ACOUSTIC USER INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SPATIAL LOCATION DATA

• US 20110164768A1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Plocher, Tom, Huseth, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,724,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/304 For headphones

Abstract

An acoustic user interface system and method for tracking spatial location data. A location tracking unit provides location information with respect to an object in an environment. The location information may be further employed to synthesize a perception of three-dimensional spatial location data with respect to multiple objects in the environment. The acoustic user interface communicates the three-dimensional spatial location data via an auditory channel to a stereophonic device based on a human stereophonic perception of one or more acoustic signal variable correlated with a relative location of the objects in order to co-ordinate and communicate location information effectively.

Claims

1. A method for presenting spatial location data, comprising:

synthesizing a perception of three-dimensional spatial location data with respect to at least one object in an environment based on location information provided by a location tracking unit; and

transmitting said three-dimensional spatial location data as an acoustic signal via an auditory channel to at least one stereophonic device based on a human stereophonic perception of at least one acoustic signal variable correlated with a relative location of said at least one object in order to effectively coordinate and communicate location information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing said acoustic signal to indicate a particular direction with respect to said at least one object by varying at least one attribute of a sound between said at least one stereophonic device and at least one other stereophonic device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said acoustic signal based on an orientation of a head, wherein a perceived relative direction of said at least one object remains constant with respect to a direction of sound when said head is rotated.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said acoustic signal based on tone pulse duration to determine said relative location associated with said at least one object within said environment.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said acoustic signal based on a pre-determined characteristic to determine said relative location associated with said at least one object within said environment.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said at least one stereophonic device to comprise at least one of the following types of devices:

at least one speaker associated with a helmet;

at least one earphone; and

a virtual reality device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said location information to comprise at least one of the following types of information with respect to said at least one object:

an object distance;

an object direction;

an object position;

an object heading;

an object identification;

an object state or an object condition; and

an optimal path route.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing data indicative of said object direction in correspondence with map information.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising mounting a compass heading with respect to said at least one stereophonic device for providing data indicative of said object heading.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising mounting a gyroscopic heading with respect to said at least one stereophonic device for providing data indicative of said object heading.

11. A system for presenting spatial location data, said system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

synthesizing a perception of three-dimensional spatial location data with respect to at least one object in an environment based on location information provided by a location tracking unit; and

transmitting said three-dimensional spatial location data as an acoustic signal via an auditory channel to at least one stereophonic device based on a human stereophonic perception of at least one acoustic signal variable correlated with a relative location of said at least one object in order to effectively coordinate and communicate location information.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for utilizing said acoustic signal to indicate a particular direction with respect to said at least one object by varying at least one attribute of a sound between said at least one stereophonic device and at least one other stereophonic device.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for providing said acoustic signal based on an orientation of a head, wherein a perceived relative direction of said at least one object remains constant with respect to a direction of sound when said head is rotated.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for providing said acoustic signal based on tone pulse duration to determine said relative location associated with said at least one object within said environment.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for providing said acoustic signal based on a pre-determined characteristic to determine said relative location associated with said at least one object within said environment.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for modifying said at least one stereophonic device to comprise at least one of the following types of devices:

at least one speaker associated with a helmet;

at least one earphone; and

a virtual reality device.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for modifying said location information to comprise at least one of the following types of information with respect to said at least one object:

an object distance;

an object direction;

an object position;

an object heading;

an object identification;

an object state or an object condition; and

an optimal path route.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said instructions are further configured for providing data indicative of said object direction in correspondence with map information.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

mounting a compass heading with respect to said at least one stereophonic device for providing data indicative of said object heading; and

mounting a gyroscopic heading with respect to said at least one stereophonic device for providing data indicative of said object heading.

20. A system for presenting spatial location data, said system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

synthesizing a perception of three-dimensional spatial location data with respect to at least one object in an environment based on location information provided by a location tracking unit;

transmitting said three-dimensional spatial location data as an acoustic signal via an auditory channel to at least one stereophonic device based on a human stereophonic perception of at least one acoustic signal variable correlated with a relative location of said at least one object in order to effectively coordinate and communicate location information; and

utilizing said acoustic signal to indicate a particular direction with respect to said at least one object by varying at least one attribute of a sound between said at least one stereophonic device and at least one other stereophonic device.