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Form Factor
The form factor of the solution is very important because it determines how useful it is in an application.
The performance of the product may not matter if its form factor makes it inconvenient or impossible to use
in the desired application. Of course, there can usually be some flexibility in choosing a form factor.
Licensing an algorithm or buying chipsets may both be acceptable to an OEM (although one may be more
convenient), but a complete AEC solution would be out of the question for the OEM. (Indeed, that may be
what the OEM is using the chipset to build!) A list of common form factors for echo cancellation follows.
AEC for OEM’s
Different form factors depend on the volume an OEM plans to produce. Although an off-the-shelf solution
may be priced higher, at small volumes a total solution decreases development costs while reducing time-
to-market. These are trade-offs to be weighed when making this choice:
• Modules are suitable for moderate to high volume products and can speed the process of moving a
product to market. They provide full functionality and quick integration into a design. They can save a
great deal of resources during the design process, and can provide a value-added feature to systems
that may be used in a variety of applications.
• Chipsets are best for high to very high volume products. They allow tighter integration into a board,
but require more effort for the board design.
• Algorithms are best for very high volume products, especially embedded applications that are
sensitive to size and power consumption. Algorithms provide the opportunity to use the processor for
multiple tasks. They also can be ported to other platforms. Although algorithms are the cheapest per
unit at very high volumes, they require the most system integration work. This includes the supporting
code, software interfacing issues, and integration with other resources.
AEC Solutions for Integrators and End Users
Typically, a conferencing application will require one AEC per location. Depending on the size of the room
and other factors (such as the number of participants in each room), an AEC solution (packaged product) is
presented in a number of forms. The typical forms are:
• AEC only (standalone AEC) - this is the least expensive to implement in a system but requires the
integrator or customer to supply all external equipment (such as microphones, amplifiers, and speakers)
for moving audio in and out of the product.
• AEC for medium to large rooms - these products may contain microphone inputs and record inputs /
outputs in addition to the standard audio inputs and outputs required for AEC operation.
• AEC for videoconferencing - these products may contain multiple inputs and outputs, or incorporate
“phone add” modules to permit the addition of a 2-wire conference (telephone call into the
videoconference).
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