterization excitation signal;

a microphone transducer operable to measure a received acoustic coupling signal in response to the output of the speaker transducer;

a processor configured to apply an acoustic signal conditioning algorithm to at least one of the microphone or the acoustic transducer to reduce an amplitude of the received acoustic coupling signal to a level below a selected threshold to reduce feedback in full duplex communication of the communication device; and

applying a dynamic signal conditioning algorithm to compensate for changes in at least one of the acoustic transducer or the microphone that occur over time and identifying when a component has failed based on the changes in at least one of the acoustic transducer or the microphone to enable the components to be repaired or replaced.

9. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the communication device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop phone, a speaker phone, a hands free speaker phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

10. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm is one of a finite impulse response filter, a state-space filter and an infinite impulse response filter.

11. The communication device of claim 10 , wherein feedback is provided to the finite impulse response filter, the state-space filter or the infinite impulse response filter and the feedback includes at least one of background noise or communication using the communication device or a predetermined acoustic signal.

12. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm for the microphone transducer is implemented after an analog to digital converter is used to digitize a signal from the microphone transducer.

13. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm for the speaker transducer is implemented before a digital to analog converter is used to convert digital signal for the speaker transducer to an analog format.

14. A communication device configured for full duplex communication, having a processor configured to:

send an acoustic characterization excitation signal to be output by a speaker transducer in the communication device;

measure an acoustic coupling signal that is received by a microphone transducer of the communication device in response to the output of the acoustic transducer;

apply an acoustic signal conditioning algorithm to at least one of the microphone transducer or the speaker transducer to reduce an amplitude of the received acoustic coupling signal to a level below a selected threshold and to reduce distortion output by the acoustic transducer; and

applying a dynamic signal conditioning algorithm to compensate for changes in at least one of the acoustic transducer or the microphone that occur over time and identifying when a component has failed based on the changes in at least one of the acoustic transducer or the microphone to enable the components to be repaired or replaced.

15. The communication device of claim 14 that is further configured to apply the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm using an adaptive filter.

16. The communication device of claim 15 , wherein the adaptive filter is one of an infinite impulse response filter and a Kalman filter.

17. The communication device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to apply the acoustic signal conditioning algorithm using the adaptive filter to adaptively filter a digitized output of the microphone transducer or a digitized speaker signal for the speaker transducer.

Assignments (21)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: MLN US HOLDCO LLC; MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.
To: U.S. PCI SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 071758/0843 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2025
From: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC
To: MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MITEL CLOUD SERVICES, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071722/0721 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2025
From: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERVICES LLC
To: MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071730/0632 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2025
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071712/0821 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.
To: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 071676/0815 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2025
From: MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.
To: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 070689/0857 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY - 5L Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS LEGAL SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 069897/0046 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY - 4L Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS LEGAL SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 069896/0827 →
NOTICE OF SUCCCESSION OF AGENCY - PL Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS LEGAL SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 069895/0755 →
NOTICE OF SUCCCESSION OF AGENCY - 2L Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS LEGAL SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 069896/0001 →
NOTICE OF SUCCCESSION OF AGENCY - 3L Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS LEGAL SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 070006/0268 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061824/0282 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2018
From: MITEL NETWORKS ULC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047741/0674 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2018
From: MITEL NETWORKS ULC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047741/0704 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2018
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048096/0785 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., (ACTING THROUGH ITS CANADA BRANCH), AS CANADIAN COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MITEL US HOLDINGS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION; MITEL (DELAWARE), INC.; MITEL NETWORKS, INC.; MITEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MITEL BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042244/0461 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2017
From: MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 042107/0378 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2015
From: MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.(ACTING THROUGH ITS CANADA BRANCH), AS CANADIAN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035783/0540 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2015
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MITEL US HOLDINGS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION; MITEL COMMUNICATIONS INC. FKA AASTRA USA INC.
Reel/Frame 035562/0157 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2014
From: MITEL US HOLDINGS, INC.; MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION; AASTRA USA INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032264/0760 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2013
From: SCHULZ, DIETER; POPOVIC, MIRJANA; LEUNG, CHI KEUNG; GANCARCIK, EDWARD P
To: MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030874/0218 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150030168A1 · Jan 29, 2015