Human audible localization for sound emitting devices

1. A method for producing a location-aiding audible signal, the method comprising:

defining a near field location-aiding audible signal comprising broad-bandwidth audible noise with spectral portions selectively modified to create respective spectral amplitude peaks within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz;

defining a far field location-aiding audible signal comprising a plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies, the far field location-aiding audible signal further comprising a plurality of respective harmonic components for each fundamental tone frequency;

emitting, during each of a first set of time durations, the near field location-aiding audible signal; and

emitting, during a second set of time durations, the far field location-aiding audible signal, the second set of time durations being interleaved with the first set of time durations.

2. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving a location-aiding audible signal activation signal, and

wherein the emitting the near field location-aiding audible signal and the emitting the far field location-aiding audible signal are performed in response to receiving the location-aiding audible signal activation signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations are each substantially one-half second.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations occur without intervening time durations.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the near field location-aiding audible signal is emitted in at least one of the first set of time durations with a substantially square time domain envelope, and

wherein the far field location-aiding audible signal is emitted in at least one of the second set of time durations with a substantially square time domain envelope.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the near field location-aiding audible signal is emitted in at least one of the first set of time durations with an RMS power level, and

wherein the far field location-aiding audible signal is emitted in at least one of the second set of time durations with substantially the RMS power level.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defining the near field location-aiding audible signal comprises:

generating a pink noise audio signal with a bandwidth extending from at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz to at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz;

amplifying a first bandwidth of the pink noise audio signal with a gain of substantially +16 dB ±3 dB, the first bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave;

amplifying a second bandwidth of the pink noise audio signal with a gain of substantially +20 dB ±3 dB, the second bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave; and

amplifying a third bandwidth of the pink noise audio signal with a gain of +16 dB ±3 dB, the third bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz and with a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defining a near field location-aiding audible signal comprising:

receiving an audio notification signal;

amplifying a first bandwidth of the audio notification signal with a gain of substantially +16 dB ±3 dB, the first bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave;

amplifying a second bandwidth of the audio notification signal with a gain of substantially +20 dB ±3 dB, the second bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave; and

amplifying a third bandwidth of the audio notification signal with a gain of +16 dB ±3 dB, the third bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz and with a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining that the audio notification signal has spectral energy extending from at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz to at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz; and

supplementing, prior to amplifying the first bandwidth, prior to amplifying the second bandwidth, and prior to amplifying the third bandwidth, the audio notification signal with additional audio content, the additional audio content comprising spectral energy within the bandwidth extending from at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz to at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the far field location-aiding audible signal comprises harmonics and inter-modulation products of the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies, the harmonics and inter-modulation products extending at least to substantially 12 kHz, and wherein

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies comprises a first fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 2 kHz,

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprises a second fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 3.9 kHz,

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprises a third fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 4.2 kHz,

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprise a fourth fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz, and

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprises a fifth fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 9 kHz.

11. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

defining an enclosed location-aiding audible signal comprising a plurality of tone sets, wherein each tone set has a respective fundamental frequency and further includes harmonic tones related to the respective fundamental frequency, the plurality of tone sets comprising a first fundamental frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, a second fundamental frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 588 Hz, and a third fundamental frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 930 Hz; and

emitting, during each of a third set of time durations, the near field location-aiding audible signal, the third set of time durations being interleaved with the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the defining the enclosed location-aiding audible signal comprises:

generating a first square wave within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz at a first peak level of −9.4 dB ±3 dB and −14 dB RMS ±3 dB;

generating a second square wave within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 588 Hz at a second peak level of −10 dB ±3 dB and −14 dB RMS ±3 dB;

generating a third square wave within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 930 Hz at a third peak level of substantially −11 dB ±3 dB and substantially −16 dB RMS ±3 dB;

creating a low pass filtered signal by combining the first square wave, the second square wave and the third square wave and applying a low pass filter with a 3 dB cutoff within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 5 KHz and substantially a 24 dB/octave rolloff; and

compensating the low pass filtered signal to achieve a target output energy level having a peak output level of substantially 0 dB ±3 dB Full Scale and substantially −7 dB RMS ±3 dB.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the enclosed location-aiding audible signal further comprises at least one of harmonics and inter-modulation products produced by a combination of at least two of the first square wave, the second square wave, and the third square wave.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the defining the enclosed location-aiding audible signal comprises:

receiving an audio notification signal;

amplifying a first portion of a frequency spectrum of the audio notification signal, the first portion having a peak within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, such that the peak of the first portion of the frequency spectrum has a peak power level of substantially −9.4 dB ±3 dB relative to full scale and such that the first portion of the frequency spectrum has approximately −14 dB RMS ±3 dB power relative to full scale;

amplifying a second portion of the frequency spectrum of the audio notification signal, the second portion having a peak within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 588 Hz, such that the peak of the second portion of the frequency spectrum has a peak power level of substantially −10 dB ±3 dB relative to full scale and such that the second portion of the frequency spectrum has approximately −14 dB RMS ±3 dB power relative to full scale;

amplifying a third portion of the frequency spectrum of the audio notification signal, the third portion having a peak within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 930 Hz, such that the peak of the third portion of the frequency spectrum has a peak power level of substantially −11 dB ±3 dB relative to full scale and such that the third portion of the frequency spectrum has approximately −16 dB RMS ±3 dB power relative to full scale;

applying, subsequent to the amplifying the first portion, amplifying the second portion, and amplifying the third portion, a low pass filter with a 3 dB cutoff within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 5 KHz and a substantially 24 dB/octave rolloff to the audio notification signal; and

compensating, after applying the low pass filter, the audio notification signal to achieve a target output energy level having a peak output level of substantially 0 dB ±3 dB Full Scale and substantially −7 dB RMS ±3 dB.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining that the audio notification signal contains spectral energy from at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz to at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz; and

supplementing, prior to amplifying the first portion, prior to amplifying the second portion, and prior to amplifying the third portion, the audio notification signal with additional audio content, the additional audio content comprising spectral energy within the bandwidth extending from at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz to at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz.

16. A location-aiding audible signal creation device, comprising:

a near field location-aiding audible signal generator configured to define a near field location-aiding audible signal comprising broad-bandwidth audible noise with spectral portions selectively modified to create respective spectral amplitude peaks within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz;

a far field location-aiding audible signal generator configured to define a far field location-aiding audible signal comprising a plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies, the far field location-aiding audible signal further comprising a plurality of respective harmonic components for each fundamental tone frequency; and

a temporal interleaver configured to:

output, during each of a first set of time durations, the near field location-aiding audible signal; and

output, during a second set of time durations, the far field location-aiding audible signal, the second set of time durations being interleaved with the first set of time durations.

17. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 16 , wherein the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations are each substantially one-half second.

18. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 16 , wherein the near field location-aiding audible signal generator is configured to:

generate a pink noise audio signal with a bandwidth extending from at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz to at least within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz;

amplify a first bandwidth of the pink noise audio signal with a gain of substantially +16 dB ±3 dB, the first bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave;

amplify a second bandwidth of the pink noise audio signal with a gain of substantially +20 dB ±3 dB, the second bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave; and

amplify a third bandwidth of the pink noise audio signal with a gain of +16 dB ±3 dB, the third bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz and with a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave.

19. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 16 , wherein the near field location-aiding audible signal generator is configured to:

receive an audio notification signal;

amplify a first bandwidth of the audio notification signal with a gain of substantially +16 dB ±3 dB, the first bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave;

amplify a second bandwidth of the audio notification signal with a gain of substantially +20 dB ±3 dB, the second bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave; and

amplify a third bandwidth of the audio notification signal with a gain of +16 dB ±3 dB, the third bandwidth having a resonant bandpass centered within 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz and with a “Q” factor between 1/9 th octave and 1/11 th octave.

20. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 16 , wherein the far field location-aiding audible signal comprises harmonics and inter-modulation products of the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies, the harmonics and inter-modulation products extending at least to substantially 12 kHz, and wherein

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies comprises a first fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 2 kHz,

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprises a second fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 3.9 kHz,

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprises a third fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 4.2 kHz,

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprise a fourth fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz, and

the plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies further comprises a fifth fundamental tone frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 9 kHz.

21. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a enclosed location-aiding audible signal generator configured to define an enclosed location-aiding audible signal comprising a plurality of tone sets, wherein each tone set has a respective fundamental frequency and further includes harmonic tones related to the respective fundamental frequency, the plurality of tone sets comprising a first fundamental frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, a second fundamental frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 588 Hz, and a third fundamental frequency within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 930 Hz, and

wherein the temporal interleaver is further configured to output, during each of a third set of time durations, the near field location-aiding audible signal, the third set of time durations being interleaved with the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations.

22. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 21 , wherein the enclosed location-aiding audible signal generator is configured to:

generate a first square wave within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz at a first peak level of −9.4 dB ±3 dB and −14 dB RMS ±3 dB;

generate a second square wave within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 588 Hz at a second peak level of −10 dB ±3 dB and −14 dB RMS ±3 dB;

generate a third square wave within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 930 Hz at a third peak level of substantially −11 dB ±3 dB and substantially −16 dB RMS ±3 dB;

create a low pass filtered signal by combining the first square wave, the second square wave and the third square wave and applying a low pass filter with a 3 dB cutoff within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 5 KHz and substantially a 24 dB/octave rolloff; and

compensate the low pass filtered signal to achieve a target output energy level having a peak output level of substantially 0 dB ±3 dB Full Scale and substantially −7 dB RMS ±3 dB.

23. The location-aiding audible signal creation device of claim 21 , wherein the enclosed location-aiding audible signal generator is configured to:

receive an audio notification signal;

amplify a first portion of a frequency spectrum of the audio notification signal, the first portion having a peak within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, such that the peak of the first portion of the frequency spectrum has a peak power level of substantially −9.4 dB ±3 dB relative to full scale and such that the first portion of the frequency spectrum has approximately −14 dB RMS ±3 dB power relative to full scale;

amplify a second portion of the frequency spectrum of the audio notification signal, the second portion having a peak within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 588 Hz, such that the peak of the second portion of the frequency spectrum has a peak power level of substantially −10 dB ±3 dB relative to full scale and such that the second portion of the frequency spectrum has approximately −14 dB RMS ±3 dB power relative to full scale;

amplify a third portion of the frequency spectrum of the audio notification signal, the third portion having a peak within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 930 Hz, such that the peak of the third portion of the frequency spectrum has a peak power level of substantially −11 dB ±3 dB relative to full scale and such that the third portion of the frequency spectrum has approximately −16 dB RMS ±3 dB power relative to full scale;

apply, subsequent to amplifying the first portion, amplifying the second portion, and amplifying the third portion, a low pass filter with a 3 dB cutoff within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 5 KHz and a substantially 24 dB/octave rolloff to the audio notification signal; and

compensate, after applying the low pass filter, the audio notification signal to achieve a target output energy level having a peak output level of substantially 0 dB ±3 dB Full Scale and substantially −7 dB RMS ±3 dB.

24. A computer program product for creating location-aiding audible signals, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for:

defining a near field location-aiding audible signal comprising broad-bandwidth audible noise with spectral portions selectively modified to create respective spectral amplitude peaks within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz;

defining a far field location-aiding audible signal comprising a plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies, the far field location-aiding audible signal further comprising a plurality of respective harmonic components for each fundamental tone frequency;

emitting, during each of a first set of time durations, the near field location-aiding audible signal; and

emitting, during a second set of time durations, the far field location-aiding audible signal, the second set of time durations being interleaved with the first set of time durations.

25. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to store information operated upon by the processor;

a wireless communications component configured to provide wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network;

a near field location-aiding audible signal generator configured to define a near field location-aiding audible signal comprising broad-bandwidth audible noise with spectral portions selectively modified to create respective spectral amplitude peaks within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 500 Hz, within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 4 kHz and within substantially 1/16 th of an octave around 8 kHz;

a far field location-aiding audible signal generator configured to define a far field location-aiding audible signal comprising a plurality of simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies, the far field location-aiding audible signal further comprising a plurality of respective harmonic components for each fundamental tone frequency; and

a temporal interleaver configured to:

output, during each of a first set of time durations, the near field location-aiding audible signal; and

output, during a second set of time durations, the far field location-aiding audible signal, the second set of time durations being interleaved with the first set of time durations.