Noise-flow monitoring and sound localization via intelligent lighting
A method ( 500 ) for monitoring sound within an environment ( 100 ) using a lighting network ( 300, 400 ) comprising a processor ( 26, 220 ), a plurality of sound sensors ( 32 ), a plurality of environmental sensors ( 36 ), and a plurality of lighting units ( 10 ), includes the steps of: obtaining ( 520 ), by at least one of the plurality of sound sensors, real-time sound data from within the environment; obtaining ( 530 ), by at least one of the plurality of environmental sensors, real-time environmental data from within the environment; combining ( 560 ) the real-time sound data, the real-time environmental data, and topographical information about the environment to create a propagation map of the sound data; and localizing ( 570 ), from the propagation map of the sound data, a source of the sound data.
1. A method for monitoring sound within an environment using a lighting network comprising a processor, a plurality of environmental sensors, and a plurality of lighting units each comprising an integrated sound sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining, by at least one of the integrated sound sensors, real-time sound data from within the environment;
obtaining, by at least one of the plurality of environmental sensors, real-time environmental data from within the environment;
combining, using the processor, the real-time sound data, the real-time environmental data, and topographical information about the environment to create a propagation map of the sound data; and
localizing, from the propagation map of the sound data, a source of the sound data.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of modifying, based on the created propagation map and/or localized source of the sound data, a light source of one or more of the lighting units.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining topographical information about the environment.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of comparing the real-time sound data to a predetermined threshold.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of updating the lighting network with the created propagation map.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of communicating the created propagation map and/or localized source of the sound data.
7. A lighting network configured to monitor sound within an environment, the lighting network comprising:
a plurality of lighting units each comprising a light source, and a sound sensor configured to obtain real-time sound data from within the environment;
a plurality of environmental sensors each configured to obtain real-time environmental data from within the environment; and
a processor configured to: combine the real-time sound data, the real-time environmental data, and topographical information about the environment to create a propagation map of the sound data; and localize, from the propagation map of the sound data, a source of the sound data.
8. The lighting network of claim 7 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lighting units each comprise at least one of the plurality of environmental sensors.
9. The lighting network of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify, based on the created propagation map and/or localized source of the sound data, a light source of one or more of the lighting units.
10. The lighting network of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the real-time sound data to a predetermined threshold.
11. The lighting network of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the created propagation map and/or localized source of the sound data.
12. The lighting network of claim 7 , further comprising a central hub in communication with each of the lighting units and the plurality of environmental sensors, wherein the central hub comprises the processor.
13. A lighting unit configured to monitor sound within an environment, the lighting unit comprising:
a light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the environment;
an integrated sound sensor configured to obtain real-time sound data from within the environment;
an environmental sensor configured to obtain real-time environmental data from within the environment; and
a processor configured to: combine the real-time sound data, the real-time environmental data, and topographical information about the environment to create a propagation map of the sound data; and localize, from the propagation map of the sound data, a source of the sound data.
14. The lighting unit of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the created propagation map and/or localized source of the sound data.
15. The lighting unit of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify the light source based on the created propagation map and/or localized source of the sound data.