Apparatus and method to automatically set a master-slave monitoring system

• US 10,386,457 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TrackThings LLC
• Original Assignee: TrackThings LLC
• Inventors: Gabara, Thaddeus
• Primary Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US16/154,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20190041491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/30 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS

Abstract

An apparatus is described that can monitor the sounds and voices of infants and children in a house by judicially placing nodes in key locations of the home. The network has intelligence and uses voice recognition to enable, disable, reroute, or alter the network. The network uses voice recognition to follow a child from node to node, monitors the children according to activity and uses memory to delay the voices so the adult can hear the individual conversations. An adult that has been assigned privilege can disable all nodes from any node in the network. Another apparatus can locate an individual by voice recognition or sounds they emit including walking, breathing and even a heartbeat. The sound is detected at several microphones that have a specific positional relationship to a room or an enclosement. Triangulations of the time differences of the audio signal detected by the microphones are used to determine the location or position of the audio source in the room. This information can be used to provide an improved audio delivery system to the individual.

Claims

1. A sound system comprising:

a space defined by a structure;

a plurality of audio microphones and a plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of audio microphones and said plurality of audio speakers positioned within said structure;

at least one processor, the processor comprising at least one digital signal processor (DSP), wherein the processor controls delays and power delivery of sounds propagating in said space from said plurality of audio speakers;

a plurality of first digital bit streams, said plurality of first digital bit streams associated with first outputs of said plurality of audio microphones, said first outputs of said plurality of audio microphones responsive to first sounds emanating from a first location;

wherein said processor correlates a first time difference of arrival of said plurality of first digital bit streams and a first measured power levels of said plurality of first digital bit streams from said plurality of audio microphones;

wherein said processor determines from said first time difference of arrival and said first measured power levels of said plurality of first digital bit streams a first position in said space of said first location;

wherein said processor determines a first proper settings of time differences and power levels for a plurality of first returning digital bit streams sent to said plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of first returning digital bit streams being coupled to amplifiers that are coupled to said plurality of audio speakers, said amplifiers set to said first proper settings of power levels to account for distances between said plurality of audio speakers and said first location, the application of said plurality of first returning digital bit streams to said plurality of audio speakers being timed to said first proper settings of time differences to generate a first reinforced audio signal delivered to said first location in said space;

a plurality of second digital bit streams, said plurality of second digital bit streams being associated with second outputs of said plurality of audio microphones, said second outputs of said plurality of audio microphones responsive to second sounds emanating from a second location;

wherein said processor correlates a second time difference of arrival of said plurality of second digital bit streams and a second measured power levels of said plurality of second digital bit streams from said plurality of audio microphones;

wherein said processor determines from said second time difference of arrival and said second measured power levels of said plurality of second digital bit streams a second position in said space of said second location; and

wherein said processor determines a second proper settings of time differences and power levels for a plurality of second returning digital bit streams sent to said plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of second returning digital bit streams being coupled to said amplifiers that are coupled to said plurality of audio speakers, said amplifiers set to said second proper settings of power levels to account for distances between said plurality of audio speakers and said second location, the application of said plurality of second returning digital bit streams to said plurality of audio speakers being timed to said second proper settings of time differences to generate a second reinforced audio signal delivered to said second location in said space.

2. The sound system of claim 1, further comprising:

a voice recognition system which recognizes a statement made by a user, wherein said sound system performs operations of said statement.

3. The sound system of claim 1, wherein said first location in said space is determined by said first sounds emitted by a first user and said second location in said space is determined by said second sounds emitted by a second user, wherein said first sounds and said second sounds comprise breathing, heartbeat, voice, or any other noise that said first or second user makes.

4. The sound system of claim 1, wherein sounds emanating from either a first user or a second user allows said sound system to track said first or second users.

5. The sound system of claim 1, wherein said first location in said space is occupied by a first user that hears a first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first returning digital bit streams, and said second location in said space is occupied by a second user that hears a second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second returning digital bit streams.

6. The sound system of claim 5, said first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first returning digital bit streams comprising a first content, said second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second returning digital bit streams comprising a second content, wherein said first content is different from said second content.

7. The sound system of claim 1, wherein said structure and said space are defined with a three-dimensional (3-D) coordinate system, wherein said structure has walls, a floor, a ceiling, and at least one entrance.

8. A sound system comprising:

a space defined by a structure;

a plurality of audio microphones and a plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of audio microphones and said plurality of audio speakers positioned within said structure;

at least one processor, the processor comprising at least one digital signal processor (DSP), wherein the processor controls delays and power delivery of sounds propagating in said space from said plurality of audio speakers;

wherein said processor determines first proper settings of time differences and power levels for a plurality of first digital bit streams sent to said plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of first digital bit streams being coupled to amplifiers that are coupled to said plurality of audio speakers, said amplifiers set to said first proper settings of power levels to account for distances between said plurality of audio speakers and a first location, the application of said plurality of first digital bit streams to said plurality of audio speakers being timed to said first proper settings of time differences to generate a first reinforced audio signal delivered to said first location in said space;

wherein said processor determines second proper settings of time differences and power levels for a plurality of second digital bit streams sent to said plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of second digital bit streams being coupled to said amplifiers that are coupled to said plurality of audio speakers, said amplifiers set to said second proper settings of power levels to account for distances between said plurality of audio speakers and a second location, the application of said plurality of second digital bit streams to said plurality of audio speakers being timed to said second proper settings of time differences to generate a second reinforced audio signal delivered to said second location in said space; and

wherein said first location in said space is occupied by a first user that hears a first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first digital bit streams, and said second location in said space is occupied by a second user that hears a second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second digital bit streams.

9. The sound system of claim 8, wherein:

said processor correlates a first time difference of arrival of a plurality of first incoming digital bit streams and first measured power levels of said plurality of first incoming digital bit streams from said plurality of audio microphones, said plurality of first incoming digital bit streams associated with first outputs of said plurality of audio microphones, said first outputs of said plurality of audio microphones responsive to first sounds emanating from said first location;

said processor determines from said first time difference of arrival and said first measured power levels of said plurality of first incoming digital bit streams a first position in said space of said first location;

said processor correlates a second time difference of arrival of a plurality of second incoming digital bit streams and second measured power levels of said plurality of second incoming digital bit streams from said plurality of audio microphones, said plurality of second incoming digital bit streams associated with second outputs of said plurality of audio microphones, said second outputs of said plurality of audio microphones responsive to second sounds emanating from said second location; and

wherein said processor determines from said second time difference of arrival and said second measured power levels of said plurality of second incoming digital bit streams a second position in said space of said second location.

10. The sound system of claim 8, further comprising:

a voice recognition system which recognizes a statement made by a user, wherein said sound system performs operations of said statement.

11. The sound system of claim 8, wherein said first location in said space is determined by first sounds emitted by a first user and said second location in said space is determined by second sounds emitted by a second user, wherein said first sounds and said second sounds comprises breathing, heartbeat, voice, or any other noise that said first or second user makes.

12. The sound system of claim 8, wherein sounds emanating from either said first user or said second user allows said sound system to track said first or second users.

13. The sound system of claim 8, wherein said first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first digital bit streams comprises a first content, said second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second digital bit streams comprises a second content, wherein said first content of said first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first digital bit streams is different from said second content of said second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second digital bit streams.

14. The sound system of claim 8, wherein said structure and said space are defined with a three-dimensional (3-D) coordinate system, wherein said structure has walls, a floor, a ceiling, and at least one entrance.

15. A sound system comprising:

a space defined by a structure;

a plurality of audio microphones and a plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of audio microphones and said plurality of audio speakers positioned within said structure;

at least one processor, the processor comprising at least one digital signal processor (DSP), wherein the processor controls delays and power delivery of sounds propagating in said space from said plurality of audio speakers;

a plurality of first digital bit streams, said plurality of first digital bit streams associated with first outputs of said plurality of audio microphones, said first outputs of said plurality of audio microphones responsive to first sounds emanating from a first location;

wherein said processor correlates a first time difference of arrival of said plurality of first digital bit streams and first measured power levels of said plurality of first digital bit streams from said plurality of audio microphones;

wherein said processor determines from said first time difference of arrival and said first measured power levels of said plurality of first digital bit streams a first position in said space of said first location;

a plurality of second digital bit streams, said plurality of second digital bit streams associated with second outputs of said plurality of audio microphones, said second outputs of said plurality of audio microphones responsive to second sounds emanating from a second location;

wherein said processor correlates a second time difference of arrival of said plurality of second digital bit streams and second measured power levels of said plurality of second digital bit streams from said plurality of audio microphones;

wherein said processor determines from said second time difference of arrival and said second measured power levels of said plurality of second digital bit streams a second position in said space of said second location; and

wherein said first location in said space is determined by first sounds emitted by a first user and said second location in said space is determined by second sounds emitted by a second user.

16. The sound system of claim 15, wherein:

said processor determines first proper settings of time differences and power levels for a plurality of first returning digital bit streams sent to said plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of first returning digital bit streams being coupled to amplifiers that are coupled to said plurality of audio speakers, said amplifiers set to said first proper settings of power levels to account for distances between said plurality of audio speakers and said first location, the application of said plurality of first returning digital bit streams to said plurality of audio speakers being timed to said first proper settings of time differences to generate a first reinforced audio signal delivered to said first location in said space; and

said processor determines second proper settings of time differences and power levels for a plurality of second returning digital bit streams sent to said plurality of audio speakers, said plurality of second returning digital bit streams being coupled to said amplifiers that are coupled to said plurality of audio speakers, said amplifiers set to said second proper settings of power levels to account for distances between said plurality of audio speakers and said second location, the application of said plurality of second returning digital bit streams to said plurality of audio speakers are being timed to said second proper settings of time differences to generate a second reinforced audio signal delivered to said second location in said space.

17. The sound system of claim 15, further comprising:

a voice recognition system which recognizes a statement made by a user, wherein said sound system performs operations of said statement.

18. The sound system of claim 15, wherein sounds emanating from either said first user or said second user allow said sound system to track said first or second user.

19. The sound system of claim 15, wherein:

said first location in said space is occupied by said first user, said first user hearing a first reinforced audio signal generated by a plurality of first returning digital bit streams; and

said second location in said space is occupied by said second user, said second user hearing a second reinforced audio signal generated by a plurality of second returning digital bit streams.

20. The sound system of claim 19, said first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first returning digital bit streams comprising a first content, said second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second returning digital bit streams comprising a second content, wherein said first content of said first reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of first returning digital bit streams is different from said second content of said second reinforced audio signal generated by said plurality of second returning digital bit streams.