Distributed Noise Cancellation Systems
Dr. Andreas Spanias, Anand Xavier, and  Hiren Bhagatwala,
Arizona State University (ASU). 
Sponsored by Intel, Chandler. 
 
Contents  
   
Introduction  
 

What is Noise Cancellation?

In a noisy environment a desired signal can be corrupted by noise and result in the formation of a distorted signal.The usual method of estimating a signal corrupted by additive noise is to pass the distorted signal through a filter that tends to suppress the noise while leaving signal relatively unchanged. The filtering can made fixed or adaptive according to apriori information available on the signal and the noise. Adaptive noise cancellation is performed when there is no prior knowledge of the signal and the noise sources and the adaptive filters have the ability to adjust their own parameters automatically. Applications include hands free mobile communication and teleconferencing apart from hands free communication in a noisy office or home environment.
 
Objectives  
 
 

The goal of this project is to develop and implement distributed noise cancellation algorithms for teleconferencing and multimedia applications. 

In particular, the project objectives are to: 
  • Study and implement different algorithms based on adaptive noise cancellation.
  • Analyze the algorithms based on noise reduction capabilities, robustness, and complexity.
  • Develop and implement a distributed noise cancellation system for the PC based on the different adaptive noise cancellation algorithms.
  • Optimize the algorithms for performance and complexity.
  • Implementation in real time.
The distributed noise canceller (DNC) can be used in teleconferencing applications in day to day noisy office and home environment. The DNC cancels the noise and retrieves the desired signal from the noisy speech signal.
 
Research Topics  
 
 

The research topics currently under study include: 

  • Development and Implementation of an adaptive noise canceller based on array beamforming techniques in a multiple noise source scenario. Electronic steering of the array of microphones are under investigation.
  • Development and Implementation of an adaptive noise canceller based on a reference based technique in a multiple noise environment.
  • Integrating the two techniques to achieve maximum noise reduction.
 
Research Group  
 
 

The people associated with this research project include: 

Dr. Andreas Spanias, Principal Investigator 
Hiren Bhagatwala, Research Associate 
Anand Xavier, Research Associate
 
Affiliations  
 

Other sites related to this project include the following: 

Speech and Audio Processing Lab 
Digital Signal Processing Lab 
Telecommunications Research Center 
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences 
Arizona State University, which is located in the city of Tempe, Arizona  85287-7206 USA
 
 
Contacts  
 

For further information, direct all correspondence to: 

Dr. Andreas S. Spanias <spanias@asu.edu>
Last modified on June 9, 1997 by Anand Xavier