System and method for a sound masking system for networked workstations or offices
First Claim
1. A sound masking system for providing sound masking at a workstation for a user 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, a local interface comprising a client control graphical interface window configured with one or more user adjustable controls configured to control one or more of said output characteristics, and said user controls being responsive to actuation from the user for adjusting said user adjustable controls, and said controller further including a network interface configured for receiving network control messages 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 said network control messages over said communication network; and
said controller of at least one of said sound masking devices having a component responsive to said network control messages for adjusting said associated output characteristic.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
34 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A sound masking system for providing sound masking at a workstation for a user in a physical space, said sound masking system comprising:
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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, a local interface comprising a client control graphical interface window configured with one or more user adjustable controls configured to control one or more of said output characteristics, and said user controls being responsive to actuation from the user for adjusting said user adjustable controls, and said controller further including a network interface configured for receiving network control messages 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 said network control messages over said communication network; and said controller of at least one of said sound masking devices having a component responsive to said network control messages for adjusting said associated output characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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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:
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providing a local graphical user interface configured with one or more user controls responsive to actuation by the user for adjusting said user controls; providing a communication network for coupling the sound masking speakers to a control unit; providing said control unit with a local interface for receiving user adjusted controls; generating output characteristic control information for the sound masking speakers; providing a centralized controller with a communication interface for transmitting said output characteristic control information to one or more of the sound masking speakers; applying one or more of said user adjusted controls; providing the sound masking speakers with a component responsive to said one or more user adjusted controls; providing the sound masking speakers with a component responsive for the output characteristic control information; affecting the sound masking signal in response to said output characteristic control information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A sound masking module for providing sound masking at a user workstation, said sound masking module comprising:
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a sound masking unit configured for emitting a sound masking signal at the workstation; a local interface comprising a client control graphical interface window configured with one or more user adjustable controls and said user controls being responsive to inputs from the user for adjusting said user controls; a network interface configured for receiving network control messages from a controller, wherein said control messages comprise centralized control messages intended for a plurality of sound masking modules configured in a network; wherein said sound masking unit includes a component configured to be responsive to said user controls as adjusted by the user for controlling one or more characteristics associated with said sound masking signal; and wherein said sound masking unit includes a component configured to be responsive to said network control messages for controlling one or more characteristics associated with said sound masking signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification