System and method for a sound masking system for networked workstations or offices

• US 20080002836A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 777388 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: 777388 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Taylor, Allen Bryce, Moeller, Niklas
• Granted Patent: US 8,107,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1752 Masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/12 for acoustic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A sound masking system and method for providing sound masking in networked workstations or offices. The sound masking system comprises a communication network, a plurality of sound masking devices adapted to emit a sound masking signal, and a remote controller. One or more of the sound masking devices includes a controller, and the controller includes an interface for receiving information from the communication network and a component for controlling or adjusting output characteristics associated with the sound masking signal, such as volume. The controller includes a component responsive to a user input for setting or varying output characteristics associated with the sound masking signal.

Claims

1. A sound masking system for providing sound masking in a physical space, said sound masking system comprising:

a communication network spanning at least a portion of the space;

a plurality of sound masking devices, each of said sound masking devices being adapted to emit a sound masking signal in a user space, and one or more of said sound masking devices including a controller for controlling one or more output characteristics associated with said sound masking signal, at least some of said output characteristics being responsive to an input from the user, and said controller including an interface for receiving information from said communication network;

a control unit, said control unit including a component for affecting at least one of the output characteristics of said sound masking signal and said control unit having a network interface for transmitting output control information over said communication network;

said controller of at least one of said sound masking devices having a component responsive to said output control information for adjusting said associated output characteristic.

2. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said sound masking devices has a unique identifier, and said interface is adapted for receiving information associated with said unique identifier.

3. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the physical space comprises a plurality of zones, and each of said sound masking devices includes a zone configuration component for configuring said sound masking speaker for one of said zones.

4. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said zone configuration component is responsive to a zone selection input from a user.

5. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control unit transmits zone restriction information over said communication network, and said zone configuration component is responsive to said zone restriction information for overriding a zone selection input.

6. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sound masking device and controller are configured for a computer in a workstation, and one or more of said workstations form one of said zones.

7. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller comprises a computer program, said computer program being executed by the computer, and said computer having a port for connecting said sound masking device.

8. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control unit comprises a computer running a sound masking control program, and the output characteristic for said sound masking signal comprises a volume limit and said sound masking control program includes a component for setting a volume limit.

9. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sound masking control program includes a component for assigning a zone to one or more of said sound masking devices.

10. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said computer program includes a component for selecting a zone for said sound masking devices configured in said workstation.

11. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the output characteristic for said sound masking signal comprises a contour characteristic and said output characteristic component comprises a code component in said computer program for varying the contour of said sound masking signal.

12. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said output characteristic component includes an equalizer component for varying frequency characteristics for said sound masking signal.

13. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said controller includes a component for varying the volume of said sound masking signal according to a schedule, and wherein said volume schedule is subject to said volume limit.

14. The sound masking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control unit includes a component for locking any one of said sound masking devices, and said locked sound masking device being non-responsive to a user input.

15. A method for controlling a plurality of individual sound masking speakers, wherein each of said sound masking speakers is adapted to emit a sound masking signal having one or more output characteristics controllable by a user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a communication network for coupling the sound masking speakers to a control unit;

generating output characteristic control information for the sound masking speakers;

providing a remote controller with a communication interface for transmitting said output characteristic control information to one or more of the sound masking speakers;

providing the sound masking speakers with a component for the output characteristic control information;

affecting the sound masking signal in response to said output characteristic control information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein one or more of the sound masking speakers are arranged in one or more zones, and wherein said step of generating output characteristic control information comprises generating a volume control level for one or more of said zones.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, further including the step of allowing the sound masking speakers to select one of said zones.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said output characteristic is controllable by the user.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said output characteristic comprises a contour setting for the sound masking signal.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said output characteristic comprises an equalizer setting for the sound masking signal.