IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,593,100
Granted Patent B2
US 12,593,100 · App. 18/699,144 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Notification system, notification method, control device, and recording medium

Inventors: Masahiro Ishii (Hyogo, JP); Hiromu Ikeuchi (Hyogo, JP); Sara Asai (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
H04N21/44218G06V20/52H04N21/42203
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,593,100
App. No.
18/699,144
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A notification system includes: an obtainer that obtains an audio content to be notified of and a result of sensing by a sensor that senses a space in which a notification device is located; a determiner that determines whether a first user ready to listen to the audio content notified of by the notification device is in the space, based on the result of the sensing; and a controller that performs first control of controlling notification of the audio content by the notification device depending on whether the first user is in the space. In the first control, the controller: causes the notification device to notify of the audio content, when the first user is in the space; and prevents the notification device from notifying of the audio content, when the first user is not in the space.

Claims (37)

1 . A notification system comprising:

an obtainer that obtains an audio content to be notified of and a result of sensing obtained by a microphone that detects a sound generated in a space in which a notification device is located; and

a controller that performs first control of controlling notification of the audio content by the notification device depending on whether a sound pressure of the sound generated in the space is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal generated by the microphone as the result of the sensing, wherein

in the first control, the controller:

causes the notification device to notify of the audio content, when the sound pressure is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold; and

prevents the notification device from notifying of the audio content, when the sound pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold,

the obtainer obtains a plurality of audio contents at a plurality of timings that are different from each other, and

the controller:

determines, for each of the plurality of timings, whether a sound pressure of the sound generated in the space is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal generated by the microphone at the timing; and

causes the notification device to notify of a first audio content that has not been notified of at a timing at which the sound pressure is determined to be higher than the predetermined threshold, when (i) determining that the sound pressure is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold after determining that the sound pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal at a first timing at which the first audio content is obtained and (ii) no portion of the first audio content is notified to the notification device at the first timing.

2 . The notification system according to claim 1 , wherein

the obtainer further obtains priority information on priority of the audio content, and

the controller performs:

second control of causing the notification device to notify of the audio content, when the priority is a first rank; and

the first control, when the priority is a second rank that is lower than the first rank.

3 . A notification method comprising:

obtaining an audio content to be notified of and a result of sensing obtained by a microphone that detects a sound generated in a space in which a notification device is located;

determining whether to notify of the audio content depending on whether a sound pressure of the sound generated in the space is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal generated by the microphone as the result of the sensing; and

notifying of the audio content based on a result of the determining, wherein

the determining includes:

determining to notify of the audio content, when the sound pressure is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold; and

determining not to notify of the audio content, when the sound pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold,

in the obtaining the audio content, a plurality of audio contents are obtained at a plurality of timings that are different from each other, and

the method comprises:

determining, for each of the plurality of timings, whether a sound pressure of the sound generated in the space is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal generated by the microphone at the timing; and

causing the notification device to notify of a first audio content that has not been notified of at a timing at which the sound pressure is determined to be higher than the predetermined threshold, when (i) determining that the sound pressure is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold after determining that the sound pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal at a first timing at which the first audio content is obtained and (ii) no portion of the first audio content is notified to the notification device at the first timing.

4 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute the notification method according to claim 3 .

5 . A control device communicably connected to a notification device, the control device comprising:

an obtainer that obtains an audio content to be notified of and a result of sensing obtained by a microphone that detects a sound generated in a space in which a notification device is located; and

a controller that performs first control of controlling notification of the audio content by the notification device depending on whether a sound pressure of the sound generated in the space is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal generated by the microphone as the result of the sensing, wherein

in the first control, the controller:

causes the notification device to notify of the audio content, when the sound pressure is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold; and

prevents the notification device from notifying of the audio content, when the sound pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold,

the obtainer obtains a plurality of audio contents at a plurality of timings that are different from each other, and

the controller:

determines, for each of the plurality of timings, whether a sound pressure of the sound generated in the space is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal generated by the microphone at the timing; and

causes the notification device to notify of a first audio content that has not been notified of at a timing at which the sound pressure is determined to be higher than the predetermined threshold, when (i) determining that the sound pressure is lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold after determining that the sound pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold, based on a sound signal at a first timing at which the first audio content is obtained and (ii) no portion of the first audio content is notified to the notification device at the first timing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: ISHII, MASAHIRO; IKEUCHI, HIROMU; ASAI, SARA
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 068038/0520 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250240482A1 · Jul 24, 2025
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