Detection of Early Reflections in the Room Impulse Response by Estimating the Excess Coefficient at Short Time Intervals

A new method of automatic detection of early reflections in room impulse responses is studied. This method consists in estimating the excess coefficient within the impulse response segments into which they are divided, and in comparing these estimates with a certain threshold value. The threshold value choice is based on a predetermined probability of error detection of the burst caused by early reflection and on the length of the segment. The efficiency of this method and the corresponding experimental algorithm is checked with the use of simulated and real room impulse responses. In the case of simulated room impulse responses, the method and algorithm general efficiency have been shown. In the case of real room impulse responses, the first early reflection from the ceiling was correctly detected in 90% of cases, and the error of estimation of time of arrival did not exceed 0.15 ms. These results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method.