Patent attributes
A system that performs wall detection, range estimation, and/or corner detection to determine a position of a device relative to acoustically reflective surfaces. The device generates output audio using a loudspeaker, generates microphone audio data using a microphone array, performs beamforming to generate directional audio data and then generates impulse response data for each of a plurality of directions. The device may detect a peak in the impulse response data and determine a distance and/or direction to a reflective surface based on the peak. Based on a number of reflected surfaces and/or direction(s) of the reflected surfaces detected by the device, the device may classify the different directions and estimate where it is in the room, such as whether the device is in a corner, along one wall, or in an open area. By knowing its position relative to the room surfaces, the device may improve sound equalization.