System and method for mapping and displaying audio source locations

• US 20130230179A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey S. Gould
• Original Assignee: John Beaty
• Inventors: Beaty, John, Sawyer, Jamaal
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method and system for defining a reference sound position and producing an indicia proximate thereto in relation to one or more sound characteristics. The present invention, in one or more embodiments, provides for displaying a holographic image at a reference sound location which is determined in relation to the identification of one or more target sounds being associated with one or more identified sound characteristics. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for an indicia to appear to be interactive with a reference sound location and may be used in a variety of environments including but not limited to rock theatrics, homeland security and residential security.

Claims

1. A method for defining a reference sound position and producing an indicia proximate thereto in relation to one or more sound characteristics at a predetermined location, comprising:

defining at least one sound characteristic to be detected;

detecting at least one target sound in relation to the at least one sound characteristic;

determining the referenced sound position in relation to the detected target sound; and

,

producing the indicia proximate to the determined referenced sound position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound characteristics are one or more of:

frequency range, decibel level, pitch range, loudness range, directional location, and period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the referenced sound position includes a two-dimensional position in relation to the predetermined location frame.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the referenced sound position includes a three-dimensional position in relation to the predetermined location frame.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one target sound is detected using one or more of a soundwave detector, acoustic camera, or electronic control logic.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the soundwave detector is one of a(n):

microphone, electronic sound sensor, listening device, decibel trigger, speaker, person, and hydrophone.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the indicia is one or more of a:

visual image, cartoon, character representation, video, anime, hologram, light beam, animation, and combinations thereof, for display in relation to the detected target sound.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein producing the indicia further comprises displaying the indicia in relation to the referenced sound position in accordance with one or more predetermined times.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicia is one or more of a holographic image displayed in relation to the referenced sound position at intervals defined by one or more predetermined times.

10. A method for determining a reference sound source location and performing an indicia proximate to the reference sound location, in relation to one or more targeted characteristics of one or more sound sources in a predetermined sound environment, comprising:

defining one or more target sound characteristics being one or more of frequency range, decibel level, pitch range, loudness range, directional location, and period of time;

defining one or more characteristics of the indicia as being one or more of visible, audible, and/or tactile;

detecting at least one target sound in relation to the one or more target sound characteristics in the sound environment;

determining the referenced sound source location in relation to the detected target sound; and

,

assigning the indicia to be performed proximate to the determined referenced sound source location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the referenced sound source location includes either a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional coordinate position in relation to the sound environment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one target sound is detected using one or more of a soundwave detector or acoustic camera.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indicia is a projected visual image displayed in relation to the target sound at predetermined intervals associated with one or more predetermined times, and either appears to be interactive or not interactive in relation to the referenced sound source location.

14. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising:

a computer readable program means for causing a computer to control an execution of an application to perform a method for producing an indicia proximate to a first reference sound location in relation to one or more sound characteristics, comprising;

defining the one or more sound characteristics to be detected by a sound detector;

detecting at least one target sound in relation to the one or more sound characteristics;

determining the first reference sound location in relation to the detected at least one target sound; and

,

producing a predetermined indicia proximate to the first reference sound location.

15. The program product of claim 14, wherein the sound characteristics are one or more of:

frequency range, decibel level, pitch range, loudness range, directional location, and period of time.

16. The program product of claim 15, wherein the first reference sound position includes either a two-dimensional position or a three-dimensional position in relation to a first reference axis.

17. The program product of claim 16, wherein the sound detector is an acoustic camera or electronic control logic.

18. The program product of claim 16, wherein the predetermined indicia is one or more of a:

visual image, cartoon, character representation, video, anime, hologram, light beam, animation, and combinations thereof, for projection in relation to the first reference sound location.

19. The program product of claim 18, wherein projecting the predetermined indicia further comprises displaying the indicia in relation to the first reference sound location in accordance with one or more predetermined times.

20. The program product of claim 19, wherein the predetermined indicia is responsively displayed in proximity to the first reference sound location by displaying an appearance of movement in relation one or more detected interactive sounds.

21. The program product of claim 20, wherein the predetermined indicia is an image having one or more anthropomorphistic characteristics.

22. The program product of claim 16, wherein the predetermined indicia is one or more of a visible, audible or tactile-based projection projected in proximity to the first reference sound location at intervals defined by one or more predetermined times.

23. A system for determining a reference sound source location and displaying one or more images proximate to the reference sound location, in relation to one or more predetermined performance characteristics for a sound environment, comprising:

a sound detection device for detecting one or more sounds in the sound environment in relation to one or more predetermined performance characteristics,

a processor for processing detected sound information in relation to reference sound source location of the sound environment and generating one or more images for display proximate to the reference sound source location,

an image display device for displaying the generated one or more images proximate to the reference sound source location.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the predetermined performance characteristics include one or more of frequency range, decibel level, pitch range, loudness range, directional location, and period of time.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the one or more images includes one or more of:

one or more visual images, cartoon, character representation, video, anime, hologram, light beam, animation, multimedia, and combinations thereof.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or more images are displayed as a function of time and one or more characteristics of the one or more images is capable of visual interaction with the detected one or more sounds in the sound environment.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the reference sound source location is one of a two-dimension position or a three-dimensional position in relation to the sound environment.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the sound detection device is an acoustic camera and the image display device is a three-dimensional holographic display system.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the sound source is a musical group, the environment is a concert location, the detection device is an acoustic camera, and the one or more images include animation.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the animation includes one or more of:

angel'"'"'s wings, hologram, interactive video, cartoon, and a celebrity image.