Acoustic monitoring system
First Claim
1. A method for use in a monitored space, the method comprising:
- producing a first audio signal from acoustic energy received using a directionally-discriminating acoustic sensor;
computationally processing the first audio signal against a whitelist of acoustic profiles;
based on lack of substantial correspondence between the first audio signal and any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, dispatching a drone, the drone being in a standby mode immediately prior to the dispatching;
autonomously navigating the drone toward an apparent position within the monitored space of an apparent source of the acoustic energy;
while the drone is in-flight and using an on-board acoustic sensor, producing a second audio signal from additional acoustic energy received from the apparent source;
computationally processing the second audio signal against the whitelist;
based on continued lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, initiating an investigate mode of the drone, wherein the drone notifies a remote monitor and supplies the remote monitor with an audiovisual feed from the drone via a wireless communications link; and
responsive to a characterization received from the remote monitor, adding an entry to the whitelist, updating an entry of the whitelist, or replacing an entry of the whitelist.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring a monitored space include producing a first audio signal from received acoustic energy. The first audio signal is then processed against a whitelist of acoustic profiles and, based on lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles, a drone is navigated toward an apparent position of an apparent source. While in-flight, additional acoustic energy is received and a second audio signal is produced from the additional acoustic energy. The second audio signal is processed against the whitelist and, based on lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, an investigate mode of the drone is initiated. The investigate mode includes notifying a remote monitor and supplying the remote monitor with an audiovisual feed. Responsive to a characterization by the remote monitor, an entry of the whitelist may be updated, added or replaced.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for use in a monitored space, the method comprising:
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producing a first audio signal from acoustic energy received using a directionally-discriminating acoustic sensor; computationally processing the first audio signal against a whitelist of acoustic profiles; based on lack of substantial correspondence between the first audio signal and any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, dispatching a drone, the drone being in a standby mode immediately prior to the dispatching; autonomously navigating the drone toward an apparent position within the monitored space of an apparent source of the acoustic energy; while the drone is in-flight and using an on-board acoustic sensor, producing a second audio signal from additional acoustic energy received from the apparent source; computationally processing the second audio signal against the whitelist; based on continued lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, initiating an investigate mode of the drone, wherein the drone notifies a remote monitor and supplies the remote monitor with an audiovisual feed from the drone via a wireless communications link; and responsive to a characterization received from the remote monitor, adding an entry to the whitelist, updating an entry of the whitelist, or replacing an entry of the whitelist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A monitoring system for use in a monitored space, the monitoring system comprising:
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a directionally-discriminating acoustic sensor for producing audio signals; and a drone including an on-board storage for at least a portion of a whitelist of acoustic profiles and an on-board processor configured to computationally evaluate correspondence of the audio signals with the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, the drone configured to respond to a first audio signal of the audio signals produced from acoustic energy received using the directionally-discriminating acoustic sensor, wherein the on-board processor of the drone, while the drone is in a standby mode, is configured to computationally process the first audio signal and, based on lack of substantial correspondence between the first audio signal and any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, to autonomously navigate toward an apparent position within the monitored space of an apparent source of the acoustic energy, the drone further configured to, while in-flight and using an on-board acoustic sensor, produce a second audio signal from additional received acoustic energy, computationally process the second audio signal against the whitelist and, based on lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, initiate an investigate mode, wherein the drone notifies a remote monitor and supplies the remote monitor with an audiovisual feed via a wireless communications link, wherein the drone is configured to add, update or replace an entry of the whitelist responsive to a characterization received from the remote monitor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for use in a monitored space, the method comprising:
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producing a first audio signal from acoustic energy received using a directionally-discriminating acoustic sensor; computationally processing the first audio signal to determine correspondence with stored acoustic profiles, wherein the stored acoustic profiles include either or both of (i) include-type entries characteristic of sounds to be investigated and (ii) exclude-type entries characteristic of sounds to be ignored; based on either or both of (i) substantial correspondence with any include-type entries or (ii) lack of substantial correspondence with each of the exclude-type entries, dispatching a drone, the drone being in a standby mode immediately prior to the dispatching; autonomously navigating the drone toward an apparent position within the monitored space of an apparent source of the acoustic energy; while the drone is in-flight and using an on-board acoustic sensor, producing a second audio signal from additional acoustic energy received from the apparent source; computationally processing the second audio signal to determine correspondence with the stored acoustic profiles; based on either or both of (i) substantial correspondence with any of the include-type entries or (ii) lack of substantial correspondence with each of the exclude-type entries, initiating an investigate mode of the drone, wherein the drone notifies a remote monitor via a wireless communications link and supplies the remote monitor with an audiovisual feed; and responsive to a characterization received from the remote monitor, adding, updating, or replacing an include-type or exclude-type entry to the stored acoustic profiles. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification