Variable tap-length non-parametric variable step-size NLMS adaptive filtering algorithm for acoustic echo cancellation

Abstract

In teleconferencing and communication systems, the use of Loudspeaker Enclosure Microphone device leads to undesired echoes. To reduce these echoes, an acoustic echo canceller is used. In this paper, we propose a Variable Tap-length Non-Parametric Variable Step-Size NLMS (VT-NPVSS-NLMS) algorithm based on adaptive filtering for acoustic echo cancellation. The step-size is adjusted without the need for tuning too many parameters, using only the square of the average autocorrelation of a priori and a posteriori estimates of error. Moreover, the tap-length is varied to facilitate a high convergence speed and a small bias in tap-length from the optimum length. Hence, such a combination of the variable step-size algorithm with a variable tap-length provides faster convergence and reduced steady-state mean square error. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated in terms of steady-state and transient mean square error. The advantages of the proposed algorithm, as compared to other adaptive algorithms, are presented using simulation results. From the results, we infer that for the VT-NPVSS-NLMS, the convergence speed is increased and the steady-state mean square error is reduced when compared with the conventional NLMS and the variable-step-size NLMS algorithm with a fixed tap-length.