Abstract: A method for adaptive control of a multi-channel echo cancellation system including N loudspeakers, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and M microphones, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The system includes N×M identification filters with variable coefficients, the identification filters being used to estimate acoustic coupling between the loudspeakers and the microphones as a function of a variable coefficients adaptive step. The variable coefficients adaptive step depends on whether or not there is a signal present on the loudspeakers. The method is applicable to hands-off operation of communication tools.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adaptive control of multichannel acoustic echo cancellation system comprising N speakers HPi (i=1, 2, N), N being an integer not less than 2, and M microphones MCj (j=1, 2, M), M being an integer not less than 1. The system comprises N×M identification filters Fij with variable coefficients, the identification filter Fij enabling to estimate the acoustic coupling between the speaker HPj and the microphone MCj based on a pitch &mgr; adapting the variable coefficients. The pitch &mgr; adapting the variable coefficients is based on the presence or absence of signal in the speakers HPk (k≠i)?. The invention is applicable to the hands-free use of communication tools.