PERSONAL ALERTING DEVICE AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of detecting an approaching sound source comprising:
- a) detecting environmental sounds and providing a sound signal representing the detected environmental sounds to a sound analyzer;
b) analyzing the sound signal to determine a baseline sound pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sounds, and storing the baseline sound pattern in memory;
c) monitoring the sound signal;
d) comparing the monitored sound signal against the baseline sound pattern stored in memory to determine whether a target sound pattern is present in the sound signal, the target sound pattern being related to the baseline sound pattern; and
e) providing an alert when it is determined that the target sound pattern is present in the sound signal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A personal alerting device and method for detecting an approaching sound source includes a sound detector for detecting environmental sounds and for providing an electrical signal to a sound analyzer. The sound signal is analyzed to determine a baseline sound pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sounds corresponding to sounds emitted from a reference sound source. The distinct sounds in the baseline sound pattern may have substantially the same amplitude and time interval. The sound signal is monitored and compared against the baseline sound pattern to determine whether a target sound pattern is present in the sound signal, the target sound pattern corresponding to sounds emitted by the approaching sound source. When it is determined that the target sound is present in the sound signal, one or more of an audible, visual and tactile alert may be emitted to provide warning of the approaching sound source.
83 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of detecting an approaching sound source comprising:
-
a) detecting environmental sounds and providing a sound signal representing the detected environmental sounds to a sound analyzer; b) analyzing the sound signal to determine a baseline sound pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sounds, and storing the baseline sound pattern in memory; c) monitoring the sound signal; d) comparing the monitored sound signal against the baseline sound pattern stored in memory to determine whether a target sound pattern is present in the sound signal, the target sound pattern being related to the baseline sound pattern; and e) providing an alert when it is determined that the target sound pattern is present in the sound signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A personal alerting device for detecting an approaching sound source comprising:
-
a) a detector for detecting environmental sounds and for providing a sound signal representing the detected environmental sounds; b) a sound analyzer coupled to the detector for receiving the sound signal, wherein the sound analyzer comprises; (i) a signal windowing function for monitoring the sound signal; and (ii) a sound pattern processor for processing the sound signal to determine a baseline sound pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sounds, and for comparing the monitored sound signal against the baseline sound pattern to determine whether a target sound pattern is present in the sound signal, the target sound pattern being related to the baseline sound pattern; and c) an output device coupled to the sound analyzer for generating an alert when the sound analyzer determines that the target sound pattern is present in the sound signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A computer program product for use on a computer system to detect an approaching sound source, the computer program product comprising a physical computer-readable recording medium, and instructions recorded on the recording medium for instructing the computer system, where the instructions are for:
-
a) detecting environmental sounds and providing a sound signal representing the detected environmental sounds to a sound analyzer; b) analyzing the sound signal to determine a baseline sound pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sounds, and storing the baseline sound pattern in memory; c) monitoring the sound signal; d) comparing the monitored sound signal against the baseline sound pattern stored in memory to determine whether a target sound pattern is present in the sound signal, the target sound pattern being related to the baseline sound pattern; and e) providing an alert when it is determined that the target sound pattern is present in the sound signal.
-
Specification