Double-talk robust fast converging algorithms for network echo cancellation

Echo cancelers which cover longer impulse responses (⩾64 ms) are desirable. Long responses create a need for more rapidly converging algorithms in order to meet the specifications for network echo cancelers devised by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). In general, faster convergence implies a higher sensitivity to near-end disturbances, especially “double-talk”. Recently, a fast converging algorithm called proportionate NLMS (normalized least mean squares) algorithm (PNLMS) has been proposed. This algorithm exploits the sparseness of the echo path. In this paper we propose a method for making the PNLMS algorithm more robust against double-talk. The slower divergence rate of these robust algorithms in combination with a standard Geigel double-talk detector improves the performance of a network echo canceler considerably during double-talk. This results in the robust PNLMS algorithm which diverges much slower than PNLMS and standard NLMS. A generalization of the robust PNLMS algorithm to a robust proportionate affine projection algorithm (APA) is also presented. It converges very fast, and unlike PNLMS, is not as dependent on the assumption of a sparse echo path response. Trade off between convergence and divergence rate is easily tuned with one parameter and the added complexity is about 7 instructions per sample