IP Library Granted Patent US 11,741,929
Granted Patent B2
US 11,741,929 · App. 17/580,522 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Dynamic network based sound masking

Inventor: Jacob Peter Campbell (Beaverton, OR)
Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
G10K11/1752H04R3/005H04R3/12H04R2410/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,741,929
App. No.
17/580,522
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example process may include identifying an area of an environment to emit one or more sound masking signals, determining a noise level of one or more surrounding areas adjacent to the area, selecting one or more frequency ranges and respective amplitudes of the one or more sound masking signals to apply to the area based on the noise level, and emitting the masking signals via one or more emitters disposed in the area.

Claims (50)

1. A method, comprising:

identifying an area of an environment to emit one or more sound masking signals;

receiving one or more noise level feedback signals via one or more sensors disposed in the area;

determining one or more noise levels of one or more surrounding areas adjacent to the area based on the one or more noise level feedback signals;

selecting one or more frequency ranges and respective amplitudes of the one or more sound masking signals to apply to the area based on the one or more noise levels; and

emitting the masking signals via one or more emitters disposed in the area, wherein a first masking signal comprises a first frequency range and first amplitude being emitted via a first emitter and a second masking signal comprises a second frequency range and second amplitude being emitted via a second emitter closer to a portion of the area where a noise level is different from a portion of the area closer to the first emitter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the area of the environment comprises two or more emitters among a plurality of emitters disposed throughout the environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising

detecting a paging audio signal or a music audio signal present in the one or more surrounding areas; and

selecting the one or more frequency ranges and the respective amplitudes based on a detected paging audio signal or music audio signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the emitting the masking signals via one or more emitters disposed in the area comprises emitting one or more of a first frequency range and a first amplitude for a period of time and emitting one or more of a second frequency range and a second amplitude for a second period of time at the expiration of the first period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising

applying a first masking frequency range to the area during a paging operation being conducted in one or more of the other areas; and

applying a second masking frequency ranged after the paging operation is completed.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising

detecting a new noise level via one or more sensors while the masking operation is applied to the area; and

emitting the masking signals to additional emitters in the one or more surrounding areas of the adjacent areas.

7. A system, comprising:

a plurality of emitters disposed throughout an environment; and

a controller in communication with the plurality of emitters via a communication medium, and wherein the controller is configured to

identify an area of the environment to emit one or more sound masking signals;

receive one or more noise level feedback signals via one or more sensors disposed in the area;

determine one or more noise levels of one or more surrounding areas adjacent to the area based on the one or more noise level feedback signals;

select one or more frequency ranges and respective amplitudes of the one or more sound masking signals to apply to the area based on the one or more noise levels; and

emit the masking signals via one or more emitters disposed in the area, wherein a first masking signal comprises a first frequency range and first amplitude being emitted via a first emitter and a second masking signal comprises a second frequency range and second amplitude being emitted via a second emitter closer to a portion of the area where a noise level is different from a portion of the area closer to the first emitter.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the area of the environment includes two or more emitters among a plurality of emitters disposed throughout the environment.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to

detect a paging audio signal or a music audio signal present in the one or more surrounding areas; and

select the one or more frequency ranges and the respective amplitudes based on a detected paging audio signal or music audio signal.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the masking signals are emitted via one or more emitters disposed in the area by the controller being configured to emit one or more of a first frequency range and a first amplitude for a period of time and emit one or more of a second frequency range and a second amplitude for a second period of time at the expiration of the first period of time.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to

receive a noise level feedback signal via one or more sensors disposed in the area; and

select the one or more frequency ranges and respective amplitudes of the one or more sound masking signals to apply to the area based on the received noise level feedback signal.

12. The system of claim 7 , comprising

detecting a new noise level via one or more sensors while the masking operation is applied to the area; and

emitting the masking signals to additional emitters in the one or more surrounding areas of the adjacent areas.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform:

identifying an area of an environment to emit one or more sound masking signals;

receiving one or more noise level feedback signals via one or more sensors disposed in the area;

determining one or more noise levels of one or more surrounding areas adjacent to the area based on the one or more noise level feedback signals;

selecting one or more frequency ranges and respective amplitudes of the one or more sound masking signals to apply to the area based on the one or more noise levels; and

emitting the masking signals via one or more emitters disposed in the area, wherein a first masking signal comprises a first frequency range and first amplitude being emitted via a first emitter and a second masking signal comprises a second frequency range and second amplitude being emitted via a second emitter closer to a portion of the area where a noise level is different from a portion of the area closer to the first emitter.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the area of the environment comprises two or more emitters among a plurality of emitters disposed throughout the environment.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

detecting a paging audio signal or a music audio signal present in the one or more surrounding areas; and

selecting the one or more frequency ranges and the respective amplitudes based on a detected paging audio signal or music audio signal.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the emitting the masking signals via one or more emitters disposed in the area comprises emitting one or more of a first frequency range and a first amplitude for a period of time and emitting one or more of a second frequency range and a second amplitude for a second period of time at the expiration of the first period of time.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

applying a first masking frequency range to the area during a paging operation being conducted in one or more of the other areas; and

applying a second masking frequency ranged after the paging operation is completed.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2024
From: BIAMP SYSTEMS, LLC
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067308/0631 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2022
From: CAMPBELL, JACOB PETER
To: BIAMP SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 058716/0220 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63139804 · Jan 21, 2021
Related Publication 20220230614A1 · Jul 21, 2022