IP Library Granted Patent US 10,042,925
Granted Patent B2
US 10,042,925 · App. 15/614,655 · Granted Aug 7, 2018

Directional location of sound sources

Inventors: James H. Pratt (Round Rock, TX); Steven Belz (Sunnyvale, TX); Michael Lattanzi (Bothell, WA); Constance Missimer (Seattle, WA)
Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.; AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
G06F17/30743G08B13/196H04N5/23296H04N7/181H04N7/183H04M3/56H04R1/326H04R17/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,042,925
App. No.
15/614,655
Granted
Aug 7, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Directional sound location is used to determine security events of a security system. A sound sensor reports a vector direction to a sound source of an acoustic signal. If the vector direction is historically observed at similar times, then perhaps the sound source is not considered a security event. However, if the vector direction is unknown or unfamiliar, the security system may infer the security event and notify emergency services.

Claims (34)

1. A system, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an output generated by a sound sensor associated with a security system, the output associated with a direction of a sound source that stimulates the sound sensor;

querying an electronic database for the output associated with the direction to the sound source, the electronic database electronically associating sound signatures and outputs representing directions;

determining that the electronic database lacks an entry for the output associated with the direction to the sound source; and

determining a security event associated with the security system in response to the electronic database lacking the entry for the output associated with the direction to the sound source.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a frequency associated with the sound source.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving video data from a video camera.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise commanding a camera to align to the direction to the sound source.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a command to a camera, the command instructing the camera to align to the direction to the sound source.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise initiating a notification of the security event.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a controller, an output generated by a sound sensor associated with a security system, the output representing a direction associated with a sound source that stimulates the sound sensor;

querying, by the controller, an electronic database for the output representing the direction to the sound source, the electronic database electronically associating known sound signatures and outputs representing directions;

determining, by the controller, that the electronic database lacks an electronic association with the output representing the direction to the sound source; and

determining, by the controller, a security event in response to the electronic database lacking the electronic association with the output representing the direction to the sound source.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining a frequency associated with the sound sensor.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving video data from a video camera.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising commanding a camera to align to the direction to the sound source.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending a command to a camera, the command instructing the camera to align to the direction to the sound source.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining a time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising initiating a notification of the security event.

15. A non-transitory memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an output generated by a sound sensor associated with a security system, the output representing a direction to a sound source that stimulates the sound sensor;

querying an electronic database for the output representing the direction to the sound source, the electronic database electronically associating known sound signatures and outputs representing directions;

determining the electronic database fails to associate the output representing the direction to the sound source to one of the known sound signatures; and

determining a security event associated with the security system in response to the electronic database failing to associate the output representing the direction to the sound source to one of the known sound signatures.

16. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a frequency associated with the sound sensor.

17. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving video data from a video camera.

18. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise commanding a camera to align to the direction to the sound source.

19. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a command to a camera, the command instructing the camera to align to the direction to the sound source.

20. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2025
From: SIMPLISAFE, INC.
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073579/0854 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
To: SIMPLISAFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067947/0701 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
To: SIMPLISAFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067949/0258 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2017
From: PRATT, JAMES H.; BELZ, STEVEN; LATTANZI, MICHAEL; MISSIMER, CONSTANCE
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.; AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Reel/Frame 042612/0134 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14806701 · Jul 23, 2015
Related Publication 20170270199A1 · Sep 21, 2017