Integrated sensor system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing noise and/or vibration monitoring. Specifically, the present invention relates to the provision of a distributable and/or configurable method and/or apparatus for noise and/or vibration monitoring. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of monitoring ambient sound in an area for use with a device for recording ambient sound, comprising the steps of: receiving ambient sound data from the device; determining when a parameter related to the ambient sound data exceeds a predetermined threshold; and storing ambient sound data when the predetermined threshold is exceeded.
1. A method for storing ambient sound recorded in an area using a microphone of a device, comprising:
recording a signal of ambient sound using the microphone of the device;
using a processor for executing a code for:
applying a signal analysis on the signal for determining an ambient sound parameter;
when the ambient sound parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold storing a recording of the ambient sound in a memory location;
monitoring a length of time during which the ambient sound parameter exceeds the predetermined threshold; and
only upon determining that when the ambient sound parameter has exceeded the predetermined threshold for longer than a duration of a predetermined time period, making the recording available to a user.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ambient sound parameter is a measure of ambient noise.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ambient sound is continually recorded and stored until the ambient sound parameter falls below the predetermined threshold.
4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the further steps of:
recording a sample of the ambient sound into a local data buffer;
overwriting contents of a local data buffer with the recorded sample; and
storing the contents of the local data buffer when the predetermined threshold is exceeded.
5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising the further step of:
assembling the stored contents of the local data buffer and the recording of the ambient sound into a single audio file; wherein the audio file is continuous.
6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the length of the sample is between 1 and 30 seconds.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is of the device.
8. The method according to claim 1 ; wherein the processor is of server external to the device.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the recording is stored on a memory of a server external to the device.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein recording is stored on a data storage of the device;
wherein the method further comprising:
receiving a request to transmit one or more items of the stored recording, and
transmitting the one or more items of stored recording to an external server in response to the request;
wherein the device is in communication with the external server.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the making the contents of the local storage available to a user comprises transmitting one or more items of stored recording to an external server upon receipt of a request for said one or more items of stored recording from the external server, wherein the device is in communication with the external server.
12. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
deleting the stored recording where the further predetermined threshold is not exceeded.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stored recording of the ambient sound is time-stamped.
14. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
transmitting an alert signal when the predetermined threshold is exceeded.
15. Apparatus for recording ambient sound, operable to carry out the method of claim 1 .